An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.1 struck Nagano Prefecture in central Japan on Friday No severe injuries or damage to buildings were reported following the 8:19 p.m quake that jolted the northern part of the prefecture up to 100 households experienced power outages Source: Japan Meteorological Agency which occurred at a depth of approximately 13 kilometers measured a lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 The Japan Meteorological Agency initially put its magnitude at 5.0 The city of Omachi and nearby villages were among the areas most affected by the temblor Omachi serves as the Nagano-side gateway to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route a scenic mountain crossing that extends to the town of Tateyama in Toyama Prefecture The quake caused delays in some bullet trains on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line bound for Kanazawa Kumamoto marks 9th anniversary of fatal quakes Osaka Expo organizers prepare for 3-day isolation in disaster plan Japan to spend 20 tril. yen over 5 yrs to boost disaster resilience 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 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Bootcamp is one of the Office of Career Exploration and Development's (CXD) most ambitious programs. At the end of the week as well as interviewing and networking practice explored their own unique skills and values and considered a range of potential professions that might best suit them.  four of Bootcamp's most committed alumni—who have participated in this same Bootcamp panel for the last few years—returned to campus Wednesday morning for a discussion on what it means to balance achievement and income over the length of their careers The candid conversation among trustee Katie Benner ’99 and trustee Joe Adu ’07 set the tone for Bootcamp and for thinking about career engagement as a long-term assistant director of skills programming and operations for CXD She took over organizing Bootcamp this year One way speakers do this is by describing their own winding and sometimes uncertain paths “The students hear that it's okay to not have it all worked out right away from the friendliest people who are also deeply successful!” said CXD Director of Partnerships and Programming Bethany Walsh Omachi is the associate director of business development and content marketing partnerships at Audible Candland is a longtime social studies teacher at Morse High School in Bath and Adu is the chief technology officer at Spectrum Ai.  a Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist framing her questions to encourage the alumni to share their thoughts about their jobs and the impacts they have had the balances they’ve struck to achieve both personal fulfillment and healthy bank accounts and the decisions they’ve made as they have sought meaning and accomplishment at different stages of their lives students worked Wednesday and Thursday on developing insight into their personal attributes and interests and how these might translate to a career They completed resumes and cover letters and brainstormed how to best answer common job interview questions.  They also participated in workshops on topics ranging from how to go about their job search to how to organize their finances. They attended panels and talks a semi-formal dinner with an alumni speaker New this year was the voluntary all-day AI Hackathon open on Friday to both technical and non-technical students CXD has made a point in the last two years to incorporate aspects of artificial intelligence into Bootcamp to help prepare students for a professional landscape that will be touched in every way by the breakthrough technology On Wednesday evening, the class gathered for dinner and to hear from guest speaker Morgan Rielly ’18 who is serving his third term in the Maine House of Representatives Rielly spoke about one of the catalysts that drove him into politics—the 2017 Unite the Right white supremacist's rally in Charlottesville Virginia—which happened while he was abroad “I remember watching it on television: images of cars running into a crowd sending people flying and killing one person Nazi and Confederate flags and the president at the time calling them 'some very fine people,'” he recalled I started to ask myself how am I going to make my piece of the world better Rielly decided to start at the state level and was elected to the statehouse in 2021.  “My ultimate hope was that they could use the event as an opportunity to finally try that thing they have been wanting to do or research that topic they were super curious about,” he said “Many people are scared about the future of developing software with the rise in AI,” Martin added “so we wanted to help shed some light on the reality of what it is really capable of and best-use cases allowing us to do more things like this moving forward because it will be such valuable experience for their careers and will just further set them apart as Bowdoin students.” students were able to choose from a lengthy list of more narrowly focused workshops including one on how humanities majors can leverage their education into a job “Rejection is redirection”—words of advice from Neiman Mocombe ’26 to sophomores seeking guidance on how to navigate the world of job-seeking and internships The religion and visual arts major knows this from firsthand experience An internship in the world of fashion public relations last summer left him thinking he might prefer opportunities in journalism or arts communications this summer.Mocombe was at a networking reception on Friday afternoon in Smith Union where sophomores mingled over coffee and snacks with team leaders to learn more about their internship and job search experiences “By refining your cover letters and resumes you'll become a better applicant.” These words resonated with Stella Johnson ’27 who said she came away from the Bootcamp experience with a firm conviction to “try a lot of different things because bad experiences are as useful as good ones in helping you figure out what you want.”Team leader Miles Berry ’25 spoke with sophomores about the importance of