If JavaScript is not enabled on your browser 2024 – ORIX Corporation (“ORIX”) announced today that it will begin commercial operation of the Kinokawa Energy Storage Plant in Kinokawa Wakayama that was jointly constructed with Kansai Electric Power Co. Kinokawa Energy Storage Plant has 64 lithium-ion storage battery containers installed within its premises With a rated output of 48MW and a rated capacity of 113MWh*2 it has the largest scale*3 out of all energy storage plants currently operating within Japan and is the first to begin operation in ORIX’s energy storage plant business An energy storage plant is able to flexibly adjust supply according to electricity demand by connecting large-scale storage batteries to the power grid charging electricity when there is a surplus and discharging it when there is a shortage The commencement of the plant’s operation allows charging and discharging of electricity equivalent to the daily usage of approximately 13,000 average households*4 contributing toward stabilizing the supply and demand of electricity as well as promoting the diffusion of renewable energy KEPCO Group company E-Flow LLC will take on the operation of the storage batteries including transactions on the electricity market while ORIX Renewable Energy Management Corporation*5 will be in charge of the plant’s operation and maintenance (O&M) work Amid renewable energy being promoted as the main source of power in order to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050 power generation from solar and wind power fluctuates significantly depending on weather conditions and time of the day energy storage plants are being introduced to fulfill the role of adjusting the supply and demand of electricity ORIX entered the energy storage plant business in 2022 and is promoting the development of energy storage plants nationwide in Japan while also collaborating with municipalities considering the effective use of public land and companies with unused land ORIX will continue to focus efforts on its renewable energy business–which includes the energy storage plant business–and contribute toward the realization of a decarbonized society Contact Information: Investor Relations and Sustainability Department ORIX Corporation Tel: +81-3-3435-3121 Caution Concerning Forward Looking Statements:These documents may contain forward-looking statements about expected future events and financial results that involve risks and uncertainties Such statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results that differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements Factors that could cause such a difference include those described under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and under “(4) Risk Factors” of the “1 Summary of Consolidated Financial Results” of the “Consolidated Financial Results April 1 2024 News Releases List Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker while Tesserack will serve as a casual izakaya known for beloved Heights restaurant Blackbird Izakaya and Galleria-area spot Hidden Omakase has a new project in the works for the former Golden Bagels location at 3119 White Oak Drive The spot will be two restaurants in one — a reservations-only omakase restaurant Both restaurants will incorporate influences from Kin’s many projects and previous jobs as well as establishments run by his father and grandfather throughout Asia and San Francisco the omakase portion is named after a Japanese restaurant Kin’s father ran in Taiwan for more than three decades That aspect of the restaurant is inspired in part by the science fiction film Interstellar are “about communicating with the past and the present,” Kin says Kin’s previous Heights restaurant, Blackbird Izakaya, opened in 2018 and gained a loyal following for its innovated take on Japanese cuisine, including dishes like curry katsu and super-fresh sushi. However, the restaurant could not withstand the early days of the pandemic and Houston stay-home ordinance, and shuttered in July 2020 but was quickly tapped by restaurateur Tuan Tran to help open Hidden Omakase which debuted in a Galleria-area office building in December 2020 Kin worked to get the much-lauded restaurant off the ground eventually handing the kitchen over to chef Niki Vongthong at the end of March Like many people at the beginning of the pandemic ‘I’m never going to open a restaurant again,’” he says “But Tuan’s the one who helped me rediscover that it’s fun to cook again.” He also never thought he’d land in the Heights again, saying he had an “emotional attachment” to Blackbird’s location and his many neighborhood regulars. But when Golden Bagels closed in September the timing — and the location — were just right For Kinokawa, Kin will be working with connections he made during his tenure at Hidden Omakase to source fresh seafood directly from Japan. He plans to focus on edomae-style sushi the fish is frequently preserved in soy sauce the menu will focus on Japanese whiskeys and craft cocktails Kin said he is also planning on putting some of Blackbird’s most popular dishes on the menu He’s also incorporating a pandemic hobby — woodworking — into the design of both restaurants non-electric ice box for Kinokawa to emulate those used in 19th century Japan and made nearly all the furniture for both restaurants by hand Kin says one of his inspirations is George Nakashima an architect and woodworker who is considered the father of the American Craft Movement I saw the way he sees nature and wood is really similar to how a chef sees food ingredients.” Two talented chefs are teaming up to open a new, dual-concept Japanese restaurant in The Heights Billy Kin and Brandon Silva will soon unveil Kinokawa Silva’s resume includes stints at Uchi and multiple stages