Vending machines and traditional wooden kokeshi dolls are both icons of Japanese culture and a hot spring resort in northeastern Fukushima Prefecture has combined the two The novelty of being able to buy the dolls 24 hours a day has created a buzz and lifted sales – and is also raising awareness about the need to preserve the handicraft The vending machine offers Nakanosawa kokeshi dolls set up the machine in August in front of a restaurant he runs in the hot spring resort area of Inawashiro Town The region celebrated the 100th anniversary of Nakanosawa kokeshi dolls two years ago "Many people are coming to Japan from overseas now so I thought it would be a good opportunity for more people to get to know the dolls and that's why I decided to install this vending machine," Nishimura says The vending machine currently offers five types of kokeshi dolls made by four artisans Nishimura had expected to sell one doll per week at most Nishimura says people observing the unique sales platform for the first time seem to be greatly intrigued by the combination of vending machines and traditional crafts One restaurant diner called the machine "colorful and cute," adding Nakanosawa kokeshi dolls are characterized by their large heads Their appearance is different from the smaller-headed Tsuchiyu versions made in the neighboring city of Fukushima A man named Iwamoto Zenkichi is credited for creating the first Nakanosawa doll He moved from Tochigi Prefecture to the resort area where a hot spring guest asked him to make a doll as a gift for their child Nakanosawa kokeshi dolls were thought to belong to the Tsuchiyu kokeshi lineage the Tsuchiyu kokeshi craftsmen's association formally acknowledged them as a distinct tradition Nishimura has been learning the doll-making craft from Seya Koji one of the artisans whose works are sold from the vending machine Seya has been making dolls for over half a century He produces around 500 of them a year using the traditional methods taught to him by his father who learned them from Iwamoto Zenkichi himself Only nine artisans are now making dolls of this kind People like Nishimura become apprentices to keep the tradition alive but they must contend with the rising cost of resources such as wood and electricity Seya is hopeful that the new attention from the vending machine sales will help preserve the tradition by making more people aware of the dolls and attracting new buyers "I feel that it's a good opportunity for many people to see them," he says Chief Curator at the Fukushima Prefectural Museum of Art says the vending machine's installation was a significant attempt to help preserve traditional culture While kokeshi dolls are important cultural products "folk crafts cannot survive unless they sell," Yamaguchi says "I think it will be important in the future for young people to get involved and expand sales channels with fresh sensibilities and to think about how to make and sell them." the vending machine will lead not only to more sales of the dolls but to an increase in the number of young artisans as well Nishimura also hopes the vending machine's popularity will help spotlight his beloved dolls and attract more visitors to the area "We hope that it will become a new tourist attraction and that it will help to spread the word about Nakanosawa kokeshi." The Japanese bacteriologist Noguchi Hideyo (1876–1928) was born into an impoverished family in a farming hamlet called Sanjōgata in what is now the town of Inawashiro on the northern side of Fukushima Prefecture’s Lake Inawashiro He rose from this poverty—and from a devastating burn on his left hand suffered when he fell into the home’s firepit as a toddler—to display talent for medicine and bacteriological research This would take him far from the shores of Inawashiro to pursue a bright career in the United States and Africa to clarify the causes of afflictions from syphilis to yellow fever He would be considered for the Nobel Prize in Medicine three times before disease cut his life short in Accra Today resting in New York’s Woodlawn Cemetery and commemorated around the world in locations like Ghana’s Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research this historical figure is also remembered in Inawashiro where the home in which he was born stands to this day its thatched roof protected from the elements by the overarching structure of the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum The museum stands just off of National Route 49 The structure’s space on the right side shelters the farmhouse where Noguchi was born in 1876 The Noguchi home with the protective roof overhead and the 1,816-meter peak of Mount Bandai in the background Here Noguchi Seisaku (his birth name) was born; at 18 months he tumbled into the fire pit here badly burning his left hand and lower arm on the smoldering coals This was a catastrophic injury for someone expected to work in local fields and his mother Shika urged the boy to pursue learning instead Another highlight of this main room is the message young Seisaku carved into one of the pillars when he left for Tokyo in 1896 to take the first stage of his medical licensing exams: Kokorozashi o ezareba futatabi konochi o fumazu “I will not set foot in this place again until I have achieved all my goals.” At right the firepit that would change the course of the young Noguchi’s life The pillar at left still bears the marks of the young Noguchi’s knife and you pass through permanent exhibit rooms titled “Hideyo’s Life and Times,” “The Real Hideyo,” and “The Doctor’s Laboratory.” Each section displays valuable photographs and other materials along with the scientist’s own treasures possessions Playing a major part in that life were the people he met along the way without whose support he would not have been able to amount to much Noguchi poses with key figures in his life in 1915 during his only trip back to Japan after leaving for the United States in 1900 the doctor who first operated on Noguchi’s burned hand; Chiwaki Morinosuke a dentist who served as mentor and sponsor to Noguchi; and Kobayashi Sakae an educator who opened the path to learning for the young Aizu boy Noguchi’s lifelong friend and colleague at the Takayama College of Dentistry Facing a hard life and the need to farm for a meager living Noguchi was saved early on by Kobayashi Sakae head teacher at the Inawashiro Higher Elementary School equivalent to a junior high school in today’s system Perceiving the young Noguchi’s academic aptitude Kobayashi in 1889 arranged for him to continue studying at his school He provided financial assistance to help cover the cost of this schooling and raised money to pay for an operation that would give him some use of his ruined left hand The surgeon handling this operation was Watanabe Kanae who had studied medicine in the United States inspired by the movement the procedure had returned to his fingers determined to enter the path of medicine himself He took a position as receptionist and assistant at Watanabe’s Kaiyõ Clinic where he began learning the fundamentals of medical science A museum display detailing Noguchi’s time in Inawashiro and Aizu-Wakamatsu Kobayashi loaned Noguchi money to travel to Tokyo and take his medical licensing examinations After passing the first stage of the exams in 1896 he took up a dissipate lifestyle in the capital and burned through this money in short order He next came to rely on Chiwaki Morinosuke a friend of Watanabe who worked as a dentist at the Takayama College of Dentistry in Tokyo With a room at the school’s boarding house and money to pay for his preparations for the second phase of the tests Noguchi focused on his studies and passed the government exams in 1897 This was to be something of a pattern in Noguchi’s life He would obtain money for some purpose—traveling abroad to further his research for example—only to spend it all and go hat in hand to Kobayashi and Chiwaki once again His sloppy approach to life makes him less exemplary than the hard-working medical researcher portrayed in many biographies and it is clear he would not have gone far in life without the help of these reliable figures a curator at the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum great deeds like Noguchi’s are never the product of a single person His family in particular was so poor that the other villagers were reported to say the sun is likely to come up in the west!” But Noguchi was also the kind of person never to forget the debts he incurred—he was always filled with gratitude for the love of his mother and repaid them as best he could.” In fact when Noguchi returned to Japan after achieving great things in the United States and Europe on a trip through Japan’s western Kansai region; when Chiwaki visited him in America he assiduously looked after his needs for a full month “We hope our displays at the museum can convey some of this importance of the human connections in his life.” Noguchi always kept this letter from Shika as a memento; its plaintive urging that he come home to Japan convinced him to return in 1915 Photographs depicting the hero’s welcome Noguchi enjoyed all around Japan when he came back in 1915 His hand’s range of motion still limited, Noguchi Seisaku decided to pursue medical research instead of a practice as a physician. In 1898, he took a position at the Kitasato Institute, an infectious disease research center run by Kitasato Shibasaburō Noguchi is said to have been shocked at reading Tōsei shosei katagi (Portrait of a Contemporary Student) by Tsubouchi Shōyō finding in it a dissolute medical student from the countryside named Nonoguchi Seisaku and worrying that he had provided the model for this no-good character His old teacher Kobayashi suggested Hideyo and this was the name he went with from 1899 onward A letter from Tsubouchi Shōyō to Kobayashi Sakae explains that his book had been written when Noguchi was only nine or so and was not patterned after his behavior in Tokyo later in life Noguchi had another fateful encounter when the American bacteriologist Simon Flexner came to Japan A teacher of pathology at Johns Hopkins University (and from later that year Flexner wanted to visit the Kitasato Institute Noguchi would follow Flexner back to the United States with little more than a letter of introduction from Kitasato himself and succeed in obtaining a position as his research assistant Flexner put Noguchi to work researching snake venom including with an invitation to do research at the Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen when Flexner was picked to serve as the first head of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in New York he called Noguchi to join the research staff obtaining and isolating a sample of the Treponema pallidum spirochete that causes syphilis His energy and work ethic inspired his Rockefeller colleagues to nickname him the “human dynamo.” the year he was made a full lifetime member of the Rockefeller Institute he was also placed into consideration for a Nobel Prize in Medicine Having firmly established himself in a successful research career he judged the time right to return to Japan for the first time in 15 years Displays chronicle his years of success in the United States and Denmark “A Day in the Life of Dr Noguchi” chronicles his activities in the laboratories of the Rockefeller Institute It was soon after this that Noguchi identified the next foe he would take on: yellow fever His research on this fearsome disease culminated in his announcement in Ecuador in 1918 that he had identified its pathogen as the bacterium Leptospira icteroides The “Noguchi vaccine” was swift to follow and for a time he was feted globally as a hero of the battle against this disease He continued his work in Latin America thereafter and other countries to research diseases there word came from Africa that outbreaks of yellow fever there were not responding to his vaccine and academic publications began to pile up arguing against his L Noguchi’s work was hailed in South America; in Ecuador he was named an honorary colonel of the army despite opposition from people worried that the work was too dangerous for him (Having never contracted yellow fever as a child he had no immunity to it.) By the spring of the following year he had confirmed that his bacteriological pathogen theory was incorrect As he was preparing to return to New York and continue his research there it became clear that Noguchi’s vaccine had been effective against the bacterium causing Weil’s disease (leptospirosis) whose symptoms are similar to those of yellow fever The latter disease is spread by mosquitos and caused by a virus not a bacterium—a pathogen far too small to be detected with the optical microscopes of Noguchi’s time It was only after his death that virology made serious advances especially with the development of the electron microscope he may well have gone on to achieve fresh discoveries in this next phase of medical science Photos from Noguchi’s funeral in New York and a replica of his tombstone Noguchi’s tale—that of a man who faced tremendous adversity to become one of the first Japanese scientists to make his mark on the world stage in the modern era—continues to draw admirers to this day Glimpses of the deep curiosity that drove him in his work can be seen in “The Real Hideyo,” a museum section re-creating the Shandaken The walls are decorated with numerous paintings and calligraphic works by the scientist himself and the stylish suit and boots on display hint at the passions that guided him in his lifestyle Paintings by Noguchi decorate the walls and a favorite chess board sits on the table Fascinated by new things and a follower of fashion Noguchi wore stylish suits and boots and was a dedicated user of dental floss On the wall at left are calligraphic works he wrote himself The museum’s Morita Teppei explains: “We redesigned the exhibits in 2015 with an eye to making them more accessible to elementary-school-age visitors from inside Japan along with tourists from abroad.” The bold design of the museum’s interior spaces focus attention nicely on the objects on display and English-language explanations are plentiful An especially popular stop among younger visitors is the robotic Noguchi Hideyo which sits in “The Doctor’s Laboratory” and answers questions about the scientist and his life Noguchi has appeared on the thousand-yen note since 2004 In 2024 he will be replaced there by one of his benefactors Kitasato Shibasaburō—a fitting way to keep the public mind on the field of infectious disease where both of these notable men were active The Noguchi robot answers visitors’ questions with plenty of natural expressions and motions A scientific section of the museum shares basic information on bacteria and the history of infectious disease research The photograph that was the basis for the portrait on the thousand-yen note is part of an exhibit on the currency Banner photo: A bust of Noguchi donated by the Rockefeller Institute stands before the researcher’s original home.) Ayumi Miyaura remembers her sadness in seeing young children at a daycare center inside an Ecuador prison where their mothers were incarcerated would go on to follow a similar path as adults thought of how she could give them a taste of a better future what came to mind was "hanabi" -- the Japanese word for fireworks she wanted to share that experience with children -- as well as the broader public -- in the Latin American country She admits to struggling to explain how exactly her mission to stage a fireworks show in Ecuador would make a lasting impression on the local children who grew up with their mothers in prison but there is the question of what fireworks per se can actually do to change a child's life?" Miyaura said She added she hopes to strike an emotional chord and stir something within the children inspire them not to settle for the status quo But her dream -- an idea that took shape in 2004 -- has yet to come to fruition because of the logistical problems of transporting fireworks out of Japan hatching a plan to produce fireworks this summer for a celebration marking the 100th anniversary of Japan-Ecuador diplomatic ties With the support of the Ecuador Embassy in Tokyo and the organizing committee the initial project evolved into a tie-up with the Fukushima Prefecture town of Inawashiro because of its historical links with Ecuador It is the hometown of Japanese scientist Hideyo Noguchi who went to Ecuador in 1918 to help control yellow fever with a street and a school in the suburbs of Ecuador's capital Quito named after him At this year's Inawashiro fireworks festival held on Aug Fireworks in the images of a banana and a traditional hat as traditional Ecuadorian music played in the background organizers during their visit to Ecuador asked local kids to write down their wishes on pieces of paper the children were also asked to do the same children from the two countries took part in the project and had their wishes wrapped around firework shell casings and launched from a tube A group of Ecuadorians touring Japan also witnessed the spectacle there are also fireworks but not on the scale or level of Japanese hanabi I am happy to have been able to create that moment for people from Japan and Ecuador," Miyaura said referring to the Japanese word for fireworks the Chinese characters for flower and fire who heads the centenary anniversary committee was Japan's former ambassador to Ecuador at the time commemorative events were being organized and when the hanabi project was proposed to him he initially thought fireworks would turn out to simply be a one-off event where the fireworks are launched and that would be the end of it having seen Miyaura's dedication and all the work put in and the involvement of people from both countries he believes the project has made its mark in bringing the countries closer Among the Japanese spectators was Yuya Hattori who came all the way from Mie Prefecture with her Ecuadorian husband Hattori was part of a bus tour group of Japanese and Ecuadorian nationals who traveled to Inawashiro for the hanabi project and we can see and appreciate beauty," Hattori said Miyaura believes the sight of fireworks --- often characterized by people in Japan as "flowers in the sky" -- resonates with people from all walks of life as a way of celebration seeing fireworks can empower you to carry on and look ahead to tomorrow," she said recalling the life-changing trip to Ecuador that motivated her to embark on the hanabi project Miyaura was in university when she left Japan in 2004 to live abroad for six months and experience a different culture and Ecuador seemed as good a choice as any Under a program run by a Japanese nongovernmental organization she volunteered to work at a childcare center inside a prison in Quito There she took care of children and babies "I learned how some children who grow up with their mothers in prison commit crimes and return to a life behind the bars," she said I wanted them to know there is a different world out there that the inspiration from watching hanabi would hereafter make them want to lead a better life." a major Japanese pyrotechnic show producer she continued to pursue her goal as she flew to Ecuador and coordinated with local pyrotechnicians Crowdfunding for the Ecuador fireworks project began in 2015 In cooperation with a pyrotechnician from her former employer Miyaura also held classes on the history of Japanese fireworks and workshops where participants can create dummy firework shells Miyaura believes the Inawashiro fireworks show with an Ecuador-themed part is the start of something bigger -- for herself and the two countries involved Ecuador Ambassador to Japan Jaime Barberis said he is hopeful about the role of fireworks in deepening bilateral ties "I understand that fireworks can convey messages of friendship and I hope this display can be held in Ecuador," Barberis said fireworks date back to the Edo Period when people believed they helped ward off evil spirits Hanabi festivals have since then played a role in celebrations as well as in lifting people's spirits in the wake of disasters and tragedies Footage of the Inawashiro fireworks was shown during the Aug as part of the Japan-Ecuador centenary events she renewed her commitment to stage fireworks displays in Ecuador someday "It was not only about showing them to children and told me they would want to see that in Ecuador," Miyaura recounted she hopes that people from Inawashiro can join in the festivities 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 Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information National Report Fukushima Prefecture--When a desperate hot spring town here wanted to pray for snow to attract skiers they advertised for someone who could seek help from a higher power A “yuki-onna” is a female “yokai” supernatural being such as a ghost which typically appears in all-white clothing on a snowy night Kazunari Aida received the inquiry six winters ago from a youth member of the Nakanosawa Onsen town a Tokyo-based company that plans and operates yokai-themed community revitalization events The Nakanosawa Onsen area has long been popular with visitors who come for its “hot spring cures,” and is also known for its Showa Era (1926-1989) atmosphere with rows of ryokan inns and souvenir shops There are four ski resorts operating nearby and the local economy evolves around attracting ski tourists from Japan and abroad Its easy accessibility from the Kanto region is also a selling point But the particular year was plagued by a serious lack of snow Local residents were desperate enough to turn to the “powers” of the supernatural creature Aida has a network of fellow yokai enthusiasts around Japan incarnations of yokai from all over the country would respond and show up “There is a plan to hold a ceremony to pray for snow.” “Is there anyone out there who is an incarnation of a snow woman?” the ad asked three snow women from across the country came forward an event called “yuki-onna matsuri” (snow women festival) has been held annually from the end of December to January It’s like a mysterious power comes over them.” The success rate of the “snow begging” is said to exceed 50 percent in the week between events Due to the increased number of participants a hotel resort located outside the Nakanosawa Onsen area A total of 13 yuki-onna came from Fukushima Prefecture as well as Tokyo and other cities such as Osaka and Nagoya In the “human world,” these yuki-onna live as men and women working in jobs such as a system engineer and a bar clerk They dyed their faces and arms white with stage foundation and expressed their icy beauty with light blue-based makeup around their eyes they gathered in the hotel lobby one after another The children who were staying at the hotel showed a wide range of reactions I’m going home!” to approaching them and high-fiving them Parents were thrilled as well while taking pictures of them The climax of the ceremony was the “yuki-goi” (prayer for snow) performed by the yuki-onna Men and women who were born in a year with the same Chinese zodiac sign as the current year lit pillars of fire With the rhythm of Japanese taiko drums beating furiously Aida was born and raised in Aizu-Wakamatsu when he was locked in a warehouse for misbehaving he “felt the presence of something” in the darkness His enthusiasm for yokai was ignited when he came across a yokai-illustrated book at a local bookstore it is not unusual for ski resorts in Fukushima Prefecture not to open for full-scale skiing until January When skiers are unable to hit the slopes from December as they once did local inns and restaurants struggle to stay in business Climate change has had a major impact on the local economy we need to create another mechanism to enliven the region dreaming of expanding the festival throughout Inawashiro According to the Japan Meteorological Agency 40 percent of the Tohoku region along the Sea of Japan Aida and residents in Nakanosawa Onsen are hoping that the effect of the snow women will magically change that dire forecast Major ski resort taking shape in Fukushima in time for winter Mixed-gender bathing at risk due to lecherous ‘crocodile’ men 43,700 homes still without water after March 16 earthquake Backcountry ski accidents rise amid influx of overseas visitors 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 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 Fukushima — The Kamemaru sightseeing boat has resumed operation on Lake Inawashiro in Fukushima Prefecture which takes 90 minutes to explore the lake with meals available on board through advance reservation Kamemaru was once in danger of being scrapped due to its operator’s bankruptcy But it was taken over in June last year by Inawashiro Kankosen Co in Inawashiro Town and converted into a restaurant boat The boat’s rental fee is ¥67,000 for groups of up to 30 people and an additional fee of ¥2,000 is charged per person for groups of 31 people or more The company said it plans to offer morning cruises with meals or lunch cruises for individual customers A commemorative event was held on the boat on July 26 with an Italian meal course served to those invited “We finally were able to resume operation of the boat I want to preserve the symbol of Lake Inawashiro,” Inawashiro Kankosen President Eiichi Watanabe Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Iwate and Fukushima are Tohoku’s two largest prefectures and offer innumerable opportunities for exploring vast natural environments and the crafts that artisans have made from their resources Both regions have rich historic and unique cultural settings that are waiting to be explored Note: At the time of writing, Inawashiro Herb Garden is operating under irregular business hours. Note that they are closed in winter. For up-to-date opening days and times, check their Twitter account Top Tip: The walk from JR Kawageta Station to Inawashiro Herb Garden takes about 15 minutes Follow the beautiful cherry tree-lined riverbank — especially beautiful in spring — for a leisurely stroll on the way there you can even get some incredible shots of Mount Bandai from here Ouchi-juku was a flourishing post town on the Shimono Kaido route between Aizu-Wakamatsu and Nikko during the Edo Period (1603-1868) The main approach is free of electrical wires and streetlights and many of the houses still have thatched roofs that have survived thanks to the dedicated maintenance by locals Several villagers attend roof maintenance meetings to ensure the skills are preserved for the future for some melt-in-the-mouth Swiss roll cake and other treats Note: Many of the shops close early (between 3 to 5pm) Not many places can boast having a medicinal herb garden in the center of the city. Oyakuen started as a holiday villa for the Ashina family during the Muromachi Period (1336-1573) the property was developed into a herb garden important research on plants and their uses was conducted to help treat illnesses and prevent epidemics in the Aizu Domain Common people were also encouraged to grow herbs here as well Oyakuen was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty for its exquisite design and historic significance the garden is open to visitors and offers a tranquil spot to sit and enjoy the view over the pond There are about 400 types of herbs grown here now and the garden hosts herbal tea making experiences as well as matcha tea ceremony events (reservations required for both) which displays traditional garden tools and other items and sell several types of tea as well as local crafts About a 20-minute walk from Oyakuen stands one of Aizu-Wakamatsu’s most recognizable symbols, Tsuruga Castle It was first built in 1384 and destroyed after the Boshin Civil War in 1868 The castle was reconstructed in 1965 and most recently renovated in 2011 when the roof was changed to its current red tiles reproducing the look of a 17th century castle Climbing to the top gives you a great view of the city but the castle grounds themselves are a destination in themselves The castle park is famous for its cherry blossoms simply try a sakura soft serve ice-cream at one of the cafes here Top Tip: Drop by around 10am or 3pm to hear the haunting chime blaring the folk song “Kojo no Tsuki (Moon over Ruined Castle)”, which was inspired by both Tsuruga Castle and Aoba Castle in Miyagi Prefecture Iwate is listed 10th in a ranking of prefectures people are least likely to visit Despite it being just over 2 hours away by Shinkansen many people think of it as further away than it is when you consider it’s Japan’s second largest prefecture (after Hokkaido) and yet one of its least densely populated For those seeking a balance of untamed nature and the harnessing of its powers to make beautiful things a temple partially built into a cliff face Top Tip: Pick up a bilingual handwritten map made by JR Ichinoseki Station staff for their best picks of the area Ask for it at JR Ichinoseki Station’s west ticket gate There would be no Hiraizumi without Hidehira nuri, the lacquerware connected to the area. Originating during the Heian Period (794-1185), Hidehira nuri uses locally sourced gold leaf to create bold, vivid patterns and designs. Marusan Shikki prides itself on being continuously innovative while honoring the historic traditions of Hidehira nuri fuses modern design and tableware with lacquerware craft and has earned them several awards Visitors can create their own version of a lacquerware champagne glass through one of the company’s painting workshops Choose from one of the many traditional designs for inspiration Visitors taking part in the experience can also take a guided tour of the workshop to see artisans at work onsite Top Tip: Items are also available for purchase at the workshop or via the Marusan Shikki’s online store Note: Reservations for experiences should be made at least one week in advance The lacquer takes about one week to dry so your item will arrive between 2-3 weeks later Geibikei has been a popular tourist destination for over 100 years Boatmen steer long wooden boats through the shallow waters of the gorge explaining natural rock formations on both sides of the two-kilometer stretch of soaring limestone walls of this natural monument The boat stops at one end and lets everyone off so they can stretch their legs and try their luck at Daigeibi-gan Visitors can buy clay balls (called undama) with kanji character inscriptions symbolizing good luck or love and hurl them at a hole in the cliff the boatmen will serenade you with a song called “Geibi Oiwake” Top Tip: Grab lunch at Geibi Resthouse either before or after your trip for some fine local fare The Geibi soba and udon set offers a rich variety of locally sourced mountain vegetables to go with the noodles The JR East Pass (Tohoku area) will get you to and around both Fukushima and Iwate prefectures with ease Seat reservations are generally not necessary you can reserve a seat on Shinkansen and limited express trains at no additional fee — with the exception of Green Cars and GranClass trains mentioned may be subject to sudden closures or changes in business hours Please check the relevant websites for updates before your departure Where would you like to go first? Not sure how to plan your trip yet? Check out JAPAN RAIL CAFE TOKYO for great advice and more information FUKUSHIMA GARDEN: Children walk past colorful umbrellas adorning the walls and hanging from the ceiling that are reflected in water on the floor of the greenhouse at the Inawashiro Herb Garden in Inawashiro called "Umbrella Sky," features 740 umbrellas and was started three years ago The popular event draws more than 1,000 people on weekends and runs through Oct Poll results are published every Monday in The Guam Daily Post Saturday’s Mad Collab Block Party in Hagåtña brought together more than 70 local businesses and artists in celebration with hundreds of attendees It was all about the wonders of Artificial Intelligence in the palm of your hand All of the latest features in Samsung's Galaxy AI were showcased at a GTA-sponsored event Thursday University of Guam students and alumni presented original research at the 19th annual International Conference on Business Economics & Information Technology (ICBEIT) hosted by the University of Guam School of Business and Public Administration in Mactan Newtown Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: 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 The hot and hot summer festival rush has ended and the fall festival season will begin in September Set on the shores of Lake Inawashiro in Fukushima Prefecture, the event will be held from Saturday, September 30 to Sunday, October 1.O'Hara☆Break '23"is a festival where you can enjoy the autumn of art and music under the theme of "Cultural Festival for Adults The recently announcedtimetableThe most notable event will be held on Saturday A special session will be organized in which contemporary artist Yoshitomo Nara will perform live drawings while Kenichi Asai & Kumiko Fukushi play in the background This assembly reminds me of the picture book "Baby Revolution," illustrated by Yoshitomo Nara based on the poem "Baby Revolution" by Kenichi Asai The stage will surely be filled with love and peace Please come and get intoxicated with the finest rock and art on a long autumn night located in the center of Fukushima Prefecture recently has seen a surge in the number of wakasagi Japanese smelt This has been attributed to a change in the lake’s water leading to an increase in nutrients in the water more than 10 people took to the pier to fish for smelt “Sometimes I catch more than 500 smelt a day,” a man from Koriyama The lake has been known for good catches in the past three years Smelt used to arrive at Lake Inawashiro through the about 20 rivers that run into it director of the Fukushima Prefectural Inland Water Fisheries Experimental Station “Although there had already been carp and crucian carp there were very few smelt about 30 years ago,” he said we have seen more varied marine life in the past 10 years.” The water in the lake had been around a pH of 5 where a pH of 7 is neutral and a smaller number indicates stronger acidity Since smelt cannot tolerate such levels of acidity those efforts had always resulted in failure The current pH of the lake is near neutral at 6.8 is less than one-sixtieth of what it was 30 years ago Plankton and aquatic plants have proliferated creating an environment conducive to the growth of fish and shrimp and water clarity is higher than it was 30 years ago According to the Fukushima Prefectural Center for Environmental Creation the amount of sulfuric acid flowing into the lake from the surrounding rivers has decreased but the cause of the drop is not well understood at this time The local fisheries cooperative is considering ensuring a certain number of smelt in the lake by releasing eggs They plan to release smelt eggs next spring “We want to protect the environment of the lake by managing this precious resource properly,” said Satoshi Usuki Japanese version Fukushima Prefecture—A staff member of Ghana’s Paralympic delegation was confirmed infected with the novel coronavirus and may have been in close contact with the nine others on the team 9 that the visitors entered Japan on the evening of Aug The staff member in his 30s tested positive for the virus at the airport’s quarantine station The remaining nine members have entered Inawashiro their preliminary training site for the Tokyo Paralympics but they were isolated in their hotel here as a precaution The team is scheduled to stay in the town until Aug The town government will decide whether the nine can leave the hotel for training “We were prepared for the possibility that some members could test positive so we will support them fully,” Hiroshi Zengo SOCCER/ Tosu activities on hold over cluster infection OLYMPICS/ COVID-19 staff cluster in Olympic hotel hosting Brazilian delegation Surf’s not up for townfolk who can’t cheer on local hero Local officials are searching for a Ugandan athlete who went missing Host towns lose out by canceling of pre-Olympic training camps Cluster infections hit powerhouse university rugby team in Nara FUKUSHIMA — Fukushima Prefecture may still be in the snowy grip of winter but greenhouses of the Inawashiro Herb Garden are home to a quintessential symbol of spring Early-season cherry trees are blooming there now The Yukimi Sakura Matsuri (Snow-viewing cherry blossom festival) runs through March 30 offering visitors a rare glimpse of spring in winter the garden has been growing cherry blossoms in greenhouses allowing Inawashiro residents and tourists to enjoy the blossoms earlier in the region’s long winter including Matsumae and Sendai Beni-shidare cherry trees providing a striking contrast to the snow-covered landscape outside “I can’t believe I can see cherry blossoms at this time of year.” Admission to the garden is ¥500 for junior high school students and adults Japanese version Japanese version Fifty-six years after having organised the Olympic Games the Japanese capital of Tokyo will be hosting the quadrennial festival for the second time