Some of the most unique bus stops in Japan can be found in Nagasaki Prefecture Over a dozen stops along the route from Konagai to Isahaya are in the shape of watermelons So what inspired these fruit-shaped bus stops in the first place They were designed for the Nagasaki Travel Expo held in 1990 as a way to welcome visitors to the region and their unique design was modeled on the pumpkin carriage from Cinderella the classic folk tale by the Brothers Grimm In recent years the stops have become something of an Instagram sensation with influencers and travelers making the trek to see them and indulge in several whimsical and quirky photo opportunities the bus stops are still fun to check out when in the area Getting there Nagasaki's fruit-themed bus stops are located along National Route 207 from Konagai to Isahaya For those accessing the area via Japan's train network Konagai Station (JR Nagasaki Main Line) is situated in the middle of the route Search for the following terms in Japanese on Google Maps to get more accurate location information: Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan The press releases on this website are provided for historical reference purposes only.Please note that certain information may have changed since the date of release Japan — Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation today announced that it has begun operations on the production lines at the new fab built on the premises of Nagasaki Technology Center (“Nagasaki TEC”) a production center owned by Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation dubbed “Fab 5,” will be utilized for the mass production of CMOS image sensors Nagasaki TEC serves as a production center for CMOS image sensors for smartphones the main product line within Sony’s Imaging & Sensing Solutions business Sony Semiconductor Solutions plans to expand production facilities at Fab 5 in line with market trends thereby further building out its CMOS image sensor production infrastructure to allow Sony to continue to deliver CMOS image sensors with superior image quality and high performance mainly for application in the ever-advancing smartphone camera market Nagasaki Technology Center (The gray building pictured in the front left is Fab 5) For inquiries about Sony Semiconductor Solutions Group and products / solutions please contact us using the Inquiry form from the button below Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp there’s no denying that Japanese people love their sweet treats sugar wasn’t cultivated in Japan or even used in confectionery — it was first used as a medicine and wasn’t widely available to regular people for a long time how did Japan become hooked on the sugary stuff Collection of Nagasaki Musuem of History and Culture It was the Portuguese who brought European cakes and sweets to Japan in the 16th century now affectionately known as the ‘Sugar Road’ In light of Kyushu’s fascinating sugary history here are four sweet Japanese treats to try when you’re next in the area Out of the many sweets that emerged from Sugar Road Derived from bolo de Castela or ‘cake from Castile,’ this Japanese take on Portuguese sponge cake is beloved by locals and visitors alike there’s nothing to dislike about this tender sponge cake Nagasaki’s signature sweet dates back to 1624 when the founder of confectioner Fukusaya opened the city’s first castella shop It’s said that the founder learned the recipe from a Portuguese person and adapted it for local tastes using mizuame sugar syrup for an extra-moist texture What’s even more interesting is that they had no ovens so they had to improvise with a coal-fired kiln called a hiki-gama prodding the batter with bamboo picks to ensure even baking They must have done something right because they’re still selling castella several hundred years later — and they even continue to mix the batter by hand crunchy snacks tend to find okoshi utterly delightful A signature sweet from Isahaya City — a major rice-growing city — they’re essentially a rice crispy snack consisting of dehydrated puffed white rice mixed with brown sugar and mizuame sugar syrup and shaped into rectangular fingers While they’re first said to have originated from the Heian period (794–1185) there’s no doubt the generous addition of imported sugar catapulted this humble treat to newly addictive heights head over to Kashuen Moricho in Isahaya City they’re the oldest okoshi-maker in the city the classic and well-loved “kuro-okoshi” (“black” okoshi) elevating this simple treat into a sophisticated snack such as with their “Puchi OKOC” series which comes in fun flavours like plum as the name derives from the word ‘okosu’ or ‘to improve your fortune.’ Why not have one just in case Few people can fail to feel a little more cheerful when looking at konpeitō Directly translated as ‘gold flat sugar,’ these brilliantly coloured candies have their origins in the Portuguese sweet confeito which was introduced to Nagasaki by merchants and missionaries during the 16th century gifted the feudal lord Oda Nobunaga with a glass jar of confeito when travelling to Kitakyushu which sparked a centuries-long obsession with these tiny sweets This simple sugar candy is a little reminiscent of the iced gem biscuits that Malaysians Singaporeans and British people will be familiar with Each konpeitō is hand-made over a period of 10 or more days by layering and spraying syrup over individual granules of coarse sugar This gives them their distinctive spiky star shape and also means they dissolve very slowly in your mouth but there are confectioners working hard to revive them for modern audiences an example being rainbow konpeitō in flavours like grape (You can find similar ones at Renjyukadou Kompeito Cafe in Kitakyushu!) Others even offer konpeitō in flavours like cocoa ‘Bolo’ is the Portuguese word for ‘cake’ and ‘maru’ means round they have a rich taste and almost bread-like texture Some versions even contain roasted black sesame for extra aroma and texture Marubolō are considered one of Saga Prefecture’s signature sweets but you can also find confectioners selling them nationwide whose handmade marubolō are consistently moist tender and melt-in-the-mouth delicious — perfect with a cup of coffee you can even buy made-to-order marubolō with your name or message branded on each piece (Just remember to order at least two weeks in advance.) How to Spend a Sublime Summer in Hokkaido Three Slow Travel 'Secrets' in Shizuoka 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 National Report The Supreme Court’s Third Petty Bench on March 1 rejected an appeal from fishermen to open floodgates installed at the Isahaya Bay land reclamation project in Nagasaki Prefecture The court did not disclose its basis for the decision except that “there was no constitutional violation.” the bay was closed off with copper sheets for the central government’s land reclamation project and to prevent damage from flooding Local fishermen said the closure negatively affected the fishing environment  and filed a lawsuit local farmers opposed opening the gates because seawater would enter into the reclaimed land which would be harmed by the higher salinity levels the Fukuoka High Court ordered the central government to open the gates The then ruling Democratic Party of Japan did not appeal the decision and the ruling was finalized once the Liberal Democratic Party regained power the courts started siding with the farmers and