JR East said Tuesday it will start operating self-driving bullet trains on some of the sections of the Joetsu Shinkansen Line for commercial service in fiscal 2028 with a driver aboard to deal with emergencies in what could be the world's first such high-speed train service The autonomous trains will run 55.7 kilometers between Nagaoka and Niigata stations and JR East aims to begin completely driverless services on all sections of the Joetsu Shinkansen Line in the mid-2030s The railway company has said the automated system will reduce human errors improve safety and help tackle an expected future shortage of drivers amid a shrinking working-age population JR East President Yoichi Kise said at a press conference that the self-driving technology allows the company to plan train schedules more flexibly while enabling its "train staff members to engage in a wider range of tasks." The company will run fully autonomous out-of-service bullet trains between Niigata Station and its nearby rail yard in fiscal 2029 following self-driving operations with a driver for emergencies Among other bullet train operators in Japan the operator of the Tokaido Shinkansen Line connecting Tokyo and Osaka has said it aims to introduce self-driving bullet trains around 2028 JR East said it is considering expanding self-driving operations to its other bullet train services such as the Hokuriku and Tohoku Shinkansen lines connecting between Tokyo and the Sea of Japan coastal areas and between the capital and the country's northeastern prefectures [Kyodo Visual Story] Shinkansen - The dream super limited express marks 60(Part 2) [Kyodo Visual Story] Shinkansen - The dream super limited express marks 60(Part 1) Self-driving vehicles to boost presence around Haneda airport 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 announced plans to introduce an automatic transportation system which automatically controls bullet trains from start to stop to a section of the Joetsu Shinkansen Line in fiscal 2028 The company is aiming to achieve driverless operation on the entire line between Tokyo and Niigata in the mid-2030s The automatic system will be used on a 61-kilometer stretch between Nagaoka Station and the Niigata Shinkansen Rolling Stock Center The company will operate both commercial trains and out-of-service detour trains sent to the rail yard based on the automatic train operation (ATO) system JR East also said it plans to operate detour bullet trains without an onboard driver on a 5-km section between Niigata Station and the rolling stock center in fiscal 2029 Trains will be equipped with a system that automatically stops them when abnormal vibrations are detected during operation The company also said it hopes to introduce driverless operations on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line and the Tohoku Shinkansen Line in the future is aiming to introduce automatic operations on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line around 2028 Automated Shinkansen makes an early morning test run Self-driving test of Shinkansen proves successful for JR Tokai Tohoku bullet trains resume operation with fewer trains 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 East Japan Railway says it is going to test facial-recognition ticket gates for Joetsu Shinkansen trains The testing will take place at Niigata and Nagaoka stations by volunteers holding train passes between the stations Cameras at the gates will identify the passengers The testing will be aimed at verifying the system's accuracy JR East plans to introduce gates that do away with the need for paper tickets and IC cards such as those using smartphones' location information East Japan Railway President Kise Yoichi told reporters that the system will dramatically improve convenience for passengers with large luggage or baby carriages Facial-recognition ticket gates in Japan have already been introduced for Keisei Electric Railway's Skyliner express trains and for Osaka Metro trains (JR East) announced Tuesday it plans to experimentally deploy a system that will use facial recognition technology to allow passengers to move through ticket gates for the Joetsu Shinkansen bullet train line at Niigata and Nagaoka stations 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 The company will confirm the system’s accuracy and determine the best position to install the devices with the goal of establishing ‘walk-through’ ticket gates within the next 10 years The experiment will start around autumn this year and continue until spring 2026 and JR East will ask for participation from passengers who have passes for the Shinkansen line section between the two stations new gates will be installed that will incorporate facial recognition devices from Panasonic Connect Co Facial recognition systems for passengers have already been introduced in airports in Japan and abroad and are scheduled to be used to allow staff through entrance gates at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo If facial recognition systems for train lines are realized passengers will be able to pass through ticket wickets without using IC cards or paper tickets even if their hands are occupied by large baggage or baby strollers JR East President Yoichi Kise said at a press conference Tuesday “The system will be so easy to use that it will work even for passengers wearing glasses or masks.” Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun The PCBs produced are incorporated into equipment for manufacturing and testing semiconductors for applications involving AI and next-generation communication networks The new line enables high-precision and high-definition circuit formation which supports a via pitch of 0.23 mm while increasing production capacity by approximately 1.4 times compared to previous levels – thus strengthening the capability for manufacturing a wide variety of products in small quantities.  The company says that it aims to expand sales by targeting manufacturers of semiconductor manufacturing and testing equipment the manufacturing area within the Joetsu Plant has been expanded by 3,300 square meters (about 1.2 times the previous area) and now includes a new surface treatment line for handling ultra-thin materials and additional direct imaging equipment The AOI automated inspection equipment has also been relocated to optimise the flow of the PCB production process improving production quality and increasing production capacity by about 1.4 times.  