across the U.S. and Europe. Earlier this year, he opened Degust, an intimate tasting menu restaurant, but left the restaurant in September Silva tells CultureMap he contacted Kin after reading an Eater Houston article about the chef’s plans to open Kinokawa in the former Golden Bagels & Coffee space on White Oak the chefs immediately bonded over their similar approaches to cooking “It will be like John Stockton and Karl Malonoe we’ll try to find some chemistry and present something that’s original but it tells the story of him and myself,” Kin says “All the training I have across the world this is something special that we can finally do together We can do something really fucking fun and cool,” Silva adds Japanese-inspired tasting menu in a room that only seats approximately 15 diners Slated to open next month in the building’s main dining room Kin says the menu will draw from techniques used in edomae sushi and utilize fish flown in from Japan He sees Silva as the person who can help him elevate the restaurant further I want to create the same experience [as Hidden] introduce diners to something they’ve never tried,” he says “Everything will be an overall experience from the food to the decor to the furniture that will allow us to push the boundary as far as the culinary aspect.” The bagel shop’s patio will be transformed into Tesseract a casual izakaya concept that’s open for walk-in diners Named for the inter-dimensional portal in the movie Interstellar a mostly opaque wall will allow Tesseract diners to catch a glimpse of the tasting menu being served at Kinokawa It won’t open until Kin receives a liquor license Kin sees Tesseract’s menu as a simplified version of what he served at Blackbird but adding Silva to the team opens up the potential for some more adventurous fare as well maybe it will have a Spanish influence,” he says “I’m sure whatever we come up with will be pretty awesome.” Those looking to treat Mom to a special meal for Mother’s Day will have plenty of options all over Houston Aya SushiA special Mamakase menu features 13 different bites plated family style The Mamakase and the restaurant's a la carte menu will be available all day from 11 am to 9 pm Doris MetropolitanUsually closed on Sundays the Upper Kirby restaurant will be open from noon to 5 pm on Sunday serving the regular menu and four brunch features Leo’s River OaksTreat Mom to an elegant three-course prix-fixe brunch in a festive atmosphere and a reservation deposit of $25 is required for guests aged six and older PerseidAaron Bludorn's restaurant at the Hotel Saint Augustine will supplement its regular brunch menu with a special opportunity Houston Events & Florals will be on-site to help moms build custom floral arrangements Post Oak HotelMom will love the chic hotel’s third annual "Springtime in Paris” Mothers Day celebration The extravagant event is the Bayou City’s take on Rue Cler In addition to the menu that includes caviar and shucked oysters a carving station with lamb and filet mignon there are also tasting stations from Veuve Clicquot and Moët & Chandon A welcome drink is included and kids can enjoy a special toy boutique with arts and crafts The cost is $170 for adults and $75 for children ages 5 to 12 Toro Toro at the Four Seasons HoustonAs it always does on major holidays the Latin-inspired steakhouse will serve a decadent Mother's Day brunch buffet Priced at $145 for adults and $65 for kids 12 and under the spread includes a seafood and sushi station Brunch is served from 11 am to 3 pm and reservations are required Winsome PrimeThe Galleria-area steakhouse has complimentary roses and champagne for all the moms with options like the breakfast quesadilla Moms get a complimentary mimosa on Mother's Day at Liberty Kitchen and Oysterette is set to open Thursday at 119 White Oak Drive A new Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins location opened Friday at 3011 Ella Blvd a Baja California-style restaurant serving tacos and burritos and other Mexican food closed earlier this month after a three-year run at 4520 Washington Ave A Japanese restaurant serving omakase sushi is set to debut Thursday at 119 White Oak Drive and more in this week's Nibbles & Sips Reservations are available at resy.com/cities/hou/5Kinokawa for Thursday and Sunday Kinokowa is the latest concept from chef Billy Kin who is slated to launch Tesseract next year or a casual bar serving Japanese drinks and snacks Both of Kin’s restaurants are replacing Golden Bagel in the space that formerly housed Carl’s Jr The Massachusetts-based doughnut and coffee chain now has three locations in the Greater Heights The new location is open from 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m A former Baskin-Robbins location will soon be home to a Houston-based pizza chain is scheduled to complete its renovations to the 1,289 square foot space by Dec according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) this Pepperoni’s will be a takeout-only location A bar and a restaurant along the Washington Avenue corridor both shuttered their doors recently a Baja California-style restaurant serving tacos and burritos and other Mexican food closed earlier this month after a three-year run at 4520 Washington Ave Calls from The Leader to both businesses Tuesday were not immediately returned there are no recent results for popular images there are no recent results for popular videos there are no recent results for popular commented articles Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version in the japanese city of kinokawa, local architecture practice roote has completed a cluster of eight structures that together serve as the region’s animal hospital despite its relatively small footprint of 150 square meters the scheme