ordered the gates to remain closed the central government filed a lawsuit to delegitimize the 2010 decision The central government lost in a lower court ruling but won a reversal in the Fukuoka High Court a different petty bench of the Supreme Court disaffirmed the high court’s ruling in September 2019 The petty bench said there should be exhaustive discussions because the situation had changed since the ruling was finalized But the petty bench hinted that the 2010 decision should remain delegitimized the high court in March 2022 again said the 2010 decision should be delegitimized The high court said the volume of fish catches had been on the rebound in a return to normal The court also said the central government had paid about 1.2 billion yen ($8.8 million) to fishermen as a penalty for not opening the gates the court said there was no illegality to require the gates to be reopened the Supreme Court’s Third Petty Bench appeared to conclude that there was no need to issue a new opinion considering the 2019 Supreme Court decision Similar lawsuits have been filed at the Fukuoka High Court and the Nagasaki District Court They are expected to follow the third petty bench’s decision EDITORIAL: Regional revival priority in fight over Isahaya Bay floodgate issue Fishermen vow to fight on after high court defeat in Kyushu High court rules Isahaya Bay floodgates can remain closed 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 a residence and a meeting space for believers given the client’s brief to design a building that can be adapted to accommodate a range of functions the concept behind the project began by first forming the church in the center of the scheme and then attaching various rooms that can be connected by movable partitions the center of the building is home to the worshipping space itself, which is articulated by an exposed timber ceiling and a more than double-height volume. in this room, the architects have employed the use of a traditional japanese construction technique – a wooden lattice – that is shaped as the symbol of the konkokyo religion in addition to creating a decorative and symbolic element the pattern provides shielding from solar radiation while also functioning as a ‘transparent anti-seismic wall’ which has been confirmed by a performance verification test the church in the center is surrounded by a traditional japanese construction technique – a wooden lattice that is shaped as the symbol of konkokyo religion other rooms can be accessed thanks to the implementation of movable partitions making it possible to join several areas together in keeping with the brief and the generous spirit of the konkokyo religion this design affords the flexibility to host large events such as dance classes or study sessions for schoolchildren. regardless of individual beliefs the architecture intends to provide a place for ordinary people to regularly gather resulting in the creation of not only a church a movable partition allows people to connect to the place of worship from each room rooms can be joined together to create large a bird’s-eye view of the whole site diagram of the building – the architects first positioned a large place of worship in the center and then attached each room architecture firm: KEI SASAKI/ INTERMEDIA structural design: hirotsugu tsuboi structural engineer co.ltd　　 equipment design: seed design engineer co.ltd 　　　　　　 designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Kyocera has announced plans to build a new manufacturing plant in Isahaya Kyocera disclosed it had made an offer to acquire approximately 150,000 square meters (about 37 acres) in the Minami Isahaya Industrial Park for its planned new factory site which will create 1,000 new jobs when completed The vision for the new plant in Isahaya comes amid plans to increase production capacity both domestically and internationally at a time when existing Kyocera campuses have little or no room to expand the Japan-based electronic component vendor indicated Kyocera has yet to decide what products the new plant will produce, which should be announced following the company's "components business demand analysis." Nevertheless, the plant is scheduled to kick off operations by 2026, Kyocera disclosed in its statement Kyocera aims to achieve sales of JPY2 trillion (US$15 billion) in its fiscal year ending in 2023 and has set a long-term sales target of JPY3 trillion by the fiscal year ending in March 2029 Its capital investment is expected to reach a record-high JPY200 billion in the current fiscal year mainly due to strong demand for components related to advanced semiconductors Kyocera plans even higher levels of investment in the fiscal year of 2024 and beyond as compared to the fiscal year 2023 projection 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 A court battle that had continued for a little more than two decades over whether to open floodgates built as part of a state land reclamation project in Isahaya Bay was effectively brought to an end by the latest Supreme Court ruling in which rulings over whether to open the gates in a dike in Isahaya but deep confrontation remains between the central government and people engaging in the local fisheries industry who have sought the opening of the gates and further possible twists and turns are expected before a complete settlement of the issue Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has long indicated its policy of not opening the gates instead aiming for reconciliation through a fund worth about ¥10 billion to promote the local fisheries industry “The ministry will continue to aim for settlement of the issue based on the fund and will make fresh arrangements within the government regarding the size of the fund and other factors.” the local fisheries industry has already voiced opposition to the ministry’s stance “I don’t think the sea will return [to its original condition] without opening the gates.” One reason that the legal battle over the land reclamation project continued for more than 20 years is that the policy of the central government on whether to open the gates has changed with the change of administrations Regarding a lawsuit filed in 2002 by fishermen and others the Fukuoka High Court handed down a ruling in December 2010 ordering the central government to open the gates following the ruling by the Saga District Court who was elected from the then ruling Democratic Party of Japan opted not to appeal to the Supreme Court based on his political judgment thereby allowing the high court ruling to be finalized since the Liberal Democratic Party returned to power in 2012 the central government has made clear that its stance is not to open the gates As for another lawsuit filed by local farmers when the Nagasaki District Court ordered the central government not to open the gates in April 2017 the government again refrained from appealing to a high court and the then agriculture minister said the government would face the issue by making clear its policy not to open the gates To resolve the protracted legal tension between one finalized court order to open the gates and another court order not to open them the central government filed a lawsuit seeking the nullification of the finalized court order the central government cited many grounds for “changed circumstances” after the finalized court order such as the catches of main commercial fishes around the Isahaya Bay being on the rise and the increasing occurrence of heavy rain in recent years The Fukuoka High Court fully accepted the argument of the central government in March 2022 and the Supreme Court backed the high court decision this time “It’s possible to take the top court ruling this time positively meaning that a unified court decision would become a foothold for achieving the settlement of the issue,” said Kazuhiko Yamamoto a professor of civil procedure law at Hitotsubashi University taking into account the fact that the central government showed an insincere stance by not following the court order that it had finalized itself it needs to sincerely face up to the local people concerned.” Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun There is no better example of the juggernaut that is Japan's public works system than the Isahaya Bay Reclamation Project a massive endeavor to fill in the tidal flats of Isahaya Bay for agricultural use Alex Kerr gives an enlightening account in his book Dogs and Demons: The Fall of Modern Japan of how the project part of a 1952 initiative by Nagasaki Prefecture to boost rice production was propelled by bureaucratic inertia despite protests by the fishing industry and demographic changes that rendered such large-scale (and environmentally altering) projects obsolete which was taken over by the Ministry of Agriculture went from concept to reality in 1997 when a line of roughly 300 steel plates known as the "guillotine," in one fell swoop cut off Isahaya Bay from the rest of the Ariake Sea The reclamation project created a holding pond for irrigation and over 600 hectares of arable land; farmers began tilling their new plots in 2008. But doing so required the construction of a 7-kilometer long dike across the bay that continues to choke off what is left of one of Japan's largest and most vibrant wetlands Individuals involved in fishing and nori (laver) farming around the Ariake Sea have maintained fierce opposition to the dike claiming the disruption it causes to currents has reduced catches and hindered seaweed production These groups have pushed for the government to open the dike’s two floodgates a move that the government has staunchly opposed citing potential damage to farmland from an influx of seawater and the fishing industry have battled in the courtroom since the inception of the project  Prime Minister Kan Naoto allowed a Fukuoka High Court decision ordering the floodgates open for five years to investigate alleged damage to fisheries farmers petitioned the Nagasaki District Court to order an injunction blocking the opening of the gates The government cited the lower court’s decision as reason to sit on its hands and allow the three-year deadline set by the Fukuoka court to pass An order by the Saga District Court in April of this year requires the state to begin paying a daily fine of ¥490,000 yen ¥10,000 to each of the 49 complainants in the case in two months unless the floodgates are opened The government has yet to say if it intends to honor the decision A related but poorly understood issue is the role Isahaya Bay plays as a spawning sight and nursery for fish and bivalves The bay was called the “womb” of the Ariake Sea by locals involved in the fishing industry and it is no stretch to think that fish stocks are being adversely affected by blocking off access to the environment of the bay Research has also pointed to the dike’s potential effects on currents throughout the entire Ariake Sea The seawall shortened the bay’s tidal prism the difference in the volume of water between high tide and mean low tide reducing the force of water pushed through the sea and weakening currents Reduced water flow produces a favorable environment for red-tides and other events that impact fish and wildlife “Why destroy our future?”—provides a wide range of facts and scenarios to support the state’s claims the data lacks the necessary scope to make the state’s claims credible Arguments for opening the gates are reasonable and cast doubt on the government’s motives for siding with a small number of farmers in one prefecture over investigating an issue impacting the fishing industries in three prefectures (the Ariake Sea is bordered by Nagasaki The state’s disregard of credible concerns by the fishing industry is made all the worse by a willingness to use a district-level ruling to ignore a high court order which sets a dangerous precedent and does nothing to remedy the deep rifts formed between local communities Japan is as a signatory to the Ramsar Convention which promotes the sustainable utilization of wetlands A concerted effort to address the situation seems in order such as an ecological park in Suncheon Bay in South Korea have shown that restoring the natural environment has benefits for local economies through tourism and fishing The benefits of restoring what remains of the wetlands in Isahaya Bay would serve to complement farming; the government should not be quick to disregard them It’s hard not to see the state’s stubborn stance as a carryover from decades of pushing the Isahaya Bay project The only logical way to settle the issue for good is to open the gates with proper efforts to ensure that farmland is protected and environmental changes are properly monitored Considering global environmental trends and Japan’s demographic slide returning nature to as close to an original state as possible is the best long-term policy (Banner photo: The 7-kilometer dike and reclaimed land of Isahaya Bay To use all available functions on this website JavaScript must be enabled in your browser White honored for contributions to workplace diversity D3 Publisher has released the latest information on Idol Death Game TV, its upcoming PS Vita game where idols battle to the death for a center position If you missed our previous coverage, read up on the game’s story, characters, and systems here “Team Passion.” Part of the sixth generation She’s a beautiful girl with an androgynous appearance but exhibits the strength of her resolute heart during the critical junctures and receives tremendous support from her male fans (especially the insecure ones) She has three consecutive Dream of Dreams victories but stubbornly boycotts her center inauguration She insists that’s she’s an artist you can steal Dream Coins from your rivals in a “Baku Royale.” A Baku Royale is a one-on-one battle where you combine “Bakuro Words” (Exposure Words) to hit your opponent with a scandal that will become their weak point The side that throws down the ghastliest Bakuro Words will be the winner Doripaku will judge who wins and hurl bombs at the idol that loses You can obtain hints for Bakuro Word combinations while exploring Since the content of a scandal is different for each character you should see through the opponent’s scandal with the hints you’ve obtained not only will you steal your opponent’s Dream Coins By slapping your opponent with a special combination of Bakuro Words you can bring to light a severe scandal that will put an end to the opponent idol’s life your idol nature will be doubted by fans when you challenge the Baku Royale so caution is necessary as your number of fans will decrease The next update will introduce a D-Ranking 1 idol who comes from “Team Rising” of Hokkaido in the Touhoku region The veil will also finally be lifted on the judging process A 12,744 yen Idol Death Game TV Special Pack, available at Dengekiya Idol Death Game TV is due out for PS Vita in Japan on