Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Miyazaki Prefecture--A wilderness area known as “Kyushu’s last unexplored region” features a giant boulder known as Pakkun Rock that rests with its “mouth” agape as if to surprise climbers on their way to Mount Hokodake It gets its nickname from its resemblance to Pac-Man the iconic dot-eating character from the popular video game of the same name The “mouth” opening is 6.5 meters wide and 2.5 meters deep It’s a popular topic on social networking sites The rock looks as if it was sliced open with a gigantic knife It sits on a trail leading to 1,277-meter Mount Hokodake which is renowned for a large granite slab standing on the south side of Mount Okue the tallest of the Okue mountains at 1,644 meters in northern Miyazaki Prefecture The distinctive mountainous terrain was created over millennia after valleys formed by volcanic activity underwent a series of uplifts and erosion events An hour’s hike from the Shishikawa campground through a slightly steep mountain trail along a valley takes climbers to a large waterfall with a 50-meter drop Pakkun Rock stands behind a large rock blocking the upper stream of the waterfall A group of six climbers who descended from the upper stream got really pumped to find the famous boulder “We have always talked about how we wanted to climb Mount Hokodake and see Pakkun Rock It had been difficult to match our holidays because we work irregular shifts but we finally made it today,” said Yoshitomo Kawano The medical social worker said he and his climbing party who all work at a hospital in Oita Prefecture came specifically to see Pakkun Rock after scaling Mount Hokodake They were clearly impressed by the great contrast between the huge rock with its large opening and the massive granite slab behind it Katamuki and Okue Biosphere Reserve designated by UNESCO in 2017 According to the Nobeoka Tourist Association the area is covered with primeval native forests allowing visitors to feast on seasonal sights such as “akebono-tsutsuji” (alpine azalea) in spring and beech and maple trees in autumn long-cherished by nature lovers for The changing colors of the foliage But Pakkun Rock has attracted attention only recently and is rapidly gaining popularity as a new sightseeing spot in the social media age ‘bullet climbing’ raise concerns on Mount Fuji ‘Yellowtail Mansion’ listed as important cultural property 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 Two people are missing in Miyazaki Prefecture following record-breaking rains that hit the prefecture on Tuesday and Wednesday 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 one of the missing people was caught in a landslide at a house in Nobeoka The landslide occurred at around 12:30 a.m burying the house in which the person lived with her husband The husband was outside and was unable to contact his wife who was inside at the time of the disaster A second person went missing after their car was swept away by a river in Nichinan The police said a person was inside the car when it was swept away on Tuesday afternoon Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun 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 TOPNewsFiscal 2021Asahi Kasei to renovate a hydroelectric power plant in the Nobeoka area Asahi Kasei has decided to implement a large-scale renovation of the Suigasaki Hydroelectric Plant completed in 1950 with a capacity of 18,000 kW The Asahi Kasei Group operates business in harmony with the environment and local communities based on a Group Vision of providing new value to society by enabling “living in health and comfort” and “harmony with the natural environment.” we have supplied our business operations in the Nobeoka area with power from hydroelectric plants on the Gokase River system We now have 9 hydroelectric power plants with a maximum total output of 56,380 kW Although some of the hydroelectric plants are more than 90 years old we have continued safe operation by systematic maintenance it was determined that successive large-scale renovations of the hydroelectric plants would be required beginning with the November 2018 decision to implement a large-scale renovation of the Gokasegawa Hydroelectric Plant which was completed in 1925 with a capacity of 13,500 kW followed by the August 2019 decision to implement a large-scale renovation of the Mamihara Hydroelectric Plant which was completed in 1926 with a capacity of 5,000 kW The decision to implement a large-scale renovation of the Suigasaki Hydroelectric Plant is part of this plan to enhance the reliability of our hydroelectric plants and secure a stable supply of clean energy over the long term in accordance with our management strategy prioritizing sustainability Main renovations: Replacement of turbines and generators The large-scale renovation of the Suigasaki Hydroelectric Plant will enhance the efficiency of the hydraulic turbines and generators resulting in an annual reduction in CO2 emissions of approximately 10,000 tons as we aim to further reduce the environmental burden of our operations Renovation work is scheduled to begin in October 2022 and the rebuilt plant is scheduled to begin operation in April 2025 Work will be performed with due consideration for nearby residents and the surrounding environment Asahi Kasei operates 9 hydroelectric power plants and 4 thermal power plants which provide in-house supply of around 90% of the power used by our operations in the region of Nobeoka and Hyuga To further increase the ratio of clean energy in addition to the hydroelectric plants in 2012 we began power generation using biomass fuel and in September 2020 we began work to convert our 3rd coal-fired thermal power plant completed in 1971 with a capacity of 34,000 kW into an LNG-fired thermal power plant of equivalent capacity Asahi Kasei continues to further advance successive measures to utilize clean energy as part of an ongoing effort to proactively contribute to a society of clean environmental energy through our environmentally-friendly business operations title: house in nobeoka architect: jo nagasaka / schemata architects project team: ryosuke yamamoto location: nobeoka-shi japan usage: private house construction: ueda kogyo co. number of stories: 2 stories site area: 254.17㎡ building area: 228.35㎡ total floor area: 439.54㎡ structure: wood and steel completion: august AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style but none more so than the longstanding tradition between Medford and its sister city of Nobeoka Nobeoka took its turn sending students to Medford this summer just 12 short months after Medford High School students Sarah Mason and Will Durney visited the Far East and we’re glad to be a part of it,” said Diane Giamberardino has hosted Nobeoka students every two years since the mid-1990s The Giamberardinos spent time with students Masaya Yano and Yuri Hiroki during a two-week stay in the United States the Nobeoka representatives were on their best behavior “They are always so easy to be with,” Giamberardino said “They’re up for doing anything and are always the most polite people you will ever find.” Giamberardino has been hosting the Japanese students for so long she has seen her own children grow up during the years she has been involved “Our kids are usually around when we host the students but they’re older now and were not around much this time,” she said and the students always seem to enjoy going tubing and jet skiing on Lake Winnisquam.” coordinated and run through the Medford Rotary Club Medford and Nobeoka take turns sending two of their students overseas for the trip Mason and Durney spent time with three different host families each during their stay in 2009 castles and natural landmarks while learning about the Japanese culture Yano and Hiroki visited cultural landmarks around the greater