The new line has also achieved improved line width accuracy (stabilisation of transmission characteristics) by means of high-precision circuit formation and a high-definition etching line through the reinforcement of automatic transport and direct imaging equipment for materials ranging from ultra-thin 0.03 mm to thick 8 mm boards.  As noted by OKI Circuit Technology President Masaya Suzuki the installation of additional high-precision drilling equipment has improved the company's capabilities in ultra-fine hole drilling (diameters of 0.10 mm or less) enabling the provision of ultra-high multilayer and high-definition PCBs with over 110 layers to meet customer demands for next-generation semiconductor manufacturing and testing OKI is currently focusing on its EMS business which provides one-stop comprehensive Monozukuri (production or making of things in Japanese) services from design to manufacturing and reliability testing The installation of this new line forms part of its technological development and production ramp-up investment in fields promising future growth within the PCB business OKI says that it aims to maintain active development of PCBs and manufacturing technologies in response to advancements in related technologies JR East is planning to launch self-driving bullet trains with the new models set to operate across a short stretch of the Joetsu Line from 2028 Not all of JR East’s trains will be automated by then The launch merely marks the first step in the company’s drive to automate more of its train lines The initial route will be a 55.7-kilometer section of the Joetsu Shinkansen Line running between Niigata and Nagaoka stations with the aim of automating the entire Joetsu Shinkansen Line by the mid-2030s there will still be a driver on board in case of emergencies The plan to implement self-driving trains is a way to combat train driver shortages in Japan. During a press conference to announce the news, the company president, Yoichi Kise, remarked that another reason for the push for driverless trains was to allow “staff members to engage in a wider range of tasks.” Niigata Station Photo by Takeshi images / Shutterstock.com Japan’s highly efficient railway system is not run by one company There are several nationwide train operators JR East lines serve millions of passengers daily across the eastern part of the country including the iconic Yamanote Line in Tokyo and several Shinkansen routes JR East has become synonymous with Japanese railway excellence The upcoming self-driving bullet trains are the latest example of JR East’s commitment to innovation in public transportation The illuminated three-story turret of Takada Castle in Joetsu City with Somei Yoshino cherry trees in full bloomPhoto: Joetsu Tourism and Convention Association has an impressive collection of approximately 4,000 Somei Yoshino cherry trees As the site of an annual cherry blossom festival the park is widely regarded as one of the top three nighttime cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan.1 During the festival the alleys beneath the cherry trees in full bloom are lined with shopping stalls and many visitors come from far and wide This article introduces the famous Takada Castle Park Site Cherry Blossom Festival which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025 still retains the atmosphere of a castle town about two hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen bullet train According to Takagi of the Joetsu Tourism and Convention Association was built in 1614 as the residence of MATSUDAIRA Tadateru,2 the sixth son of TOKUGAWA Ieyasu the first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate The castle changed hands several times before the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate in the late 19th century It was not until 1909 that cherry trees were planted on a large scale in Takada Castle Site Park which sits on the historic grounds of Takada Castle an association of local reservists who had retired from active military service in the Takada area at the time raised funds through donations to plant 2,200 cherry trees on the site of the castle This was the beginning of large-scale cherry tree planting in the park.” the cherry trees had begun to bloom beautifully and in 1917 local residents were allowed to enter the premises of the park the castle grounds housed the barracks of an army division so unlike today’s Cherry Blossom Festival there were no stalls and visitors were not free to stroll around they could quietly enjoy the cherry blossoms at their leisure in a designated area the local Chamber of Commerce and others organized the 1st Cherry Blossom Festival.” visitors can enjoy hanami (cherry blossom viewing) eating and drinking freely while enjoying the approximately 4,000 Somei Yoshino cherry trees planted in Takada Castle Site Park cherry trees are in full bloom throughout the park including along the vast inner and outer moats surrounding the complex the three-story turret and the cherry blossoms are lit up by bonbori3 lanterns and their reflection on the surface of the moat creates an even more impressive effect The wonderful view of the cherry blossoms illuminated by some 3,000 lanterns is considered one of the most beautiful in Japan making Takada Castle Site Park one of the top three nighttime cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan along with Ueno Onshi Park and Hirosaki Park the Cherry Blossom Festival is celebrating its 100th anniversary we are planning various special features such as projection mapping.” The 100th anniversary celebrations will include a commemorative tree planting and other initiatives inspired by the theme of the event: “Connecting with the next generation.” community volunteers have carefully maintained and cared for the cherry trees at Takada Castle “To protect and nurture the cherry trees together with the public we have been working with volunteer groups engaged in conservation