Today's print edition Home Delivery Tokyo police rearrested Monday two 25-year-old men on charges of injuring and robbing a woman in her 60s at her house in a western Tokyo suburb in September According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's First Criminal Investigation Division Kiyotaka Sato and Rikiya Morita are suspected of breaking into the house in Kokubunji around 4 a.m and stealing about ¥5.5 million in cash and 14 items worth some ¥8,000 after tying down and beating the woman She suffered injuries that could take three months to fully heal including bone fractures on her left arm.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); have already been arrested and indicted for committing a house burglary and hurting a resident in Tokorozawa in the neighboring prefecture of Saitama the day after the Kokubunji incident 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 663highland/Wikimedia CommonsThe site in Kizugawa where the Yamashiro Kokubunji Buddhist temple once stood Archaeologists in Kyoto recently uncovered the ruins of a cafeteria where monks once dined at Yamashiro Kokubunji temple The complex was originally built around 740 C.E and it featured multiple buildings that now lie in ruin The dining hall may be the largest of its kind from Japan’s Nara Period and its discovery is offering new insights into the layouts of eighth-century Buddhist temples the Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education announced the discovery of a cafeteria among the ruins of Yamashiro Kokubunji temple in Kizugawa which dates back to the Nara Period (710 to 794 C.E.) was constructed by Emperor Shomu as an imperial palace that featured structures like a pagoda and a large hall The emperor had it built when he moved the Japanese capital from Heijō-kyō but it wasn’t completed before he changed the location of the capital once again the palace was transformed into a Buddhist temple researchers have regularly excavated the site to study artifacts from its time as both an imperial palace and a temple they uncovered a previously unknown structure — and they believe it’s a cafeteria that once served as a food preparation and dining area for the temple’s monks While examining the temple’s northeastern grounds researchers noticed large foundation stones placed alongside depressions in the ground Further excavations revealed that the stones had served as the building blocks for a large structure that stretched 30 feet by 125 feet The remains of eight pillars were also found at the site Kenji ShimizuExcavations revealed several foundation stones and the remains of eight pillars where the cafeteria once stood Previous excavations had unearthed another hall nearby and researchers compared this layout to the designs of other temples from the Nara Period to determine that the newly discovered structure had likely been a cafeteria One of the buildings may have been used for food preparation or as a warehouse while the other served as a dining hall where the monks ate their meals the cafeteria may be the largest of its kind ever found at a Buddhist temple from the time period Tamago Moffle/FlickrThe largest hall at Nara Palace which the cafeteria at the Buddhist temple may have been based on According to the Sankei Shimbun a professor of archaeology at Kyoto University noted that the temple was built to look like Daigokuden Hall the largest hall at the former imperial palace This “is probably why it became so large,” he said “The fact that it is close to Heijō-kyō may have also played a role.” “This will be useful for future Kokubunji investigations,” Uehara continued researchers hope the discoveries made at Yamashiro Kokubunji may reveal more about Buddhist temples from the Nara Period and Japan’s history as a whole After reading about the 1,300-year-old cafeteria found in a Buddhist temple, go inside the history of sumo wrestling, Japan’s national sport. Then, read about Miyamoto Musashi the Japanese samurai who won over 60 duels Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information National Report KYOTO—Researchers may have uncovered the ruins of one of the largest ancient cafeterias for a Buddhist temple in the Nara Period (710-784) The Kyoto prefectural board of education made the announcement of the ruins' discovery on Feb What was originally a food preparation and eating space used by monks is on the site of the then-Yamashiro Kokubunji temple Its construction and that of other Kokubunji provincial temples around the nation was ordered by Emperor Shomu (701-756) The Yamashiro Kokubunji temple was originally a reconstruction of the imperial palace built after the Kuni-kyo capital established by Shomu was moved measuring about 275 meters east to west and about 330 meters north to south huge foundation stones of about 70 centimeters and the holes that were created when the stones were removed were found in the northeastern part of the grounds Researchers believe those ruins form the basis for reconstructing a large building measuring 38.1 meters east to west and 10.8 meters north to south Past studies have uncovered the ruins of a hallway stretching out in the same direction from south of the latest ruin leading researchers to surmise the two structures were connected This layout is why researchers believe the newly found site is likely the remains of the Yamashiro Kokubunji temple's cafeteria—the Todaiji and Saidaiji temples in Nara also had cafeterias and other structures connecting in a similar north-to-south orientation a professor emeritus of archaeology at Kyoto University who is knowledgeable about ancient temples said the latest ruins found were likely of buildings used as a kitchen or warehouse He added that this was the first case at a Kokubunji temple anywhere in Japan where it is possible to reconstruct its cafeteria Possible ruins of locale for ‘The Tale of Genji’ found in Kyoto Nara’s Daianji temple to rebuild long-lost initial form with CGI Japanese team to excavate 12,000-year-old sites in Turkey Ruins found of Hideyoshi’s ‘fabled castle’ leveled by quake 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 you’re likely to stumble across a jazu kissa distinguished cafes dedicated to dim lighting First propping up in the 1920s before being expunged during Japan’s Imperial era the post-war relaxation of Western culture coupled with the boom in high-fidelity audio gear meant the proliferation of jazu kissa bars exploded throughout the ’70s offering musos and jass enthusiasts a chance to immerse themselves with John Coltrane of Miles Davis with dedicated attention In ’74, long before he found fame as a successful writer, author and essayist, Haruki Murakami founded and ran the Tokyo jazz bar Peter Cat Named after his and his wife’s pet and situated in the city’s western Kokubunji fuelled by a simple but powerful passion for jazz and played a selection of his 3,000 jazz records well into the night as the years managing Peter Cat would influence his later literature Reflecting on the principles that aided his creative endeavours on an agony uncle website in 2015 “My idea was that it was okay not to be liked by all the customers: if three out of ten people liked my bar and one of them came back It’s the same with a novel: if three out of ten people like it and one of them reread it Routinely running into debt and unable to afford the heating bills Murakami would often cuddle Peter the cat for warmth Explaining to The New York Times why he endured such trials and young musicians performing live jazz on weekends For one simple reason: It enabled me to listen to jazz from morning to night.” After the success of his first novel Hear the Wind Sing he eventually sold Peter Cat and pursued writing full-time going on to write ’87’s acclaimed Norwegian Wood and ’09’s 1Q84 voted the greatest piece of Japanese literature during the country’s ‘Heisei era’ by The Asahi Shimbun an Italian restaurant called Wine Bistro Amphora inside contains a framed nod to the former Peter Cat a small gesture that recognises the site’s important jazz heritage Hinting at jazu kissa’s beckoning allure in his old age and having now accrued over 10,000 records like Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (I wonder if Comme des Garçons sells such things?) I still can’t get out of the habit of counting the headcount and calculating the fee when I was going to a jazz club Police arrested three men on Tuesday in connection with two violent home invasion robberies in Tokyo’s Kokubunji and Saitama Prefecture’s city of Tokorozawa a 24-year-old who claims to be a part-time worker He and two others are suspected of tying up elderly residents and stealing cash in two separate incidents “I was hired through an encrypted messaging app.”googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Authorities are pursuing one additional suspect still at large TOKYO – Some people in western Tokyo are living with elevated levels of toxins