The only nuclear plant located in a Japanese prefectural capital was restarted Saturday in the city of Matsue after meeting stricter safety requirements introduced following the 2011 Fukushima disaster aims to resume commercial operations of the No 2 reactor at the western Japan nuclear plant in early January after starting transmission and distribution of electricity in late December The restart of the reactor in Shimane Prefecture comes after operations were suspended in January 2012 for a standard inspection that preceded the implementation of more stringent safety assessments that the two-reactor plant was then required to pass 2 unit is a boiling water reactor identical to those that formerly operated at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station which was crippled in the wake of a massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 The unit became the second of its type to resume operations following the restart in late October of the No 2 reactor at Tohoku Electric Power Co.'s Onagawa plant in northeastern Japan The reactor has been a source of concern in the event of a natural disaster as around 450,000 people reside within a radius of 30 kilometers prompting local governments to draw up evacuation plans and conduct drills Local residents have filed lawsuits to block the restart of the reactor due to safety concerns but the Matsue branch of the Hiroshima High Court rejected their most recent attempt in May Court upholds rejection of call to halt Miyagi Prefecture nuclear reactor Central Japan nuclear unit becomes 1st to fail post-Fukushima safety check Japan nuclear reactor in 2011 disaster-hit area restarted after halt 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 Please upgrade to a more modern version to fully experience JapanToday site and for security reasons Every region of Japan celebrates autumn’s arrival in its own way. Matsue, the capital of Shimane Prefecture heralds the season with three major festivals between September and October Each festival is rooted in elements of the city’s identity and all are welcome to join the fun Outside of the festivals, visitors who stay for multiple days can also enjoy local attractions like Lake Shinji (Japan’s seventh largest lake), Tamatsukuri Onsen (one of Japan’s oldest hot springs) and the Adachi Museum of Art (home to some of the most beautiful gardens in Japan) making Matsue a convenient weekend destination If you are a history buff or interested in Japanese traditional culture and want to welcome autumn with regional customs On weekends and holidays from mid- or late-September to mid- or late-October (dates change yearly) the grounds of Matsue Castle and the adjacent historic street Shiomi Nawate are decorated with dazzling lantern displays These are the main attractions of Matsue Suitoro also known as Matsue's Water Lantern Festival Suitoro is a celebration of local culture and creativity One of the festival’s main displays consists of handmade lanterns created by local residents Inspired by themes such as “Shimane’s charm” and “the spirit of Matsue,” regional foods local ghost stories or legends and the prefectural mascot character are popular motifs Other prominent lantern displays are designed by professional artists with local roots A popular way to explore the festival is to see the lantern displays at Matsue Castle first then pay to ride a castle moat cruise (about ¥800 one way for adults) to the far side of Shiomi Nawate before walking back towards the castle visitors can indulge in festival foods from yatai (food stalls) or watch scheduled stage performances Matsue Castle’s tower and the garden of a preserved samurai residence on Shiomi Nawate also offer extended opening hours during the festival The do drums (a regional name for large taiko drums) have been part of Matsue’s local culture since around Japan’s Edo period (1603-1868) flutes and cymbals while parading a small shrine through the city to pray for good harvests drum processions were held to honor the birthday of one Japanese emperor and the enthronement of another after Japan’s surrender during World War II it is also said drums were played to console people Neighborhood groups throughout Matsue have possessed and cared for their own drums throughout this long history and created ornate floats to carry the drums at various events The main annual event featuring these drums is Matsue Dogyoretsu (Drum Parade) — the modern incarnation of past drum processions Dogyoretsu has occurred on the third Sunday of October since 2003 and the main festivities are concentrated around Matsue Castle Over a dozen teams of adults and children — including both Japanese and international residents — don happi (festival) coats and parade their neighborhood’s drums through the streets on floats others beat the moving drums and even more play cymbals and flutes Sometimes parade spectators are invited to drum with a team Even if one is not present during these festivals places such as the Matsue History Museum and the Matsue Do Drum Culture House display parade floats year round Matsue is one of Japan’s major tea culture cities The local consumption rate of matcha is said to be well above the national average Traditions such as sado (tea ceremony) and the manufacturing of wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) are widely practiced Matsue Daichakai (Matsue's Grand Tea Ceremony) is one of the best places to experience local tea culture firsthand During a weekend in October (dates change yearly members of various tea schools gather to show off their skills No prior knowledge of Japanese tea is necessary to enjoy these demonstrations Simply come with an open mind and pay attention to the details of each demonstration you attend Each tea school will set up a booth at Matsue Castle or other venues around the city center and charge about ¥1,000 to join individual demonstrations visitors are served a cup of tea and a locally-made wagashi one or two presenters perform their school’s tea preparation method Every element of these demonstrations is unique due to differing styles between schools and the fact that the beauty of unrepeatable moments heavily influences Japanese tea culture Items in a traditional tea demonstration are often chosen and coordinated to evoke the current occasion or season Visit multiple demonstrations during Daichakai and you will see each school’s identity reflected in their actions Most of the schools at Daichakai serve matcha but others serve sencha green tea or black tea illustrating the diversity of Japanese tea culture Tickets for demonstrations are sold on the same day as availability allows or can be purchased in advance in person at places like the Shimane Civic Center near Matsue Castle but various multilingual resources are available for visitors Details about autumn festivals and other events are available in English on official tourism social media pages such as Discover Shimane (on Facebook local organizations and companies such as the Shimane Interpreter Guide Association and ThoughInaka connect visitors with local guides or tours Matsue invites you to join the celebration of the changing seasons Join the leading Asian tourist attraction to assist our diverse range of customers 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 A toy company’s attempt to blend samurai history with slapstick draws zero participants and plenty of outrage celebrated for its samurai heritage and its past as a feudal town recently found itself at the heart of a controversy that seemed almost too absurd to be true A planned “seppuku contest” was advertised in a local newspaper as a spectacle like no other refers to ritual suicide by disembowelment that was performed by samurai to uphold their honor.  The idea was that participants would wield plastic retractable swords mimicking the solemn ritual of samurai suicide and dramatically writhe in “agony” for 30 to 60 seconds to compete for the title of “Best Performer.” To top it off the advertisement concluded with the perplexing remark: “Fake blood prohibited.”  The event was slated for December at Dandan Terrace a newly renovated public space in Matsue City Hall overlooking the serene Lake Shinji were stunned when they spotted the announcement not a theatrical — and highly questionable — reenactment of ritual disembowelment.  One of the event’s organizers was a business dealing in toys and similar products The plan was to have participants pretend to commit seppuku using one of its products and then compete in a contest showcasing their dramatic acting skills.  “We’ve participated in various events as vendors, and the idea originated when a girl from one group of attendees mimicked stabbing herself in the stomach with one of our retractable plastic swords. We thought it might be entertaining if people acted that out as a performance,” said the event organizer Social media erupted as soon as the event details were revealed There were some curious supporters who expressed interest “Is this a regular thing in Matsue?” or remarking that they would participate if they lived closer.  