Boston area and learned about American culture Yano and Hiroki spent time with the Durneys (Michael and Grace) and the Masons (Harold and Margaret) and also stayed with Jack and Mary Beth Hayes the Nobeoka students crammed all they could into their short visit “We gave [Yano] a tour of Medford so he could see what the city is all about,” Grace Durney said “He went to Tufts University and got to see Medford High School.” The Durneys offered a wide variety of activities as well from bowling to visiting local museums to taking a Boston Harbor tour Yano also had the chance to view the entire city “It was a great experience and we were glad to return the favor,” Durney said “(Yano) seemed to be interested in everything and was very easy to live with.” who said he learned of the International Exchange Program from his teacher “It was very much what I expected it to be I wish I could stay longer and do even more things.” saying the best part of the trip was getting to experience authentic American culture “I really liked the experience of living with an American family,” she said “It was very interesting and a lot of fun.” The trip concluded with a going-away party at the home of Pat and Elaine Theberge who hosted the students on the final night of their stay before bringing them to the airport last weekend Both Yano and Hiroki said they plan on going to college after they graduate Yano said he hopes to be a teacher when he is older while Hiroki plans to study to become a doctor How did Medford become sister city to Japan the relationship between Medford and Nobeoka began more than 100 years ago when a clipper ship built in Medford endured a very serious storm outside Nobeoka but the people of Nobeoka rescued the American sailors In the mid-1980s the Medford Rotary Club began the student exchange program about 75 people came over from Japan to celebrate the Medford’s 100th birthday a delegation of 300 came from Nobeoka — including an orchestra — and put on a concert at Tufts University McGlynn has invited Nobeoka’s students to Medford City Hall every time they visit and Medford students visit with Nobeoka City’s deputy on their trip including last year when Sarah Mason and Will Durney visited with Takaharu Sugimoto Japanese version Copyright THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS. All rights reserved. The clip was posted to Twitter yesterday (Dec. 26), with the location later identified (link in Japanese) as Nobeoka a city in Miyazaki prefecture on the island of Kyushu the men filming her can be heard laughing and crying out Many of the comments said that the video was “scary,” echoing the Japanese government’s own growing concerns over elderly drivers in the rapidly graying country The number of fatal traffic accidents is on the decline overall in Japan but the number of incidents involving elderly drivers remains high TOPNewsFiscal 2024Asahi Kasei Medical completes new assembly plant for Planova™ virus removal filters Asahi Kasei Medical has completed the construction of its third assembly plant for Planova™ virus removal filters in Nobeoka and held its completion ceremony on May 24 The bioprocess business of Asahi Kasei Medical comprises Planova™ virus removal filters and equipment used in the manufacturing process of biotherapeutic products such as biopharmaceuticals and plasma derivatives It is one of the Asahi Kasei Group’s businesses to drive future growth Planova™ cellulose hollow-fiber membrane filters developed specifically for removing viruses from biotherapeutic products followed by Planova™ BioEX hydrophilic PVDF hollow-fiber membrane filters in 2009 Both product lines have earned wide recognition among pharmaceutical manufacturers for their outstanding contribution to the safety of biopharmaceuticals A next-generation line of cellulose hollow-fiber membrane filters was launched in 2022 featuring robust virus removal capability and simplified operation and has been highly regarded among customers With heightened standards throughout the world for the viral safety of biotherapeutics and advances in the development of monoclonal antibodies and other biopharmaceuticals global demand for virus removal filters is expected to continue growing Asahi Kasei Medical has been proactively expanding production capacity for Planova™ including the 2019 completion of a new spinning plant for Planova™ in Nobeoka and the 2021 decision to expand its spinning plant for Planova™ BioEX filters in Oita in addition to the assembly plant completion announced today Asahi Kasei Medical will continue to support biotherapeutics manufacturers by enabling them to safely and efficiently manufacture products that patients can trust through innovative and exceptionally reliable bioprocess consumables and equipment as well as scientific support and biosafety testing services For more information, visit https://planova.ak-bio.com/ Miyazaki Prefecture—A residence here known as the “Yellowtail Mansion” that was built by a pioneering fishing family was designated an important cultural property by the central government The Hidaka residence is the 11th building in Miyazaki Prefecture to receive the designation and the second one in the city According to the Nobeoka city education board the modern Japanese-style residence was originally built in the late 19th century by the Hidaka family who made a fortune through an innovative yellowtail fishing method The building was expanded into the current structure during the Taisho Era (1912-1926) The city government designated it a tangible cultural property in 2016 The Council for Cultural Affairs in June recommended the residence to the culture minister for registration as a national important cultural property The main building of the residence is a two-story wooden structure covering an area of about 543 square meters The residence boasts a total floor space of about 772 square meters It stands on reclaimed land jutting into Akamizu Bay in the southern part of the city “I hope it will serve as a big springboard for citizens to feel confident and proud of our hometown,” Mayor Yoji Yomiyama said in a statement The residence is not open to the public because it is still inhabited by the family But it is used as a traditional Japanese restaurant Visit the official website at (http://ryouteihidaka.com/) Cafe in historic Kyoto building that is not widely known sea cucumber prices fell after China banned imports Shochu from Miyazaki wins top prize in French contest Discounted passports offered to all Miyazaki residents Local delicacies from remote isles now available at Haneda Airport Age-old festivals reviewing animal treatment in face of abuse criticism Japanese version TOPCreating for TomorrowTomorrow’s Stories　Asahi Kasei's Track Team Brings a Community Together Through a Passion for Sports heats up with excitement for the Golden Games in Nobeoka (GGN) a long-distance track competition that attracts around 25,000 spectators from all around Japan Having begun as a small competition by Asahi Kasei's Track Team GGN has grown year-by-year with the enthusiasm and cooperation of the local community GGN has now become a fixture of Nobeoka as a unique track competition that brings world-class athletes together with students What does GGN mean to Asahi Kasei and the local community Let's take a closer look at the 34th competition “Looks like it’s almost time for the games.” Anticipation builds as GGN flags and posters appear at the train station and other public places around the city The games have become such a part of Nobeoka that they feel like a local festival legendary marathoners on Asahi Kasei's Track Team After Nobeoka's athletic stadium was renovated in 1990 they decided to celebrate by inviting top athletes from Western Japan for a competition Over half of the entrants set new personal records at the inaugural event The