A small two-seater helicopter crashed into a rice field in central Japan on Sunday with the two elderly men on board taken to hospital with minor injuries Police received an emergency call from a witness to the incident No individuals other than the 77-year-old and 83-year-old men on board were affected by the accident The privately owned helicopter took off from a heliport in Minokamo in the same prefecture at around 10:20 a.m before crashing from a height of about 2.5 meters for an unknown reason and overturning The 77-year-old man was piloting the helicopter and attempting to land at a heliport in Gujo 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 It wouldn’t be a surprise to learn that two rivers run through the town before flowing into the Nagara River – one of the three great rivers of the Kiso To get to Gujo Hachiman by public transport the best (and most scenic) way is with the Nagaragawa Railway built in the style reminiscent of the 1920s Taishō era streetcars There are 3 different kinds of trains on the Nagaragawa Railway; the Morigo (No red exterior makes it easy to spot in any season The interior of the train is made with wood from the forests of Gifu and seating in the train is in the style of booths – much like an old-school diner with bespoke wooden tables that lie in between the seats Bar counter seating lines some of the windows making it the ultimate spot for sightseeing Drinks and small snacks can also be purchased at the service counter on board The three trains differ slightly in design and style but the interiors of all services conjure a sense of wonder and nostalgia at the quaint and well-maintained environment inside the cabins The train’s route follows the course of the Nagara River as it cuts through the mountain passes dividing the valley in which Gujo Hachiman sits You can get some magnificent views of the mountains and the clear There is a special service train (which runs three times a day in the summers on Fridays there is a guided tour on the train into the mountain passes This special train pauses at the most scenic points of the journey letting tourists take in the view of the valley and the gleaming Nagara river As these trains are small compared to the full sized 10-carriage varieties that we see regularly it takes a little luck and some nimbleness to hurry aboard when you spot one at Mino-ota Station The Nagaragawa Railway begins its journey from Mino-Ōta Station in Gifu If you’re getting there from Nagoya Station you can take the JR Tokaido Line to JR Gifu Station and alight after 7 stops at Mino-Ōta station and follow signs for the Nagaragawa Tetsudo station The journey from Nagoya Station to Mino-Ōta station takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes Tickets for the Nagaragawa Railway can only be bought at a little manned booth on the platform or from the conductor before the train leaves the station Reservations for the tourist train can also be made in advance by telephone to the railway company Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan one of the iconic Bon season dance festivals that honors ancestral spirits 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 People dressed in yukata gathered at the Gujo Hachiman old city hall square to enjoy the dance making sounds with their geta wooden flip-flops which has been designated by the central government as an important intangible folk-cultural asset which dates back to the Edo period (1603-1867) was inscribed on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2022 as part of traditional Furyu-odori which are ritual dances seen throughout the nation Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun 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 Home | English | Fairfield by Marriott: A Hotel Where You Can Experience the Charm of Local Japan Fairfield) Gifu Gujo has been garnering attention ever since it burst onto the Gujo area scene in Gifu Prefecture in 2020 This unique establishment is a hotel located near various ‘michi-no-eki’ (roadside stations) which sell local products to spread the joys of regional areas in Japan Michi-no-eki not only serve as rest areas for drivers but are also facilities aiming to showcase all the local area has to offer to visitors The Fairfield Gifu Gujo is located adjacent to “Michi-no-Eki Yamato,” where visitors can enjoy the wonders of the Gujo area such as local foods in the restaurant the beautiful fragrance of freshly baked bread at the bakery and even a morning market selling vegetables harvested that day The shuttle buses here to TAKASU DYNA and WASHITOPIA (the largest ski resorts in the area) make it super convenient to head over for a skiing session too it has all the creature comforts to ensure a relaxing stay The rooms are filled with light and are modern in design with access to free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk service There is even a lounge area for guests to relax in the expansive space Head over to the reception desk for detailed information about nearby sightseeing locations and recommended activities and get the most out of your stay whether it be through snow experiences or local gems Lovers of hot springs will be happy to hear that right next to Micih no Eki Kokin Denju no Sato Yamato is “Yamato Onsen.” The waters of this hot spring are said to have qualities to boost skin smoothness Locals and tourists alike flock to this facility to soak in the spacious open-air bath gaze upon the great outdoors in the indoor baths There’s no better place to wash your exhaustion away after a day of skiing or snowboarding 　There aren’t any restaurants inside the hotel but there are plenty of local restaurants nearby for visitors to tantalise their tastebuds by feasting on regional cuisines guests have the option of selecting a special “Breakfast Box,” which comes with delectable sides using local ingredients such as Gujo sweetfish and delicious rice from the area Coffee and other beverages can be found in the public space making it the perfect spot to enjoy some bread from the michino-eki bakery and local community in Gujo by booking a stay at Marriott Gifu Gujo 　The “Michino-Eki Project” is currently promoting the creation of dual michi-no-eki and hotel establishments across Japan 　Located about a 40-minute drive from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shirakawa Go Fairfield by Marriott Gifu Takayama Shirakawa Go is also popular the hotel is across the road from Michi-no-Eki Sakura no Sato Shokawa where guests can explore local goods and produce there’s a nearby hot spring facility called “Ouka-no-Yu,” offering guests a relaxing soak after a day of sightseeing 　Both the Fairfield Gifu Gujo and Shirakawa Go are hotels deep-rooted in the local region through the Michi-no-Eki Project Head on over for a visit to immerse yourself in Gifu culture and nature alongside your snow adventures Web: fairfield-michinoeki-japan.com A highly skilled craft that has been passed down for generations chances are you’ve seen food samples lavishly adorning restaurant entrances mouth-watering preview of the delicacies that await within do an excellent job of enticing customers into the restaurant while providing an accurate idea of what they can expect Japanese food samples have garnered worldwide attention recently due to their incredible craftsmanship and how uniquely