https://www.alojapan.com/1246657/countries-get-a-national-day-to-showcase-culture-at-osaka-expo/ Countries get a ‘National Day’ to showcase culture at Osaka Expo #AsahiShimbun #Japan #NationalReport #news #Osaka #OsakaNews #大阪 #大阪府 In addition to the eye-catching architecture of the pavilions, the Osaka Expo will host “National Days” celebrating each of the participating countries throughout the expo’s run. To promote international exchange, each country will get its own National Day to present its culture and history at the world’s fair…

https://www.alojapan.com/1245706/train-travels-all-day-long-with-corpse-aboard-in-tokyo-area/ Train travels all day long with corpse aboard in Tokyo area #AsahiShimbun #Japan #NationalReport #news #Tokyo #TokyoTopics #東京 #東京都 A man who died on a train in the Tokyo area shuttled between stations across multiple prefectures for half a day before his corpse was finally noticed by a railway worker. The man, a 50-year-old company employee from Tokyo, boarded the train on the Shonan-Shinjuku Line at Shibuya Station at 8:02 a.m. on May 11.

https://www.alojapan.com/1244786/floating-petals-mark-final-sakura-weekend-in-tokyo-kyoto/ Floating petals mark final sakura weekend in Tokyo, Kyoto #AsahiShimbun #Japan #Kyoto #KyotoNews #news #travel #京都 #京都府 Video footage taken on April 10 in Tokyo shows cherry blossom petals falling and floating on the surface of the Megurogawa river and the Chidorigafuchi moat of the Imperial Palace. (Masahiro Hirano) Cherry blossom season is ending in Tokyo, with people enjoying one last opportunity to savor the fleeting beauty of the sakura…

https://www.alojapan.com/1244778/okinawa-police-u-s-military-to-hold-joint-patrol-in-night-district/ Okinawa police, U.S. military to hold joint patrol in night district #AsahiShimbun #Japan #NationalReport #news #Okinawa #OkinawaNews #沖縄 NAHA–A joint patrol involving Okinawa prefectural police and the U.S. military is to be mounted in the entertainment district of Okinawa city near the U.S. Kadena Air Base following a series of high-profile sexual assaults involving drunken American personnel. The Okinawa city government announced April 11…

https://www.alojapan.com/1244687/okinawa-leaders-struggles-against-u-s-bases-shown-in-new-film/ Okinawa leaders’ struggles against U.S. bases shown in new film #AsahiShimbun #culture #Japan #movies #news #Okinawa #OkinawaNews #沖縄 A new documentary film that depicts the long campaigns waged by two Okinawa governors against the concentration of U.S. military bases in the prefecture will be released on April 19 nationwide.  The film, titled “Tida no Unmei” (Fate of the Sun), features former Okinawa Governor Masahide Ota, who served from 19…

https://www.alojapan.com/1244591/onigiri-are-ever-evolving-but-always-capture-japanese-heart/ Onigiri are ever evolving but always capture ‘Japanese heart’ #AsahiShimbun #culture #food #Japan #JapanNews #JapanTopics #news The humble rice ball, eaten in Japan for thousands of years, is seemingly more popular now than ever, with specialty shops opening in succession and billions sold at convenience stores every year. Onigiri, usually wrapped in dried seaweed and stuffed with tasty fillings, were once thought of as an easy, at-home snack…

https://www.alojapan.com/1243446/kiyomizudera-temple-lights-up-stunning-autumn-nights-in-kyoto/ Kiyomizudera temple lights up stunning autumn nights in Kyoto #AsahiShimbun #Japan #Kyoto #KyotoNews #news #travel #京都 #京都府 KYOTO–Kiyomizudera temple here, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has kicked off its special autumn nighttime viewing, enchanting visitors with illuminated structures and maple trees beginning to show their vibrant colors. The illumination event began on Nov. 18, with the main hall, known as the “stage of Kiyomizu,” and arou…

https://www.alojapan.com/1243127/taliban-officials-visiting-japan-likely-to-seek-more-support/ Taliban officials visiting Japan, likely to seek more support #AsahiShimbun #Japan #NationalReport #news #VisitJapan A delegation of senior Taliban officials arrived on Feb. 16 for the first visit to Japan by the Islamic group since it effectively recaptured control of Afghanistan in August 2021. The delegation of around six interim government officials in charge of diplomacy, healthcare, education, cultural properties and other policies will…

https://www.alojapan.com/1243003/hokkaido-crowned-top-beef-cattle-producer-over-kagoshima/ Hokkaido crowned top beef cattle producer over Kagoshima #AsahiShimbun #Hokkaido #HokkaidoTopics #Japan #NationalReport #news #北海道 Hokkaido, already known as the “kingdom of dairy farming,” has earned a new accolade for its beef. According to the central government’s statistics on agricultural output for 2023 that were released at the end of 2024, Hokkaido surpassed Kagoshima Prefecture as the country’s top beef cattle producer for the first…

https://www.alojapan.com/1242910/gaza-spotlight-ips-heart-among-exhibitions-at-osaka-expo/ Gaza spotlight, iPs heart among exhibitions at Osaka Expo #AsahiShimbun #Japan #NationalReport #news #Osaka #OsakaNews #大阪 #大阪府 A preview of the Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 on April 9 days before its opening showed a number of contrasting exhibits that emphasize both humanity’s ingenuity and violence. Among the pavilions and attractions unveiled four days early to the media on the reclaimed island of Yumeshima are a “flying car” exhibit and the ex…