participating coaches and athletes suggested making it a regular event and local community members were also keen to see top runners compete again Now the General Manager of Asahi Kasei's Track Team Takeshi So reflects on the first competition “We aimed to create the atmosphere of a European track competition where the audience is close to the athletes Many people from the local community gathered around the track at the stadium and the air was filled with their enthusiastic cheers I believe that excitement helped many runners set new records.” The name Golden Games in Nobeoka was adopted in the fourth year and to give the event an even greater European feel tin signboards were adopted for the audience to bang on as they cheer Businesses and shops throughout Nobeoka City were invited to sponsor the event with the signboards some 100 of them covering the perimeter of the track the event has been held at the Nobeoka Nishishina Athletic Field which had been remodeled as Kyushu’s first all-weather stadium with a blue track and the audience has now grown to 25,000 people for the first time in four years with no pandemic restrictions Then the audience cheers even more,” adds Takeshi So “I believe it is this positive cycle that has made GGN an event loved by athletics fans around Japan and by the people of Nobeoka.” many staff members arrive early to start setting up the stadium and preparing for the competition the Miyazaki Association of Athletics Federations and the Competition Organizing Committee were joined by over 100 students volunteering as ushers while members of Asahi Kasei’s Track Team handled reception Operation of the event truly showcased the company and the local community joined together they are given colorful paper tubes to use for banging on the tin signboards while they cheer Originally the core of yarn spools used at a nearby fiber plant the tubes were collected to be reused for this purpose Another central figure of GGN is Mitsuyo Kusu Administrative Assistant of Asahi Kasei’s Track Team who leads the overall management of the event she is most passionate for the event’s success but I happened to become Administrative Assistant of the Track Team nearly 40 years ago after a personnel change I have been involved with this event since the beginning I was making the number bibs and signboards myself by hand but my colleagues saw how late I was working and began to offer various kinds of help people from not only within the company but also from the local community came to support the event I have really felt the compassion and kindness of the people of Nobeoka as well as my colleagues in Asahi Kasei.” GGN starts in the afternoon and continues until the evening The first half consists of races for elementary and junior high school students It's unusual for them to compete before such a large audience The roar of the crowd inspires the children run flat out until the finish line There are very few competitions which include both top-level athletes and children The loud cheers and the sound of the banging on the signboards not only spur the children to run faster they also provide a valuable growth experience which is involved with training young track & field athletes in Nobeoka talks about how GGN is a venue for children to grow and gain valuable experience GGN is an opportunity to give their all and grow as athletes and as people while being cheered on by many spectators up close and the Nobeoka Athletics Association come together to show their enthusiasm We want to continue making it an exciting event for everyone.” From the middle of the event onward are the main competitions including entries among high school and college students as well as top-level athletes from business organizations takes the microphone as GGN’s familiar commentator “Keep it up!” “You’ve got this!” “Don’t give up!” His motivational cheering not only encourages the competitors The sound of the crowd banging on the signboards and cheering on the athletes rises to another level the runners sprint the final stretch with all their might you can witness the exact point at which the athletes get inspired by the audience taking on challenges and overcoming one’s limitations The athletes from Asahi Kasei’s Track Team who compete in GGN also see it as a special event “GGN is truly a home race as I get to run while hearing my name being shouted by a large number of people It is also an event that gives me a renewed sense of support from everyone of Asahi Kasei and Nobeoka I will always be grateful and give my all for the cheering fans.” Asahi Kasei has fostered many world-class athletes and has actively contributed to local communities and nurturing the next-generation through sports it is also an annual festival that is eagerly anticipated by the people of the company and the community of Nobeoka the competition allows young athletes to grow and have a memorable experience It is also a venue for interactions that nurture future athletes in connection with the community We at Asahi Kasei want GGN to continue to be an event loved by athletes and the local community and will keep contributing to society through sports considering the future of the community and its children How the amazing electronic compass was developed Single-minded devotion to catalysts for industrial chemical innovation Pursuing the ultimate specifications for the future Development history and future outlook of lithium-ion battery More TOPNewsFiscal 2022Asahi Kasei completes second plant for Ceolus™ microcrystalline cellulose Asahi Kasei has completed the construction of its second plant for Ceolus™ microcrystalline cellulose1 (MCC) at its Mizushima Works in Kurashiki the company underlines its commitment to meet the substantially growing demand for its MCC The Functional Additives Division of Asahi Kasei’s Life Innovation SBU has manufactured Ceolus™ in Nobeoka Ceolus™ is supplied to customers around the world primarily for use as tablet binder2 for pharmaceuticals Demand for Ceolus™ used in pharmaceutical tablets is growing substantially especially for the proprietary high-performance grades Ceolus™ KG and Ceolus™ UF The second plant for Ceolus™ will not only raise supply capacity but also enhance the stability of supply through production at multiple sites The new plant is currently undergoing trial operation with commercial production of each grade scheduled to begin in succession from April 2023 “The increased capacity at this new plant will enable us to provide a more stable supply of Ceolus™ for distribution centers around the world to get products to customers in greater quantities,” says Eiichi Hori Senior General Manager of Functional Additives Division “The second plant will make Ceolus™ more accessible to patients around the world new formulations that pharmaceutical and supplement manufacturers will develop utilizing our MCC.” Featuring an innovative particle morphology Ceolus™ offers various solutions to the pharmaceutical and supplement industries: It facilitates challenging formulations and enables unique and patient-friendly dosage forms It also contributes to customers’ production efficiency by enabling high-speed tableting and reducing production problems less impurities including nitrite and nitrate which may cause nitrosamine associated risk and the consistently high quality of Ceolus™ directly contribute to the quality improvement of customers’ formulations Asahi Kasei expects that the new plant will make a further contribution to life and living for people around the world by providing Ceolus™ to more customers globally enabling the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and supplements that have been difficult to make into tablets and meeting the needs of pharmaceutical companies and patients through the development of high-performance products As the requirements