activities and publicly recruited citizens we launched ‘Sakura Project J,’ a collaborative effort between Joetsu City and its residents to make even greater efforts to preserve the cherry trees After the cherry blossom viewing season is over to show our gratitude for the beautiful blossoms we work together with community volunteers to provide nourishment to the cherry trees in order to refill the energy they used to bloom We also take care of the cherry trees throughout the year including watering them in the summer and preparing them for winter in the fall.” The cherry trees in Takada Castle Site Park are an important asset of Joetsu City hoping to ensure that they remain healthy for another 100 years “Many people visit Joetsu City during the cherry blossom viewing season We hope that overseas visitors will also explore the areas beyond the park with its retro district of rows of traditional gangi-style townhouses.4 Check out the latest brochure available in English and traditional Chinese on the Cherry Blossom Festival special page of the official Joetsu Sightseeing Navi website Come and enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms that are so beloved by the people of Joetsu City.” By MOROHASHI KumikoPhoto: Joetsu Tourism and Convention Association; Sakura Project J Secretariat; PIXTA If you have any feedback or comments on this content please enter them in the space provided below Your valuable feedback and commnents will be referenced for our future operations Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter for receiving monthly updates You will be redirected to an external website Would you like to proceed?If you wish to continue Today's print edition Home Delivery East Japan Railway (JR East) on Tuesday unveiled plans to introduce driverless bullet trains by the mid-2030s in an effort to make operations more efficient and sustainable The major railway company said it will initially aim to realize driverless operations for the Joetsu Shinkansen line between Niigata and Tokyo stations The company will take incremental steps to automate the bullet trains.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); JR East plans to run bullet trains with the second grade of automation between Nagaoka Station and the Niigata shinkansen station center by fiscal 2028 In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division The Tohoku Shinkansen line stopped to conduct a train inspection between Ueno and Omiya Stations on Thursday morning after the train cars decoupled and came to a halt Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen train lines are currently suspended in both directions About Us About Mitsubishi Power, Ltd. 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Power Generation with 100% Hydrogen Fast-forwarding Decarbonization in Taiwanwith Natural Gas-fired Cogeneration Facilities Sustainability a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group has concluded a contract with Tohoku Electric Power Co. for the utilization of TOMONI intelligent digital solutions for Unit 1 of the Joetsu Thermal Power Station in Joetsu city scheduled to start operations in December 2022 The addition of the TOMONI service for the 572-megawatt (MW) class gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power generation facility high-efficiency J-series Air-Cooled (JAC) gas turbines supplied by Mitsubishi Power will provide a real-time operation monitoring system employing cutting-edge data analysis application software This TOMONI service will allow for more advanced and efficient operations and maintenance (O&M) also contributing to the reduction of emissions including decarbonization The advanced forced air-cooled combustion system employed in JAC turbines allows for a shorter start-up time compared to steam cooling systems and realizes advantages such as higher power plant efficiency applied by a high turbine inlet temperature of 1,650°C Construction of the Joetsu Thermal Power Station Unit 1 began in 2019 with the completion of JAC gas turbine installation and the trial runs is scheduled to begin in March 2022 TOMONI intelligent digital solutions applied to this project allow the various services to be used via cloud computing accessible from the customer’s computer The Joetsu Thermal Power Station Unit 1 will utilize many cutting-edge TOMONI data analysis applications to support O&M optimizing plant efficiency and equipment inspections thus reducing plant maintenance and operation costs The long-term reliability of TOMONI has been confirmed at T-Point 2 power plant operated remotely from the TOMONI HUB(Note) at the Takasago Works in Hyogo Prefecture Many of the cutting-edge applications used at T-Point 2 will be adopted for use in the JAC-Series GTCC through highly sophisticated data analysis and cooperation with customers is paving the way toward the future realization of smart autonomous power plants that will seamlessly integrate power grids Mitsubishi Power will utilize its TOMONI intelligent digital solutions developed based on its expertise and many years of experience with power plant O&M to support decarbonization of power plants TOMONI attributes will help strengthen the business foundation for our customers This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page suppose design office has placed the different functions of the house around the private courtyard which can be opened or closed through the sliding exterior panels the garden becomes the center of the living space where residents can experience nature all year round when heavy snowfall covers the building with snow the house remains calmly connected to the outside the ground level encloses private areas such as bathrooms and bedrooms with walls clad in warm wood that softly contrast the home’s exterior the upper level features common living spaces including an open room where the living and dining areas are located which maintains visual contact with the courtyard through a long horizontal window wood and concrete are combined in this level while the sloped ceiling adds to the generous atmospheric tone of the home’s interior architect: suppose design office AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Joetsu