Music & Antiques 2025 Spring will take place in Chofu offering a unique fusion of a marketplace and live music Held at Tokyo Oval Keio-kaku near Keio Tamagawa Station and others—features a curated bakery market with renowned vendors and live performances on multiple special stages The festival has attracted approximately 15,000 attendees over two days in both its 2022 and 2023 fall editions the festival will feature over 80 renowned bakeries across two days The antique market will host a diverse selection of vendors from across Japan this year’s event will also welcome over 100 shops specializing in dried flowers and delicate artisanal accessories—bringing the total number of vendors to an impressive 350 Over 50 artists will perform across six specially set up stages within the venue the lineup includes Hidetoku Mukai (Acoustic & Electric) performers will include Computer Music Club The event’s schedule for each day has also been released Tickets for the event are ¥1,500 for a one-day advance ticket and ¥2,800 for a two-day pass Admission is free for elementary school students and younger ChocolatTakehisa Gomi (LOSTAGE)Arisa Ushimaru (yonige)Momo-SeiFACTORY STAGEKENJI TAKIMI (CRUE-L) – DJToru Hashimoto (SUBURBIA) – DJAbiu – DJCHERRY STAGERyu Matsuyama (Solo)xiangyuHitoshi Arai (NORTHERN BRIGHT / RON RON CLOU)Sō YamazakisalanLOVE 45 STAGEMinako Suzuki (Suzuki Minako Zu)Manami Ogaki (Niko’n)Ozawa Masakihmc STAGEYūran-sen (Small ensemble)Futa Miwatiny yawnHaruto Yamamoto NiEW Best Music is a playlist featuring artists leading the music scene and offering alternative styles in our rapidly evolving society the NiEW editorial team proudly curates outstanding music that transcends size 2024・23:59~・Arrive early as it will get crowded Jindaiji Temple in Chofu hosts an extra-spiritual event for New Year’s the bell-ringing ceremony coincides with the temple’s Shushoe Oogomaku a grand prayer ritual conducted by the temple monks national stability and the flourishing of Buddhist teachings making it a deeply spiritual experience for attendees Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Tokyo Chofu is hosting its annual hanabi (fireworks) festival by the banks of the Tama River with massive fireworks (including starmines) synchronised to music It sees around 10,000 rockets launched over the course of an hour starting at 6.15pm with some fireworks being choreographed to pop songs using computer-controlled audio and launch systems Tickets for reserved seating at the Dentsu University field Fuda and Keio Tamagawa locations have sold out non-reserved seating near Keio Tamagawa Station and next to Tamagawa Citizen Square Just make sure to arrive a few hours early For the venue map and transport information, check the event page. facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramAbout us The Godzilla Minus One film's sound technician Hisashi Takeuchi and editor Ryuji Miyajima also won the Best Sound and Best Editing awards The Chofu Film Town Awards is an award-giving body that honors film creators such as technicians and production companies is known as "the city of movies," since many film and video related companies are based in the city Shirogumi Inc.'s studio is located in Chofu city, and GeGeGe no Kitarō original creator Shigeru Mizuki is an honorary citizen of Chofu city The city is also the home of Fudaten Shrine Many spots related to the character are also located in the city The Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo film opened in Japan in November 2023, and sold 111,500 tickets for 160,106,620 yen (about US$1.07 million) in its first three days. Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo Shinsei-ban (True Birth Version), the recut version of the film opened in theaters in Japan on October 4 The film ranked at #3 in its opening weekend The film sold 97,700 tickets and earned 156,305,640 yen (about US$1.05 million) in its first three days Source: Cinema Today (link 2) (名鹿祥史) marking the 99th anniversary of the Salesians' arrival in Japan the opening Mass for the 100th anniversary celebrations was held at Chofu Catholic Church (Chofu City The Holy Eucharist was celebrated by Father Hamasaki along with more than 30 priests and numerous members of the Salesian family who was the rector of the Yokkaichi Aspirantate when Bro Tsutsumi first wanted to join the Salesians He reflected on a letter written by Fr Cimatti on 2 January 1926 shortly after setting sail from Italy as the leader of the missionary group bound for Japan he explored the essence of the Salesian vocation—a life fully dedicated to Jesus and devoted to the youth most in need Fr Hamasaki then offered heartfelt prayers for Bro Tsutsumi’s journey as a lifelong Salesian and expressed his hope that the year leading up to the centennial would be more than just a series of events but a time of spiritual renewal and conversion for the Salesian family Br.oTsutsumi looked back on his vocation journey acknowledging both gratitude and the deep struggles he had faced He shared his joy and firm commitment to dedicating his life as a Salesian receiving warm applause from the congregation the celebration moved to Don Bosco Hall at the Salesian Seminary where two young members of SYM (Salesian Youth Movement) served as hosts for the Academy The gathering began with a video retrospective on the Salesians' journey in Japan followed by the awards ceremony for the 100th-anniversary commemorative logo The event also featured a performance of the operetta Marco the Fisherman as well as a dance presentation by the youth from Don Bosco Oratory attendees listened to a report from SYM members on last year’s SYM Synod in Turin The joyous day concluded with everyone singing Fr Cimatti’s song The Father’s House (La Casetta di Don Bosco) together marking a truly memorable start to the centennial celebrations ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007 This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements Today's print edition Home Delivery There were over 65,000 people in the stands and millions more watching from elsewhere when Damar Hamlin nearly died during an NFL game collapsed when he suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan According to the American Heart Association (AHA) the survival rate for cardiac arrests that occur outside of a hospital is less than 12%.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Luckily everything else went right for Hamlin that night The athletic trainers and paramedics worked quickly and efficiently to administer CPR treating Hamlin on the field for nearly 20 minutes before getting him into an ambulance They safely transported him to University of Cincinnati Medical Center Hamlin was placed in the care of Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Fixtures & Results, Trainings Players & Staff Stadium Hometown Activities Frequently Asked Questions in hopes of preventing traffic accidents for children in Chofu City we will donate FC Tokyo's 'Original School Bag Cover' to approximately 2,300 new first graders The donation of backpack covers is a project aimed at raising children's awareness of traffic safety and preventing traffic accidents through the use of backpack covers This project has been made possible with the significant cooperation of MIXI The design of the school bag cover features FC Tokyo's team mascot in a cute design energetically crossing the crosswalk We hope that many children will wear it and contribute to preventing traffic accidents in the community.On the 24th (Monday) a presentation ceremony was held at the Chofu City Hall attended by Mayor Nagatomo from Chofu City □Chofu City Mayor Takaki Nagatomo Comment"Thank you for coming up with the wonderful project of the school bag cover."By utilizing reflective materials the design featuring TOKYO DOROMPA will make the school bag cover stand out and contribute to the traffic safety of children.I am confident that a new FC Tokyo support group for children will definitely be formed with approximately 2,300 new first-year students wearing it.Throughout the year we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone at FC Tokyo for your various support President Shigeya Kawagishi Comment"The relationship between FC Tokyo and Chofu City is being addressed in Chofu City's basic plan and we are collaborating in various fields In order to promote the healthy development of youth we have distributed the Aoaka Drill to elementary schools in the city and conducted the Smile Caravan (physical education outreach classes) including the 70th anniversary of the city administration we have decided to present backpack covers to raise awareness of traffic safety.As FC Tokyo we hope to support new first graders in taking their first step into a new life the fluorescent yellow is noticeable in terms of traffic safety and we wish for it to serve as a protective charm for the children [Announcement from Tokyo] Recruitment for participants in the "Junior High and High School Students Policy Decision Participation Project" proposed by the Governor [Announcement] Donation of original school bag covers to new first graders in Chofu City [Notice from Tokyo] March is the "Spring Blood Donation" campaign period Announcement of the conclusion of the "Comprehensive Partnership Agreement for Regional Revitalization" with Koganei City 【Report】Player's courtesy visit (end of season report) implemented [Report] FC Tokyo Player Association Elementary School and Hospital Visit Regarding the