highlighting the tastelessness of trivializing seppuku Comments ranged from “Seppuku isn’t a game this is disgraceful,” to “Watching people writhe around for entertainment That’s just gross.” Many were shocked it was scheduled at a city hall explaining that the mix-up was a misguided attempt to inject excitement into the otherwise unremarkable flea market They hoped the seppuku contest would create a buzz and draw in curious onlookers Japan — Tokyo continues to dominate as the premier destination in Japan for international visitors The website further points out that only 0.2 per cent of international travellers make it to Shimane Prefecture making it a vacation stop for those wanting a bit more of unseen Japan in their visit Located roughly 600 kilometres west of Tokyo Matsue is the capital city of Shimane Prefecture With a current population of just under 200,000 it is home to one of Japan’s rarest attractions Only 12 of these amazing historic structures remain in this form and Matsue Castle’s value is further enhanced by the fact that it has been designated a national treasure in 2015 an honour bestowed only on four other castles The city itself evolved from the impressive structure Construction of the Tokugawa-era castle began in 1607 by feudal lord Horio Yoshiharu The castle is just a part of a greater fortification plan of the surrounding area Roads and an extensive moat network were all designed to impede the enemy The Horikawa sightseeing boat tour is the perfect companion to the castle tour taking guestsaround the extensive moat network originally created to protect Matsue Castle as Japan experienced massive modernization during the Meiji era several sections of the castle building were demolished This originality is what maintains its historical significance The complex structure sits on a hill overlooking the city Even before tourists enter the long gone gates its imposing nature can be felt as it towers over the surrounding trees A tour of Matsue Castle easily meets visitors’ expectations thus the soft shuffle of feet reverbs on the primarily wood constructed interior wood that has kept its scent over the centuries the narrow gun and bow slots severely control the flow of light throughout each of the six floors creating further sensory drama Matsue leans into its heritage as a former castle town connecting its past with its current modern environment This 40-minute ride takes full advantage of the sizable moat network built for the castle that now marks a recognizable piece of the Matsue landscape Things get very interactive as with several low bridges on the way requiring passengers to occasionally lay down flat The combination of the castle and boat tour are very relaxed activities as they feel to be seamlessly integrated into the flow of the city Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information National Report 2 reactor of the long-idled Shimane nuclear power plant in Matsue is scheduled to restart in early December after being offline for nearly 13 years plans to begin loading nuclear fuel into the reactor on Oct Commercial operations are scheduled to resume in early January of the following year the same type as those at the Fukushima No which suffered triple meltdowns following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami The Shimane plant is the only nuclear plant in Japan located in a prefectural capital a decision was made to decommission the plant’s No which was undergoing a regular inspection at the time of the Fukushima accident 2 reactor has been offline since January 2012 undergoing inspections to meet new regulatory standards established in the wake of the Fukushima disaster it will be the first time in nearly 13 years that Chugoku Electric is operating a nuclear reactor “We will continue to prioritize safety and steadily advance each step of the preparations toward the restart,” the company said Sendai nuclear plant resumes with anti-terror upgrades Nuke authorities approve loading fuel at Niigata nuclear plant 4 nuclear reactor shuts down following alarm Takahama town assembly gives nod to restart of aging reactor Tsuruga reactor fails to gain OK for restart due to active fault Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Today's print edition Home Delivery The skies over Shimane are always dramatic It’s befitting an area that’s known as “Land of the Gods,” the setting of many Shinto myths and home to the Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine where all kami are believed to congregate once a year in October On this particular day in December, I’m in front of Matsue Castle, when a starling murmuration swirls over my head and thunder sounds once. I’m in the middle of listening to a ghost story about a girl buried in the castle walls (a semi-legendary practice of human sacrifice known as hitobashira) from 19th-century writer and Japan transplant Lafcadio Hearn a second interruption comes not from the sky but in the form of two cats running and meowing straight at Naoko Fuji my guide and storyteller.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); to a nearby Inari Shrine populated by fox statues As she tells us another story about a mother coming back from the grave to feed her child that’s been buried alive 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 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 MATSUE — Ichibata Electric Railway in Shimane Prefecture has started an event that provides a hands-on train driver experience on real tracks after the last train on certain nights this is the first train operation event in the country to allow participants to drive on the actual tracks 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 Ichibata Electric Railway services run between Matsue and Izumo in the prefecture The stretch of the tracks used for the event is about 250 meters from Matsue Shinjiko Onsen Station in Matsue one must be 18 or older but not a high school student Successful applicants are required to take part in a separate train operation event of the company in which trains are operated on tracks inside a depot the company accommodated for the restrictions of laws and regulations through certain conditions such as making sure that other trains are not operated at the same time the company held a trial event for the press in which a Yomiuri Shimbun writer took part The first session of the event took place on Sept followed by three more sessions set to be held by next March Up to six people can take part in each session “During the train operation experience event we also allow the participants to use a train radio,” said Takayuki Ishitobi “I hope railway fans across the country will enjoy the experience that no one can otherwise enjoy without a license.” Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Strolling through the town of Matsue, visitors find themselves confronted with some peculiar names, such as Herun-no-komichi (Hearn Lane), Shimane Breweries Limited Beer Hearn (a craft beer), Karakoro Art Studio, and a park called Karakoro-hiroba The words Herun and Karakoro, which have an amusing ring to Japanese ears, are references to Lafcadio Hearn (1850–1904) a man of letters who resided in Matsue for a time and who took the alternate name of Koizumi Yakumo when he acquired Japanese citizenship Hearn contributed to greater understanding chiefly through such works as Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things Formerly the Matsue Branch of the Bank of Japan this building now houses the Karakoro Art Studio visitors can receive guidance and instruction from skilled artisans as they make Matsue-style Japanese snacks and personal articles Hearn served as an English instructor at Shimane Prefectural Common Middle School It is reported that the pronunciation of his name was rendered in Japanese at that time as Herun The pronunciation stuck; he was known thereafter by his students referred to his inept use of Japanese as Herun-kotoba is a Japanese onomatopoeia for the sound that people wearing traditional geta clogs make when crossing the Matsue Bridge a structure that was still made of wood when Hearn lived there The association derives from a passage in another volume written by Hearn Hearn describes the sound of geta on the bridge which he first heard the morning after his arrival in the town The word karakoro has since been appended to names of tourist sites in Matsue for having a tonal quality that Hearn was said to be enchanted by Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples in the area post signs describing their connections to Hearn His presence makes itself felt everywhere in Matsue despite his having resided there only briefly This raises the question of why the local populace took him to its heart so readily A sign at the temple Gesshōji describes Hearn’s fondness for the place “Lafcadio Hearn resided in Matsue for precisely one year curator of the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum “While this was the first place where he lived in Japan one could also call it the shortest stop on his travels here and became an admirer of the profundities of Japanese culture I imagine he would have been stimulated by the spectral and charmed by the luxuriant natural surroundings of the area strong emotional ties were forged in Matsue as well.” Hearn’s initial exposure to Japanese culture happened at the New Orleans World’s Fair he read an English translation of Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters) an eighth-century collection of Japanese myth and legend This provided the impetus for his decision to go to Japan himself Being especially