October 20 View a new set of screenshots at the gallery Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without acknowledgment of Gematsu is prohibited Use of this site is governed by all applicable laws Website by 44 Bytes Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version In times of trouble or in search of good luck some are turning to a friendly ghost with a mermaid-like body for help with the COVID-19 pandemic is an imaginary ghost of local folklore said to dwell below the waters just off the Kyushu coast and it is experiencing a spike in popularity Amabie has a mermaid-like body with a bill It returns to land to signal the start of the harvest or to warn of forthcoming epidemics and the ghost lights up the sea from below just for fun the ghost is known for wiping out epidemics misfortune and bringing good luck to those who pray to it As COVID-19 numbers started to spread across the nation about a 1.5-hour drive from Sasebo Naval Base became a place with many visitors praying for the end of the pandemic This 3.7-foot tall wooden statue is one of the largest in the nation of the friendly sea ghost and you’ll find it at the Isahaya Jinja Shinto shrine It was dedicated in May 2020 after a local chain-saw artist donated the sculpture Tomoko Tanaka of Stars and Stripes’ Sasebo district office said the statue’s surface was already smooth from visitors touching it for good luck There are many local residents visiting Amabie in hopes that COVID-19 and the consequences of it will soon be over Editorial A protracted legal battle over a reclamation project in Nagasaki Prefecture that pitted local fishermen against farmers has been hit by a major turn in the tide The Fukuoka High Court on March 25 reversed a finalized 2010 ruling that acknowledged damage done to the fisheries industry and ordered the central government to open floodgates installed in Isahaya Bay for a limited period The court concluded that changed circumstances over the past 12 years no longer justify the ruling The decision came as no great surprise as the Supreme Court suggested three years ago that the dispute be settled without opening the gates the verdict is riddled with unconvincing arguments and twisted logic as if the court engaged in mental gymnastics to follow the top court’s stance the court declared that catches have been increasing in recent years thereby helping to mitigate damage to the fisheries industry while noting that the effects on fisheries resources are “still serious.” And in contrast to its vague assessment of the relationship between the closed floodgates and changing volumes of catches the court was decisive and emphatic in pointing out the risks of flooding and other damage to farming operations from opening the gates fishermen were deeply put out that their assertions were dismissed The lawsuit has been acrimonious from the outset Even if future judicial decisions agree on keeping the floodgates closed the underlying issues have little chance of getting closer to resolution Restoring the natural bounty of the sea is the cherished wish of all those concerned The 2010 court order was accepted by the Democratic Party of Japan government but the party was ousted before any specific plan of action could be set to open the floodgates Farmers challenged fishermen by instituting a lawsuit to demand that the floodgates remain closed The government made no real effort to prove the damage done to the fisheries industry and the court predictably ruled in the farmers’ favor The government played the “victim card,” claiming it was caught between two conflicting obligations The outcome of years of sitting on the issue resulted in the latest ruling that nullified the finalized 2010 verdict on grounds of “changed circumstances.” The government risks allowing serious societal moral decay to set in by demonstrating that it is possible to ignore a verdict one doesn’t like and wait it out until noncompliance becomes a done deal the Fukuoka High Court stated to the effect that “only dialogue can lead to a solution” and proposed setting up a negotiation table without discussing the pros and cons of opening the floodgates The fisheries industry was receptive to the idea the Fukuoka High Court renewed its appeal for the “revival of the Sea of Ariake” and called on all parties concerned to strive together for “a comprehensive and unified solution to various issues.” This came across as an honest admission that the problem has become too complicated to be resolved by the judicial process The government shoulders the heavy responsibility of doing everything it can in its public capacity to find a breakthrough not as the principal of the reclamation project TOKYO (Jiji Press) —Japan’s Supreme Court has finalized a high court ruling that floodgates built as part of the Isahaya Bay land reclamation project in Nagasaki Prefecture presided over by Justice Yasumasa Nagamine rejecting local fishers’ appeal against the Fukuoka High Court ruling handed down last year The top court made the decision by consensus of all five justices effectively resolving the tangled legal situation involving court rulings with conflicting orders to open the gates and to keep them closed Fukuoka High Court ordered the government to open the gates for five years The ruling became final after the government decided not to appeal it was required to pay money to the fishers Nagasaki District Court issued an injunction against the opening of the gates the government filed a lawsuit in 2014 to nullify the 2010 ruling that ordered the gates to be opened After Saga District Court dismissed the lawsuit the Fukuoka court overturned the decision in 2018 citing the expiration of fishing rights on which the petition to open the gates was based the Supreme Court sent the case back to the high court saying that the expiration of fishing rights did not provide sufficient grounds to invalidate the 2010 ruling The high court backed the nullification of the 2010 ruling again last year saying that damage to fishing operations has diminished in the long period since the completion of the dike and that fishers’ demand to force the state to open the gates would constitute abuse of their rights The high court also noted that the government had already paid some ¥1.2 billion to them FUKUOKA--Four years failed to dampen the Fukuoka High Court's view of a protracted legal battle in Nagasaki Prefecture between fishermen and farmers over reclaimed land in a once bountiful bay the court again sided with the central government and ruled that the floodgates installed in the Isahaya Bay land reclamation project did not have to be opened the court had ruled that it did not have to follow through on a finalized ruling it had made in 2010 ordering the floodgates to be opened The initial government-led project was intended to close off Isahaya Bay both to prevent damage from flooding and to reclaim land for farming local fishermen said the dike cut off the bay area and hurt their fishing operations in the Sea of Ariake After courts ruled in favor of the fishermen and ordered the floodgates opened farmers who had cultivated the reclaimed land filed their own lawsuit to stop the opening on the grounds that the seawater would damage the land they had so carefully cultivated the central government also got into the action and submitted a lawsuit seeking to effectively nullify the 2010 high court's ruling After the Fukuoka High Court in 2018 sided with the