contains more than 20 individual volumes the distinctive shape of the colorful gabled buildings calls to mind the form of a traditional dog kennel with each structure protruding at a different angle a gentle ramp leads to the hospital’s entrance while in order to guard against potential flooding from the nearby river the site is elevated one meter above ground level the cluster of eight structures serves as the region’s animal hospital the project has a relatively small footprint of 150 square meters the scheme contains more than 20 individual internal volumes the distinctive shape of the gabled buildings calls to mind the form of a traditional dog kennel the plan includes a variety of examination large windows present views of the passing street internal spaces are brightly lit throughout AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style A calico cat named Tama became the first feline station master of a private railway in Japan. That was 16 years ago in January 2007. She assumed her role at Kishi Station on the Wakayama Electric Railway's Kishigawa Line, situated in Kinokawa, Wakayama Prefecture.  the railway line was facing the prospect of closure Tama's endearing charm and popularity drew a massive influx of fans to the station It transformed into a captivating case study for revitalizing train lines in rural areas now proudly carries on the role of station master The station remains a magnet for sightseers attracting a large number of visitors during weekends Its status as a cherished and ever-popular tourism spot in Wakayama continues to thrive a special ceremony was held at the station to honor the eighth anniversary of Tama's passing located within the station where Tama is enshrined included railway representatives and tourists who came to pay their respects.  the deputy station master and another calico cat a woman had traveled all the way from Tokyo to participate in the occasion The participants expressed their love for the late feline station master by offering flowers and snacks at the shrine the president of Wakayama Electric Railway acknowledged the profound impact Tama had on the company's fame.  "Eight years have passed since Tama left us but her spirit continues to bring joy to the hearts of countless people across Japan and around the world." He also praised Nitama for gracefully growing into her role as station master.  a lengthy queue formed as people eagerly awaited their turn to capture the moment with Nitama and Yontama in photographs Nankai Electric Railway withdrew from operating the Kishigawa Line a company wholly owned by Okayama City-based Okayama Electric Tramway The tracks stretch 14.3 km (8.9 miles) from Wakayama to Kishi It was in January 2007 that Tama assumed her role as the station master News outlets quickly caught wind of her charm and during that year's Golden Week holidays the company's profits skyrocketed by an impressive 40% compared to the previous year Wakayama Electric Railway had been experiencing a downturn since 2009 A major factor was the decline in the population along the train line as commuters are the main source of income for most railway companies.  Furthermore, in FY2020, due to the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic the company reported losses of ¥101.6 million JPY (about $713,290 USD) the company's losses shrunk to ¥15.3 million JPY ($107,410 USD) the popularity of the feline station master a legacy passed down from the first station master is still thriving and continues to be a source of joy and optimism for the community and beyond In April 2023, Wakayama Electric Railway released a delightful photobook titled station master Tama: Kishigawa Line ~Sweet Memories~ Meow! priced at ¥1,300 JPY ($9 USD) the book features a collection of 129 endearing photos of Tama three photos were selected from a pool of 430 submissions received from the public "We sold one thousand copies in just the first month I'm honestly surprised as I didn't expect it to be such a hit." the company launched a Twitter account "Ekicho Tama" (station master Tama) in December 2009 The account offers glimpses into the cats' daily lives It has more than 92,000 followers who adore the cats' irresistible charm It has been 16 years since Tama's appointment as the station master and her enduring popularity continues to impress Kojima "It's important to keep promoting and holding events." But the number of events had decreased in recent years we organized around 80 events during our busiest years," Kojima continues Nitama elegantly walked down a "nyan-way" (meow-way) that was set up on the stairs of Kishi Station.   Wakayama Prefectural Police appointed Nitama as an ambassador to raise awareness against groping and upskirting on trains "Our aim is to combat such acts with the help of Nitama who is serving as a "spokescat" against them." Nitama is now playing a part in maintaining security on public transport an eagerly anticipated picture book about Tama's life tentatively titled Tama the Cat station master is scheduled for publication in autumn by Kinnohoshi "I hope that the picture book will enlighten young children about the joy and excitement of trains as well as how wonderful it is that trains operate all around the world." become so popular and even contribute to the line's survival Yamaki confidently attributes it to "the power of local media."  She recalls how local media outlets were already eager to feature Tama when she was first appointed as the station master "Toku-ochi" is a Japanese journalist jargon that means missing out on reporting a key piece of news that all other outlets have covered local journalists coined the term "tama-ochi": missing out on Tama-related news.  