bizarre they are We at Tokyo Weekender went to Yamato Samples in Toshima city to find out the ins and outs of Japan’s fascinating food samples you might already know that food samples originated in Gifu Prefecture Not even the metropolitan area of Gifu either UNESCO Intangible Heritage of the Gujo Odori dance and Over half of Japan’s food samples are made in Gujo city to this day a restaurant in Gujo Hachiman started serving the Western-influenced omurice A man named Takizo Iwasaki commercialized food samples for the first time in 1931 by creating a realistic replica of the popular omelet-rice dish He went on to establish factories in both Osaka and Gifu the craft of food samples spread and ateliers were established across Osaka The original food samples were made with wax but there was one downside: the fact that wax had a low melting point food samples ran the risk of melting if placed in a glass casing on a sunny day The use of wax for commercial food samples drastically decreased due to this major Achilles heel most food samples seen at restaurants are made from plastic — specifically polyvinyl chloride (PVC) – as well as other materials like silicon and gelatin These materials rely on machines more than wax If you attend a food sample making workshop wax is still used due to its hands-on nature and the fact that it allows you to get a little creative with shaping your own fake food One such food sample factory where you can try your own hand at making food samples is Yamato Sample in the Kami Ikebukuro area you could easily miss it if you weren’t looking for it despite its array of sun-washed food samples on display Bringing the craft skills of Gujo Hachiman to Tokyo it was established in 1952 and has been passed down through generations as a family business The Ito family who started Yamato Sample still work there There were originally three Yamato Sample factories and the third is now operating as a food sample making atelier the workshop is larger than the second factory where commercial samples that are sent to restaurants are made Yamato Sample keeps the second factory closed to guests and media Only people connected to the business are allowed to enter to keep their methods within the company food samples could be perceived to be mass-produced but in fact they are often painstakingly made by food sample artisans Most of the ramen’s components were made of wax the noodles and toppings are placed in warm water to manipulate them which feels weirdly similar to the act of cooking real ramen The noodles are then laid out flat in a circular pattern on a plate placed inside the bowl — food samples generally come on a plate base so that if the container it comes in were to break the sample can simply be popped out and placed in a new bowl I slowly poured the gelatin over the noodles before arranging the toppings all I had to do after that was wait for the gelatin to solidify with the help of a fridge The parfait required a little more technique and that was where my baking experience truly came in handy After filling the cup with a silicon “cream,” I filled in the gaps I missed with a long wooden pick Ryo removed the excess silicon with a swift flick and cleaned any edges for me I chose the pre-made toppings I wanted to put on my parfait (the hand-painted strawberry and tangerine slice were a must) and practically didn’t breathe as I piped the silicon on top the surface of the cream solidifies in five minutes so you have to act fast to lay out your decorations but after those initial heart-racing minutes the cream mostly won’t budge unless you poke or drop it Even though I can say I’ve made food samples firsthand it’s a far cry from knowing the ins and outs of food sample production I didn’t make any of the toppings in the ramen or parfait and some of the production methods are probably top-secret It’s clear that I’ve only just scratched the surface of the rich history and methodology of food samples and why this culture is so popular among foreigners whenever I pass by a restaurant with delectable-looking samples greeting guests I take an extra moment to appreciate all its details and technical finesse and know that it’s made from PVC is a spectacle with the scores of revelers as well as the live festival music and clacking geta wooden clogs it has been held for 30 nights from July to September in Gujo-Hachiman a village located deep in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture The main event is the all-night dance for four days starting on August 13 French actor Robin Barde explores the deep culture of the festival and dances the night away Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp Screen printing, having more than 70 years of history in Japan, first originated from Gujo Hachiman and expanded throughout Japan During Gujo City’s summer dance festival called Gujo Odori tenugui (Japanese traditional towels) and geta (Japanese clogs) are the essential items Takara Gallery Workroom provides hands-on screen-printing sessions – you can choose either tenugui or tote bag to get your family’s hands working - to come up with your very own unique creations The patterns are seasonable and ever changing so you will also have fun having plenty of colours and patterns to choose from Bring your creations to the dance festival to fully enjoy the joyous spirit within you can learn more about this traditional industry from a new perspective leaving a special memory of your trip in Gujo Hachiman Takara Gallery Workroom even has its original tenugui and goods in collaboration with various artists and brands From 1,000 yen for the workshop (additional fee for more patterns)  https://www.takara-garo.com/   you can take the Gifu bus (Hachiman sen) at Gifu station and get off at Jokamachi Plaza and walk for about 10 minutes from the bus stop after getting off at Gujo Hachiman Station either walk for about 25 minutes from the station or take the local bus called “Mame Buses” and get off at Kyuchosha Kinenkan bus stop Takara Gallery Workroom is only a 4-minute walk away from the bus stop Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information all-night dance festival returned to the streets on Aug drawing thousands of revelers from inside and outside the prefecture people in colorful “yukata” danced until the break of dawn swinging to the music of traditional instruments Gujo’s lively “odori” dance festival dates back more than four centuries and is on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage which span all the way from July to September 13 through 16 when participants dance throughout the night the famed festival is held in full scale for the first time since 2019 after COVID-19 restrictions were finally lifted Organizers said they might have to cancel the rest of the all-night dances depending on how the typhoon develops addictive: Awa Odori dance is Tokushima’s greatest export Kyoto’s famed Gion Festival offers premium seating for a fee Mask rules lifted for Sapporo’s Yosakoi Soran Festival in June UNESCO to add folk dances to list of intangible cultural heritage More than 800 participants in Awa Odori report getting COVID-19 VOX POPULI: Traditional Bon odori festivals in existential crisis this summer 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 We bring life-saving relief in emergencies and use food assistance to build peace stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict disasters and the impact of climate change bringing life-saving assistance in emergencies and supporting sustainable and resilient livelihoods to achieve a world with zero hunger We work in over 120 countries and territories combining emergency assistance with long-term development while adapting our activities to the context and challenges of each location and its people There is a variety of ways in which people can support WFP’s mission to eliminate hunger from making a donation to bringing your expertise to our work on the frontlines Abayneh Gujo dreaded hearing the bell announcing the beginning of the sports session Despite his love of sports and desire to join in with his classmates his teacher forced him to stay in the classroom “What would you do at the sport class anyway?” the teacher said.  