associated with firefighting foam according to a survey carried out on behalf of a group of concerned citizens Tests of 87 people living near the Tama River in November found nearly all had PFAS contamination in their blood Kyoto University associate professor of public health Koji Harada said in a report provided Wednesday to Stars and Stripes short for poly and perfluoroalkyl substances is a class of chemicals linked to an increased risk of certain tumors of the liver Environmental Protection Agency updated its health advisories in June to say no level of PFAS chemicals The synthetic compounds accumulate in the body over time PFAS was widely used in manufacturing to make coatings and products that resist heat according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Its constituent chemicals are also found in aqueous film forming foam that has been linked to contamination on military bases in the United States The citizens’ group tested people ages 21 and 91 Kokubunji is downstream and about 6 miles east of Yokota Air Base PFAS levels in those residents were higher than levels detected during tests of 119 people nationwide by the Ministry of the Environment in 2021 The results were compared to German standards according to a Kyodo News report on Wednesday 21 had exceeded the German standard level for one type of PFAS and six exceeded the level for another type “It is believed that the PFAS concentration in blood is high among the residents in the Tama area,” the report said but work is needed to determine how much exposure comes from other sources such as food and soil The Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2019 detected high levels of contaminants in wells in the Tama area and stopped using water from three purification plants in Kokubunji and Fuchu cities “Residents had been drinking the water for more than 10 years so we wanted to find blood concentration level,” he said Foam used by firefighters on Yokota could be a source of the contamination nearly 800 gallons of concentrated firefighting foam seeped into the ground from a storage tank at Yokota according to an Air Force spill report quoted in an Aug But private companies may account for the contamination The citizens’ group hopes the Japanese government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will identify the source of contamination The residents’ group has taken samples from another 280 residents and plans to conduct tests for 600 people by mid-March The group hopes to be able to announce those results by April or May The Air Force is committed to the well-being of the community and will continue to coordinate with the government of Japan to remain compliant with international obligations “Yokota Air Base continues to conduct operations with careful consideration for the health and safety of our community,” he said Aqueous film forming foam systems on Yokota are out of service “A centralized contract is scheduled to remove these systems and substances over the next few years,” he said Yokota’s water supply is tested on a regular basis to ensure it is meeting safe drinking water requirements “The installation publishes an annual drinking water quality report which summarizes the quality of water delivered by Yokota Air Base to strengthen public understanding of our water systems,” he said 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 When Calvary Chapel Kokubunji’s services went online in Japan because of the COVID-19 virus its members volunteered to visit and help older members set up online communication to stay connected with the church Japanese Senior Pastor Chizuo Sakurai said “We were able to help everyone in our church join in on every online service and our three-times per week gathering for communion.” The church leaders began calling this group of technology-minded volunteers the church’s “Web Ushers.” Chizuo added “I am so grateful to God that the Lord Jesus is very strong in the midst of all of these recent circumstances and we praise Him for the technology to do it.” had its younger members go to the homes of the older folks in the church when the covid-19 shutdown began and get each person set up on social media Each congregant was able to join in on every online service and their three-times per week gathering for communion Chizuo prayed and asked the Lord what He wanted the leadership to do He sensed that the answer was two things—to share the love of Jesus with others and serve the weak in their community assisted the elderly to watch these services and even produced a YouTube video series proclaiming the Good News of Jesus technology made it possible for the 2020 Calvary Chapel Japan Conference to be held through YouTube Live Streaming on May 4th Those assisting others with the church’s online presentation became known as “web ushers,” according to Japanese senior pastor Volunteers in the church produced a YouTube video series and advertised for it with 14,000 flyers that they distributed to mailboxes during their prayer walk they made flyers inviting people to events or services at their church but now it has been difficult for Japanese people to go to religious events Chizuo said this video series was a great way to reach people staying home since anyone can easily watch it on their computer or smart phone Participants gather online for a teaching at Calvary Chapel Kokubunji Chizuo also declared this as a blessing because some people would be more comfortable watching a YouTube video to learn about Jesus than going to a church Chizuo emphasized that these people need to hear the Good News of Christ in order to believe in Him: So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17) This video series had a big impact on one woman Chizuo said that a lady recently showed up at their church and told them she had watched many of their short Gospel messages on YouTube she had learned about Jesus and was fascinated by Him sometimes watching the videos all day and even into the early hours of the next morning Chizuo recounted a story about a woman who lost her husband to the virus while suffering through COVID-19 herself she was able to find hope in God through this was infected with the coronavirus in February while he was traveling to help his son establish his new business The woman caught the virus from her husband and both were hospitalized together until he had to be moved to ICU to use a respirator Even though they were in the same hospital she was not even able to see her husband before he died The elderly and those not comfortable with technology were thankful of outreach of the church to make sure everyone was able to access the teachings online she received two boxes—one with the ashes of her husband the other with the ashes of her little dog “The Lord strengthened her through prayer with my wife and the other sisters in our fellowship.” The women from their fellowship “called her almost every day and they fervently prayed together God miraculously protected and sustained her heart and mind,” so that “in the midst of her tragedy,” she was even able to minister to and pray for other women who had roomed with her in the hospital while they all battled COVID-19 Chizuo stressed that Japan’s economy is shrinking because of the response to the virus and that many economists estimate it could take three years before it recovers He prayed that God would provide for those in need—and Calvary Chapel Kokubunji is one of the ways God has ministered to the needy “Besides setting widows and the elderly up with online devices,” Chizuo said “We also began a ministry for single moms who lost jobs and have a hard time living in our community.” Volunteers stuff food items into boxes to be distributed to those in need The church has also provided a food bank ministry and Chizuo described how the Lord opened doors to the city council’s social and welfare commissioners who volunteered to hand out flyers to the other districts in Kokubunji City Through them the information about this ministry reached those in need “The Lord has already provided enough financial support to continue helping people in need through this ministry,” Chizuo expressed “It is my joy to observe that the congregation is very excited to do good things for those in need and please God because they understand what the Bible says,” he declared for with such sacrifices God is well pleased Chizuo recalled the story of a single mom who recently showed up at their church with her daughter and was so thankful for the food from the pantry they offered her she was so delighted and excitedly told her daughter about what was inside The church celebrates communion together online three times per week during the Covid-19 shutdown in Japan I was so thankful to God that He has given us this opportunity,” Chizuo reflected “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.” And yet he is so grateful that God has given us this duty to serve others The congregation has met