Shinkansen: read a guide to the Joetsu Shinkansen which connects Tokyo Station with Niigata Station in Niigata via Echigo Yuzawa The Gala-Yuzawa Line is a short 1.8 km shinkansen branch from Echigo-Yuzawa to Gala-Yuzawa Station. The line serves the ski resort of Gala Yuzawa in the winter months only The Joetsu Shinkansen was the pet project of prime minister Tanaka Kakuei who was born in Niigata and wanted to connect his hometown with the capital The Joetsu Shinkansen was constructed during the 1970's and opened in 1982 The Shinkansen bullet train is already a premier form of rail travel but with the option to reserve a private car for you and your travel party the next time you take a ride can be one to remembe Can I ride the Nozomi & Mizuho Shinkansen with the Japan Rail Pass? The Shinkansen bullet train is hailed as one of the most premium and efficient means of rail travel in the entire world making it a popular choice for visitors to Japan who are engaging in The One Piece Shinkansen Imagine a train transformed into a pirate ship ready to take you through the wonders of western Japan Unique Trains in Japan Japanese Stations Getting Around Tokyo Itineraries for Japan Getting Around Kyoto Train in Japan Sign up and be the first to hear our news and special offers saw its number of visitors skyrocket in June Most were clamoring to see the facility’s main attractions among them beluga whales and Megallanic penguins the updated Joetsu City Aquarium built on property adjacent to the former aquarium The newly renovated facility opened its doors to visitors on June 26 after major renovations It is registered and administered under the Yokohama Hakkeijima Inc. which also operates the well-known Hakkejima Sea Paradise in Yokohama The Umigatari facility has three floors with a total floor space of around 8,400 square meters and 45,000 creatures exhibited throughout the aquarium Among its most popular features are the beluga whales and the crowd favorite: three acrobatic bottlenose dolphins it is “the view of the sun setting on the ocean” that makes Umigatari so special It is a spectacular sight which one can only experience at this Sea of Japan location grinning widely while flaunting a picture of himself and the beluga “It’s incredible to be able to see the beluga so close but it’s gotten more exciting and fun for adults.” Umigatari is the fifth aquarium in the country to exhibit belugas At the “Friend Pool” — a beluga tank on the third floor — two curious whales show us their adorable faces through the tank glass Another popular exhibit is the “Magellanic Penguin Museum” with about 120 of the world’s largest number of Magellanic penguins The glass-walled space is designed to allow visitors to sense the close presence of the aquatic birds as they walk by They are so much cuter when you see them up close.”    The Umigatari Giant Water Tank has a 360º acrylic glass underwater tunnel one can hear the children exclaiming “Wow!” as they are surrounded by a vision of swarming sardines But perhaps the biggest attraction is the bottlenose dolphin show at the Dolphin Stadium located on the third floor Although there are now only three dolphins performing due to the sudden death of one of them “The great thing about the show is that the audience members are not only watching they can clap along and participate in the excitement of the performance,” said office worker her family of four was enjoying the “sunset version” of the show where audience can watch the dolphins’ silhouettes against the setting sun According to the maintenance service division of the aquarium before renovations the annual number of visitors in the year 2016 was 195,000 the preliminary count exceeded 200,000 visitors The number of visitors to the renovated aquarium exceeded the average annual count in just over a month “We are grateful there are so many more visitors than we first anticipated.” The facility now estimates there is an average of around 4,000 to 5,000 visitors on a weekday during the summer season and around 7,000 to 8,000 visitors on weekends and holidays Click here for the Umigatari guidebook in English Click here to read the original article in Japanese You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " NIIGATA — The blooming of cherry blossoms in Takada Castle Site Park in Joetsu and Niigata City This year’s blooming in the park was one day later than last year’s but it was still around the same time as in an average year According to the Niigata Local Meteorological Office the blooming in Niigata City came two days earlier than usual; this was the same time as last year’s blooming The cherry blossoms are expected to be in full bloom within two days to a week after they started Found in the mountainous southwest part of Niigata Prefecture the Joetsu region consists of three cities: Joetsu Probably best known for its excellent winter skiing conditions – it gets up to three meters of snowfall – the area also has plenty to offer during the warmer seasons Here are five experiences to go for… Myoko Happiness Illumination holds a 2015 Guinness World Record for being the “Largest Image Made of LED Lights.” Held at APA Hotel in Myoko the event is now in its third year and takes over part of the resort’s 27-hole golf course which is divided up into different themed sections was created by noted illumination designer Motoo Marumaru and takes about 90 to 120 minutes to walk through impressive water projections of the Wind God and Thunder God and a two massive dragons to end off the colorful display so it’s a good idea to check into APA Hotel for a night or two which will also give you a chance to work your way through the rest of our “top five” list volcanic activity created the 400 m-high cliffs of the Northern Japanese Alps which fall dramatically into the Sea of Japan To allow people to journey around the mountain the ancient Hokuriku Road was carved out just next to the often stormy sea resulting in many travelers getting swept away Oyashirazu (“without the parents knowing”) from a poem composed by the wife of samurai Taira no Yorimori after their child was taken by the waves the cliffs can now be traversed by car via the Hokuriku Expressway but you can stop off