interested in Japanese mythology he was apparently delighted at the thought of living in Matsue for the town is the stage for the tale of Izumo He found the cold of winter in the San’in region and departed for the warmer climes of Kumamoto where he would live out the rest of his days Koizumi Bon To the north of Matsue Castle is a road called Shiomi-nawate where the forms of Matsue as it was when it was a castle town during the Edo period (1868–1912) are noticeably preserved The lane is lined with structures reminiscent of the dwellings of samurai and other Japanese feudal nobility At the western end stands the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum an association of students of Herun-sensei and others of connections of varying degrees The Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum is located at the western end of the Shiomi-nawate road “By the time Lafcadio Hearn was lecturing at the University of Tokyo students who knew him from intermediate school in Matsue once again found themselves studying under him,” says Koizumi even going so far as to taking up collections from passers-by on the streets and built the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum here in Matsue The bonds between Hearn and Matsue are shown to be strong even in terms of the people who were connected to them both.” Next to the museum is Lafcadio Hearn’s Former Residence where he and his wife lived for five months The owner was a founding member of the Hearn Society and in addition to working on preserving the structure of the house also provided the land for the museum itself appears outwardly to still be of a piece with its classic Japanese architectural heritage the interior has been remade into a series of modern and innovative exhibition rooms A relief based on a portrait of Hearn greets visitors A video presentation and a gift shop are located at the entrance The first of these exhibition rooms is chiefly devoted to the experiences and influences that shaped Lafcadio Hearn This progression of his life is presented in chronological order The second exhibition room delves into Hearn’s accomplishments and psychological makeup organized under such rubrics as journalism and education The third exhibition room is primarily used for presentations of limited duration The unusually shaped walls of the first exhibition room feature easily understood explanatory panels The display cases on the floor house Hearn’s personal effects such as travel cases and manuscripts written in his own hand Hearn’s belongings are on display throughout the room together with panels describing the exhibition These objects include his writing desk and chair kiseru (a traditional Japanese smoking pipe) and scrawls and sketches he made when teaching English to his son Many of these artifacts were given by the Koizumi family in Tokyo to Hearn’s Matsue students who were reunited with him there who in turn donated them to the Hearn Society “More than 100 articles personally used by Lafcadio Hearn are on display here,” says Koizumi “Another attraction of this museum is the retelling corner present ghost stories from the San’in region by way of recitations and music I encourage visitors to see and hear them for themselves and share the nostalgia for Hearn’s worldview expressed therein.” The second exhibition room sports a more modernist style The retelling corner is at left in the photo A study where Hearn worked when he lived in Nishi-Ōkubo is reproduced here with his own personal belongings Upon climbing a staircase adorned with photographs of Hearn and his family visitors find themselves on the second floor Here there is a library containing works by Hearn and related documents as well as a multipurpose room that hosts frequent lectures and workshops a researcher from Ireland came here every day for a week reading nonstop in the library for hours on end We get a lot of visitors who had never heard of Lafcadio Hearn before all of whom leave thinking what an interesting person he was.” This staircase is adorned with rare photographs and artworks inspired by Hearn The library is a comfortable place to read A computerized catalog allows visitors to search for works and other information on the writer and his life The adjoining household is where Lafcadio Hearn moved when he desired to experience the way a samurai would have lived visitors find a re-creation of the study where Hearn did his reading and writing in this period The building is surrounded by a cozy garden that has not been overly touched by human hands; sitting on the deck and looking out over the greenery is a moving experience It is as if one is in the midst of nature itself with frogs croaking from the small pond nearby Lafcadio Hearn’s Former Residence has been designated a national historical landmark The study has been recreated with replicas of the desk and chair used by Hearn Visitors are welcome to sit and experience being the scholar “Feel free to look closely at the garden,” says Koizumi Living here caused Hearn to start treating the same frogs and snakes that he abhorred in the West as part of the way of things He came to intimately comprehend the Japanese view of nature that people are also part of the natural world The open-mindedness that led him to embrace various cultures was further refined here.” Surrounded by the deck the living room is seemingly at one with the garden It was here that Hearn and his wife nurtured their love for each other as well Many of the ghost stories and folktales that Hearn wrote in his books were told to him by Setsu As he could not read Japanese all that well she instead read various documents and texts and told them to him interspersed with her own opinions and interpretations although she never got past primary school who wanted to do more learning,” says Koizumi I imagine she was quite happy at the prospect of assisting Lafcadio Hearn in his research and creative efforts When he first heard Setsu’s tellings of these ghost stories Hearn is said to have been convinced that she was a genuine storyteller and that she would help him throughout the rest of his life.” Hearn continued to attend to what Setsu had to say even during his declining years in Tokyo The tales told to Lafcadio Hearn by this literate young lady born and raised in Matsue had a literary life breathed into them by Hearn’s own English-language renderings of them He remained connected to Matsue for the rest of his life A bust of Hearn erected along the bank of the Hori River Banner photo: The first exhibition room at the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum.) Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp The best period to see cherry blossoms in Shimane Prefecture is from the end of March until the beginning of April Listed below are the recommended cherry blossom viewing spots Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages The architects aimed for an harmonious fusion of various elements By embracing the cultural background of the area while incorporating the materials and techniques from foreign countries the team sought to breathe new life into this ‘multinational house.’ images © Yosuke Ohtake | @yosukeohtake_archiphoto Throughout the ‘House in Hayashisaki Matsue Beach,’ cultural connections are celebrated through thoughtful design choices by Akio Isshiki Architects. The team took inspiration from the area’s history as a tile production hub and finished the dirt floor with handcrafted tiles from Awaji These tiles pay homage to the lava stone pavements found in Central and South American cities evoking nostalgic tropical design into the interiors The integration of nets reminiscent of mosquito nets and Sudare blinds on the Shoji screens further enhances the ambiance creates graceful plans that echo ancient Japanese architecture native drooping plants subtly divide the space the wall facing the sea features a scraped wall technique mixed with red iron oxide expertly finished by a plasterer from Awaji The architects note that this choice represents an endeavor to incorporate the vibrant and colorful walls found in various countries into the Japanese architectural context handcrafted tiles pay homage to the lava stone pavements found in Central and South American cities One of the key design principles guiding the ‘House in Hayashisaki Matsue Beach’ was the concept of mixing ‘time axes’ to create a sense of depth within the space Instead of emphasizing a stark contrast between the old and the new or merely matching the existing elements the architects treated old materials and designs as elements with their own temporal axis The result is a space that seamlessly weaves together the past and the present while the newly added Shoji screens are layered to allow glimpses of the existing figured glass adds to the narrative by blurring its origins and making it a part of the timeless composition A cypress pillar stands atop natural stones each carefully selected to enhance the overall aesthetic and age gracefully creating an enduring beauty that unfolds over time newly added Shoji screens are layered to allow glimpses of the existing figured glass the multi-functional project includes a home and restaurant a wide window frames views of the ocean horizon native drooping plants subtly divide the space and offer a sense of separation the designer’s residence and workspace occupies