collaboration with Hatomori Hachiman Shrine and the shopping district around Japan National Stadium for the Nagoya match on 9/14 (Saturday) Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version 2019 Little League Baseball World Series – August 15 – 25 Chofu Little League last made the trip to Williamsport back in 2016 where the team suffered its first two losses to Canada and Curaçao before defeating Texas in the consolation game This August will be the league’s third ever trip after winning the Little League Baseball World Series in 1976 advancing to the final game behind a perfect game thrown by Kiyoshi Tsumur that summer This will also mark the 30th team from Japan to qualify for the event with Japan gaining direct entry to the tournament in 2007 Japan is second all-time in Little League Baseball World Series Championships with 11 The Japanese daruma doll is said to bring spiritual awakening, and Jindaiji Temple in Chofu is known as one of the country’s top three spots to get your hands on a daruma, with its annual Daruma Market boasting over 300 stalls. When you buy a daruma at the festival, know that the eyes of this round, hollow-headed talisman are left blank when you first buy it. Usually, you paint in one of the pupils after making a wish, and the other if your wish comes true. But for this special occasion, a monk will be stationed at the temple's Ganzandaishi Hall to paint the left eye of your daruma with an ancient Sanskrit character when you make your wish. The daruma market is open for just two days on March 3 and 4. Both days feature the oneri gyoretsu (from 1.45pm), a procession of portable shrines carried by the temple monks, who are outfitted in elegant ceremonial robes. Jindaiji, by the way, is the second-oldest temple in Tokyo. The temple and its surrounding area are famed for soba noodles, a national treasure-designated Buddha statue and, of course, this annual market for lucky dolls, which has been going on since Edo times. There is a haunted park in Chofu, Tokyo. Not by your typical apparitions, but by yokai — the monsters, spirits, and other supernatural entities in Japanese folklore At the park's entrance, the yokai welcome the daring visitors into their playground The park is named Kitaro Hiroba after the famous manga series GeGeGe no Kitarō by late manga artist Shigeru Mizuki He was an honorary citizen of Chofu city.  Some of the manga's most iconic characters frolic in the park their eeriness softened by an impish charm whose name means "plaster wall." Although the name suggests a dull character Nurikabe is a devoted member of the Kitaro family always willing to serve as a shield to protect its friends It also doesn't seem to mind when kids practice rock climbing on its body While adults might have second thoughts about spending a Sunday afternoon with yokai the children appear to enjoy their eccentric playmates The playground is alive with the children's laughter thanks to the yokai Author: Masamichi Kirihara You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Following the trail of manga artist Shigeru Mizuki’s widespread appeal in Japan leads back to the city of Chofu in Tokyo where the distinction between Mizuki’s worlds The worlds created by Mizuki and the names of the characters that populate them have become household in Japan while his influence has been felt across the globe from the jungles of Papua New Guinea to awards committees in Europe.  that Mizuki lived for the duration of his career as a creator of manga a career which spanned over half a century and told many stories featuring "yokai" -- spirits and monsters from Japanese folklore -- the most celebrated of which made the artist a household name in Japan yokai were really like friends or family.  He felt close to them.  It’s thinking in this way that enabled him to create his manga," said Etsuko Mizuki the youngest daughter of the legendary artist during an interview in November last year at the offices of Mizuki Productions in central Chofu Etsuko appears to share a belief in one of Mizuki’s favorite subjects.  "I think that yokai exist," she said.  "They are in the dark places the places where not much light can reach.  Maybe places like shrines.  Maybe." With the sun shining bright outside during the interview the visible presence of yokai appeared limited to the covers of the volumes of Mizuki’s manga -- "Mizuki manga" -- that lined the shelves of the office meeting room as well as in the figurines sat atop many of the surfaces.  They even adopted a more international flavor by the office entrance taking the form of wood-carved tribal masks souvenirs from Mizuki’s globe-trotting yokai research The dangling prospect of "maybe" though might be enough to see fans of Mizuki and his yokai come to Chofu in order to explore the city after hours in the hopes of a yokai encounter perhaps among the locales that Mizuki reimagined with his creative hand as the setting of a number of scenes in his manga.    a few blocks north of the city’s busy Chofu station area.   Fudatenjin-Shrine features in a volume of Hakaba - Kitaro (Kitaro from the Graveyard) "The Weird One," in which Kitaro -- a yokai hero called upon by humans to deal with the more troublesome of his kind -- is said to live in the forest behind the shrine (“Hakaba - Kitaro” was the original name for what became the manga "GeGeGe no Kitaro.") with lamps casting shadows over the shrine grounds ancient Fudatenjin can certainly appear otherworldly for Mizuki’s yokai to hide in the shadows Not that such a prospect should present anything to be scared of -- the yokai of Mizuki’s world aren’t here to cause fright and their world was created in Chofu.  Echoing how the chief protagonist in GeGeGe no Kitaro seeks to find harmony between humans and his fellow yokai Mizuki portrayed yokai in such a way that they could be accepted by everyone Although acceptance may prove difficult for some if the yokai can’t be seen.  Perhaps some degree of imagination is required of the seeker In the meantime Mizuki’s yokai are running out of darkness.  When the artist moved into town from nearby Shinjuku over half a century ago much of Chofu was nothing but fields.  Today the city and its lights creep ever closer around Fudatenjin-Shrine has given way to Tokyo’s yawning western suburbs.  Despite the yokai’s apparent preference for the dark though just a short distance from Fudatenjin-Shrine’s quiet location in the receding shadows the lights of Tenjin-dori -- a stretch of Chofu’s eateries bars and local stores -- shrine bright and in their glow sit colorful statues of Mizuki’s yokai that may even be said to bask in the street’s cheerfully lit and unashamed retro fun.   though -- if Mizuki wanted his characters and yokai to be approachable they can be seen under the lights in one of the most salt-of-the-earth and unpretentious spots in the city.  And people have approached.  Mizuki’s yokai and celebrated in Japan to the extent that it might be hard to find an adult who hasn’t heard of Shigeru Mizuki or interacted with one of his creations "The existence of yokai is something that has been talked about for a long time in Japan and there are many people that know about this so I think this is why it has been able to reach a lot of people," Etsuko said speculating on the roots of Mizuki manga’s popularity which spans generations and demographics to this day.  "Mizuki took information (about yokai) that existed only in academic papers and images and through manga introduced yokai in a way that everyone could easily understand," added Tomohiro Haraguchi of Mizuki Productions after providing a crash course in yokai history which included reference to Kunio Yanagita and Inoue Enryo 19th-20th century pioneers of research and thought about yokai.  Today in Japan there are universities that have departments of folklore with students and faculty conducting research into yokai according to Haraguchi.     The statues along Tenjin-dori are but one of many tributes to Mizuki manga that can be found throughout Chofu.  Seeking them out might be one of the delights of a visit to the city which calls itself "Mizuki manga’s birthplace."  Not to be confused with Sakaiminato in Tottori Prefecture the western Japan city where Mizuki was raised and ended over 50 years later with Mizuki’s death on November 30 which coined the "Mizuki manga’s birthplace" phrase and Mizuki Productions collaborate to showcase elements of Mizuki’s work through events "We cooperate together (with the city) on this so that even after all this time we can say that there was a person called Shigeru Mizuki and have people continue to read the manga he created and remember who he was," Haraguchi explained so to have the city of Chofu think in the same way and come up with such ideas the city of Chofu has every year celebrated GeGeGe Ki -- a days-long celebration of the life and works of Mizuki held in November around the anniversary of his passing.  GeGeGe Ki sees a number of events scheduled around Chofu centering on a stage set up in the city’s broad station-front plaza an example of the initiatives brought about between the city and Mizuki Productions played host to a Mizuki manga-themed cosplay event during the GeGeGe Ki in 2020.  On that bright autumn day the square’s stationary art objects representing yokai and other characters that appear in GeGeGe no Kitaro and other of Mizuki’s works were joined by an animated gaggle of Mizuki manga fans in cosplay "I heard a lot about yokai from my grandmother so I’ve been familiar with the world of Kitaro since I was child," explained cosplayer Yurina Arai (32) who was attending the event for the third year the cat-girl yokai from the GeGeGe no Kitaro world.  "When I did something wrong my parents would tell me "Yokai will come and get you and Kitaro won't come to help."  I used to think of yokai as being scary but now not at all.  I’m fascinated by them." Standing next to Arai’s Neko Musume was Kitaro himself cosplayed by Koryu Shimizu (27).   Shimizu might be considered proof that the efforts of the city and Mizuki Productions to introduce the world of Mizuki manga to new audiences do bear fruit I wasn’t so familiar with GeGeGe no Kitaro.  I moved to Chofu four or five years ago GeGeGe no Kitaro is featured in a number of places around Chofu so I’ve had many chances to interact with it and I’ve become more and more fascinated by it," she explained.  had the experience of seeing the creator of her beloved characters in person "Before he passed away you would see him quite often here and there and he would go out to drink with his daughter."  "Even though he was this amazing manga artist he would appear quite normal with his daughter.  This makes his world feel very close for me.  He was such an amazing person so I would think how amazing it was to see him out drinking coffee in such places."  Arai’s encounters are shared by other residents of Chofu who can recount seeing Mizuki riding his bike to and from the office even in the local bookstores leafing through the pages of his own books.   While Chofu’s shadows may keep Mizuki’s yokai hidden the man himself was very much out in the open and his connection with Chofu "Mizuki manga’s birthplace," appears to be real and felt by people on the streets.  He was Such connections aren’t always so welcome though.  Etsuko told of how she suffered at the hands of classmates at school on accounts of her father’s work.  "I wasn’t particularly aware of (my father’s work his fame) but my classmates at school would say things to me about it.  Sometimes they would use it to make fun of me.  They would say that what he was writing about were lies.  I didn’t like it when they said things like that," she said it was a world that you couldn’t see with your own eyes between Chofu and Mizuki that on the surface at least seem hard to connect.  Chofu the city and Mizuki the cheerful Chofu resident appear a world away from the World War II battle grounds of Papua New Guinea and Mizuki the reluctant soldier stationed in the country while serving in Japan’s Imperial Army.  "He didn’t just create manga about yokai he also created manga about war.  "Like" is perhaps not the right term but the manga about war left an impression on me," Etsuko responded when asked if she has a favorite story among her father’s manga Mizuki’s experiences of war have arguably left the greatest impression on overseas readers "Soin Gyokusai Seyo" (English title - Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths) Mizuki gave a damning and terrifying account of the terrifying stupidity of men with military authority gone mad in the jungle which saw him become one of only three Japanese manga artists to be awarded the Heritage Award at the Angouleme International Comic Festival the experience of war and suicide charges in the southwestern Pacific nation left the greatest impression upon Mizuki himself "I can’t explain very well but I think it had a profound influence on him "There are lots of stories in which the bad yokai are killed but in the Kitaro manga the bad yokai are persuaded to return from where they came instead of having them killed.  This comes from (Mizuki’s) experiences during the war he decided he didn’t want there to be killing in his stories," Haraguchi explained Not before leaving readers with the devastating climax of Soin Gyokusai Seyo in which the words of the last man standing in his final throes echo a profound warning "Guess everyone died feeling like this.  No one to tell … just slipping away forgotten.  With no one watching." his talent and mental fortitude that in both life and work Mizuki could make the switch from the darkest depths of the human condition to the cheeky humour of a yokai notorious for their pungent flatulence (GeGeGe no Kitaro’s "Nezumi Otoko").   far removed from the jungle and deadly conflict that was able to provide an environment in which Mizuki felt able to describe his WWII experiences.  Not that even in Chofu does he seem to have been able to escape the horrors entirely I can’t help the blind rage that surges up in me.  My guess is this anger is inspired by the ghosts of all those fallen soldiers," Mizuki wrote in 1991 in an afterword published in an English-language edition of Soin Gyokusai Seyo.   (Despite Mizuki’s giant reputation in Japan translation of Mizuki manga into English has been a relatively recent undertaking although it’s one that appears to have been welcomed by Mizuki and Etsuko "It’s a nice feeling.  My father was pleased "Yokai are spreading throughout the world," Etsuko said during the interview.) that great historic avenue rumbling east-west between Tokyo and Kofu (Yamanashi Prefecture) runs right between Fudatenjin-Shrine and Tenjin-dori separating the two as if a symbolic border between different worlds.  and on one side of the avenue and its roaring Tokyo traffic life is lived out in the open by office workers pouring out of the train station into the restaurants bars and bright city lights.  On the other side sprawls in silence a great swathe of suburban Tokyo -- at night a silent world of hidden possibilities where narrow lanes wind between homes where the dark is interrupted by the lonely glow from living room windows.  It’s here in this world where Mizuki now rests On route to Mizuki’s resting place is the diminutive Shimoishiwara Hachiman Shrine which in any other circumstance might be easy to dismiss as just another shrine in Japan.  In the hands of Mizuki though Shimoishiwara Hachiman might present fans with a different prospect -- the shrine is portrayed in some of Mizuki’s manga as the place where GeGeGe no Kitaro’s Neko Musume lives Fans and believers in yokai may get a thrill from exploring the quiet shrine grounds taking in the exotic shapes and scrutinizing the shadows for signs of yokai activity.  Although expectations should be kept in check -- as Etsuko said of her father’s work "It was a world that you couldn’t see with your own eyes."    So then artists like Mizuki see for us and create the visual elements of illustrations in manga like GeGeGe no Kitaro.  More than this though the artist creates magic and with it presents the gift of wonderful possibility.  They fill the air with the electric excitement of new worlds for people to run free in.   The air of Mizuki’s world is charged in Chofu and calls for the visitor to let their own imagination run free To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible the "Don Quijote Chofu Station Store" (Chofu City Tokyo) will have its grand opening on floors 1 to 4 inside the "Seiyu Chofu Store."To commemorate this we will be selling collaboration goods between Don Quijote's official mascot Donpen and TOKYO DOROMPA exclusively at the Don Quijote Chofu Station store.Also TOKYO DOROMPA will come to celebrate on the opening day □Products for Sale・Donpen × FC Tokyo Collaboration Face Towel Selling Price2,189 yen (including tax)【Size】W830mm×H340mm Selling Price3,289 yen (including tax)SizeM Selling Price6,589 yen (including tax)SizeM □Sales LocationDon Quijote Chofu Station Front StoreBusiness Hours9:00 AM - 2:00 AMLocation1-10-1 Kojimacho TokyoAccessPublic Transportation / Keio Line & Keio Sagamihara Line Chofu Station North Exit about a 2-minute walk towards Koshu KaidoOpening DateSeptember 30 (1) 8:45 AM - 9:00 AM Opening Event (Ribbon Cutting)Don Quijote Chofu Store 3rd Floor in front of the stairsThis is a limited event for the first 100 people before the opening We will distribute numbered tickets on the day please line up in front of the Seiyu entrance.* There is no interaction.