and walk along the Oyashirazu Community Road and turned into a recreational walkway in 1966 If you stand on the pavilion at the entrance you can take in a view of the Sea of Japan as well as the ancient Hokuriku Road Look out for the carvings on the cliff face ya no gotoshi” (“As smooth as a whetstone and as straight as an arrow”) – they commemorate the completion of Oyashirazu Community Road which put an end to the perilous cliff journeys For more info, visit tinyurl.com/TWoyashirazu The onsen in Myoko all come from the same source – Mt which is listed in the 1964 book “100 Famous Japanese Mountains” – but their waters are peculiarly different in color ranging from clear to reddish-brown to milky which is set up high on the side of a mountain and is free to enjoy (although the hike to get there might feel like payment) For more info, visit hyperurl.co/TWmyoko-onsen Koshihikari rice is known for being the country’s finest Combine this with the region’s delicate style of presenting sushi upon bamboo leaves – known as sasazushi – and you get not only the tastiest but also the most beautiful sushi dish ever Joetsu is particularly renowned for its sasazushi with its colorful toppings including fresh seasonal vegetables The added bonus of having the best rice in Japan The area’s sake is also pretty hard to beat three-tiered Takada Castle was built in 1614 and is worth visiting any time of the year but we’d recommend heading there for the annual summer Joetsu Lotus Festival in August when the outer moat is filled with lotus flowers The blooms also take over the rest of Takada Park and are said to be the “best in the East” in terms of beauty and scale For more info, visit tinyurl.com/TWtakada-park an American man was killed in an avalanche in Myoko City in the Niigata prefecture of Japan Japanese police were notified around 1:00 p.m that a group of four men were lost in the backcountry and at least one person had been caught in an avalanche A rescue team was dispatched and located the party approximately 1,500 feet southeast of the Mt.Mitahara Summit just after 4:30 p.m A police helicopter airlifted three of the party members The American man was in his late 30s and was taken to a Joetsu City Hospital in an unconscious state where he was later pronounced dead The police later identified the victim as U.S who lived in Japan’s Nagano prefecture The Myoko police said Remick and the other men had been skiing and snowboarding when the avalanche struck are popular with backcountry skiers and snowboarders Backcountry skiing has become increasingly popular with both Japanese and foreign travelers. However, with the rise in popularity comes a greater risk of avalanches. The Japanese National Police reported 94 avalanche rescue calls in 2022, including the death of American Pro Skier Kyle Smaine Unfortunately, this tragic incident is a reminder of the dangers that come with backcountry skiing and snowboarding. While it can be an exhilarating and enjoyable experience, all adventurers are recommended to take the necessary precautions and be aware of potential risks. The Japanese National Avalanche Network Narade.jp provides daily avalanche risk updates Japanese police caution that “rescue operations in snowy mountains can take time due to severe weather conditions such as accumulated snow and blizzards Mike is a writer, entrepreneur, and lifelong ski bum. He lives in Hakuba Japan where he runs several businesses and skis incessantly. Find more of his writing on Mykhumphrey.com Please sign in with your Snow-Forecast account details below Create a free account to receive instant Snow-Alerts and save your favourite resorts on your personal MySnow page Joetsu Kokusai Weather (Next 3 days): The snow forecast for Joetsu Kokusai is: Heavy rain (total 35.0mm) Joetsu Kokusai Weather (Days 4-6): Heavy rain (total 24.0mm) Aspen Snowmass has announced big spending plans this summer with the biggest upgrade announcements focussed on their Snowmass ski area including a new high-speed 6-seater chairlift and a rare (for North America) new T Bar lift The above table gives the weather forecast for Joetsu Kokusai at the specific elevation of 608 m. Our sophisticated weather models allow us to provide snow forecasts for the top, middle and bottom ski stations of Joetsu Kokusai. To access the weather forecasts for the other elevations, use the tab navigation above the table. For a wider view of the weather, check out the Weather Map of Japan Click here to read further information on freezing levels and how we forecast our temperatures Be the first to write a review! View detailed snow forecast for Joetsu Kokusai at:snow-forecast.com National Report Niigata Prefecture—This city known for heavy snowfalls is also home to a more than century-old movie theater that has undergone several reincarnations to survive economic woes is about a six-minute walk from Takada Station along a street lined with “gangi” wooden arcades was initially a playhouse when a divisional headquarters of the Imperial Japanese Army was based here and brought vibrancy to the former castle town The building is characterized by white walls and arched windows as well as parapets designed with straight and curved lines to create a light and graceful feeling The theater has about 180 seats on the first and second floors Particularly eye-catching are the ruling family emblem of the feudal Takada Domain at the center of the boarded ceiling and the wooden handrails surrounding the second-floor seats It was called Sekaikan when it started operating as a cinema five years later The theater slipped from center stage after it started exclusively playing pornography in the 1970s making the place “unfavorable for children to go near,” according to Michinari Ueno “It had remained obscure for a long time,” he said “(But) I think it was spared from demolition and survived as a movie theater thanks to steady demand (for porn films).” the Takada district had seven movie theaters Takada Sekaikan is the only one that remains today Its demolition was considered in 2007 after the Niigata Chuetsu-oki Earthquake struck But local volunteers and movie fans started activities to conserve the building and a nonprofit organization took over