for functionality of pharmaceuticals and supplements continue to rise year by year Ceolus™ contributes by facilitating the development and manufacture of solid dosage formulations such as tablets Backed by over 50 years of manufacturing expertise Ceolus™ is positioned to further support pharmaceutical and supplement companies in their development of formulations with higher quality and functionality Asahi Kasei will continue to develop advanced grades of Ceolus™ while providing richer services to customers over the decades to come The fire broke out on 20 October, 2020 and it took a total of three days to completely extinguish which manufactures large-scale integrated circuits (LSIs) for audio equipment was severely damaged Once the fire had been fully extinguished it became clear that the fifth floor had been critically damaged All of this meant that any kind of construction would have to be carried out with great caution and consideration of potential impact to other areas In November last year the company told Evertiq that debris removal had been conducted strenuously and that some of the production had been transferred to manufacturing partners Evertiq reached out once more for an update on the investigation into the cause of the fire to see how the recovery process is proceeding “Our own investigation into the cause of the fire has been completed but the plant is severely damaged and we are unable to identify the cause The fire is believed to have started inside a cleanroom so we are reinforcing fire prevention measures inside cleanrooms at our other plants,” Taro Sekizuka General Manager – Media Relations Department Sekizuka continues to explain that the process of dismantling and the removal of debris continues to progress cautiously while still prioritising safety Employees based at the fire damaged plant has been moved to other positions and the company has continuously work to recover the capacity loss there are still uncertainties regarding when we might see the plant back up and running “While no decision has been made regarding reconstruction of the plant alternative production is advancing smoothly and supply of some products has resumed Employees have been reassigned to other positions in the Asahi Kasei Group,” says Taro Sekizuka Aftermath of the fire at AKM factory Nobeoka City fire has struck again in an inferno that raged for three straight days crippling the digital realm by claiming an AKG audio-semiconductor factory That ancient elemental force we all know as FIRE seems determined to destroy music in the midst of the year that we all need the calming allure of our favorite music the most The three-day fire broke out at the semiconductor factory in Nobeoka City, on October 20th Nobeoka City is a historic industrial town on the coast of Japan’s southwestern main island and home to one of Asahi Kasei Microsystem’s (AKM) most important chip manufacturing facilities Many of the audio chips made at that particular facility are made nowhere else for the company and includes AKM’s world-renowned DACs and ADCs used in pro-audio and many up-scale consumer audio components Firefighters battled the factory inferno that raged all the way to October 23rd The only good news from this story is that all 400 factory employees were safely evacuated as the fire began no casualties were reported among workers or firefighters But according to semiconductor new source SemiMedia the firefighters faced the worst chip factory fire seen in recent memory another fire ignited elsewhere in the building’s fifth floor as sections of the walls and roof collapsed into the factory the firefighters had to protect themselves against a strong gaseous chemical believed to be hydrogen chloride created by burning electrical cables the firefighters had fully extinguished the blaze at around midnight of October 23rd that’s a full 82 hours of war against a determined force of nature But sadly, the music could not be saved. SemiMedia says that the fire completely devastated the site and it’s likely to remain completely offline for at least six months as AKM rebuilds Impact on the audio-chip supply chain was immediate as companies using AKM parts began panic buying increasing orders in an effort not to be caught short in the near future few companies were as concerned about the effects of the fire in Nobeoka City as Sound United with both Marantz and Denon releasing new AV receivers just this year Senior VP of Product Development from Sound United told Audioholics "We were saddened to have heard the news of the fire at the AKM factory in Japan Having been long-time partners and personal friends with the AKM team in North America and in Japan we sympathize with AKM as they work through this challenge The good news is we have the parts we need to ensure our dealer partners have products to sell during the holiday buying season this year we're in talks with multiple parties to better understand the longer-term effect on our product supply with an eye towards mitigating potential shortages in the future Let's remember that after the 2011 Japanese earthquake there was significant damage to our Shirakawa factory yet we bounced back from that in short order We believe that level of resiliency is shared among our friends and colleagues at AKM and we look forward to them being operational in the future." Senior Vice President of Product Development at Sound United La Grou is the CEO of Millennia Media a large professional audio component manufacturer that makes equipment used by both record and film industries Millennia’s equipment is so widely embedded into the industries that make sound that the company’s unofficial motto says: “Millennia has likely played a role in some of the music you’ve listened to today.” Speaking about the devastation to his company’s supply chain in the wake of the AKG fire ASRCs and Receivers—is made exclusively in the Nobeoka plant… Of course all AKM audio parts immediately disappeared from front-line distributors [such as] Digikey And now the after-market brokers are selling AKM parts at horrific mark-ups We saw one $5 AKM part being offered at $110 each.” if you've been thinking about buying any audio products that are liable to carry AKM's DACs you'd better check for available stock and act fast it could be awhile before we see them return to stores I love that flame gives us grilled meat and I need its warmth in the winter Here’s hoping that this cosmic war between the forces of fire and music can find peace along with an end to this plague—the sooner the better Wayde is a tech-writer and content marketing consultant in Canada s tech hub Waterloo Ontario and Editorialist for Audioholics.com He's a big hockey fan as you'd expect from a Canadian but his favorite title is just "Dad" Copyright © 1998–2025 Audioholics Accessibility Nature’s beauty and bounty grace Nobeoka in Miyazaki By If you find yourself in Kyushu this fall — maybe for one or more of the several Rugby World Cup matches in Oita and Fukuoka — and you want to enjoy some of the island’s natural wonders here’s somewhere you’ve most likely never heard of: Nobeoka This compact and relatively unknown-to-foreign-travelers-yet-friendly coastal town hosts scenic beauty from mountain to ocean along with gourmet food and historic works of mastery visitors will find mountains capped with peaks of sheer exposed rock and gorge-ous valleys littered with massive boulders and covered in lush forest such as the Japanese serow (a kind of goat-antelope) the great purple emperor (the national butterfly of Japan) and the yellow wax bells (a member of the hydrangea family with small trumpet-like yellow flowers blooming in late summer) The distinctive geophysical landscape is attractive and reminiscent of Yosemite Hiking trails connect the peaks and pass unusual waterfalls that dance over giant slabs and blocks