(2) 10:15 AM - 10:35 AM Store Front Greeting + Balloon Distribution Near the entrance of Don Quijote Chofu Store 1F (3) 12:05～12:15 Greeting in front of the store + Balloon distributionNear the entrance of Don Quijote Chofu Store 1F 2025 FC Tokyo "May VICTORY AUCTION" Announcement Notice of merchandise booth at Niigata match on 5/3 (Sat Holiday) Shimizu Match Goods Shop & Gachapon Corner Announcement Announcement of merchandise sales commemorating Kei KOIZUMI's 300 J1 League appearances [4/25 Update] Announcement of new product sales on April 23 (Wednesday) Notice of merchandise sales and gacha corner for the G Osaka match on 4/25 (Friday) Notice of merchandise sales at the C Osaka match on 4/20 (Sun) are one of just two teams in Williamsport that has a Little League Baseball® World Series title under its belt and finally California’s Campbell Little League to win the 30th Little League World Series Championship Starting at catcher for that Japanese team was a young man named Makoto Nagase Chofu Little League is back in the World Series for the second time in four years Leading this year’s Japanese team as a coach is the very same Nagase the players simulated game situations with noticeable intensity and precision Nagase said through team interpreter Toshi Kato “I learned a lot about American style baseball and having fun I brought the lessons back home and shared with my players.” Nagase said the Little League World Series drives his determination to this day “My motivation is always looking forward to Williamsport All the team tasks lead back to this destination.” Nagase’s success as a player has played an integral part in his preparation the privilege of competing in Williamsport and the overarching essence of the Little League World Series fulfill their expectations and validate their experience to the fullest Nagase understands that while the opportunity to compete is valuable in itself With 11 Little League World Series titles as a country Japan has won four LLBWS titles since 2010 Chofu Little League is in contention to bring another championship the Japan Little Leaguers has outscored their opponents 32-2 en route to a berth in Saturday’s International Region Championship game Nagase believes he has adequately prepared his team to compete and prevail in the Little League World Series “Baseball is a team sport and we are always one team when asked about how he prepared his players for competing on the global stage Players need to be thinking about the entire team.” Nagase is one of two coaches here in Williamsport who have appeared in the Little League World Series as players Remembering and incorporating his playing experiences into his coaching acumen Nagase is confident that this year’s Chofu Little League is prepared for adversity and ready to handle success Real places are weaved into the story and fictional events take place in real life Poignant, heartbreaking and inspirational, Nana by Ai Yazawa is a beloved shoujo manga Thanks to the subsequent anime series and two movies it has garnered a major international following the story is as relevant and as relatable as ever Focusing on female friendships and chasing your dreams the manga and anime have influenced many generations The story takes place in Tokyo in the early 2000s and many of the Nana anime locations really exist There are countless real-life anime locations in Japan, the list ever-expanding with every new story published. There is now even a dedicated Anime Tourism Association that updates the spots for anime pilgrimages annually particularly because of how similar the real and the fictional scenes often are And Nana locations are particularly good at captivating fans and bringing them back and forth between 2D and 3D Tokyo will relate to the two titular characters: Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu Between walking the same streets and perhaps facing similar life challenges sometimes it feels like we live in Nana‘s world The more realistic the anime and manga scenes the stronger the feeling that we share the same world with the characters the names of places are sometimes slightly changed landmarks are removed to create a more fictional city on purpose the Kabukichou Sherlock anime perfectly captures the streets and seedy nightlife of east Shinjuku but it swaps the Toho Cinema Godzilla head with an elephant Another example is in Persona 5: The Animation (originally a game) It takes place in the Sangenjaya neighborhood but calls it Yongenjaya the original toponym meaning “three teahouses” and the slightly changed fictional one meaning “four teahouses.” But aside from the supernatural elements of the plot this name change is enough to disconnect you from real Tokyo The most unrealistic thing people have pointed out is that there is no way a large apartment with two separate bedrooms would cost only ¥70,000 in Tokyo But the story and its locations are interweaved with reality and the author has stated before that Nana is loosely based on real people and events the two main characters arrive at Tokyo Station by Shinkansen we see Shirokanedai Station and multiple scenes from Omotesando Hills where Takumi picks up Hachi to go on a date aside from apartment 707 where the two young women live there are three key Nana locations: the banks of the Tama River the Tama River originates in Yamanashi Prefecture and flows through the capital into Tokyo Bay Apartment 707 from Nana could be anywhere from Chofu in west Tokyo some drawings in the manga have an arched bridge that many believe to be Maruko Bridge in Den-en-Chofu The Tama River is also known for its magnificent annual fireworks display These fireworks are featured in the last episode of the Nana anime While apartment 707 is a place we might never see the Tama River and the fireworks are a real part of people’s lives in Tokyo Jackson Hole is often a meeting place for characters in Nana It’s renowned for its Jackson burger and the friendly bartender who everyone calls by his full name — Sato Koichi There are a few Nana posters subtly stuck on the staircase wall It takes a long time to notice the one glaring difference — this Jackson Hole is not in the basement When Yazawa was working on the manga she put Jackson Hole in it since she was friends with the owner, Sato Koichi. The original Jackson Hole was in a basement in Chofu, before it relocated in 2008 (not far away from where it was). But sadly, Koichi is no longer there. He sold the business and moved to Hawaii to open a Japanese restaurant The current Jackson Hole in Chofu still looks the same inside feels authentic and the Jackson burger is delicious The staff and regulars are friendly and you feel like spilling your life problems to them they are also kind and welcoming to Nana fans helping the place feel more true to the anime Photo by Wunlop_Worldpix_Exposure via Shutterstock with its colorful sign and the large video screen below is a popular meeting spot near the east exit of Shinjuku Station This is where the characters from Nana meet up too Something’s always showing on the Alta screen and it also plays an important role in the Nana story (we won’t spoil it This location weaves the story with reality as one always expects videos of celebrities and ads to play on the Alta screen This location blurs the borders between fact and fiction as both of the real bands from the story And it happened after the manga and anime had come out worked with two singers on the anime songs while Olivia Lufkin sings as Reira in Trapnest Both singers resemble the characters in looks and personality The music from the anime was released on CD and LP and a special 2006 live show outside Shinjuku Station’s east exit has made this event from the story an undeniable real event as well Nana is such a cultural icon that it now has a wedding dress collection created by its author and the Lulu Felice brand It feels as if we are still living in the world of Nana where Nana Osaki is still a star and both Nana and Hachi are happy The story remains a part of fans’ lives even when the locations in it start changing like in the case of the first Jackson Hole An ever-changing metropolis where construction never stops it’s in Tokyo’s nature to change will remain real and relatable for a long time living in Tokyo is always a story — whether fictional or your own The urban atmosphere of Tokyo can feel oppressive to those accustomed to a slower pace of life and a relaxing escape to the western suburb of Chofu is a great way to chill out when the rat race gets too hectic Just 15 to 20 minutes by train from Shinjuku Station on the Keio Line, Chofu is known to locals for its history steeped in Japan’s cinema industry, though foreigners will soon know Chofu as Tokyo’s headquarters for the Rugby World Cup Before making your plans to visit Chofu, find all the essential information at the new English-language website Most notably Tokyo Stadium (Ajinomoto Stadium) located in Chofu is home to the F.C but come autumn 2019 it will essentially be the epicenter of world rugby Eight games will be played here over the course of the tournament including the first game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup on September 20 which will be preceded by the opening ceremony The city of Chofu is embracing its role as host city of rugby’s biggest fans. The expansive courtyard located right outside Chofu Station will be converted into an official Rugby World Cup FanZone This ad hoc screening area is free of charge and is capable of hosting thousands of fans who can watch live rugby action on giant LCD screens while enjoying local and international food and drinks Festivities will also be held at the Chofu City Cultural Center Inside the grand hall of this elaborately designed building visitors can see immense murals dedicated to rugby titled “Athlete Wonderwall,”created by celebrated ink brush painter Hidekichi Shigemoto A specialist in the Japanese traditional art of sumi-e Shigemoto is known for creating eye-catching images that capture the movement of sport To help guests and foreign visitors experience Japanese culture and arts, throughout the year the Chofu City Cultural Center presents Noh Odyssey Through this program one masterpiece of Noh theatre and two new productions of Kyogen theatre featuring child actors will be performed with the next production of Shu-Ha-Ri running from September 14 through November 4 English subtitles will be provided during performances and each production was selected in particular to be easy for beginners to understand and enjoy To further immerse yourself in Japanese arts and tradition head to the historic Jindaiji Temple Built by the monk Manku –according to legend – in 733AD Jindaiji is the second-oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo with Sensoji Temple in Asakusa being the oldest The grand temple buildings are home to the Statue of Hakuhoh Buddha Heading closer to