the theater from its owner for free The NPO used subsidies from the city government and public donations to repair the roof and the interior The structure was then registered as a tangible cultural property by the central government in 2011 who hails from Joetsu and studied cinema and film criticism as an undergraduate and graduate student returned to the city at the invitation of the NPO The theater had shown movies on an irregular basis before Ueno became manager He started screening films four to five times a day He also shows movies with an old-fashioned film projector To lure repeat customers from the Kanto region and elsewhere Ueno organizes “cheer screenings” that allow audience members to shout I also want to make use of the structure of the former playhouse to host events,” Ueno said Japan’s indie cinemas use time off in pandemic to make movies Students build DeLorean icon from ‘Back to the Future’ trilogy Please visit these standalone sites for more information GE Aerospace | GE Vernova | GE HealthCare  2015-GE (NYSE: GE) today announced that GE has been chosen to upgrade the efficiency and availability of eight GE gas turbines at the Japanese utility’s Joetsu Thermal Power Station GE’s Power Generation Services business will provide three GE Power FlexEfficiency* upgrade offerings including a Dry Low NOx 2.6 (DLN2.6) combustor an OpFlex* gas turbine controls technology package and its Advanced Gas Path (AGP) solution to upgrade eight 7F gas turbines that are powering Chubu’s 2,380-megawatt combined-cycle power plant “GE’s proven AGP solution gives us the ability to improve thermal efficiency by 0.7 percent and reduce the fuel costs and CO2 emissions of our Joetsu Thermal Power Station,” said Chubu Electric Power’s Akira Kuriyama General Manager of Thermal Power Department Power Generation Division the AGP solution contributes to improved durability of the equipment itself and extends maintenance intervals from three years to four years which helps to improve our competitiveness by reducing operational costs and shortening downtime for maintenance.” “We are pleased to be selected by Chubu Electric to provide our Advanced Gas Path solution and additional upgrade services for their Joetsu Thermal Power Station uprate project,” said Masayuki Oya General Manager-Asia Paci­fic for Power Generation Services “This agreement marks the first AGP project for GE in Japan and will serve as an important demonstration to show other power producers in Japan how they can implement similar AGP projects to improve the long-term efficiency of their existing power plants.” Chubu opted for GE’s AGP solution to more effectively control the station’s overall fuel and life cycle maintenance costs Chubu also is expecting to see enhanced output during future summer seasons and to extend time between maintenance outages to 32,000 hours as a result of the AGP solution and additional upgrades to the gas turbine combustion system and controls which began commercial operation in multiple phases between 2012 and 2014 as one of the leading higher-efficiency thermal power plants on Japan’s Honshu Island primarily fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) The GE Power FlexEfficiency portfolio delivers a suite of hardware and software blended solutions that enable customers to unleash the full performance and long-term value of existing GE F-class gas turbine assets It is a customized upgrade solution that utilizes proven technologies that are designed to add more functionality flexibility and performance to GE gas turbines GE (NYSE: GE) imagines things others don’t, builds things others can’t and delivers outcomes that make the world work better. GE brings together the physical and digital worlds in ways no other company can. 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The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version Niigata Prefecture--A senior official of a Tokyo-based major oil and gas producer bowed deeply for several seconds and apologized while cameras flashed and the sounds of shutters were heard chief of Inpex Corp.'s natural gas base in Joetsu city Inpex is preparing for the contingency of holding an emergency news conference when embroiled in a major scandal or incident At these difficult media grilling sessions top executives bow in apology and face a barrage of questions from persistent reporters A growing number of companies are preparing for such grueling sessions in peacetime to better prepare for damage control The Inpex "news conference," held about half a year ago was based on a scenario of a fire breaking out at one of the base's liquefied natural gas tanks during a regular inspection Oku stood in front of several risk management consultants from Arex Corp. firing questions about the cause of the fire and other related matters When asked how many gas detectors were put in place who was transferred to Joetsu to take the post a year earlier knew exactly where they are located--something that is more important than the number itself But he did not expect to be asked how many were in place who attended a staged session for the first time “I learned the importance of staying calm in a high-pressure setting and keeping in mind reporters’ viewpoints to share information properly,” Oku told The Asahi Shimbun Simulating an emergency news conference was an initiative suggested by an Inpex headquarters’ public relations official The company places emphasis on disaster preparedness measures The mock session is part of a training program that will prepare officials to effectively communicate with the public Inpex has not been mired in any events in recent years forcing the company to call an emergency news conference communications within the company could go into disarray and disrupt a coordinated response to the issue The mock news conference was also intended to educate employees of various departments on how crucial it is to swiftly respond to news media inquiries Another question Oku was asked during the mock session was: “Was the fire unexpected?” “It was absolutely unexpected,” he stated flatly He meant that Inpex has done all it could to ensure safety with redundant safeguards deployed at the LNG terminal an Arex consultant who studied Oku’s responses pointed out at a review session afterward that “unexpected” could be negatively taken out of context “If you readily answer a question when asked to choose between two responses you may not be able to communicate facts that you intend to convey,” said Kobayashi who was a reporter herself covering city news for a national newspaper before she joined Arex three years earlier Era's decision to set up his own company specializing in crisis management and public relations support was spurred by a case he was assigned to as a consultant of another public relations firm The company he advised was a rent-a-car company whose car was used in a murder case Although the company had nothing to do with the slaying reporters relentlessly hounded the company for more information Company officials grew increasingly stubborn about sharing information as the media frenzy overheated He also noted a public relations fiasco in 2000 where the president of a company who was supposed to lead the damage control after his company’s misconduct was uncovered only made a bad situation even worse by his careless remarks “I have not had enough sleep,” hurled at reporters as they pressed for a longer question-and-answer session after he cut short the news conference Era felt those incidents drove home the need to help businesses understand the gravity of effectively communicating with the public “When Japan’s economy was expanding rapidly company scandals were not considered a big issue as long as their financial results were good,” he said companies increasingly find themselves faced with more risks as social media posts may go viral and damage their image and reputations An incident that could have been easily dismissed as insignificant prior to the digital age cannot be taken so lightly these days The bar for calling an emergency news conference is increasingly set lower now that businesses cannot ignore activist shareholders’ demands for an explanation once a scandal erupts According to credit research firm Teikoku Databank Ltd. 300 companies filed for bankruptcy in fiscal 2022 due to compliance breaches Most of the violations concern accounting fraud cargo overloading and misrepresenting the site of origin for food products Arex has handled many news conferences given by businesses accused of misbehavior Era noted that in many cases his firm did not receive due credit for helping clients bring things under control public anger was often directed at news conferences that his firm was involved with Era believes that his firm’s mission is to prompt businesses to share accurate information with the public “Our role is not to help scandal-hit companies suppress information but to persuade them to explain what went wrong,” he said “That will lead to the prevention of a recurrence.” there is a news conference room resembling one at the transportation ministry's offices used for such purposes A total of 200 corporate clients use the room a year to practice A Tokyo financial institution has utilized the room for more than 10 years “What is crucial in such a session is that officials are on the same page as to the root cause of the problem and to whom they apologize for what,” Era said “It will be meaningless if they only think about how to bow their heads and answer questions that are anticipated.” A survey by the Keizai Koho Center (Japan Institute for Social and Economic Affairs) an organization affiliated with the powerful business lobby Keidanren found that nearly 40 percent of Keidanren member companies practiced emergency news conferences in 2023 Suga scraps state of emergency briefing as press aide faces the fire EDITORIAL: Abe is woefully missing in action in latest battle to combat the virus　 Journalist ‘blacklist’ made before Johnny’s news conference Abe vague and brief at first news conference in nearly 50 days Prime minister’s office rejects request for news conference Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train services around 10 a.m maintenance workers found an overhead cable hanging down in the section between Ueno and Omiya stations The company is investigating the cause of the development and is guiding passengers on trains that have stopped between stations to safety JR East has temporarily suspended both inbound and outbound Shinkansen services between Tokyo Station and Sendai It will take “a considerable amount of time” to resume operations JR East started to offer shuttle services between Sendai and Shin-Aomori stations on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line Echigo-Yuzawa and Niigata stations on the Joetsu Shinkansen Line and Nagano and Kanazawa stations on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line The operations of the Hokuriku and Joetsu Shinkansen resumed Tuesday on the entire lines after they had been partially stopped due to the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on New Year’s Day on Monday The Joetsu Shinkansen resumed operation between Echigo-Yuzawa and Niigata at around 2:40 p.m while the Hokuriku Shinkansen resumed operation between Nagano and Toyama at 3:20 p.m Operation between Toyama and Kanazawa resumed earlier in the morning Click here for the Noto Peninsula Earthquake Articles and Joetsu Shinkansen operations are resumed after suspension due to a power outage on Wednesday morning This is to announce that Chubu Electric Power has begun commercial operation today of Joetsu Thermal Power Station Unit 2-2 Joetsu Thermal Power Station has begun commercial operation of for all four Units in response to the rise in vibrations on the steam turbine bearing section of Unit 1-1 that occurred on April 09 the rated output of each unit will tentatively be 575,680kW due to the installation of pressure plates We are grateful for the understanding and cooperation of local residents and other local parties concerned with regard to the construction work on the Joetsu Thermal Power Station Chubu Electric Power will continue to strive to ensure the stable supply of low-carbon Originally planned rated output: 2,380MW (595MW×4 Units) Tentative rated output: 2,302.72MW (575.68MW×4 Units) Multi-shaft combined-cycle power generation method (1,300°C class