As part of a medical student fellowship program in child and adolescent psychiatry
the students will all attend the 2025 Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation National Medical Student Conference in Boston
The KU School of Medicine-Wichita Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship has been selected to be part of the exciting and prestigious Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation Medical Student Fellowship Program in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Only 16 total schools are currently in this program
and KU School of Medicine-Wichita was one of only two programs selected this year to join the ranks of schools like Harvard
Four medical students with an interest in child psychiatry have been chosen as the medical student fellows this year
The students selected are all in their third year: Tayita Abudu
who will present at the 2025 Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation National Medical Student Conference on Jan
All students will be funded by Klingenstein to attend the conference
The title of Abudu’s presentation is “Clinical Strategies and Challenges of Psychiatrists in Accra
she chose this topic because of her background living in a rural community
“I witness firsthand the impacts of disparities in psychiatric care among children needing longitudinal care.”
her parents are from Ghana for which she had “a yearning to educate myself regarding the psychiatric care that exists in the country.”
“This fellowship has opened so many opportunities for me,” said Abudu
“to learn more about the specialty I am most interested in
I have always been interested in mental health and the approaches to it through both medicine and public health
especially for this generation’s youth
I look forward to working with experts in this field and connecting with others who share the same goals!”
The students will be paired with a CAP faculty and CAP fellow mentor and from there will have an individualized mentorship experience which may include clinical experience
“I feel incredibly honored to be chosen as a fellow for the KTGF-MSFP,” said Honnur from Leawood
“I’m excited to continue cultivating my passion for psychiatry through the phenomenal mentors and experiences offered by this program
I plan to use this unique opportunity to expand my knowledge of psychiatry and hopefully become an exceptional physician one day.”
“Being selected for this program is an incredible honor
As someone who is deeply passionate about child psychiatry
I am thrilled by the opportunity to engage with the mentorship and enriching experiences that the program offers
I am confident that it will play a pivotal role in shaping my growth and development as a future physician.”
Other opportunities available for the students include:
“I absolutely loved the type of clinical and inpatient work I was a part of in the psychiatry rotation
and it quickly became a top contender for my specialty of choice,” said Fotion
“Being accepted into Klingenstein to be a part of a community of psychiatrists and similarly interested students has provided me with opportunities to connect and learn from mentors
as well as continue to acquire exposure to parts of the field I have yet to discover
I am thrilled and honored to have been selected for KU School of Medicine-Wichita's first class of Klingenstein fellows
and I am looking forward to meeting the other fellows from across the nation at the upcoming conference in Boston!”
Belinda Venters bventers@kumc.edu 316-706-5945 Publications
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An engagement meeting aimed at further development of the SDGs bond market was held between Namie Town and the Urban Renaissance Agency
Namie Town has been investing in SDGs bonds while giving due consideration to security and efficiency
as the city is recovering from the complex disaster caused by the earthquake and tsunami triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear disaster caused by the damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station
The Urban Renaissance Agency is an independent administrative agency that has continuously issued social bonds since fiscal year 2020 and started issuing sustainability bonds this fiscal year
the share of ESG bonds in the bond market has been increasing rapidly with increasing awareness of ESG issues
ESG bonds help to solve social issues if they are social bonds
help to solve environmental issues if they are green bonds
and help to solve sustainability issues if they are sustainability bonds
ESG bonds have an added incentive of contributing to solving these issues in addition to their marketability as bonds that earn yields based on scheduled redemptions
Namie Town purchased the sustainability bonds that the Urban Renaissance Agency (UR) started issuing this fiscal year
after Namie Town made an investment declaration
Namie Town and UR have a relationship through reconstruction support projects following the Great East Japan Earthquake
a meeting between Namie Town Mayor Eiko Yoshida and UR President Masahiro Nakajima was held at Namie Town Hall on January 15
President Nakajima expressed his gratitude to Mayor Yoshida for the bond purchase and the two discussed the reconstruction support projects that UR will implement in Namie Town
a working-level engagement meeting between Namie Town and UR was held at Namie Town Hall on February 14
we will hear from Namie Town and the Urban Renaissance Agency
who have been deeply involved in reconstruction support projects following the Great East Japan Earthquake
about their respective organizations and SDGs initiatives
we would like to hear from the Urban Renaissance Agency about their projects
Urban Renaissance AgencyDeputy Director Mr
Our agency started as the Japan Housing Corporation
which was established to address the housing shortage caused by the influx of people into urban areas during the post-war period of rapid economic growth
we have created social value through community and lifestyle development while confronting the social issues of the times
We have worked to resolve policy and regional issues
such as the improvement of good living environments by proposing new housing styles such as eat-in kitchens
and the improvement of urban attractiveness and disaster preparedness by utilizing business methods such as redevelopment and land readjustments
Our business consists of three main pillars
Thank you for explaining the wide-ranging projects being implemented by the Urban Renaissance Agency
Could you also tell us about the projects in Namie Town with respect to earthquake reconstruction support
The areas affected by the nuclear disaster in Fukushima Prefecture are recovering from the situation of having no population and no economic activity
and UR is promoting support for reconstruction development through a combination of physical and intangible measures
such as support for reconstruction base development projects and building improvement projects in Namie
as well as support for regional revitalization to expand the exchange and related populations and create prosperity
we are supporting reconstruction base development in three districts
we were commissioned to develop an industrial park in 2017
and we completed the delivery of housing in March 2020
we were commissioned to provide support to entities that placed orders for infrastructure development in fiscal 2019
we are commissioned to carry out execution management
and infrastructure development for a reconstruction base development project in the area around Namie Station
in order to realize the "Namie Station Area Grand Design Basic Plan" for the reconstruction and revitalization of the entire downtown area of Namie Town
we are also providing non-infrastructure support on the intangible side
such as operating "Namiie," an information dissemination and exchange space
as a place to disseminate information on community development and to use it as a community exchange hub
Area image of Namie Station vicinity (source: Namie Town)
That gives us a good understanding of the projects undertaken by the Urban Renaissance Agency in Namie Town
Namie Town in Fukushima Prefecture is located in the northern part of Hamadori (coastal area) in Fukushima Prefecture and is in Futaba County
Namie Village was established in 1889 under the Town and Village Act and became Namie Town in 1900
Namie Town was merged with Ukedo Village and Kiyohashi Village
and Tsushima Village to form the current Namie Town
and is also an attractive place for food created by its rich natural bounty
It is also famous for its specialty products such as Ohbori Soma ware (pottery) and Namie Yakisoba
The Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11
Due to the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station
residents of towns and villages in Futaba County were forced to evacuate
and Namie Town's 21,000 residents became scattered across the country
zones in preparation for the lifting of the evacuation order
and difficult-to-return areas were designated in descending order of radiation levels in the air
and restoration of basic living infrastructure
the evacuation order was lifted on March 31
Residents are still unable to live in difficult-to-return areas where the evacuation order continues
a part of the difficult-to-return area was designated as a Designated Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Area
and the national government proceeded with decontamination and infrastructure restoration
and the evacuation order was lifted on March 31
the national government approved the Reconstruction and Revitalization Plan for Designated Returning Residential Areas
and efforts to lift the restrictions on the difficult-to-return areas are proceeding step by step
many residents have been forced to live as evacuees
either inside or outside Fukushima Prefecture
and have not been able to return to their hometowns
the town is working to improve the environment in cooperation with the national and prefectural governments so that residents can return as soon as possible
and to encourage them to want to return as soon as possible
Around 13 years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake
and we now have a good understanding of the impact and current situation in Namie Town
could you tell us about the projects that Namie is currently focusing on
including from the perspective of the SDGs
Namie Town was severely damaged by the nuclear power plant accident
but the town included the concept of "Community Development for Local Production and Consumption of Energy" in the Second Namie Town Recovery Plan
We are currently working to introduce renewable energy that does not rely on nuclear power or fossil fuels
and to build a smart community based on local production and consumption of energy
In March 2020, with the opening of the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R), one of the world's largest hydrogen production facilities using renewable energy, where demonstration tests will be conducted in Namie Town, we made the declaration to become a "Zero Carbon City" (net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050)
Namie Town formulated the Namie Town Global Warming Countermeasures Comprehensive Plan - Namie Energy Challenge 2035 - with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by fiscal 2035
with the aim of becoming an energy pioneer
we intend to convey to the whole country and the world how each small challenge will eventually become a major movement
Another initiative is the Fukushima International Research and Education Organization (F-REI)
F-REI was established in April 2023 with the aim of becoming a world-renowned "central institute for creative reconstruction" that will serve as dreams and hopes for realizing the reconstruction of Fukushima and Tohoku and contribute to economic growth and improvement of people's lives by driving the strengthening of our country's scientific and technology capabilities and industrial competitiveness
Namie Town and F-REI signed a basic agreement on collaboration and cooperation with the aim of contributing to the reconstruction and development of the Hamadori region in Fukushima Prefecture
the creative reconstruction of Fukushima and Tohoku
and the driving force of Japan's revitalization by promoting collaborative activities that make effective use of both sides’ resources
In recognition of these diverse new challenges
Takarajimasha won first place in two categories (General Sector
Young Households and Single Persons Sector) for towns with a population of less than 10,000 people in the 2024 edition of the 12 Best Rural Places to Live Ranking
which was announced in the February 2024 issue of the Rural Life Book published by Takarajimasha
The town will continue to make efforts to promote migration and settlement
including communicating the attractiveness of the region