for over 21 years in a rented space in a highly visible location near the local railway station The various outreach ministries receive the donations needed But there are no appeals to the congregation for donations are pictured with a lady from Calvary Chapel Kokubunji Chizuo explained how donations are handled: “We don't have checkbooks in Japan Everybody in our fellowship donates with either cash or bank transfers When they do a transfer through their bank account to the church's account we label it as ‘agape’ or ‘food bank’ so that we don't know who or how much is given That frees us up from ‘money bondage’—only God knows who gives or how much We have been doing this since the beginning of our fellowship Our Father in heaven has provided more than enough so that we could serve and the name of Jesus is glorified and magnified.” Articles or photographs may not be reproduced without the written permission of CCM Nevada 89502540.373.7882contact@calvarymagazine.orgMon – Thu • 8am – 4pm (PT) Look for a verification eMail after submission We sent a verification email in your mailbox Calvary Chapel Magazine is a 501(c)3 non-profit ministry Hitachi's Central Research Laboratory (CRL) is situated within the suburban area of Kokubunji City This vast 22-hectare business site stretches roughly 600 meters east to west and 550 meters north to south The grounds are on the former site of Musashi Kokubunji one of the provincial temples that were erected by Emperor Shōmu throughout Japan during the Nara period (710-784) The ruins of the original temple can still be found about a kilometer southwest of the research laboratory The grounds also contain a portion of the Kokubunji cliff line known as the "hake." The freshwater springs that rise here feed the headwaters of the No River completed the construction of our open innovation center A great number of magnificent trees more than 20 meters tall remain on-site Huge Himalayan cedars and Japanese zelkova over a century old are also interspersed around the facility This makes for an environment of abundant greenery A grassy field spreads out on the south side of the project area and runs up against Ohike Pond which brims with water emerging from the cliff base In keeping with the commitment of our founder to "build to avoid cutting down good trees," we have protected the trees within our grounds as much as possible and the environment around CRL preserves and maintains the natural landscape of the Musashino region it was a top priority to maintain the Musashino area old-growth forest of about 30,000 trees and shrubs the freshwater springs that are a source of the No River and the archaeological remains of villages from the Jomon period (14,000–10th century BC) After surveying and plotting all of the trees in the project area we utilized a layout design which avoided cutting down as few existing trees as possible We also employed building volume segmentation to reduce the impact on the forest (see figure below) We reused the wood from the two Japanese zelkova that we were forced to cut down to create table tops and other items used in our outdoor terrace offering an environment that allows people to work comfortably while enjoying the rich natural surroundings We designed the landscape from an ecological perspective that minimized the burden on the existing forest The terrain of the area which includes the grounds of CRL is dominated by the Kokubunji cliff line formation This is composed of a Kanto loam layer and a gravel layer that makes up the river terrace created by the Tama River Kokubunji City views the Kokubunji cliff line as an important regional resource and has created an original standard to preserve its green space and protect springs via urban development ordinances the city is working to protect and regenerate the verdant cliff line was created in 1958 using the numerous springs on the premises It is one of the valuable water sources for the upper reaches of the No River The foundations of the previous building were reused as support foundations for the new building to avoid unnecessary digging during the foundation work for new structures in the project area as this might disturb underground water sources and archaeological remains This work was carried out in consultation with the Kokubunji Spring Water Conservation Association (see figure below) We also constructed an observation well during this foundation work and used it to survey water quality and water levels before Hitachi believes it is important to cultivate a deeper understanding among employees who use the Kyōsō-tō with respect to the building's construction and operation the company has hosted forums for general discussion several times the company explains steel frame construction which does not harm existing trees construction which takes into account the preservation of groundwater transplanting work which maintains the shape of the transplanted trees and reuse of the wood from the two zelkovia trees that we were forced to cut down These forums have provided a good opportunity for employees to gain a better understanding of the importance of ecosystem conservation   A Tokyo citizens' group said Monday it has detected high concentrations of potentially harmful substances known as PFAS in some western Tokyo residents' blood suggesting it could be due to contamination of the local water supply by U.S Despite the discovery of high levels of PFAS an associate professor of public health at Kyoto University said it was "highly unlikely to cause acute health effects." PFAS is a general term for a group of artificial chemicals As Japan has no guidelines for measuring their concentration in the blood Harada said residents were tested under German standards the group said PFAS are found in foam extinguishers used on U.S military bases but said it was unclear whether the findings had any relation to Yokota Air Base Air Force installation located in the Tama area of western Tokyo The group began carrying out tests in November to determine the source of the contamination mostly residents of Kokubunji and some from other cities 21 of them were found to have exceeded acceptable levels of PFOS in their bloodstream Six of the 21 also had unacceptable levels of PFOA The highest detected concentration of PFOS was 35.8 nanograms and 18.6 nanograms for PFOA The German standard per milliliter for each chemical is 20 nanograms and 10 nanograms "The concentration is evidently high for some residents," Harada said "That leads one to think potable water is the main cause of it." Harada had also previously detected PFAS in residents' bloodstreams in the vicinity of a U.S base in Okinawa Prefecture in Japan's south Harada found 27 exceeded the German standard with the highest example being 41.6 nanograms of PFOS in a person "The state and local governments must deal with the issue from the perspective of what to do with the source of contamination," Harada told reporters the Tokyo metropolitan government has detected high levels of PFOS and PFOA in wells in parts of the Tama area leading some purification facilities in Kokubunji and Fuchu to halt drawing water from affected wells 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 This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Tokyo This impressive public library hosts the Tokyo Magazine Bank, a collection of 16,000 issues of everything from weeklies to art publications, including an interesting 'Inaugural Issue Collection'. The magazines are not available to borrow, but can be browsed freely on the premises. Film screenings are also held here. facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramAbout us The Saitama Prefectural Police have placed Rikiya Morita who is suspected of being involved in a string of violent home invasion robberies in the Kanto region Authorities released Morita’s identity on Thursday and are seeking public assistance in locating him.