Kojima and his team rack their brains to organize events that would keep the interest of local media alive "Even for recurring events like the Tanabata festival or Christmas celebrations we modify their content every year to keep the media from getting bored." In their efforts to revitalize the area along the train line the company formed the Kishigawa Line Operational Committee in collaboration with Wakayama Prefecture They hold monthly meetings to discuss joint plans to give back to the community including through events featuring cat station masters Organizing interesting events remains crucial to sustain the popularity of the cat station masters The creative ideas of the Wakayama Electric Railway staff will undoubtedly continue to charm and captivate people's hearts (Read the 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 + " Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information National Report military helicopters made an emergency landing here due to a mechanical problem before departing several hours later A resident reported to police and firefighters around 8:50 a.m on July 28 that helicopters landed along the Kinokawa river Two large helicopters and a smaller one were found on a dry riverbed which is located near the city government office according to the municipal fire department A crew member told a firefighter that one aircraft experienced trouble but no one was injured adding that the helicopters could take off in about 30 minutes The firefighter communicated with the crew member through an online translation program There was a report that a warning light was on inside an aircraft The helicopters left the site by around 11 a.m Police temporarily closed a road along the riverbed to traffic “We heard a loud helicopter noise and wondered what was going on,” a police official said German police search for a lion suspected to be on the loose on the edge of Berlin Symbolic search for 6 missing in Hokkaido boat tragedy last year Korea launches search for rescue workers missing in floods after boats capsize 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 Focus on Japan Calico cat stationmaster Tama presided in Kinokawa from 2007 until her death in 2015 the popular calico cat stationmaster of a railway station in Kinokawa Tama was named the head of Kishi Station on the Kishigawa Line operated by Wakayama Electric Railway the cat helped to preserve the line and increase its revenues by attracting interest Tama died in 2015 but her fame lives on and has even been growing one children’s book about the life of Tama was published last year and there are plans for a second An animated feature film is also planned in America who continues to bring joy to areas along the line,” a railway official said Other cat stationmasters have followed Tama A cat named Nitama has been named the super stationmaster and Yontama is a stationmaster for the Kishigawa Line where the Wakayama Electric Railway’s is headquartered a cat called Sun Tama Tama is gaining popularity an event was held to celebrate Tama’s birthday at Kishi Station Wakayama Electric Railway President Mitsunobu Kojima and Prof Mao Danqing of Kobe International University announced an upcoming picture book featuring Tama and a popular Chinese fox character called Ali A foreign film crew also came for the birthday event and filmed for a video about cats “Tama continues to live forever in heaven and it spreads the appeal of Wakayama Electric Railway to the rest of the world We learned from Tama that it’s possible to send information to the world even from a regional city,” Kojima said Around 60,000 homes in a western Japan city have been facing a water outage since a section of a water pipe bridge collapsed Some 138,000 people in parts of the city of Wakayama have been affected The bridge that spans the Kinokawa River is not used for crossing banks by people or cars the two pipes on the bridge collapsed for about 60 meters near the center of the river with each pipe measuring around 90 centimeters in diameter Mayor Masahiro Obana told a press conference that the city is considering measures to restart water supply including implementing temporary pipes across another bridge alongside it The collapsed pipe bridge was located in 1975 and made durable for 48 years No abnormality was reported when monthly visual inspections were held in September The city set up water stations for affected people in cooperation with the Ground Self-Defense Force while temporarily closing around 35 preschools and schools "This is the first time I've experienced something like this," an 88-year-old woman said as I live alone and have nobody to rely on." 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 Tesla Breaks Earnings Record as China Boosts Production and Demand EV-Battery Maker CATL to Build $5 Billion New Production Base Participation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 5th Eastern Economic Forum Discussed in Moscow Get exposure for your startup at RISE 2020 CreditEase’s Tang Ning: China’s Wealth Management Market is Undergoing Five Major Shifts Meet 5 of the best startups selected to represent China at the largest technology event in Asia 2022 - ORIX Corporation (“ORIX”) announced today that it has signed an agreement with Kansai Electric Power Co. ("KEPCO") for the joint operation of an energy storage plant business ORIX and KEPCO will jointly establish Kinokawa Energy Storage LLC and begin construction of an energy storage plant in August 2022 on the premises of the Kinokawa Substation (Kinokawa Wakayama) of Kansai Transmission and Distribution Large-scale grid storage batteries with a rated output of 48 MW and a rated capacity of 113 MWh*1 will be installed with the aim of starting operations in 2024 This project aims to stabilize the supply and demand of electricity by connecting