the city proper, visit Fudaten Shrine The mountainous woods behind the approximately 1,940-year-old shrine are home to Chofu’s most popular resident Shigeru Mizuki moved to Tokyo for work opportunities Mizuki chose to settle amongst the bucolic landscape of Chofu in 1959 Fascinated by yokai – mythological spirits and ghosts – the talented artist began drawing characters and his manga comic series GeGeGe no Kitaro became a nationwide phenomenon Mizuki lived in Chofu for more than 50 years, passing away in 2015, but Kitaro and the popular yokai characters live on, and can be seen everywhere in Chofu. The theme shop and café Kitaro Chaya located near Jindaiji Temple sells a wide variety of goods snacks and sweets – all dedicated to the ghostly denizens of GeGeGe no Kitaro the Tenjin-dori shopping street leads to Kitaro’s home Between the many izakaya and restaurants lining the atmospheric street are five statues depicting favorite characters from GeGeGe no Kitaro This May the city opened Kitaro Hiroba park Chofu Station reopened two years ago following an extensive renovation project The train tracks of the Keio Line were moved underground and this whimsical park was built where the above-ground tracks once ran every fun facet of the park pays homage to Kitaro and his friends an annual festival dedicated to Kitaro is held every year around the anniversary of Mizuki’s passing on November 30 (this year from November 23 to December 1) crab soup (Mizuki’s hometown in Tottori is famous for crab) and more Many movie scenes have been filmed along the scenic river film studios soon began clamoring to Chofu because the city was also famous for the clarity and purity of its water source Clean water is necessary for processing film and the Tama River and Chofu’s many springs made clean water readily available at that time the largest modern film studio in the Asia Pacific Region more than 40 companies related to to the filmmaking industry were located in Chofu during Japan’s Golden Era of film Japan’s most famous film stars and directors could be seen casually strolling the streets of Chofu The heyday has long died down, though two film studios still call Chofu home. In conjunction with the reopening of the train station (which has many signs and decorations honoring Chofu’s cinema history), the cinema complex Aeon Cinema Theatus Chofu also opened in 2017 The next-generation movie theater is the biggest in the Tama area of Tokyo with 11 screens and a 4DX theater that offers an immersive cinema experience Honoring the city’s film tradition, the Chofu Cinema Festival: City of Film is held every year (the next festival is February 14–March 8 local prop and costume shops also get involved with the festival and the local community becomes part of the attraction Chofu’s clean water isn’t only beneficial to the film industry It also enhances the flavors of the local foods and drinks One native beverage that can be found throughout Japan is a light Created in 1948 as a beer-style drink that patrons mix with shochu and ice the concoction allowed Chofu izakaya owners to avoid paying certain taxes Hoppy is still poured out of the tap at most Chofu bars Through November 4, Chofu hosts a dekamori restaurant rally Collect a stamp card and visit any of the 15 participating restaurants and then eat dekamori Find more information at hyperurl.co/TWChofuCity during a major renovation to a house in chofu, japan, koji aoki architects has expressed the existing and new building elements in contrasting ways the structure’s old lumber framework is largely exposed and untreated the clear juxtaposition of such ‘fragments’ is done in an attempt to create a stronger relationship between an individual and the space he/she occupies half of the upper story’s ceiling is treated in white while the other exposes the existing plywoodphoto © takeshi yamagishi architect koji aoki used the existing structure and building elements as expressive components within the adaptation process serving as a basic framework for attachment of new pieces he states (as translated by hideto chijiwa) ‘I aspired to recapture history not as an archaic specimen of the past but as living architectural elements.’ of identifying building elements as new or old is also cognizant of the relationship objects have with time in regard to how spaces are used and experienced within the house plays a fundamental role in shaping how one lives.’ a new staircase attaches to the existing structurephoto © takeshi yamagishi the exposure of the house’s lumber framework both in interior and exterior walls as well as floor levels acts to link separate spaces of the dwelling together added ‘new’ fragments only help to support this connectivity and produce – in the architect’s assertion – a layout less bound to fixed program and more open to variation ‘varieties of everyday scenes emerge from and within the relationship scattered throughout the space traversing major spatial zonings such as living/dining rooms day to day users relate to space to discover the rich and diverse comprehensions filled in life.’ exposed framing allows for increased spatial connectivity between levelsphoto © takeshi yamagishi the renovation work opened up an exterior wall to provide increased daylight to the kitchenphoto © anna nagai tokyodesign dates: 01.2013 — 10.2013construction dates: 11.2013 — 04.2014collaborator: RGB structurephotography: takeshi yamagishi anna nagaitext translation: hideto chijiwa AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Mizuki Shigeru (1922ｰ2015) is one of Japan’s most famous and respected manga artists. While he is best known for Ge Ge Ge no Kitarō and other yōkai-themed comics he also published works on world and Japanese history Mizuki Shigeru in 2010 one year after making his debut as a manga artist for the then-thriving kashihon (book rental) market Chōfu had become one of Tokyo’s biggest cities it had rapidly expanded after the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake when many people and businesses had moved to the suburbs Mizuki found the ideal environment to create his stories The main theme of Ge Ge Ge no Kitarō and other yōkai manga is mankind’s need to coexist with nature and the many creatures—natural and supernatural—that inhabit this world people have always imagined things that are invisible to the senses Mizuki used to say that he had noticed a catastrophic yōkai decrease in crowded urban areas with little nature where the five senses were overstimulated and people had lost their power of imagination yōkai tend to thrive in sparsely populated areas with lots of trees and water sources it takes less than 20 minutes to reach Chōfu from Shinjuku Station via the Keiō Line’s express service The colorful Kitarō Bus has several routes departing from the station and can take you everywhere but the best way to explore the city is on foot our first destination is very close to the station Kitarō and Medamaoyaji welcome shoppers Tenjin-dōri may look at first like a typical shopping street but we soon discover that it is populated with the statues of several characters from Mizuki’s bestselling Ge Ge Ge no Kitarō Nekomusume (Cat Girl) rides Ittanmomen (Roll of Cotton) atop a transformer box and Kitarō welcomes shoppers and passers by at both entrances to the street They were installed in 1991 following a proposal by Mizuki himself Not far from the street stands a nondescript building housing Mizuki Productions the company that manages the artist’s huge creative output and plans new manga and anime projects Nezumiotoko relaxes on a bench Tenjin-dōri becomes the approach to Fuda Tenjin a very old Shintō shrine surrounded by greenery that is said to have been built in the first century CE such a quiet space can be found just a 5-minute walk from Chōfu Station Fuda Tenjin is popular among Kitarō fans as a seichi junrei According to the yōkai saga’s original version titled Hakaba Kitarō (Kitarō of the Graveyard) the shrine’s little grove is also the place where Kitarō is supposed to live The main hall at Fuda Tenjin After saying our prayers and buying a Kitarō-themed omikuji (fortune-telling paper strip) we resume our northward walk crossing the lovely local river one of Tokyo’s best-known and most beautiful Buddhist temples it is also the capital’s second oldest after Sensōji in the central district of Asakusa Jindaiji’s spacious grounds house several buildings including structures moved here from three former major temples from the Edo period (1603–1868) as well as a Buddha statue dating back to the late Asuka period (593–710) There is also a gallery where valuable illustrations by Mizuki are on display Kitarō Chaya at Jindaiji Mizuki used to come to Jindaiji to commune with animals Surrounded by Jindaiji’s splendid old forest one is touched by the power and warmth of nature Look around yourself and you may even see Kitarō peering from behind one of the trees Those who want to experience more of Mizuki’s world now have to retrace their steps and head back toward the station A recent addition to Chōfu’s yōkai landscape is Kitarō Hiroba (Kitarō Square) Opened in 2019 on a site between Chōfu and Nishi-Chōfu stations along the Keio Line occupying a plot of land freed up when the train tracks were sent underground along this stretch of rail this playground is equipped with yōkai and character statues and playing equipment for younger kids including Kitarō’s House The square and its equipment were created and are currently maintained thanks to people’s donations through crowdfunding unfortunately) was added this year to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of another Mizuki story’s original publication Kappa no Sanpei is a manga about a boy called Sanpei who resembles a kappa Sanpei meets a real kappa and is introduced to its mythological world A portrait of an idyllic world where humans this comic is considered one of Mizuki’s masterpieces The Kappa no Sanpei pond in Kitarō Hiroba Our Mizuki-themed walk around Chōfu ends at Kakushōji a temple belonging to the Jōdo Shinshū sect Kakushōji is an offshoot of Edo-Asakusa Gobō a temple that was built in Asakusa in the Edo period but burned down in a citywide fire in 1657 before being renamed as Honganji and relocated by the shogunate to reclaimed ground in the Tsukiji district Even Kakushōji was originally located in another district in Chōfu ordered its forced relocation to its present site along with two adjacent temples while the adjacent guest hall was built in 2007 Mizuki’s tomb is easily found among the sea of flat grey tombstones because it is guarded on each side by statues of Kitarō and Nezumiotoko The tombstone itself is engraved with the words “Namu Amida Butsu“ which can be translated as “Save me Amida Buddha.” More yōkai adorn the low stone fence surrounding the tomb on three sides We recognize Nekomusume and other popular characters Mizuki’s tomb is constantly cluttered with a vast array of gifts (the standard flowers and even canned soft drinks and beer) left by the many fans who come to visit from all over the country Mizuki’s tomb on the temple grounds at Kakushōji According to Kakushōji’s chief priest the artist at the time was planning to visit Papua New Guinea where he had almost died during World War II and where he had become friends with the local people Mizuki wanted to do some research on spiritual beliefs there; his wife was worried for his health and suggested he get a tombstone made Although Mizuki’s family belonged to the Buddhist Sōtō school he chose Kakushōji as his final resting place He often came to the temple after taking his daily walk because he liked its atmosphere and one has to walk down a narrow passage to reach the graveyard at the back of the temple Here Mizuki probably felt the friendly presence of his beloved yōkai Banner photo: Hitotsumekozō [One-Eyed Boy] sitting on the bench to scare pedestrians All photos © Gianni Simone; characters © Mizuki Productions.) The Ajinomoto Stadium in the Tokyo city of Chofu is the capital’s match venue for the Rugby World Cup 2019. The nearby Fanzone, located next to Chofu Station, provides indoor and outdoor live screening of most of the matches. Entry is free for everyone.  Come practise your rugby moves under the guidance of top league players and enjoy the stage performances featuring comedic group Chiemi Blouson with B (September 20) and singer Sakurako Ohara (November 2), among other talents and artists. On September 22, former national rugby player Takashi Kikutani will be hosting a commentary session on the game.  Food-wise you can expect lots of food trucks serving delicacies from the participating international teams, such as roast beef rice bowl with Aussie beef.  There’s a corner for traditional Japanese activities, too, where you peruse the Edo-style photo spot and partake in a variety of workshops including shamisen and kendama experiences. Since Chofu is known as the ‘film city’, where many production companies set up their base, the Fanzone is also offering you a chance to dress up in a traditional samurai armor which was once used in a period film set (October 26 and 27). If you need to take a breather, go sit down at the foot bath corner and dip your tired feed in the hot water that’s brought to the venue daily from the hot springs in Tokyo’s Nishitama area (September 20-22, 26, 29). Chofu city in Tokyo's western suburbs is gearing up to host the opening match of the Rugby World Cup this fall with a little help from a rugby-mad mascot Some 15 minutes by express train from Shinjuku the city is the venue for eight games during the tournament which is being held in Japan for the first time (Girls touch the Ragamaru Kun rugby mascot at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium on Feb As the locals get ready to welcome rugby fans from around the world they are getting a boost from a mascot dreamed up by an actor who loves the sport Ragamaru Kun is the creation of Masashiro Imae who felt he had to do something to drum up enthusiasm in the run-up to the World Cup said he became concerned after he saw public interest in rugby waning once the euphoria over Japan's historic win over South Africa during 2015 World Cup in England had died down asking if it would be OK for him to promote the tournament with a cute-looking mascot whose name is a combination of rugger and round designating the mascot as an official cheerleading ambassador in June 2018 Ragamaru Kun placed 25th out of more than 500 competitors in a national contest for the best municipal mascot "I'm just motivated by my love of the game," said Imae who played rugby at high school and college "I hope Ragamaru Kun will encourage people to get to know the game." they are hoping that overseas fans beating a path to Tokyo Stadium will take an interest in what else their city has to offer apart from the rugby Tatsuya Kobayashi of the Public Affairs Service and Sports Department recommends visitors enjoy a stroll around tourist spots such as the Buddhist temple of Jindaiji which legend has it was built by a monk in 733 The temple features a statue of Hakuho Buddha and the surrounding area is dotted with buckwheat noodle restaurants and shops selling traditional "daruma" paper dolls Next to the stadium -- more commonly known as Ajinomoto Stadium and home to professional soccer team FC Tokyo -- is the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza which will host badminton and wheelchair basketball during next year's Olympics and Paralympics (Tourists stroll around Jindaiji on March 25 Chofu's other Olympic connection dates back to the 1964 Tokyo Games when it was the turnaround point for the marathon Kobayashi said the city has been working hard to offer rugby fans smooth access to the 50,000-capacity stadium from nearby train stations including Chofu of Keio Corp. they may run into Ragamaru Kun along the way Tokyoites' commitment to Rugby World Cup goes above and beyond Storied Tokyo rugby stadium awaits relocation AD Leave a rating/comment#PaintingBack to ArticlesSHARE Leave a rating/comment#IllustrationBack to ArticlesSHARE Archive Art Leave a rating/comment#Painting#Video and Film#Ceramics / Lacquer#SculptureBack to ArticlesSHARE Leave a rating/comment#PhotographyBack to ArticlesSHARE Leave a rating/comment#Illustration#TalksBack to ArticlesSHARE please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent is known as one of the capital’s most prestigious residential areas Given that “den-en,” is a part of its name some may think it to be located along Tokyu Corp.’s Den-en-toshi Line however the train lines that run through the area are actually Tokyu’s Toyoko and Meguro lines Near Den-en chofu Station’s West Gate stands a reproduction of the original European-style station that was constructed in the Taisho era (1912-1926) roads lined with ginkgo trees radially extend through the surrounding residential area Den-en chofu’s “den-en” as its written in kanji can be translated as a garden or country view can the area’s current landscape be described as having the tranquility of its namesake this was a farming area called Chofu Village in Ebara County wooded areas and farming fields were abundant.” “Chofu,” is said to originate from “cho,” which was a form of tax in the Nara period (710-794) and “fu” meaning clothes that were once blanched in the Tama River Geographical names that contain the word chofu are seen in many places along the Tama River “The development and sale of Tamagawadai Jutakuchi in the Taisho era was the beginning of the Den-en-chofu residential area,” Tsukiji said was the entity that set the development of the residential area in motion The company was established in 1918 (the seventh year of the Taisho era) to develop the areas that eventually became the Ookayama and Senzoku districts Company founder Eiichi Shibusawa (1840-1931) was an industrialist dubbed “the father of Japanese capitalism.” a biography of Shibusawa published in 1927 contains remarks made by the man himself including “Mankind cannot live without the existence of nature” and “Even as I watched Tokyo’s extremely high-paced expansion I have hoped that our nation will create something akin to a garden city to supplement was influenced by the concept of a garden city which at the time was also excessively populated The company aims to create towns in Tokyo suburban areas that harmonize with natural environments To bring such living environments to fruition the company requested that those who bought land plots comply with such rules as not constructing buildings that may become a bother for other people that houses and other buildings should stand three stories tall at maximum and that a house’s premises should not occupy more than 50% of the residential land’s acreage The Tamagawadai residential area began selling land in 1923 following the example of the Senzoku area A large number of people moved into these new residential areas partly to escape the damage in the central part of Tokyo caused by the Great