the second level screened elements include a mosquito net-like textile and Sudare blinds project title: House in Hayashisaki Matsue Beach architecture: Akio Isshiki Architects | @akioisshiki_architects photography: © Yosuke Ohtake | @yosukeohtake_archiphoto AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style MATSUE—Safety concerns among local residents have been rekindled along with the restarting of the long-idle Shimane nuclear power plant here which is located less than 10 kilometers from the city center argues that restarting the plant will help improve its struggling financial situation it is unlikely to lead to lower energy bills for local households "I didn't want the plant to restart," said Kyoko Kobayashi Kobayashi worries about the long time it would take to reach the national route and potential traffic congestion The presence of the Shinji fault located 2 km south of the restarted reactor adds to the concerns about seismic activity Shimane prefectural officials predict that a major earthquake along this fault could cause widespread damage in Matsue with an estimated 11,000 buildings being destroyed or damaged Kobayashi fears that collapsed houses will block evacuation routes with the prefecture having 32,210 locations of designated landslide hazard areas This number is the third largest in the country 253 are located in the community hosting the plant As a result of the Noto Peninsula earthquake in January landslides and collapsed roads blocked evacuation routes within the 30-km radius of the Shika nuclear power plant in Ishikawa Prefecture the surrounding roads will certainly be severed," said Gotaro Aoyama who heads the association of the community hosting the plant "Evacuation by sea may also be impossible." The 30-km radius around the Shimane plant covers six cities across Shimane and Tottori prefectures with a combined population of 450,000 people This makes it the third most densely populated area surrounding a nuclear plant in the country 2 plant in Ibaraki Prefecture and the Hamaoka plant in Shizuoka Prefecture the Shimane prefectural government and police headquarters would relocate their operations to Izumo “Since they are located too close to the plant local authorities may struggle to respond to a crisis,” said Masatake Uezono who previously taught at Shimane University and is now an economics professor at Hokkai-Gakuen University in Hokkaido restarting the power station is a crucial step in its financial recovery The company suffered a record net loss of 155.3 billion yen ($1.03 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 2023 after being fined for a cartel involving three other major utilities 2 reactor is expected to reduce costs by 80 billion yen through reduced reliance on fossil fuels Chugoku Electric plans to reduce electricity rates for factories and businesses starting in April the company appears unwilling to lower household energy bills claiming the issue has already been addressed through other programs Chugoku Electric is also considering the launch of the plant’s No which was nearly completed before the 2011 Fukushima No The third reactor has since been suspended to comply with new safety standards introduced after the Fukushima accident The company aims to bring the reactor online by fiscal 2030 and is expediting its regulatory review process (This article was written by Tomoki Morishita and Koichi Hotta.) Nuclear reactor in Shimane capital clears safety inspection Governor of Shimane agrees to restart idled nuclear reactor EDITORIAL: Active state role key to evacuation plans for nuclear emergencies EDITORIAL: Shimane reactor restart hinges on safe evacuation plan for residents Shimane nuclear plant set to restart after 13-year halt Refueling process begins for reactor at Shimane plant メインメニューをとばして、このページの本文エリアへ 申し訳ございません。記事の公開期限を過ぎているか、入力いただいたアドレスが間違っている可能性があります。 5秒後にトップページに移動します。移動しない場合は、こちらをクリックしてください。 毎日新聞のニュースサイトに掲載の記事・写真・図表など無断転載を禁止します。著作権は毎日新聞社またはその情報提供者に属します。画像データは（株）フォーカスシステムズの電子透かし「acuagraphy」により著作権情報を確認できるようになっています。 MATSUE—The spooky summer season just got a whole lot tastier here with the creation of two new sweet treats commemorating the 120th publication anniversary of Japan’s iconic ghost story collection “Kwaidan.” This beloved collection of strange supernatural tales by Yakumo Koizumi (1850-1904) a Tokyo-based restaurant information website operator has been dispatched to Matsue since December 2022 under the internal affairs ministry’s entrepreneurship program for regional revitalization She worked alongside two long-established “wagashi” confectionary shops in Matsue to develop these succulent spectors called “Kappafe,” was made in collaboration with Furyudo named after the “kappa,” a water goblin in Japanese folklore that appears in Koizumi’s work This tasty kappa has a head of green tea ice cream eyes of yokan sweet bean jelly and a beak of nerikiri dough A plate on its head is made of glutinous rice crackers It is priced at 700 yen ($4.80) including tax The second toothsome terror is called the “Yuki-onna plate,” developed with Saiundo The back figure of a “yuki-onna” snow woman has been made using gyuhi rice cakes filled with vanilla-lemon ice cream An icy lake has been made with “kohakukan” amber-colored jelly It comes with a drink and costs 2,200 yen including tax Terashima said the project is designed to use ghoulish gourmet treats to highlight the 120th anniversary of “Kwaidan.” “Through these new products I hope people will rediscover the world of Koizumi and the deliciousness of Japanese sweets in Matsue which is known for its tea ceremony culture,” she said The two products are expected to be available until the end of September Koizumi was born Patrick Lafcadio Hearn in Greece and used to reside in Matsue Tour package of museums for those who like it extra spooky Wanted: ‘Yuki-onna’: Ski resort turns to magic for more snow Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Lafcadio Hearn Museum: Honoring a Japanophile writer who once lived in Matsue Wheelbarrows go electric with modifying kit for easier farming Japanese version memories and nostalgia were the order of the day at the Ichibata Hyakkaten department store here as customers came one final time on Jan department stores are now non-existent in Shimane Prefecture along with Yamagata and Tokushima prefectures the store had been the face of the prefectural capital but was forced to close due to poor sales and a string of tenant withdrawals because of the COVID-19 pandemic the store was visited by many customers who were sad to say goodbye to their favorite shopping destination The sky was cloudless and blue as shoppers gathered one after another at the main entrance well before the store even opened at 10 a.m the customers trudged to their desired sales area which was lined with red tags indicating price reductions had joined the line 30 minutes before the store opened “It was a convenient place with everything,” she said while browsing inside the store she had become accustomed to shoppers wrote their memories and words of gratitude on message boards set up near the food section I always went to Ichibata to buy good things like clothes and shoes.” wrote a message that this would be the start for the store It was an emotional day for the staff as well manager of the menswear and jewelry department “I almost cried when I thought that I would no longer be greeting customers in front of the escalator in the morning," she said I have nothing but gratitude for our customers.” Employees lined up in front of the main entrance “I think Ichibata Hyakkaten was the only place where you could feel city life and was the very essence of a city in a rural area.” I think it made a small contribution to the development of the region,” he said When the shutters were lowered shortly after 6:50 p.m The store opened in 1958 at a location near the prefectural government’s office building the opening of large retail stores in the suburbs sales peaked at 10.8 billion yen ($74.4 million) in fiscal 2001 and declined year by year since then withdrew one after another during the pandemic and sales in fiscal 2022 fell to 4.3 billion yen According to the Japan Department Stores Association there were 180 department stores nationwide as of November 2023 As many as 17 prefectures have only one department store that is a member of the association will continue to own the land and building after the closure but no decision has been made on how the building will be utilized and it is expected to remain vacant for the foreseeable future The departure of the younger generation of customers is also believed to be a factor in the closing of the store said the closing of the store “doesn’t really ring a bell.” the store’s image is “for older people.” She took the bus to and from Matsue Station when she was a high school student she only visited the store a few times a year she hopes that the site will become a facility offering a bowling alley and karaoke parlor or a building lined with top designer brand shops “I hope it will be a place where people can dream of buying things like that one day,” she said Tokyo getting back to old self after lifting of emergency COVID-19 puts a damper on traditional New Year practices ‘Showrooming’ becoming way to shop in Japan amid pandemic Supermarkets struggle while department stores rebound Matsue Castle