The Kumagaya House is raised up above a storage area The house is divided by the central void in the roofspace A double-height space is at the heart of the house dining room to the right and the central covered terrace straight ahead The open terrace on the upper floor bisects the roof structure showing the void above the living area and one of the upstairs bedrooms This Kumagaya House is a domestic puzzle box taking the art of the Japanese house to another level as it intersects a minimal interior with exterior spaces the modest family house actually strives to push against the norm which the anthropologist George Murdock argued was universal has been the predominant family structure in Japan since the postwar period’ Japan is no stranger to shifting demographics Okubo sought to create a plan that ‘released the pressure on families to be constantly united’ This was a tall order within such a small floorplan elevated up above a concrete sub-basement that serves as a storage spaces to keep the main living spaces and bedrooms as clutter free as possible the house has a cruciform void space at its heart a geometrically precise subdivision of the square plan that sees the first floor reach right up to the timber roof space thanks to two wedge shaped sections removed from the second-floor plan Access is up some steps to the raised ground floor The entrance hall and terrace bisect the two sections two double bedrooms flank either side of the staircase whilst the other half of the house is the upper level of the double height living space Between the two sections is a private balcony that runs east west along the length of the house Up here there are also twin loft mezzanines above the living space left open but accessible to increase the floor area ‘The layout is reminiscent of the residential floor plan known as “ta-no-ji”,’ says the architect explaining that the term refers to the Chinese character for ‘rice field’ a square divided into four parts by two intersecting lines The Kumagaya House avoids creating any overlapping or conflicting by using the void as both a buffer and a link a connecting device that also keeps the different quadrants of the house separate without compromising their views or access to outside space This takes us back to the tense cohabitation of the modern nuclear family The void is ‘much like an air cushion’ ‘a buffer against friction among members of the household amid the pressure to constantly function as a cohesive unit’ the idea of ‘partitioning the space with air’ creates a spacious yet surprisingly private series of spaces ‘It relaxes the atmosphere of the home imbuing it with a sense of stability and balance,’ says the architect escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox Structural engineering was by Shin Yokoo at OUVI and the house combines a reinforced concrete structure with exposed timber especially in the monumental roof construction ChopArchi.com Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999 covering everything from architecture and transport design to books He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast Japan made the most of their opportunities to secure a 41-24 victory over a game but ultimately outmatched USA side in Kumagaya on Saturday The result gives the Brave Blossoms top spot in the pool as the two sides now move on to the knockout stage of the Pacific Nations Cup Malo Tuitama threatened early with two line breaks as Japan showed their intent to attack wide from the get-go Quick ball at the breakdown caught the Eagles offside and Seung-Sin Lee knocked over three points to open the scoring for the home side The USA pressed into Japan territory but were rebuffed by a turnover at the tackle From the ensuing lineout Lee chipped just over the heads of the onrushing defense and Dylan Riley snatched the ball from the air His midfield partner Nik McCurran was on hand to take the scoring pass in under the posts Not long at the restart a knock-on by Japan conceded an attacking scrum The USA won the penalty and Luke Carty took the points on offer Just as quickly however the Eagles made a hash of their clearance attempt and gave the ball straight back A few phases later Sanaila Waqa drove in from short range to make it 17-3 for the Brave Blossoms The two sides exchanged scores before halftime Penalties gave Carty a kick into the corner and Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz powered over on the short side from the maul More high tempo attack from Japan resulted in a score for replacement hooker Mamoru Harada on the end of an overlap leaving the gap at 14 points with 40 minutes on the clock Early in the second half the Eagles midfield was guilty of over-pursuit on a loose ball and when nobody filled in the gap Riley took off from 10 meters inside his own end The midfielder swerved past the initial line and turned on the jets to show the cover a clean pair of heels on a cracking solo effort Lee’s fourth conversion pushed the score out to an ominous 31-10 with 35 minutes still to play and took advantage of penalties conceded by Japan Ruben de Haas fired a flat pass that found Nate Augspurger unmarked The winger stepped back inside a tackler to touch down in the corner Not long after Augspurger would grab a double after Fa’anana-Schultz was held up this time Carty looping around a ruck and giving the skip-pass for the try Both conversions from wide out were on target from Carty and suddenly it was a one-score game After a brief hydration break the Eagles were called offside and Lee stepped up to make it a double-digit difference The coup de grâce came after Japan were awarded a scrum penalty A set move off the lineout befuddled the Eagles defense and Tuitama slipped through to score Both teams emptied their benches and neither would score before full-time The two sides will stay in Japan for the next two weeks as the action shifts to Tokyo Samoa are up next weekend for the Brave Blossoms The winners of the two Semi Finals will collide in the Pacific Nations Cup Final on September 21 Tags Western Conference leaders Utah carry a four-game win streak into their road game against DC … Kumagaya Regional Meteorological Observatory said Thursday that the cherry blossoms had bloomed in Kumagaya The announcement was four days earlier than last year please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent The observatory found five or six flowers at Kumagaya Sakura Tsutsumi a famous cherry blossom viewing spot along the Arakawa River in the city A sakura festival is being held at the Kumagaya Sakura Tsutsumi until April 8 visitors took pictures of the cherry blossoms just having started to bloom and enjoyed food and drinks at the outdoor stalls Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Air Force exchange officer assigned to the 4th Technical School won the “Excellence Award” at the 32nd Japanese Speech Contest in Kumagaya City The Kumagaya International Association hosted the event at the Kumagaya City Cultural Center in Saitama Prefecture on October 27 This annual contest first began in 1992 and now has a history of over 30 years and is open to foreign residents of Japan aged 15 and older who have lived in Japan for less than five years 15 participants from nine countries competed in the event—United States arrived in Japan in May after 18 months of Japanese language training in the United States had the shortest amount of time in Japan among the contestants where his primary duties include teaching students about the U.S he coordinates field training events at Yokota Air Base and leads an English conversation club at the base a large cheering group rallied behind Captain Repka titled “Once in a Lifetime: Encounters Guided by Cherry Blossoms” recounted a personal story: “When I first arrived in Japan I was able to forge meaningful connections with Japanese people by joining a cherry blossom viewing event” “Forming friendships through this event was truly a ‘once in a lifetime’ moment to fully immerse myself in the culture and gain a deeper understanding of the traditions” The powerful and heartfelt speech earned Captain Repka the Excellence Award “It was a remarkable performance that reminded me of Japan’s beauty Captain Repka is a popular base figure known for his proactive engagement with the personnel I hope he will continue to help strengthen the friendship between the JSDF and the U.S who oversaw Captain Repka’s Japanese language training “Improving Japanese pronunciation and intonation But with the support and advice of the 4th Technical School staff “I am deeply honored to receive this award I owe my success to the Commandant of the 4th Technical School Using the language skills I have developed through this contest I aim to help deepen mutual understanding between Japan and the United States and further strengthen our alliance” The statements expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the US Air Force Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan Japan advanced unbeaten to the Pacific Nations Cup semifinals with a 41-24 victory over the United States on Saturday Dylan Riley and Malo Tuitama scored tries for the hosts while Lee Seung Sin booted five conversions and two penalties on a hot and humid night at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium north of Tokyo The Brave Blossoms secured top spot in Pool B of the six-team tournament and gave head coach Eddie Jones the second win of his tenure after a 55-28 takedown of Canada on Aug 25 that followed test-match losses to England winger Nate Augspurger brought the Eagles to within seven points at 31-24 midway through the period before the home side landed the knockout blow physical team with some good young players coming through," said Jones who has focused on youth in constructing his own squad "We've got a really young team and consistency is the thing for us we had really good parts of the game (and) not-so-good parts But now we've put two reasonable games together." Flyhalf Lee put Japan on the board from an early penalty before setting the stage for the opening try in the 14th minute with his kick to Riley who offloaded to McCurran with a clear path to the line with Waqa and Harada plowing across either side of a converted try from U.S playing on the home ground of his Japan Rugby League One side Saitama Wild Knights ran in a try from his own half in the 44th minute and also had a hand in Tuitama's five-pointer in the 66th minute The Australian-born center said Japan had aimed to match the physicality of a powerful U.S pack while using their speed to their advantage so we just tried to move them around a bit and we were just lucky enough to finish off a few (chances)," Riley said Japan will face Pool A runners-up Samoa at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground on Sept a day after the United States meet unbeaten Pool A winners Fiji in the other semifinal Rugby: Toyota Verblitz name Steve Hansen as head coach Rugby: Japan beat Canada in Pacific Nations Cup opener Rugby: Italy school Japan on speed game 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 Today's print edition Home Delivery Hiroshima police arrested a woman and her father on assault charges Tuesday after they allegedly bound the woman's 3-year-old son and placed him in a cardboard box both live in Hiroshima’s Minami Ward.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); The arrest warrant alleges that in the early hours of Sep the suspects conspired to wrap the child’s mouth arms and legs with tape before placing him inside a cardboard box at their apartment According to Hiroshima Minami Police Station the suspects took the unconscious child to a nearby doctor on Monday afternoon prompting the physician to call emergency services After being alerted by a child welfare center who admitted to using adhesive tape on the boy The boy is currently hospitalized in a coma police are investigating whether the pair subjected him to repeated abuse Hitomi Kumagaya lived with her father and her three children including two preschool-age daughters who showed no apparent signs of mistreatment 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 Both the Brave Blossoms and the USA have qualified for the semifinal based on them both having beaten Canada and they face each other on Saturday 7th September at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium Kumagaya City in the Pacific Nations Cup 2024 to determine the seedings in the pool The Brave Blossoms and the USA both have five points apiece following on from their bonus point wins and are guaranteed a top-two pool finish so the clash in Japan will determine the PNC 2024 Pool B winner This will be the 25th international test between the sides but the first in five years and Japan have recent domination in head-to-head clashes The USA won the first match between the sides but last tasted victory on Japanese soil in May 2000 and have beaten the Brave Blossoms only three times in their last 10 attempts A long-time stalwart of USA Rugby Men’s X AJ MacGinty is unavailable for the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024 but Luke Carty (brother of Jack the Ireland international) stepped up in the 28-15 defeat of neighbours Canada with excellent attacking play but his boot was off the radar as he missed three conversions USA Head Coach Scott Lawrence identified three target areas our physicality and how brave we are when we take our opportunities The USA Eagles will be captained by Captain Greg who added “I think it will be first 20 min and that last 20 min of the game With how we play and how Japan played against Canada you can see where the team strengths and weaknesses are If this team starts off hot and they finish strong whose 55-28 win over Canada was their first test victory in 2024 having won seven of their last eight test matches against them That run includes each of their four meetings in Japan The Japanese will be favourites and keen to improve on their overall home record which has seen them win just one of their last nine Test matches on home soil The side selected includes MOTM from the Canada game Warner Deans who will once again be an engine in the second row while there is only one change in the starting XV (at fullback with Takuya Yamasawa earning his 10th cap.) There is also only one change in the subs with Amato Fakatava called in as a replacement loose forward in place of Eishin Kuwano Hollie Davidson (Scotland) will become the first woman to referee a Pacific Nations Cup when she takes charge of this fixture More can be seen here on Japan in the PNC 2024 More can be seen here on USA in the PNC 2024. The Pacific Nations Cup 2024 will be available to watch everywhere either through a local broadcast partner or on RugbyPass TV The match will be available on J SPORTS in Japan and on Peacock in the USA A one-stop shop which covers everything in Asian rugby interviews with the movers and shakers and grassroots drivers No thanks, I’m not interested. Corporate Information : Top Technology : Top Design : Top Sustainability : Top Investor Relations : Top Nikon Corporation (Nikon) is pleased to announce that its Kumagaya Plant in Kumagaya-shi the development and production site for semiconductor lithography systems and more has obtained Gold Status in the Validated Assessment Program (VAP) audit conducted by Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) RBA is an international industry organization aimed at proper management of labor and ethics in the supply chain of mainly in the electronics industry and sets the standards that companies should comply with as the RBA Code of Conduct.The VAP audit evaluates whether the operation of the business site is being conducted appropriately in accordance with this Code of Conduct by a third-party auditing agency Obtaining of Gold Status showcases that Kumagaya Plant is complying with the RBA Code of Conduct at a high level and is in line with the requests of customers who place importance on its conformity Nikon Group will continue to work towards establishing the RBA Code of Conduct throughout the supply chain and aim to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society under its corporate philosophy of "Trustworthiness and Creativity" by promoting efforts towards ESG The information is current as of the date of publication Return to the top of the page The 59-29 result was a galvanising lift-off for the entire tour party because all 29 players saw action at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium. As important was the Reds’ ability to adapt under pressure when the Wild Knights swooped at the breakdown and ran pacy attacks off turnover ball for their five tries. Former Churchie schoolmates Dre Pakeho, 19, and Frankie Goldsbrough, 18, were two constants with both playing stoutly for the full 80 minutes. Fullback Mason Gordon and replacement winger Heremaia Murray both crossed for two tries while back-up halfback Will Cartwright hared 75m for an intercept try late in the game. Lock Ryan Smith and his experienced Reds pack laid the platform with the first-time skipper twisting over for his own try in the first half. The Reds pressured from the kick-off with new winger Matt Brice charging down a clearing kick and locks Smith and Josh Canham stealing a lineout. Canham had a constructive game. His excellent run and one-handed offload to set up the play for Gordon’s dummying opening try from 25m out was only the start of a fine game because a charged down kick and flick pass added to his slick lineout work. When Goldsbrough burst through to set up a long-range try for Brice, the 14-0 start could not have been more deceiving. The Wild Knights were 17-14 ahead in a blink with two tries from Reds turnovers and a 70m kick-return try to show off their dangerous backs. “They came back at us with pressure so it was a good sign we were able to consolidate and take a good lead into half-time (35-17),” Reds head coach Les Kiss said. “We managed a lot of replacements in the second half. Again, we had to get on top of a comeback from a team which is really good on transition ball. “There were a lot of pleasing things. Our two flyhalves, Harry (McLaughlin-Phillips) and Tommy (Lynagh), controlled the game well. Some of the play by our two centres, at just 18 and 19, was very good. “Up front, guys like Josh (Canham), Sef (Fa’agase) and Massimo (De Lutiis) laid the platform we needed from the forwards. “We also saw some excellent moments from the club guys who joined us for this tour. Young Hamish Muller came off the bench at No.8 and was very impressive.” As a trial, the Reds played in training jerseys. The match was played behind closed doors with only 1500 Wild Knights Supporters’ Club fans adding their vocal chorus from the stands at the 2019 Rugby World Cup venue. “Awesome. We’ve got a hill at my old Noosa ground, nothing like this. I really enjoyed it all,” said Brice, who was playing for the Noosa Dolphins just two years ago. Souths flanker Herbert zeroed in on a typical jackal at the breakdown during his hour of action. For Easts hooker Max Craig, his first game in 12 months after groin surgery came with a 20-minute cameo as a flanker. “It’s such a relief to be back playing again. I got to my first scrum and started towards the front-row before thinking 'wait' that's not me today. It didn’t matter what position I was playing I just wanted to be out there,” Craig said with a broad grin. "It's my first game since playing the Wild Knights a year ago." The Reds ran their starting 15 for the opening half before involving all 14 players on their extended bench in the second half. The players will refresh for the tour’s main mission, a full cap clash against the Wild Knights on Monday, November 4 for the Saitama-Queensland Shield. The match has an extra layer of significance as a 40-year celebration of the sister state relationship between Saitama prefecture and Queensland. .css-h3az1r{font-family:FuturaMaxiWXX-Bold,"HelveticaNeue-Bold",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:inherit;font-weight:400;}QUEENSLAND REDS 59 Tries: Mason Gordon 2, Heremaia Murray 2, Richie Asiata, Ryan Smith, Matt Brice, Hamish Muller, Will Cartwright Conversions: Harry McLaughlin-Phillips 5, Tom Lynagh 2 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 Saitama Prefectural Police arrested an 84-year-old man on Tuesday after he hit a 6-year-old girl with his vehicle in the city of Kumagaya arrested on suspicion of negligent driving resulting in injury according to police.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Tuesday on a street in Kumagaya when a group of six or seven children including the first-grade girl who had just left the nearby elementary school Investigators said they had the green light at the pedestrian crossing when they walked across the road The girl hit her head hard and is in a critical condition I noticed when it was already too late to stop." He also indicated that he might have confused the traffic light with another green light further down the road The accident took place on a straight road approximately 4 kilometers south of Chichibu Railway's Oaso Station Japanese version Mamoru Morita has already achieved fame in Saitama Prefecture because at 87 years old he is still making moves on the rugby pitch who plays senior amateur matches every Sunday has a renewed sense of excitement with the Rugby World Cup coming to his home prefecture next year may be best known as a city with good access to the capital or for recording a record high of 41.1 C during the heat wave that struck Japan in July But having become one of the host cities of the sport's global showpiece in a public-private effort local residents hope Kumagaya will consolidate its status as the rugby town of eastern Japan you ram an opponent with full force and you learn to become tenacious," Morita said after playing the first five minutes of a match in Saitama highlighting the appeal of the sport he has played for over 70 years "Younger people seem to get encouraged by the fact that I still play rugby definitely until I can wear the golden pants," Morita said referring to the color of pants reserved for players over 90 in the Buwaku senior amateur rugby club in Saitama Even though Kumagaya has historical ties to rugby the city was not included in the list of host cities when it was decided in July 2009 that Japan was to stage the Rugby World Cup most likely since its rugby stadium lacked the capacity to seat large crowds a national high school rugby tournament in the spring and is home to longtime powerhouse Kumagaya Technical High School an ambitious signature-collection campaign was launched in a bid to host World Cup games with the target to collect at least 1 percent of Saitama's total population of around 7.3 million one of the highest among other municipalities vying to host the World Cup leading to Kumagaya in March 2015 winning the right to host "The signature collection showed that citizens were passionate about bringing the World Cup here," said Hideaki Shimamura managing director of the Kumagaya municipal government's office to promote the World Cup "Everyone was looking in the same direction in the bid and I hope that such unity continues" such as through watching the matches live or by organizing various initiatives to accommodate foreign visitors Kumagaya is one of the few World Cup hosting municipalities that has a stadium built exclusively for rugby whereas the matches in most other municipalities will be played in soccer stadiums and Argentina will take on the United States on Oct adding spectators' stands that are as close as 8 meters to the pitch spectators can also enjoy a dynamic view of the action An 811-inch screen has been installed on one side of the stadium with another 473-inch screen expected by next June to allow spectators to check plays and see close-up expressions of players eight 10-seat boxes and a lounge are set aside for VIPs and four ice baths have been placed next to four circular-shaped locker rooms as a measure to ease player fatigue "We have made a stadium where spectator stands and the field are close so that anybody from any seat can feel the vibrancy of the plays The front rows can almost high-five the players," said Satoshi Hori an official at the Saitama prefectural government who has worked on the stadium since April last year "As such a wonderful stadium has been made it will be a total waste not to expand its use after the World Cup We could also organize tours of the stadium or put memorial goods on display," Hori said noting that star Japanese players Michael Leitch Ayumu Goromaru and Kotaro Matsushima competed at the venue when they were in high school an official at the