central government the Supreme Court in September 2019 ruled that the high court had erred in its legal reasoning and ordered it to re-examine the case Court: Ministry intentionally withheld info on sale to Moritomo the completion ceremony of an artwork commissioned by a Buddhist priest was held at the long-established Tenyuji temple in the Nishi-Kojimachi district here Featured in the work is an unusual image added to the iconic Madonna and Child painting the mother of Jesus is portrayed as the Kannon bodhisattva conceived of the artwork featuring not only his own faith but also Christianity Suda's aim is shedding a ray of light on the tragic history of Buddhism in Nagasaki Prefecture Building a bridge between the two religions is also an objective but also conflicts and discrimination among different groups of people are contributing to a plethora of tragedies the world over,” Suda said “My hope is our modest endeavor to value universality will help realize peace.” Local spots linked to those who practiced Christianity in secrecy due to the violent crackdown on Christians in the Edo Period (1603-1867) have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list A constant stream of people visit those destinations warlords believing in Christianity during the Sengoku (Warring States) period (1467-1568) persecuted Buddhists in their domains The plight of Buddhism is not as well known Explaining why he commissioned the work themed on Mary and Jesus despite his adherence to Buddhism said he wanted many people to remember a dark chapter in regional history The project was inspired by the conversations he had with officials from Nagasaki Prefecture and Isahaya city in their visits to Tenyuji where they come for cultural studies and other purposes were home to many Christian lords’ domains A spate of temples were destroyed amid the spread of Christianity The officials from the prefecture and the city called Tenyuji “precious in its proximity because few Buddhism-related cultural properties remain in existence on the grounds of the domains of Christian warlords.” a pastor and researcher at Chinzei Gakuin University who studies the oppression of Buddhism during the Sengoku Period Standing in what is now known as Omura city and ruled by the Omura clan who belonged to the Christian faith it reads a “fleeing temple head was killed and buried at the time of the Christians’ assault on temples and shrines.” Kanda learned through a closer look into the violence that the mentor of the slaughtered temple chief spent the rest of his life at a humble hut a short distance away to protect the principal image of the temple This tragedy may remind people of the way the persecuted Christians sustained their conviction in hiding only a limited number of records on the Buddhism side refer to the suffering inflicted on its followers so their plight can typically only be inferred from folk stories A host of reports by Christian missionaries show vividly what they did for Buddhists to embrace the foreign doctrine Suda wondered if the persecution victims renounced their faith immediately in regions managed by Christian lords he thought that they must have adhered to their beliefs like their Christian counterparts This notion got Suda to hit upon the possibility of the oppressed Buddhists praying to their own symbols of worship disguised as Christian icons in a quest to preserve their faith Suda decided to create a Madonna and Child painting but portray the mother of Jesus as the Kannon bodhisattva Matsudaira is famed for her representational pieces depicting people and other motifs in the traditional Japanese painting style She has been a Christian churchgoer since childhood Suda found Matsudaira the best artist to give shape to his concept Matsudaira toured the Goto island chain of Nagasaki Prefecture to examine Christianity-relevant locations there She learned Buddhist teachings from Suda in formulating the picture’s design Perfecting the work that resembles a Catholic altarpiece took six months The grand painting is 130 centimeters long and 160 cm wide But the sacred mother looks as if she is Kannon at the same time Kannon typically has a lotus flower but a rose is held in the bodhisattva’s hand instead as part of Matsudaira’s unique twist Kannon can be interpreted as making an appearance as the Virgin Mary in front of Christians,” Suda said The unorthodox piece of art represents Suda’s hope “Seeking what different religions have in common seems more important than stressing their differences to fuel confrontation,” he said “I am a Christian but gave thought to philosophies in Buddhism in my process of mastering Japanese-style painting,” she said “I feel the religions may share some concepts.” The completed artwork went on display at the Catholic Tamatsukuri Church in Osaka's Chuo Ward through the mediation of Matsudaira The major church sits in the site marked by a stone statue of the renowned Japanese Christian Hosokawa Gracia (1563-1600) auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Osaka-Takamatsu “The painting is easy to accept as it displays a soft touch typical of Japanese drawings while maintaining a divine ambience,” said Sakai “The idea of transcending religious frameworks sounds very nice to me Dialogue between religions is an important theme for Catholicism The Madonna and Child artwork is expected to be exhibited at “higan” services and other Buddhism events Suda believes offering prayers will contribute to crossing religious boundaries 10-meter Virgin Mary statue set for Nagasaki Lisa’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan/ Ono Church: Despite perils 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 along the National Route 207 highway in Konagai Nagasaki is undoubtedly worth a visit for its beautiful temples, museums and natural wonders. Spending a night inside a Japanese castle and transporting yourself to Amsterdam at Huis Ten Bosch for a day are high on the must-do list these highly instagrammable fruit shaped bus stops These adorable bus stops were set up after the Nagasaki Travel Expo in 1990 hoping to create a welcoming environment for visitors and the design was inspired by the pumpkin carriage from Cinderella You’ll find 16 stops along National Route 207 between Konagai and Isahaya city centre each of which is shaped like one of five giant fruits the city decided to play on a technicality.  Here are the five different fruit bus stops in Nagasaki.  