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Morita is described as being 170 to 180 centimeters tall He has been linked to the crimes through evidence recovered at the scene and statements from three suspects in the robberies who have already been arrested By Yukari Sakamoto Jimmy’s Diner is a hamburger shop with sports playing on the big-screen television (baseball or basketball depending on the season) and 80s rock music in the background Listening to Billy Joel while enjoying a good burger and fries transports me back to my high school days and feels very comfortable The hamburger shop is just three minutes from Kokubunji Station’s north exit on the JR Chuo Line whose nickname is Jimmy (his host family in Australia had a hard time saying Hajime and Jimmy stuck as a nickname) opened Jimmy’s Diner a little over three years ago with his wife Hirakawa worked at Sunny Diner in Tokyo’s Senju district He jokes that at Sunny Diner he picked up two things: “the skill to make burgers and my wife Asuka.” They take turns making the burgers Jimmy sports vintage button-up shirts and a baseball cap while Asuka is in a short skirt with a retro bowling shirt The warm and friendly service is easy-going The patty is made with hormone-free Japanese beef and the buns are made at local bakery Toppings that can be added include avocado Additional sauces include a bolognese-like meat sauce a hamburger and French fries is only ¥1,080 The burgers come with a generous stack of thin and crispy French fries For an extra ¥100 the portion can be increased but the original portion is more than enough Add ice cream to your soda (¥250) to make it a float — and as an added bonus Jimmy’s carries the wonderful A&W root beer Lunch service includes a free beverage or half-priced beer: Carlsberg on draft or bottles of Brooklyn Lager Hirakawa can also make a cocktail if you prefer There are five counter seats and three booths On the counter are some signed baseballs — including some from Kotaro Kiyomiya of Nippon Ham The customers are a nice mix of families and solo diners It can get busy on weekends or at peak lunch times There is a bench in front of the shop for customers to wait for their goodies Burgers and fries can also be packaged to-go “there were many independently-owned restaurants in Kokubunji.” Put this shop on your radar for a post-hike reward from a day out at Mount Takao or after some shopping at Ikea in Tachikawa It’s a burger shop that many customers would love to have on their doorsteps From purple sweet potatoes to wild horse sightings here’s how to make the most of Okinawa’s tropical escape Explore the best local brands shaping Tokyo’s fashion scene From vintage clothing to Hawaiian-themed goods here’s what’s worth checking out before it’s gone From buying and registering a bike to key rules of the road Collagen staples for beauty and health in Japan Our handpicked list of the best events going on this month and the untold tales of Japan’s queer community Everything you need to know before and during a natural disaster Stay up to date with Tokyo news and events As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the world medical practitioners and others deemed “essential workers” must continue to go out to their workplace The situation is the same for scientists and researchers at research and development departments Because they need to use special facilities to conduct research and experiments It then becomes a question of how to continue research activities while reducing infection risk to a minimum we looked into initiatives being pursued at Hitachi’s Central Research Laboratory in Tokyo while COVID-19 infections were spreading by the day Hitachi's Central Research Laboratory faced a challenge Although a rigorous company-wide policy of remote work had been announced many researchers spoke up on the difficulty of continuing research without going to their labs The Central Research Laboratory is the site of a wide range of research and development activities with numerous experiments in progress all being conducted at the Center for Technology Innovation – Electronics and Instrumentation experiments that rely on special equipment and specialized facilities are essential Unless researchers are present at the center a work shift system was introduced at the Center for Technology Innovation – Electronics and Instrumentation in May This system allowed research activities to be maintained by limiting the number of people coming to the center for avoiding the 3Cs (closed spaces with poor ventilation Speaking about his state of mind when the system was introduced Yasuhiro Shimamoto says that "Avoiding the risk of infection is of course a given As we are also conducting experiments requiring safety considerations at the research and development worksite when trying to organize shifts for 300 people Shimamoto found that manually creating optimal shifts required considerable time due to the complex relationships between all pertinent items As he puzzled over how to create these shifts one of the research teams at the center learned of his predicament The team saw the potential of a technology that it was developing for customers in shift creation This team was in charge of the development of an advanced computer technology known as “CMOS Annealing.” CMOS Annealing was developed in 2015 by Hitachi this technology is capable of rapidly solving extremely complex calculation problems called “combinatorial optimization problems.” One example of such a problem is route guidance for vehicles This task requires selecting the optimum route from among a limitless number of route combinations after considering traffic information and other factors subject to moment-by-moment change CMOS Annealing uses proprietary formulas and algorithms to find the most-efficient combination It is expected to find application in fields previously regarded as highly problematic for optimization These include the speedy and waste-free picking of needed articles at logistics warehouses and the creation of portfolios for financial products The center decided to use CMOS Annealing in the creation of work shifts that avoid the 3Cs the developers worked toward sorting out requirements for the data needed for shift creation Because various research projects are underway at the center the developers needed to identify factors such as work contents and number of development team members in accordance with each research project such as the need for mentors to be at work on days when new employees came in It was a daily task to rewrite the calculation program upon the discovery of a new requirement It was particularly troublesome to define requirements related to COVID-19 infection risk “The center has nearly 100 test labs ranging from small to big and we had to verify directly at each lab its optimal number of workers Determining the requirements lab-by-lab was arduous work.” CMOS Annealing-based shift creation now makes it possible to create weekly shifts for the 300 people at the center in just about one hour Compared to processing this by a regular computer CMOS Annealing enables shift creation that is nearly 100 times faster even if there are sudden changes in planning One month after using CMOS Annealing to create shifts there has been many feedbacks from the employees Development teams appreciated having been able to procure time and space for experiments to be conducted while avoiding the 3Cs they said that as long as CMOS Annealing instead of a person was creating shifts they could accept that their preferences could not always be met The development team hopes that CMOS Annealing-based shift creation will be deployed throughout the Hitachi Group in the future Okuyama: “I'd like to see the system improved so that anyone can implement it thus making it possible to enjoy the advantages of CMOS Annealing even without expert knowledge.” also points out that shift creation using CMOS Annealing has the potential to play an important role in promoting new workstyles He goes on to say “I believe the future will witness a big shift to flexible workstyles that take advantage of the benefits of both remote work and working at office This initiative may very well become one of the systems that supports the changing workstyles after COVID-19.” View all Case Studies Japanese version A dreary drizzle of rain falls on the November day I've set aside for walking out along the Kokubunji gaisen (cliff line) in western Tokyo my hope is to catch some late autumn colors so I yank on my trusty rubber birdwatching boots and head out west on the Chuo Line is now as fresh and fashionable as a mini Ginza I nip into the new Kokubunji City Information Service 68.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); "I'm a complete amateur to all this," he tells me and I peruse some maps and information on local sights from the city office makes a personal appearance I find a narrow canal of pellucid waters spanned by a small nondescript stone bridge; dubbed Ishibashi back in 1745 Locals erected a monument in 1832 to thank the bridge's stones for allowing pedestrians to tromp on them and also to request that the gods prevent diseases and plagues from crossing into their village Another memorial boulder nearby is dedicated to Fudo Myoo (a Buddhist deity might account for the current name of the bridge: Fudobashi.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Continuing along the canal upstream I cross another bridge and discover the waterway nearly covered by steel H-beams I ask a few locals if they might know anything about the structures A group of residents in western Tokyo checking concentrations of potentially harmful PFAS chemicals in their blood have confirmed an exposure that is 2.7 times higher than the national average and at a level that may produce long-term health effects According to the survey results released Thursday which were based on blood samples of 650 residents taken between last November and March the average exposure to the sum of four PFAS chemicals — PFOS PFHxS and PFNA — was 23.4 nanograms per milliliter more than double the average of 8.7 ng/ml among 119 people tested in a 2021 pilot study by the Environment Ministry.