was built in the early seventeenth century and is one of Japan’s 12 surviving castles from the premodern era Having originally served as both an observatory and command tower the top floor of the castle keep offers a panoramic 360-degree view of the surrounding Matsue townscape and Lake Shinji Sakura 100: Japan’s Best Blossoms Banner photo © Matsue Tourism Association.) The national weather agency issued a flood and landslide warning Wednesday for the Sea of Japan coast with heavy rain expected from eastern to western Japan into Thursday The Japan Meteorological Agency issued storm warnings for parts of Shimane and neighboring Tottori prefectures The two prefectures ordered about 360,000 and 120,000 residents to evacuate There were reports of damage caused by landslides and flooding at multiple locations in Matsue and Izumo The agency said 75 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Izumo in one hour on Wednesday The city government of Matsue put off coronavirus vaccinations for around 200 elderly people scheduled for the day due to the rain record rains have loosened the earth in some locations and increased the risk of disasters similar to a large mudslide that occurred there late last week The death toll from the mudslide in the Shizuoka city of Atami rose to seven on Tuesday Death toll in Japan mudslide rises to 7, with 27 still missing Rescue efforts continue after fatal mudslide rips central Japan city Rain, risk of another calamity hamper mudslide victim search in Japan Japan’s first containerized data center facility with outside-air cooling systems!Also supports disaster recovery as a cloud-services base for western Japan IIJ Matsue Data Center Park was opened in Matsue-shi in April 2011 as a major hub for IIJ cloud services Following the opening of the initial Site 1 (for 24 containers) on adjacent land to cope with further growth in demand This data center features IZmo units IT modules developed by IIJ and imbued with its extensive data center operational knowhow it looks different from a conventional building-based data center it provides the same features and reliability as a building-based one the facility has a redundant power receiving system It also has security systems that include intrusion detection and other surveillance camera systems as well as an entry/exit management system we also adopted a type of air-conditioning system that uses outside air to reduce the power consumed by air-conditioning equipment which accounts for the bulk of data center power usage we are working on the use of electricity derived from renewable energy with the aim of realizing carbon offsets The naming is a nod to the IT modules being installed in a park-like setting as opposed to the concrete buildings data centers are conventionally housed in Each year, the Japan National Tourism Organization hosts “Meet Japan” a sponsored trip that introduces international convention decision-makers to various destinations within the country the group consisted of approximately 30 association event planners and four event industry journalists We were divided into groups of five or six each of which were sent to two cities to conduct “study tours,” or site visits designed to showcase the unique character of the destination as well as its meeting facilities The tour I was part of included visits to Yokohoma and Matsue as well as the Marunouchi area of Tokyo — all of which have facilities to host mid-to-large conventions Here are some of the highlights of my experience Tokyo is one of the most heavily populated cities in the world it’s no wonder the city has the modern infrastructure to host such events as the 2020 Olympics Yet the city also successfully blends old with new such as Sensō-ji and Shinto shrines like Kanda Myōjin and Meiji Jingū all spiritual sanctuaries where people still come to worship and pray for good fortune While our group did not spend much time in Tokyo we did have the option to attend a portion of the Japan International MICE Expo at the Tokyo International Forum It’s a testament to its popularity that all the meeting rooms in the facility were in use Built in 1996, Tokyo International Forum hosts hundreds of conferences musical performances and other events each year Centrally located in Marunouchi (the city’s financial district) near Tokyo Station a 16,400-square-foot exhibition hall and a 5,000-seat movie theater plus restaurants and shops open to the public Some halls are column-free divisible spaces that work for exhibitions or groups needing large classroom-set rooms; others are amphitheaters with stages and acoustics that accommodate anything from lectures to musical performances The award-winning design — the building is shaped like a glass boat — is striking allowing natural light to fill the meeting spaces even on the rainiest of days (as our group experienced) Sustainability is a top priority for the facility, which utilizes renewable energy to reduce CO2 emissions and keeps a daily and yearly tally on its website With 757,500 sq. ft. of floor space, Tokyo Big Sight also known as Tokyo International Exhibition Center is the largest convention and exhibition space in Japan and as such is worth a mention even though I did not have the opportunity to visit the venue on this trip Big Sight contains multiple exhibit halls and meeting rooms to host the largest of conventions Current and upcoming events include Content Tokyo Asia’s largest event for content producers and distributors and Fashion World Tokyo/Fashion World Tokyo - Retail Big Sight hosted UFI Asia-Pacific Conference UFI is the global association of the world’s leading trade show organizers large national and international exhibition associations and industry partners UFI represents 50,000 exhibition industry employees globally and works closely with 52 national and regional affiliated association members Big Sight is located approximately 30 minutes from both Tokyo Station and Haneda International Airport and 60 minutes from Narita International Airport A mere 40 minutes by bus, train or car from central Tokyo, and less than 20 minutes from Haneda by bus, Yokohama is a cosmopolitan port city with a modern infrastructure and 3.7 million residents. When cruise ships pull into Tokyo Bay, Yokohama is where they dock. The port dates back to the Japan and US Treaty of Peace and Amity signed in the mid 1800s that opened Japan to American trade the city brands itself as Japan’s first port of call Facility, accommodation and tour assistance can be obtained through the Yokohama Convention and Visitors Bureau or via JNTO One of the largest convention complexes in the world, PACIFICO Yokohama can host meetings The PACIFICO Exhibition Hall has 65,000 square feet of column-free space that can be divided into four sections The attached Annex Hall provides an additional 4,400 square feet divisible into form six rooms surrounded by a foyer And the Conference Center contains 50 meeting rooms to use for sessions Visitors to the PACIFICO National Convention Hall are greeted by a stained glass window depicting constellation mythology scenes in the same blue and gold colors seen throughout the building the National Convention Hall can seat up to 5,000 attendees in a built-in tiered theater with classroom-style seats that include a fold-out writing surface The glass-fronted seaside lobby offers an outdoor deck with stunning views of Yokohama Bay PACIFICO Yokohama is adding a new building connected to the Exhibition and Annex Halls by walkways PACIFICO North will add another 154,000 square feet to the complex It will include one of Japan’s largest multi-purpose halls able to hold up to 6,000 attendees with a theater-style set 2,300 for banquets or up to 5,000 for receptions This space will be divisible into six sections third and fourth floors will contain another 27 meeting rooms A new 146-room hotel adjacent to the complex is slated to open in Summer 2020 Designed to look like a ship from a distance, the 594-room InterContinental Yokohama Grand is right next to the PACIFICO complex and continues the convention center’s ocean theme Guest rooms offer either a bay view or a view of the nearby urban amusement park with its iconic giant ferris wheel The InterContinental contains 15 meeting rooms Japanese and the Pier 21 floating restaurant with views of Yokohama Port and the Bay Bridge Guests wishing to see a little more of the local area can catch Le Grand Bleu the first cruise boat exclusively operated for a hotel in the Tokyo metropolitan area Excursions around the Yokohama Minato Mirai canal show off the ferris wheel Osanbashi Terminal and the Red Brick Warehouse a historical building that now contains a shopping mall Situated on the top floors (52 to 67) of Landmark Tower Yokohama, Royal Park Hotel contains 603 guest rooms with spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and we were lucky enough to see the iconic peak ranging in size from 13,700 to the 51,000-sq.