of stone and even rock cliffs — including a magnet for rock climbers Ice is here for the climbing from December to February with a trio of large frozen waterfalls up to 60m high providing the central attraction You don’t need to climb the rocks to appreciate them not far from the campground on the Shishi River the Kamihouri Trail through the beautiful Houri River Valley takes you along one of Kyushu’s most secluded and rugged footpaths to the peak of stone-faced Mt soak in your memory of these mountains with the relaxing Bijin-no-yu (“beauty bath”) spend the night in a log cabin or pitch a tent and camp right next to the running river Let’s then get deeper into the flow of things here the changing autumn colors make the scenery amid this backdrop even more striking — perfect for canoeing or rafting Fishing for tasty yamame (cherry salmon) or ayu (sweetfish) in these mountain torrents is also popular If you like the fish more than the fishing check out the huge traditional wooden ayu trap (ayuyana) back in the city from late October through November The trap has spanned the Ose River annually for 300 years and there’s a seasonal restaurant right next to it serving the catch in epicurean fashion Follow any of the crystal-clear rivers a little further down and you’ll come to the scenic swimming beaches and vibrant marine life of northern Miyazaki’s Pacific coast thrives with several species of coral and makes for the best diving and snorkeling in Kyushu Other marine activities include cruising the rocky coastline Miyazaki beaches draw surfers from around the country and even international competitions due to the Kuroshio Current coming up from tropical Okinawa so surfers and divers get wet even through November Experience any of Nobeoka’s mountain and sea activities with a guide and equipment from Nobestar if you’ve ever heard of something from Nobeoka it’s probably related to its fine beverages and food The excellent water here has given birth to a trio of fine breweries known as the Mitsukura can be visited in a picturesque riverside location in sight of Mt Mukabaki’s twin peaks and giant waterfall (77m) took first place for stouts and porters at the World Beer Awards in 2017 and all their premium regular and seasonal craft beers can be enjoyed on site The Sato shochu distillery is also worth visiting at its rural beautiful riverside location where they’ve been at work for over a century the Sentoku sake brewery in Nobeoka City has a shop with its catalog of nihonshu brewed on site Chicken nanban can be found throughout Japan but it was invented here about 50 years ago It’s a type of fried chicken lightly dipped in sugared vinegar and accompanied by a special tartar sauce It comes in two main varieties (using thigh or breast meat) and restaurants throughout the city serve it — but the recipe varies from chef to chef connoisseurs will enjoy comparing the distinctive flavors and styles that are best tasted here Gourmet originals from Nobeoka combine with traditional theater and master craftsmanship for a special performance each autumn which date back to 1603 — the year “Hamlet” was published But this city has its own dramatic treasures in a collection of 66 spectacular noh masks Kept for centuries by the lords of the castle 30 of these are known as “Tengaichi” and are considered masterpieces the genuine articles come out in a rebirth of tradition at the base of the colossal castle wall known as the “Killer of a Thousand Men.” It’s an unforgettable Takigi-noh (firelight) performance under the stars that recreates the traditional coming-together of all walks of life in one audience The play’s accompanied by a bustling market on October 12 and 13 that includes the best of Nobeoka’s specialties in November the castle ruins also host the Kagura Festival where you can witness theatrical Shinto dances similar to Noh one of the most famous samurai in history — and some say Japan’s last — will appreciate visiting the historic encampment here where some of his personal belongings and armaments are displayed take a drive or hike up Mount Atago for its romantic night view Spread around the town are three notable michi-no-eki Also good for gifts are the shops in Nobeoka’s brand new main train station For a nation on the cutting edge of global industries with dazzling densely-populated urban areas there are also pockets of great natural beauty and small-town hospitality bringing pleasant surprises but it’s an area of Japan that deserves to be more recognized and well worth a visit — whatever the season JR Hakata Station →JR Oita Station → JR Nobeoka Station (4 hrs) JR Oita Station → JR Nobeoka Station (2 hrs) nobekan.jp/en goodeat-goodlife.jpn.org/nobeoka From purple sweet potatoes to wild horse sightings here’s how to make the most of Okinawa’s tropical escape Explore the best local brands shaping Tokyo’s fashion scene From vintage clothing to Hawaiian-themed goods here’s what’s worth checking out before it’s gone From buying and registering a bike to key rules of the road Collagen staples for beauty and health in Japan Our handpicked list of the best events going on this month and the untold tales of Japan’s queer community Everything you need to know before and during a natural disaster Stay up to date with Tokyo news and events The fire completely shut down production at the fab – which manufactures large-scale integrated circuits (LSIs) for audio equipment – which understandably created challenges for manufacturers of audio recording products. During the fire part of the building structure collapsed as it spread across the factory Once the fire had been fully extinguished it became clear that the fifth floor had been severely damaged so Evertiq reached out to AKM for an update on the investigation into the cause of the fire as well as the progress of the clean up of the site. “Debris removal caused by the fire has been conducted strenuously and some of the products manufactured in the factory have already started to be manufactured in our manufacturing consignees,” Taro Sekizuka told Evertiq in an emailed statement. The company did not respond to our question on how it has solved the loss of production capacity nor when we will see a return to production at the facility A giant rock that resembles video game character Pac-Man is drawing climbers to a mountain in southwestern Japan with visitors eager to capture images to share on social networks A 90-minute hike from the Shishigawa campground in Nobeoka takes mountain climbers and tourists to "Pakkun Iwa" (Pac-Man Rock) lies on a trail leading to the top of 1,277-meter-high Mt The large opening in the lower part of the rock prompts visitors to strike funny poses as if they are being devoured like the dots that Pac-Man eats in the video game The rock is located in the Sobo-Katamuki-Okue mountain range that was designated as a biosphere reserve by the U.N Scientific and Cultural Organization last year head of a local environmental conservation group Forest Mantoru Kamishishigawa images of the boulder have been shared many times on social networking sites such as Instagram since the spring of last year The rock's popularity has kept the group busy dealing with inquiries about directions in addition to improving roads and setting up signs While welcoming the increasing number of new visitors warns people to properly equip themselves with mountain gear as a river has to be crossed to reach Pac-Man Rock "We want you to enjoy yourselves while acting responsibly as mountain climbers," Todaka said The video game became a huge hit in Japan and other countries after its initial release in 1980 by a predecessor of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc 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 Metrics details It is thought that extensional structures (extensional cracks and normal faults) generated