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); 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 By Shogo Hiraide / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer As I was walking through a quiet residential area in Kokubunji an old-fashioned Shinkansen train suddenly came into view A two-carriage Shinkansen is now used to house the Shinkansen Museum allowing visitors to learn about the glorious history of the bullet train one of Japan’s most prominent technological advancements On display is a single car of the two-carriage train from the Class 951 Shinkansen a prototype assembled in 1969 to increase the speed of Shinkansen trains which began service between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations in 1964 had a maximum operating speed of 210 kph in those days The prototype was used in a series of experiments to try and boost the speed of Shinkansen trains to 250 kph the test train recorded the world’s fastest train speed during a run between Nishi-Akashi and Himeji stations Visitors to the museum can hop into the conductor’s cab of the Class 951 train 4 meters high and weighs 61 tons and is the museum’s main attraction The various analogue gauges the train features remain in their original state “We want visitors to be free to toy around with the gauges have a taste of the past and savor it,” a Kokubunji municipal government official said there is a chronological table of the history of the Shinkansen visitors can gain tidbits of knowledge such as “Hikari bullet trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines started operating dining cars in 1974” and “the Tohoku Shinkansen Line connected Omiya and Morioka stations in 1982.” The museum also displays a wooden mold used in experiments to study how winds impact the trains during operation as well as a real Shinkansen train seat and a diorama of Shinkansen and other trains of existing lines running through an imaginary city These exhibits are sure to entertain not only children but also railroad enthusiasts The town where the museum is located was renamed Hikari in 1966 after the Shinkansen Hikari train developed by the Railway Technical Research Institute located there who are deeply associated with Shinkansen trains which raised about ¥5.7 million through crowdfunding reopened in April after the aging train car received a fresh coat of paint I enjoyed feeling like a train conductor while learning about the early days of the Shinkansen Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun AD Apr 26 (Sat) 2025-Jun 8 (Sun) 2025 34 days left Opening Reception Apr 26 (Sat) 2025 17:00 - 20:00 Leave a rating/comment#Painting#PartyBack to ArticlesSHARE are dyed vermilion and shine in the setting sun in a rice paddy in front of Bicchu Kokubunji temple in Soja has been cultivating the site near the temple’s five-story pagoda designated by the central government as an important cultural asset for the past 10 years in an effort to make the grain a more common fixture of daily dining fare and the best time to see the rice field is until the end of September as the tips of the ears gradually fall off as the rice plants grow About 3 tons of red rice are expected to be harvested in November The grain will be processed into rice flour It will also be served in lunches at city-run schools TASTE OF LIFE/ Red bean rice: Flavors handed down help to mark major milestones in life Original letter from warlord Hideyoshi found in Kyoto sale ban on alien species wreaking havoc on ecosystems Rare species in Fukushima raise hopes for end to radiation rumors VOX POPULI: Celebrating the delightful and profound world of ‘wagashi’ With just over a month until the Olympic flame arrives in the country organizers of this summer's Tokyo Games held a dress rehearsal Saturday for the Japan leg of the torch relay Runners carried unlit Olympic torches for around 200 meters each in three cities in Tokyo on Saturday as the organizers went over preparations for the start of the domestic portion of the relay on March 26 torchbearers in the official white uniforms ran on the road in front of spectators including local residents and government officials Security personnel and police also stood watch along the route which draws on the imagery of Japan's iconic cherry blossoms was carried in the western Tokyo city of Hamura before further dress rehearsals in Kokubunji and Hachioji in the afternoon While some segments of the relay took about 10 minutes longer than scheduled a representative said the organizers did not see any huge errors "Conducting the dress rehearsal allowed us to find things we need to work on Starting and finishing the relay according to the schedule is necessary," the official said "We need to continue working with organizers of each prefecture," he said who has been selected to take part in the Olympic torch relay ran the third segment of the rehearsal in Hamura "I'm really glad I was able to rehearse ahead of the start of the torch relay because I ended up running too fast today." At a departure ceremony held ahead of the first runner in Hamura participants simulated the lighting of a torch on a small outdoor stage while spectators took photos and video with their smartphones as the torchbearer set off Promotional vehicles for the event's sponsors traveled the course playing music from speakers before the torchbearers ran in Hamura and Hachioji organizers rehearsed on a picturesque pedestrian pathway where cars cannot go "There was a lively parade so it was even fun waiting for the relay to start I'm really looking forward to the Tokyo Olympics," said Manami Nishimaki an elementary school student who watched the rehearsal in Hamura with a friend The Olympic flame will be lit in Greece on March 12 and will arrive in Japan following the Greek leg of the relay The domestic segment of the relay will commence in Fukushima Prefecture About 10,000 torchbearers will wind their way through all 47 Japanese prefectures before making an entrance at the opening ceremony to be held at Tokyo's National Stadium on July 24 Fourth-year university student Aruha Hamamura begins and ends most days on his surfboard at Kounohama Beach along the coast of Mie Prefecture’s Shima Peninsula, an area known for the Grand Shrines of Ise and the ama freedivers who ply the nearby waters in search of ocean creatures including the region’s famed pearl oysters he works part-time as a barista at a coffee stand in CO Blue Center a beachside complex that also houses a sauna an ecologically oriented library and information clearinghouse a marine agri-tech company and spaces for art exhibitions Hamamura lauds CO Blue for its flexible working conditions but he was also drawn to the center by its eco-friendly ethos of addressing problems such as ocean plastics deforestation and the looming food crisis.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); One initiative that particularly excites him is Re:COIN a program that upcycles plastic beach trash into “coins,” which can then be redeemed at nearby businesses Eco-conscious Tokyoites can now recycle their used and unwanted clothes at five train stations along the JR Chuo and Nambu lines Called Mawasu Station – ‘Circulation Station’ in English – the project has started its collection drive at JR Chuo line’s Musashi-Sakai Higashi-Koganei and Nishi-Kokubunji stations as well as JR Nambu line’s Inagi-Naganuma Station and Celeo Kokubunji (the mall connected to Kokubunji Station) The donated clothes will be professionally cleaned and repurposed as uniform for employees of the popular ramen chain Ippudo These staff members are not the ones working at the restaurants but for the company’s social welfare programme Ippudo Global Club as well as for the social initiative Kodomo Shokudo where children can learn about food and nutrition Clothes that are difficult to reuse are recycled into raw materials and turned into new products You can donate up to five pieces of clothing per day but make sure they’re properly washed and dry you can’t drop off school and sport uniforms and basically anything else that’s made from fabric but is not a garment.  The clothes will be collected at the manned ticket gates at the aforementioned stations The campaign runs daily from 10am to 4pm until September 30 For more information, see Mawasu Station’s website (in Japanese only) Survey: Osaka ranked in the top 10 most liveable cities in the world Japan’s largest vertical loop roller coaster to open in Himeji Central Park 6 things to do at the Toshio Suzuki and Ghibli Exhibition in Tokyo You can now enter Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea at a discount in the late afternoon A ‘Stranger Things’ café is coming to Shibuya this summer Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan. Mari Matsuoka mounted her smartphone on a tripod before sitting down on a bench outside JR Kunitachi station in western Tokyo on a sunny afternoon last week With a friend sitting next to her and serving as an interviewer While it was mostly intended for residents walking or sitting nearby it also went out live via her Instagram account.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Matsuoka spoke softly and kept her speaker volume low which helped her 2-month-old baby remain asleep in her sling Caught up in a mixture of street and station noises her voice often sounded like it was coming through a radio in contrast to the loud speeches made by many other stumping politicians A health care clinic that opened on a train platform in Tokyo makes for an unusual sight but it may become increasingly common as rail companies look to attract commuters by offering new services Aoi Clinic opened on April 4 in JR Nishi-Kokubunji Station on the platform for Chuo Line trains bound for central Tokyo While there is a pharmacy on the platform for outbound trains this is the first clinic to set up shop on a platform A 43-year-old man who works at a construction company and frequently uses the station said the new clinic will be a “lifesaver as long as I can make an appointment in a hurry.” The new convenience for hurried commuters comes as the number of overall train passengers declines due to the decreasing population and the increasing number of people teleworking due to the COVID-19 pandemic JR East said it is working to ensure that its stations offer multiple services relevant to commuters by setting up things such as co-working spaces areas to host events such as lecture series--and now doctor’s visits The company is planning to open more clinics on platforms in the future including on major stations along Tokyo’s arterial Yamanote Line JR East said this kind of clinic offers convenience to passengers by allowing them to make an appointment while in transit and get examined there with practically no wait times The clinic measures 30 square meters and is equipped with a consultation room and an examination room Patients book an appointment online to see a doctor specializing in internal medicine or take blood and urine tests Patients can book online consultations with a dermatologist and a gynecologist conducted over video from a booth inside A 65-year-old company executive who lives near the station said he would use this clinic if he needed to “see a doctor on short notice.” which is located in Kokubunji in western Tokyo makes train connections for the Chuo and Musashino lines It gets about 40,000 passengers a day on average a Tokyo-based medical corporation that runs the new clinic said it expects doctors to spend up to about 10 minutes with a patient said he hopes that by being on the train platform the clinic can offer “simple and appropriate health care services to those who (otherwise) cannot find the time.” About 30 doctors who work at university hospitals and elsewhere see patients on a rotation basis Kuwai said the clinic also benefits doctors who are seeking more flexible ways of working as some of the doctors are raising children at home and consult with patients online Aoi Clinic only accepts online appointments the party’s over with JR East’s plan for earlier last trains Sign of the times: Workers’ fun at ‘Hand Sanitizer Sta.’ a hit online JR East app to cover congestion details for major Tokyo area lines JR East rolls out point service for commuting in off-peak hours High levels of harmful organic fluorine compounds were found in blood samples of residents living in the Tama area of western Tokyo The leader of the study said contamination could be coming from a U.S which examined levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in samples collected from 650 residents in 27 municipalities in the Tama area The group said the combined amount of two typical PFAS substances--perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA)--was about 2.4 times the national average found in a survey conducted by the government The group entrusted the survey to Koji Harada an associate professor of environmental hygienics at Kyoto University Graduate School He said “tap water is the main cause” of the high PFAS levels The Tama area partially uses purified groundwater for tap water and Harada said possible sources of contamination include the U.S which is located in the upper river basin of the groundwater which are heat-resistant and repel water and oil were widely used in Japan in various products such as waterproofing treatments and foam fire-extinguishing agents giving them the nickname “forever chemicals.” Their adverse effects on the human body have become increasingly clear and the Japanese government currently bans the manufacturing and use of PFOS and PFOA The Tokyo metropolitan government has suspended water intake at 40 wells in seven cities where high concentrations of PFAS were found The metropolitan government in 2019 conducted a survey on PFOS and PFOA in the Tama area It found their levels at a water purification plant in Kokubunji city were more than double the provisional target levels later set by the central government for tap water The citizen group solicited volunteers for blood tests across the Tama area the combined amount of PFOS and PFOA contained in 1 milliliter of blood averaged 14.6 nanograms The Environment Ministry found an average of 6.1 nanograms when it surveyed 119 people nationwide in 2021 although its study method could have been different 20 nanograms of PFOS per milliliter of blood is considered a benchmark for health risks Fifty-five of the 650 Tama people surveyed exceeded this standard PFAS has been detected in various parts of Japan a citizens group last year tested blood samples of 387 residents living near U.S bases and found the levels of PFOS and PFOA were 0.8 to 3.1 times the national average foam fire-extinguishing agents containing PFOS leaked into a river from the Naval Air Facility Atsugi in autumn 2022 a local government investigation revealed a high concentration of PFOA in groundwater near a factory of a major manufacturer (This article was written by Hiromichi Fujita and Taro Ono.) Blood tests detect high levels of PFOS in residents near U.S High levels of PFOS detected at Okinawa school next to U.S PFOS in tap water of town that co-hosts U.S PFOS exceeds state-set levels at 38 sites near U.S Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike’s calls for young people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 have exacerbated frustrations over the shortages of doses in the capital Tokyo keeps setting daily records for the number of newly confirmed infections and a growing percentage of the new patients are in the younger age groups Koike has been urging young people to help stem the increase by getting vaccinated A 34-year-old company employee in Kokubunji “To say ‘get vaccinated’ when there are no vaccines available shows that she has no understanding of the situation at the local level,” the man said The Kokubunji city government has been inoculating its residents from the oldest age groups and it has not yet gotten around to vaccinating those 39 and younger A 27-year-old employee residing in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward agreed with the message that Koike was trying to get across but the lack of vaccines has made fulfilling her request difficult He received a vaccine voucher from the ward government about 10 days ago Of the record 3,865 COVID-19 cases reported in Tokyo on July 29 36.7 percent were patients in their 20s and 20.2 percent were in their 30s A 28-year-old company employee living in Meguro Ward has already been told by his family living in Saitama Prefecture not to bother returning to the family home for the Bon holidays in August He made a reservation for a vaccine shot in early August through his workplace his wife also received a vaccine ticket for spouses from her workplace The situation made the man think that “vaccines are not going to where they are needed.” Given the increase in younger people being infected local governments in Tokyo have switched to inoculating residents in lower age groups but the lack of vaccines has hampered their efforts the Shinjuku Ward government has placed priority on getting residents in their 20s and 30s vaccinated and it began taking reservations on July 7 only 14 percent of residents in those two age groups had received their first dose as of July 27 The ward government is still seeking to inoculate all residents by the end of November “We will not reach that goal at the current rate but there is nothing we can do since there are no vaccines” said one official handling vaccinations in the ward The Suginami Ward government has implemented a similar measure for its residents aged between 12 and 39 But of the 180,000 or so in that