Kanto Earthquake in the same year the Meguro-Kamata Electric Railway opened as a resident commuting service the station in the Tamagawadai residential area was initially named as “Chofu” after the village in the area it became necessary to distinguish it from a station of the then-Japanese National Railway with the same name the word den-en was added to the station’s name ended its sale of residential land plots and was later absorbed into Meguro-Kamata Electric Railway Co an association of residents who moved into the area in its early years became an incorporated association called the Den-en-chofu-kai which has proactively worked to secure good living conditions But the association faced many problems including surging land prices in Japan’s postwar economic growth period segmentation of land plots along with generational changes the association established its seven-point Den-en-chofu charter in order to make the spirit and ideals of Mr Shibusawa regarding the creation of towns known and as a way of inheriting the tradition of self-governance and cooperation association members agreed to take such measures as limiting the heights of their houses The Ota Ward Office accepted requests and implemented measures since 1991 the ward office restricts developments in which a single land plot is divided into segments under about 165 square meters in some areas within the Den-en-chofu district Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information National Report An elderly man fell unconscious after being stabbed and several other passengers were injured on a Keio Corp on suspicion of attempted murder at the scene Tokyo Fire Department officials said the limited express train bound for Shinjuku was filled with smoke after a fire inside a train car A train seat was burned and there was a report that lighter fluid was used to start the fire The man who was stabbed is in his 60s or 70s said officials of the Metropolitan Police Department Police received an emergency call before 8 p.m about a man holding a knife inside a moving train which made an emergency stop at Kokuryo Station Keio suspended part of its train operations Passengers on the train were evacuated from the station platform Tokyo train stabbing suspect hoped to kill ‘as many as possible’ At least 10 passengers injured in stabbings on Tokyo train Stabbing spree suspect held grudge against alluring women Train hits truck that slid onto track in Taiwan Work carriages offer bullet train riders a high-speed office Driver goes missing after car collides with oncoming train Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Shortly after a cafe in Chofu in western Tokyo opened on a recent day at noon What would you like to order?" an apron-clad Toshio Morita asked with an order pad in his hand The waiter relayed the order to the kitchen and carried drinks to the customers as he received advice from his colleagues "It's great because he is cheerful and lively I even found it disappointing that he didn't make the wrong orders." is one of four dementia patients working at the cafe His workplace is located near Sengawa Station on the Keio Line in Chofu Although the establishment operates as a restaurant it has served as a dementia cafe called Orange Day Sengawa once a month from a year ago Morita became a staff member on referral from a local community support center in April 2023 when he was looking for a job in his area because he had no physical problems He has always been sociable as he served as head of a local neighborhood association and he gets ready for work in the morning on his shift day Although similar efforts are being made across the country it is rare for dementia cafes to open on a continuous and regular basis Orange Day Sengawa is also often featured in stories by foreign media Morita and his family were interviewed by German public radio broadcaster ARD said the cafe is a great idea that can be a useful reference for her country was diagnosed with dementia several years ago She was heartbroken to see him gradually losing the ability to do daily activities But when she learned that efforts were being made around Japan to operate "restaurants of mistaken orders," she decided to operate the cafe herself she rented an existing eatery and compiled the menu The dietician opted for only drinks and sweets to make it easy for staffers to remember She also selected tableware and trays mainly made from plastic and wood because they are light Order forms are slightly larger than regular ones while they are color-coded for hot and cold drinks and sweets blue and other colors are placed to identify each table Kanna started the business with subsidies from a private foundation "People with dementia say they want to work even with their symptoms but there aren't many places where they can make themselves useful," said Yui Iwata a joint representative of Orange Day Sengawa "We hope that similar efforts will be widespread and serve as a starting point for people to learn about dementia." the Machigaetemo Maru Cafe (it's-fine-to-make-mistakes cafe) opened at a cafe in Ome The operators plan to offer the dementia cafe once every six months Having won support from the local governments of Ome the operators also intend to open the cafe in the western Tama region Waitresses with dementia gain respect at this Aichi eatery Confectioner from Akita hits sweet spot with insect-like candy Orders pour in for Japanese items seen in latest ‘007’ movie Pandemic makes it easier for people to adopt sober lifestyles Confectioner defies critics with Japanese sweets with vegan twist The Tokyo District Court is ordering a partial halt to the construction of an underground tunnel which caused a large sinkhole to form in Chofu city because it poses a danger to nearby residents Construction workers have been using heavy equipment called a shield machine to bore a 16-kilometer underground tunnel which will stretch from underneath the Kan-etsu Expressway’s Oizumi Junction to the Tomei Expressway The project is meant to alleviate chronic congestion in the capital and other parties to stop the excavation work on a 9-km segment of the tunnel that stretches from the Tomei Junction in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward to the area near Musashino city which includes the part of the road that caved in “Even if we take into consideration the benefit the construction work would bring to the public the illegality of the work (on the 9-km segment) justifies the ban,” the ruling stated 13 residents living in the area where the construction work was taking place filed for a provisional order by the court to stop the drilling work arguing that it would destabilize the ground a cave-in occurred on a portion of a road in Chofu where the construction work was being done creating a huge sinkhole about 3 meters long and around 5 meters wide ruled that there is a risk of a dangerous repeat if the work resumes because the land that one of the plaintiffs lives on is in the same condition as the land that caved in “Another cave-in would completely disrupt the plaintiff’s daily life by making their house collapse and putting their body and life at risk,” she said in the ruling The construction operators maintained throughout the trial that another cave-in would not occur because they would take countermeasures saying that no detailed measures to prevent a recurrence were produced A lawyer for the plaintiffs hailed the ruling as a landmark decision but said it still falls short because it did not ban all further construction work in the project The operators resumed the excavation work on Feb 25 in a different area than where the court ban applies said at a news conference after the ruling that the project should be re-examined in light of safety “I urge the operators to stop all the construction work and review the risk,” he said the transport ministry and East Nippon Expressway commented “We would like to deal with the issue appropriately.” Shoddy tunnel work cause of road cave-ins in western Tokyo 2nd underground hole in Tokyo where tunnel work under way Extra 230 billion yen required to develop Osaka Expo venue Tunnel collapse causes first death related to maglev train project Asbestos victims win relief funds after decade-long court battle .