-ft On-property restaurants specialize in an array of cuisines The Royal Park also contains a fitness center with a pool photo studio and a room for daily tea ceremonies known as the City of Water due to its proximity to the Sea of Japan and the brackish Lake Shinji offers a quieter alternative for groups of up to 5,000 attendees Matsue is the capital of Shimane Prefecture Approximately 600,000 people live in the prefecture but only one-third of those live in Matsue and its neighboring city Izumo located 40 minutes by bus from Matsue City may well be the oldest shrine in all of Japan The god Okuninushi is said to have created Japan and ruled Izumo he is known as the deity of good relationships Izumo Taisha is said to be the annual meeting place for the kami (How appropriate!) The gods are said to still convene there every year for a month-long period that starts mid-November Facility, accommodation and tour assistance can be obtained through the Matsue Convention Bureau or via JNTO Located in the center of Matsue City, the Kunibiki Messe (Shimane Prefectural convention center) contains a 13,100-sq.-ft divisible exhibition hall that can be used to hold groups of up to 5,000 seated theater style; a 2,250 sq multi-purpose hall; 510-seat conference hall and 19 meeting rooms Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the building A six-minute walk to Kunibiki Messe, Matsue Excel Hotel Tokyu is situated across from JR Matsue Station While perhaps smaller than the average Westerner is used to rooms in the 163-room property are cost effective This was the only property we saw, but we were told that there are many Japanese-style ryokans as well as additional Western-style hotels located a bit further from the convention center Any group coming to Matsue will want to experience Japanese culture and history. A visit to Matsue Castle one of only 12 remaining castle towers in Japan third-tallest and fifth-oldest castle in Japan then take the hour-long Horikawa boat ride around the castle moat which goes under 16 different bridges — a few are low enough to require the awning to be lowered and all passengers to bend into a position reminiscent of prayer Just 20 minutes away from the Kunibiki Messe by bus, Matsue Vogel Park is a paradise for flower and bird lovers The park’s multiple greenhouses include a banquet hall laden with colorful flowers that can hold groups of up to 500 people Visitors can also interact with an astonishing variety of birds which parade around their greenhouse at specified times each day Yuushien Garden known for its gardens filled with 250 varieties of peonies located 20 minutes’ drive away (in the opposite direction to Matsue Vogel Park) has restaurant facilities onsite and can also offer traditional Japanese cuisine catering for events Both Matsue and Yokohama offer subsidies for groups of a certain size bringing international visitors to Japan Whether you opt for a city with state-of-the-art convention facilities such as Tokyo or Yokohama meeting in Japan is sure to provide a unique memorable experiences that your attendees will treasure Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE and engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedInand Instagram OneSystemPlus by MCI TSNN Awards The TSNN Awards celebrates trade show excellence annually in different host cities is renowned as a center for wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) more than 100 kinds of confections were created there elevating the city as one of Japan's most famous centers for wagashi this culture remains an important part of daily life and for many people it is customary to enjoy these confections as a snack with tea each day in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon This culture was introduced to Matsue some 300 years ago along with the tea ceremony by the feudal lord of the Matsue domain Matsudaira Harusato―who is also known as Lord Fumai Many of the wagashi treats developed in the city during his life are still favorites with the local people American artist Brandon Chin explores the world of wagashi in Matsue meeting local artisans who are still carrying on the tradition four university students were assigned as “student commentators” at the Takeshima Archive in Matsue City which provides materials concerning Takeshima a group of islands that is a part of Okinoshima The islands are still illegally occupied by South Korea The student commentators deepened their understanding of Takeshima to explain the issue to visitors in an easily comprehensible way from their unique perspective as students.  Following the curriculum guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education schools in Japan have started to teach that Takeshima is part of Japan’s territory raising awareness among the younger generation 18-year-old Keita Tsuboi and 19-year-old Wataru Tsunai first year students from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Shimane posed the question to a room of people at the Takeshima Archive The two then began to use slides from the archive to explain why Takeshima is part of Japanese territory Starting with the basics about the islands the students presented a drawing of the area around Takeshima that was submitted by the Tottori Domain to the Edo shogunate in 1696 to describe the location and shape of Takeshima They continued to explain passionately while alternating between explaining and operating the slides They then presented photos showing how the people of Oki (in Okinoshima) had been hunting sea lions and collecting seaweed on Takeshima since the 1890s and how Takeshima was deeply connected to the lives of Japanese people.  RELATED: Crowdfunding Launched for English Version of Picture Book on Takeshima Islands They then moved on to the history of the illegal occupation of Takeshima by South Korea and the efforts of the Japanese government and prefecture to resolve the issue They concluded their 10-minute presentation by saying “Let’s learn the correct background of Takeshima.” Tsuboi expressed his enthusiasm: “I’m not satisfied with just reading the basic script I want to explain using my own words so that the audience can understand more easily.” a 68-year-old “awareness promoter” at the archive “Young people are much more interested in learning this way rather than listening to an old man like me.”  Visitors can listen to the student-led presentation on Saturdays from 1 to 5 P.M The program was initiated by the prefecture in 2020 and led by students of Shimane University The baton was passed to students of the prefectural University of Shimane this year an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Shimane including lectures from experts on Takeshima.  had many opportunities to learn about Takeshima from the news and in the classroom “When I heard that my university was recruiting student commentators in July The more I researched the Takeshima issue to become a commentator the more I realized that the issue is not a straightforward one,” he said said: “I have always been interested in territorial issues When I heard that they were seeking applicants I applied because it would be a good opportunity to learn more about Japan’s efforts and South Korea’s claims in more detail.” director of Shimane Prefecture’s Takeshima Office a survey conducted by the prefecture shows that there is a growing number of young people who are unaware of the Takeshima issue “We can get more young people interested by raising awareness of the issue through university students.” The number of visitors at the Takeshima Archive was about 5,000 in 2018 and 6,800 in 2019 but the pandemic caused the number to drop to about 3,800 in 2020 “It doesn’t mean that interest in the Takeshima issue is waning but we want to continue to educate the people of the prefecture and the public.” Japanese schools have also been teaching more about the Takeshima issue all public elementary and junior high schools and special support schools have been teaching about Takeshima since 2009 The Ministry of Education revised its curriculum guidelines to clearly state that Takeshima should be taught as an “inherent territory of Japan,” to be effective nationwide.  from 2020 all elementary school students started learning that Takeshima is part of Japanese territory and high school students will begin in 2022 An official of the education guidance division of Shimane Prefecture’s education office said “We are pleased that Takeshima will be taught as an inherent territory of Japan nationwide.” “I was interested in Takeshima and territorial issues but I don't really understand the issue.’”  “I want the younger generation to also think about this issue so that it can be resolved.” (Read the Sankei Shimbun report in Japanese at this link.) 