RECOMMENDED: 20 of the most beautiful places in Japan Leaf Tokyo for these lakes, temples and forests, where you'll find some of Japan's most spectacular autumn foliage Photo: photo-ac/KaoThere’s a seaside train station in Ehime and an old Tokyo shop that may have inspired Studio Ghibli's 'Spirited Away' Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramAbout us Nagasaki Prefecture--A chance stop at a roadside station in spring turned tomato farmer Seijiro Miyashita’s life around figs and other fruits at the rest area in Yame thought it might be possible to produce wine from cracked and split tomatoes left to be disposed of He started growing cherry tomatoes about seven years ago at his Miyashita Noen farm But up to 40 percent of his annual crop is ruined if he fails to harvest in time tomatoes become overly ripe and develop cracks and splits Miyashita has no choice but to dispose of those tomatoes even though he considers them to be better-tasting He approached Tachibana Winery in Yame about going into partnership They came up with two trial products in June One leaves a dry taste with a hint of tomato aroma while the other has a fruit-like sweetness They expect to start selling tomato wines around summer 2023 I want to buy cracked tomatoes from fellow farmers to get rid of the waste and revitalize the community with locally made wine,” Miyashita said Fukushima farm products still dealing with negative image Aomori farmers create apple wine from Osamu Dazai's ‘Tsugaru’ Data center in Hokkaido uses server-cooling snow to raise eels Pandemic makes it easier for people to adopt sober lifestyles Tomato juice at $57 a bottle a surprise hit this winter Husband’s cute breakfasts bring smiles to wife with Alzheimer’s By Kazuki Maruyama / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer Nagasaki — While driving in an urban area four years ago a woman in her 50s ran over a softshell turtle she said she saw the animals several times around tourist spots in the city “I was wondering what a suppon [softshell turtle] was even doing there,” she said A number of the suppon turtles have been hit by cars in Isahaya The species is also frequently being spotted in the city and the reason for their appearance remains a mystery Isahaya is one of the most popular places for suppon turtle farming in Japan and the turtles also live in the Honmyo River There have been many sightings of the softshell turtles not only in agricultural areas but also in waterways near city hall and other central areas About 70,000 dead animals were disposed of on national highways during the year beginning in April 2019 an indication there are too few cases to appear in the survey 21 suppon turtles were run over by vehicles on prefectural roads in Isahaya in the year beginning in April 2020 Ten have been run over from April this year to the end of September Few of the turtles have been disposed of outside the city no reports have come from anywhere beside Isahaya according to the Nagasaki prefectural government one was disposed of in Fukuoka Prefecture and two were in Okinawa Prefecture Various speculations abound regarding why so many turtles have been spotted in Isahaya “The city of Isahaya has many rice paddies and waterways making it a suitable habitat,” said Takanori Matsuo a professor at Nagasaki Women’s Junior College and an expert on amphibians and reptiles His research suggests many softshell turtles have been found in agricultural waterways as well as in the Honmyo River “They may be thriving in an environment with abundant water and many slow-flowing waterways,” he said as Nagasaki Prefecture is dotted with suppon turtle farms there is a theory that wild birds have been carrying turtles elsewhere from these farms Wild birds are sometimes seen grabbing a turtle and flying away with it and some turtles have been seen with peck marks on their body according to a person familiar with the suppon farm business “Maybe some of the turtles fell into rice paddies or waterways from the sky after struggling with crows or kites,” the person said An official at the Nagasaki prefectural government is calling for drivers to keep an eye out for the turtles especially when driving in agricultural areas The city of Isahaya has a deep connection with turtles The city emblem was in the shape of three turtles before 2005 when the city merged with the surrounding municipalities The emblem was derived from Takashiro Castle which was built on a mountain around 1474 and was called Kamejo Legend has it that when the castle was attacked the big turtle lurking in the Honmyo River moved under the castle and lifted the whole mountain up to disperse the enemy There are statues and reliefs of turtles in the city and there are also legends that turtles are a “deity’s messenger.” “We can imagine that turtles were familiar to people and loved here,” said Daisuke Oshima a specialist of Isahaya Museum of Art and History Imperial Japanese Navy pilot Ryozo Kotoge received orders to deploy for what was supposed to be his last mission: a suicide attack Even though he was poised to leave for the mission early one morning It is a story Kotoge has told over and over to pass his wartime experiences on to younger generations “I would like to convey the message to others that we should never have wars,” he said with conviction the Takayama resident still remembers seeing some of the worst of its horrors up close: the aftermath of the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki B-29 bomber drop a drum-like object over neighboring Nagasaki city With a huge roar and tremendous flash of light the blast almost knocked him to the ground That moment was the second time in history an atomic bomb was dropped on a country by another Kotoge remembers the unusual look of the sky stained red from fires that raged throughout the night the next day to prepare to deploy for an attack “I thought that I was finally going to die,” he said he listened to a radio broadcast to the nation given by Emperor Hirohito but he gathered enough to understand that Japan had lost the war “I felt survivor’s guilt for living through the war but I was glad that I could go to my hometown Takayama,” Kotoge said Someone told him it would stop there for an hour He left the train station and walked around All he could do was put his hands together and pray Kotoge worked for the prefectural government he had a chance to talk about his wartime experiences at the elementary school his grandchildren attended he started to talk about his life more often and told war stories at other local schools He was still very young when he fought in the war something that makes it easier to connect with his audiences now called the prefectural Hida High School he joined the Imperial Japanese Navy and became a pilot he lost many of his fellow service members where he was training--and it turned out to be one of the most striking moments he experienced in battle but then he noticed an attack starting and managed to escape into the nearby sugarcane fields had already taken off for a training flight in a two-seat plane with his instructor The training plane avoided being shot down and safely returned he found his friend had a big hole in the left part of his chest and died in the pilot’s seat He believes that he survived the war mostly through luck he traveled by boat in a large fleet headed to Japan’s Kyushu region The fleet was attacked and most of the ships were sunk But the vessel Kotoge was on safely avoided the enemy by taking the long way around He also thinks the order he received to carry out a suicide attack came to him late because he had to undergo treatment for malaria “Even if just one little thing was different Two of his older brothers returned safely from the Chinese front the only people who can truly understand what he went through “The comrades I can really remember and discuss war experiences with have already gone,” he said That's why he wants to pass on his experiences to young generations battling health issues that caused his legs to deteriorate and made it impossible to speak at public events But he remains determined to deliver the message: “Now we enjoy peace on the foundation of many victims That is at least what people should know about.” Osaka museum to list Korean air raid victims by ethnic names DNA tests of WWII remains solve mystery of missing soldier EDITORIAL: Buildings that survived the A-bombs should be saved for history Woman captured as