large-scale storage batteries to the power grid Since storage batteries have the characteristic of being able to flexibly charge and discharge electricity it is possible to quickly adjust supply depending on the state of electricity demand KEPCO will primarily be responsible for the operation of the storage batteries while ORIX will primarily be responsible for maintenance and asset management Renewable energy is promoted as the main source of power in order to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050 The percentage of electricity generated from renewable energy in Japan has increased from 10.4% in fiscal 2011 to 18.1% in fiscal 2019*2 and is expected to continue increasing in prevalence in the future power generation from solar and wind power is prone to fluctuations depending on weather conditions such as the amount of sunlight and wind conditions causing supply shortages due to insufficient power generation and excessive supply leading to output curtailment on a daily basis the two companies will contribute toward solving these issues and will attempt to strengthen power system resilience ORIX Group will continue to expand its wide range of renewable energy businesses including the energy storage plant business and contribute toward both stabilizing the supply and demand of electricity and realizing a carbon-free society ■Mechanism of the Energy Storage Plant Business Contact Information:Investor Relations and Sustainability DepartmentORIX CorporationTel: +81-3-3435-3121 2022 News Releases List 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’ Wakayama Prefecture--Health authorities inspected a second factory here in connection with a dietary supplement that appears linked to five deaths Officials from the health ministry and Wakayama Prefecture on March 31 searched a facility operated by a subsidiary of Osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. the maker of supplements using an ingredient of “benikoji” red yeast rice The company said March 22 it is recalling three types of supplements that tout benikoji’s efficacy in lowering “bad” low-density lipoprotein cholesterol after receiving complaints of health problems More than 100 people have been hospitalized and hundreds more received medical treatment The factory took over production of benikoji in January from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s aging plant in Osaka Officials from the health ministry and Osaka city searched the closed plant on March 30 The health ministry and Kobayashi Pharmaceutical have said puberulic acid was discovered from batches of supplements that apparently caused the health damage The substance is known as an antibacterial agent and is highly toxic Kobayashi Pharmaceutical officials said they are checking whether mold could form somewhere on production lines at the factory in Wakayama Prefecture “We have caused a great deal of inconvenience,” Yuko Tomiyama who heads the company’s public relations division told reporters outside the factory on March 31 “We are extremely sorry for those who became ill We are trying to deal with the issue with utmost sincerity.” She said Kobayashi Pharmaceutical would refrain from discussing details of inspections because the company was the target of investigations Turmoil as toxic ‘puberulic acid’ found in recalled dietary product 2nd death linked to Kobayashi Pharma product 2 more deaths linked to benikoji supplement bring total to 4 EDITORIAL: Food labeling review inevitable following Benikoji scare Kobayashi Pharma confirms 1st death linked to supplement Greek capesize specialist Seanergy Maritime has fixed out two of its vessels on new deals with compatriot boxship and bulker owner Costamare The company said that it took delivery of its recent acquisition, the 181,392 dwt vessel Iconship or as it was previously known – the Kinokawa Maru which the company bought from Shunzan Kaiun for $33.7m has been fixed on a time charter with Costamare with a duration of about 22 months The daily hire is based at a premium over the Baltic Capesize Index and the charter is expected to commence soon Seanergy has the option to convert the daily hire from index-linked to fixed for a period of 2 to 12 months based on the prevailing capesize Forward Freight Agreement curve The second charter with Costamare was for the 178,838 dwt scrubber-fitted bulker Lordship The charter for the 2010-built vessel is expected to commence around the end of July following the vessel’s scheduled drydocking The length of the charter is also 22 months The daily hire will be based on similar conditions to the Iconship The company can convert the daily hire from index-linked to fixed for a minimum period of 2 months to a maximum of 12 months based on the prevailing capesize FFA curve Seanergy will also receive the majority of the benefit from the scrubber profit-sharing scheme based on the price difference between high-sulfur and low-sulfur fuel “Our fleet is 100% under period employment while the embedded option to convert the floating rates to fixed will further support our hedging strategy which has allowed us to outperform the market on several occasions over the recent years,” said Stamatis Tsantanis Including the newly delivered Iconship, the company’s operating fleet consists of 18 vessels – one newcastlemax and 17 capesize – with an average age of approximately 13.2 years and an aggregate cargo carrying capacity of approximately 3,236,212 dwt. The Greek firm is still awaiting delivery of one recently bought capesize Don't have an account? An unfamiliar green line appeared along a short stretch of the Keinawa Expressway a 120-kilometer-long motorway straddling Kyoto The mark runs slightly to the right of the middle of each lane and its off-center position may puzzle