improved gas turbines) 58.5% (Originally planned rated output when operated under lower heating value standards) Press Releases and Other Company News Go to the Top of the Page Energy Business Development Global Business Investor Relations ESG Procurement About Chubu Electric Power spun off the power transmission and distribution business to Chubu Electric Power Grid Co. and retail electricity business to Chubu Electric Power Miraiz Co. Chris Phillips from New Zealand resides in an old rice merchant’s mansion built in the Meiji period (1868–1912) in Joetsu City From here he works to preserve the look of the traditional townscape drawing on his firsthand experience of living a strict prewar Japanese lifestyle 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 mid-autumn day as I walk around the downtown neighborhood of Takada but its specialized infrastructure is already poised in anticipation of the year's first big snowfall as it has been for generations.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); a family-owned sake brewery with over a century of history points out several architectural and technological quirks Japanese version Japanese version Japanese version Japanese version nestled about 30 minutes by car from the city center in the slopes of Mount Fusube from the observation deck several hundred meters above the village the view stretches out over terraced rice paddies across the greater Echigo Plain and all the way to the Sea of Japan; beautiful It's also a genkai shūraku (a depopulated village where most residents are senior citizens) — a common story playing out in villages across the archipelago A few decades ago there were around 50 to 60 households in Takao; today there are only 23 and the village has no children under elementary school age.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); residents are deeply attached to their yama no kurashi or "mountain way of life." Two years ago Takao native Mina Ueki and Akemi Suzuki struck upon an idea to help showcase their village if not encourage people to move there themselves Inspired by the format of the Engawa Cafe community event in Osawa Ueki and Suzuki created the monthly "Ochanomi Sanpo" ("Tea-drinking Walk") NIIGATA — A miso manufacturer and a local underwater audio equipment firm have teamed up to produce fully matured miso by having koji mold and soybeans directly exposed to music Fermentation and maturation usually take about six months but the makers cut that time in half to about 100 days with the music It is believed the miso matured faster because of something having to do with the music’s frequency The 105-year-old company Yamamoto Miso collaborated with Uetax Corp with the miso manufacturer saying it wanted to try something unprecedented It has been put on the market in the city and became quite the topic of conversation The miso is being matured in a brewing tank filled with koji mold and soybeans together with two round speakers about 12 centimeters in diameter The music can be faintly heard outside the tank “There have been cases of music being played outside a tank but I’d never heard of exposing miso directly to music,” said Yamamoto Miso President Mikio Yamamoto It began when Joetsu Shinkin Bank talked about Uetax to Yamamoto Miso after the miso manufacturer consulted the bank regarding the development of a new product Uetax is proud of its high-performance speakers as seen in the use of its underwater speakers for artistic swimming at the Tokyo Olympics In collaboration with Shinshu University in Nagano Prefecture the company has been working to study using sound to promote plant growth Applying the technology for speakers that can be used underwater or in hot springs Uetax has developed a stainless steel speaker that does not rust even when placed in salty miso and remains undamaged after sterilization with boiling water Yamamoto and his team started experimenting in 2019 to find out what kind of music could be suitable to brew miso They exposed miso to classical and rock music at various frequencies and asked Shinshu University to analyze the data they decided to play piano pieces and rock music by artists associated with the city alternating between high and low frequencies They began preparing ingredients for the brewing process in April this year “If we can better figure out how the music affects [miso] we may be able to control the speed of fermentation which until now has been left up to nature,” said Kimito Hara an industry-academia collaboration advisor at Shinshu University The fully matured miso has a sweetness enhanced by koji mold Yamamoto said he was surprised by just how much the music sweetened the mold and cut the fermentation time The finished miso is sold at ¥972 for 500 grams we want to create a buzz and liven up the whole town,” Yamamoto said Japanese version Japanese version Japanese version Japanese version Nintendo announced that a new collaboration live event featuring Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be held at the Umigatari Joetsu Aquarium An exhibition under the title of  Creatures of the Sea Connection Exhibit will be held in the city of Joetsu Over thirty species of fish and marine life featured in Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be highlighted as part of the special exhibition Each tank will include commentary panels written in Japanese with information and trivia on each species a special section of the exhibition will be dedicated particularly to the giant oarfish which is not normally on display at the aquarium A Stamp Rally will be available during the exhibition and the stamp rally book to participate in it will cost 200 JPY (~$1.44) The book will serve as a guidebook for the event as well since it includes a list of the fish on display at the event Merchandise exclusive to the event will be offered visitors who use the GPS check-in with the My Nintendo smartphone app on the premises of the Umigatari Joetsu Aquarium will receive an Animal Crossing Amiibo card at the counter near the entrance of the aquarium The Creatures of the Sea Connection Exhibit will be held in collaboration with Animal Crossing: New Horizons at the Umigatari Joetsu Aquarium between June 15