Saitama prefectural government explains about the renovated Kumagaya Rugby Stadium) The stadium is also part of the Kumagaya Sports & Culture Park that is designated as a national training center for the country's rugby sevens teams "You can even hear the sound of the players pushing into each other at this stadium I hope everyone will enjoy it as if you are on the pitch," Saitama Gov Kiyoshi Ueda told a crowd at an event marking one year to go before the World Cup in Kumagaya There are already signs that interest in the sport has increased in Kumagaya since the announcement that it will host the World Cup coach at a local rugby school with about 100 students "We teach rugby to children of all ages from preschool to sixth grade The sport teaches the importance of teamwork and manners," Uchida said "Students acquire better communication skills as you cannot play rugby by yourself and you need to connect passes in order to win." have also garnered more fans after contributing seven players to Japan's national squad which qualified for rugby sevens at the 2016 Rio Olympics Supporters hope more of them will book spots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics The Arukas players are also working to help spread their sport by teaching non-contact rugby more girls are also coming to learn rugby," said Uchida more and more people will get acquainted with rugby following the World Cup Kumagaya already has a great environment for it." he just hopes the comradery of rugby at the World Cup will inspire others to keep the passion going "I have made so many friends through rugby The spirit of how competitors from both teams get together and respect each other's performance after a game I hope this spirit will prevail following the World Cup." Amid a deadly heat wave that gripped several Asian countries Japan recorded its highest temperature Monday since records began The mercury soared to 106 degrees in Kumagaya a city in Saitama prefecture located some 40 miles northwest of Tokyo according to the Japan Meteorological Agency The reading broke the previous record of 105.8 degrees Records have been falling across the nation for nearly two weeks as high pressure has remained locked into the region The heat wave has killed at least 40 people in Japan and 10 more deaths have been reported in South Korea "It is so hot these days that I cannot figure out whether I am in (South Korea) or in Southeast Asia," said Kim Sung-hee (MORE: Where the Heat Wave Will Continue in the U.S.) Ten people have died in South Korea of heatstroke and other heat-related causes this summer the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday About 1,040 people have fallen ill because of hot weather from May 20 to July 21 an increase of 61 percent over the same period last year South Korea's highest-ever morning low was recorded in the city of Gangneung where the temperature was 88 degrees at 6:45 a.m according to South Korea's weather agency The mercury hit 103.8 degrees in the southeastern town of Hayang the highest temperature in the country so far this year residents fanned themselves on crowded trolleys or protected themselves from the sun with brightly colored parasols as temperatures in Pyongyang Weather reports said even higher temperatures were recorded on the country's eastern coast Thousands of people in Japan have been rushed to hospitals with heat stroke symptoms during the heat wave Kyodo News agency has tallied more than 40 deaths Many of the victims have been elderly people who were not using air conditioning nine people died from heat-related causes across Japan NHK national television tallied seven deaths (MORE: Sweden Wildfires Aggravated by Record Heat) The temperature reached 102 degrees on Monday in central Tokyo The worst of the heat wave is expected to be over this week Tourists in Tokyo's historic Asakusa district struggled with the heat Cosett Romero from Mexico said she and her family were getting headaches "It's difficult to us because we don't have this heat in Mexico," she said Authorities warned people to stay inside and use air conditioning "The weather recently in Tokyo and across Japan is like being in a sauna," Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike said at a news conference that highlighted the 2020 Summer Olympics which open in Tokyo two years from Tuesday She said that the city has been working to address heat concerns for both fans and athletes The marathon and some other outdoor Olympic events will start early in the morning Other steps include developing road pavements that emit less surface heat setting up mist sprays and planting tall roadside trees Koike also cited traditional ways of cooling in Japan such as hanging straw screens and spraying water on road surfaces "But our traditional wisdom is not enough to beat the heat like this," she acknowledged "so we will be using cutting-edge technology." We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good We may use or share your data with our data vendors The Weather Channel is the world's most accurate forecaster according to ForecastWatch, Global and Regional Weather Forecast Accuracy Overview The mercury soared to 106 degrees in Kumagaya a city in Saitama prefecture located some 40 miles northwest of Tokyo \\\"It is so hot these days that I cannot figure out whether I am in (South Korea) or in Southeast Asia,\\\" said Kim Sung-hee (MORE: Where the Heat Wave Will Continue in the U.S.) South Korea's highest-ever morning low was recorded in the city of Gangneung Weather reports said even higher temperatures were recorded on the country's eastern coast (MORE: Sweden Wildfires Aggravated by Record Heat) Tourists in Tokyo's historic Asakusa district struggled with the heat \\\"It's difficult to us because we don't have this heat in Mexico,\\\" she said \\\"The weather recently in Tokyo and across Japan is like being in a sauna,\\\" Tokyo Gov \\\"But our traditional wisdom is not enough to beat the heat like this,\\\" she acknowledged \\\"so we will be using cutting-edge technology.\\\" Fast forward and the blond-haired back is thrilled to be getting a crack in the starting side for Sunday’s trial against the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium. In Japan, he will partner former Churchie school mate Dre Pakeho in the centres against a Wild Knights side laced with experience. The Reds are backing youth. Halfback Louis Werchon is the oldest player in the starting backline at 22 and he only celebrated that Thursday milestone over a ramen meal after the Reds arrived in Kumagaya. No teen in Australian rugby has shifted gears through as many levels of the game this season as Goldsbrough. As a fresh 18-year-old, he opened the year by played minutes of the bench in a trial for the Reds against the Western Force. He featured in Colts and first grade for Easts in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup. He represented the Australian Under-20s at the World Rugby U20 Championships in South Africa and featured in the 38-31 stunner by the Australian U18s over the New Zealand Schoolboys earlier this month. “It’s been a crazy period of development,” Goldsbrough said. “At school, you think you know a bit. You compare that to sitting in some of your first meetings at the Reds where you realise all the detail and all you have to learn from the coaches and senior players. “I was still in Year 12 this time last year. Yeah, two nights at Schoolies on the Gold Coast and straight into the Reds pre-season from there.” Goldsbrough has a good understanding of where his improvements are coming and has the zeal to keep chasing more on this two-game tour of Japan. “I think my running, tackling and the physical stuff has improved a bit this year,” he said. “The big measure of growth has been in game knowledge and knowing the cues on when to pull the trigger with a pass, running and stuff like that. “Playing in all these different teams has really helped with my development. I might learn something at the Reds and it gives me confidence to execute it at club or in U18s. That adds to my confidence back at Reds training. “Senior players like Hunter (Paisami) and Jock (Campbell) have been a massive help. “Hunter has been really good with the technical side of playing centre. Jock has answered every question to help me with the backfield rotation because I’d never played wing until training there this season.” The Wild Knights will hit the Reds with their up-tempo attacking game as well as the punch of former Japanese Test backrower Ben Gunter, a product of Brisbane Boys' College. Goldsbrough, 18, will happily be leaning on his understanding with centre partner Pakeho at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium. “In Year 11, I played with Dre through the GPS season when Churchie shared the First XV premiership (in 2022),” Goldsbrough reflected. “We definitely have an understanding and can bounce around ideas because we played at school and, last year, in the Queensland U19s. “Who’d have thought when we were at school together we’d be playing in the centres in Japan in Reds jerseys.” Reds head coach Les Kiss wants to see the platform laid by his experienced pack in the trial which will only be viewed by Wild Knights Supporters’ Club members. “We know we are up against a Wild Knights team full of international experience and they'll come at us at speed,” Kiss said. “I want to see our centres perform in a young backline. They are young but the players are there because they’ve earned it.” .css-h3az1r{font-family:FuturaMaxiWXX-Bold,"HelveticaNeue-Bold",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:inherit;font-weight:400;}Queensland Reds v Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights Japanese version (Photo courtesy of Rugby World Cup organizing committee.) KUMAGAYA - Japanese and South African rugby fans braved hot and humid conditions as they descended on Kumagaya near Tokyo for Friday's clash between the Springboks and Brave Blossoms their last tune-up before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in two weeks Japan fan Sawa Higashi queued for more than two hours before the gates opened at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium it's a game they cannot lose after a loss to Japan (at the 2015 World Cup) I just hope there won't be any injuries on the Japan team," Higashi said who made the 4-kilometer trek to the stadium from Kumagaya Station on foot said he hoped the match would send Japan into the World Cup on a positive note "Maybe Japan won't have even a 1 percent chance of winning I hope their performance is promising," he said (Sias Potgieter and his daughter Amika line up for food at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium on Sept ahead of the Japan versus South Africa test match.) a number of Japanese fans came to the ground wearing the iconic dark green Springboks jersey said the gesture was part of the spirit of rugby wearing the Brave Blossoms shirt along with their four children "I remember watching the previous 2015 Japan-South Africa game live in the middle of the night." is widely regarded as the biggest upset in rugby history "I was so excited and woke up my wife," he said Kumagaya has gained a reputation as the hottest city in the country A record high of 41.1 C was set there during the heat wave that struck Japan in July last year the city has little experience receiving large crowds from overseas It has mobilized free shuttle buses for spectators departing from a fan zone near the station many spectators chose to access the venue on foot rather than ride potentially crowded buses said he wanted to see a big victory by South Africa "I hope they will win by 20 points," said Williams a Tokyo resident originally from Cape Town South African Sias Potgieter flew in from Hong Kong for the game with his Japanese wife and two children who previously played rugby for the Yokohama Country & Athletic Club witnessed the Japanese victory dubbed the "Miracle of Brighton" four years ago but (Japan's win over South Africa) was the greatest thing that could have happened for the Japan World Cup," he said "I absolutely had to come here and watch the rematch Potgieter said he thought South Africa would be happy to win by 14 points adding that Japan would earn a lot of respect if they kept the score that close Saitama Prefecture is the home ground