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A confectionary shop in Matsue, the capital city of Shimane prefecture, in Japan’s Chugoku region, has found a novel way of disposing of unsold cakes to avoid wastage.The confectionery shop, Matsue Claude, has set up a vending machine for customers to buy up the bakery’s unsold cakes. Customers select cakes that are already boxed, so they cannot see what they are purchasing. The idea of selling the shop’s unsold cakes this way has not only cut back on food loss but also encouraged a work-style reform. The machine was already set up near the entrance of Matsue Claude to sell cookies and other baked goods. However, on August 15 the shop started selling fresh cakes — each of which costs about 500 yen (127 baht) for two slices — only on days when there were cakes left unsold. The shop started referring to the selling method as “SDGs gacha for imperfect cakes”, which is named after the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Gacha” comes from the gachapon vending machines that dispense toys in capsules. Customers do not know what they have bought until they open it. As dozens lined up in front of the machine, some customers said they were delighted by the bargain or excited by the mystery of it. It is uncommon to be able to purchase fresh cakes from a vending machine, but it has grown in popularity, and the shop no longer has to throw away unsold cakes. “I was happy to find a cheesecake I wanted inside the box,” said a 42-year-old woman, who stood in line with her junior high school-aged daughter for almost 20 minutes. “Not only is it inexpensive, it’s also delicious. It makes me want to line up again.” Since April, Matsue Claude has been closing an hour earlier at 6pm and increased the number of days the shop is closed from four days a month to nine. Initially, the bakery was worried that more closed days would lead to a loss of customers, but the vending machine has helped attract customers to maintain its overall sales. “With more days off, our employees are more motivated to work,” said the shop’s managing director Risa Ishikawa, 46. “I’m grateful to know that we are supported by the community.” Cardinals enter seclusion ahead of secret conclave to elect new pope Japan, China, South Korea, ASEAN enhance regional financial safety net Thai Parliament built for 20B, seeks 1B repairs after 5 years Health Ministry warns of deadly 'Deafness Fever' outbreak DPU trains 98 game designers to promote Thai-made games as new soft power PremiumIt's pretty tough to be a woman (Berserk 06) Asuncia: Matsue no Jubaku is set in a fantasy world and follows the journey of the main character, Hikaru, and his companions as they attempt to stop an evil sorcerer's curse that has befallen the land of Asuncia. The game features traditional RPG elements such as exploring towns and dungeons, engaging in combat, leveling up characters, and discovering the story through interactions with NPCs (non-playable characters). Turn-Based Combat: The game features turn-based combat encounters. Players select actions for each character, such as attack, cast magic, or defend, and then the actions play out in the order determined by the characters' stats and abilities. Magic System: Magic plays an important role in the game. Characters can learn and cast various spells to help them in battles and other situations. The magic system involves selecting spells from a list and using MP (magic points) to cast them. Party System: Players create a party of characters with unique abilities and skills. Each character has their own strengths and weaknesses, and players must strategically choose their party members to overcome challenges. Exploration: The game features multiple towns, villages, dungeons, and outdoor areas to explore. Players can interact with NPCs, gather information, and complete quests to advance the story. Story and Worldbuilding: The main story revolves around Hikaru and his companions' quest to lift a curse that has turned the people of Asuncia into stone statues. As they venture deeper into the world, they uncover the backstory of the curse and its connection to the villainous sorcerer. Graphics and Presentation: Asuncia features 2D graphics and pre-rendered backgrounds. While not as visually advanced as some other RPGs of its time, the game's art style adds to its unique charm. Reception and Legacy: The game received mixed reviews upon its release. While some players appreciated its traditional RPG mechanics and fantasy setting, others found fault with its relatively basic graphics and gameplay. Due to limited availability outside of Japan, the game remains largely unknown to Western audiences. Overall, Asuncia: Matsue no Jubaku is a lesser-known RPG from the PlayStation era that offers a traditional RPG experience with turn-based combat, a fantasy storyline, and exploration. While not as well known as some of the more popular RPGs of the era, it still holds a place in the history of the genre. Enter the URL for the tweet you want to embed. This edit will also create new pages on Giant Bomb for: ESCLog in to comment "data-img-src" : imgSrc } = buylink %> />><%= itemTitle %> then we need to do more than just perfect our own diets and yoga schedules We need to attend to the health of everyone in our communities An increasing amount of research shows that good health practices and outcomes can spread throughout a community even outweighing the influence of immediate family members This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Focus features two in-depth reviews each month of fine art architecture and design exhibitions and events at art museums galleries and alternative spaces around Japan The contributors are non-Japanese residents of Japan and the best art changes our way of looking at the world The photographs of Taiji Matsue (born in Tokyo in 1963) are a case in point capturing natural and urban landscapes in works that bear his unique stamp Taiji Matsue: gazetteer (running through 24 February at the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art) serves as the artist's first retrospective including an early but only recently released work dealing with the abandoned coal-mining island of Hashima (commonly known as Gunkanjima or "Battleship Island") Iran 1998 #12 (1998) from the gazetteer series There is a similar reluctance on Matsue's part to provide details about his subject matter take their titles from the ISO codes used to identify Japanese prefectures Though the system itself is extremely logical -- beginning in the north with Hokkaido (JP-01) and ending in the south with Okinawa (JP-47) -- a title like JP-36 is not immediately decipherable The only other information provided is the year the picture was taken and the media used to make it (silver gelatin print When first encountering Matsue's photographs geological or linguistic clues that might shed light on the location But in time we realize that Matsue's intention is not to document a place but to call our attention to the singular combination of elements that happened to converge at a particular moment Matsue's other photographic series include LIM (2010-ongoing) a subset of CC that focuses on cemeteries around the world One site in Peru (the title of the series is an abbreviation for Lima) sprawls across a narrow valley with graves stacked on top of each other like apartment blocks Varying in height and positioned at different angles the multicolored complexes lack any of the orderliness that we normally associate with a place of final rest; some are even emblazoned with a family name in spray paint the loose gravel and precarious terrain make it look as if the graves themselves might soon end up underground MATSUE — The Matsue Suitouro lantern festival has begun with illuminations delighting visitors in and around Matsue Castle in Matsue According to the Matsue Travel Association the city’s popular autumnal event this year features about 1,000 lights an illuminated float of a popular local dog is installed in the Shiominawate district where there are traditional former houses of samurai and Horikawa yuransen pleasure boats for tourists operate in evenings during the festival “I hope people will enjoy Matsue’s serene lights,” an official of the association said A black mark on a stone artifact believed to be the oldest known written character in Japan was likely made with a modern permanent marker A research team that included the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara reached the conclusion after analyzing the 2,000-year-old artifact The team said the “character” was probably made through contamination from a marker It will announce the finding at the Japan Society for Scientific Studies on Cultural Properties congress on Sept It dates back to the latter half of the middle part of the Yayoi Pottery Culture Period (1000 B.C.-A.D The artifact was described as a grindstone in a 2005 survey report a researcher with the Fukuoka city government’s Archaeological Center theorized that the artifact was used as an inkstone based on the black mark and other factors Kusumi said the black mark was likely a character written in ink Newspapers and TV programs then ran stories about the “oldest letter in the nation.” took infrared images but could not confirm the mark was ink writing The government also failed to find any particles with shapes characteristic of ink via an electron microscope a chief researcher of the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara cooperated with the Nara Institute of Science and Technology and studied the mark Okami analyzed the intensity distribution (spectrum) of a special light that was shined on the mark The spectrum matched the characteristics of a permanent marker “We believe a stain from a permanent marker accidentally adhered to (the artifact),” Okami said A Matsue city official had used a permanent marker to write the locations where stone artifacts were excavated on tags during the sorting process The city government said it will ask university researchers to conduct a further analysis “I can’t help but accept the latest finding because the researchers followed scientific procedures,” Kusumi said “If a reanalysis and other examinations confirm the mark is a modern substance I will completely withdraw my point of view.” (This article was written by Kenji Shimizu and Kunihiko