during the post-seismic period create fluid pathways that enhance the drainage of the subducting plate interface thus reducing the pore pressure and increasing fault strength it remains to be elucidated how much pore fluid pressure decreases by the extension crack formation Here we examined (i) the pore fluid pressure decrease and (ii) the degree fault strength recovery by the extension crack formation during the post-seismic period by analyzing extension quartz veins exposed around the Nobeoka Thrust The Nobeoka Trust is an on-land analog of the modern splay fault at shallow depths (~ 8 km) in the Nankai Trough The poro-elastic model of extensional quartz vein formation indicates that the formation of extensional cracks only releases up to ~ 7–8% of the total pore fluid pressure at ~ 8 km depth The pore pressure around the Nobeoka Thrust was close to lithostatic pressure during the entire seismic cycle The estimated effective frictional coefficient along the Nobeoka Thrust after this small fluid-loss by the extensional crack formation does not exceed 0.15 the pore fluid pressure reduction due to the post-seismic extensional cracks contributes little to increase the fault strength of the megasplay fault we estimate (i) the pore fluid pressure loss and (ii) the amount of fault strength recovery by the extension crack formation during the post-seismic period in a subduction zone The mechanics of crack opening can be represented in three dimensions using the Mohr circle construction, with the conditions for opening being represented by the shaded area in Fig. 1. The part of Pf that exceed the σ3 + Ts sum is the pore fluid overpressure (ΔPo) defined as (a) Schematic illustrations showing formation of extension cracks by using the Mohr diagram Open circles inside the shaded area indicate the normal and shear stress magnitudes on the cracks When the pore fluid pressure exceeds the sum of σ3 and the tensile strength (Ts) When high-pressurized fluids flow into the mode I cracks the overpressure is reduced (Gray dotted Mohr diagram) Δσ: differential stress for formation of mode I cracks (b) Pore fluid pressure assumed to satisfy P* = (Pf − σ3 − Ts)/(σ1 − σ3) = 0.4 (left) and 0.8 (right) Gray regions show the pore fluid pressure exceeds σ3 where ν is the Poisson’s ratio and E the Young’s modulus. Hence, W/L of veins is depended on ΔPo and E19 The driving pore fluid pressure ratio (P*) is the ration between the pore fluid overpressure ΔPo and Δσ as follows: we assume that ΔPo is reduced when the high-pressure fluid flows into the mode I cracks We can thus calculate Δσ from the driving pore fluid pressure ratio P* and the pore fluid overpressure ΔPo rearranging Eq. (4): Thus, we can thus calculate Pf arranging Eq. (2) as follows: If the extensional veins are formed under a normal faulting type stress regime σ1 = σv calculated as ρgz where ρ is the rock density g is the gravitational acceleration and z is the depth The westward distance from the fault core of the Nobeoka Thrust is represented by a positive distance The map was created using Adobe Illustrator CC software Pore fluid overpressure (ΔPo) for formation of mode I cracks around the megasplay fault Pore fluid overpressure (ΔPo) is represented by the gray contours Black line bars represent the range of the fluid pressure ratio (P*) and differential stress for the hanging wall and footwall of the Nobeoka Thrust We show that the pore fluid pressure at the mode I crack formation is close to the lithostatic pressure around the Nobeoka Thrust In the maximum case of footwall of the Nobeoka Thrust at 8 km depth the pore fluid pressure ratio (λv = Pf/σv) for the formation of the mode I crack exceeds 0.95 To compare with the pore fluid pressure inferred from the seismic velocity structures this ratio can be converted to the normalized fluid pressure ratio A diagram for effective frictional coefficient along the megasplay fault Pore fluid pressure ratio in the hanging wall and footwall of the Nobeoka Thrust is represented by horizontal gray and black lines Hydrostatic pressure around the megasplay is indicated by a horizontal gray thick line Thick lines are the effective frictional coefficient μ′ (μ′ = μ0(1 − λv)) for μ0 = 0.4 our results indicate the temporal variation of the pore fluid pressure along the megasplay fault at a depth of ~ 8 km beneath the sea bottom surface in the seismogenic zone ~ 70 years have passed since the last large earthquake Our results indicate that the present pore fluid pressure around the megasplay fault in the Nankai Trough has not recovered to the value of the pre-seismic period we suggest that the reduction of pore fluid pressure due to the mode I crack formation at post-seismic period plays limited contribution to the increasing of the effective frictional coefficient along the megasplay fault the relative expansion following a megathrust earthquake may reduce the fluid pressure Flow from a highly-pressured fault interface into these zones would seem to have the potential to reduce fluid pressure on the fault interface Future work will focus on relationships between the upwelling drainage by the extension crack formation and the expansion The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon request Implications of fault-valve behavior for rupture nucleation and recurrence Lamb, S. Shear stress on megathrusts: implications for mountain building behind subduction zones. J. Geophys. Res. 111, B07401. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JB003916 (2006) Seno, T. Determination of the pore-fluid pressure ratio at seismogenic megathrusts in subduction zones: implications for strength of asperities and Andean-type mountain building. J. Geophys. Res. 114, B05405. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JB005889 (2009) Tsuru, T. et al. Did expanded porous patches guide rupture propagation in 2003 Tokachi-Oki earthquake?. Geophys. Res. Lett. 32, L20310. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL023753 (2005) Hasegawa, A. et al. Change in stress field after the 2011 great Tohoku-Oki earthquake. Earth Planet. Sci. 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(2017) Silica precipitation potentially controls earthquake recurrence in seismogenic zones. Sci. Rep. 7, 13337. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-13597-5 (2017) Fluid pressure and stress drop in fault zones Controls on maximum fluid overpressure defining conditions for mesozonal mineralization A note on permeability changes in geologic materials due to stress Sibson, R. H. Fluid involvement in normal faulting. J. Geodyn. 29, 469–499. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-3707(99)00042-3 (2000) Critical taper model of fold-and-thrust belts and accretionary wedges A Mohr circle construction for the opening of a pre-existing fracture Yamaji, A., Sato, K. & Tonai, S. Stochastic modeling for the stress inversion of vein orientations: Paleostress analysis of Pliocene epithermal veins in southwestern Kyushu, Japan. J. Struct. Geol. 32, 1137–1146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2010.07.001 (2010) Mineral distribution within polymineralic veins in the Sanbagawa belt Japan: implications for mass transfer during vein formation Temporal stress variations along a seismogenic megasplay fault in the subduction zone: an example from the Nobeoka Thrust Strength and deformation behavior of the Shimanto accretionary complex across the Nobeoka thrust Contrasts in physical properties between the hanging wall and footwall of an exhumed seismogenic megasplay fault in a subduction zone - an example from the Nobeoka Thrust Drilling Project Wang, K. & Hu, Y. Accretionary prisms in subduction earthquake cycles: the theory of the dynamic Coulomb wedge. J. Geophys. Res. 111, B06410. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JB004094 (2006) Pore pressure distribution of a mega-splay fault system in the Nankai Trough subduction zone: insight into up-dip extent of the seismogenic zone Model of quartz overgrowth and vein formation: deformation and episodic fluid flow in an ancient subduction zone Hydrology and mechanics of subduction zone forearcs: fluid flow and pore pressure A new source of water in seismogenic subduction zones Sources and physicochemical characteristics of fluids along a subduction-zone megathrust: a geochemical approach using syn-tectonic mineral veins in the Mugi mélange Raimbourg, H. et al. Fluid circulation in the depths of accretionary prisms: an example of the Shimanto Belt, Kyushu, Japan. Techtonophysics 655, 161–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2015.05.023 (2015) Allman, B. P. & Shearer, P. Global variations of stress drop for moderate to large earthquakes. J. Geophys. Res 114, B01310. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JB005821 (2009) Comparison of smectite- and illite-rich gouge frictional properties: application to the updip limit of the seismogenic zone along subduction megathrusts Locking of the Chile subduction zone controlled by fluid pressure before the 2010 earthquake Duplexes and low-angle nappe structures of the Shimanto Terrane Adobe Illustrator, https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html (2016) Download references Yoshida for their constructive comments on the model concepts Roeloffs for the improvement of the manuscript Smeraglia and anonymous reviewer improved the manuscripts received further support through JMEXT KAKENHI (19K04046) Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology observed the extensional quartz veins and summarized parameters of the Nobeoka Thrust All authors wrote the manuscript and composed the figures The authors declare no competing financial interests Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68418-z Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science Japanese version National Report Miyazaki Prefecture--The backbreaking work of sowing and harvesting rice by hand could soon fall exclusively to drones and robots under an ambitious agricultural program taking shape here As part of its efforts to alleviate a farmer shortage the Nobeoka city government already signed an agreement with Kyoto-based robot manufacturer Tmsuk Co to take on the task of tending to vacant rice paddies Once rice seeds have been planted by a drone a succession of robotic technologies still to be developed would deal with weeding and reaping “This initiative is in line with our course of action to support (farming),” said a farm ministry representative “We welcome the entry from different industries with wide perspectives.” A trial run on April 15 saw a drone take off with a quiet whir its movements controlled with joystick like one used for video games The craft flew over a 1000-square-meter rice paddy scattering seeds treated beforehand with powdered iron to ensure a smooth drop from the air “It was done in almost an instant,” said a gobsmacked Nobeoka Mayor Yoji Yomiyama who was watching It will dramatically reduce the burden on farmers.” the municipal government was “clutching at straws” when it tied up with Yoichi Takamoto Takamoto was working on plans to robotize agricultural procedures based on communications technology at the time He also happened to be a longtime friend of Yomiyama’s deputy It turned out that Nakama once worked at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications where he was responsible for telecommunications policies Takamoto harbored bitter memories of abandoning farmland he had inherited in Gunma Prefecture because he could find no one to work the land on his behalf Alarmed by the prospect of Japan’s agriculture vanishing Takamoto decided to join hands with Nobeoka city as it is struggling with a rapidly growing number of fields left vacant by increasingly elderly farmers “We do not have the farmers to take over paddies,” said Yomiyama “The challenge now is how to lighten the heavy workload in farming.” Growing seedlings takes up a considerable part of the labor process in rice farming Tmsuk adopted an aerial seed spraying method to sidestep the process of creating beds for seedlings “Our style is just the same as that in the United States where seeds are directly scattered from aircraft,” said Takamoto Nobeoka city provided three paddies totaling 3000 square meters for the experiment Tmsuk will develop and test various robots during the program’ three-year trial period One such envisioned model is a duck-based robot that will go into operation by the end of May will stir water in the paddies to prevent weeds from popping up Around 15 units are projected to be introduced while a rice-harvesting robot will be tested for reaping as the successor to the robotic duck All farming processes from seeding to harvesting will be automated as much as possible The objective is to establish a business model where part-time farmers can care for their fields while working at offices or from home for their companies given that Tmsuk’s robots can be operated remotely with PCs and smartphones “We should not just stand by and watch the continuous decline of Japan’s agriculture,” said Takamoto “Sweets and bread should be made from rice flour if the prolonged Russian invasion of Ukraine leads to difficulties in securing wheat.” The legend of ‘Monster Wolf,’ savior of crops Planova cellulose hollow-fiber membrane filters followed by Planova BioEX hydrophilic PVDF hollow-fiber membrane filters in 2009 Asahi Kasei Medical has been proactively expanding production capacity for Planova including the 2019 completion of a new spinning plant for Planova in Nobeoka and the 2021 decision to expand its spinning plant for Planova BioEX filters in Oita Free access to this content is for qualifying individuals only Corporate and institutional access requires an appropriate license or subscription For more information contact institutions@markallengroup.com A strong offshore earthquake struck Oita and Miyazaki prefectures in southern Japan early Jan causing minor injuries among startled residents but no major damage other than burst water mains and registered upper 5 on the Japan Meteorological Agency’s intensity scale of 7 in the two prefectures on the main southern island of Kyushu Among municipalities that recorded intensities of upper 5 were Oita Saiki and Taketa in Oita Prefecture and Nobeoka and Takachiho in Miyazaki Prefecture According to Saiki municipal government officials three residents were rushed to hospitals by ambulance They said a man in his 80s fell while trying to evacuate and another in his 60s was hit by a falling object at home A woman who evacuated to the Saiki government building complained of feeling unwell Water mains burst in eight locations and three residents were injured in Oita city The Hyuga fire department in Miyazaki Prefecture said a man in his 40s was taken to hospital with an injury to his face after he fell at home said no irregularities were reported at its Genkai nuclear power plant in Saga Prefecture or the Sendai nuclear plant in Kagoshima Prefecture the earthquake disrupted Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train services as well as some local lines A meteorological agency official told a news conference early Jan 22 that the focus of the quake was in the Hyuganada Sea an area that constitutes part of the Nankai Trough a roughly 4-kilometer depression on the seabed that extends about 700 kilometers from Suruga Bay off Shizuoka Prefecture to areas off eastern Kyushu the director of the Earthquake and Tsunami Observation Division at the JMA said that at 45 km below the surface the quake was much deeper than the projected focus of a Nankai Trough temblor on the border of the continental and oceanic plates (Hidemasa