of the Wild Knights and a 2019 Rugby World Cup venue The stadium is part of the large Kumagaya Sports & Culture Park which features also the multi-purpose Sai-no-Kuni Kumagaya Dome two Track and Field Arenas as well as various outdoor sports areas consists of the A Ground (the actual stadium) as well as the B and the C Grounds the latter two being used for youth and amateur tournaments The Kumagaya Rugby Stadium is the home of Japan Top League team Panasonic Wild Knights (founded in 1960 and until 2012 known as the Sanyo Wild Knights) it is also the venue for the East Japan matches of the National High School Rugby Tournament The Kumagaya Technical High School Team has provided the start for many top Japanese rugby players In 2009 when Japan received confirmation that it was to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium was not on the original list of venues It was considered too small and somewhat outdated Local sports enthusiasts felt very strongly about the issue and pointed out the long history of rugby in Kumagaya and the strong feelings of the populace about the sport They started a campaign collecting signatures for the inclusion of Kumagaya into the World Cup all over Saitama Prefecture they collected more than 100,000 signatures which convinced the Japanese organization committee of the strong support for the sport in Kumagaya the spectator stands were turned into seating only The stadium can now accommodate 30,000 people to watch the rugby events unfolding on the field A number of Japan Top League matches have already taken place in the modernized and enlarged stadium in autumn 2018 Press reports indicate that the visiting public has been impressed with the refurbished stadium All female rugby youth match on the B Ground with the Rugby Stadium in the background Rugby memorial stone outside the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium In preparation for the 2019 Rugby World Cup the road leading from the North Exit of Kumagaya Station to the Kumagaya Sports & Culture Park was renamed "Rugby Road." straight road are encouraged to promote the World Cup by offering rest areas and information for visitors and generally turning the road into a rugby celebrating avenue The distance between Kumagaya Station and the Rugby Stadium is 3.5 km It would be easy to travel the way by bus but walking the road gives you a good feeling of the city the tournament is held in Rugby Road is a suburban road lined with Japanese and international chain restaurants of all kinds, ranging from coffee houses to conveyor belt style sushi to hamburger joints English language menus are already standard at most of these businesses had already its World Cup decoration out front announcing that their Yawaraka White Chocolate has been approved as "Rugby World Cup 2019 Official Collection." Expect many more such announcements as well as special discounts / promotional events at the time when the World Cup matches are held Kumagaya Station was already fully decked out with Rugby World Cup promotional flags and banners Buses running between Kumagaya Station and the Kumagaya Sports Park also already featured large-scale World Cup announcements Kumagaya City is clearly thrilled about the event and very proud to host it Kumagaya bus sporting Rugby World Cup promotion The stadium hosts the following games during the World Cup Rugby Road sign next to a mural celebrating the traditional Kumagaya Uchiwa (paper fan) Festival Kumagaya Station can easily reached from Tokyo Station by traveling on the JR Joetsu or Hokuriku Shinkansen Travel time is 38 minutes and a seat reservation is required Traveling on the JR Takasaki Line is slower but cheaper Travel time is 76 minutes from Tokyo Station All the trains mentioned above also make a stop at Ueno Station in Tokyo Bus: Take a bus from bus stop 3 outside the North Exit of Kumagaya Station bound for Kumagaya Sports Bunka Koen (Kumagaya Sports & Culture Park) Additional buses are provided for major sports events The bus ride is 210 yen one way. PASMO / SUICA cards are accepted Website: www.parks.or.jp/kumagaya/information/rugby-stadium.html Detailed access information is provided in English Japan In a Week Group Tours in Japan Discover Japan Group Tours in Japan The Tokaido Road Group Tours in Japan Urban and Rural Japan Group Tours in Japan Tokorozawa guide: exploring the birthplace of Japanese aviation Nestled in the suburban sprawl northwest of Tokyo Tokorozawa is a bustling commuter town in Saitama Prefecture Hanno City Guide: Exploring the Hidden Gem of Saitama Nestled in the heart of Saitama Prefecture Hanno City offers a captivating blend of natural beauty and urban charm Ashigakubo Icicles: A magical winter wonderland in Saitama Prefecture Nestled in the picturesque Chichibu region of Saitama Prefecture the Ashigakubo Icicles offer visitors a breathtaking winter spectacle Nightlife in Japan: Going out, seeing and drinking Temples and shrines in Japan Markets in Japan Onsen, Hot Springs and Public Baths Family Travel Parks and Gardens Outdoor Activities Museums and Galleries View more Sign up and be the first to hear our news and special offers The Kumagaya Rugby Stadium that will host three games for the 2019 Rugby World Cup can be accessed on foot -- albeit nearly an hour's walk -- or by bus from Kumagaya Station which is a stop on the shinkansen bullet train network located around 60 kilometers north of the Japanese capital can be reached in approximately 40 minutes from Tokyo Station by JR Joetsu or Hokuriku shinkansen bullet trains It can also be accessed by JR lines in about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Tokyo Station or about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Shinjuku Station visitors can take buses bound for "Kumagaya Dome," "Kumagaya Sports Bunka Koen" or "Kuzuwada," which depart from the No 3 bus stop located outside the north exit of the train station Passengers should disembark at either the "Akagi jinja-mae," "Rugbyjyo-iriguchi" or "Kumagaya Sports Bunka Koen" stops from where it takes another to 2 to 5 minutes on foot to reach the rugby venue For those who choose to make the 50-minute walk from Kumagaya Station to the stadium the local municipal government is putting out the welcome mat Local businesses along the 3.5-kilometer route renamed "Rugby Road," have been asked to open their shops and provide rest areas for weary travelers Japan logged its highest-ever temperature of 41.1 C on Monday as a deadly heat wave continued to grip wide areas of the country claiming more than 70 lives and sending tens of thousands of people to hospitals over the last two weeks The extreme heat left 77 people dead and sent more than 30,000 to hospitals across the nation from July 9 to 22 according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency and a Kyodo News tally The extraordinary heat prompted the Japan Meteorological Agency to hold an unusual news conference The agency warned the public to take preventive measures against heatstroke as scorching temperatures are expected to continue for two more weeks The mercury hit the record high in Kumagaya eclipsing the previous record of 41.0 C marked in August 2013 in Shimanto while Tokyo also logged its all-time high of 40.8 C in the city of Ome "I've been hearing lots of ambulance sirens recently," said Hayato Nakamura who was playing in a water fountain with his friends in a park in Kumagaya "The water is lukewarm and it dries up so fast." said she keeps her home air conditioned for 24 hours to avoid heatstroke rose to 40.5 C after the central Japan city already reported 40.7 C last Wednesday Of the agency's 927 observation points across the country and 241 registered readings surpassing 35 C Risk of heatstroke rises when the temperature is over 40 C as even wind would be so hot it could heat up the body rather than cooling it down a professor at the University of Occupational and Environmental Health in Kitakyushu The heat wave has persisted for two weeks right after torrential rains caused massive flooding and landslides in the country's west at least 13 people died in nine prefectures of Saitama Among the fatalities was a 91-year-old woman who was found collapsed in a field in Ibaraki Prefecture and was later pronounced dead at a hospital including an 85-year-old who had told acquaintances she rarely used air conditioning and a 72-year-old who was found collapsed in a room without the air conditioner on Nine high school students watching their school baseball team play in the southwestern prefecture of Miyazaki were taken to hospital The Tokyo Fire Department dispatched ambulances 3,125 times in the capital on Sunday alone the largest figure for a day since it began emergency services in 1936 apparently due to a surge in the number of people falling ill from the intense heat the number of people who have been taken to hospitals by Tokyo's ambulances due to heat exhaustion or heatstroke this year stood at 3,544 already surpassing the 3,454 for the whole of last year according to the department's preliminary report At least 11 dead Sat. as heat wave continues to grip Japan Olympics: Tokyo 2020 marathon to be held early morning to avoid heat After an increase in the number of days when the mercury rose to at least 35C 9,000 yellow fibreglass umbrellas will be handed out to children in Kumagaya Children living in Japan’s hottest city will be given specially designed umbrellas to protect them from the heat, after a summer that saw record-breaking temperatures in many parts of the country. Local authorities in Kumagaya in Saitama prefecture have devised an umbrella that keeps out the rain and doubles as a parasol, the Mainichi Shimbun reported. The umbrellas, which bear the city’s logo and weigh just 336 grams, will be distributed to 9,000 primary schoolchildren next week, the newspaper said. Read moreKumagaya, a city of about 195,000 located 60km north of Tokyo, regularly records the highest temperatures in Japan partly as a result of warm downslope winds created by the Foehn Effect The city’s government has for the past two years advised younger children to shield themselves from the sun with regular umbrellas on their way to and from school to prevent heatstroke but some questioned their ability to block out sunlight Alarmed by a rise in the number of days when the mercury rises to at least 35C the city decided to hand out the yellow fibreglass umbrellas including to children who live in Kumagaya but attend schools outside the city The heat-busting brollies will also force children to maintain a reasonable distance from each other eliminating the need for them to wear masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus The measure has come a little late in the day, however. Japan battled its worst heatwave since records began in 1875 in late June registered the country’s highest-ever temperature for that month beating the previous June record of 39.8C set in 2011 Tokyo experienced several consecutive days of 35C-plus heat prompting the government to warn people to save energy or face power cuts while Kumagaya and five other locations marked highs above 40C on 1 July Kumagaya’s reputation for furnace-like temperatures was sealed in July 2018 when it battled an all-time high temperature of 41.1C – an unenviable record it shares with the city of Hamamatsu in central Japan On Friday, the maximum temperature for Kumagaya was a far more comfortable 26C, according to the meteorological agency although it forecast a rerun to the low 30s next week Officials had hoped to distribute the umbrellas before the school summer holidays began were delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic Global heating has prompted Japan’s government to take extra measures and issue a slew of advice on how to prevent heatstroke Almost all classrooms in public primary and middle schools now have air conditioners while the education ministry last year urged teachers to instruct children to wear cool clothing and hats and to keep hydrated when they travel to and from school The pandemic has frustrated attempts to keep children cool at school with teachers reporting that many are reluctant to remove their masks Japan: Taiheiyo Cement plans to start a CO2 capture demonstration project at its Kumagaya plant in Kumagaya City It will use technology for CO2 chemical absorption supplied by UK-based Carbon Clean which has been awarded by Japan-based Marubeni Protechs in Japan The project will have a capacity of 10t/day and demonstration tests will begin in September 2021 Taiheiyo Cement says that it believes that CO2 recovery technology from cement kiln flue gas will require compact equipment that could be installed in cement plants and that suitable amine solvents for cement kiln flue gas are essential conditions Its ultimate goal is to establish a technology that can be used to help it reach carbon neutrality by 2050 The cement producer has been developing this technology as a sole grant recipient of the ‘Development of Carbon Circulation Technology for the Cement Industry,’ a project funded by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) which was awarded in June 2020 It also launched its internal Carbon Neutral Technology Development Project Team in April 2020 a wholly owned subsidiary of Marubeni Corporation have been involved in a variety of domestic and international projects involving equipment supply and construction The project at the Kumagaya plant is expected to be the first CO2 capture plant that Marubeni Protechs and Carbon Clean have introduced in Japan Marubeni Protechs and Carbon Clean intend to jointly introduce CO2 capture plants in the future is held when the cherries are in full bloom Near the row of sakuras is the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium where several matches were held during the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan Sakura 100: Japan’s Best Blossoms Banner photo © Kumagaya Tourist Bureau.) A 4-meter-tall thermometer is installed at the Yagihashi department store in Kumagaya The outsized heat-measuring device is a summer landmark in the city which is known as the hottest urban location in the country Workers put the finishing touches to the structure amid light rain the phrase “Be wary of mask-induced heatstroke” has been added to the thermometer’s exterior since 2020 The installation is scheduled to remain in place until the end of August Jonathan Nakada is alleged to have gone on a killing spree in Kumagaya nearly a decade after his brother was arrested for murdering 25 in his native Peru The brother of a notorious Peruvian mass murderer dubbed the “apostle of death” has been arrested in Japan over suspicions he killed six people himself a city in Saitama prefecture north of Tokyo this week after allegedly stabbing to death six people including two children and a woman in her 80s identified the suspect as the younger brother of Pablo Nakada who killed 25 people in Peru between 2000 and 2006 Police in Saitama have been criticised for allowing Jonathan Nakada to abscond during questioning just before he went on his alleged killing spree They had started questioning him last Sunday after he was found after officers agreed to let him step outside to smoke a cigarette said he acknowledged that allowing Nakada to abscond had had “grave consequence” but added that officers had no reason to suspect he would go on to commit serious crimes Police officers investigate the area around a murder scene in Kumagaya where six people were found stabbed to death Photograph: Jiji Press/AFP/Getty ImagesIn the days after he fled Nakada is suspected of killing 41-year-old Miwako Kato and her daughters whose bodies were found stuffed into two closets He is being questioned about the murder of 84-year-old Kazuyo Shiraishi whose body was found an hour earlier in a bathtub at her home about 100 metres from Kato’s house Nakada is also suspected of killing Minoru and Misae Tasaki whose bodies found discovered on Monday at their home in the same area Police arrested Nakada on Wednesday after a resident reported what was initially thought to have been a break-in at Kato’s home Nakada slashed his wrists before crossing his chest and falling from an upper-floor window Footage taken by a neighbour and shown on Japanese TV shows Nakada sitting on the window ledge with his legs dangling below Police officers can be heard yelling at him to drop his weapon and give himself up where he is reportedly unconscious and being treated for a fractured skull Nakada has lived in Japan for about 10 years and worked at a factory until recently which quoted a former colleague as saying that he barely spoke to other workers and was always alone known in Peru as “El apóstol de la muerte” was given a maximum 35-year prison sentence almost a decade ago after confessing to the murders of 25 people He shot dead all of his victim with 9mm pistols fitted with rubber silencers he had made out of slippers He was arrested in late 2006 after he ran out of bullets during a shootout with police at his workplace who has paranoid schizophrenia and has attempted suicide has been held in a psychiatric prison east of Lima In a 2011 TV interview from his prison cell he claimed he had been commanded by God to rid the world of drug addicts I got rid of homosexuals and the homeless from society,” he said “I killed 25 people to clean the world of scum.” Best places to see cherry blossom around Saitama Prefecture Heading to Saitama during cherry blossom season is a fail-safe way to enjoy the flowers in a more relaxed setting with fewer crowds and more family-friendly spaces Aside from the famous touristic areas such as the mountainous northern region of Chichibu we’ve included some other well-known spots and a few hidden gems Pro tip: Check the cherry blossom forecast to catch the sakura in full bloom easily accessible via Tokyo and further afield sees over 1,000 trees in many different cherry blossom varieties bloom in the spring The park was voted in the Top 100 places to see cherry blossoms in Japan as well as one of the best urban parks in the country Omiya Park also lights up in the evenings throughout cherry blossom season with colorful pink and blue lanterns hanging from the trees Kumagaya Sakura Tsutsumi is close enough to Omiya Park that you can combine the two and have a lovely cherry blossom-filled day and evening. Over 500 Yoshino cherry trees line a rapeseed yellow flower-filled walkway, two kilometers long. You can check the latest updates on its light-up event – which normally starts at the end of March – here This one is another popular spot with over 1,000 trees in the tourist area of Chichibu There are three different types of cherry blossoms at Hitsujiyama Park with the common Yoshino alongside the rose-like Shidare cherry blossoms which hang weeping over many of the paths in the park But Hitsujiyama is famed for is its Shibazakura a type of cherry blossom which grows on the ground The park also has a sheep farm and art museum with over 1,000 Yoshino cherry trees spreading out over one kilometer It’s no wonder it’s the top-recommended spot in Saitama Gongendo Park has a large still water reservoir at its center and is a great spot for photographers who value a good flowery reflection It is worth noting that whilst the park is normally free to enter during sakura season there is a small entry fee lined with 100 Homarezakura (in memoriam) cherry blossoms over 500 meters The trees were originally planted by a local shop owner in 1957 as a memorial to those deceased in the war. Whilst the cherry blossom trees are not actually part of the Hikawa Shrine itself, they are close enough that by checking the shrine’s Facebook page visitors can get an idea of the cherry blossoms’ progress through the season This spot is perfect for those who like an Edo-style cherry blossom picture with wooden boats yakatabune ferrying small groups and couples along the river throughout the cherry blossom season A post shared by 美の山公園 (@minoyamapark) A famous park containing a wonderful sakura forest Minoyama Park is home to over 70 types of cherry blossoms the sakura here bloom for around one month this park is one of the most bountiful cherry blossom spots in Saitama Saitama Prefecture (Photo credit: kuremo on Shutterstock) A Buddhist temple known for its fantastic 600-year-old weeping cherry trees Seiunji hosts events and a festival during cherry blossom season Fun fact: the Seiunji cherry trees are even designated an official Saitama Treasure A post shared by 所沢航空記念公園 (@kokuu1978) Fun for all the family at this beloved park which is home to soccer grounds visitors can snap rare pictures of cherry blossoms with one of the park’s (grounded) aircraft in the background A great one for aviation-mad children and even adults who like something a bit different A post shared by 良太 (@ryota_7856) With cherry blossoms overlooking a calm lake and even a petting zoo the expansive Inariyama Park is a bit like Saitama’s version of Inokashira Park in Tokyo There are food stalls and catering cars selling typical festive foods such as choco-banana and takoyaki — what’s not to love This sakura spot is a cherry blossom-filled group of streets in the Nagatoro area of Saitama It is famous because of the sheer amount of cherry blossoms — over 1,500 trees — and constantly appears on Top 100 Cherry Blossom lists The trees form two magical cherry blossom tunnels over the town The ones to check are North Sakura Street and South Sakura Street A post shared by 五十嵐 永佳 (@hisayoshi.ikarashi) for 700 meters visitors can walk or picnic under 232 Yoshino cherry trees The river also hosts a small Flower Festival with market stalls and food to celebrate cherry blossom season See if you can spot the rare double petalled sakura blossoms Upon asking Saitama locals for their recommendations a hidden spot just up from Kumagaya Tsutsumi the 700 Yoshino trees light up for locals to walk and picnic under A post shared by 安行桜密蔵院 (@angyousakura) a historic Buddhist temple home to Angyo cherry blossoms Angyo is a type of cherry blossom that blooms earlier than its cousin This makes it a perfect spot for those who wish to get their cherry blossom fix as early as possible Please upgrade to a more modern version to fully experience JapanToday site and for security reasons host of three Rugby World Cup games in September and October is a great place to enjoy the last of the summer months and cool down with some outstanding frozen dessert Japan’s “hottest city” has a proud rugby history spanning all the way back to 1967 when it hosted rugby matches during the National Sports Festival of Saitama the city cemented its alternate name as "Rugby Town Kumagaya" by constructing the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium This stadium has now been upgraded for the Rugby World Cup with the addition of new lights and seats—making it a truly world-class stadium that holds as many as 25,000 rugby fans The city further committed to the experience of Rugby World Cup goers by upgrading Kumagaya’s main roads focusing on the area around the rugby stadium The stadium is now easy to access by car thanks to the addition of the new “Park and Ride” bay there will even be free shuttle buses connecting nearby stations to the stadium affordable and easy: Kumagaya City wants you to have nothing but the best time at the World Cup But there are many cities around Japan hosting World Cup matches Why commit to visiting Kumagaya in particular Because stuffing your face with the frozen desserts unique to this city is the perfect way to end the summer Kumagaya’s specialty food is Yukikuma: delicious refreshing and unbelievably soft shaved ice yuki means snow—and freshly fallen snow is exactly the texture of this delicate dessert Yukikuma is made by shaving clear ice with specialist techniques People from all over travel to Kumagaya City in the summer just to have a bowl of this famous shaved ice Yukikuma is available in 32 stores across Kumagaya City Some vendors serve it with fresh fruit while other variations include chocolate There’s even a store called Mikawaya that will be serving a rugby themed Yukikuma called the “TRY” to celebrate the Rugby World Cup This mountain of fluffy ice is topped with a ball-shaped almond and cookies to make up the goalposts There couldn’t be a more perfect dessert for a Rugby World Cup fanatic Enjoy the last embers of the summer by cooling down with this delicious Kumagaya specialty—in between catching those much-awaited matches of the Rugby World Cup For more info on stores that sell Yukikuma, see: http://www.city.kumagaya.lg.jp/atsusataisaku/anyone/yukikumaindex/yukikuma.html Information on access to Kumagaya Rugby Stadium can be found here: https://www.kumagaya-rugby.jp/en/access/ take the JR Joetsu or Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kumagaya Station (¥3,190 or take the JR Takasaki Line to Kumagaya Station (¥1,140 Don't know about flavored ice but Rugby fans are going to be on the hunt for a beer or two... Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts A mix of what's trending on our other sites Kumagaya City was a hidden gem in Japan’s rural landscape and a place I was lucky to call home for five years Now with the Rugby World Cup soon approaching and Kumagaya being a host town for three of its matches the city has found itself under the international spotlight Officially nicknamed “Rugby Town” for its role hosting prestigious rugby matches at the professional Kumagaya is a city with just under 200,000 residents in northern Saitama The Kumagaya Technical High School has long been an incubator for Japan’s top rugby players Whether you’re visiting Kumagaya for the first time this fall for the Rugby World Cup or you’re just looking for a day trip within an hour-long train ride from Tokyo I recommend swinging by Kumagaya for its cultural heritage sports-centered attractions and incredibly delicious food If you’re visiting Kumagaya in the summer, the biggest event of the year is held annually in July: the Uchiwa Matsuri It’s a three-day event held every July and is filled with taiko drum performances 12 festival floats pulled around town representing Kumagaya’s districts and hundreds of food stalls The event is named after the Japanese traditional fans that vendors have passed out to customers since the festival’s inauguration in 1750 It’s a welcome gift on the hot summer days of the festival about a 30-minute bus ride north from Kumagaya Station With incredibly detailed and vivid carvings decorating the temple it’s a beautiful sight and one of the three great Shoden temples in Japan It was recently renovated over a seven-year period and reopened in 2010 with brighter colors and even more elaborate detailing located just next to the Arakawa Cycling Road where thousands of cherry blossom trees blossom in spring One of the things I miss most about living in Kumagaya is the food There are so many options around the station and even now living in Tokyo I find myself craving the dishes from my old haunts Kikuchi Hiroki is one of the biggest names in ramen in Kumagaya and has a reputation of being one of the city’s best places to eat With its unique skull and crossbones sign hanging out front Another noodle restaurant that’s a newcomer to Kumagaya’s gourmet scene is Golden Tiger they’ve gotten rave reviews for their various broth types with salt If you’re looking for a quick snack, Boulangerie Matsuoka in front of the Kumagaya City Hall is your place They have a wide selection of tasty treats based on seasonal fruits along with their classics and even their plain bread has a tantalizing flavor Getting to Kumagaya from Tokyo is quick and convenient you can take a snappy 40-minute ride from Tokyo Station to Kumagaya Station Once you’re in Kumagaya, you can take local buses to Kangiin Shodendo or the Sports Culture Park. Check here for local bus information • For more information about visiting Kumagaya, check out the city’s official tourism page (English) • To learn more about the Rugby World Cup and games held in Kumagaya, check here • You can buy Rugby World Cup 2019 tickets here Tickets for the Kumagaya games are limited for now but more tickets will become available at an undisclosed date in May Japan failed to claim another famous win over South Africa on Friday as the 2019 Rugby World Cup host lost 41-7 to the Springboks in its final warmup match before the tournament begins later this month Japan pulled off an historic upset by beating two-time world champion South Africa 34-32 at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England and the Brave Blossoms were looking for a repeat performance at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium to head into this year's tournament with a spring in their step.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); The Springboks crossed the line six times and kept the home side off the scoreboard until Kotaro Matsushima's lone try in the 60th minute leaving Japan head coach Jamie Joseph with plenty to think about before his team opens its Rugby World Cup campaign against Russia at Tokyo Stadium on Sept "I'm really proud of the team," said Joseph "We obviously came up against a really strong South Africa side We created a lot of opportunities for us to score but through small mistakes the opposition really punished us "I thought the game for us was a must-have game which was exactly what we needed and great preparation for us going into the World Cup." Six members of the South Africa side that lost to Japan in Brighton in 2015 were involved in Friday's game But Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus' mind was less on revenge and more on the condition of his team as it prepares for its Rugby World Cup opener against world champion New Zealand in Yokohama on Sept "We played against a very strong Japanese team which we wanted to play before we play the All Blacks," he said The scoreboard was not a real reflection of the game That's what we wanted out of this test match "We're lucky we didn't get a lot of injuries and we think now this puts us on the right track before we play the All Blacks in two weeks' time." Japan suffered an early setback in Friday's game when flying winger Kenki Fukuoka went down with a knee injury in the fourth minute replacing him immediately with substitute Ataata Moeakiola 8 Amanaki Lelei Mafi also left the field with a shoulder injury early in the second half "Kenki has got what looks like a strained calf muscle," said Joseph "He did that right at the start of the game which was obviously disappointing for him and had a real effect on the team's performance because he's one of the team's best players South Africa opened the scoring three minutes later when Cheslin Kolbe touched down near the corner Japan tried to fight its way back into the game but the home team was dealt a hammer blow when Makazole Mapimpi scored the Springboks' second try in the 23rd minute South Africa fullback Willie le Roux easily caught Yu Tamura's clearance before passing the ball to Mapimpi who ran straight past Tamura to touch down Mapimpi scored his second try less than 10 minutes later as the Springboks began to run away from Japan and Pollard kicked a penalty shortly afterward to send South Africa into halftime with a 22-0 lead Japan started the second half brightly but was unable to turn pressure into points and South Africa took advantage when Mapimpi broke through Matsushima's attempted tackle to complete his hat trick in the 53rd minute Matsushima redeemed himself in the 60th minute when Japan finally got on the scoresheet The home team intercepted a loose South Africa ball around the halfway line and quick thinking by Timothy Lafaele released Matsushima into open space to race home for the try and Kolbe picked off a poor Tamura pass to sprint the length of the field for a try in the 73rd minute before substitute Herschel Jantjies rounded off the scoring one minute from time "South Africa refused to attack," said Joseph They used their defensive pressure and their set-piece pressure to try to slow us down Japanese officials classified the country's historic heat wave as a natural disaster warning citizens Tuesday to stay inside and avoid life-threatening temperatures of 104 degrees in some areas.   At least 65 people have died in the blistering heat since early July but the actual figure is thought to be much higher.  “AccuWeather estimates the death toll from the Japan heat wave is likely already in the hundreds despite the official toll and we predict the number will climb into the thousands before the heat wave ends,” said Joel Myers the company's president and founder.  More than 22,000 people have been taken to hospitals  with heat-stroke symptoms, Japanese officials said temperatures soared to 106 degrees on Monday the highest temperature ever reported in the country and nearly 12 degrees hotter than average July temperatures. In Tokyo peaking at 91 degrees in the afternoon.  "We are observing unprecedented levels of heat in some areas," weather agency spokesman Motoaki Takekawa said Officials are especially concerned about children because less than half of Japan's public schools have air conditioning Summer break from school may be extended to keep children from overheated conditions, Yoshihide Suga, a government spokesman, said in a news conference Tuesday.  "As a record heat wave continues to blanket the country urgent measures are required to protect the lives of schoolchildren," he said Organizers had to cancel Kyoto's Hanagasa Junku parade Tuesday floral floats. More than 300 children and elderly people had been expected The parade is part of the larger Gion Festival which has already seen an estimated 55,000 fewer attendees compared with the year before The Japan Meteorological Agency predicts temperatures will continue to be 95 degrees and higher into August It advised people to drink plenty of water avoid direct sunlight and use air conditioning.  Heat can lead to spikes in conditions such as asthma and heart failure Myers said. He added that injuries and deaths in car accidents also increase as people face loss of concentration  and lack of sleep Nearly half of those admitted to hospitals with heat stroke are elderly Older populations are more vulnerable to dehydration and heat exhaustion Saitama, Tokyo’s quiet neighboring prefecture to the northwest, typically hides in the doldrums of Japan’s tourism sphere. During the 2019 Rugby World Cup however, it managed to strike a chord with many a traveling fan. Kumagaya a city of 200,000 people nestled on the northern border with Gunma was Saitama’s resident World Cup host-city is a grandiose Shingo Buddhist edifice dating back to the 1100s The temple grounds are studded with the familiar trappings of an ancient Japanese holy precinct: spiritual monuments Given the ‘sleepier’ vibe of Saitama – in relation to its crowded and bustling neighbor to the south – the area around Menuma Shodenzan provides a nice setting for a leisurely stroll The temple’s honten (main hall) is a pretty fine structure in itself artistic depictions etched into the exterior of the inner hall are the architectural highlights spiritual iconography and daily life in the days of pre-colonialism are detailed through a tapestry of carvings on the temple’s furring wood sidings Though the carvings were added this century they focus primarily on the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1568-1600) – the last days of the Sengoku era just prior to the formation of the Tokugawa Shogunate The countryside near Kumagaya is filled with flat scented meadows and a patchwork of low-lying fields The lack of undulation gives the area a kind of rural Dutch air; all that’s missing are a few tulip beds and a white-brick windmill Where it becomes a little more distinctly Japanese is in the type of crop which reigns supreme here: rice And the extravagant rice paddy art that’s cultivated into a patch of land in the outskirts of Gyoda (Kumagaya’s neighboring city) From the 50-meter high observation tower you get an excellent vantage point from which to admire the art you can look down upon a sprawling lotus flower farm to the west which is created by growing different colored rice plant species (as opposed to spraying or painting) depicts various icons from Japanese society and pop-culture; the biggest to date covered 2.4 hectares Fumiaki Tanaka and Kazuki Himeno of the national rugby team are on display (feature image) the art is on show between early August and late October.) Nagatoro is fetching little town of 8,000 people and dissected by the upper reaches of the Arakawa river the town is home to some very pleasing vistas and kayaking in the white-water rapids of the Arakawa – are some of the town’s most popular For those who don’t fancy breaking a sweat you can also take boat tours through tree-banked limestone ravines formed by the erosive forces of the river If you’re inclined to stay the night, consider Choseikan ryokan The ground-floor dining room looks out upon the river and the kitchen serves up some seriously tasty udon noodles – a specialty in the region Saitama is Japan’s second largest udon consumer; so they’ve got the making of this noodle down to a pretty fine art If you’re partial to a drop of whisky every now and then don’t leave Kumagaya without sampling some Ichiro’s Malt from the Chichibu distillery The eponymous distillery operates in Chichibu City in the heart of Saitama (though unfortunately they do not offer tours for visitors) izakayas and selected liquor stores around Chichibu – and elsewhere in Saitama – should have it in stock Ichiro’s Malt whiskies – named after the distillery’s founder – take their flavor from northern European malted barley and Japanese oak distillation casks Some of the top-sellers are stored in barrels from the Caribbean (previously used to house rum) which imbue the whisky’s flavor with a special je ne c’est quois “The correct water and four distinct seasons also add flavor to the whisky This is why Japanese whisky tastes so good.” talks about the weather," author Mark Twain famously remarked the following hypothetical conversation:googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); did you go anyplace for your summer holiday?" Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Peruvian's sibling was sentenced to 35 years in prison following the deaths of 25 people in Peru between 2000 and 2006 I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A man suspected of killing six people in a spree of murders in Japan is the brother of Peru’s most prolific serial killer, known as "The Apostle of Death". Vayron Jonathan Nakada Ludeña was taken into custody by police in a suburb of Tokyo following the murder of six people in three homes this week. The 30-year-old is reported to be the brother of Pablo Nakada Ludeña, who killed 25 people in Peru between 2000 and 2006 who he considered to be drug addicts, prostitutes, homosexuals, and criminals that God had ordered him to kill. Vayron Nakada Ludeña remains unconscious in hospital with a fractured skull after falling from the second storey of one of the victims’ homes while being pursued by police. Japanese news agency Kyodo reported that he attempted suicide by cutting his wrists before he fell. He is the prime suspect in the killings of six people including a woman and her two daughters, aged seven and 10, who were found dead in wardrobes in their home in the residential neighbourhood of Kumagaya, northeast of Tokyo on Wednesday. An 84-year-old woman was also found dead hours earlier in the bath at her home around 100m away. A couple in their 50s were stabbed to death in their home in the same local area on Monday. Vayron Nakada Ludeña is suspected of killing the victims randomly after fleeing a police station where he was being questioned on Sunday, after being found in an incoherent state in a fire station. The suspect's older brother, Pablo Nakada Ludeña, 42, has been held in a psychiatric prison in Peru since his arrest in 2007. In 2011, he gave a television interview from prison in which he said: "I am not a criminal, I’m a cleaner, I got rid of homosexuals and the homeless from society. I killed 25 people to clean the world of scum." Vayron Nakada Ludeña is believed to have worked in a deli food factory in Isezaki, near to where the killings took place. Peruvians are the second largest non-Japanese community in Isezaki, after Brazilians. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies The article you have been looking for has expired and is no longer available on our system UTokyo FOCUS Japanese This series looks into diversity-related issues and initiatives at UTokyo The university strives to create a place where people with diverse backgrounds can thrive A slope on the south side of Yasuda Auditorium on the Hongo Campus is paved with cobblestones As the uneven surface can be hazardous for wheelchair users the university scraped it down to create a 2-meter-wide path During an interview held online on a rainy day in late October Associate Professor Shinichiro Kumagaya of the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology described how hard it is for him to go to campus on a day like this who was born with cerebral palsy — a neurological disorder affecting muscle movement and coordination due to brain injury at or around birth — and uses a wheelchair usually dons a raincoat to cover his body and his wheelchair in wet weather makes simple movements like taking out a train ticket from his pocket difficult Getting around in the rain also can be more hazardous due to low visibility But as the COVID-19 pandemic prompted people to work from home and hold meetings and classes online “The pandemic has drastically changed the circumstances for people with disabilities,” said Kumagaya who heads UTokyo’s Disability Services Office (DSO) where he has served as director since 2017 While the pandemic has reduced the stress of traveling for wheelchair users like Kumagaya it has created new challenges for people with other disabilities used to have student note takers sitting next to them in class in the pre-pandemic days or sometimes if a sign language interpreter was present they understood what was being taught in class students with hearing loss struggled to follow lessons “It’s like sitting in a cockpit,” Kumagaya said “They have to look at the notes sent by support staff they even have to send feedback to the note takers The multitasking can be extremely difficult.” As the pandemic has drastically changed the working and learning environments the DSO has dealt with such emerging issues with the use of technologies and operation systems But what became clear was a lack of awareness and understanding among faculty was creating a bottleneck “They need to use their imagination and craft their classes assuming that there could be students who are hard of hearing no matter how hard we work behind the scenes we won’t be able to solve these issues,” he said “I believe all the members of the university need to raise their awareness (of the challenges people with disabilities face) I don’t think the services and classes offered by the university will ever become wholly accessible.” The University of Tokyo launched the DSO in April 2004 in a bid to create a campus where everyone has equal access to the university’s programs and services which says disabilities are created by the way society is organized rather than caused by any personal conditions the office has been making efforts to eliminate the barriers faced by students faculty and staff with disabilities by changing the environment rather than asking individuals to change themselves The DSO bases its support on an interview with a student before or after they enter the university Together with support staff from the student’s department DSO members with specialized training and knowledge hold meetings with the student to understand in detail about difficulties and things they need help with which are conducted with those who request them The DSO also holds an annual meeting for students faculty and staff with disabilities to exchange opinions Hearing what others are feeling helps those who get so used to enduring difficulties in their daily lives The voices collected at these gatherings are passed on to the relevant departments to make the campus more accessible One such example is the cobblestone road surface on the south side of the main entrance of Yasuda Auditorium on the Hongo Campus The uneven surface can be hazardous for wheelchair users such as thin tires getting stuck between the cobblestones As repaving with concrete was not an option to be in harmony with the surrounding scenery of the campus and the auditorium being designated an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese government the university instead scraped and flattened the surface to make it smoother and level Kumagaya said the DSO now sees the path it needs to take for making the physical environment of the campus But the same cannot be said for institutional barriers such as people’s attitudes and habits adding that the office needs to start from discussing about the best way to work on those elements is that as more concrete systems are put in place with the involvement of the DSO people will start to develop the mindset of just leaving matters up to his office to deal with To avoid such a situation “it’s crucial to cultivate the culture rather than making it all about systems,” he said the office is currently preparing both a faculty and a staff development program with the help of faculty who specialize in studying gender LGBTQ and other areas related to diversity and inclusion Kumagaya is hoping to release the programs early in the next academic year Although the DSO had in the past initiated study sessions to raise awareness among faculty and staff the initiative fell short of changing behavior with the goal of changing people’s behavior Kumagaya is planning to incorporate active learning the important thing is to become acquainted with others as they are rather than judging them based on the groups they belong to and that will help eliminate the stigma attached to some groups “It is very important to work together toward a shared goal as equal partners to have both the majority and the minority collaborate and engage with the common goal of creating an inclusive campus,” Kumagaya said “The essential thing is to have people participate and not to leave it to someone else.” Inquiries about the content of this page: Strategic Communications Group Send inquiry Kashiwa Campus Hongo Campus Komaba Campus Access and Campus Maps Back Japanese Associate Professor Shinichiro Kumagaya attributes several turning points since he was a child that set him on his current research path a neurological disorder affecting muscle movement and coordination due to brain injury at or around birth the researcher remembers his childhood as a struggle marked by pain and solitude “I would endure five to six hours of agonizing rehabilitation each day,” he recalls experts believed that cerebral palsy patients had a 90% chance of regaining their motor function through intensive rehabilitation from early on in their lives precluding me from playing with friends,” he says staying home because of his disability allowed Kumagaya to sit at his desk and draw pictures using his imagination or become so engrossed in the world of mathematics that by the time he was a teenager the excruciating regimen that Kumagaya had stuck out as a young child was shown to have little effect the revised stance signified liberation from a life of merciless rehabilitation This became the first turning point in his life Kumagaya encountered the disability rights movement and was emboldened by its assertion that disabilities exist outside the flesh present not within the body but in the social environment in which we find ourselves He says of his revelation: “I experienced a paradigm shift in my thinking when I realized that it was OK if my disability wasn’t cured Kumagaya’s second turning point came when he saw an older student with disability at his school receiving the support of innumerable people and enjoying life “I gained hope and found something to aspire to,” he says “I decided to break free of my parents’ protection as soon as I could and moved far from my home in Yamaguchi Prefecture to enter the University of Tokyo as a student in its Natural Sciences I undergraduate stream.” Kumagaya’s third turning point followed when he began to live independently in an apartment near the university’s Komaba Campus in Tokyo’s Meguro ward “When a classmate would come to my apartment late at night having missed the last train home I would agree to put him up if he helped me bathe; before I knew it I had assembled a support team,” he says “I realized that I really enjoyed spending time with people So I became interested in being involved not in mathematics but with people and society while drawing on all the experiences I had accumulated until then to pursue medicine.” The fourth turning point in Kumagaya’s life was his first encounter with tojisha-kenkyu in graduate school described as self-directed or user-led research is an approach that originated in the mental health community in Japan in which the person with disability or disorder studies themself and becomes the expert analyzing and researching difficulties of their own that are incomprehensible to others Kumagaya would go on to become a pediatrician and attend to patients with autism by providing support that aligned with their subjective experience he would come to feel that the insights gained through tojisha-kenkyu would improve the quality of medical care Therapy and rehabilitation up to that point attempted to transform the body of the person with disability; however the basis of tojisha-kenkyu is first coming to know their actual situation and then sharing with others what has been learned about them “The aim of tojisha-kenkyu,” Kumagaya says “is for a person facing hardships that they’ve kept to themselves to become the expert on their problems; they conduct research collaborating with others facing similar difficulties After returning to university and academia Kumagaya has expanded his range of tojisha-kenkyu to include people with developmental disorders or addictions He further analyzes scientifically whether the internal experiences of each person are not imagined but are actually occurring In the upcoming academic year beginning in spring 2021 Kumagaya is slated to launch a project aimed at implementing tojisha-kenkyu in various organizational settings including the university; a wide range of people facing difficulties will be considered tojisha “Embarking on tojisha-kenkyu among the diverse members of a university no matter whether they are disabled or nondisabled will engender a culture within the university where people aren’t afraid to ask for help,” Kumagaya says I expect collaboration among various members will lead to further enrichment of knowledge.” and became resident in the Department of Pediatrics Joined medical staff at Chiba-Nishi General Hospital as pediatrician in 2002 and Saitama Medical University Hospital as pediatric cardiologist in 2004 Withdrew from doctoral program upon completion of course requirements at the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering Appointed project lecturer at Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) from the Department of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Appointed Associate Professor at RCAST in 2015 Main books published include: Rihabiri no Yoru (Night of Rehabilitation) 2009; Minna no Tojisha-kenkyu (Tojisha-kenkyu for Everyone) (author 2017; Tojisha-kenkyu to Senmonchi (Tojisha-kenkyu and Specialized Knowledge) (author 2018; Tojisha-kenkyu wo Hajimeyo (Let’s Begin Tojisha-kenkyu) (author 2019; Tojisha-kenkyu — Toshindai no <Watashi> no Hakken to Kaifuku (Tojisha-kenkyu: Discovering and Recovering the Life-Sized Me) Inquiries about the content of this page: Division for Strategic Public Relations Send inquiry 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 facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramAbout us South Africa climbed up one place to fourth in the latest World Rugby Men’s Rankings released on Monday The 2019 Rugby Championship winners ran out 41-7 winners against 2019 Rugby World Cup hosts Japan at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya is the world’s number one rugby team for the first time since the introduction of the rankings in 2003 The Irish are first with a total rating point of 89.47 while New Zealand who defeated Wales 19-10 in Dublin on Saturday head into the World Cup as the number one ranked side This is the third time in five weeks that there has been a change at the top of the rankings ending the All Blacks nine-year reign atop the men’s rankings the All Blacks regained their position last week with Ireland climbing up to second Wales (87.32 points) now lies in 5th place following consecutive losses to Ireland coupled with South Africa’s win against Japan The 2019 Rugby World Cup is set to be held in Japan between September 20 and November 2 You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image along with deputy mayor Tom Campbell and Crs Trish Boyle departed Invercargill on July 19 to spend about a week in Japan to mark 30 years of the sister city relationship with Kumagaya Iwi representative Michael Skerrett and Kumagaya Friendship Association representatives Don Moir and Joe Bagrie also joined the delegation Part of the delegation returned to the city on July 25 one night in Tokyo and three nights in Kumagaya they re-signed the agreement and took the opportunity to explore opportunities "[It included] looking to increase student exchange overseas students to SIT and workers wanting to work in New Zealand but can’t afford accommodation." chefs and hospitality staff were the focus The delegation also wanted to enhance the rugby development opportunities between Southland Rugby and the Panasonic Wild Knights They also took part in the Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival which is one of the biggest and most traditional festivals in the region A parade of floats and musical and cultural performances were among the highlights of the three-day event Mr Clark received a huge honour — he was the first non-Japanese to be acknowledged at a festival float "I also walked in the parade with the most revered city figures The cost of the trip was budgeted at about $35,000 and Cr Campbell travelled to Japan at his own expense Cr Campbell said he felt very appreciated by the Kumagaya people "We had some useful discussions and progress around education and sporting exchanges we broadened understanding and relationships between our people [It was] worth the investment by the city in my view." Japanese version Japanese version who recently became eligible to represent Japan and the experienced Amanaki Mafi in the Brave Blossoms’ back row who represented New Zealand in his playing days said they are expecting a very tough encounter against a strong Springbok team “We are under no illusions how tough it will be,” said Joseph “We are playing probably the biggest line-out in world rugby and they’re preparing to play the All Blacks.” Joseph said the match against the Boks is part of their preparation for the Rugby World Cup which Japan hosts from 20 September to 2 November “That’s part of the reason we wanted to play South Africa,” said Joseph “It’s the final page in our preparation but it’s not a must-win game – the next game [against Russia] is a must-win If we perform we will create a winning opportunity and that’s our focus.” 1 Keita Inagaki. Replacements: 16 Takuya Kitade Scottish referee Hollie Davidson will return to South Africa for the Springboks’ first Test of the 2025 season when they.. SA Rugby is proud to announce a landmark four-year partnership agreement with Hyundai Automotive South Africa SA Rugby and Spur have renewed their partnership for the next four years with the famous South African restaurant group.. SA Rugby mourns the passing of Norman Mbiko the last captain of the African Springboks and a former head coach of the B.. SA Rugby mourns the passing of former Springbok hooker Gys Pitzer who left an indelible mark on South African rugby wit.. The Springboks finished their first four days in Japan with a final training session in sweltering and hot and humid conditions before turning on the charm during a number of visits to locals schools and the nearby university in Gifu and Seki Marius van der Westhuizen will officiate his first Currie Cup final in Bloemfontein on Saturday in a match which will also mark a big day for the experienced TMO who is retiring from the game after an illustrious career spanning over 20 years This is the Springboks’ first Test match in Japan and the second time the teams have met Japan were the opponents in the Springboks’ opening match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in Brighton a seaside resort in the county of East Sussex Rassie Erasmus underlined that the Test against Japan in Kumagaya is a massive challenge and that the Springboks can't afford to underestimate their hosts when they take the field at 12h15 (SA time) on Friday Rassie Erasmus named 22 of the Springbok 23 that fought to a last-gasp draw against New Zealand in July which will be the 50th Test appearance for Pieter-Steph du Toit A gripping cat fight is set to play out at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday when the Toyota Free State Cheetahs host the Xerox Golden Lions in the Currie Cup final Siya Kolisi returns to lead the Springbok team for the first time in nine months on Friday with the eyes of not only South Africa but the Japanese nation on him and the Boks The Phakisa Pumas scored a convincing 49-5 (halftime 11-0) win over Down Touch Griffons in Nelspruit on Friday to retain their status in the Currie Cup Premier Division sponsored by Direct Axis Financial Services Makazole Mapimpi scored three tries as the Springboks beat Japan by 41-7 in hot and humid conditions in the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium on Friday reacted with shock and disbelief when the news of the death of former Springbok wing and Blitzboks captain and coach Chester Williams surfaced on Friday afternoon Scottish referee Hollie Davidson will return to South Africa for the Springboks’ first Test of the 2025 season when they take on Italy in Pretoria on Saturday as the new official vehicle of South Africa’s junior national teams and the FNB Youth Week rugby tournaments with the famous South African restaurant group extending their sponsorship to not only include the Springboks the last captain of the African Springboks and a former head coach of the Blitzboks who passed away in the early hours of Tuesday morning at the age of 79 after a long illness who left an indelible mark on South African rugby with his dedication © 2025 SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY | PICTURES © GALLO IMAGES There is a studio with about 400 years of history that has been supporting Nambu Ironware since the days of Nambu clan That is Morihisa Suzuki Studio in Morioka city It was founded in 1625 and continues to create Nambu ironware with traditional skills that have been passed on through generations Currently it is the 15th generation.We visited Shiiko Kumagaya who inherited the name of 15th generation Morihisa Suzuki She is the first woman in the family history to inherit the name and has been gathering attention for that fact Shiiko-san had initially been studying metal carving until her father who was the last generation Morihisa Suzuki and she decided to inherit the family business It was apparent that she had studied metal carving by the delicate and graceful patterns on her pieces lining the shelves And of course the popular item is the iron kettle We carefully observed the individual iron kettles that had just been finished The traditional iron kettle called ”hinomaru gata” is a design from the Meiji period But the pieces made by Shiiko Kumagaya has a touch of feminine originality in the same round ”hinomaru gata” The design with rare vertical stripes and Temari （traditional handball) pattern is surprisingly light Next we were guided to the studio adjacent to the gallery The ”Machiya style” building remains as it was built in 1885 Shiiko-san and her son Nariaki-san who will inherit the 16th generation and other young apprentices work together.They think about the design of the iron kettle The whole process of making Nambu ironware is done in this studio The skills that have been passed on through the generations can create iron kettles that are delicate or heavy duty Nakata got to experience a process called ”pattern pressing” where you put the pattern on the mold Using various size ”arare” sticks you make patterns by pressing with the stick He was disappointed that he could not make the pattern evenly that makes it more interesting.”Gradually the conversation centers on the theme of ”creating things” I am making the patterns this way now but do you start with patterns first or do you start from general form?” When he created a product participating in the REVALUE NIPPON PROJECT he started with the overall shape.Most of the time The iron kettle we saw in the gallery certainly had an elegant form and atmosphere Each era creates a shape that is comfortable for its time We look forward to seeing what kind of products will come out of Morihisa Suzuki Studio in the future what kind of inspiration do creators receive from such scents This is the story of three creators living in Tokyo and the perfumes of "LE LABO" born in New York