motorists some drivers seemed to feel awkward and confused They attempted clumsily to align their cars’ wheels to one side with the line or stay left of the marking this line was put in place on a trial basis to prevent traffic accidents The green line sits on a 4.5-kilometer section of road between the Kinokawa-Higashi interchange and the Kinokawa interchange in Wakayama Prefecture It was installed by the Wakayama Office of River and National Highway lanes on roads for which the office is responsible are not equipped with central barriers made of concrete and other hard materials To prevent head-on collisions and other serious accidents a protective fence using wire ropes had been set up by fiscal 2022 along a 23-km stretch of the office’s 41-km service area No head-on collisions were reported in fiscal 2022 following the fence’s incorporation Motorists came into contact with the fence on no fewer than 99 occasions These accidents caused damage to the protective fence leading repeatedly to the temporary closure of the road for repair work at night called a “vehicle guide line,” was added as a “savior to deter accidents.” The highway office explained that people in right-hand-drive vehicles are supposed to drive with the green line always just below the driver’s seat Yellow signs have been put up by the expressway to inform drivers of where the guide mark is and how one is expected to drive in the designated zone The first guide line of this sort in Japan appeared on the lanes of a 6-km strip along the Akita Expressway between the Takanosu interchange and the Niidamanaka interchange The Noshiro Office of River and National Highway said it added the line in May as part of a test following the advice of Hidekatsu Hamaoka a traffic engineering professor at Akita University The line runs right beneath the driver’s seat to help motorists be better aware of their lane position This is why the guidance line is located off-center Since the only other guide line of this type runs between the Nikaho interchange and the Ouchi junction on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway the one in Wakayama is the first of its kind in western Japan The effectiveness of the green line has yet to be verified since the marking method has been put to work only recently a representative at the Wakayama office has high hopes “The green line will serve as a visual guide to lessen the number of crashes into the defensive fence,” the official stated Groovy roads play musical tunes to promote driver safety Icy roads strand drivers overnight through Tokyo as accidents abound ‘Roulette Gang’ racing more in central Tokyo during pandemic TOKYO — A money-losing Japanese train company has found the purr-fect mascot to draw crowds and bring back business — tabby Tama All the 9-year-old female cat has to do is sit by the entrance of western Japan's Kishi Station wearing a black uniform cap and posing for photos for the tourists who are now flocking in from across the nation where cats are considered good luck and are believed to bring in business Tama has done such a good job of raising revenue for the troubled Kishikawa train line that she was recently promoted to "super-station-master." even though passengers touch her all over the place She has patience and charisma," said Wakayama Electric Railway Co "She is the perfect station master." People have been snatching up novelty goods — postcards notebooks and erasers — bearing Tama's photos The cat had been about to lose her place to live with the nearby store where she was raised being torn down The Kishikawa line had been losing $4.9 million a year as passenger numbers fell steadily to as low as about 5,000 a day After Tama's appointment last year passenger numbers have risen by 10 percent to about 2.1 million a year In December Tama was rewarded with bonus pay — all in cat food Japanese version Copyright THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS. All rights reserved. This Page Has Washed AwayLooks like this page has disappeared with the tide — perhaps it’s buried in the sand at Vazon or drifting off Petit Port Japanese version Japanese say they can even ask the cat for help a nine-year-old cat working as master of an unmanned train station born and raised at Kishi Station on the provincial Kishigawa Line wears a formal uniform cap of Wakayama Electric Railway and calmly watches passing passengers who greet her There are 10 train stations on the 14.3-kilometre (8.9-mile) line "Tama is the only stationmaster as we have to reduce personnel costs but she is actually bringing luck to us," Wakayama Electric spokeswoman Keiko Yamaki said Tama was born from a stray cat brought to the station by a cleaner and kept by Toshiko Koyama a local who runs a grocery store next door The station went unmanned in April 2006 as the line was losing money She rose to national stardom in January 2007 as the railway company formally appointed her as "stationmaster" Her appointment had an immediately positive effect boosting the number of passengers using the line in January by 17 percent from a year earlier the number of passengers rose to 2.1 million Happy with her successful job as stationmaster the company promoted Tama to "super-stationmaster" in January this year making her "the only female in a managerial position" in the company's 36-strong workforce "She now holds the fifth highest position in the company," Yamaki joked a renovated former ticket booth at the station opened in April with the attendance of Kinokawa Mayor Shinji Nakamura and Wakayama Electric president Mitsunobu Kojima "She declines to relieve herself when passengers are looking We set the toilet where passengers can't see," Yamaki said Those who want to greet her must be careful so as not to miss her "She