age bracket Reservations for the 170,000 or so Suginami residents between 40 and 59 began on July 14 but with only enough doses for 20,000 residents all available slots were filled in about two hours Rakuten has started a vaccination program for its employees Setagaya residents 18 and older can also get their shots there the program will still not completely cover the shortage of vaccines Setagaya Mayor Nobuto Hosaka said he hoped the Tokyo metropolitan government would make greater efforts to negotiate with the central government for more doses Municipalities forced to suspend vaccinations due to dire shortage Seniors trying to reserve vaccines grow frustrated by busy signals Municipalities pressed to avoid wasting a single vaccine dose hospital feels punished for pushing vaccines Tokyo hospitals bracing for the worst in virus infections Vox Populi Vox Dei is a daily column that runs on Page 1 of The Asahi Shimbun A secondhand bookstore that never tolerates patrons who don’t handle books with care is featured in Makoto Shiina’s essay titled “Saraba Kokubunji Shoten no Obaba” (Farewell keeps a close eye on every customer browsing her wares and she sharply reprimands anyone who roughly turns the pages Should someone dare plop their bag on a book she would let out a thunderous roar of rage that could raise the dead Small wonder that her store got few patrons which actually enabled Shiina to browse leisurely was at the cost of “fighting a bad case of nerves and getting psyched up before entering the store.”  Every customer should be allowed to examine their book before buying it I recalled this fierce Granny when I was surprised by a newspaper report about the Kodansha publishing company starting to sell its “bunko” paperbacks shrink wrapped in plastic film Manga books are commonly sold in this manner and some people welcome it for protecting the copies from damage or getting soiled are miffed that they can’t even take a peek inside the covers Kodansha’s reason for doing this is that since the government is requiring every book to show its tax-inclusive price from April the publisher intends to stick a price label on the film but I worry it may become accepted as a permanent custom over time shrink wrapping had become standard before anyone knew it Browsing in a bookstore is like trying on new clothes Just like putting on an outfit that caught your fancy to see how it fits look at the table of contents and sample a few lines to make sure that’s the book you want to read In the case of Kodansha’s bunko paperbacks analyses by literary critics at the end of the paperback versions are a helpful and reliable source of information like advice from a seasoned bookstore clerk I can’t count the number of times those analyses led me to explore totally new authors and themes I hope Kodansha will end the shrink wrapping early And I beg other publishers not to even start it Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture Teen leaves literary gift to thank bookstore on its last day Joint bookstores offer literature lovers shelves to sell collections VOX POPULI: Curling up with a book offers oasis from monotony of lockdown life The open and shut case of a much-loved Kyoto bookstore VOX POPULI: ‘Mottainai Grandma’ a reminder for us not to be wasteful galleries and museums around Japan that non-Japanese readers and first-time visitors may find of particular interest just a subjective viewpoint acquired over many years' residence in Japan Police suspect that a recent string of robberies across Tokyo Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures in homes and in stores were carried out by a loosely organized crime group that recruits members through shady job postings Investigators said that some of the accounts used in an anonymous messaging app to give instructions to the perpetrators in the seven robberies were found to match across different cases They also said similar criminal tactics were used such as assaulting residents in home invasions to steal cash Police are working to uncover the full scope of the criminal ring that operated in the Tokyo metropolitan area the National Police Agency held an investigative meeting with senior officers from Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures “It is having a significant impact on the public’s sense of safety,” said Shigeyuki Tani director of the NPA's criminal affairs bureau He instructed the authorities to arrest high-level figures in the group there were four break-ins of homes in Tokyo’s Nerima Ward Saitama and Tokorozawa in Saitama Prefecture where multiple assailants assaulted residents with hammers and other items Many of the perpetrators have been arrested with some saying they had applied for “yami baito” (Japanese for “dark part-time jobs,” referring to shady or illegal work offered online) Investigators suspect the crimes were committed by a loosely organized and anonymous crime group that repeatedly changed members and operated under anonymous instructions using encrypted communications The Signal messaging app was used to relay instructions to the perpetrators in the Kokubunji and Tokorozawa robberies The account used by the person giving the orders was the same in both cases Saitama prefectural police arrested Rikiya Morita who had been on a wanted list in connection with the Tokorozawa case Morita also hinted at involvement in the Kokubunji case “I went to Tokorozawa with the promise of being paid but I was instructed to commit the robbery and could not refuse,” investigators quoted him as saying three robberies targeting pawnshops and secondhand luxury goods store occurred in Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures where the men who apparently didn’t know each other were brought together through dark part-time jobs Some of the accounts used in the cases in Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures matched suggesting connections to the robberies across the Tokyo area In robberies in Saitama and Tokyo’s Nerima Ward investigators said that instructions were given to the perpetrators from multiple accounts there are also cases where the accounts do not match These inconsistencies are leading police to investigate the possibility of the involvement of higher-level coordinators who have been overseeing those giving the instructions in each robbery (This article was written by Minami Endo and Tomonori Asada.) Police: Burglars in Japan guided by ‘Luffy’ from the Philippines Four arrested in connection with robbery-murder in western Tokyo Text address of murder victim on phone connected to another attack Japanese version By Akira Miura / Special to The Japan News more than 40 years ago — there was a jazz bar called Peter Cat outside the south exit of JR Kokubunji Station in Tokyo Peter Cat was a neat place serving good cups of coffee and I would often use it as a meeting point The baby-faced proprietor was a fashionable man with a slight figure who had a soft spot for the Ivy League style until one day when I came across a photo of Haruki Murakami I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had crossed paths with the man in the photo I found that he was indeed the same baby-faced barkeep from behind the counter of Peter Cat He subsequently relocated Peter Cat to Sendagaya in central Tokyo where he began to write while still running the bar cited as a perennial favorite for the Nobel Prize in Literature a new collaboration with Uniqlo has been creating quite a buzz after the retailer launched T-shirts featuring designs inspired by Murakami titles on March 8 Murakami’s connection to Uniqlo began in 2019 President and CEO Tadashi Yanai personally picked up the entire ¥1.2 billion tab to renovate a building on the Waseda University campus to open the Waseda International House of Literature nicknamed the “Haruki Murakami Library.” The building designed by Kengo Kuma will open in October this year Yanai is an alumnus of Waseda’s School of Political Science and Economics and Murakami himself studied theater and film arts at the university’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences Murakami has pledged to donate copies of all his novels which have been translated into more than 50 languages and thousands of LP records from his personal collection The first two floors and a basement level will be open to public no museum to Murakami would be complete without a cafe titled “Haruki Murakami / Murakami Radio,” can be found from Uniqlo’s UT line of graphic tees The 100% cotton short-sleeve shirts are available in eight patterns and sizes for ¥1,500 Six of the designs feature titles and memorable quotes from six Murakami novels: “Pinball 1973,” “Norwegian Wood,” “Dance Dance Dance,” “Sputnik Sweetheart,” “1Q84” and “Kafka on the Shore.” The other two are emblazoned with prints reading “Murakami Radio.” Related pin badges and stickers are available as well “Murakami Radio” is a radio program on Tokyo FM featuring the novelist