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By John Beauge | Special to PennLivejapan winner.jpg The Japanese entry in this year's Little League World Series is from the Tokyo suburb of Chofu City The players and coaches pose with the championship banner Sunday after winning the title SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT-The international bracket for the 2016 Little League World Series is filled with the exception of the Canadian champion The Tokyo suburb of Chofu City Sunday became the seventh international team to punch its ticket to the series when it won the Japanese title with a 20-10 victory over Sendai Higashi It was the most runs Chofu City allowed in its four tournament games as it outscored opponents 57-16 A team from Chofu City won the world championship in 1976 This is the 27th time a Japanese team has played in the world series Tokyo last year won that country's 10th world the title by defeating Red Land from York County Chofu City will play its first series game against Canada at 5 p.m representatives and the Canadian champion begin either late this week or next Sunday the day after the Grand Slam Parade in downtown Williamsport and concludes with the championship game on Aug Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices (ANS - Hamamatsu) - Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic has never stopped carrying out solidarity actions towards the most needy With small steps and with proverbial Japanese resilience the Salesian community helps the unemployed From the Salesian house of Chofu to Hamamatsu (Shizuoka prefecture) it is 260 km but the two Salesian communities are always well connected through the Solidarity Channel “We have delivered support supplies to the Hamamatsu Catholic Church we have received many donations from the Catholic parish of Kugenuma and other basic necessities,” wrote Fr Nobyuki Tamura “From the students of the Salesian Gakuin Institute we've learned there are many people in difficulty who above all needed food,” continues Fr Tamura the Bursar of the Yokohama community delivered the supplies collected in his school directly to us we want to thank everyone who has been able to send us supplies and who continue to send them to us in these difficult times The supplies from this period shall be used to help the most vulnerable individuals people who have lost their jobs or who do not have a home,” he adds a program designed to support learning for children of foreign nationalities helps those who cannot keep up with lessons (such as those of Japanese language and mathematics) The learning support takes place three days a week and the volunteers carry it out in the form of individual tutoring The program is attended by around 20 children are also used to prepare snacks to be offered to the children who attend the learning support program the children go to study with the Salesians in the evening and are hungry; so the religious offer them hot drinks and foods typical of the Japanese culinary tradition The gestures of solidarity have not stopped but the Salesians present in Japan still let it be known the need for basic necessities remains high to satisfy the requests that come in these times To find out more, visit the "AustraLasia" website Shoddy tunneling work is being blamed for a series of cave-ins in busy Chofu city An experts’ panel set up by East Nippon Expressway Co 12 that the company had been tunneling deep underground for its Tokyo outer ring road when a number of cave-ins occurred and huge cavities formed this is the first such instance in connection with a law that took effect in 2001 related to the usage of underground areas at great depths The report found that heavy bore machinery encountered difficulties tunneling into the bedrock Chemicals were poured into the site to facilitate the work But that led to the machinery excavating an excessive amount of dirt and creating cavities in the area above the machinery that formed the uppermost section of the tunnel The study also concluded that the surface where the cave-ins occurred was not solid but artificially created Other special conditions included a layer of sand and gravel that made the area unstable These circumstances triggered the cave-ins and cavities East Nippon Expressway pledged to compile steps to prevent a recurrence before deciding when to resume construction work also said the latest findings would likely affect work on the Linear Chuo Shinkansen project being undertaken by Central Japan Railway Co because tunnels along that line are also at depths similar to the road work under Chofu East Nippon Expressway conducted boring tests in the vicinity but no other cavities were found Repair work will be carried out for areas deemed to have been weakened a professor of geotechnical engineering at Shibaura Institute of Technology said working at depths of 40 meters or more required a different mindset from traditional civil engineering technology there are no guarantees of safety when working at depths of 40 meters,” he said “Steps need to be reviewed to ensure that companies are not negligent in the measures they will have to implement.” (This article was written by Takaoki Yamamoto Pandemic fails to stop race to erect Japan’s tallest skyscraper Shibuya Station’s new flood facility ready to defend against disaster Calls to open wartime tunnel complex blamed for slaughter The Keio Sagamihara Line resumed operation between Chofu and Hashimoto stations around 1:00 p.m The operation had been suspended from around 11:00 a.m Thursday due to an emergency inspection of the power facility between Inagi and Hashimoto stations as the transmission of power had been disrupted 13-year-old Chofu resident Sara Kumagai launched the Library by the River book swap to share her love of reading with her community On the banks of the Tama River under the sprawling branches of a zelkova tree a lady pulls a copy of the book Job Guidance for the 13-year-olds and All Triers from a paper Starbucks bag and hands it to Sara Kumagai doesn’t need as much career guidance as those perhaps twice her age Every Tuesday and Friday morning for the past two months, Kumagai and her younger brother Daisuke, 12, carted a wagon full of books from their home some 500 meters away in a quiet Chofu cul-de-sac to this scenic spot on the Tama River Now that school has returned to session following the end of Tokyo’s state of emergency declaration the Library by the River is open for business every Sunday from 9–11am “I wanted to create an opportunity for people to interact with books and nature,” says Kumagai “I have also been able to interact with neighbors and the community It is interesting to listen to their stories and learn about their life.” The most recent Sunday session of the Library by the River on June 21 was a popular affair One neighbor waved happily as she strolled home with two children’s books A boy who plays tuba with Kumagai in the junior high brass band dropped by to provide support Joggers and bike riders traveling the paved route along the Tama River stopped to see what the fuss was all about Sara keeps a small notepad in her pocket in which she furiously scribbles notes keeping track of the number of customers and the number of books that come and go She has a hand-drawn chart (“I don’t know how to use Excel”) tracking the figures On that day all Kumagai had was a wagon full of 70 books that she brought from home with a bag of blue rubber gloves and a bottle of hand disinfectant in the side pocket alongside wood boxes and plastic crates neatly lined with books Following a feature in the newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, book donations started coming in from Nara, Toyama and Tochigi. The BookSwapChofu Twitter account gained followers from Japanese directors Now Kumagai has more than 500 books in her ever-growing library travel guides and diet and self-help books a compilation of fairytales written by Kenji Miyazawa biographies of Mother Theresa and Helen Keller and on and on I like the feeling of opening the pages,” says Kumagai “I think that other people share the same feeling.” Then a seventh grader, Kumagai started self-isolating at home when her school shut down in early March to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus infections She kept herself busy by reading books from the library Sara had a dinnertime conversation with her parents – Susana Kumagai and Antonio Villasmil Sara came up with the concept of Library by the River on her own Volunteering is something the Kumagai-Villasmil family takes to heart. They spend every New Year’s Day feeding Tokyo’s homeless feeding 500 homeless people every five minutes It was during a family vacation to Washington state Kumagai was introduced to the Little Free Library and was inspired to use the same concept for The Library by the River The Little Free Library was started in 2009 when Wisconsin resident Todd Bol used extra wood from an old garage door to build a box that looked like a schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother and passersby were allowed to take a book and leave a book Bol began building similar libraries throughout the Midwest and today there are about 90,000 Free Little Libraries in 91 countries The Library by the River works as a similar book swap Customers are free to take as many books as they like The Little Free Libraries are generally located at public parks or street corners. Kumagai found her shady spot on public land next to the Tama River. She enjoys watching kayakers float down the river. The loops of Yomiuri Land roller coasters can be seen over the treeline on the opposite bank Kumagai says she plans to keep the Library by the River going as long as she can with the goal of launching more free libraries in Tokyo parks and I only thought about school,” she says “I never thought I could do more things outside of the classroom.” Follow Library by the River on Twitter at @BookSwapChofu Thailand – 11 March 2017 - A meeting of the Provincial Economers of the East Asia-Oceania Region took place at the Salesian Retreat Centre in Hua Hin It was led by Fr Piotr Gozdalski from the Economer General’s office  SDB.  The meeting was in four sessions.  It was attended by 11 Provincial Economers the Economers of the Delegations of Cambodia the Directors of Planning and Development Offices and one future Provincial Economer Leave a rating/comment#Nihonga / Ukiyoe#LiteratureBack to ArticlesSHARE The Keio line trains resumed operations between Chofu and Fuchu Stations at around 11:55 a.m The operation was suspended around 10:30 a.m due to an accident involving a person at a railroad crossing between Nishi-Chofu and Tobitakyu Stations