The physical isolation and exclusion were crushing he learned to channel the anger and frustration he felt to find his way through the injustice he was being subjected to Four decades on and he’s about to address a session of the 2022 Annual Partnership Consultation which WFP organizes to discuss strategic priorities with hundreds of its NGO partners.  Gujo decided to pilot a new project embedding food and cash incentives into training programmes.  ‘People with disabilities are not necessarily seen as worthy of being given the same access to food and nutrition and other services’ Gujo’s journey has been long and full of obstacles but a loyal friend he found along the way helped him pull through: the humble basketball.  The idea of not being able to play it at professional level made me want to change the status quo.” Gujo challenged his university’s sports department to invest in facilities and equipment to allow sport training for people with disabilities sport for persons with disability is for westerners,” he recalls being told He joined their gym and fell in love with powerlifting, “using recycled material the first thing I did was to gather seven friends and start organizing wheelchair racing competitions,” he says we found ourselves knocking at the door of the Government asking to establish the Ethiopian Paralympics Committee”.  “It took them two years to get a reply but it was worth the wait Eventually the Government invited the seven of us to set up the Committee.” as well as for 20 million Ethiopians living with disabilities Gujo embraced his new role as a leader of the movement fighting for the rights of persons with disabilities to practise sport.  he also realized his dream to play for the Ethiopian national basketball team. However “eventually I realized that we had to expand the scope of our mission” “You can’t be successful at sport if you don’t have anything to eat at home.. so many young talented people I’ve met throughout my career were food insecure” “Malnutrition is one of the main causes of disability in Ethiopia,” he says This lack of participation reduces people’s access to nutritious foods, says Cara Yar Khan, WFP’s new senior disability inclusion communication advocate.  “Of 1 billion people with disabilities, 80 percent live in developing countries,” she adds. “We are the largest minority group, transcending every ethnicity, nationality, culture and religion. And in every element of diversity, you will find people with disabilities. Yet, unfortunately, we are the most marginalized and excluded people in the world – we do not have universal access to basic human rights. “In some societies we are seen as subhuman or unequal. As such, people with disabilities are not necessarily seen as worthy of being given the same access to food and nutrition and other services.”  When it comes to hunger, she adds: “Disability is a cause, contributor and consequence of malnutrition. We cannot achieve zero hunger in the world without bringing the concerns of people with disabilities to the fore – and targeting them methodically, because they are the hardest to reach and the most marginalized.” Via Cesare Giulio Viola, 68, 00148 Rome RM, Italy Reading"Marco Arguello photographs..." More fromWork Contact Advertising Opportunities Newsletters Insights + Opinion Creatives + Projects Advice + Resources Culture + Lifestyle Nicer Tuesdays The View From... POV Forward Thinking Review of the Year Jenny Brewer Olivia Hingley Ellis Tree Elizabeth Goodspeed Liz Gorny Extra Search like many other bewildered tourists before him spotted the Japanese’s penchant for creating plastic food to sit in the windows of restaurants He didn’t think too much about it and “just chalked it up to another quirky aspect of Japanese culture that I didn’t understand,” he tells It’s Nice That the subject popped up again and further research proved it was far from a quirk Marco Arguello: Japanese Fake Food for WePresent Marco and Katherine spent their time at workshops met with the generosity of the makers who let them roam around freely On top of his research before embarking the project was that you don’t just sign up and become a factory on an assembly line you have to train for years in order to make some of the more complicated foods,” the photographer points out “If all the food was made by machines in a factory I think it would have been a way less interesting story.” Marco was additionally offered a large amount of freedom from WePresent too who didn’t place “parameters on the creative process and just let me run with it.” the result is a series with a garish quality which heightens the overwhelming detail in each subject photographed whether it’s a hot dog neatly warped in clingfilm “Since the fake food was made of plastic and had a sort of gloss on it I wanted the hard flash to elevate the already hyper-realness of the food and its colours,” Marco describes I wanted the viewer to question whether the food was actually real or not.” Marco’s favourite element of the trip wasn’t the act of photographing instead pointing how just being able to enter that little world and see how everything works” was a real highlight “discovering that Gujo Hachiman was a charming little town was also a really nice surprise.” Further Infowww.marcoarguello.com Lucy Bourton Lucy (she/her) was part of the It’s Nice That team from 2016–2025 first joining as a staff writer after graduating from Chelsea College of Art with a degree in Graphic Design Communication eventually becoming a senior editor on our editorial team a research-driven department with It’s Nice That Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Pinterest About Careers at It’s Nice That Privacy Policy Insights Residence Creative Lives in Progress If You Could Jobs © It’s Nice That 2024 · Nice Face Logo © It’s Nice That www.marcoarguello.com Back in 2016 when photographer Marco Arguello was on his first trip to Japan he From embracing candid photography to exploring tactile textures the report champions a shift away from digital perfection highlighting the human touch as the key to impactful design Following the release of his debut book, New York Nico’s Guide to NYC the director and documentary filmmaker Nicolas Heller sat down with our US editor at large Elizabeth Goodspeed to discuss the origins of his widely loved Instagram page his career in filmmaking thus far and why he’s intent on capturing the city’s most charismatic characters writer and “sometimes artist” took to the New York Nicer Tuesdays stage to share the story behind the development of Bread on Earth: a project archive and umbrella for the research and experiments that she undertakes to better understand bread By offering a different view on the magic of the mundane carb Lexie shows us how the simple foodstuff can be an agent of personal and cultural identity – a gateway to bigger conversations about what it means to be human the premium stock creative media platform’s latest report breaks down how creatives and clients are losing out due to the homogeneity of curated imagery we consume About Contact Advertising Opportunities Newsletters Insights + Opinion Creatives + Projects Advice + Resources Culture + Lifestyle Nicer Tuesdays The View From... POV Forward Thinking Review of the Year Jenny Brewer Olivia Hingley Ellis Tree Elizabeth Goodspeed Liz Gorny Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Pinterest Careers at It’s Nice That Privacy Policy Insights Residence Creative Lives in Progress If You Could Jobs Ski resorts in Japan are increasingly introducing "glamping" to make use of the extensive land they occupy all year round with tourists finding the spots a sanctuary to avoid crowds while reconnecting with nature established a glamping area on a camping site in 2018 visited the area with his family this summer and became an instant fan because it "doesn't require any equipment preparation," he said was more impressed with the "clean mountain air" than not having to rough it as an ordinary camper would Glamping -- or glamorous camping -- describes a style of camping with amenities and other features one might expect at a hotel while summer visitors to Meiho had once been about 10 percent of the winter level the number has been steadily increasing since the introduction of glamping Meiho introduced six "Grace Balm" tents with posher interiors "We aim to promote our services not only in winter but all year round," Kamakura said The tents are air-conditioned and have comfortable beds and other facilities The resort has used the latest marketing techniques to attract guests such as holding a photo contest on social media and increasing "instagrammable" dome-type tents popular among young people One merit of glamping in a ski resort is that guests "can enjoy an extraordinary experience in the great outdoors feeling they are away from the eyes of others," said a Maiko official According to a white paper on leisure activities by the Japan Productivity Center the ski and snowboard population was 4.3 million in Japan in 2020 Data from Yano Research Institute has also shown that the value of domestic ski and snowboard gear shipments has been on a downward trend glamping is gaining popularity among people who wish to avoid crowded areas -- a trend "starting to take hold as a new style of travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic," top travel agency JTB Corp said Ski resort operators are pinning high hopes on glamping to overcome their hardships Ryuoo Mountain Resort in the town of Yamanouchi in Nagano Prefecture began glamping services on one of its unused ski courses in the summer of 2021 As guests can enjoy the "sea of clouds" -- a breathtaking overcast layer of undulating cloud formations -- spreading up close when conditions are right the operator has been flooded with reservations The popularity of the new glamping business was a welcome surprise "We had been looking for a breakthrough to halt the decreasing number of skiers due to aging facilities." Travel journalist Kazuko Murata pointed out the benefits of low initial costs to running the business "Glamping has advantages such as a lower initial investment for operators and a shorter construction period," Murata said you can increase facilities while watching how the business goes Now that tourism has been hit hard by COVID-19 it is a good move to take on the challenge of matching needs with existing assets." FEATURE: Families, groups seek seclusion in renovated villas amid COVID-19 Niseko ski resorts to delay season’s opening amid lack of foreign visitors FOCUS: Pandemic problems creating novel labor fixes for farm, hotel sectors 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 Put on your wooden geta (clogs) and get ready to dance to the infectious rhythm of Shiratori Odori. This special Bon dance, which originates from the village of Gujo in Gifu prefecture, is characterised by its slow tempo and simple movements, making it easy for anyone to join in. The dance is also said to help drive off evil spirits with its rhythmic sound of clogs trampling on the floor. You can learn the steps on the day by participating in a free Shiratori dance class at 5.30pm. Otherwise, just show up at 6pm and imitate the moves of the people around you. As with similar festivals across Japan, you’ll find food stalls serving crowd-pleasing street eats. There are other activities, too, including a geta-making workshop at 1pm. facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramAbout us The town of Gujo Hachiman is the centre of the replica food industry now worth an estimated $90m Kurumi Kono turns a rectangular sheet of white and green wax into what is quickly coming to resemble an iceberg lettuce “Place it in your hands and pull out the edges like this,” she says “Then roll the remaining wax into a ball to make a small lettuce She then drips a yellowy liquid wax from a paper cup into the hot water in which she encases a “cooked prawn” to produce a flawless piece of tempura shokuhin sanpuru (food samples) have been tempting diners into Japan’s restaurants for almost a century Gujo Hachiman, a picturesque town tucked in the mountains more than three hours west of Tokyo, lays claim to being the home of a replica food industry now worth an estimated $90m. Read moreIt is said that the father of replica food was inspired by the drops of candle wax that formed on the tatami-mat floor at the home he shared with his wife that she initially failed to distinguish from the real thing While some artisans had already started making rudimentary food models in the 1920s Iwasaki pioneered a production method that combined accuracy with volume and opened a workshop in his hometown of Gujo Hachiman His omelette appeared at a department store in Osaka in 1932 The more prosaic theory is that the replica food boom grew out of demand by restaurants for models that re-created the increasingly eclectic range of Japanese and foreign dishes that appeared on menus in the postwar period “Eating out could be a challenge for some people in those days, so restaurateurs saw display models as a way of putting customers at ease,” says Katsuji Kaneyama, president of Sanpuru Kobo (Sample Kobo) one of several replica food firms in Gujo Hachiman whose products account for about two-thirds of the domestic market “The trick is in striking a balance between realism and aestheticism – the model that looks the most delicious isn’t necessarily the most realistic,” says Kaneyama whose 10 full-time artists produce as many as 130,000 samples a year “And the most realistic models might not look all that tasty.” In the shop attached to the Sample Kobo workshop lines of tourists fill baskets with key rings and try their hand at making fake tempura and lettuces Plastic hamburger earrings Photograph: Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty ImagesThe replicas don’t come cheap Some of the more intricate models can cost several hundred dollars and all items cost more than the dishes they represent painting and airbrushing each morsel until they’re practically indistinguishable from the real thing dismisses concern that the industry will be overtaken by 3D printing technology but it actually takes longer and costs more than you’d think.” “I can easily tell the difference between a printed model and one that has been painstakingly created by hand,” he said “There is something about the way a handmade replica looks and feels that I don’t think can be re-created on a 3D printer.” artists paint seeds on to slices of banana and glue slices of tuna belly to oblongs of rice On the workbench in front of them is a whimsical ramen presentation the chopsticks and a mouthful of noodles seemingly suspended in mid-air above the bowl Shelves heave with an eclectic mix of western and Japanese food from ayu river fish that appear to have just been pulled from the water to glasses of lager and spider crabs Kaneyama believes his artists can reproduce the most obscure items of food demanded by tens of thousands of restaurants across Japan A traditional event was held for rinsing “Gujo Honzome” koinobori carp streamers in the Kodara River in Gujo the first day of “Daikan,” which is believed to be the coldest period of the classical Chinese calendar Gujo Honzome is a traditional indigo dyeing technique when the paste used to outline designs is washed off in the clear stream where the water’s temperature was just 5 C and carefully washed away paste using brushes and other tools Another cold rinsing event will take place on Feb 4 日本語 Close Japanese Web Page 2019 Orientation/Opening Ceremony/Welcome PartyThe 2019 Summer School started on June 26 Ten students came to Gifu University from four different countries They are; three from Northern Kentucky University (U.S.) two from Mokpo National University (South Korea) one from University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (also China) and two from the National University of Malaysia (UKM students took part in orientation and a campus tour They also attended the school's opening ceremony in the evening students enjoyed conversations with GU student monitors international students already studying at the University 2019 Start of Japanese Language ClassStudents attended the Japanese language classes from June 27 to July 23 2019 Bird Watching Workshop & Haiku CompositionStudents joined a bird watching workshop held at Nagaragawa Fureai-no-Mori park (Gifu City) After spending some time observing birds in the forest they introduced nature and birds indigenous to their home countries each other They also challenged composing Japanese seventeen-syllable haiku poems in the park 2019 University Hospital Tour & Nursing Course English WorkshopAfter a tour of the University Hospital students joined the English Workshop with the third-year nursing course students 2019 Excursion to SekiStudents enjoyed traditional sword making demonstration at Seki Hamono Museum (Seki City Gifu Prefecture) and later joined a scissor-making workshop Local volunteer people invited the students to a kimono-wearing workshop to develop their understanding of traditional Japanese cloths Nohgaku (Noh and Kyogen traditional performing arts) workshop was held on campus Students first listened to explanations given by Mr Hiromichi Tamoi (both are main actors called "Shite" in Kanze School) about Noh Chuzaburo Shigeyama (Kyogen drama performers in Okura School) students closely watched their professional Noh and Kyogen performances being unfolded on stage Gujo ProgramWith the strong support from the members of Gujo Hachiman International Friendship Association and the Gujo City Office staffers students joined a number of cultural events and home stay programs in Gujo City 　【Gujo Program Itinerary】 　　July 12 　　　Morning: after arriving at Gujo City students visited Hachiman Elementary School 　　　Afternoon: dressed up in yukata (summer kimono) 　　　 　　　　 　took part in kendo training with the Gujo Senior High School Kendo Club　　　　　　members,met host families attended a welcome party and stayed at host family's homes 　　July 13 　　　Morning: practiced Japanese calligraphy and attended a tea ceremony 　　　Afternoon: stayed at host family's homes 　　July 14 　　　Full Day: spent time with host families 　　July 15 　　　Morning: reviewed Gujo Program July 17 Tour to University Farm & Soft-Serve Ice Cream MakingStudents visited the university farm and made soft-serve ice creams with milk from the cattle being raised at the farm While they were waiting for ice creams ready the farm's director explained the structure roles and activities of the food-processing building within the farm The students also strolled around vegetable fields an orchard and spent some time brushing cows at a cow house July 24　Presentation/Closing Ceremony/Farewell PartyOn the final day of the school every student gave a speech on their most memorable things or events happened during their stay in Gifu and Japan Students who attended the classes (80% or more in attendance rate) were handed out a certificate of completion students who were chosen to represent their home countries made a speech in Japanese on their impressions about the summer school before President Hisakata Moriwaki Detailed explanation of icons Japanese version Public Relations Office, Government of Japan Home > Highlighting JAPAN > Highlighting Japan August 2018 > How to Enjoy Summer in Japan Gujo Hachiman is a castle town in central Gifu that grew up around the fortress of the same name both townspeople and visitors here have danced for thirty nights during the summer at the Gujo Odori No article or any part there of may be reproduced without the express permission of the Cabinet Office. Copyright inquiries should be made through this form Bon odori dance festivals are an annual summer tradition where the locals get together and dance to traditional music But Yukiko Nakanishi has become a common fixture among the local dancers at venues across Osaka Prefecture and the vicinity The 35-year-old Osaka resident became so enthralled by the dance that she has been working on promotional activities on her own for five years “A dance hall somewhere every day,” she even carries a portable “yagura” stage to play dance music on and host a dance party anywhere she goes “I want everyone to see the fun of Bon odori through my self-centered project,” Nakanishi said she could be seen among locals at Yao Betsuin Daishinji temple in Yao dancing to the “Kawachi Ondo” Bon odori song--a local specialty--in the pouring rain Taking elegant steps and keeping her fingertips aligned together she danced to the music of the guitar and drums “A dance hall somewhere every day” in fluorescent pink letters which is her typical costume when she attends Bon odori festivals Nakanishi attended about 10 events in Osaka alone while also participating in a festival in Totsukawa as well as the Gujo Odori and Shirotori Odori festivals in Gujo the Shirotori Odori dance is performed at a quick pace We danced through the night until morning,” she said If there are people who don’t know the Bon odori routines for a specific festival others around them can show them how to do them “The charm of Bon odori is that anyone of all ages can do the dances,” Nakanishi said adding that everyone can look like a natural by the end of each song while following the examples of others Nakanishi developed a passion for Bon odori about 10 years ago when she visited a dance festival in Osaka’s Chuo Ward with her friends “I could dance even though I’m not good at sports and I was elated while I danced around the elevated yagura stage again and again,” she said she grew restless whenever she heard the distant sound of drums There was a time when she would ride her bicycle in the direction of the drums to find the festival venue She even started checking a website about Bon odori schedules and venues in Osaka Prefecture so she could attend the festivals alone As Nakanishi continued attending dance festivals she realized there were other die-hard fans at every Bon odori venue just like herself who lives in Higashi-Osaka and calls herself “Tobikiyo.” Nakanishi met her at the Kawachi Ondo venue in September The seasoned dancer once praised Nakanishi’s passion and encouraged the newcomer to keep it up While Nakanishi makes acquaintances through her Bon odori activities she only regularly keeps in touch with a few of them “It’s a comfortable distance for me where I can say ‘Nice seeing you again,’ when I see familiar faces at venues,” Nakanishi said She added: “There are people who can dance to any song Others are passionate about going to many Bon odori festivals I love seeing how that love can come in many different forms.” After she launched her promotional activities five years ago she asked her designer friend to create a T-shirt bearing her slogan She attends her friends’ housewarming parties and other events with a ready-to-assemble portable Bon odori stage her furniture-making friend created and she invites adults and children to dance together She also organizes Bon odori events at various locations upon request Nakanishi has an Instagram account (@nakanishidance) on which she shares her activities All-night Gujo dance festival returns to Gifu after four years Festivals that planned to return now face tough calls as cases rise Nagasaki Kunchi festival being held for the first time in 4 years Today's print edition Home Delivery a writer rarely given to dispensing easy compliments could be a dyspeptic traveler when destinations did not live up to his expectations After a long walk through the mountains of Gifu Prefecture the riverine settlement of Gujo-Hachiman raised his spirits and added a spring to his step from his book "The Roads to Sata," "a town of a kind I'd dreamed of finding when I'd first arrived in Japan almost 20 years before when I went out to stroll around it that evening I almost forgot to limp."googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); then the uncomplicated sensation of being thoroughly smitten 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 Seok-Woo Song — Photos exploring the pressures and loneliness of life in Korea Federico Borella & Michela Balboni — Photographing rural Italy’s “tree men” AikBeng Chia — Recreating vivid scenes from 1970s Singapore with the help of AI WePresent is the arts platform of WeTransfer.The simplest way to send big files A platform to empower creatives while using business as a force for good It has pretty rivers and a popular summer dance festival But Gujo Hachiman is most famous as one of the world’s finest producers of plastic food – hyperreal samples that grace restaurant windows across Japan Photographer Marco Arguello and writer Katherine Whatley went to Gujo Hachiman to capture the craftsmanship heritage and humor behind this curious export Peer through any restaurant window and you’ll see a display of painstakingly-crafted plastic food but they’ve been part of Japanese food culture for nearly 90 years When Greek photographer Marco Arguello first came across sampuru in 2016 “I thought it was a sign the restaurant was poor quality because anywhere else in the world it would be out of place,” he says But after going down an internet rabbit hole What he’d assumed were mass produced by machines were actually “created by dedicated artisans who spent years learning the craft of hand-making plastic food.” and his new series documents both the artisans who create these pieces and the absurdist aesthetics of the sampuru “Japan has a long history of beautiful craftsmanship – things like paper I thought this would be a great project because it’s so different from the things that immediately come to mind when thinking of Japanese craftsmanship.” sometimes oversaturated images – perfect for the shiny surfaces and the visual trickery involved in the sampuru with its vinyl sofas and faded portraits of old men who once oversaw production This aesthetic is contrasted with shiny images of the fake food Nothing about this story was as Marco expected The nearest city to Gujo Hachiman is Nagoya an industrial powerhouse dominated by Toyota He thought Hachiman (as the locals call it) would be pretty characterless too “I was pleasantly surprised to find a town that was nestled between the mountains and oozing with charm.” The town sits in a valley where two rivers meet This encouraged strong local handicraft production locals turned their skills to a new product – the shokuhin sampuru Hachiman native and the father of fake food first got the idea after seeing how hot wax dropped into water created a flower pattern “Then he looked at a badly made wax-sample of an apple and realized he could perfect the technology and sell samples to restaurants,” says Seigo Kozakai the head of Hachiman’s major plastic food manufacturer Restaurants were gaining popularity in Japan Dishes like omelet stuffed with ketchup-flavored rice hamburger steak and deep-fried shrimp and pork were new Takizo’s samples would show consumers what this new food looked like So with a box filled with samples on his back Takizo peddled his wares from store to store so confident was he that his plastic food would help restaurants bring in new business Takizo and his fake food samples helped revolutionize the eating habits of the Japanese the workshops switched from wax to plastic “because of all of its infinite possibilities and because it doesn’t melt in the sun,” Seigo says Now they could provide everything from bright red crabs to creamy noodles and fluffy desserts Yoshoku remains a mainstay of the industry and workers create hundreds of technicolor fried shrimp juicy pork and bowls of bright red spaghetti every month many of whom have spent their lives making plastic food The process for making the sampuru has changed little in decades and most of the work is still done by hand then pour in liquid plastic which is left to set then the workers clean up the shape and start painting Finally they apply a fixative which protects the paint and adds an extra shine This process can take anywhere between a few hours and a few weeks Each food sample has a different level of difficulty and so some items are reserved for the more senior “How many years you have been making plastic food determines what kinds of food you are able to make,” Marco says and only those with at least ten years of experience can make it.” Mr Inoue is one of the longest-serving craftsmen at the factory He says making sampuru is all about appreciating and enjoying the source material if you don’t have a good understanding of food it’s hard to make a sampuru that approximates the original closely otherwise you won’t have inspiration and won’t be able to make something fascinating and funny.” Making the customer smile is key to convincing them to go into the restaurant Marco’s take on the sampuru is also all about humor “I wanted this series to be fun and a little bit absurd because most stories about Japanese craft are so beautiful “I loved the idea of contrasting something so organic with a manufacturing context –spaghetti in an oven hand-molded nori seaweed in a sort of Petri dish." But this project wasn’t just about the samples themselves it was about the whole culture that surrounds it “Though the fake food is obviously the star I wanted to tie everything together by showing the artisans at work as well as the tourism aspect of the industry.” Behind Marco’s images is a story about a small town trying to deal with what its future will look like Hachiman’s population is getting older; people and jobs are moving to the cities who owns the other sampuru-contender in town thinks plastic-food tourism is part of the answer Katsuji’s store is focused on tourists; his shop hosts workshops and sells keychains and other items in a 150-year-old nagaya house with as many original details as possible I want people to visit Hachiman and learn about our town and the sampuru craft.” “Because we have the Iwasaki Mokei factory and Hachiman is the birthplace of Iwasaki Takizo because people want real and authentic experiences.” Want (even) more WePresent?Sign up to our monthly newsletter is back to full strength for the first time since the start of the pandemic organizers have dropped the anti-Covid restrictions they put in place for the festival's return last year The dancing takes place on weekends and some weekdays from mid-July to September 9th The summer tradition was registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2022 For more videos like this will offer a lunch set that has been renewed for the first time in two years for a mouthwatering excursion on the Nagara sightseeing train the new French-style meal will be served starting from April 1 will also reduce the capacity from 25 to 15 so that passengers can wine and dine while they enjoy the view from their seats in a more relaxed manner "We intend to enrich the service quality to offer better value for money," said Katsuhiko Hayashi subsection chief of the transport division at Nagaragawa Railway "We want to help passengers make great memories from the trip." The new lunch course will be served on the Nagara leaving Mino-Ota Station at 10:45 a.m and arriving at Gujo-Hachiman Station at 12:16 p.m Passengers will also receive a two-day ticket for unlimited rides The operator selected Miyako Hotel Gifu Nagaragawa in Gifu to collaborate with on the project chief chef in the Western cuisine division at the hotel came up with a 14-course French meal flavored in Japanese style "jidori" (free-range chicken) from the Okumino region and other local ingredients the railway company and the hotel operator aim to rejuvenate the tourism industry hit hard by the novel coronavirus pandemic The number of passengers who boarded the Nagara in 2019 was about 1,700 but the figure dropped sharply to about 800 in 2020 due to the pandemic The number rebounded to around 1,300 in 2022 The lunch excursion costs 18,000 yen ($135) For inquiries, visit the official website at (http://www.nagatetsu.co.jp/en/) Gifu Prefecture--Skiers and snowboarders enjoyed their first runs of the season with the opening for business of a ski resort here on Nov Visitors from in and outside the prefecture gathered at the White Pia Takasu ski resort from early in the morning which has been prepared with artificial snow made by spraying shaved ice since Oct is approximately 10 meters wide and descends for about 1 kilometer The area will be expanded with the use of a different type of snowmaking machines White Pia Takasu said it was the first ski field to open this season among those in and west of Gifu Prefecture “We hope many visitors will come and pump up the ski season,” said the manager of the ski resort Major ski resort taking shape in Fukushima in time for winter Japanese version a collection of 41 traditional Japanese dances is expected to be registered as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO The Cultural Affairs Agency announced Tuesday that UNESCO’s evaluation body has recommended its registration The official decision is expected to be made at an intergovernmental committee meeting to be held in Rabat Furyu odori are performance folk art featuring elaborate costumes and props with people dancing to the accompaniment of singing and musical instruments such as flutes A total of 41 such traditional dances from 24 prefectures are expected to be registered Among the dances are Bon Odori and Nembutsu Odori including the Gujo Odori in Gifu Prefecture for which dancers gather from all over Japan The Gujo Odori is known for its all-night performances with many rows of dancers surrounding a float Participants in the Nishimonai Bon Odori in Ugo wear brightly colored costumes and straw hats The Rokusai Nembutsu has been handed down in various parts of Kyoto is an event to pray for rain associated with the Buddhist monk Kukai Registration as an intangible cultural heritage requires the existence of a preservation system in the nation in question but the list was narrowed down to 41 dances that have been designated as nationally important intangible folk cultural assets and which local preservation societies are working actively to safeguard was registered as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in 2009 The government added 40 new dances and proposed grouping all 41 as furyu odori Many of the furyu odori date to the Edo period (1603-1867) or earlier and developed in various regions as offerings to the dead or events to pray for good harvests and ward off bad luck The dances have been handed down through the ages and the proposal for registration emphasized the cultural and social significance of the dances as a spiritual foundation for the revival of disaster-stricken areas Japan currently has 22 registered intangible cultural heritages washi Japanese paper and the Chakkirako dance Home > Highlighting JAPAN > Highlighting Japan August 2019 > A Trip by Local Train Using the Nagaragawa Railway in Gifu Prefecture you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the Nagara River or disembark along the line to explore a region with a long history and many folk crafts and traditions The Federal Police Commission has arrested Alemayehu Gujo state minister of Finance & Economic Cooperation for an alleged corruption case on the same day the Parliament revoked his impunity The revocation of his privilege of being protected from any legal suit was proposed by Getachew Ambaye You have selected an article from the AllAfrica archive, which requires a subscription. You can subscribe by visiting our subscription page. Or for more information about becoming a subscriber, you can read our subscription and contribution overview You can also freely access - without a subscription - hundreds of today's top Africa stories and thousands of recent news articles from our home page » AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals representing a diversity of positions on every topic We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you There was a problem processing your submission For a town so closely associated with water it's rather fitting that Gujo-Hachiman is shaped like a fish my guide for the afternoon and a native of this small town of approximately 18,000 inhabitants tucked away in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture and we have plenty of that in Gujo-Hachiman."googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); The town sits at the confluence of four rivers: the tiny Otohime and the Kodara all three join the Nagara River to the west of town Japanese version definitely better than having him against you That’s what our Anime Vanguards Gojo guide is about we’ve got all the details we can find on the Gujo unit this one arrives with both halves together Anime Vanguards is out now on Roblox. If you want to net some Gems, maybe try our Anime Vanguards Update 1 codes guide Let’s take a section to discuss the unit itself These units appear on the standard summon banner with an overall likelihood of 0.5% chance to appear with each Summon This doesn’t mean you necessarily have a 0.5% chance of pulling Gujo The best time to try to summon Gujo is when you see him in the banner This means you have the best possible chance to get him You can evolve Gujo to Gujo (Infinity) with the following components Copyright 2025 Droid Gamers Inc. - All Rights Reserved. - Privacy Policy By the Anime Vanguards Gojo unit is a popular one to get Gojo is a Mythic rarity unit with a 17.3% drop rate chance you have a 0.5% overall chance of getting a Mythic unit when summoning on the banner You can’t evolve him until you complete all acts within the Shibuya Station stage either This is because the specific evolution item can only be purchased from the new Cursed Shop The currency to buy Six Eyes is Cursed Fingers which has a low chance of dropping from the Infinite Mode in Shibuya This mode is available upon completing the 6 initial acts of the stage and you need a total of 2 Six Eyes to evolve Gojo into Limitless form By By By These are greatest anime multiverse heroes for your party These units are rather interchangeable; decent enough for Story Mode and easier Challenge variables These units can help you throughout Story Mode once fully upgraded An ordinary Indonesian who enjoys playing and talking about video games His favorite games are Monster Hunter: World shoji (the traditional Japanese sliding doors made of wooden frame and translucent paper) Taking a walk through the preserved old town of Takayama is like the epitome of all your Japanese dreams my visit coincided with the Takayama Autum Festival which is considered to be one of the three most beautiful festivals in Japan along with Kyoto’s Gion Festival and Saitama’s Chichibu Night Festival the quaint little town of Takayama was bustling with lively spirits watching dragon dances under tall pine trees and adoring the traditional festival floats or “yatai” that are recognized by the government as folklore cultural assets Takayama Old Town is still worth the visit the famous morning market here—where you can find traditional Japanese treats (takoyaki!) and many more—is consistently open for tourists to enjoy any time of the year and you will leave feeling full not just in the stomach “Ninjas are real???” Was my first reaction at Yuko’s first mention of ninjas I honestly thought they are just a figment of anime (are you judging me?) and immediately the world felt like a much cooler place history does not always align with the bright Ninjas were hired assassins and spies of Samurais who were huge political leaders for over 700 years in Japan I was able to catch a Samurai and Ninja Show a traveling performing group in Japan who tells the history of samurais and ninjas through dance the well-executed dances and war scenes (not to mention the brawny samurais) are all worth squeezing in through the crowd for now houses exhibit halls that give you a glimpse of Japan in the Edo Period (1603-1868) when Tokugawa Ieyasu ruled Japan as its “shogun” or supreme military commander has been turned into an observation deck where you can get a 360 degree view of Nagoya from above I’ve been told the trees surrounding the castle are cherry blossom trees, so another great season to come to this place would be in the spring when the cherry blossoms come in full bloom for two weeks So painfully beautiful that I hold no shame in saying I shed a tear the first moment I laid my eyes on it from the observatory deck Nestled between mountains covered in picturesque pine trees Shirakawa-go is considered to be one of the most scenic places in Japan which is no surprise that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and what makes it so charming is the 200-300 year old thatch-roofed houses where residents live especially in the winter when everything becomes covered in snow and even more tourists come to visit when the town is illuminated under the white of snow the narrow streams of water where colorful koi fish would swim and the old ladies tending to their blossoming gardens who would smile as you pass by—Shirakawa-go is that place you thought only existed in postcards or paintings during a long transit between Shirakawa and Takayama I was looking out the window of my bus seat at dark-hued brick roofs of Japanese houses in quiet neighborhoods It’s called “Ue O Muite Arukou,” she tells me writing the words down on my little notebook “The song is about looking up,” Tomoko says “We tend to look down when we are disappointed so it’s telling us to look up because happiness can be found beyond the clouds.” and as we pass a mountain of lush forests towered by fluffy white clouds of cumulus the Ethiopian parliament on Friday voted to strip State Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation Alemayehu Gujo of immunity federal police took him into custody as a suspect in a grand corruption case The state minister was given a chance to speak by House Speaker Abadula Gemeda after Attorney General Getachew Ambaye read out corruption charges against him “I whole-heartedly support the government’s move to fight corruption While I was serving the public and the government over the past nine years I have nothing to regret about,” Alemayehu told the house He added: “I will cooperate with law enforcement personnel to establish the truth since I firmly believe that the justice system we have put in place works for everyone” underscored the fact that the issues (charges brought against him) would have been more transparent and better articulated had action been taken at political and administrative forums earlier a similar fate has befallen the former director general of the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) who is currently serving as Ethiopia’s representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) State Minister Alemayehu is the highest-ranking official to have been detained so far during the current corruption crackdown It is to be recalled that more than 47 businesspeople as well as “senior” government officials notably from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation the Addis Ababa City Housing Development Agency the Ethiopian Roads Authority and the Addis Ababa City Roads Authority (AARCA) have been taken into custody on suspicion of corruption