Imai.) Decimal system in use in Japan well over 2,000 years ago Japan was likely writing centuries earlier than record suggests Experts now have a better picture of ancient Nara burial Ruins found of Hideyoshi’s ‘fabled castle’ leveled by quake MATSUE--Historians and artists have expressed their disbelief that a masterly calligraphy work on show here was created by former Prime Minister Reijiro Wakatsuki (1866-1949) when he was just 6 years old which will be on display at the Matsue History Museum until July 30 showing Wakatsuki was highly educated from a very young age,” said Masanori Shinsho Quoted from a classical anthology of Chinese poetry the five characters written on the wall scroll mean: “Everything in the world radiates by itself.” It is among the hundreds of items that were donated to Matsue in 2018 by the Wakatsuki family The piece is one of the rare calligraphy works written by the two-time prime minister when he was a child It is believed to have been written in 1872 for an annual festival at the city’s Shirakata Tenmangu shrine where local children displayed their calligraphy In a signed note from 1919 left on the back of the lid of the box containing the calligraphy Wakatsuki recalled the year he created the prized work Oldest letter written in Japan could be stain from marker Calligraphers write hopes for peace in Ukraine across 35 temples Alleged leader behind COVID-19 subsidy fraud scheme arrested and I’m walking around the samurai district with its historical residences near Crow Castle’s moat I’m about to enter the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum now All I knew about Hearn (1850-1904) was that he had a Japanese name and that he wrote ghost stories called “Kwaidan,” which is spelled weirdly I learned that he only lived in Matsue for 14 months And this museum is one of the top attractions in Matsue--talk about milking this for all it’s worth The museum whetted my appetite to learn more Hearn was a "hafu": his mother was Greek and father Irish he was raised by an aunt who would lock up the nyctophobic boy in a pitch-dark room he was sent to a Catholic boarding school in England where he was further traumatized and lost his left eye He moved to the United States and the French West Indies and upon reading “Kojiki,” a collection of Japanese myths Otherworldly mysteries always pulled at him and stories from Shimane abound in “Kojiki.” The similarities to Greek mythology are also hard to ignore marveled at and loved small creatures and insects I loved “Kusa-Hibari,” a masterpiece about a pet cricket that shines light on a different aspect of the Japanophile It’s a beautiful story about living and dying The museum is currently holding an exhibition titled “The Poetry of Insects--Loving the Voices of Fleeting Lives.” If you’re the type who revels in the beauty of small weeds or stops in midsentence to listen to the sweetness of bug and birdsongs a Washington-born and Tokyo-based photographer It is part of the series "Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan," which depicts various places across the country through the perspective of the author Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Spa Resort Hawaiians: Fukushima offers postcard-worthy ‘Hawaiian’ getaway Hokkaido: Exploring the pioneering spirit of the north at historical village Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Mazda Museum: Creating cars with the ‘soul of motion,’ carrying hopes for peace Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Sabae: Peer into the history of eyeglasses at Fukui museum　 Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Asaka city: Take your best shot at GSDF shooting and flight simulators Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Kenrokuen: Arrive early to savor tranquil atmosphere and save some yen Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker there is a bronze statue of a Japanese man that has been there since before the war who successfully established the sugar industry on the island where more than 50,000 people lost their lives in fierce World War II fighting Matsue returned to Japan just before the outbreak of the second world war and later died without knowing that a statue of him was erected in Saipan Matsue’s son was watching a travelogue on TV when he spotted the statue of his father When the son later visited Saipan he was told how the island people protected the statue against the American forces during the war the statue of another storied Japanese man was not fortunate who oversaw the construction of the Wushantou dam was found decapitated last Sunday on April 16 the dam transformed the surrounding region into one of Taiwan’s major grain-producing areas a statue of Hatta was placed on a hillside overlooking the dam The statue is seated with one leg stretched out and the other bent at the knee This unusual pose was chosen at Hatta’s own request a standing statue in formal dress set on a tall pedestal when the American military sank the transport ship he was on committing suicide by jumping off the dam he had built Today the couple’s story is introduced in school textbooks in Taiwan and there is even an animé film about them A park built around the statue is a popular destination for Japanese tourists A memorial service is conducted every year on his death anniversary the decapitation of the Hatta statue is particularly disturbing a former Taipei city councilor admitted on social media that he vandalized the figure This man has been a strong advocate of a single is happy with the ties between Japan and Taiwan (Click here to read the original article in Japanese) You must be logged in to post a comment The article you have been looking for has expired and is no longer available on our system Japan (AP) — While Japanese fans were understandably disappointed after Kei Nishikori missed out on a U.S his unprecedented run to the final will do much to boost his career and the sport's popularity in a country where baseball and soccer dominate headlines over 800 fans packed into a convention hall to cheer on their hero at a standing-room only public viewing event So many showed up that organizers had to turn people away once the match started at 6:10 a.m Giant banners emblazoned with messages of encouragement from fans hung on the walls of the conventional hall The anticipation of seeing the first Japanese win a Grand Slam quickly dissipated when Nishikori got off to a slow start before eventually falling 6-3 but the opponent's serve was just too strong," said university student Nozomi Maruyama "But Nishikori really impressed us with his determination and I think this will make a lasting impression and make tennis more popular in Japan He's only 24 so he has a bright future ahead of him." Matsue — a quiet city of just over 200,000 — was captivated by Nishikori's success The crowds for the public viewing events grew in size with each win But the convention hall fell silent when Nishikori lost the final game of the second set to give Cilic a 6-3 the crowd started to thin as people headed for the exits with plenty of time to be at their desks for the start of the work day residents said the buzz created by Nishikori's run was good for local business "I hope it has brought some attention to the region," said office worker Haruyuki Okada "We are a long way from Tokyo so people tend to forget us here." he is smaller than many other western rivals and that alone is a major obstacle," said 67-year-old business consultant Masatoshi Hinoshita Nishikori went overseas alone to compete against those big guys His challenge simply makes us want to be his cheerleaders." watched along with the other locals at the Matsue convention hall "Celic rode the momentum of beating (Roger) Federer and was unstoppable," Kashiwai said "I thought there for a second in the third set Kei had a comeback in him he did a great job to reach the final and this is just the beginning for him." AP Writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report Sony Music Group (Japan) explores the potential of entertainment to provide educational support for children we delivered from our Tokyo office an online remote lecture to Inbe Elementary School the students have the opportunity to learn how the music is produced and are assigned to develop the idea for producing “Kokoro Harete,” a song by Kana Adachi from Sony Music Artists The small producers brainstorm on how to reach the target audience the sixth graders presented their ideas to our social creators and our staff engaged in supporting artists who subsequently highlighted the good points of their proposals and gave them some advice Following the presentations by four groups on a variety of plans to produce the song where children raised many questions such as: “How can I do what I like to do for a living?” and “How can I become an artist in the future?” Their eagerness showed that the 45-mimute short lecture was very productive for children and our staff alike Lecture to "After-School Children's Classroom" at Hanno Daini Elementary School (Saitama) Initiatives implemented around World Mental Health Day 2023 on October 10 Sony Music Group (Japan) organized an event to offer free sustainable food at cafeterias and Screening of the film "Mottainai Kitchen” prior to October 16’s World Food Day ©2020 Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc