PORTSMOUTH — This year marks the 120th anniversary of the Portsmouth peace conference orchestrated by President Theodore Roosevelt to end the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 and the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty on Sept It also marks the 40th anniversary of the Sister City agreement between Portsmouth and Nichinan the lead Japanese diplomat to the peace conference Soon the cherry trees that rim South Mill Pond next to Portsmouth City Hall a gift from Nichinan and a continuing Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial another delegation of Portsmouth High School students teachers and PHS Principal Steve Chinosi will depart for Nichinan and visits to Kyoto and Tokyo The 24 students and seven adults are the latest in a line of 10 reciprocal trips and will soon join the dozens of PHS alumni/ae who have described their homestay experiences with Japanese families in Nichinan as “life-changing.” Portsmouth High School considers building global citizens to be one of their pillar responsibilities to graduates Learning the history of the peace conference and the role local citizens played in 1905 complementing the formal negotiations between Russia and Japan and the back-channel diplomacy of Roosevelt is part of that effort and prepares the students traveling to Nichinan for the enthusiastic welcome they receive from Nichinan’s Mayor citizens and their Sister School Nichinan Gakuen Junior-Senior High School Teachers/chaperones include Principal Chinosi They will carry greetings from Mayor Deaglan McEachern the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Sister Cities and the Japan-America Society of NH Consul General Takahashi of the Japanese Consulate in Boston recently noted that commemorations of the 120th treaty anniversary this year contribute to the ongoing friendship between the United State and Japan The Japan-America Society of New Hampshire is planning additions to the Treaty exhibit at the John Paul Jones House Museum when the museum opens for the season on May 23 and will host the annual bellringing ceremony on Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day From Tubes To Turns, Jai Glindeman's Surfing is a Treat to Behold Gerry Lopez Goes Deep With Justin Jay On The Plug Podcast Spot Guide: Rincon Queen, of the Coast NewsAll News Events Big Wave News World Surf League Environmental Industry Wave PoolsPosts List Hawaiian Big Wave Icon Clyde Aikau Passes Away at 75 Winners of SURFER's Emerging Brands Grant Announced LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website 2011) – 2011 ASP Japan Tour Final Event Real Bvoice Pro Longboard Nichinan Press by MALIBU went in action for the final day this morning at Shojyuen or Kazeta Beach Nichinan in Miyazaki and crowned 2011 men's and women's champions this afternoon respectively The conditions at Kazeta Beach this morning were 1 to 2 ft In sunny skies this morning at first call contest director Shigeki Kawai called the finest longboarders to go straight in action for final day The majority of Japan is already enjoying the cool autumn breeze but here in Miyazaki in south Japan it is still summer Last week surfers who competed for the MALIBU Hyuga Pro Longboard held a little north at Hyuga have driven a few hours south to Nichinan Beach for this event Women's semi finals heat 1 was a showdown of Mizue Oguri (JPN) and Juri Warisawa (JPN) and in heat 2 was Satoko Ukeguchi (JPN) and Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN) Mizue Oguri and Hiroka Yoshikawa moved to the finals and ASP WLT surfer Hiroka Yoshikawa captured her maiden victory Men's semi finals heat 1 was Bonga Perkins (HAW) and Yuzuru Shinjo (JPN) and heat 2 was Yuji Hata (JPN) and Scotty Fong Jr 2 Hawaiians and 2 Japanese made the semifinals and the finals were a showdown of Hawaii vs Former 2 times ASP Longboard World Champion Bonga Perkins (HAW) overtook Yuji Hata (JPN) by 13.25 to 8.75points and Perkins is 2011 champion and defends his event champion title Real B Voice Pro Longboard 2011 Final Results: Women's LQS 1 STAR 1st:250Pts U$1,000: Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN) 2nd:188Pts U$200 ：Juri Warisaya (JPN) Satoko Ukeguchi (JPN) U$1,000: Yuzuru Shinjo (JPN) Scotty Jr.Fong(HAW) For further information on “Real BvoicePro Longboard Nichinan Press by MALIBU “log on to: https://www.aspjapantour.com/live/2011/nichinan/index.php?rLingua=gb Local communities along Japan's Pacific coast and the central government intensified preparations on Friday for a potential massive earthquake following an advisory issued by authorities after the previous day's strong temblor The weather agency issued its first-ever advisory on a megaquake along the Nankai Trough running between central to southwestern Japan sending shockwaves across the country and prompting private and public sectors to brace for the potential disaster the area affected by the M7.1 earthquake that struck southwestern Japan the previous day officials were busy inspecting the conditions of already-opened evacuation shelters and repairing damaged water pipes Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi asked people to "reconfirm earthquake preparedness" while "continuing social and economic activities in daily lives," a day after the weather agency called on the public to remain on alert for about a week Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decided to cancel his planned four-day trip to Kazakhstan saying at a press conference that he will stay in Japan as the "top official in charge of the nation's crisis management." an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3 jolted areas near Tokyo adding that it appears not to be linked with the chance of a huge quake occurring along the Nankai Trough in the Pacific While the agency said the likelihood of a bigger quake hitting the country within a week is "about one in several hundred," some power utilities have stepped up preparation efforts for the potential disaster a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc having reaffirmed communication routes with fuel carriers and evacuation protocols for these carriers set up task forces to handle the potential megaquake arranged to station an additional 30 personnel at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture at all times The weather agency's extraordinary advisory which highlights the increased risks of a massive earthquake also led foreign missions in Japan to notify their citizens about the potential dangers Embassy in Tokyo posted a message on social media "In light of the recent earthquake advisory we urge everyone to review your emergency plans Please visit the Embassy's webpage for more information on how to prepare for emergencies in Japan." have faced negative impacts from the heightened awareness of the potential disaster as several municipalities have requested people to avoid nonessential and nonurgent travels Hotels in the southwestern prefectures of Miyazaki Around 150 people canceled their reservations at a hotel in Miyazaki by noon on Friday some popular beaches along the Pacific coast were closed for swimming as part of earthquake safety precautions Swimming will also be prohibited at a beach park near Tokyo through next Thursday In the wake of Thursday's powerful earthquake which was centered on the western edge of the Nankai Trough the weather agency warned that a huge quake along the trench could cause widespread devastation across the nation with violent jolts and massive tsunami The Fire and Disaster Management Agency has designated 707 municipalities in Tokyo and 28 prefectures as areas for bolstering disaster management against a Nankai Trough megaquake History shows that a major earthquake around the Nankai Trough occurs every 100 to 150 years About 80 years have passed since the last one Japan PM cancels Central Asia, Mongolia trip over megaquake advisory Japan sees higher-than-usual risk of megaquake off Pacific Coast M7.1 quake hits southwestern Japan, megaquake fear grows To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth High School recently welcomed 17 Japanese students two teachers and the principal of Nichinan Gakuen Jr-Sr High School The students from Portsmouth's sister school are staying with PHS students and their families and attending classes at Portsmouth High They were welcomed enthusiastically at an all-school assembly of 800-plus students where their host students presented each with a gift Nichinan and Portsmouth became sister cities in 1985 on the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty was born in Nichinan and is the reason for the connection Print TOKYO — Japan one of the most earthquake-prone nations on Earth issued its first-ever “megaquake advisory” last week after a powerful quake struck off the southeastern coast of the southern main island of Kyushu The magnitude 7.1 quake caused no deaths or severe damage but the advisory has led to widespread confusion and a lingering sense of worry — in a country well accustomed to regular quakes — about when the next big one will hit and what could happen if a massive quake hits Japan The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the advisory after concluding that the magnitude 7.1 quake that struck on Aug 8 on the western edge of the Nankai Trough increased the likelihood of a stronger one There is a 70-80% chance of a magnitude 8 or 9 quake associated with the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years and the probability is now “higher than normal” after the latest quake But that is not a prediction that a megaquake will happen at any specific time or location says University of Tokyo seismologist Naoshi Hirata He urged people to remain cautious and prepared The Nankai Trough is an undersea trench that runs from the Hyuganada Sea It spans about 500 miles along the Pacific coast The Philippine Sea Plate there slowly pulls down on the Eurasian Plate and causes it to occasionally snap back an action that could lead to a megaquake and tsunami The last Nankai Trough quake off Shikoku in 1946 recorded a preliminary magnitude of 8.0 and killed more than 1,300 people a government disaster prevention team said a magnitude 9.1 Nankai Trough quake could generate a tsunami exceeding 30 feet within minutes destroying more than 2 million buildings and causing economic damage of more than $1.5 trillion to large swaths of Japan’s Pacific coast As a result of the megaquake advisory, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida canceled his planned Aug. 9-12 trip to Central Asia and announced he would lead the government response and ensure preventive measures and communication with the public. Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency instructed 707 municipalities seen as being at risk from a Nankai Trough quake to review their response measures and evacuation plans. Experts and officials have urged people to stay calm and carry on their daily social and economic activities while also securing emergency food and water and discussing evacuation plans with family members. In a reassuring note on Monday, Japan Meteorological Agency experts said they had found no abnormal seismic or tectonic activity that would indicate a megaquake. The megaquake advisory, which is filled with scientific jargon, has worried and baffled people across the country. Some towns closed beaches and canceled annual events, which has led to challenges for travelers during Japan’s Obon holiday week, a time for festivals and fireworks across the nation. Many people have put off planned trips and rushed to stock up on rice, dried noodles, canned food, bottled water, portable toilets and other emergency goods, leaving shelves empty at many supermarkets in western Japan and Tokyo, even though the capital is outside the at-risk area. The Summit supermarket chain said microwavable rice is in short supply and the store is limiting purchases to one pack per customer. Yoshiko Kudo and her husband, Shinya, said they had trouble understanding what exactly the advisory meant, how worried they should be and what they should do. “We are trying not to go overboard. Too much worry is not good,” Yoshiko said. “We don’t know how to be prepared and to still live normally like the experts tell us,” said Shinya, a caregiver in his 60s. Yoneko Oshima, walking by a major train station in Tokyo, said: “It’s scary. ... They say there’s a [70-80%] chance in the next 30 years, but it could be tomorrow.” Her latest purchase is a portable toilet. She says water is indispensable for her diabetic husband, who needs to take medicine after every meal. “I plan to take this opportunity to make a list and make sure we have everything at hand,” Oshima said. She hasn’t changed her holiday plans this week, but her daughter canceled a planned trip to Mt. Fuji. In Matsuyama city on the island of Shikoku, which has many hot springs, hotels and resorts reviewed their evacuation procedures and emergency equipment and launched a radio communication system for emergency use. They have received hundreds of cancellations since the advisory was issued, said Hideki Ochi, director of the Dogo Onsen Ryokan Assn. Rail companies serving the region said their trains are operating at slightly reduced speeds as a precaution. A crisis management task force in the coastal town of Kuroshio in Kochi prefecture, where a tsunami as high as 111 feet was predicted in the government risk analysis, initially set up 30 shelters across town. But only two are still open following Monday’s statement that there has been no indication of an impending megaquake. The town of Higashiosaka’s website urged residents not to engage in “unnecessary and non-urgent” travel in case of a major quake. The popular seaside town of Shirahama in Wakayama prefecture said its four outdoor hot springs, parks and other facilities would be closed for a week. Saturday’s annual fireworks festival was also canceled. Yamaguchi writes for the Associated Press. California World & Nation Subscribe for unlimited access Site Map Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version More than 50 houses and businesses have been destroyed as of Sunday mainly in Nichinan following an earthquake that hit the Hyuganada Sea on Thursday evening according to a survey by the prefectural government please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent A seismic intensity on the lower side of 6 was logged in Nichinan on Thursday a kindergarten building and other facilities were also damaged Residents and staff have been living and working amid continued warnings of further earthquakes At the Nichinan Obi Catholic kindergarten in Nichinan An air conditioning pipe behind the ceiling was also broken The kindergarten’s management intends to resume classes on Tuesday at another facility that is less damaged Earthquake Information Scarce for Foreign Tourists; Govt Should Provide Information to Tourists, Expert Says Japan Megathrust Earthquake Attention Sparks Emergency Preparations in Elderly Care Facilities, Hospitals Strain on Tectonic Plates Under Japan’s Hyuganada Sea Causes Earthquakes; Has Resulted in More than Five M-7 Quakes Since 1931 Monitoring of Nankai Trough Heightened but No Abnormal Changes Observed; People Urged to Reexamine Disaster Preparedness Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Today's print edition Home Delivery Fears of a looming disaster are rippling through the Kyushu region with hotels reporting a surge in cancellations and events being abruptly called off after a magnitude 7.1 quake last week led Japan to issue its first ever megaquake alert along the Nankai Trough The tourism industry in the city of Nichinan in Miyazaki Prefecture — known for its beaches and Edo Period townscape — is feeling the impact of the cancellations as the region hit hardest by Thursday's quake.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); A representative of the city’s tourist association said that although he can't be sure of the exact numbers the hotel cancellations have been “quite significant.” In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division true story behind the massive sculptures in Sun Messe Nichinan park Home to succulent mangoes and idyllic beaches Miyazaki Prefecture lies on the eastern coast of Kyushu and is known for its abundant natural beauty Nestled among its shrines and palm-fringed shorelines sits a sight that may at first seem out of place: In Sun Messe park you can find seven giant stone busts with deep-set eyes and long noses these enormous statues stand firm amid the teal waters that spill into the Pacific Ocean If you’re familiar with the landscape of Chile’s Easter Island you might recognize these monolithic figures The statues that gaze out from the Nichinan coast are the kinfolk of the moai statues in eastern Polynesia carved by the Rapa Nui people somewhere between the years 1100 and 1650 While replicas of the moai statues can be found all over the world the ones in Sun Messe Nichinan are said to be the only reproductions sanctioned by the Easter Island authorities what could possibly link Miyazaki Prefecture with one of the most remote locations on Earth the most powerful earthquake ever recorded — measuring 9.5 on the Richter scale — struck southern Chile causing immeasurable damage across the country and taking the lives of many The earthquake’s force also triggered a tsunami the largest ahu (stone platform) on Easter Island and the gargantuan moai that it had once held were also damaged the statues lay untouched and seemingly irreparable for several decades after appeared on a documentary that aired on Japanese TV He lamented the state of the moai: If only we had a crane we might be able to see the statues on their feet again and the image of these colossal faces plunged into the ground touched the heart of a Japanese man who happened to be watching the show He wondered whether his company might be able to lend a helping hand — or arm — to the situation Tadano formed the Moai Restoration Committee which began to work alongside the Chilean government’s own Ahu Tongariki Reconstruction Committee under the direction of the Institute of Studies of Easter Island of the University of Chile a specialized crane landed on the island; following full-scale lifting tests as well as an excavation of the area carried out by Japanese and Chilean archaeologists the ruins of the Ahu Tongariki altar were repaired and restored to their original glory by May 1995 The finishing touches on the final moai were completed the following year Chilean officials authorized the building of seven replica moai statues to be placed in Japan With lush surrounding vegetation and a subtropical climate the Nichinan coast was chosen as the home for these statues and Sun Messe Nichinan opened the same year that the Easter Island restoration project came to its final conclusion each of the statues is believed to embody a different type of good fortune but many aren’t aware that they represent something else as well: a little-known tale of international community To plan a trip to Sun Messe Nichinan, click here This article appeared in Kyushu Weekender 2024. To read the whole issue, click here Colossal Two peculiar ‘crop circles’ have recently been spotted in Japan’s Miyazaki Prefecture they were formed by sugi (Japanese cedar) trees Conspiracy theorists will be disappointed to learn that there is a very practical explanation for how these shapes emerged: science it was the result of a scientific experiment that spanned close to 50 years According to documentation (PDF) we obtained from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture in 1973 an area of land near Nichinan City was designated as “experimental forestry” and one of the experiments was to try and measure the effect of tree spacing on growth The experiment was carried out by planting trees in 10 degree radial increments forming 10 concentric circles of varying diameters Part of what makes the crop circles so alluring are their concave shape which was an unexpected result of the experiment that would suggest tree density does indeed affect growth The trees are due to be harvested in about 5 years but officials are now considering preserving the crop circles Below is an image from Google Earth, which is unfortunately a bit dark. For those who are interested, here are the exact coordinates Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member now Join more than 200,000 subscribers and get the best of art and visual culture from Colossal Copyright © 2025 Colossal. See our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy Japan issued its first-ever alert over a possible megaquake along the Nankai Trough on Thursday after a magnitude 7.1 quake struck off the coast of Kyushu earlier the same day leaving some locals worried about their safety “It shook like nothing I’ve ever experienced before,” said a woman in her 50s from the city of Nichinan in Miyazaki Prefecture “I felt the quake and the fear for a very long time.”googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); The quake hit the Kyushu region at 4:43 p.m according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency The epicenter was in the Hyuganada sea off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture Valentine’s Day is almost here and couples will soon descend upon restaurants throughout the area to celebrate their love Whether you’re looking for a date night spot that won’t break the bank or looking to spend a little more, we have some Seacoast area options for you So make your reservations and prepare to spend a night out on the town The Brunch Club Dover is offering a five-course dinner on Friday, Feb. 14 featuring roasted cauliflower soup, burrata salad, gambas al ajillo, top sirloin and a strawberry and chocolate truffle for $50 per person. Reserve by calling 603-697-1016 or email brunchclubdover@cjmhospitalitygroup.com Clark’s American Bistro is offering a special three-course meal for $40 on Feb. 14, featuring fried calamari, vegetarian stir-fry, grilled pork chop and haddock piccata, and stuffed strawberries or chocolate cake for dessert. They will also be serving bottomless mimosas all day. clarksamericanbistro.com For $20, L Street Tavern is offering two special Valentine's paint nights with all supplies included. Singles are invited to come paint Feb. 13 at 6 p.m., and couples are invited Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. lstreettavern.com Ore Nell's Kittery Valentine's weekend menu offers a $40 prix-fixe option, or a la carte choices including coffee-rubbed beef carpaccio with figs and cashew crumble, smoked lobster risotto with frisée salad, and a double-layered chocolate strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Available from Feb. 13-15. For full menu and reservations visit orenellsbbq.com The Water View Grill is offering a February lobster special with a Valentine’s twist. Titled “Lobster is our love language,” the Portsmouth restaurant is offering a lobster roll or boiled 1 lb lobster with a side for $25. More: I'm 37 and single, so I persuaded USA TODAY to find me a date for Valentine's Day Epoch’s Valentine’s Day offering is a pre-fixe dinner designed to “impress and spark connection.” This event is $75 per person, Friday, Feb. 14, from 5-9 p.m. Reservations required. theexeterinn.com Martingale Wharf is offering a special three-course dinner for $70 per person. Make a reservation Feb. 14 online: martingalewharf.com On Feb. 14 and 15, Moxy will offer a four course prix fixe Valentine’s Day menu for $55 per person. The dinner includes a baby gem wedge salad, brown butter seared scallops, Korean braised short rib, and raspberry shortcake for dessert. moxyrestaurant.com Ocean, located in the Cape Arundel Inn, is offering a three-course meal accompanied by a glass of bubbles. This exclusive menu will be available on Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15 from 4:30-8:30 p.m. for $85 per person. Reservations required. capearundelinn.com Valentine’s deals for $100+ per personEarth at Hidden Pond Earth At Hidden Pond is offering a four-course menu for $110 per person or a five-course menu for $118 per person. For an intimate celebration, reserve an exclusive Private Dining Shed, available for $550 for two guests. This special package includes a charcuterie board, a bottle of prosecco, two four-course dinners, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a bouquet of roses. Reservations required. earthathiddenpond.com Rosella's is serving a romantic à la carte menu, along with a 10-course Valentine's Day tasting Menu, on Feb. 14, from 5-9 p.m. for $150 per person. Reservations required. rosellakpt.com Along with Valentine’s Day specials on its menu, Portsmouth’s Nichinan is hosting a Galentine’s Cocktail Class from 6 – 8 p.m. on February 12. The event is $120 a person and includes cocktails, snacks, a memento book, and “expert instruction.” For more information and reservations, visit https://www.nichinanrestaurant.com/galentines-cocktail-class Stones Throw is doing a five-course Valentine's Day dinner. There will be two seatings on Feb. 14, (4-6 p.m. or 7-9 p.m.) with gluten-free and vegan options. Tickets are $120 per person for five courses including choice of main, a glass of sparkling rosé, and gratuity. Reservations required. stonesthrowhotel.com An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 hit southwestern Japan on Thursday and tsunami advisories were issued for the Pacific coast extending to the western part of the country sparking concerns that a megaquake may occur in the near future The Japan Meteorological Agency issued an urgent advisory on the trench-type megaquake for the first time warning the possibility of the quake happening along the Nankai Trough stretching from off southwestern to central Japan said it will run the Tokaido Shinkansen Line at a slower pace than usual for about one week while suspending operations of some expresses in the western part of the nation quake occurred at a depth of around 30 kilometers off Miyazaki Prefecture and registered lower 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in the city of Nichinan in the southern part of the prefecture the agency began its first investigation into whether there is any link between the temblor and a potential Nankai Trough earthquake The system has been in operation since 2017 Around a dozen injuries were reported and several buildings were damaged according to disaster management minister Yoshifumi Matsumura When an earthquake with a lower 6 seismic intensity happens Wall tiles and window glass may be damaged and fall," the agency said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called on the public to "prepare to evacuate immediately if an earthquake occurs," telling reporters in Tokyo please absolutely refrain from spreading so-called false information" through social media but the weather agency lifted them all by 10 p.m Tsunami with heights of around 50 centimeters and 20 cm were observed in Miyazaki and southwestern Kochi No abnormalities were found at the Ikata and Sendai nuclear power plants in Ehime and Kagoshima prefectures nor in the environmental radioactivity levels in the surrounding areas The powerful temblor also disrupted transportation services around Miyazaki Prefecture in Kyushu Some flights connecting Miyazaki airport with Osaka Services of the Kyushu and Nishi Kyushu shinkansen bullet trains were temporarily suspended due to the quake A ferry from Miyazaki to Kobe in western Japan was canceled briefly suspended operations at the plants of its three subsidiaries in Miyazaki Prefecture for checkups which initially estimated the quake's magnitude at 6.9 warned that quakes with a seismic intensity of around lower 6 could occur for about a week the government's Earthquake Research Committee forecasted a 70 to 80 percent likelihood that a quake with a magnitude of 8.0 to 9.0 will occur near the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years the government estimated that up to 323,000 people could die in the megaquake Japan eyes steps to limit ash fall damage in event Mt. Fuji erupts PORTSMOUTH — Featuring an inn and a contemporary Japanese restaurant the restoration of the 19th century downtown Salvation Army building is nearing the finishing line The namesake of the 15-room Hotel Thaxter is Celia Laighton Thaxter an 1800s poetry writer and painter who was born in Portsmouth Thaxter was the daughter of White Island lighthouse keeper Thomas Laighton who later built a hotel on Appledore Island where Thaxter worked Amanda McSharry was the leader behind the design of the full-service hotel which is located near Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Cafe on Congress Street the first of her husband's numerous Portsmouth restaurants a coffee station and a salmon-tiled bathroom has both a fireplace and a free-standing bathtub and is a favorite of Amanda McSharry “I want people to have an unexpected experience,” she continued “I want it to be as different from anything else as much as possible Seacoast real estate:Portsmouth home overlooking Little Harbor sells for $4.95M. Region's sales volume lowest in 7 years. The rooms will display the work of local artists and photographers an homage to the Appledore Island hotel that drew in noteworthy guests such as Nathaniel Hawthorne Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry David Thoreau “We’re trying to make sure that in the spirit of Celia we’re kind of creating the artists’ community,” said Amanda McSharry The nightly rates per room will likely range from $149 to $699 in the peak of the summer The couple’s initial plans for restoring the Salvation Army building which was first occupied by the The First Congregational Church of Portsmouth though city concerns over parking led to downsizing the design Sushi featured on Nichinan restaurant menu in Portsmouth“I think we’re going to be the best sushi and the best Japanese restaurant in town,” Jay McSharry said On the menu at Nichinan will be a medley of small plates The restaurant will serve six types of sushi rolls along with different versions of nigiri and sashimi Nichinan will offer a bitter chocolate fondant cake which comes as a waffle with coffee pearls The intimate restaurant’s drink menu includes six house cocktails “We want people to have a mini vacation when they go out,” Jay McSharry said In Dover:Kristen French offers world of food at Gallivant Global Eatery which has a walnut wood bartop and Japanese-themed artwork The McSharrys also own or co-own with partners these restaurants: Dos Amigos Burritos Franklin Oyster House and Liars Bench Beer Company in Portsmouth They also own the Sailmaker’s House Inn in Portsmouth and the Water Street Inn in Kittery PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth’s Sister City relationship with Nichinan evidenced by the contingent of high school students and teachers who departed Thursday for their annual home stay visit to Portsmouth’s Sister City and Sister School lead Japanese diplomat at the peace conference that ended with the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty in 1905 Nichinan’s mayor reached out to Portsmouth Mayor Eileen Foley to suggest a formal Sister City bond Nichinan funded the planting of the original cherry trees around South Mill Pond as an enduring Sister City symbol and in 1997 Nichinan Gakuen Jr.-Sr Nineteen students are traveling to Nichinan including members of the Clippers Performing Band The delegation also includes PHS teachers Steve and Amanda Cirillo (performing arts) the students stay with host families arranged through Nichinan Gakuen Jr.-Sr The school is known for its music program and when a new music room performance space was added a few years ago the director designed the décor in the Clippers’ maroon and gold In October a delegation from Nichinan will again visit Portsmouth and stay with local families Portsmouth has seven Sister Cities: Nichinan; Aburi and Kitase It also has the Friendship City of Portsmouth whose lord mayor visited Portsmouth last September The Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Sister Cities and Citizen Diplomacy met several times last year to discuss how to strengthen those relationships and to develop a process for adding more PORTSMOUTH — Another delegation of Portsmouth High School students heads to their Sister School in Nichinan the cherry trees surrounding South Mill Pond and City Hall will bloom The trip and the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial cherry trees elsewhere in the city and around the state commemorate the enduring legacy of New Hampshire citizen diplomacy Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum founder and Boynton Waldron Doleac Woodman & Scott senior partner presents a program on the Treaty “Teddy Roosevelt’s Nobel Prize,” the cherry trees and why Nichinan is Portsmouth’s Sister City in the Little Theater at Portsmouth High School and is free and open to the public Families of the students traveling to Japan this year and in past years and those who have hosted students from Nichinan are especially invited to attend The large cherry trees blooming so abundantly at City Hall were planted in 1985 the lead Japanese diplomat at the 1905 peace conference that led to the Portsmouth Peace Treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial trees are located in Portsmouth surrounding South Mill Pond at City Hall and in front of the middle school Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and in the Community Garden at Strawbery Banke Museum Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial Trees are also located in Dublin Wentworth by the Sea Hotel is offering a special “Cherry Blossom Package” including accommodations welcoming champagne and chocolate-covered cherries from April 1 through May 30 Rates start at $199 with the promotional code FVJ This year marks the fifth anniversary of the creation of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial the 100th anniversary of the gift of the iconic Washington cherry trees to the United States by Japan the Japan-America Society of New Hampshire (JASNH) learned those famous trees were a direct result of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty described in his autobiography a desire to thank the United States for its role in ending the war That conclusion resulted in a 2012 op-ed in the Washington Post by the ambassador of Japan to the United States and the JASNH being designated to receive cherry trees descended from the Washington trees in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the diplomatic gift JASNH began planting those trees at key sites related to the treaty history as a living memorial to the Portsmouth Peace Treaty and the citizen diplomacy involved in reaching the successful conclusion Although President Theodore Roosevelt never came to Portsmouth having promised Japan and Russia that he would not be at the table “By planting descendants of the iconic Washington cherry trees that are a living connection to the treaty around New Hampshire we create a living memorial to the Treaty and citizen diplomacy,” Doleac said “The trees in Portsmouth are also a reminder of the special relationship we share with Nichinan and the families who have opened their homes to the students in Portsmouth and Nichinan.” the Portsmouth Peace Treaty is commemorated in a continuing exhibit containing Russian and Japanese artifacts at the John Paul Jones House Museum opening May 29 the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Trail maps available at the museum Wentworth by the Sea and the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce visitor center and kiosk and PortsmouthPeaceTreaty.org Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day is celebrated with a bell-ringing ceremony and governor’s proclamation on Sept For more about the Portsmouth Peace Treaty and the cherry trees, visit www.portsmouthpeacetreaty.org For the group of 11 Portsmouth High School students and eight adults accompanying them on a weeklong trip to Nichinan April 23 was definitely a day of ceremonies The day began at Nichinan Gakuen Junior-Senior High School where the PHS‎ students fresh from the first night in the homes of their Japanese sister and brother families were welcomed by an assembly of the whole school With the students in their red Clipper shirts and khakis the group shared the enthusiastic welcome of school Director Masakuni Soeda his teachers and especially the Gakuen students who visited Portsmouth last September While the Portsmouth students stayed at the Gakuen as guests for a music program the adults were guests of Director Soeda at the Capping Ceremony at his School of Nursing There in a darkened gymnasium (framed in the local Nichinan cedar once famous for boat building) each nursing student stood went to the stage and lit a candle from the one in the hand of a statue of Florence Nightingale As the 38 students answered "hai!" ("yes") as each name was called they formed a procession of candlelight in the darkness Each of the officials who spoke mentioned that nurses like these responded when the Kyushu earthquakes struck on April 14 just two hours north of Nichinan After that ceremony the adults returned to the school and rejoined the PHS students to help plant a white birch (state tree of New Hampshire) in the garden in front of the school PR Peace Treaty Forum public affairs director Stephanie Seacord and student Sakhan Warren (whose mom JoAnn is accompanying the trip) joined the school director Principal Fujiwara and Sakhan's homestay sister in tossing ceremonial shovels of earth on the roots of the new tree Then the group cut the ribbon to dedicate the new Portsmouth Hall at the school containing a new Music Center and Portsmouth Café The school intends to match its national championship reputation in baseball softball and table tennis with one for music The Gakuen Chorus sang for the group in the new acoustically excellent performance space decorated in Clipper maroon and gold The evening ceremony for Portsmouth Nichinan Sister City Day gave the Mayor of Nichinan and City representatives who traveled to Portsmouth last September for the 110th anniversary of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty a chance to offer their official welcome During the dinner reception also attended by all the homestay families Mayor Kyohei Sakita praised the 30-year history of the Sister City bond and paid tribute to the memory of Mayor Eileen Foley who was Portsmouth’s ambassador and the driving force behind the Sister City relationship After introducing each member of the Portsmouth group Hiroshi Yasutake the president of the Nichinan Council presented gifts of woodcraft made from the local cedar Mary Lyons spoke on behalf of Portsmouth High School and Stephanie Seacord read the Governor's Proclamation a letter of congratulations from Portsmouth Mayor Jack Blalock and remarks on behalf of the Japan-America Society of NH and the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum Mayor Sakita honored Seacord with a certificate of appreciation for her work over the past nine years to sustain the Sister City relationship by helping to coordinate visits to Portsmouth The day concluded with a traditional Lion Dance performed by the local Tanoue Hachiman Shrine Lion Dance Preservation Committee Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day celebrated in N.H 5Portsmouth HeraldPORTSMOUTH – On Sept bells rang on opposite sides of the world in celebration of Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day and the treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War that happened thanks to “an uncommon commitment to peace” by the international diplomats and the citizen diplomats in Portsmouth Japan – Portsmouth’s Sister City because it is the hometown to Baron Jutaro Komura tlead Japanese diplomat at the peace conference – Mayor Takahashi Director Soeda of the Nichinan Gakeun Jr-Sr High School and 100 students – gathered to ring bells at 3:47 p.m While an imminent typhoon sent other schoolchildren home at noon the Nichinan students stayed to make sure their annual Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day commemorations continued a dozen people – residents and visitors many delightedly experiencing the bell-ringing for the first time – gathered to hear letters from Senators Shaheen and Hassan read by Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley and City Councilor Beth Moreau and the reading of the annual Governor’s Proclamation by Mayor Deaglan McEachern. the crowd heard a special whistle echoing from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (where the Treaty was signed at that moment in 1905) and then the ringing of all four church bells in the vicinity of downtown: North Church bells rang at First United Methodist Church, Christ Episcopal Church on Lafayette Road New Castle Congregational Church, Second Christian United Church in Kittery and Little Harbor Chapel (where three children “the next generation of Portsmouth diplomats were among those who showed up in the rain to ring their bells.”) The ceremonial shofar sounded at Temple Israel in Portsmouth Staff at Wentworth By the Sea Hotel where the diplomats stayed rang bells as did staff and visitors at the Portsmouth Historical Society John Paul Jones House and at the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion The Portsmouth Peace Treaty Anniversary Committee also asked groups around the state who maintain Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial Cherry Trees to ring bells including Dartmouth Baker Library in Hanover Dublin Historical Society and Milford Historical Society This year was the 117th anniversary of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty and the 116th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Theodore Roosevelt for orchestrating the peace conference, with the Shipyard, Governor and people of New Hampshire as his official hosts. For more: PortsmouthPeaceTreaty.org This work, JMSDF, Australian, US Navies flex mine warfare capabilities, by CDR Russell Wolfkiel, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright PORTSMOUTH — On a day when snowflakes dotted the still-bare branches of the cherry trees next to City Hall on Thursday another delegation of eight students and five teachers departed Portsmouth High School for their annual home stay visit to Portsmouth’s Sister City and Sister School in Nichinan the lead Japanese diplomat at the peace conference that ended with the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty in 1905 the mayor of Nichinan reached out to Portsmouth Mayor Eileen Foley to suggest a formal Sister City bond The city of Nichinan funded the planting of the original cherry trees around South Mill Pond in Portsmouth as an enduring Sister City symbol and in 1997 Nichinan Gakuen Jr.-Sr The Portsmouth delegation includes PHS teachers Erika Nelson The students who are staying with the families of Gakuen students while in Nichinan include Heather Oliver A delegation from Nichinan will visit Portsmouth in October Portsmouth has seven Sister Cities: Nichinan Hungary; plus the Friendship City of Portsmouth The new Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Sister Cities and Citizen Diplomacy will host a public forum April 30 at Portsmouth Public Library to discuss strengthening those relationships A cedar forest in Japan’s Miyazaki Prefecture is home to a couple of unusual crop circle-like patterns that are clearly not random in nature made their way on the internet about three years ago and fueled all kinds of conspiracy theories that involved everything from aliens to secret government experiments that second one turned out to be quite close to the truth and they weren’t conducted by some obscure outfit Back in 1973 an area of land near Nichinan City was designated as “experimental forestry” and the results of that experiment are visible today One of the experiments carried out in the area involved measuring the effect of tree spacing on growth They planted cedar trees spaced in ten-degree increments to eventually form ten concentric circles that are increasingly more compact we can see that the experiment proved that density does seem to affect growth as the ones packed more tightly together are shorter than the cedars in the outer circles According to Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture the height difference between the smallest trees in the middle of the concentric pattern and the tallest trees on the outer ring was over 5 meters Researchers concluded that trees in less dense areas have more access to resources while those in the center have to compete for both sunlight and nutrients The intriguing experiment, almost half a century in the making, is coming to an end, and according to Spoon and Tamago following the attention the mysterious circles received on social media authorities are debating the possibility of postponing the harvesting for a few more years For more intriguing tree formations, check out Oregon’s giant smiley face, and the world’s largest signature The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a megaquake advisory after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake shook the nation on Thursday causing damage along the southern part of the nation the quake was centered about 13 miles northeast of Nichinan putting the earthquake's epicenter just off the coast The powerful quake triggered a tsunami advisory as officials warned of a water rise of up to 1 meter in the region Officials are concerned that Thursday's earthquake could be a precursor to a larger quake in the Nankai Trough The Nankai Trough has been the source for some of Japan's most devastating and powerful earthquakes Citing Japan Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa, NHK said that some property damage was reported Flights within the region were also delayed "We will continue to grasp the extent of damage and closely coordinate with local governments," Yoshimasa told NHK "We will make an utmost effort to take disaster emergency measures placing top priority on rescue operations mainly by police Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Coast Guard." RELATED STORY | 75% of US at risk for damaging earthquake, new data shows Yoshimasa also warned of potential aftershocks The strongest shaking from Thursday's earthquake was reported in Miyazaki aftershocks of 4.6 and 4.8 magnitude were reported within the region Thursday's earthquake was the strongest to strike Japan since it was rattled by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake on New Year's Day Japan's Red Cross Society reported that the Jan 1 tremor caused at least 241 deaths and 60,000 damaged houses Report a typo are a kind of Shanghai crab that inhabit rivers around Japan and are renowned for their excellent taste a soup filled with the delicious flavor of mokuzugani crab are also known in the prefecture as yamataro crabs They are a kind of Shanghai crab that inhabit rivers around the nation and are renowned for their excellent taste The name mokuzugani literally means seaweed crabs as they are covered with seaweed-like hairs on their pincers When I visited the Hiroto River in the Kitago district of the city I found a clear stream flowing gently with the greenery of the mountains Even the stones at the bottom of the river were clearly visible the head of the Nichinan Hirotogawa fisheries cooperative Inside the basket were dozens of greenish and blackish-brown crabs with shells about 8 centimeters in size Toda places bait such as bonito heads and fish organs in the basket The fisheries cooperative sets the fishing season from September to November and the harvested crabs are eaten in the region as autumnal treat “The innards of the crab are rich and delicious,” Toda said with a smile on his face owner Taeko Hirose was in the kitchen putting about the meat of six crabs into a blender with water Hirose stopped the blender in the middle of her process and turned it on again to finish making a thick liquid Then she put the liquid through a colander to remove any remaining pieces of shell and transferred it to a pot to heat slowly the liquid gradually became clearer while fluffy lumps began to float near the surface Miso is the only seasoning used in the soup the flavor of the crab spread through my mouth The fluffy chunks floating in the soup were chewy and soft It is no wonder so many people come to the restaurant for this dish The restaurant keeps some crabs caught during the fishing season alive in a pond so that they can serve the crab soup throughout the year The crab must not be eaten or even tasted without thoroughly heating it as it may contain a parasite called a lung fluke “My parents have made this soup for me since I was a child they crushed it with a mortar and pestle,” Hirose said To protect the traditional taste and resources that have been handed down from generation to generation the local fishermen’s cooperative releases young crabs back into the water or Tammi Truax's personal "Groundhog Day" come to life. The wordsmith was diligently preparing for her Portsmouth Poet Laureate two-year tenure's grand finale - virtual when she was unexpectedly asked to stay on for a third year. "I wanted to take some time to think about it (The past two years) involved a lot of time and work." Truax had racked up both private writing and PPLP accomplishments over the past few years while juggling the day job as an elementary school librarian. Poetry as a Bridge to Japan, trip canceled – twiceHer laureate program, under the umbrella theme of Poetry as a Bridge, was multi-faceted. Its 2019 event A Bridge to Babies went off seamlessly. Its multiple programs for 2020's Poetry as a Bridge to Japan, designed to foster relationships between Portsmouth and Nichinan, its Japanese sister city Its highly anticipated trip to Nichinan with Portsmouth High School student's was canceled – twice. Truax also served as the Maine Beat Poet Laureate from 2018 to 2020 she released "For to See the Elephant: a novel in verse," which gained wide acclaim and made final edits to a two-book historical novel for adults All this while scrambling to reconfigure laureate projects The world hears about Truax's weekly COVID poemsThe pandemic did bear a few bonuses as well The city of Portsmouth invited Truax to submit a Sunday poem for its daily newsletter More: Poems for Portsmouth elevate city’s virus newsletters "The Sunday poems were a big COVID twist," she said "I wrote them for 10 months and the experience was phenomenal." "After the AP picked up the story Holly Ramer wrote "It was truly amazing hearing from people as far away as Central America and Tahiti Other cities decided to try something similar for their residents It resulted in so many bridges being built that I never could have imagined." After making incredible strides during a taxing time because it had been so much more work with all the (changes)," Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program Board of Trustee member and former Laureate Maren Tirabassi said "She's had to be really nimble handling the projects After taking time to think about the long commitment Grand finale reception moves onlinePoetry as a Bridge to Japan event, the planned grand finale, is still set for April 10, to mark the end of Truax's traditional tenure, and complete the Poetry Broadside Contest It had been scheduled as an in-person reception at the Portsmouth Music and Arts Center "with people drinking wine and mingling The event will include the exhibit of the Poetry Broadside Contest submissions and the announcement of its winners "I was so looking forward to having an exhibit and reception in the gallery at PMAC but came up with a plan to create a digital gallery and reception," she said "Trevor Bartlett and Monte Bohanan have been a huge help in bringing my vision to fruition So we are planning a festive art opening in a digital venue!" The gala also includes a talk by Patrick Donnelly is scheduled to offer a short talk on Japanese American poetry. with the exception of hors d'oeuvres and wine everything else is going to happen virtually," Truax said. it's unclear what the 2021 extension will bring It will likely augment 2020's toned-down programs She'll also write an occasional poem for the Portsmouth newsletter; "I'll pop in when I can," she said She's also determined to take a trip to Japan. "I think the hell and high water will have receded by then and I've made some friends I'd like to meet!" Truax has learned to move quickly and adapt so we can expect some interesting turns "Tammi's been a really talented person responding to all (the change)," Tirabassi said she'll be even more talented when the things that she organizes are in-person The free Poetry as a Bridget to Japan event will take place at 7 p.m., on Saturday, April 10. The link to attend can be found at https://j.mp/PPLP2021. For more information, visit pplp.org PORTSMOUTH — City officials from Portsmouth and its sister city Nichinan assembled Wednesday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of Baron Jutaro Komura and member of the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun who helped negotiate the Portsmouth Peace Treaty in 1905 After nearly a month of formal negotiations at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard signed the Portsmouth Peace Treaty at the shipyard on Sept That day is now designated Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day throughout New Hampshire Ever since Portsmouth and Nichinan developed a sister-city relationship on Sept namely students from the Portsmouth School District and students from the Gakuen Educational System in Nichinan "It's a real positive experience for the kids," said Steve Zadravec Superintendent of the Portsmouth School Dept Zadravec said 20 students from Portsmouth visited Nichinan a couple weeks ago and came back amazed by the experience "I think there's a lot of benefit to this exchange," said Portsmouth Superintendent Edward McDonough "Any time you can visit another country and culture and establish long-lasting bonds Among the visitors to Portsmouth were eight citizens including Nichinan Deputy Mayor Katsuhisa Sakamoto Sakamoto said he hoped to follow in Baron Komura's "footsteps and take in Portsmouth through his eyes." "We hope that our sister city will continue to cooperate with each other for generations to come," he said "What a great honor for us to share on the commemoration," said Portsmouth Asst After the welcoming speeches at Portsmouth's City Hall Council Chambers keeping with a tradition that dates back to Baron Jutaro who upon leaving Portsmouth in 1905 left Gov John McLane a $10,000 check to be put toward a charity that would benefit New Hampshire This gift remains as the Japanese Charitable Fund The gifts passed around in the council chambers were slightly less expensive but none the less remarkable Deputy Mayor Sakamoto presented the Portsmouth delegation with two glass-encased And the City of Portsmouth presented to its sister city a bell inscribed with a commemoration to Baron Komura and the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty 5 to commemorate Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day In late September 2024, a photograph allegedly showing an experimental forestry project in Japan spread online. One Reddit post with the photo read: "'Experimental forestry' in Japan to measure the effect of tree density on growth." Snopes determined the photograph in question, which is also accessible from The Associated Press' image archive is authentic and accurately depicts a forest in Japan planted to study the impact of cedar tree spacing on growth The photo shows cedar trees arranged in two groups of concentric circles outside Nichinan "The obisugi cedar trees were planted in a local forest to examine the growth and strength of the variety The trees in the outer ring are approximately 20 meters tall about five meters taller than those in the center," the Associated Press caption read The circular forest is also discoverable on Google Maps: According to the website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, the experimental forestry project was initiated in 1973 with the aim of studying the effects of tree density on growth by planting cedar trees in ten-degree radial increments to create circular formations (we translated the paragraph below from Japanese Japanese cedar plantation (the Japanese cedar is at the top of the photo) "Stand Density Test Forest (Mystery Circles)" In the Minami Naka region of Miyazaki Prefecture a unique type of timber called benko lumber has been produced for shipbuilding purposes through sparse planting of seedlings due to a decline in demand for benko lumber the region has shifted to general timber production where trees are planted more densely than benko lumber production in order to meet the demand for general building materials It was against this backdrop that the "stand density test forest" was established in 1973.In this test forest in order to switch from sparse planting to dense planting the aim is to verify the effects of different planting densities on growth processes and changes in material quality and to establish an efficient management system for Obi cedar 36 cedar trees are planted at the intersections of 10 concentric circles of different radii radially outward at 10° from the center of the circles so that the density per hectare is set to be between 377 and 10,027 trees the tree trunks spread out in concentric circles which has led to the topic of discussion that they look like "mystery circles." For further reading, in January 2015 we investigated whether a law in Japan makes it illegal for citizens of that country to be fat https://newsroom.ap.org/editorial-photos-videos/detail?itemid=a057b47244664e1fb9120e485145eb98&mediatype=photo https://www.google.com/maps/place/Circular+forest/@31.7303781,131.3842657,215m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x3538cf3a10576a91:0x19fc2a227019850!2sCircular+forest!8m2!3d31.7305942!4d131.3847343!16s%2Fg%2F11fhr7fpph!3m5!1s0x3538cf3a10576a91:0x19fc2a227019850!8m2!3d31.7305942!4d131.3847343!16s%2Fg%2F11fhr7fpph?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D "FACT CHECK: Is It Illegal to Be Fat in Japan?" Snopes https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/the-metabo-law/ https://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/kyusyu/result.html?cx=015840603635610229114%3Ayjnqbslnqzs&ie=UTF-8&q=%E5%86%86%E5%BD%A2%E3%81%AE%E6%A3%AE&sa=%E6%A4%9C%E7%B4%A2&siteurl=www.rinya.maff.go.jp%2Fkyusyu%2Fmiyazakinanbu%2Fsub3.html&ref=www.rinya.maff.go.jp%2Fkyusyu%2Fmiyazakinanbu%2Findex.html&ss=43j1849j2#gsc.tab=0&gsc.ref=%E4%B9%9D%E5%B7%9E%E6%A3%AE%E6%9E%97%E7%AE%A1%E7%90%86%E5%B1%80&gsc.q=%E5%86%86%E5%BD%A2%E3%81%AE%E6%A3%AE&gsc.page=1 Aleksandra Wrona is a reporting fellow for Snopes This material may not be reproduced without permission Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture on Thursday initially prompting a tsunami advisory for parts of the coast of Kyushu and Shikoku and for the Meteorological Agency to issue an alert warning of a further possible megaquake along the Nankai Trough area Thursday’s earthquake registered a lower 6 on the seven-point Japanese seismic intensity scale with its epicenter in the Hyuganada sea off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); A total of nine people were reported to have been injured in Kyushu’s Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures as of 7:30 p.m. seven suffered minor injuries while the extent of injuries for the other two remains unclear Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said a landslide had been reported in the city of Shibushi in Kagoshima Prefecture At its own news conference following the quake the Meteorological Agency cautioned that people in the affected areas should be on alert for earthquakes measuring up to lower 6 for the next week especially over the next two or three days the risk of buildings collapsing and of landslides had increased warning people to stay vigilant surrounding quake activity and rainfall A 50-centimeter tsunami was recorded at Miyazaki Port at 5:14 p.m. a 40-cm wave reached Aburatsu Port on the Nichinan coast in Miyazaki at 5:23 p.m. and a 30-cm wave reached Tosashimizu in Kochi at 5:46 p.m All tsunami advisories were lifted at 10 p.m Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed authorities to share accurate information about the tsunami warning and any damage urging residents to take necessary precautions to find shelter The government set up a task force under the helm of disaster management minister Yoshifumi Matsumura Kyushu Electric Power said there was no impact from the earthquake on its Sendai and Genkai nuclear plants which are located in the city of Satsumasendai in Kagoshima Prefecture and the Higashimatsuura district in Saga Prefecture Shikoku Electric Power said no shaking was detected at its Ikata Nuclear Power Plant in Ehime Prefecture — the only nuclear plant on Shikoku Island — adding that the plant’s Unit 3 has been shut down for routine inspections Several domestic flights scheduled to depart Miyazaki Airport after 5:30 p.m “The shaking was quite intense and lasted around 30 seconds,” a clerk at the airport told NHK “We were told that some windows have shattered.” several local train lines across Kyushu were still suspended because of the earthquake (JR Kyushu) reported suspension of some train services on the Nippo Line the Hisatsu Line and the Kitto Line as well as delays elsewhere on those lines It also noted ongoing delays on the Kagoshima Line and the Kyushu Shinkansen The Kyushu Shinkansen line resumed operations following the earthquake at around 5:25 p.m. The Meteorological Agency’s alert warning about a possible large earthquake around the seismically significant Nankai Trough area, issued later Thursday, was its first ever It is believed that the chance of a major earthquake occurring in the Nankai Trough is relatively higher than usual “I urge everyone to check information from the government go back to basic disaster preparedness and get ready to evacuate immediately in the event of an earthquake,” Kishida said in reference to the risk of a Nankai Trough earthquake urging people to refrain from spreading misinformation Kishida is scheduled to fly to Nagasaki to attend a ceremony to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing and from there to head directly to Kazakhstan for a four-day tour of Central Asia Kishida said he will decide whether to cancel these engagements or take further measures according to the developments of the next few hours PORTSMOUTH – The sister city and sister school bonds between Portsmouth and Nichinan gained new strength last week as Portsmouth High School teachers students and their families hosted students and faculty from Nichinan Gakuen Jr.-Sr High School completing their ninth visit to the city three teachers and the school principal arrived from Japan Oct 5 and were treated to Portsmouth hospitality echoing the welcome the city provided to their illustrious hometown diplomat the lead Japanese diplomat negotiating the Portsmouth Peace Treaty in 1905 the 2016 Nichinan delegation departed having gained new appreciation for Portsmouth the students were treated to a welcoming ceremony at Portsmouth High School on Thursday as a full student assembly and performances by the Clipper Band and the Portsmouth High School chorus greeted them The Nichinan students performed a Japanese song demonstrated karate and presented one student’s traditional Japanese dance in kimono PHS principal and superintendent Bob Lister welcomed the group and helped “Little Clippers” from Littler Harbour School distribute gifts from Mayor Jack Blalock We are delighted to reciprocate the hospitality and history we share with Nichinan with a warm Clipper welcome,” PHS Principal Mary Lyons who traveled to Nichinan last April with the delegation of teachers and 11 PHS students In addition to attending classes with their exchange “brothers and sisters,” the Nichinan students visited the Portsmouth Peace Treaty exhibit at the John Paul Jones House Museum and the Building 86 Treaty Rooms exhibit at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard enjoyed the New Hampshire Fall Festival at Strawbery Banke and did some local shopping and sightseeing with their host families Nichinan Gakuen principal Fugiwara noted 200 Portsmouth and Nichinan students have participated in the sister schools program the past nine years and each has come away with a new perspective on their respective cultures and themselves The group waved goodbye with small New Hampshire state flags provided by the Japan America Society of New Hampshire and will visit Boston and New York before flying back to Japan at the end of this week PORTSMOUTH — The cherry trees are blooming at City Hall seemingly in celebration of the departure of another delegation from Portsmouth to “Sister City” Nichinan One of numerous homestay exchanges between Nichinan and Portsmouth in recent years the delegation departed Portsmouth Thursday for a trip to Nichinan Participating in this year’s Sister School visit to Nichinan Gakuen Junior-Senior High School are Assistant Superintendent George Shea; students Sara Gardner Elly Guzikowski and Cassandra Farrell; and Portsmouth High School teachers Laura LaVallee Cherry blossom season in Portsmouth, which was named one of the “12 best places in the US for cherry blossoms,” is a reminder of the historic connection between the people of Portsmouth who hosted the 1905 peace conference that resulted in the Portsmouth Peace Treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War the lead Japanese diplomat at the peace conference Portsmouth and Nichinan opened a Sister City dialogue 31 years ago shortly after Nichinan provided funds to plant the cherry trees that now bloom on the banks of South Mill Pond “This year is the 105th anniversary of the gift of the cherry trees from Japan to the U.S president of the Japan-America Society of New Hampshire we arranged for Portsmouth to receive cherry trees descended from the famous Washington cherry trees after learning that they were a gift to thank the U.S for American assistance during the Russo-Japanese War was hosting the peace conference ending that war Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize although he never came to Portsmouth After the Japanese Foreign Ministry selected Portsmouth among 32 cities in the country to receive trees in 2012 the Japan-America Society created the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial project planting cherry trees around Portsmouth and across New Hampshire as a living symbol of New Hampshire citizen diplomacy In addition to planting more trees near the mature ones at City Hall the society planted trees at Portsmouth High They were also planted at key sites related to the treaty including Wentworth by the Sea Hotel Strawbery Banke Museum and the John Paul Jones House Museum where the Portsmouth Peace Treaty exhibit reopens May 28 Memorial cherry trees were also planted in Dublin which explains the reason cherry trees are planted by City Hall PORTSMOUTH — It’s not unusual at this time of year for the news to be filled with images of the famous Washington cherry trees in full bloom reflected picturesquely in the waters of the Tidal Basin and framing views of the Jefferson Memorial the annual story of the cherry blossoms was tinged with a new message: some of the trees would soon be cut down so that the National Park Service could rebuild the failing seawall and sidewalk between the Jefferson and FDR Memorials There was public outcry that for any tree – especially “Stumpy,” believed to be one of the oldest – this season would be its last The Park Service hastened to assure the public that though the project they’ve been planning since 2019 would remove 158 of the nearly 3,700 Japanese flowering cherry trees on the National Mall they would be replaced and the cut trees would be turned to mulch to nourish the other trees They said cuttings from Stumpy would provide genetic material for the National Arboretum to preserve for growing future trees there’s already genetic material from the Washington Tidal Basin cherry trees growing before our eyes And as cherry blossom season approaches here those who wait expectantly for them will have even more reason to celebrate when they bloom the young cherry trees on the bank of South Mill Pond next to City Hall – and other cherry trees around the City and the state – are direct descendants of the Washington cherry trees especially thanks to a bit of cherry tree and Portsmouth history that was revealed by the Japanese Ambassador to the US in 2012 on the 100th anniversary of the gift of the cherry trees from Japan to the US The planting of the younger trees followed a tradition begun by Portsmouth’s Sister City of Nichinan Mayor Eileen Foley and the Mayor of Nichinan signed the agreement and celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty and the lead Japanese diplomat to the peace conference of 1905 Baron Jutaro Komura who was born there Nichinan presented a cherry tree to Portsmouth that was planted in Haven Park Nichinan provided for more trees to be planted on the opposite bank of South Mill Pond the Foreign Ministry of Japan announced their plan to send cherry tree seeds to cities across the US to commemorate the 2012 centennial of the cherry trees arguably one of the most iconic nation-to-nation gifts ever made with the possible exception of the gift of the Statue of Liberty from France Then the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami diverted attention from the project until 2012 when the Ministry decided that they would distribute 700 cherry saplings to 32 cities around the country the Japan America Society of NH learned from the author of The Cherry Blossom Festival that the famous DC trees had a direct connection to Portsmouth and the Peace Treaty Ann McClelland reported that according to his autobiography who made the arrangements to ship the cherry trees to Washington had done so because he had always wanted to thank the US for our assistance to Japan during the Russo-Japanese War As Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki wrote in an op-ed in the Washington Post the major American contribution was to host the peace conference that produced the treaty that ended the war negotiated and signed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Once the Japan-America Society of NH learned that history its chair and founder Charles Doleac inquired with the Consulate General of Japan in Boston whether Portsmouth might be added to the distribution list making Portsmouth one of just three cities in New England alongside Boston and Pawtucket RI to receive 20 cherry trees grown as saplings by American Forest from cuttings from the Washington Yoshino trees Three of those trees were planted ceremoniously on May 11 2012 with the help of Japanese Consul General Takeshi Hikihara at key Treaty-related sites: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard where the Treaty was signed Wentworth By the Sea Hotel where the delegates stayed as the management’s guests to represent residents including the Russian-Jewish emigres who lived in the Puddle Dock neighborhood and welcomed the diplomats Other trees were planted at the John Paul Jones House Museum where the Portsmouth Peace Treaty exhibit is displayed and on the banks of South Mill Pond When the original distribution of trees was completed – to 36 cities including Portsmouth – American Forests had dozens of “leftover” trees and was planning to use their growing site for different purposes Again the Japan-America Society of NH stepped up and asked if they might take custody of some of the trees to launch the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial Cherry Tree Project and plant the trees in Treaty-related sites around the state The Japanese Foreign Ministry and American Forest the Japan America Society of NH has planted trees in Portsmouth at each of the public schools at Temple Israel and Christ Church; and in Dublin Each tree represents the Treaty as an important piece of New Hampshire history and the citizen diplomacy that had kept the diplomats at the table in 1905 and helped President Theodore Roosevelt win the Nobel Peace Prize Each time the story is told there are more requests for cherry trees and to become part of the annual celebration of Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day and the Governor’s Proclamation and bellringing that go with it teachers from Auburn and Windham who attended a lecture about the Treaty at the NH Council on the Social Studies conference asked for trees for their schools All cherry trees are subject to the consequences of drought and flooding As the National Park Service knows so well So the lesson of this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival should not be despair over the loss of the trees the legacy of the DC cherry trees and the reason they are there is a trust being carefully tended by the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial Cherry Tree Project Cherry blossoms – and cherry trees – might be fragile but historic connections and legacies endure Special to the Portsmouth Herald by Charles B Japan-America Society of New Hampshire and the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum [PortsmouthPeaceTreaty.org] the New Hampshire Legislature unanimously passed legislation designating Sept recognizing the importance of the 1905 Treaty proceedings in New Hampshire history and the role of citizen diplomacy in ensuring the success of the peace conference that ended the Russo-Japanese War the governor of New Hampshire issues a proclamation calling on all New Hampshire citizens “to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities commemorating this important part of New Hampshire history.” On Sept 1905 – 119 years ago – Portsmouth celebrated by ringing bells throughout the city The Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum continues that tradition and invites local citizens and visitors to join them the celebration of Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day and New Hampshire citizen diplomacy takes place in Market Square The program takes place rain or shine at the treaty historical marker outside the Piscataqua Savings Bank and Judge Calvin Page memorial (15 Pleasant St.) Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum and Japan-America Society of NH welcome Sen and her guest the Japanese Ambassador to the United States Mayor Deaglan McEachern will read the 2024 governor’s proclamation Deputy Consul General of Japan in Boston Suguru Minoya members of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Sister Cities and staff and students from Portsmouth High School who participated in the recent exchange program in Nichinan “I’m delighted Japanese Ambassador Shigeo Yamada is visiting New Hampshire and attending this year’s bellringing ceremony in Portsmouth to mark the 119th anniversary of the end of the Russo-Japanese War,” Shaheen said “The annual memorial salute is an important opportunity to underscore the strength of the U.S.-Japan relationship and celebrate the Granite Staters who played a role in the peace process.” lead Japanese negotiator) will conduct a bell-ringing with their Mayor Takahashi and the Nichinan Gakuen Jr-Sr High School sister school Portsmouth Naval Shipyard sounds a memorial salute at the exact moment the Treaty was signed in 1905 and The public is welcome to participate in the bellring ceremony This year is also the 118th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Theodore Roosevelt for orchestrating the peace conference the back-channel diplomacy and the mediation strategy of the treaty Details on Roosevelt’s Nobel Peace Prize and an authentic replica of the prize are displayed in the Portsmouth Peace Treaty exhibit at the John Paul Jones House Museum “People-to-people connections that make a difference are the central idea of citizen diplomacy and the focus of Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day,” commented Charles B Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum chair and president of the Japan-America Society of NH Information: PortsmouthPeaceTreaty.org 9 missing after capsized boat washes ashore near San Diego Northeast: Days of showers and storms for some Halley's Comet to set off meteor shower Monday night Soggy South Central states: Intense downpours to renew flooding risk Two people killed when small plane crashes into California homes Staffing shortage causes 7 days of major delays at Newark Airport Coyote drinks from Los Angeles salon's skylight The REAL ID deadline is less than a week away Fungi could be used to build homes one day Get AccuWeather alerts as they happen with our browser notifications The Japanese giant salamander can grow to almost 150 centimeters - the height of an average twelve-year-old child Tourists, like you, can help protect it. Nature lovers visiting Japan will most probably decide that the Nichinan Giant Japanese Salamander Conservation Experience is one of the most meaningful tours in Japan. Dr. Okada, the world's foremost Japanese giant salamander researcher, will have you wading in the wilds of Tottori in search of salamanders Daytime exploration of salamanders' habitat Tottori PrefectureDr Okada with a Giant Japanese salamander Be one of the first to enjoy this special encounter with the second largest species of salamander in the world The Japanese Department of the Environment and Tottori locals are just starting to promote these tours They hope that salamander tourism can help to save its environment which has adopted the salamander as its symbol In the wild, these mysterious amphibians - many facets of their existence are still unknown - might live for a century. Giant salamanders within and around Nichinan, Tottori, require pristine freshwater streams. The national government designated giant Japanese salamanders as "Special Natural Monuments" under the Cultural Treasures Act of 1952, but their habitat, except for rivers within national parks Giant Japanese salamander habitat in Tottori Some even farmed Chinese salamanders for meat Escaped Chinese salamanders interbreeding with Japanese ones created hybrid salamanders the biggest threats to Japanese giant salamanders are dam and other construction projects that destroy their habitats or cause habitat fragmentation the local government could create protected reserves for salamanders and other creatures winding forest roads to the side of a small river in remote Tottori Prefecture We donned chest-high rubber waders and walked directly into a river Moonlight and starlight filtered through the dense forest canopy in a night silent except for our voices and hoots from an owl Despite the cold and our struggle to balance while walking on the streambed's slippery rocks that lay beneath the surface of the transparent stream I think we all felt like children on a treasure hunt The treasure was a chance to get close to a rare species that has barely changed over millions of years of existence Our cloudlike exhalations floated in the beams of our torches I saw a blur of movement in front of me in the thigh-high water and called out Okada walked downriver to my position and swept his gaze under the stream bank and he gently pulled the first salamander of the evening from its hiding place under fallen tree branches in the water which he carried to the side of the stream We gathered around him as he carefully measured the salamander's length and girth and various parts of its anatomy He is the only person who is allowed to touch the animal were allowed to run a scanning device above its body The information told us the date of when and the location of where Dr Okada caught it years beforehand and its size then Such information helps scientists to better understand the movements and life processes of this little-understood found six gorgeous salamanders in several hours of searching and then releasing these natural treasures the likelihood of encountering nocturnal animals is high As we were leaving the stream in the pitch-black evening, the light from one of our torches illuminated a pair of eyes and a dark from scampering across a nearby rice field. Several of us shone our flashlights in its direction. The beams revealed a fox before it bounded over a ridge another pair of gleaming eyes exposed a tanuki which might have been hunting for small salamander The tanuki crept behind a clump of long green grass and disappeared but we carried with us a renewed passion for nature and a desire to spread the news about a unique chance to protect the environment To ensure that ecotourism will not disturb the animals and the environment too much Okada plans to bring a limited number of tourists to different sections of the river each time For information regarding pricing, dates and times of tours, and accommodation in or around Nichinan, contact www.bushidojapan.com/japanese-giant-salamander First, go to Yonago City by plane or train from Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima and other major cities Flights from Tokyo take less than an hour and a half. The nearest train station to Nichinan is Shoyama Station, which can be reached by trains from Okayama Station and Yonago Station From Okayama Station the Limited Express Yakumo takes 98 minutes to Shoyama and costs 4,490 yen at present From Yonago the journey time is 40 minutes by Limited Express Yakumo and costs 2,310 yen On a local Hakubi Line train bound for Niimi You can even arrange for someone from the tour to meet you at Yonago Airport or JR Yonago Station The author of this article blogs about Japanese Hot Springs at hotspringaddict.blogspot.jp Japan's Wildlife Where to see the work of Kengo Kuma in Japan one of the major contemporary artists in Japan The JR Pass for families: Enjoy traveling around Japan together! The JR Pass is a great option for many travelers to Japan but it offers some great perks that are especially beneficial to families visiting the country How much is the Japan Rail Pass? Current JR Pass pricing for travelers! Take a look at current pricing for the Japan Rail Pass a great travel option for visitors to Japan Japanese Food and Drink Books on Japan Japanese Movies Japanese Language Japanese History Understanding Japan Before you Travel View more Sign up and be the first to hear our news and special offers These buildings by Kenzō Tange (1913-2005) look like matte paintings from futuristic movies — but they’re actually some of the most unique megastructures in the world One of the most famous architects of the 20th century Tange combined traditional Japanese styles with modern architectural solutions and forms (via Kenta Mabuchi and Edson Luis) (via Wikimedia Commons) (via ArchDaily) (via Wikimedia Commons) (via Livedoor) (via Wikimedia Commons and Architectuul) (via Wikimedia Commons) (via Wikimedia Commons) ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " PORTSMOUTH — Four Portsmouth High School students and their teachers are visiting Nichinan Gakuen Junior-Senior High School in Portsmouth's sister city of Nichinan this week as part of an ongoing mutual exchange program between the two schools The group was in the country when President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzö Abe announced plans to double student exchanges by 2020 The United States and the foreign ministry of Japan released a statement Friday resulting from the April 24 summit between the two countries' leaders expressing the intent to double student exchanges between the two countries that means we are already involved in something that the U.S to further foster relations," said Stephanie Seacord a spokeswoman for the Portsmouth exchange program "We have been allies and sister cities for 16 years It's a huge part of Portsmouth history and our students and the president are both there now We're in the game and we understand the value of what the president and the prime minister are trying to do." The PHS delegation now in Japan comprises students James Saxe and teachers Patrick Ganz and Kyle Harrison "Everyone agrees that the exchange program with Nichinan is an extraordinary opportunity for the students who participate," said PHS Principal Jeff Collins "It can be a life-changing experience to share another culture and to be the host for international visitors Understanding the special history Portsmouth shares with Nichinan magnifies the impact." The Portsmouth exchange program with Nichinan began with former Mayor Eileen Foley the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth which ended the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War Nichinan is Portsmouth's sister city because Baron Jutaro Komura the lead Japanese diplomat who negotiated the treaty in 1905 The cherry trees planted at Portsmouth City Hall were funded by a gift from Nichinan in 1985 Members of the Portsmouth High School Madrigal Singers visited Nichinan in 2010 and another group traveled there last spring 19 students from the Nichinan Gakuen Junior-Senior High School their teacher and their superintendent visited Portsmouth High School and another group will arrive this October Seacord said Nichinan sends about 16 to 20 students each year Visiting students attend classes with their host families and special events are planned Seacord said visiting Japanese students get to tour historic sites during their stay on the Seacoast "They visit the peace treaty exhibit at the John Paul Jones House," she said "Sometimes they visit the exhibit at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard A joint U.S.-Japan statement on the importance of the exchange program states "Broad people-to-people exchange between Japan and the United States has been a key pillar of our alliance since its inception Close ties and shared values between the people of the United States and the people of Japan form the foundation of the global partnership between our nations." The statement sets a goal to double the two-way student exchange by the year 2020 as a means to ensure the future strength of the U.S.-Japan relationship President Obama and Prime Minister Abe announced their intent to create a new bilateral exchange program that would enable Japanese youth to visit the United States enhance their English language abilities and develop professional skills through internship opportunities The leaders also intend to explore internship opportunities for U.S government and a range of private sector partners have created the Friendship Blossoms Initiative which is currently planting 3,000 American dogwood trees throughout Japan on behalf of the people of the United States to reciprocate the city of Tokyo's gift of 3,000 flowering cherry trees to Washington For information about the Nichinan exchange program the cherry trees and Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 struck Japan's southwestern prefecture of Miyazaki and other areas early Sunday registering lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Nichinan Its focus was at a depth of about 30 kilometers off the Osumi Peninsula The agency updated the magnitude from the initially reported 5.8 The quake registered 4 in the city of Miyazaki and some other parts of the prefecture and 3 in the nearby prefectures of Ehime There were no immediate reports of injuries No abnormalities were found at Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture Small tsunami were recorded on some islands in the Izu chain near Tokyo and other areas on the Pacific coast on Monday morning following a nearby earthquake Tsunami up to 60 centimeters in height were measured at Hachijo and some other islands in Izu plus an island in the Ogasawara chain in the Pacific Ocean There were waves of 30 cm recorded in Tateyama after advisories were issued for the areas The agency lifted all tsunami alerts at noon five coastal cities in Kochi and 12 municipalities in Chiba also lifted their directive asking residents to evacuate quake was in waters near the uninhabited Torishima Island but further details including the magnitude of the tremor remain unclear The agency also said it continues to observe seismic activity in waters near Torishima Island as it expected more to come Miyazaki Prefecture in the country's southwest Local authorities said there have so far been no reports of injuries or damage on the islands nor in Chiba Several small boats in Hachijo and Kozu islands overturned but there were no injuries reported small tsunami waves arrived in parts of the Izu island chain following an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 in the Pacific Ocean Shihan Mato is a style of Japanese archery in which the shooter unleashes arrows at a target from a seated position The sport started in lands governed by the Shimazu clan during a time of warfare between 1467 and 1603 in modern-day Miyazaki prefecture on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu The earliest known images of people shooting bows in the country date to the Yayoi period Kyudo archery is the most common form of the sport in Japan and was the type practiced by samurai peasants living in Shimazu lands were allowed to practice archery only when seated because their feudal overlords feared they might use their bows to rebel You can try out this ancient art at Obi Castle Town in Miyazaki’s Nichinan City for a small fee Archers can either kneel on a mat or sit on a small platform and shoot at targets about 27 feet away The arrows you fire are quite long – about 3 feet – and tend to veer slightly to the right of where you’re aiming The folks at the range have added a little dot left of the target for people to shoot at The lightweight bows and short distance to the target make the sport something that doesn’t require much strength to compete in It’s an activity that older people and men and women can participate in together Early 20th-century film of Japanese people doing Shihan Mato archery shows huge crowds of people who look a little tipsy It was common for people to drink local shochu before competing drinking has been banned at official contests but some locals say the sport isn’t fun without alcohol an employee will bang a drum; a bulls-eye gets you a small prize Directions: The archery range is next to a public parking lot and bathrooms and a short walk from Obi Castle PORTSMOUTH — Bells pealed for three minutes across the Seacoast in New Hampshire and Maine for the celebration of the 115th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 for organizing the peace conference that ended the Russo-Japanese War Portsmouth lawyer Charles Doleac chairs the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum he called on every citizen to ring a bell because they played a part in the historic treaty signing as did the negotiators Portsmouth celebrated by ringing bells throughout the city. The Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum revived that tradition at the treaty historic marker outside the Piscataqua Savings Bank and Judge Calvin Page memorial at 15 Pleasant St "Thirty days of negotiations resulted in the signing of the treaty," Doleac said "We the citizens are the ones who kept the negotiations alive by making this a place conducive to keeping people at the table This led to the rise of citizen diplomacy." Bells were rung at that time and the tradition continues today with a signal from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and bells ringing throughout the area church bells and people tolling their own bells in tribute. Historic Portsmouth: Meeting at the ‘Y’ in 1905 a bell ringing ceremony took place in Portsmouth's sister city of Nichinan The ceremonial bell ringing featured Mayor Toru Takahashi and the Nichinan Gakuen Jr-Sr High School The 2021 governor’s proclamation was read whose great grandfather John McLane was governor of New Hampshire and host to the 1905 peace conference NH history: Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial cherry trees blossom in Portsmouth This year is the 115th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Theodore Roosevelt for organizing the peace conference that ended the Russo-Japanese War New details on Roosevelt’s Nobel Peace Prize and the authentic replica of the Prize were recently added to the Portsmouth Peace Treaty exhibit at the John Paul Jones House Museum Portsmouth (sounding the shofar and displaying a peace flag) New Castle (where the Russian and Japanese diplomats stayed) Portsmouth Historical Society John Paul Jones House (Portsmouth Peace Treaty exhibit) Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial cherry tree sites in Dublin Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information National Report was running out of time to fulfill a long-held promise But thanks to the strenuous efforts of his grandson veteran’s possession was returned to the family of a former enemy combatant after a separation of nearly 80 years The precious sword was originally crafted in the 16th century and had been passed down through the generations of the Umeki family in the town of Takaharu carried the sword with him when he left Takaharu around 1941 for a Japanese-controlled territory during the Pacific War He traveled from China to the Korean Peninsula Umeki was on Jeju Island off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula when Japan surrendered on Aug Cursor found the sword among seized Japanese military weapons stacked up at a beach on Okinawa Prefecture’s main island It remains unknown how the blade was moved to Okinawa A message written in English appeared on a wooden tag strapped to the sword It read: “I am very glad to have the honour to ask your favour to send my sword to my home has been handed down from generation to generation to keep my family safe and comfortable.” “Colonel Tomesuke Umeki Takaharu-machi Miyazaki.” he thought the sword might be of historic value and decided to take it with him to the United States But he also promised to honor the wishes of the message writer someday that he wanted to return the sword to Japan before he turned 100 years old had limited time to fulfill his grandfather’s wishes who happened to be an Asahi Shimbun reporter in Japan The reporter learned through the Takaharu town office that Umeki’s son Tomesuke Umeki had talked about his missing sword until he died in 1974 at age 74 Clost found out where he could return the sword to in Japan authorities to take the blade out of the country and from Japanese authorities to bring the weapon into Japan After completing all the necessary paperwork and procedures in both countries He took the blade to the Japanese Sword Museum and other facilities for analysis Experts said the weapon is believed to be one of a series of swords referred to as “Shigaseki.” It was likely forged by an artisan called “Kanenobu” or another named “Nobutsugu,” both members of a group of swordsmiths working in the Chubu region in the 1500s during the Muromachi Period (1336-1573) Clost also obtained a certificate required to own and transfer the sword as an art piece he visited Nichinan and handed the Shigaseki sword to Takemitsu at his home Cursor joined the meeting online from Chicago He told Takemitsu that he never thought he would see the day when he could fulfill his promise to return the sword He said his “postwar years” were finally over “This sword has united two families in Japan and the United States,” Takemitsu said Clost added: “I want the Shigaseki to be kept in peace in its homeland The Japanese sword being here is proof of peace.” Metal expert in quest to uncover secrets of ancient swords’ strength 600-year-old blade shines light on Hiroshima swordsmiths Artisans in Okayama fully restore Suu Kyi’s Japanese sword Restoration of sword for Suu Kyi continues despite coup Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Nine people have been confirmed injured in Miyazaki Kagoshima and Kumamoto prefectures due to the strong earthquake that struck Miyazaki Prefecture on Thursday Miyazaki Prefecture has been closed due to rocks that fell on the road Other damage included collapsed concrete block walls Japan Meteorological Agency Issues Nankai Trough Extra Information; Data Meant to Assess Risk of Subsequent Megaquake Disaster Preparedness / Post-Quake Congestion Could Cause Secondary Disasters; Crowds, Loss of Phone Signal Issues to be Aware of What happens when the electricity goes out in a nighttime quake? How to protect children at preschool facilities after a major tsunami warning Miyazaki — Nichinan Station of Kyushu Railway Co (JR Kyushu) and Rinan Station in Taiwan have become sister stations since both share names that use the same Chinese characters sun and south recently opened an area to display photo panels introducing Rinan Station and their sister station agreement document Taiwan’s Rinan Station opened in 1922 in Taichung and is characterized by its wooden structure the names of 32 stations in Taiwan use the same Chinese characters as stations in Japan Nichinan Station is the fifth to establish a sister station agreement with a counterpart in Taiwan The agreement was signed in November last year The Nichinan municipal government said it plans to hold events such as Taiwan-style night markets to make its citizens feel closer to Taiwan Miyazaki Prefecture--A driver has surrendered to police after his passenger posted a now-viral photo of the vehicle zipping along at more than 30 kph over the speed limit a 49-year-old Lower House member from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party took the photo from the back seat of the car on April 28 and immediately posted it on X according to his local office in the prefecture His aide was at the wheel of the car on National Route 220 as it headed toward the prefectural capital of Miyazaki “Traveling along the Nichinan coast this morning,” Takei wrote in the X post “Thanks to the recently opened expressway inland traffic has thinned out on the national route The photo accompanying the post showed the speedometer at 91 kph The aide reported the traffic violation to local police but I don’t remember how fast I was going.” An official from the local office suggested that Takei was unaware the car was exceeding the speed limit “He would not have posted it if he was aware (of the speeding) and he is sorry for his action,” the official said The official also said all staff members have been reminded to comply with legal and regulatory rules and to avoid creating excessively tight schedules that could lead to rushing Takei is a four-term member of the Lower House who represented a constituency in the prefecture and later the wider Kyushu bloc under the proportional representation system He served as vice foreign minister from 2022 to 2023 F1 race car seen roaring through Japan alongside bullet train Human remains found in car buried in Nara village landslide Post office in Tohoku reopens 11 years after quake Groovy roads play musical tunes to promote driver safety Suga backs anti-casino candidate in Yokohama mayoral race Copyright © The Asahi Shimbun Company. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission. A government team said a magnitude 9.1 Nankai Trough quake could generate a deadly tsunami within minutes I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Japan, one of the most earthquake-prone nations on earth The magnitude 7.1 quake caused no deaths or severe damage but the advisory has led to widespread confusion and a lingering sense of worry — in a country well accustomed to regular quakes — about when the next big one will hit As a result of the “megaquake advisory,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida canceled his planned Aug 9-12 trip to Central Asia and announced he would lead the government response and ensure preventive measures and communication with the public The Fire and Disaster Management Agency instructed 707 municipalities seen as at risk from a Nankai Trough quake to review their response measures and evacuation plans Experts and officials have urged people to stay calm and carry on their daily social and economic activities while also securing emergency food and water and discussing evacuation plans with family members JMA experts said they have so far found no abnormal seismic or tectonic activity that would indicate a megaquake 8 on the western edge of the Nankai Trough increased the likelihood of another big one But that is not a prediction that a megaquake will happen at any specific time or location, says University of Tokyo seismologist Naoshi Hirata, who heads the JMA’s experts panel. He urged people to remain cautious and prepared. The Nankai Trough is an undersea trench that runs from Hyuganada, in the waters just off the southeastern coast of Kyushu, to Suruga Bay in central Japan. It spans about 800 kilometers (500 miles) along the Pacific coast. The Philippine Sea Plate there slowly pulls down on the Eurasian Plate and causes it to occasionally snap back, an action that could lead to a megaquake and tsunami, JMA says. The last Nankai Trough quake off Shikoku in 1946 recorded a preliminary magnitude of 8.0 and killed more than 1,300 people. In 2013, a government disaster prevention team said a magnitude 9.1 Nankai Trough quake could generate a tsunami exceeding 10 meters (33 feet) within minutes, killing as many as 323,000 people, destroying more than 2 million buildings and causing economic damage of more than 220 trillion yen ($1.5 trillion) to large swaths of Japan’s Pacific coast. The “megaquake advisory,” which is filled with scientific jargon, has worried and baffled people across the country. Some towns closed beaches and canceled annual events, which has led to challenges for travelers during Japan’s Obon holiday week, a time for festivals and fireworks across the nation. Yoshiko Kudo and her husband Shinya said they had trouble understanding what exactly the advisory meant, how worried they should be and what they should do. “We are trying not to go overboard. Too much worry is not good,” Yoshiko Kudo said. “We don’t know how to be prepared and to still live normally like the experts tell us,” said Shinya Kudo, a caregiver in his 60s. Yoneko Oshima, walking by a major train station in Tokyo, said: “It’s scary ... They say there's a (70-80%) chance in the next 30 years, but it could be tomorrow.” Her latest purchase is a portable toilet. She says water is indispensable for her diabetic husband, who needs to take medicine after every meal. “I plan to take this opportunity to make a list and make sure we have everything at hand,” Oshima said. She hasn’t changed her holiday plans this week, but her daughter canceled a planned trip to Mount Fuji. In Matsuyama city on the island of Shikoku, which has many hot springs, hotels and resorts reviewed their evacuation procedures and emergency equipment and launched a radio communication system for emergency use. They have received hundreds of cancellations since the advisory was issued, said Hideki Ochi, director of the Dogo Onsen Ryokan Association. A crisis management task force in the coastal town of Kuroshio in Kochi prefecture, where a tsunami as high as 34 meters (111 feet) was predicted in the government risk analysis, initially set up 30 shelters across town. But only two are still open following Monday’s JMA statement that there has been no indication of an impending megaquake. Higashi Osaka urged residents on the town website not to engage in “unnecessary and non-urgent” travel in case of a major quake. Stone lanterns fall at a shrine following a strong earthquake in Nichinan, Miyazaki prefecture, southern Japan People are confused and scared","description":"A government team said a magnitude 9.1 Nankai Trough quake could generate a deadly tsunami within minutes A powerful earthquake struck off Japan's southern coast on Thursday triggering a tsunami advisory that urged residents to stay away from the coastline Three people were injured but there were no reports of serious damage The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake registered magnitude 7.1 and was centered in waters off the eastern coast of Japan's southern main island of Kyushu at a depth of about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) The quake most strongly shook Nichinan city and nearby areas in Miyazaki prefecture on Kyushu island The agency said tsunami waves of up to 50 centimeters (1.6 feet) were detected along parts of Kyushu's southern coast and the nearby island of Shikoku about a half hour after the quake struck The tsunami advisory was lifted from most coastlines except those along the Miyazaki prefecture Seismologists at the agency held an emergency meeting to analyze whether the quake had affected the nearby Nankai Trough the source of past devastating earthquakes They later issued an assessment that the potential for a future quake in the area from Kyushu to central Japan is higher than previously predicted The agency said it will continue to closely watch movements of plates near the Nankai Trough That does not mean there's an imminent danger of a big quake in the near future but they urged residents on the coasts along the trough — which spans about 500 kilometers (310 miles) — to review their quake preparedness University of Tokyo seismologist Naoshi Hirata told a joint news conference with JMA officials There is a 70-80% chance of a magnitude 8 or 9 quake stemming from the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years adding that Thursday's quake raises that probability even while the timing or exact location cannot be predicted The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said three people were injured in Thursday's quake Two of them fell down when the quake struck and another was hit by a falling object Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said officials were assessing possible injuries or serious damage He urged residents of the affected region to stay away from the coastline JMA Seismology Department official Shigeki Aoki warned that strong aftershocks could occur for about a week Japan’s NHK public television said windows were broken at the Miyazaki airport near the epicenter The airport's runway was temporarily closed for safety checks NHK showed dozens of people gathering at a designated hilltop evacuation area In Osaki in neighboring Kagoshima prefecture concrete walls collapsed and a wooden house was damaged The Nuclear Regulation Authority said all 12 nuclear reactors including three that are currently operating Earthquakes in areas with nuclear power plants have been a major concern since a massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster Japan sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean and is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries 1 in Japan's north-central region of Noto left more than 240 people dead Experts: Kyushu temblor unlikely to trigger Nankai megaquake more localities move facilities to higher ground Quake damages Wakayama after tremors rattle Mt No reproduction or republication without written permission.