a girl in iconic A-bomb photo dies at age 90 Young soldier’s hand shook as he wrote kamikaze mission orders Nagasaki Prefecture--A local sake brewery is re-creating the flavor of Japan's first domestically produced gin which is amber colored somewhat like whiskey "It is characteristically sweeter than other gins," said Shinsuke Seto Dennoshin is made from shochu or another base spirit and marinated with three times the normal amount of juniper berries Gin was brought to Japan through the Dutch trading post on tiny Dejima island in Nagasaki Bay during the Edo Period (1603-1867) The first homemade gin in Japan was produced in 1812 by Shige Dennoshin who was working under the Nagasaki "bugyo" magistrate at the time and took great pains to entertain Dutch merchants His product tasted sweet because he could not find a way to remove the juniper berry resin's flavor Kinokawa re-created that flavor with its craft gin which has been gaining attention since it was first released in June 2019 The company now receives monthly orders for about 100 bottles which are shipped to liquor shops in Tokyo and Osaka and Nagasaki prefectures A 510-milliliter bottle of Dennoshin is priced at 2,970 yen ($28.50) It is far from the only Japanese brewing company getting in on the worldwide craft gin boom where distillers use local ingredients to make their own flavorful spins The trendsetter in Japan was Ki No Bi Kyoto Dry Gin It is distinctly flavored with high-grade "gyokuro" green tea from Kyoto Prefecture and "yuzu" citrus fruit released Yokitsuki Reigetsu in October 2019 mainly flavored with fruits grown in the prefecture an expert who works for Sakebunka Institute Inc, said craft gin began spreading worldwide after the 2008 founding of the first gin distillery in Britain in 200 years Japanese shochu and sake makers followed suit because compared to whiskey the process of distilling gin is less time consuming and giving producers more leeway to add local specialties for flavor For inquiries about Dennoshin, visit Kinokawa's official website: https://www.kinokawa.co.jp/ Former Sharp engineer uses LCD know-how to brew sake Brewery distills plan to save unsold craft beer amid sales slump Craft gin with flavor of Akita cedar ‘comforts the heart’ Safety concerns have arisen since Kyushu Railway Co (JR Kyushu) withdrew personnel from most of the station platforms for Shinkansen bullet trains to improve business efficiency and profitability Platforms at 14 of the 17 stations along the Kyushu Shinkansen Line and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen Line are now unstaffed including Isahaya Station in Nagasaki Prefecture on the Nishi-Kyushu section was seeing off her daughter on the evening of May 7 the last day of the Golden Week holiday period The mother was waving goodbye from the platform when the safety gates closed on the lower part of her body She sought help from a station employee at the wicket and was taken to a medical center where she was treated for a sprain no employees are deployed to the Shinkansen platforms at Isahaya Station Train conductors control the safety gates and are supposed to watch for passengers entering and exiting the carriages a JR Kyushu representative said the gates closed after it was confirmed that no one was within them but a check was not made for people on a trajectory to enter them “We express our apology,” the official said “We will be providing all crew members with comprehensive guidance on security check procedures.” The injured woman said she “inappropriately stepped forward to send off my daughter due to my narrow visual field.” But she also expressed anxiety about the platform “Big problems on those unmanned platforms may not be handled promptly,” she said The first unstaffed bullet train platforms in Japan were at Shin-Tamana Station in Kumamoto Prefecture in 2016 on the Kyushu Shinkansen Line JR Kyushu was assigning workers to platforms at only Shin-Tosu Station Kumamoto Station and Kagoshima-Chuo Station on the line Platforms at Hakata Station on the Kyushu Shinkansen Line and Sanyo Shinkansen Line are still staffed with officials from West Japan Railway Co JR Kyushu has not disclosed its criteria for creating unstaffed platforms but it says proper safety measures are in place a special research professor of public transportation studies at the University of Toyama said a remaining challenge is ensuring train crews can quickly respond to emergencies “Shinkansen are apt to have more cars than conventional trains in rural regions,” Kanayama said “The question is how effectively conductors can detect and deal with problems on platforms.” Kanayama suggested possible countermeasures “Cameras should be installed so that crew members can immediately grasp the situation and a mechanism under which station workers can rush to unmanned platforms is essential,” he said Kanayama said railway companies should quell passengers’ fears about platform safety given that more stations on conventional lines are being operated without permanent staff or 48.2 percent of all 9,465 stations in Japan were being operated without specialized personnel as of March 2020 “Transportation systems should offer passengers a feeling of security not to mention preventing derailments and accidents,” Kanayama said JR Kyushu is the only Shinkansen operator that has unstaffed bullet train platforms such as arranging for “conductors to readily confirm platforms’ safety” and “upgrading relevant equipment.” The stations’ announcements urge passengers to stay away from platform safety gates when trains approach and depart And it has installed monitors that help conductors ensure safety before opening or closing the gates JR Kyushu said station staff regularly patrol unmanned platforms Nearly half of stations now unmanned; bane for the disabled Tourists climb aboard to visit scenic unstaffed train stations Self-driving test of Shinkansen proves successful for JR Tokai Food cart sales to end in October on Tokyo-Osaka bullet trains Train crew gets training in knife rampage drill on Shinkansen Japanese version NAGASAKI — The activities of second-generation atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki City have gained momentum after Nihon Hidankyo or the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations By Koshiro Sejima and Kyoko Mine / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers Since the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Hidankyo’s selection for the prize on Oct three people have joined the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council and is made up of second-generation atomic bomb survivors There have also been numerous people applying to volunteer on the council was exposed to radiation at a school in Isahaya while trying to help bomb survivors who had arrived from Nagasaki City by train who carried bombing victims in the city with a two-wheeled cart Sato was unaware that both her parents were hibakusha atomic bomb survivors Only after her mother obtained a certificate at around 80 years old was Sato recognized as a second-generation hibakusha Sato said she was disconnected from the movement of survivors and others calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons she decided to become a member of the council after hearing about Nihon Hidankyo’s win “I thought there may be something I can do,” she said “Having heard my mother and father’s memories I’m the only one who can talk about the tragedy