Yoshizawa contributed to this article.) Fukushima city reports 1st death from powerful Feb Quake damages Wakayama after tremors rattle Mt NRA to call for quake resistance review at Genkai nuclear plant Strong quake shakes Miyagi; minor injuries Japan hits record of over 24,000 new virus cases Miyazaki Prefecture--Robotics took over the task of growing rice plants in a paddy here slashing the time needed for cultivation by 95 percent while simultaneously ensuring an almost comparable level of harvest The work was undertaken by Kyoto-based robot maker Tmsuk Co which is seeking ways to claw back growing tracts of abandoned farmland due to the aging of farmers Tmsuk is robotizing agricultural procedures in three paddies The process of creating dedicated beds for seedlings is replaced by a drone’s scattering of seeds directly on rice paddies Conditions in each of the fields are monitored remotely so farmers do not need to patrol them periodically A robotic model named Raicho I was used as a substitute for ducks that traditionally roam paddies and keep them free from weeds Tmsuk initially planned to rely on Raicho II for harvesting as well Tmsuk dispatched 12 employees with sickles to one of the test sites to harvest the crop by hand Nearly 400 kilograms were harvested in the 1,000-square-meter plot Robotics reduced the time spent in labor to 29 hours compared with 529 hours when cultivation was done by hand and the output came to nearly 80 percent of 500 kg that is expected to be harvested by the conventional method The product’s quality proved to be satisfactory “It tastes good enough if cooked for human consumption” although it was grown for use as an ingredient for rice flour As Raicho II is slated to make its debut shortly the harvesting process at another paddy will be accomplished by a robotic reaper around November Robotics tested at rice paddies with eye on full automation drums for good harvest at Mie terraced paddies Rare species in Fukushima raise hopes for end to radiation rumors Miyazaki Prefecture—“If you are afraid of heights please bear with it for a little while,” the train driver called out while blowing shimmering soap bubbles that swirled around the train before drifting into the abyss below The Grand Super Cart sightseeing train was stopped 105 meters in the air on the Takachiho Iron Bridge—the highest railway bridge in all of Japan—on a recent day in mid-December The picturesque mountain town of Takachiho is known for the Takachiho Gorge where myths say Japan’s founding deity descended from the heavens While the natural wonder itself is quite a sight visitors can also enjoy the view from aboard an open-air sightseeing train as it passes over a steel bridge above a deep valley surrounded by the Kyushu Mountain Range The Grand Super Cart train is operated by Takachiho Amaterasu Railway Co The company took over the now-defunct Takachiho Railway Co.’s Takachiho Line connecting Nobeoka and Takachiho stations which was shut down after being damaged by Typhoon No The train’s engine was remodeled from a truck used to carry luggage at an airport It runs on diesel and biodiesel fuel and can reach a top speed of 35 kph The train takes about 30 minutes to make the 5-kilometer round trip between the old Takachiho Station and the Takachiho Iron Bridge The Super Cart passes through two tunnels along the way which feature handmade disco balls lighting up the walls in dazzling colors The driver stops the train on the bridge for about five minutes and blows clouds of whimsical soap bubbles into the air is the only person at the company who previously worked as a train driver for Takachiho Railway The Nobeoka native was so inspired by his love of locomotives that he joined the company in 1994 “It was a beautiful railroad that threaded its way along the Gokasegawa river and I was proud of my job to enhance the lives of passengers,” he recalled Saito lost his job due to the typhoon damage in 2005 Saito also helped a local civic group fight for the railway’s revival mowed grass along the railroad line and more—but the railroad was abandoned in 2008 in Fukuoka Prefecture and worked away from home to earn a living he never gave up hope of reviving the Takachiho Railway someday when he was asked by Takachiho Amaterasu Railway to work for the company which had begun operating a sightseeing train to preserve the railway heritage He started out by introducing regulations and training crew members to improve safety applying the expertise he accumulated at Amagi Railway The railway company struggled financially at first the number of foreign visitors and repeat customers gradually increased as the operator devised unique ways to keep them entertained and opened the Takachiho Railway Memorial Museum The company expects to attract 140,000 passengers this fiscal year “We want to run the cart to (the disused) Fukasumi Station in the near future as it is connected by rail,” Saito said “We also want to create a forum for elderly residents to interact to prevent them from being isolated.” an employee at Takachiho Amaterasu Railway said he had wanted to become a train driver for the Takachiho Railway since he was in elementary school after watching Saito “My dream was dashed by the typhoon damage I’m happy to contribute to the town and I feel the weight of responsibility for the human lives in my hands,” Takakura said Takachiho’s first craft beer makes debut featuring local ingredients Sightseeing train ‘Ginga’ will be full steam ahead again in October Dual bus-train vehicle moves closer to starting date in Shikoku Rail networks in Kyushu severed by torrential rain disaster Milky Way and wind chime trains reach end of line in Shikoku Today's print edition Home Delivery The Winter Cup is Japan's biggest high school basketball tournament but the 2020 edition is facing an unprecedented crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic the Kaishi Kokusai High School boys team became the seventh squad to withdraw from the tournament since it kicked off on Wednesday.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); tested positive for the virus or recorded a fever The school was told to pull out because its players were deemed as close contacts due to a Thursday game against Tokyo's Senshu University High School which reported a positive case within its team 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 Manufacturing Today India Home > Sectors > Asahi Kasei Medical fosters biopharmaceutical safety with new virus filter manufacturing plant The need for virus elimination filters is predicted to increase Asahi Kasei Medical hosted a completion ceremony for the construction of its third manufacturing factory for PlanovaTM virus elimination filters in Nobeoka Asahi Kasei Medical’s bioprocess division includes biosafety testing services biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing (CDMO) operations and PlanovaTM virus removal filters and equipment used in the production process of biotherapeutic products such as biopharmaceuticals and plasma derivatives PlanovaTM cellulose hollow-fibre membrane filters were introduced in 1989 with the goal of eliminating viruses from biotherapeutic products the PlanovaTM S20N range of  cellulose hollow-fibre membrane filters is well-liked by consumers for its reliable virus elimination ability and user-friendly design The need for virus elimination filters is predicted to increase due to increased global requirements for the viral safety of biotherapeutics as well as developments in the creation of monoclonal antibodies and other biopharmaceuticals Asahi Kasei Medical has been proactively expanding production capacity for PlanovaTM in order to further ensure a stable supply a new spinning plant for PlanovaTM was completed in Nobeoka the company decided to expand its spinning plant for PlanovaTM BioEX filters in Oita