I now understand the projects being undertaken in Namie Town and the link to the SDGs
I feel that these initiatives will make the town attractive
I would like to ask the Urban Renaissance Agency
The Urban Renaissance Agency has been issuing social bonds since fiscal 2020 and has started issuing sustainability bonds this fiscal year
Could you please explain the characteristics and purpose of the issuance of such bonds
In order to conduct our business in an eco-friendly manner
we formulated and declared our Environmental Policy in fiscal 2005
we are advancing activities aimed at contributing to the SDGs and achieving a decarbonized society
including promoting measures to combat global warming and conserving and creating the natural environment in cities
In order to promote measures to combat global warming
we formulated the UR-eco Plan 2008 in March 2008
which sets out an action plan to combat global warming
was partially revised in July 2022 to include new goals such as standardizing ZEH-equivalent specifications and the installation of photovoltaic power generation facilities in connection with the reconstruction of rental housing
in light of changes in international trends and social trends
such as the Japanese government's declaration of carbon neutrality in 2050
A new UR-eco Plan is scheduled to be formulated in 2024
all of our agency's projects received a third-party evaluation as social projects that contribute to solving social issues
we have been actively working for the environment in regional areas for more than 15 years
With the concepts of SDGs and ESG investment becoming more prevalent in society these days
and with the desire to leverage our eco-friendly business execution to raise funds as well as to increase our agency's presence
we obtained a third-party evaluation for sustainability finance in March 2023 and issued our first sustainability bonds in June 2023
The sustainability bonds issued by our agency are 100% green
and all proceeds will be used for green projects
Specific examples of green projects include the conversion of UR rental housing into double-glazed buildings during renovation
the transplanting and preservation of trees
and the acquisition of CASBEE and the use of natural energy in urban renewal projects
These results will be disclosed in future reports
In addition to the issuance of social bonds
I believe that the issuance of sustainability bonds has expanded the options available to investors in terms of contributing not only to solving traditional social issues but also to improving the environment
I also believe that it will contribute to the diversification of procurement methods for the Urban Renaissance Agency
please tell us the background behind Namie Town's decision to invest in the Urban Renaissance Agency's sustainability bonds
in accordance with the aims of the Local Autonomy Law
in order to manage the fund reliably and efficiently
a portion of the funds that can be managed over the long term is invested in bonds
I feel that there has been a growing movement among local governments to purchase SDGs bonds and declare their investment
Namie Town has also declared our intention to be a zero-carbon city
and since there is a field in which we can communicate both domestically and internationally
we have been promoting bond purchases with the intention of contributing to society
while giving top priority to security and efficiency
we purchase SDGs bonds such as green bonds
we make a "declaration of investment" which communicates our contribution to building a sustainable society both domestically and internationally
The project-related relationship with Namie Town was one of the factors behind the selection of the bonds issued by the Urban Renaissance Agency
We concluded a cooperation agreement with the Urban Renaissance Agency in March 2017 to promote the reconstruction of the town
and we received full support for the development of the Tanashio Industrial Park and the Minami Industrial Park
We are still receiving support for the improvement project around Namie Station for the reconstruction and revitalization of the downtown area
Although we had been paying attention to the project
we decided to invest in the project because the issuance of bonds with maturities was added in fiscal 2023
and the projects being undertaken by the Urban Renaissance Agency were consistent with Namie Town's investment policy
The number of local governments investing in SDGs bonds has increased significantly in recent years
we can see how the deep ties between the two sides when it comes to projects has boosted investment
Please share your thoughts after hearing this from Namie Town
We provide technical support for disaster preparedness and educational activities for recovery and reconstruction support to local governments during times of normalcy to make use of the experience we have gained in providing recovery and reconstruction support following the Great East Japan Earthquake
we provide active support to local governments in the event of a disaster
we provided technical support for the construction of emergency temporary housing and provided UR rental housing where disaster victims can live
we have received investment declarations from 50 local governments
we have been promoting the UR Furusato Support Project to convey the appeal of local communities to the residents of housing complexes and other people who are involved in the Urban Renaissance Agency
and to support local governments in revitalizing their communities
This project aims to connect the many issues local governments are concerned about
such as wanting people to visit for sightseeing
and facilities of UR Group companies where people from urban areas gather
and to provide opportunities and places to sell local products and promote tourism
as part of the UR Furusato Support Project
we opened "Machinotane," a matching space between "people" and "communities," in Nagoya City (attached to the UR Rental Shop Sakae Underground Shopping Street)
This is a permanent information exchange facility designed to support the revitalization of the local economy
and many local governments have put exhibits on display there
but we are implementing a variety of projects that contribute to solving social and environmental issues
and we aim to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by utilizing the funds invested by Namie Town and others
Thank you for discussing how you are working toward a common goal of revitalizing the local community while promoting recovery from the earthquake
We heard from Namie Town about the background behind the bond purchase
Do you have anything in particular that you would like to see the Urban Renaissance Agency address with the funds received through the bonds
Namie Town pays attention to how funds will be used when investing in SDGs bonds
I understand that 100% of the proceeds from sustainability bonds issued by the Urban Renaissance Agency will be used for green projects
Namie Town also believes that climate change
leads to torrential rainfall events and rising sea levels
and is an important issue related to disaster prevention and primary industries in the town
I expect the Urban Renaissance Agency to disclose what projects the invested funds were actually used for and what impacts they had
We will continue to create social value through community and lifestyle development while addressing various social issues and will continue to contribute to the SDGs
As we further promote carbon neutrality in the future
we believe investors will become more interested in the environment
in order to continue for our bonds to be preferred in the future
we will continue to consider various possibilities for enhancing information disclosure
We would like investors to understand how our business contributes to solving environmental and social issues before investing
We recognize that mutual understanding through dialogue with investors
such as the engagement and IR activities that we are conducting today
and we will continue to actively engage in dialogue with investors
I would like to ask you to provide comments to those people who are reading the text of this engagement dialogue
Since the establishment of the Japan Housing Corporation
our agency has contributed to the realization of "cities where people shine" through the development of safe
and comfortable communities and lifestyles
Social issues in recent years have become more difficult and complex
such as the declining birthrate and aging population
and increasingly severe and frequent natural disasters
By continuing to tackle these social issues
we hope to be an indispensable part of creating "cities where people shine." To that end
it is more important than ever to collaborate and partner with various entities
including local governments and private businesses
We will continue to promote solutions to social issues through collaboration and teamwork
and we hope to gain the understanding and support from as many people as possible
Namie Town continues to pursue new initiatives
Fishing boats propel themselves through the open ocean with flags flying
With farmers aiming for us to become the best flower town in Japan
cutting-edge technology to realize local production and local consumption of hydrogen
Namie Town is a place where new challenges arise every day
We will continue to develop as a town that welcomes new encounters and welcomes challengers with a warm heart
We hope that you will visit Namie Town as we overcome our hardships and head toward the future
it was not common for issuers and investors to meet face to face and have an opportunity to discuss each other's business and social significance
ESG bonds account for about 40% of the bond market
Nomura will work to further promote ESG bonds that connect issuers and investors and contribute to the improvement of environmental and social issues
Their sophomore mini-album 'Haute Couture' is due out next month
TWICE‘s Japanese sub-unit MISAMO have released a remake of Namie Amuro’s 2008 track ‘New Look’ in the lead-up to their second mini-album
The music video for ‘New Look’ features MISAMO’s Mina
Momo and Sana in a cinematic music video that blends nostalgic motifs and present-day themes in their visual that pays homage to fashion icon Twiggy
an English model best known for her prominence in the fashion world in the ’60s
/ Short hair so I can look like a tomboy / But I wanna get a new look / The fashion that goes well with this character / Just like that cover girl
‘New Look’ marks the first preview of MISAMO’s upcoming sophomore mini-album, ‘Haute Couture’, due out on November 6. According to TWICE’s Japanese website
the record is set to include seven tracks in total
‘Haute Couture’ will come over a year since they made their debut in July 2023 with ‘Masterpiece’, which featured the hit song ‘Do Not Touch’. “When we first heard that we were going to do MISAMO, we couldn’t really believe it,” Momo told NME in an interview at the time
Following the release of ‘Haute Couture’ next month, MISAMO are set to embark on a live tour of Japan later this year
The trio will be performing two nights at Saitama’s Belluna Dome on November 2 and 3
before heading to Osaka for a two-night concert in the Kyocera Dome on November 16 and 17
The world’s defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking what’s new and what’s next since 1952
tens of thousands were ordered to leave their homes in the vicinity of the damaged nuclear plant
An exclusive look at the land they reluctantly left behind
The de facto demise of Namie began in the chaotic hours after the quake struck on March 11.
"The forgotten town" was how the July issue of the popular magazine Bungei Shunjudescribed Namie, which never received official orders to evacuate, even as hydrogen explosions at units 1 and 3 spewed toxic particles across the Fukushima area. "We weren't forgotten," says Naka Shimizu, the mayor's aide. "We were ignored."
Yukichi, 62, dejectedly tapes windows as he looks at his beloved garden, now gone to seed. Junko, 59, dusts the family's Buddhist altar and gathers the few small items they're permitted to bring out of the zone: photos, Chinese herbal medicines, her daughter's kimono. She leaves behind their Buddhist memorial tablets. "There's no one else to protect our house," she says.
Namie's town hall has decamped to makeshift offices in Nihonmatsu. Its officials continue to issue birth certificates, keep track of the increasingly far-flung inhabitants, and consult experts about the radioactive cesium that has rendered Namie's 86 square miles uninhabitable.
Many residents had held out hope they might return once Fukushima Daiichi is stabilized, but prospects are grim. While Tepco, operator of the crippled plant, hopes the complex will be brought under control by the New Year, residents will not be allowed back in the foreseeable future, and the government is mulling plans to buy their homes.