of being exposed to radiation while providing relief and call for peace,” Sato said She said she wants to be involved in the activities as a second-generation hibakusha The council’s volunteer team is working to produce a video of 80 hibakusha sharing their experiences It began recruiting more volunteers from Oct 17 to work on editing the video and translating it into English which had six members before Hidankyo’s Nobel prize win One of the eight is a 64-year-old woman who runs an English cram school in Nakagawa Interest in the peace movement is growing among the general public as well the number of individual visitors to the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum in Nagasaki City was 34,486 up about 6,000 from the same month last year The number of foreign visitors to the museum is said to be increasing an organization of university students and others in Nagasaki Prefecture has been selling peace-themed merchandise to raise funds for activities such as giving peace education classes at elementary and junior high schools Their T-shirts and shoulder bags are said to have sold out after Nihon Hidankyo’s Nobel Prize win Gatherings are held to pray for peace on the ninth of every month in Nagasaki the first memorial day after the Nobel prize win young people and others participated in events held at various locations The Nagasaki Hibakusha Notebook Friendship Association one of four Nagasaki organizations of atomic bomb survivors rings the Nagasaki Peace Bell at Nagasaki Peace Park on the ninth of every month at 11:02 a.m. pulled the rope hanging from the bell to ring it together on Nov an American who was visiting Nagasaki for the first time to learn more about the bombing said that Nihon Hidankyo’s win will keep spread awareness about the threat of nuclear weapons and ringing the bell is meaningful to prevent the memory of the bombing from fading “I am glad that more people are interested in the atomic bombing because of the peace prize win regardless of nationality,” said Fumi Takeshita Hiroshima: Students Carry on Wish of Late Hibakusha Leader Sunao Tsuboi Japanese version Japanese version Public Relations Office, Government of Japan Home > Highlighting JAPAN > Highlighting Japan December 2019 > A Trip by Local Train The Omura Line runs across Nagasaki Prefecture affording views from the train windows of the calm seas of Omura Bay while connecting passengers with attractions including a theme park recreating European streets and houses 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 Japanese version Japanese version     Back to the top page inconvenient access and a local feud are clouding the future of the Kyushu Shinkansen Line’s Nishi-Kyushu route that will partially open on Sept will connect Nagasaki Station in Nagasaki Prefecture and Takeo-Onsen Station in Saga Prefecture Municipalities and businesses expect the service to revitalize local economies whose tourism industries have been pummeled by the novel coronavirus pandemic “We are maximizing the effects of the line’s opening to ensure it will be a great success,” Yoji Furumiya “We will be drawing loads of visitors to Nagasaki and Saga prefectures.” One huge problem is the cost of the project Expenses have reached 619.7 billion yen ($4.51 billion) an increase of more than 20 percent from the 500-billion-yen estimate in 2012 The transport ministry initially predicted the ratio of the line’s benefits to spending would be 1.1:1 but it declined to 0.5:1 in the ministry’s 2019 forecast largely because of the soaring cost The new Shinkansen route will cut 30 minutes off the time needed to travel from Hakata Station in Fukuoka Prefecture to Nagasaki to at least 80 minutes passengers will still need to rely on existing express trains between Takeo-Onsen Station and Hakata Station The new route will cost 5,520 yen for a non-reserved seat Shin-Omura and Isahaya will operate between Takeo-Onsen and Nagasaki on the new section A conventional line linking Isahaya Station with Hizen-Yamaguchi Station runs parallel to the new Shinkansen route The conventional line’s facilities will be managed by the prefectural governments of Nagasaki and Saga with taxpayers’ money JR-operated trains will travel along the tracks The new section of the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen track will not be directly connected with the Kyushu Shinkansen Line’s Kagoshima route raising doubts about how far its ridership will rise Development of gauge-changeable carriages was planned to allow Shinkansen trains to run on narrower conventional tracks But that plan was scrapped due to technical problems The technology could have made a 50-km track between Takeo-Onsen and Shin-Tosu in Saga Prefecture available for the Kyushu Shinkansen Line’s Nishi-Kyushu route The transport ministry wants to construct a Shinkansen track on this section as soon as possible but there is no telling when such work can start because of opposition by Saga Prefecture The Saga prefectural government fears if the entire route between Hakata and Nagasaki is built in the Shinkansen format many of the passengers will just pass through the prefecture bringing fewer benefits to the local economy Another concern is that JR Kyushu may withdraw from operation of the parallel conventional lines or cut their express train services Saga Prefecture has protested “the broken agreement.” Saga Governor Yoshinori Yamaguchi insisted the Shinkansen route be brought into operation only after gauge-convertible trains are created When asked about the delayed construction of the route between Takeo-Onsen and Shin-Tosu Yamaguchi expressed displeasure with the bullet train project saying he would like to see the route built in the Shinkansen format “The goal cannot be achieved with Nagasaki Prefecture’s efforts alone,” Oishi said friendly look the boast of new Kamome Shinkansen Tohoku bullet trains resume operation with fewer trains Japanese version Japanese version Ghana’s Black Starlets lost 3-1 on penalties to Nigeria on Saturday in the final of the 2018 WAFU Zone B U17 Championships in Niger The match ended 1-1 after regulation time in which Ghana took the lead in the 54th minute Nigeria got the leveller in the 56th minute through Akiwumi Amoo to send the match into the shootout Ebenezer Adade was the only Ghanaian player to get his kick on target as Alhassan Uzair Sampson Agyapong and Abdul Fatau Isaaku all missed Sampson Tijani and Mohammed Ibrahim scored while Akiwunmi Amoo missed his kick The loss means that Ghana will not be heading to the 2019 African U17 Championships in Tanzania and by extension “I think my players did well and were not tactically indisciplined This tournament has brought up a lot of talent The players have tried to show their capabilities and they have tried to express themselves.” “Ghana played so well and either side deserved to win but only one team can win this tournament I need to say that the qualifying format for the African Championships must change West Africa is a hub of African football especially at youth level Nigeria has won the World Cup 5 times and Ghana on two It is unfortunate that teams like Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire will not get to be at the African tournament This zone must get CAF to change the format.” CitiNewsroom.com is Ghana's leading news website that delivers high quality innovative alternative news that challenges the status quo © 2024 All Rights Reserved Citi Newsroom.