https://www.alojapan.com/1242502/yokosukas-canola-fields-glow-against-mt-fuji-backdrop/ Yokosuka’s canola fields glow against Mt. Fuji backdrop #AsahiShimbun #Japan #MountFuji #MountFujiTopics #MountFuji #news #travel #富士山 YOKOSUKA, Kanagawa Prefecture—A vibrant yellow carpet of around 100,000 canola flowers, currently in full bloom, greets visitors at Soleil Hill here. According to the tourist facility, on clear days visitors can enjoy the stunning sight of snow-capped Mount Fuji from the flower-covered hillside facing Sagami B…

https://www.alojapan.com/1242464/yamanashis-mt-fuji-railway-plan-could-ring-up-1-56-trillion-yen/ Yamanashi’s Mt. Fuji railway plan could ring up 1.56 trillion yen #AsahiShimbun #Japan #MountFuji #MountFujiTopics #MountFuji #NationalReport #news #富士山 KOFU–The Yamanashi prefectural government is touting the economic ripple effects from its proposed plan to build a railway up to the fifth station of Mount Fuji, estimating that it could generate 1.56 trillion yen ($10.8 billion) over four decades. The report, which includes economic projecti…

https://www.alojapan.com/1242029/hokkaido-joins-glico-to-boost-publics-appetite-for-deer-meat/ Hokkaido joins Glico to boost public’s appetite for deer meat #AsahiShimbun #culture #food #Hokkaido #HokkaidoTopics #Japan #news #北海道 SAPPORO–With the number of Yezo sika deer on the Hokkaido rise and causing damage, the prefectural government is hoping the public acquires a taste for venison. It concluded an agreement with Ezaki Glico Co., based in Osaka, on Aug. 20 to sell products made with culled deer meat.  Utilizing its expertise as a…

https://www.alojapan.com/1241905/triton-drones-to-be-deployed-indefinitely-to-okinawa-base/ Triton drones to be deployed indefinitely to Okinawa base #AsahiShimbun #Japan #NationalReport #news #Okinawa #OkinawaNews #沖縄 The U.S. military will deploy a number of MQ-4 Triton drones indefinitely to the U.S. Kadena Air Base, a deployment that will rankle Okinawan prefectural officials. The Defense Ministry’s Okinawa Defense Bureau informed the Okinawa prefectural government on April 8 of the U.S. plan.  The deployment follows one last ye…

Nagaragawa Railway to serve French lunch for Gifu excursion https://www.diningandcooking.com/2005853/nagaragawa-railway-to-serve-french-lunch-for-gifu-excursion/ #AsahiShimbun #francais #france #French #FrenchLunch #Japan #lunch #news #travel

https://www.alojapan.com/1241462/sushi-bars-from-abroad-open-shop-in-tourist-busy-kyoto/ Sushi bars from abroad open shop in tourist-busy Kyoto #AsahiShimbun #culture #food #Japan #Kyoto #KyotoTopics #news #京都 #京都府 KYOTO–Sushi restaurants that have flourished overseas are opening branches in Japan’s ancient capital here in rapid succession, to lure in the growing number of hungry inbound tourists.   In September, sushi bar Kyoto-Senryo opened near JR Kyoto Station’s Hachijo Exit. The restaurant is operated by Tokyo-based Genki Gl…

https://www.alojapan.com/1241250/baseball-international-school-from-kyoto-wins-koshien-title/ BASEBALL/ International school from Kyoto wins Koshien title #AsahiShimbun #Japan #Kyoto #KyotoTopics #news #sports #京都 #京都府 NISHINOMIYA, Hyogo Prefecture–Kyoto International Senior High School, founded after World War II as an educational institute for Korean residents in Japan, won its first National High School Baseball Championship here on Aug. 23. The school, located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward, defeated Kanto Daiichi High School from To…

https://www.alojapan.com/1240273/explosive-gas-detected-at-expo-venue-one-week-before-opening/ Explosive gas detected at expo venue one week before opening #AsahiShimbun #Japan #NationalReport #news #Osaka #OsakaNews #大阪 #大阪府 OSAKA—Potentially explosive methane gas was detected at the Osaka Expo venue here on April 6, one week before the event’s scheduled opening on April 13.  The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition announced later that day that the gas had been detected around 4 p.m. in the Green World construction area on…

https://www.alojapan.com/1239831/lisas-things-places-and-events-jozankei-discover-the-soothing-waters-of-hokkaidos-famed-onsen/ Lisa’s Things, Places and Events/ Jozankei: ‘Discover’ the soothing waters of Hokkaido’s famed onsen #AsahiShimbun #Hokkaido #HokkaidoTopics #Japan #news #travel #北海道 JZK? That sounds like an airport code, but it’s what I saw in several pamphlets referring to Jozankei, a hot spring resort area in Hokkaido near Sapporo, located within Shikotsu-Toya National Park. According to popular accounts, Jozankei hot springs were discovered by Miizumi Jo…

https://www.alojapan.com/1239724/mt-fuji-finally-has-its-iconic-snowcap-latest-ever-in-130-years/ Mt. Fuji finally has its iconic snowcap, latest ever in 130 years #AsahiShimbun #Japan #MountFuji #MountFujiNews #MountFuji #NationalReport #news #富士山 The upper part of Mount Fuji is covered with snow on Nov. 6. (Video taken by Masahiro Hirano) KOFU—Mount Fuji donned its first snowcap this season on Nov. 7, the latest in 130 years. The Kofu Local Meteorological Office, which makes the annual official announcement, said officials visually conf…