As the soft rays of dusk cast a warm glow over the downtown landscape, a cool ocean breeze ruffles our suffocating Tyvek suits. For just a moment it is possible to forget that the Geiger counter hit a level about 600 times normal, a few miles down Route 6. Yukichi Shimizu, who used to farm rice and work in construction, is plaintive as he surveys his lovely but lifeless hometown. "Could it really be that unsafe to live here?"
After the disasters of March 11, tens of thousands were ordered to leave their homes in the vicinity of the damaged nuclear plant, their footprints now frozen in the mud.\n\n www.davidguttenfelder.com
Two dogs scrap on Okuma's empty streets. In the early days of the crisis the no-go zone was alive with roaming farm animals and pets: cows, pigs, goats, dogs, cats, even ostriches. Often defying police patrols and barricades, volunteer rescuers rounded up and decontaminated some pets, returning them to their owners, and fed others. But by midsummer, a number of the pets had perished of starvation and disease.\n\nwww.davidguttenfelder.com
Months after the tsunami, grass had sprouted from this wrecked car on the coast near Namie. Debris littered the coast of Fukushima in the aftermath of the storm; concern over radiation prevented immediate cleanup.\n\n www.davidguttenfelder.com
There were no provisions to evacuate livestock from the irradiated zone, and animals were abandoned.\n\n www.davidguttenfelder.com
A hog wandering the deserted streets of downtown Namie discovered this feed store, where it gorged itself, then napped.\n\n www.davidguttenfelder.com
Police wearing protective face masks guard a road leading into the zone in the city of Minami-Soma. The sign reads Keep Out.\n\n www.davidguttenfelder.com
Tattooed Toyoo Ide, 69, is one of the men taking advantage of the bathing facility set up by the Self-Defense Forces outside the Big Palette evacuation center. A lifelong employee of the nuclear power plant and self-described wise guy, Ide misses his home deeply: \"There's no water or electricity now, but if there were, I'd go back, radioactivity or not. I'd go back today. I can't live in a stranger's town.\"\n\n www.davidguttenfelder.com
Waters ruined a photo album left behind on Fukushima's tsunami-ravaged coast. In the pictures the children are dressed in fine kimonos worn during a ceremony for the traditional celebration when children turn three, five, and seven.\n\n www.davidguttenfelder.com
On a brief visit to her home in Namie, Junko Shimizu packs her husband's suit to take out of the zone.\n\n www.davidguttenfelder.com
At this home within the nuclear zone the earthquake dislodged and shattered a portrait of a family member. In Japan many families keep the memory of their forebears alive by displaying somber images of deceased patriarchs and matriarchs, who often stare down at a Buddhist family altar where incense is burned and prayers are offered to the dearly departed. Now the portraits preside over empty households.\n\n www.davidguttenfelder.com
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a film director known as the “father of Japanese cinema.” He moved to Okinawa in the early 1970s
He opened the Okinawa Actors School in 1983 and trained popular artists such as Namie Amuro
Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting
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National Report
Fukushima Prefecture–A significant shift in Japan's energy policy has sparked outrage among evacuees such as Ichiro Suenaga who were forced to flee their homes following the 2011 disaster at the Fukushima No
The draft of a new energy plan has removed the pledge to "reduce dependence on nuclear power as much as possible," a policy that was adopted in response to the triple meltdowns triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami
the removal of this line feels like a betrayal
"There are still things that need to be done before changing the policy," he said in anger
is more than 30 kilometers from the nuclear plant
radiation levels remain high in the mountainous area
passed away the year after the accident due to deteriorating health in the aftermath of the disaster
The evacuation order remains in place for Suenaga's neighborhood
When he returns temporarily to mow the grass
with old newspapers spread across the table
a sagging floor and animal droppings scattered about
“Tears come to my eyes when I think about all the hard work we put into building this house
I thought I would live here until I died,” Suenaga said
Having served as a community leader for his neighborhood for 12 years until this spring
Suenaga accompanied local officials to Tokyo to make requests to the government on behalf of the evacuees
he felt that public interest and concern about Fukushima had diminished over time
“The disaster has become something of the past in Tokyo,” he said
all nuclear power plants in the country were shut down
the government and utilities have since brought some back online one by one
This includes the Onagawa nuclear power plant in neighboring Miyagi Prefecture
The plant was also hit by the tsunami in the 2011 earthquake but escaped a disaster
As the head of the town's commerce and industry association
she understands the benefits that nuclear plants bring to the local economy
she cannot fully support the government’s return to nuclear power
“The line pledging reduced dependence on nuclear power should remain in the policy,” said Hachisuka
Thirteen years after the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl
evacuation orders are still in place for seven municipalities in the prefecture
forcing more than 25,000 people to remain displaced
the nation’s nuclear emergency declaration triggered by the accident has not been officially lifted
"The disaster is being forgotten while there are still people who cannot return to their homes," Hachisuka said
(This article was written by Akira Hatano and Nobuyuki Takiguchi.)
Nuclear plant hosts split over Japan’s reversed energy policy
Evacuees from nuclear disaster await Supreme Court ruling
Nuke evacuees allowed to go home in ‘difficult-to-return’ zone
Evacuees spend 1st night at home in Futaba since nuclear disaster
Kishida’s new nuclear policy revives thorny old questions
Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions
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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
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Work to construct the iconic wooden ring that surrounds the pavilions at Expo 2025
At 20 meters high and 2 kilometers in circumference
the Grand Ring contains 27,000 cubic meters of wood
making it one of the largest wooden structures in the world
The Grand Ring greets visitors to the pavilion area
(Courtesy Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition)
4,500 cubic meters of glued-laminated timber
or “glulam,” was supplied by Woodcore
The meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station triggered by the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami hit the neighboring town hard
Since the partial lifting of evacuation orders for the area in 2017
although the town’s population has only recovered to 2,200—one tenth of what it was before the disaster
in a partnership between Namie-based Asada Timber and Tōju Sangyō
A leading player in the recovery of the local agriculture
which the government-championed Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework identifies as a focus area
Woodcore has been contracted to operate the Fukushima Laminated-Timber Advanced Manufacturing Center (FLAM)
and is the most advanced facility of its type in Japan
Woodcore concentrates on manufacturing thick laminated timber products for use in large wooden buildings
FLAM’s first project was supplying lumber for use in the Osaka Expo
producing the pillars and beams that support the Grand Ring
“It is an honor to be able to greet Expo visitors from around the world with timber from Fukushima
and show them just how we’ve recovered.”
FLAM’s laminate production facility is 60 meters wide and 240 meters long
Asada Timber CEO and Woodcore director
FLAM is located in the Tanashio business park
While the site had been earmarked by the Tōhoku Electric Power Company for a nuclear power station
the utility donated the site to the Namie government
The vast FLAM site seen from a nearby hill
and performs every step of the process to turn logs into laminate itself
The facility can manufacture beams up to 12 meters long
It is also the first facility in Japan to feature a high output
high-frequency press that bonds laminate in around 10 minutes—a process that would take over eight hours if relying on natural drying—thereby enabling mass production
Thick laminated timber ready for shipping
A high-frequency press enables mass production
Asada explains: “While Asada Timber had expertise in lumber and in the production of thinner laminated timber
Tōju Sangyō had experience with thicker laminates intended for structural purposes
we’re now able to offer any conceivable timber product
rather than focusing on the residential market
engineered timber that is used for school gyms
The factory employs 50 staff
Asada frequently remarks that local lumber industry must not be allowed to disappear
Fukushima Prefecture is ranked fourth in Japan for forest area
and Namie has a long involvement in forestry
which means that the 2011 quake and tsunami hit just before its hundredth anniversary
Asada’s family was forced to leave Namie after the nuclear accident
staying with his in-laws in Chiba for a month before renting accommodation in Tokyo
Most lumber is sourced from within Fukushima: cedar from Tamura and larch from Minamiaizu
Thick
laminated structural timber has been used for the columns and beams in the building that houses the plant’s lumber facility
where he lived alone in an apartment—his family still in Tokyo—and worked a second job while aiming to restart his business
Wearing a radiation suit due to Namie’s location in the exclusion zone
Asada spent every spare moment tidying up the facility before a very low-key reopening in 2014
Due to the stigma associated with radioactive fallout
the business did not bounce back to its former glory
It could not use timber from the Namie region
and that meant there were no buyers for lumber sourced outside the area either
“People told me that if we stocked timber products from Namie
it would affect sales of timber from surrounding areas as well,” says Asada
at a time when there is less stigma around the issue
Asada Timber still targets the civil engineering sector—many members of the general public still worry about where their wood came from
Woodcore uses cesium counters to measure the radioactivity of logs when they are delivered
and of finished timber products before they are shipped
“we measure the radiation levels of every log
applying a radiation limit that is several times more stringent than that used overseas
only a few logs per year are rejected.”
The production line incorporates cesium counters
“Trees need to be harvested at the appropriate time
and new trees planted in their place.”
Oversized trees are also more difficult to saw
there has been interest in the fact that wooden buildings have a smaller carbon footprint than their reinforced-concrete and steel-framed counterparts
we can do more to prevent global warming by repeatedly harvesting and planting trees
Logs that are too large for standard saws are more labor-intensive to process
Over half of Japan’s plantations are more than 50 years old
This means that well-managed forests make everyone safer
While people tend to associate cutting down trees with environmental destruction
Asada says proudly: “The appropriate utilization of trees is imperative in Japan and in Fukushima
Woodcore will continue to use its advanced processing technology to fight global warming.”
Wood pieces left behind during production
are turned into woodchips and fuel for dryers
Offcuts are burned to generate heat
The facility dispatched its last consignment of timber for use in the Grand Ring at the end of March
the staff were busy working on an order for use in a different Expo building
“After all the Expo work is finished
We can do our bit by boosting the forestry sector
The town’s population is increasing gradually
but residents these days tend to live alone—you don’t see many children
It would be nice if this went back to being the kind of place where you saw children playing after school,” says Asada
The Namie government launched a project to redevelop the railway station precinct in autumn 2024
The government’s development proposal makes extensive use of timber
In addition to supermarkets and other commercial premises
the plan also includes large-scale public and private community housing
we can expect to see children playing here again
The proposed design for the Namie Station precinct
(Courtesy Namie government; © Kengo Kuma and Associates)
Laminated timber manufactured in Namie and lumber from Fukushima will be used for benches
While Woodcore has not officially won the contract
there are hopes that it will have a role in the project
and we will never see everyone who lived here in the past returning
to an extent that would have been unimaginable before the disaster
That is precisely why I want the government to make this somewhere that is impressive
and somewhere that serves as a model for other reconstruction projects,” says Asada
When the station precinct redevelopment is completed at the end of fiscal 2026
domestic and international visitors to Namie Station will be greeted by timber from Fukushima
Asada said emphatically at the end of his interview that he wanted Namie to be a happening place again
Banner photo: The nearly complete Grand Ring
© Hashino Yukinori of Nippon.com.)
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many owners left their pets behind as they evacuated the area
one former nuclear plant worker who felt a sense of responsibility for the situation stepped in to care for them.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); });
turned his home and his childhood home into an animal shelter
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Fukushima — A couple relocated their izakaya Japanese-style pub from Akita Prefecture to Namie
a few years ago as a way to help with recovery efforts taking place in the nuclear disaster-hit town
By Tatsuma Hirose / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer
The izakaya not only serves “a taste of Akita,” it also offers karaoke and a warm atmosphere for its customers
who are mostly workers involved in the recovery efforts
Masao Tochimoto and his wife Masako relocated izakaya Yamazato from Yurihonjo
to a space in front of JR Namie Station in Namie
The residents of Namie were forced to evacuate because of the 2011 accident at Fukushima No
which is popular among those involved in the town’s recovery efforts
has been operating as a bar with karaoke for about two years in response to requests from regulars for a place to sing
Yamazato has also been serving Oyadori ramen
a dish that is well-known in Yurihonjo and other nearby areas
Evacuation orders for Namie were partially lifted in March 2017
there are still only a few restaurants in front of the station
evacuated to Yurihonjo after the nuclear accident
and the two became close as they connected over raising sons as single parents
Tochimoto then began helping her out at the izakaya
Another reason Tochimoto returned to Namie is because his father
who lives in the neighboring city of Minami-Soma
in the hope that it would help the disaster-hit area
The couple said it was difficult to find a location because many of the available spaces were left untouched and food had been left to decay
Tochimoto said he continued to look for a space
has been serving ramen at Yamazato under the name Menya Yamazato
Genki quit his job at a construction company in Fukushima Prefecture to work there
The ramen and karaoke are said to be popular among the construction workers living in the town
Genki said the regulars found Yamazato to be warm and welcoming
Genki says that he uses a lot of chicken and negi green onions
for the ramen to make sure his customers can enjoy a hearty meal
which accounts for 70% of the ramen orders at Yamazato
can also be enjoyed in the evening when the bar is open
“The taste of Akita is being accepted in Namie,” Masako said
adding that a customer from Akita Prefecture seemed delighted to be able to eat the ramen in Namie
Tochimoto said the reconstruction of Namie is only half complete
by continuing to run Yamazato,” Tochimoto said
I hope that people from Akita Prefecture will come visit.”
rolling countryside of Minamisoma feels like the middle of nowhere
but it is actually at the heart of a critical strategy for Fukushima Prefecture
Inside a gleaming compound operated by Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework
a throng of startups are developing robots
rockets and drones within the city.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); });
The framework is a national project founded in 2017 with the aim of economically rebooting the region following triple meltdowns at the Fukushima No
1 nuclear plant caused by the 2011 earthquake-triggered tsunami
387 companies reside in 15 of Fukushima's municipalities
Fukushima Prefecture--The Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum here offers a tour like no other
participants get off the bus to measure radiation levels where they stand
The magnitude-9.0 earthquake that struck on March 11
generated tsunami that devastated Pacific coastal areas of the Tohoku region in northeast Japan and knocked out cooling systems at the Fukushima No
The Futaba-based museum has offered a number of bus tours since the disaster
but this is the first designed to give people a sense of how radiation
which remains a huge problem even after 13 years
transformed the lives of the former inhabitants
Fifteen people from both within and outside Fukushima Prefecture joined the inaugural Aug
a ruptured section of road and Futaba’s municipal Minami Elementary School
where pupils’ satchels and other belongings remain exactly where they left them when they fled the building
Tour participants used monitoring equipment to measure ambient dose rates there
The government has set a long-term goal of reducing ambient radiation levels to 0.23 microsievert per hour
which is the equivalent of 1 millisievert per year
The dose rate in the vicinity of the museum was only 0.05 microsievert per hour
But the radiation level in the bus rose to 0.3 microsievert per hour as it traveled through a government-designated “difficult-to-return zone.”
a curator with the museum who served as a guide for the tour
continue to hinder efforts at rebuilding.”
A woman in her 60s who came from the city of Koriyama in the prefecture said
And 80-year-old Koriyama resident Yasushi Takada said
“As I saw communities utterly destroyed by the tsunami and the nuclear disaster
I felt as if I were hearing the voices of those who are no longer there.”
A special exhibition titled “Fukushima and radiation” is currently running at the memorial museum through Nov
It charts the consequences and challenges that resulted from the tsunami and the nuclear meltdown
The latest bus tour was organized in a broader framework of that project
A second bus tour to measure air dose rates will be held at no cost on Oct
13 for a maximum of 20 participants on a reservation-only basis
For further information, visit the memorial museum website at (https://www.fipo.or.jp/lore/en)
3/11 museum updates displays of nuke crisis to give truer picture
Museum on 2011 disaster to add details on what went wrong
A wood-processing company in a town hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan 14 years ago is producing building materials for a key symbol of the upcoming 2025 World Exposition in the city of Osaka
based in the town of Namie in Fukushima Prefecture
is supplying materials for the massive ring-shaped roof called the Grand Ring
one of the world's largest wooden structures and the centerpiece of the Osaka Expo
which will be held for six months from April.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); });
"The ring is a symbol of Fukushima's reconstruction," said Hidehiro Asada
"I want many people to actually feel the reconstruction
YOKOHAMA, Japan – Through its Nissan Ambition 2030 vision
to produce energy for local use and become carbon neutral
Nissan will soon begin verification tests of the energy management system it has established in Namie
The energy management system utilizes an autonomous control system that generates 100% renewable energy for charging electric vehicles by sending electricity to and from them
Two problems faced by renewable energy are fluctuations in power generation caused by weather conditions and an imbalance in electricity supply and demand
Combining large-capacity EV batteries with a system that independently charges and discharges them allows renewable energy to be used more effectively and stabilizes the power grid
ContactKoji Okuda or Azusa Momose+81 (0)45-523-5552nissan_japan_communications@mail.nissan.co.jp
and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) today entered a Carbon Neutrality Partnership Agreement
and Namie are located in the Futaba District of Fukushima Prefecture
Following the partial lifting of evacuation orders due to the Great East Japan earthquake and other factors
reconstruction efforts are expected to accelerate
The hope is that focusing on carbon neutrality will improve sustainability for the region
Toyota is also implementing initiatives in collaboration with a host of partners to contribute to reconstruction in Fukushima Prefecture
It has entered into this partnership in hopes of utilizing the results of its research and development in the agricultural field to contribute to carbon neutrality and reconstruction in the three towns
The following table details the actions of each party under this agreement
the aim is also to collaborate with the Research Association of Biomass Innovation for Next Generation Automobile Fuels
which is a collaboration of six private companies
that is researching efficient systems for ethanol production in Okuma
One possibility under study is using crops grown on agricultural land in Okuma and Futaba as raw materials for bioethanol fuel production
and Toyota will continue to deepen their collaboration to drive reconstruction after the earthquake in the future
This partnership will make positive contributions to achieving carbon neutrality by reducing transportation-related CO2 emissions through low-carbon circular agriculture coupled with local consumption of local produce in terms of fertilizer and livestock feed
As part of efforts to pass our beautiful "Home Planet" to the next generation
Toyota has identified and is helping to solve issues faced by individuals and overall society
which Toyota calls "Achieving Zero," hoping to help reduce the negative impacts caused by these issues to people and the environment to zero
Toyota is also looking "Beyond Zero" to create and provide greater value by continuing to diligently seek ways to improve lives and society for the future
Toyota Motor Corporation works to develop and manufacture innovative
safe and high-quality products and services that create happiness by providing mobility for all
We believe that true achievement comes from supporting our customers
Since our founding over 80 years ago in 1937
we have applied our Guiding Principles in pursuit of a safer
as we transform into a mobility company developing connected
we also remain true to our Guiding Principles and many of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals to help realize an ever-better world
ShareSaveCommentInnovationGamingCrystal Kay On Working With Yoko Kanno, Namie Amuro And PikachuByOllie Barder
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights
Ollie Barder covers Japanese pop-culture and gaming from Tokyo.Follow AuthorOct 16
10:06pm EDTShareSaveCommentThe wonderfully talented musician
Crystal Kay is very much a versatile musician
she has had a vibrant career in Japanese music
I wanted to know more about how Crystal had gotten into music and what she liked to do as a kid
which is why I don’t have an accent when I speak English
I only mention that because people always ask
It was a like an “America” within the base gates
and housing like you see in the US suburbs
It was such a beautiful little utopia and tight knit community where everyone looked out for each other
Mom and I had to move off the base after my parents split up
but I was still able to finish up to high school at my American school
It’s such a beautiful port town and I love the fact that it has a mix of the East and the West in the historical buildings
since it was one of the first ports to open to the Western world
It is so relaxed and calm with its own color
“My mother sang at clubs and was signed to major record label when I was a child
My father was a serviceman and played the bass in a band
there was always music playing in the house when we weren’t at a gig or show
I was always my parents’ plus one to all the concerts they attended
from Diana Ross to Bobby Brown to Michael Jackson
I was always the family entertainer whenever there were get-togethers and pool parties
I was also really into coloring and had so many coloring books
Mom would always keep me in the dressing room during her gigs so I would just sit there and color
I always outlined my drawings before coloring them in
Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase
This then segued into how Crystal started out professionally in terms of her musical career
“My first job was a commercial jingle for the game
My mother’s friend owned a production company that produced jingles for commercials
he said he needed a kid’s voice and asked my mother
“Can I borrow Crystal?” And that’s how it all started
“I actually stopped watching anime after Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball so to be honest
I didn’t really follow the ones I sang the themes for
After seeing people’s reactions to the anime and because of their love for it
I started to notice how powerful anime was
Now I feel very grateful and proud that I have the opportunity to sing all of these theme songs for iconic anime
He would be ‘pika pika-ing’ throughout the song like an adlib and it was so cute
I remember I couldn’t stop laughing when we were in the studio
We also had a Pikachu version of the artwork for my single
which is such a collector’s item if you think about it
“Moving back gaming, I did sing a song for Bust a Groove I was around 8 or 9 (or maybe younger) and this was to my debut
but I remember this being produced by a family friend and he wanted me to sing
so it was pretty smooth but I do remember being directed to sing with energy and to have fun
Crystal then talked more about her work with Yoko Kanno and Namie Amuro
I remember doing take after take and feeling sleepy recording the background harmonies
hence I was so sleepy because we had gone till pretty late
“I added the English parts in the song because one of the producers asked me if I could add words in that post verse section
this song was about a person’s growth and finding themselves through life
so I thought a direct “gotta find myself” lyric would be fitting
It felt like my aunt was vocally directing me the whole time because she would be so loving and gentle especially because I was still a child
“It’s also still hard to believe that I worked with Namie Amuro
I grew up buying her singles and copying her fashion style
When it was confirmed she was down to do a collaboration
I set a goal for myself to get as fit as I can for when I stand next to her the day of the music video shoot
I am glad I did as I am very proud of the outcome
“We didn’t get to record the song together as she was such a busy person
but Namie did have me as a super surprise guest on her tour
This was one of my top three most nervous moments in my career
Singing with my idol since elementary school
and performing with her right before she left the limelight
and I will never forget that amazing experience
I remember we recorded separately because he only could record late at night and I had school
I had to record my parts in the afternoon because I needed to do homework
and get back home after the studio before getting up for my school at 4:50 am
“I feel they are pioneers of innovative western influenced J-Pop
M-Flo gave me confidence that I could use more English if I wanted to
there was an unspoken rule that mainstream songs in Japan couldn’t be in English
I lived with that most of my career up until then
but when I heard M-flo used almost 50% Japanese
So I can do that if I felt it sounded better or cooler!” M-flo gave me hope
“BoA is my sister
I believe she is the pioneer of K-pop in Japan
It was her and Tohoshinki that came into the J-pop scene that really paved the way for the rest that followed
I loved what BoA was doing and the fact that the girl can dance
It turned out we shared the same choreographer
so one day she set up a dinner date for BoA and I to meet
becoming friends and finding familiarity in each other in this industry
I think it’s so special to have peers you can share this journey together with
because being an artist or a performer can be very lonely sometimes
of which Verbal and I were the features on
I respect the hell out of her and her legacy as an artist
I wanted to know what Crystal had planned for the future
“I plan to release an album and do an anniversary tour in Japan
especially after my two recent shows in LA
There has been an outpour of comments wanting me to perform in multiple cities in the US
So many of those comments were from the East Coast
“I have always seen myself as an international artist and want to perform for more people around the globe.”
Read my Forbes blog here
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Japanese version
was rumored to be the producer behind the song "Stranger"
but his name is nowhere to be found in the notes.)
a well-intentioned but awkward empowerment anthem
and the love-as-schoolyard whistler "It"
relegated to the bonus track "What I Did for Love"
The other big tripping point is Amuro's decision to primarily sing in English
Her English-speaking fans tend to mock her relentlessly for this
Yet her lyrics have never been a high point even in Japanese
and on _genic she delivers her words directly and with a confidence that smooths over any small mistakes
but everything clicks together just right to create a disorientingly catchy number
The county commissioners announced during their agenda meeting Monday that former controller Michael Namie will serve as their chief of staff
Namie was chosen by the commissioners to fill the position vacated last month by John Haynes
who has been in that role since he was hired in January 2020
who attended the agenda meeting as a visitor
objected during public comment to Namie’s appointment without a public vote and afterward said she planned to file an open records request on the matter
The commissioners cited a provision in the state’s county code regarding salary board votes to create or remove positions and regulate personnel salaries
A public vote was not held for Haynes when he was hired two years ago
although the salary board voted at the time to create the position and its salary
not an appointment,” solicitor Jana Grimm said
The only vote would be if something changed
There’s nothing that requires it (in county code).”
Grimm said it’s the same process followed by neighboring counties
and one that Washington County officials have been following for years
The commissioners made a similar appointment in September when former Washington fire chief Gerry Coleman was selected to serve as the county’s public safety director without a public vote after the position became vacant upon the retirement of Jeff Yates
an attorney for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association in Harrisburg
said all new hires and terminations should be approved at a public meeting under the state’s Sunshine Law
“I don’t know why there would be hesitancy for this,” Melewsky said
“Why wouldn’t you want to hire someone at a public meeting?”
Melewsky questioned how the commissioners are interpreting the salary board provision of the county code in making such personnel decisions
but I don’t think it would be a winning one,” Melewsky said
Any citizen can file a civil complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County claiming a violation of the Sunshine Law within one year
It would then be up to a judge to determine whether a government agency violated the law
and whether it should pay a civil penalty or take corrective action
It was not known if Hough or anyone else planned to take such action
But Melewsky said the best alternative would be to hold a public vote on such positions
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“What’s more important is what happens in the future,” Melewsky said
“It’s more about taking the corrective actions – the public has the right to know about hiring and firings.”
who will be paid an annual salary of $100,786 as chief of staff
decided not to run for reelection last year after serving 20 years as county controller
It was not known exactly when Haynes left his position or why
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This pop star has sold more albums in Japan than Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Kesha have moved in the U.S. combined
2017Save this storySaveSave this storySavePhoto: Getty ImagesThe golden rule of stardom is always leave your audience wanting more
and no one understands that better than Japanese music star Namie Amuro
Amuro has been making hits since the mid-’90s
hip-hop-influenced sound that has proven influential
She has been the reigning queen of the J-pop scene for 25 years
inspiring both the music and the style of the acts that followed her
In a business defined by its revolving door of teenage talent
she is one of a few performers to successfully make the transition from girl group member to solo act and maintain her relevance for decades
Amuro has created songs that have become iconic—her track “Can You Celebrate” remains the top-selling Japanese single by a solo artist more than 20 years after its release—while cultivating an image as a rule-breaker
which makes her latest move all the more fascinating
she announced that she’d be stepping away from public life
She also embraced the bling-y luxury aesthetic of ’90s hip-hop videos
helping to popularize the oversized streetwear look in Japan
Amuro often challenged Japanese social mores by simply living her life
When she decided to get tattoos in honor of her son and mother
her much-discussed body art broke with tradition
As she was one of the only women in J-pop to sport prominent ink
Likewise her status as a performer over the age of 30 who fearlessly sports sexier styles
made her an anomaly within the teen-focused music scene
But fellow university students are working to get them excited about the democratic process and engaged with local elections
University of Washington students Kenai India
Tara Namie and Ethan Yamamoto chime in on the upcoming election
(India and Yamamoto photos: Curran Nielsen for Cascade PBS; Namie photo: courtesy of Tara Namie)
Four years after a record number of young voters helped elect President Joe Biden
many young people are planning to abstain from the upcoming presidential election
the matchup between Biden and former President Donald Trump was an emotional election during a stressful period in the nation’s history
Young voters motivated by issues like climate change
racial injustice and the COVID-19 pandemic voted in record numbers – more than half of registered voters aged 18-29 turned in a ballot – according to several political advocacy groups
young people have expressed their reluctance to vote in a rematch between the same two candidates
who was not eligible to vote in the past presidential election
does not plan on casting a ballot this year
“I’m not a fan of Trump and I’m not a fan of Biden,” said the University of Washington junior from Scotts Valley
ill-spoken and do not convey a sense of confidence and command that he feels is necessary for our president
“I feel too much personal responsibility for whoever is president,” he said
but I would still feel personal responsibility for when problems arise.”
also may not vote but because he doesn’t feel strongly one way or another
The UW senior from Seattle voted for Biden in the previous election
a 20-year-old UW political science major from Washington
is tired of the prospect of another man being in office
“In the conversation that we have about politics
Ashpes is the communication director for Young Democrats at the University of Washington
and is passionate about politics but discouraged about the upcoming presidential election
“It’s just past the point where I feel like I’m on a path where there’s going to be a country or political world where I’m able to insert myself
and accomplish what I would want to do in office – or put the people who I want there.”
UW senior Joey Krueger shares a similar sentiment
I don’t look at either of these candidates and feel any semblance of hope
but in a way that may surprise some: “I’m gonna vote for everybody but the president.”
He is one of the developers of a tool called Clear Vote
It was made to increase interest in voting
their focus is on improving voter turnout for local elections
Washington set a new record for low voter turnout in 2023
36.4% of registered voters turned in their ballots last fall
“Clear Vote is a platform for local voters,” Krueger said
“Not just to engage with the voting process
Organizations like Clear Vote argue that the presidential election is one of the least important elections yet it garners the most attention
They claim that policy implementation at the local level more directly affects the public
“We’re so focused on the president,” Krueger said
“We’re so focused on Joe Biden and Donald Trump that we forget the real source of change is from people we can directly interact with – city council members
Some young people feel no hesitation about voting in the upcoming presidential election
a political science major at the University of Washington
works as a constituent services intern in Sen
“I think this stuff is so interesting,” she said
“It’s all about reading human behavior and trying to predict human behavior
Namie understands why some people are apprehensive
She knows that politics can be exhausting and that many are exasperated over repeating the same election four years later
“So that’s alarming for people who really don’t care.”
Namie believes that one of the biggest contributing factors to young voters’ reluctance is their desire for change
They are worn down by the slow pace at which the federal government solves problems and fear that the future will be more of the same
A repeat election with the same candidates from four years ago reinforces that fear
“I totally get the exhaustion of hearing these two names and wanting none of the above,” Namie said
She is worried that so many people are putting their faith in voting for a third party when she believes there is no chance for a third-party candidate to win
She understands wanting a president who represents the voter
but she urges people to remember that you’re not just voting for one person when voting for the president
“The administration is what represents you
the large number of other elected officials are much more accessible and have a direct hand in implementing policy
a community organizer for the University of Washington student government
echoes Krueger’s statement on the importance of local elections
“But even more important is municipal and state,” the business major said
“I think municipal elections are really important because it’s like the tangible impact that you kind of see.”
Huskies on the Hill is a tri-campus lobbying effort in which students from all three University of Washington campuses go to Olympia with their legislative agenda
described how the student government-sponsored group tries to encourage young voters by making the act of voting itself more fun
“We’ll recruit small bands that are a part of campus,” Ugaddan said
“We’ll have them perform while people come into the HUB Lyceum and they can place their vote.”
When they are not organizing their lobbying efforts
Huskies on the Hill also runs a Get Out the Vote drive which
“If you don’t like the way something’s done
“That’s really the only way that we can change any of the systems that we think need repair.”
the 23-year-old president of College Republicans at the University of Washington
recognizes voter reluctance as a large issue for all parties in the upcoming election
The political science and international security major from Tacoma is also working to change the narrative around the election
“I’ve been trying to get people to see the lighthearted moments in politics,” Vo said
you think of it as serious and [how] the fate of the nation rests on our hands
And I think that bearing responsibility adds a reluctance to that topic
And so education is definitely part of that.”
aims to work with other clubs to organize Get Out the Vote drives in order to get young voters excited to vote
“So you need to get people excited about not just necessarily the candidates that you have,” said the political science and history major from Mountlake Terrace
“If you can get people excited about the democratic process and exercising your rights
we can actually get the policies that we want and we need to be enacted.”
Organizers and voters agree the answer to voter reluctance is education
“Stuff like this is not taught in our public schools and it should be,” Tara Namie said
“I’m a big believer that education can solve all of our problems
So the fact that it’s not prioritized is really alarming to me.”
Huskies on the Hill sees voter education as an investment in the future
“It’s about getting involved now and getting educated now
seeing the way processes work now,” Maya Matta said
“So that one day hopefully we don’t have to be put in a situation where we have two candidates that we're very unhappy about.”
Namie believes if organizations are able to change the way voting is taught
then more voters will understand the impact of casting a ballot
“People don’t care because they’re not taught that it’s important,” Namie said
In response to this need, Clear Vote has developed a political measurement tool called the Politigram
which helps voters track candidates in five categories: prosperity
would promote policies beneficial to different cultures and push for collective decision-making
A high liberty score would show more individualist principles
a transparent decision-making process and honesty in following through on campaign processes
explains how these categories are more related to the reasoning behind political actions rather than the actions themselves
“We’re actually going to track candidates and now we’re going to give that power back to the people,” Krueger said
these students and young people plan to spend months educating voters about how they can affect policy
Their almost-universal goal is to increase turnout and make sure young voters recognize the power their vote holds
very important voting demographic,” Young Democrat Evan Asphes said
“You are involved and you should be putting people into office who are going to advocate for you.”
We rely on donations from readers like you to sustain Cascade PBS's in-depth reporting on issues crticial to the PNW
Curran Nielsen is a University of Washington student studying Journalism and Global and Regional Studies
She can be reached on Twitter @curran_nielsen
Taylor Richmond is a University of Washington student studying journalism and public interest communication
You can find him online @BTayOkay.
As Republican legislators opt for ballot harvesting
Democrats lean into town halls in predominantly red districts to engage new or reluctant voters
TOPNewsFiscal 2020Asahi Kasei’s electrolysis system starts world’s largest-scale hydrogen supply operation at the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field in Namie
Asahi Kasei and its subsidiary Asahi Kasei Engineering Corp
started operation of hydrogen supply at the alkaline water electrolysis system having the world-leading scale of 10 MW[1] in Namie
Asahi Kasei Engineering received the order for the alkaline water electrolysis system from Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corp
The system was installed at the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R)
as a technological development project[2] of NEDO (Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization)
Able to produce hydrogen at the rate of 1,200 Nm3 per hour[3] (rated power operation)
it is the world’s largest-scale system comprising a single stack
several trial operations of the system were performed to confirm that the product hydrogen met the required quality standards
with hydrogen supply operation beginning in March
While hydrogen supply operation continues
the system’s performance in response to fluctuating power input will be evaluated
and its full-fledged operation at the core of FH2R is scheduled to begin this summer
Through practical application of its Aqualyzer™ alkaline water electrolysis system[4] based on original technology
Asahi Kasei will provide solutions to society for clean environmental energy in accordance with its mission of contributing to life and living for people around the world
Operating principle of the alkaline water electrolysis system
Cosmos Karaoke is a lively karaoke bar in the middle of Namie
a small city that is slowly reopening after the 2011 earthquake
tsunami and nuclear accident devastated the area
Minza Lee (right) is the driving force behind the bar
a small coastal city in eastern Fukushima prefecture
there was a chorus of construction noise this spring
bringing workers to string up power lines and rip down deserted houses
all was quiet — except in one small corner of a tiny strip mall
laughter and maybe a hit of tambourine floated on the wind
traveling down empty sidewalks and deserted streets
a close-knit community of farmers and fishermen
dotted with rice paddies and pastures and a bustling downtown full of shops
is served by the recently rebuilt main train line
which connects with major cities like Sendai and Tokyo
But on March 11, 2011, an earthquake and tsunami triggered explosions at three reactors at the nearby Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
while the tsunami devastated the coastal area
Those who survived were forced to evacuate
to escape the plumes of radioactive material carried by the wind after the nuclear explosions
Namie became a ghost town — completely sealed off from the public for six years
places like downtown Namie have reopened and are starting to come back to life — even if only a fraction of the population has returned
The Cosmos Karaoke Bar caters to that fraction
hoping to bring a sense of community back to a town that once thrived on it
Construction scaffolding is set up in front of some of Namie's downtown buildings
Namie has reopened and is starting to come back to life — even if only a fraction of the population has returned
two giant screens on either side of the room flashed Japanese lyrics while a dozen patrons
shaking tambourines and clutching ceramic cups filled with sake and tall glass mugs of beer
when the government declared a national emergency because of the coronavirus pandemic
Cosmos Karaoke had to close under government orders
in an effort to stop the virus from spreading
although business has been slower than before
Decorative figurines sit next to a container of hand sanitizer just inside the entrance of Cosmos Karaoke
a 63-year-old South Korean woman who has lived in Japan for decades
greeting every customer by name and often singing along
she wore a tight leather jacket embroidered with flowers and a big yellow skirt and a sparkly top as she wandered around the room
urging customers to eat more in a motherly sort of way
she came to Namie from Fukushima City as a volunteer
helping to clean up debris and abandoned buildings
with the idea of bringing it back from disaster
helping to bring it to life again — even though many of her friends thought it was a bad idea
You're crazy!' But the more they pushed back
So she moved to Namie for good and opened this bar named after the town flower — one of the most popular blooms in Japan
long posters on the walls showing pink and purple cosmos flowers
which appear to be dancing to the near-constant music
The room is filled with glittery blue velvet booths topped with big floral pillows
The ceiling is painted like a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds
Everything was rotting and falling apart," Lee said in March
"So I decided that I had to bring the light
the ceilings — as if wanting to show evidence that she accomplished what she had set out to do
tambourines sit on a stool ready for use during group singalongs
Minza Lee dishes up bowls of kimchi to serve to customers
with no set menu — plates of kimchi and rice cakes started flowing as soon as customers sat down
It's one of the few places to get food in town
Namie has seen progress and new businesses have sprung up
There are several ramen shops open for lunch and a few new hotels
The main train line was recently rebuilt to connect with major cities like Sendai
But there isn't much entertainment for the 1,000 or so people who have come back to live here
That's why Cosmos opens in the late afternoon — for them
three friends in their 70s toasted one another over plates of seafood and scallion pancakes and grilled pork-belly lettuce wraps
They try to meet up as often as they can and remember the lives they once had together in the town
Masato Yamazaki (left) chats with a friend while selecting the next song to sing; Shigeo Kobayashi belts out lyrics at Cosmos Karaoke
The friends try to meet up as often as they can and remember the lives they once had together in Namie
"We used to all meet up in our old neighborhood
except for the animals that have taken over our homes," said Masato Yamazaki
He said he wished that Cosmos Karaoke had even more customers
He pointed out that his friends were drinking iced oolong tea
Yamazaki's favorite tunes are old Japanese love songs — which he sang often that March night
chatting with customers and urging them to eat more
The construction workers who've been painstakingly rebuilding the town have also moved here
sat alone in a booth next to a pile of tambourines
He moved to Namie to empty out and tear down the rotting houses that have been sitting abandoned for nearly a decade
"There was no one on the streets — not a single person
Construction worker Takashi Togashi moved to Namie to empty out and tear down some of the rotting houses that have been sitting abandoned for nearly a decade
"there was no one on the streets — not a single person
where he enjoys singing songs like ABBA's "Dancing Queen."
Sometimes I'll open a refrigerator that hasn't been opened in nine years
But then he found Cosmos Karaoke and finally had a way to blow off some steam and decompress after the long days
Togashi picked up a microphone and put on ABBA's "Dancing Queen." As the opening piano riff blasted from the speakers
Lee said this is exactly why she committed to opening this bar — to bring people together
"I know my contribution — a karaoke bar — is small," she said
And as the chorus of "Dancing Queen" blasted over the speakers and the small crowd joined in
it was clear everyone else in the room agreed
and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) signed a Basic Agreement today for the Establishment of a Mobile Retail Business that Uses a Fuel Cell Vehicle in Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Bases (Basic Agreement)
The two municipalities and two companies involved in the Basic Agreement aim to support residents experiencing difficulties with everyday shopping
through the establishment of a mobile retail business
Drawing on respective resources and expertise
the intention is to contribute to regional sustainability and environmental conservation to stimulate reconstruction efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake
the four signatories aim to resolve regional issues
and build sustainable cities of the future
Under the specific initiatives of the Basic Agreement
will launch on June 10 a mobile retail business serving Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Bases and other areas in Futaba Town and Namie Town where residents have an acute need for shopping support
the business will seek to support local residents with shopping and aim to create a community that will foster peace of mind among both residents set to return home to the two towns
and those who intend to relocate to those areas
it is hoped that the business will expedite the lifting of evacuation orders for Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Bases in Futaba Town and Namie Town
working towards the realization of a carbon-neutral society by 2050
wish to contribute to the creation of a sustainable community of the future that utilizes hydrogen
the use of the world's first* hydrogen-powered fuel cell (FC) mobile retail vehicle will be implemented
Recognizing that the retail sector is part of a region's critical infrastructure
AEON TOHOKU opened the AEON Namie Store in July 2019 to support the reconstruction of the Hamadori region of Fukushima Prefecture
which incurred significant damage from the Great East Japan Earthquake and ensuing nuclear disaster
Toyota is working together with various partners
mainly in collaboration with Fukushima Prefecture―including Namie Town
where the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field is located―and is examining how hydrogen-based technologies can be implemented to help build cities of the future using hydrogen generated in Fukushima
and Toyota intend to deepen their partnership
and create new services for the benefit of local residents
face the challenge of passing on the lessons of the disaster to younger workers
the proportion of prefectural government officials at departments under the control of their respective governors who were hired after the disaster 14 years ago stood at 43.9% in Iwate and 45.7% in Miyagi
while the figure was 48.6% as of April 1 last year in Fukushima.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); });
many prefectural officials who were involved in front-line operations in the immediate aftermath of the massive earthquake and tsunami are retiring
driving generational shifts at their respective workplaces
Rex Parris of the City of Lancaster visited his "Smart Sister City" counterparts in Namie
where the two municipalities engaged in discussions on how to advance a hydrogen-powered future
The cities signed a Memorandum of Understanding last year in which they agreed to exchange best practices around hydrogen innovation
The two cities have both been recognized as leaders in hydrogen technology
with Lancaster housing hundreds of millions of dollars in clean hydrogen investment and Namie the largest solar-to-hydrogen facility in the world
the transition to hydrogen represents not only a step away from fossil fuel power
but also a decisive pivot from nuclear after the town was devastated by the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011
Part of Mayor Parris's visit included laying flowers on the graves of those lost to the disaster
"This visit to our Sister City of Namie made clear the need to future proof our city's energy infrastructure
particularly as the specter of climate-caused disaster looms ever larger," said Mayor Parris
"Upon my return to the City of Lancaster I pledge to work closely with our City Council to ensure that Lancaster is prepared for potential catastrophes as a means of protecting our city's citizens and future."
Mayor Parris's visit also included touring some of Namie's world-class hydrogen facilities such as the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field
where the mayor exchanged ideas on how to advance this fuel of the future
The trip was capped with a traditional Samurai ceremony
in which Mayor Parris was placed in traditional Samurai attire
Let our cities be an example of what can be achieved when we come together to create future-looking solutions that serve us all
I thank the city of Namie for these lessons
and for their generosity of time and spirit."
Mayor Parris's visit to Namie was part of a larger trip to Japan
where he presented on Lancaster's clean energy trajectory at World Smart Energy Week in Tokyo
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When Japanese pop diva Namie Amuro took the music scene by storm
she not only captivated throngs of girls and women with her performances but inspired them with her fashion
spawning the "Amuraa" look in the mid-1990s
redefined what was "cool" in Japan's fashion industry and inspired female fans -- called Amuraa -- to copy her style
(A TV ad for makeup brand Kose)[Supplied photo]
known to sing and dance a la Janet Jackson
is now 40 and retiring from the limelight on Sunday after a career of more than 25 years
Fans of all ages have been hitting up Tokyo's Shibuya district
is among the new fans Amuro has drawn in recent years
and said Amuro's fashion can resonate across generations
"I wasn't born during the Amuraa generation
Nishio was clad in typical Amuro fashion from head to toe and donned earrings from fast selling fashion brand H&M items worn by Amuro
a trendy fashion shopping mall holding a campaign in tribute to Amuro
with shops selling items including miniskirts and boots reminiscent of Amuraa
An employee of Esperanza shoe shop at Shibuya109 attributes the popularity of thick-soled long and short boots to Amuro's retirement and this year's trend toward the '90s fashion
(In front of Shibuya Station in Tokyo in August 2018)
Amuro is also a poster girl for makeup brand Kose and on the front cover of a number of fashion magazines
I'd think we'd have to buy that," said Yukie Matsuo
who was in junior high school during the Amuraa days
Her teenage daughters share her admiration for the star
Amuro is "a fashion icon who has a broad appeal from teens to 40s," Kouta Maruyama
media promotion division general manager of Shibuya109 Entertainment Corp.
a Kyoritsu Women's Junior College professor knowledgeable on youth fashion and trends
the Amuraa phenomenon was not just about dressing up
Watanabe said Amuro was a guidepost for those who wanted to stand out from the crowd through fashion and not cater to men's taste
Amuraa would also eventually pave the way for a fashion trend known as "gyaru" -- a Japanese transliteration of gal -- to dominate in Shibuya in the 1990s
A typical gyaru would have long bleached hair
wear long false eyelashes and revealing clothes
Amuro was 20 and at the peak of her career when she married and gave birth to a son
She has "gone beyond a fashion icon" to being a "role model for women" on how they can live
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Five years after the nuclear power plant meltdown
a journey through the Fukushima evacuation zone reveals some high levels of radiation and an overriding sense of fear
the psychological damage is far more profound than the health effects
Japan’s Highway 114 may not be the most famous road in the world
It doesn’t have the cachet of Route 66 or the Pan-American Highway
It passes through what for the past five years has been one of the most radioactive landscapes on the planet – heading southeast from the Japanese city of Fukushima to the stricken nuclear power plant
through the forested mountains where much of the fallout from the meltdown at the plant in March 2011 fell to earth
winding through abandoned villages and past overgrown rice paddy fields
I traveled its length to assess the aftermath of the nuclear disaster in the company of Baba Isao
an assemblyman who represents the town of Namie
located just three miles from the power plant and one of four major towns that remain evacuated
the radiation levels seemed scarily high – still too high for permanent occupation
was the psychological and political fallout from the accident
While the radiation – most of it now from caesium-137
a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 30 years – is decaying
it is far from clear that this wider trauma has yet peaked
Fukushima is going to be in rehab for decades
a town on Highway 114 that is a gateway to the mountains beyond
These mountains are where the fallout was greatest
and the forests that cover most of their slopes have retained the most radioactivity
The mountains make up most of the government-designated “red zone,” where radiation doses exceed 50 millisieverts a year and which are likely to remain uninhabited for many years
A second “yellow zone” has doses of 20-50 millisieverts
where returning may soon be possible; and a third “green zone,” with less than 20 millisieverts
and an organized return is under way or planned
Zones are re-categorized as radioactivity decays and hotspots are decontaminated
I took with me a Geiger counter that measured gamma radiation
the main source of radiation for anyone not eating contaminated food
the road was largely empty and houses sat abandoned and overgrown
houses we measured at the roadside had radiation doses equivalent to only around 2 millisieverts per year
a tenth of the government threshold for reoccupation
radiation increased as we moved from green to yellow to red zones
wildlife is thriving in the absence of people
“but we can’t fish or collect bamboo shoots or eat the mountain vegetables that people used to harvest from the forests.” We stopped by an abandoned gas station in Tsushima
where wild boar had excavated the soil right by a vending machine that appeared remarkably intact
The bright-red digital display on an official Geiger counter read the equivalent of 21 millisieverts per year
The day after the disaster at the power plant began
1,400 people from Namie came to Tsushima after being ordered to evacuate
we went to the village police station and found that the police there were in full protective clothing against the radiation
They said it was a precaution in case they had to go to the power plant
but they had obviously been told that something serious was going on that the population hadn’t been told
That’s when our suspicion about the honesty of the authorities began.” Tsushima has since become an unofficial shrine to the disaster
In the window of an abandoned shop are posters with bitter
some directed at the nuclear plant’s operator
we can shed tears at our temporary housing,” read one
Konno Hideko was driving to Namie – day trips are allowed
but overnight stays banned – to clean her parents’ former house and tidy an ancestral grave before relatives visited during an upcoming religious holiday
“There are mice inside and wild boar have been in
But we might build a new house there one day.” Further along
Baba stopped the car and walked up a path swathed in vegetation
But I noticed laundry still hanging to dry in an upstairs window
and we can’t drink the water from the well
either.” We found a shed where he and his schoolteacher wife once kept cattle
and a former hay shed where he stored old election banners
It read 26 millisieverts per year in the hay shed
but shot up to an alarming 80 in undergrowth outside
That was four times the safe level for habitation
I wonder who has a right to destroy our home and my livelihood,” he mused bitterly
“Please tell the world: No Nukes.” At his local post office
an official monitor by the road measured 56 millisieverts
but when we pointed it close to a sprig of moss pushing through the tarmac
“They measured 500 millisieverts here last week,” Baba said
“Moss accumulates radioactivity.” As we drove on
the roadside was now marked every few kilometers by massive pyramids of black plastic bags
containing radioactive soil that had been stripped from roadside edges
and house gardens as part of government efforts to decontaminate the land
now await final disposal at facilities planned along the coast
But the task of transporting the soil is so huge that the authorities are building a new road so trucks can bypass the scenic mountain villages along Highway 114
Through a checkpoint we came at last to Namie town. Just before my visit, major media such as The Guardian and CNN had published images of the town by a photographer who claimed to have gained secret
unauthorized entry to the “ghost town.” He posed in his images wearing a gas mask to show how dangerous it was
My visit to the town had required a request in advance
And I found Namie a surprisingly busy “ghost town.” Nobody is yet allowed to live there
But some 4,000 people work there every day
preparing for the planned return of its citizens in April 2017
and vegetation pushed through cracks in the roads and the pavement in the front yards
and drivers obeyed them; there was a 7-Eleven and the vending machines had Coke in them
My biggest safety concern was not radiation
conveyed over the town’s public address system on the afternoon I was there
that a bear had been spotted in the suburbs
average radiation levels in the town were down to around 2 millisieverts per year in Namie – lower
“I have no idea how many people will come back,” said Baba
“They have a lot of misgivings because of the radioactive contamination
And I think their fears are totally justified
It is totally unthinkable for me to return to my old place
so I cannot encourage them to return to theirs.” He quoted a survey of the town’s 21,000 former residents showing that only 18 percent wanted to come back
That sounded similar to nearby Naraha town
where only a fifth returned after the all-clear was given last year
The Rocky Flats Plant outside of Denver was a key U.S. nuclear facility during the Cold War. Now, following a $7 billion cleanup, the government is preparing to open a wildlife refuge on the site to the public. Read more.
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"H2Rex™," to Michinoeki-Namie (Roadside Station Namie)
On Aug. 25, popular anime One Piece bid a special farewell to J-pop superstar Amuro Namie with a clip featuring her at the end of a TV special titled One Piece: Episode of Skypiea
The clip was a collaboration between Amuro and the anime to commemorate her Sept
joined by the Straw Hat Pirates at Sky Island
During her farewell tour titled “Namie Amuro Final Tour 2018 ~Finally~”
she also streamed the clip for her audiences
this was the first and last time for fans to see it on TV
Renowned not only in Japan and the anime industry but also all around the world, Amuro herself has performed three of One Piece's theme songs: “Fight Together”
Adapted with permission from Anime!Anime!
Celebrate Halloween like a Straw Hat Pirate
Catch Sanji and Souma's crossover exploits in the Jul
with the 40-year-old music and fashion icon thanking her fans for their support over more than two decades
who created a phenomenon in the mid-1990s with young girls and women copying her look
just days after she marked her 25th anniversary as a performer
I was able to become a singer who stood close to my fans," she said in a statement issued on her website late Sunday
Amuro also said that while she understands the emotions her fans must have felt at her decision to retire
she is grateful for the gracious farewell they gave her
(Namie Amuro delivers her final stage performance on Sept
and chose her home prefecture of Okinawa for her last live stage performance
Organizers said Amuro watched a nighttime fireworks show held on Sunday in tribute to her in Ginowan city
thousands of fans gathered in Ginowan to listen to her final show in which she performed eight songs including duets with artists such as surprise guest Tomohisa Yamashita
with whom she collaborated for the upbeat song "Unusual."
Japanese pop singer Amuro gives final performance in hometown Okinawa
Japanese pop diva Namie Amuro's fashion legacy lives on in memory, youth
1992 as a member of the all-girl group Super Monkey's
Amuro went on to dominate the charts as a solo artist with a string of megahits such as "Can You Celebrate?," "Don't wanna cry" and "Chase the Chance."
The "Sweet 19 Blues" singer was also a Japanese pop music trailblazer
Her albums sold over a million copies at various points across her career -- when she was in her teens
and 40s -- with the last achieved by a CD of past hits called "Finally."
Total CD sales of her singles and albums exceeded 36 million copies
a record for a solo artist on a single music tour in Japan
The concert video was the first to eclipse 1 million in sales in Japan
With her signature getup of miniskirt and high-heeled platform boots with dyed brown hair
the teenage Amuro sparked a phenomenon in which young girls and women copied her fashion
Amuro also sang "Never End" at a welcome reception for leaders of the Group of Eight nations at their 2000 summit in Okinawa
received the Okinawa prefectural honor award
She surprised fans when she married in 1997 at age 20 at the peak of her career to a member of Japanese pop group TRF and gave birth to a son in May 1998
She made a comeback in December that year after taking a year away for maternity and childcare leave
a Kyoritsu Women's Junior College professor knowledgeable about youth fashion and trends
says Amuro's impact goes beyond music and fashion
pointing out that she changed the perception of the way women can live their lives
"Getting married and giving birth at the height of one's career encouraged young women that this can be a lifestyle to pursue," Watanabe said
her "Final Space" exhibits showcasing her stage outfits
awards and a collection of her album cover images through the years have so far drawn 510,000 visitors at the Tokyo
Among those who lined up at the Tokyo venue on Sunday was Fumika Tsuji
a 43-year-old Shizuoka Prefecture resident
"There will be no artist comparable to her."
(A fireworks show in tribute to Namie Amuro in Ginowan
Japanese version
Washington County’s Courthouse Square office building
Washington County Finance Director Joshua Hatfield is pictured working in his office in this 2017 file photo
who is now Washington County human services director
Three longtime administrators within Washington County’s government are exiting their positions at the end of the month
leaving a gaping leadership hole that county Commission Chairwoman Diana Irey Vaughan said will be tough to fill
who is chief of staff for the county commissioners
along with Finance Director Joshua Hatfield and Human Services Director Kimberly Rogers
all notified the county recently that they will be leaving their positions June 30
Irey Vaughan said she thinks the resignations stem from political infighting between elected row officers and other county officials
along with uncertainty about who will be leading the board of commissioners next year following the upcoming general election
who has served as county commissioner for nearly 28 years
is also leaving her position as board chairwoman after announcing earlier this year that she’s retiring when her term ends in January
“You’re seeing a domino effect from the atmosphere and chaos that is at the county,” Irey Vaughan said
“There are issues that are not within their control to fix
and I believe they all decided it’s time to step away.”
She said the exiting leaders are part of a “tremendous team” of workers
but massive political changes within county government in recent years have created problems that are making the work environment untenable
Irey Vaughan noted that Shelli Arnold left her position as human resources director earlier this year
and the county has struggled to hire a full-time replacement due to “uncertainty” about leadership next year
Irey Vaughan said they plan to appoint an “interim director” in the county’s Human Services Department to replace Rogers
who was elevated to that position in April 2020 after previously leading Children and Youth Services since 2012
She praised Rogers for “crafting a consolidated human services delivery system” when she helped to reconfigure the department last year
and she’s left a legacy of excellence in caring for our children,” Irey Vaughan said
Rogers said Wednesday she and her husband just sold their house and bought a new one in West Virginia
“I know there are things going on in the county (but) I’m super excited about having a new story with my retirement
It’s bittersweet because this is a great place to work with a lot of great people,” Rogers said
and they all kind of converged on the same date,” Rogers said of the multiple exits in the same period
Irey Vaughan said she is concerned about finding a replacement for Hatfield in such a critical position as finance director
especially considering his good working relationship with Namie
She said county officials might have to outsource the financial work Hatfield normally would’ve done in his position
“The two combined are leaving with over 50 years of an impeccable financial record and experience in Washington County,” Irey Vaughan said
“Mike and Josh have been a great team in Washington County for a very long time.”
Namie worked in the county controller’s office for several years in the early 1990s and later served five terms as controller before retiring from the position at the end of his last term in 2021
He was then appointed to serve as the board of commissioners’ chief of staff in January 2022
Namie said Wednesday that he was “retiring” as chief of staff
but declined to elaborate on the reasons why he was leaving
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve Washington County for nearly 34 years,” Namie said
Hatfield was hired to work in the finance department in 2004 and held several roles in county government through the past two decades
He has served as finance director since 2017
where his most important role was to prepare the county’s annual budget
He indicated Wednesday that he had accepted a new job elsewhere
but declined to say where he would be working after leaving the county
and I’ve been incredibly grateful and honored to work for Washington County for almost 19 years,” Hatfield said
Irey Vaughan said the next six months will be difficult as the commissioners look to fill key roles held by longtime employees who have intimate knowledge of how county government functions
“I’m sad for Washington County to lose such remarkable leaders in our county
but I’m happy for them to make the best decisions for them in the next chapter of their lives,” Irey Vaughan said
“This is going to be the greatest challenge trying to keep the county moving forward through the end of the year.”