as DJ which used to be aired on an irregular basis I suppose Murakami enjoys the casual exchanges with his listeners as he once bantered with customers at his jazz bar Murakami addressed new students at the entrance ceremony of Waseda University’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Culture the university presented him with an award for his contributions to the arts The only other accolade left for his trophy shelf now may be the Nobel Miura is a journalist and a former editor in chief of WWD Japan By Amber Dohrenwend When expatriate parents in Tokyo start to wax poetic about their childhoods and the amount of time they spent building forts and fabricating tools from the castaways of their family’s gleanings for enemy attacks they may suddenly find themselves in a panic well-oiled machine that we rely on for day-to-day living can sometimes feel like it lacks the space necessary for kids to breathe and just hang loose Have you ever asked yourself where children can build forts in this city after a day navigating multi-level shopping complexes can a parent ferry their technology-toting 7-year-old for a dirt-under-their-fingernails lost-in-their-own-world sticks and mud playfest Often run as temporary play spaces throughout many of Tokyo’s parks they are given away by the odd rope swing near a huddled group of toddlers sculpting a wet leaf pile the city is host to more than 80 play parks—the Japanese moniker for adventure playgrounds and free-play gatherings Play parks range from humble gatherings in local neighborhoods to expansive play-worker staffed spaces like Yume Park—complete with hand-built zip-lines The adventure playground movement came to Japan via Europe in the 1970s as a way of advocating for greater risk and free-play in the over-scheduled and regulation-restricted lives of urban children initiatives have expanded to include hospital-based settings and playgrounds for children healing from disaster-related trauma also hosts seasonal events that convert entire streets in downtown Tokyo into day-long community-based free-play festivals where families are allowed to cook over fires and even construct things with hand tools and other craft-making supplies trained playworkers are always on-site to provide support But one thing that sets Japanese play parks apart is the ethos: “Play freely at your own risk.” The phrase both communicates the unique freedoms and opportunities available at these specialized parks as well as the deep personal responsibility for one’s own safety The creative spirit of these spaces is exhilarating and expansive even if they look unpolished compared to some of Tokyo’s colorful plastic play complexes Parents may find themselves as busy as their children after they experience such forthcoming permission to create and explore www.yumepark.net Access: Ikejiri-Ohashi Station (Shin-Tamagawa Line two stops from Shibuya) or Yutenji Station (Tokyu Toyoko Line www.playpark.jp Access: 9 minutes on foot from JR Musashisakai Station North Exit Bus ⑱ (No p-musashino.org Access: Nishi-Kokubunji Station (Chuo Line or Musashino Line) or Kokubunji Station (Chuo Line) www.boukenasobibanokai.or.jp/playstation.html Access: Higashi–Matsubara Station (Keio Inokashira-Line Access: Yoyogi-Hachiman Station (Odakyu Line) or Yoyogi-Koen Station (Chiyoda Line) By Yuki Miyashita / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer The cultural and political center of Japan was in the Kinki region in western Japan during the Kofun period (ca 300-ca 710) Eastern Japan was still largely a backcountry but what is now Shimotsuke in Tochigi Prefecture had a strong connection with the central regime More than 200 kofun ancient tombs have been discovered in Shimotsuke which is also home to the remnants of Shimotsuke Kokubunji temple a historic site designated by the government Shimotsuke Fudoki-no-Oka Museum is exhibiting artifacts unearthed from the area and offering opportunities for visitors to learn about the history of ancient Shimotsuke The exhibits mostly come from the Kofun period and the Nara period (710-784) They start with text introducing the massive ancient burial mounds from the Kofun period whose distinctive keyhole-shaped layout was formalized by the central government of the time “Powerful local families would boast that they have connections with the regime by building the same type of tombs,” said Koichi Yamaguchi of the Shimotsuke municipal government’s cultural property department “It’s like convenience stores becoming franchised and showing a certain quality level.” A haniwa earthenware depiction of a woman using a cloth-weaving device It was discovered in the middle of a procession of haniwa figures representing horses and humans The person buried in the tomb is believed to be an important figure related to weaving Another significant person of the period was Shimotsuke no Ason Komaro a minister who rose to a high status in the center of the state despite hailing from a regional area Komaro led the editing work for Taiho Ritsuryo and was involved in the construction of the tomb for the emperor of the time but he is said to have been an educated member of the elite who acquired knowledge from China’s Tang dynasty without ever traveling to or studying in China Another eye-catching exhibit is a 1-to-150 scale model of Shimotsuke Kokubunji temple The country was hit by a smallpox outbreak and natural disasters during the Nara period and the reigning Emperor Shomu ordered the construction of Kokubunji provincial temples all over the country to help dispel anxiety among the people Even such a small-scale model expresses the magnificence of the structure and helps one imagine how hard it must have been for people of the time to build it when they were already exhausted from disasters and the epidemic The museum reopened in May after undergoing renovations which included new introduction labels for the exhibits Japanese version the Chuo Line connects a string of Tokyo neighborhoods that have always attracted young artists and musicians in need of cheap rent and casual performance venues a step removed from the hifalutin downtown galleries and concert halls Several of these districts happen to be alliteratively named after local Buddhist temples: Koenji a particularly active artists' collective has tried to bring some order to the bewildering hodgepodge of art festivals and assorted gonzo happenings that spring up along the Chuo Line often below the establishment's cultural radar "temple to temple," tera being an alternate reading for ji -- the nonprofit group is appropriately anarchic yet boasts a proven track record in organizing multivenue multimedia events that seem designed to take the local citizenry by surprise Kyoko Idetsu working on her mural "A Life of No Consequence," a series of scenes of her grandmother gateway to the Teratotera Encounter Festival this year's Mitaka/Musashino event was the brainchild of Art Center Ongoing a contemporary gallery located next door in Kichijoji Director Nozomu Ogawa and his merry crew were able to tap into their local connections and secure some entertainingly bizarre venues for the festival depending on one's tastes in art -- the work championed by Teratotera and Ongoing tends toward the anarcho-Dadaesque -- the locations were sometimes more engaging than the presentations therein Taking the cake for atmosphere was Mitaka Apartments No that Teratotera was able to rent on the cheap from a local realtor (owner unknown) The larger of two rooms contained a section of sunken floor where patrons probably dangled their legs while sitting and drinking at low kotatsu-style tables Artist Taro Izumi put this element to imaginative use by having four performers stand in a row in the pit which was camouflaged so that their legs appeared to end at floor-level Noh-like "dance" by four very short people amid a blasted roomscape of rearranged rubble and randomly placed video monitors showing still more rubble being smashed At first I thought Izumi had hired people of short stature for the occasion until he graciously revealed the floor's secret the vacant building temporarily occupied by installations by Taro Izumi and Yuji Ohta One of the festival's highlights was an afternoon concert by sound adventurists Koichi Makigami and Jim O'Rourke both active figures in Tokyo's thriving improvisational music milieu O'Rourke unleashed a blizzard of electronic noise from a tabletopful of curious devices while Makigami who calls himself a "pseudo-Kabuki vocalist," contributed unearthly sounds on voice Adding a sublimely different flavor to a performance one might ordinarily hear in a downtown free-improv club was the venue: a judo dojo and Makigami and O'Rourke performed before a backdrop of calligraphy a photo of the dojo's founder in judo regalia Koichi Makigami (left) and Jim O'Rourke (right) collaborate on decidedly un-martial music beneath the Rising Sun in a second-floor judo gym.