works nine to five and takes Sundays off," Yamaki said it's time to work," Tama comes along to the station The stationmaster is set to appear in a French documentary film Japanese version Wakayama -- Administering anesthesia is indispensable for surgery This medical technique allows patients to undergo operations or treatments without worrying about physical pain anesthesiologist visiting Japan that "it was a Japanese who successfully used general anesthesia for the first time in the world." Hanaoka was based in the countryside of Kishu now Wakayama Prefecture and part of Mie Prefecture to visit the former site of his clinic compound which was restored and is now open to visitors I walked for 20 minutes or so from Nate Station on the JR Wakayama Line while enjoying the colors of mikan tangerines and persimmons along a gentle slope a facility honoring the life and achievement of Hanaoka This wooden facility from the Edo period (1603-1867) includes the restored compound Hanaoka successfully conducted removal surgery on a breast cancer patient under general anesthesia in 1804 a number of women suffering the disease visited his clinic while he accepted more than 1,000 students who came from all across Japan Hanaoka's success took place 42 years before that of Western medicine Shunrinken was practically at "the forefront of most advanced medicine" in the world around that time Hanaoka was born into a family that had practiced medicine for generations He studied both Western and Oriental medicine for three years in Kyoto he heard that cancer surgery was conducted without anesthesia in the West he worked hard to realize general anesthesia he finally invented an anesthetic for internal use and named it "Tsusensan." To decide the main ingredient he referred to the accumulated expertise of the Oriental medicine and selected datura metel a plant commonly known as devil's trumpet and called mandarage or chosen asagao in Japanese Both his mother and his wife volunteered to take this anesthetic to test its effect This episode is dramatically depicted in Sawako Ariyoshi's novel "Hanaoka Seishu no Tsuma" (The Doctor's Wife) it is said that Hanaoka himself kept no concrete record of his study on the medication He also made students promise not to disclose the details of Tsusensan He probably believed that the anesthetic should be strictly controlled as he was aware of its risk to human life if administered incorrectly research was conducted on patients treated by Hanaoka and it was discovered that they lived for an average of two to three years and up to 41 years after undergoing surgery considering the medical standards around that time Hanaoka also invented a surgical knife suited to remove tumors and other medical tools by himself These items are on display in an exhibition room along with records of surgery and documents featuring a letter sent to Hanaoka by Sugita Genpaku (1733-1817) a contemporary of Hanaoka and a leading scholar of Dutch studies She said that her mother just underwent an operation After learning about the history [of anesthesia] Wakayama Medical University in the prefecture pays tribute to Hanaoka through its school crest which is designed after a datura metel flower The university also organizes a visit to the Seishu-no-Sato facility for new students director of Wakayama Medical University Hospital is a follower of Hanaoka and has been working hard to develop treatments for pancreatic cancer "This place tells me the importance of having the guts to open a new page in medical history." I took time to view the books written by Hanaoka and other items in the exhibition room I came to know he had taught students his belief Hanaoka conveyed the message that a medical practitioner must know the true nature of diseases to better treat patients beyond the boundaries of internists and surgeons or the Western and the Oriental medicines He also repeatedly told students "not to be impolite to patients" and "to treat patients carefully and thoughtfully." They expect their doctors to have a wide perspective accurately pinpoint the cause of their diseases and cure them This image of ideal doctors overlaps with Hanaoka in my mind About 1 kilometer northeast of Nate Station on the JR Wakayama Line it is close to the Kinokawa-Higashi Interchange or Katsuragi-Nishi Interchange on the Keinawa Expressway Admission to the exhibition room and Shunrinken costs 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for junior high school students or younger The facility is closed on Tuesdays as well as the year-end and New Year period There is also a Michi-no-Eki rest and shopping area on site A terminal station of Wakayama Electric Railway's Kishigawa Line This station has been very popular since Tama entertaining fans visiting from across the world Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/ Cats have been considered a symbol of good fortune in Japanese culture since ancient times a traditional Japanese figurine of a sitting cat who is waving one or both of its paws has become a popular decoration all over the world Maneki-Neko’s alleged fortune-bringing properties likely arose from an ancient belief that a shop owner will have a lot of customers and earn good money on a day when a cat raises its paws and cleans its face in front of their store This belief might be nothing more than a deeply-rooted folklore superstition cats have actually brought good luck to people a stray calico cat who ended up employed as the stationmaster and operating officer at the Kishi railroad station in Kinokawa a city in the Japanese Wakayama prefecture Tama was born in April of 1999 and spent the first seven years of her life wandering around at the station along with a number of other strays an informal station manager named Toshiko Koyama regularly provided the cats with food and shelter owned by a company called Wakayama Electric Railroad was uncertain due to a severe financial crisis Koyama adopted Tama and introduced her to the other members of the staff Koyama was officially elected as the stationmaster and he immediately decided to pass this title onto Tama who had already gained significant popularity for roaming around the station’s offices and cuddling with passengers A station master’s hat and badge were made for the cat and her primary job was to greet passengers the feline station manager wasn’t paid in regular human money but rather in large quantities of quality cat food Employing a cat soon proved to be a rather beneficial decision for Wakayama Electric Railroad: the fluffy good-natured Tama attracted many new passengers and visitors and the publicity she received caused the station to become famous across the country showed that the cat’s presence resulted in a $4.7 million increase in the station’s profit in just over a year the company decided to promote Tama to the position of “super stationmaster” and employ two more cats the company introduced a number of Tama-themed attractions such as the “Tama Densha” — a train decorated with cartoonish depictions of the famous cat and Tama’s office — a “super stationmaster’s room,” a ticket office kitted out with a litter tray and scratching post the whole station was actually rebuilt to resemble a face of a giant cat Tama remained employed as the super stationmaster until her death on June 22 Thousands of her fans attended her Shinto-style funeral ceremony in Kinokawa she was enshrined at a newly built Shinto cat shrine and proclaimed the “Honorary Eternal Stationmaster.” the traditional mourning period for the loss of a loved one lasts for 50 days the position of stationmaster at the Kishi station was vacant for 50 days following Tama’s passing Nitama (the “Second Tama”) started working in fall of 2015; she was born in the city of Okayama and was rescued from underneath a train car by employees of the Okayama Electric Tramway Read another story from us: Simon, the cat crusader who served aboard HMS Amethyst, received three medals after being wounded Nitama continues greeting many people that pass through the Kishi station on a daily basis; her helpers make her job a little easier by handling some of the cuddling and meowing Domagoj Valjak is freelance writer with a master’s degree in English and comparative literature He has contributed to Taste of Cinema and The Vintage News Domagoj Valjak is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News Join 1000s of subscribers and receive the best Vintage News in your mailbox for FREE Ever heard of the phrase “man’s best friend?”  Generally people tend to think of dogs but they should not ignore the fact that cats can be just as friendly and influential on the lives of animal lovers What’s even crazier is the fact a cat can run a train station in Japan had been working as the train master since 2007 Although she didn’t do a whole lot during the day while at work she boosted train transportation dramatically She worked as Super Station Master of Kishi station in Kinokawa City which happens to be the last stop on the Wakayama Electric Railway When people heard of the ever growing famous cat resulting in a major boost in train ticket sales Before Tama began working as the station master the railway had been losing over four million dollars a year This was most likely due to the fact people either drove or used other means of transportation Since Tama had become a huge hit at the railway but what used to be a basic railway has now turned into a major tourist destination Thanks to those visitors and tourists who paid to see Tama the nearly-bankrupt railway received over 10 million dollars You may think this is crazy – this much revenue from people who were ecstatic to meet Tama But her railway is visited by so many tourists that she even has her own souvenir line; from T-shirts to stuffed animals There’s even a full dining room set a person can buy Tama was so popular that the railway had a special occasion unveiling a train car that depicted a cartoon version of the cat on its side In 2010 the station had a new structure built that resembled her head as well When she first started her work she was 14 years old and received her salary in cat food Her only duty at the station was to greet the customers Her position also came with a station master’s hat Tama was born in Kinokawa and had originally grown up among strays She was found wandering Kishi station until  in 2007 the officials of the rail system decided to name the calico cat She was known to hang around the rail station and the local grocery store so the officials thought that naming Tama and keeping her at the station would encourage the number of visits In January 2010 Tama was named official Operating Officer making her the first-ever cat to become an executive of a railroad corporation Tama was allowed to have two staff members assist her in her daily duties Tama is known internationally and has just finished her first documentary It was titled La Voie du Chat in French and was even released in German under the title Katzenlektionen She lived to be 16 years old and had a great life Nearly 3,000 people attended her public funeral Her dedication to keeping the railway busy and successful has earned her the status of Shinto goddess She has helped to keep the indigenous Japanese religious practice of honoring animal deities alive and relevant Tama is now enshrined at a nearby site dedicated to other cat dieties Follow the link to view the photos of Tama’s everyday life as the station master Ian Harvey is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News