looking beyond their majors when it comes to finding a career “Pursuing an extracurricular activity or personal interest is just as important as academics and just as relevant to employers,” Berry said “While having an English major has certainly been indispensable in developing my writing and critical thinking my work as a managing editor on The Bowdoin Orient combined with my personal interests in food have been key to securing my last two summer internships at magazines.”Max Blakeney ’27 spoke to Berry and other team leaders about opportunities in journalism and the arts “I garnered some really insightful industry knowledge,” he said including the importance of checking a company’s human resources policies as well as building a portfolio of personal written work for potential employers.” But perhaps the most important takeaway from the whole bootcamp experience is that he has “way more skills” than he thought he did Focus on Japan TOKYO >> Hotels and restaurants in the popular Hakuba ski resort village are packed to capacity amid a surge in international tourists on the slopes and visitors to the village are expected to grow this season “I’m worried that tourists will start opting for other ski resorts because all the accommodations in Hakuba are full,” a local ski industry official said free shuttle services connecting Hakuba and the neighboring city of Omachi The “Gurutto Bus” (excursion bus) program encourages winter tourists to book lodgings in Omachi where they can enjoy relaxing dinners and accommodations The lodging shuttle is a 45-seat bus that runs through Feb the shuttle leaves ANA Holiday Inn Resort Shinano-Omachi Kuroyon and the Omachi Onsenkyo hot spring district for the slopes in Hakuba About 2,000 people are expected to use the service during the season The dining shuttle seats 27 passengers and runs on weekdays through Feb It leaves from Hakuba Tokyu Hotel and Happo Bus Terminal in the evening and travels to the Omachi Onsenkyo hot spring district and Shinano Omachi Station Passengers have dinner in Omachi and return to Hakuba by 10 p.m An estimated 500 people are expected to use the transport budgeted at about 10 million yen (about $63,300) are operated by a council of Omachi officials and the local ski industry Operators will participate in a subsidy program that promotes sustainable tourism through addressing overtourism Nearly 1.13 million tourists visited Hakuba from November 2023 to February 2024 the highest number for any such period in the past 20 years Ski resort visitors over the same period numbered approximately 810,000 up 1.2 times from the same period the previous year; nearly 50% were foreigners The Matsumoto municipal government in Nagano conducted a trial with a bus connecting Hakuba with Matsumoto restaurants and sightseeing spots last year aiming to attract foreign tourists visiting Hakuba to their city the number of tourists from Asia has seen high growth and is expected to grow further and Matsumoto plans to continue the program Colossal Suspended like a vortex of rain, a new installation from Caitlind r.c. Brown and Wayne Garrett ushers viewers into a shimmering enclosure “A Whisper in the Eye of the Storm” dangles 14,000 prescription lenses from a pair of concentric circles. Created for the Northern Alps Art Festival in Omachi City the site-specific work evokes the region’s historic relationship to water Blanketed with heavy snow in the winter and drenched during rainy summers Situated at the base of the Japanese mountain range Omachi has also seen its population rapidly dwindle in recent years Brown and Garrett have previously worked with found recycled objects like lightbulbs and telephones Nested behind Nishina Shrine along the shore of Lake Kizaki this new piece repurposes eyeglasses that catch and refract sunlight and magnify the surrounding cedar forest focusing viewers’ gazes on the enlarged natural world around them “The work invites visitors to look at the landscape (and each other) with fresh eyes seeing differently and peering deeply into the ancient and evolving landscape,” the artists say “A Whisper in the Eye of the Storm” is on view through November 4. Find more from Brown and Garrett on their website 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 Omachi City has a unique relationship with water the shrinking city is blanketed with thick snow The city’s natural surroundings have inspired a striking site-specific installation composed of 14,000 prescription lenses Created by Canadian artists Caitlind r.c. Brown and Wayne Garrett for the Northern Alps Arts Festival, A Whisper in the Eye of the Storm towers like a suspended rainstorm within one of Omachi’s lush cedar forests The installation invites viewers into a dazzling enclosure created from dangling eyeglass lenses that are organized into a pair of concentric circles Recalling morning dew drops or falling rain these lenses capture the forest’s soft light and encourage its visitors to experience what could otherwise be overlooked “Lenses have an inherent language that invites you to look longer and more deeply than you might otherwise,” Brown and Garrett tell My Modern Met As with other works by Brown and Garrett A Whisper in the Eye of the Storm ignites pure immersion beckoning its visitors to break its curtain and step inside “There are many ways to immerse yourself in our artworks,” Brown and Garrett continue “but the important thing is the direct connection between the viewer and all the messy and marvelous complexities of the world we occupy together.” The installation unfolds along a circular path, gently guiding viewers toward its center. As they progress through the layers of lenses, their bodies “warp, pixelated by shifting optics,” as Brown and Garrett write “When a person peers through thousands of eyeglasses they see the diversity of the human experience At the artwork’s center is a circular bench curving around the base of a tree and absorb Omachi’s distinct topography visitors encounter the nearby Nishina Shrine which runs alongside the shore of Lake Kizaki “[We felt] the quality of a carefully imagined context during every phase of the project,” Brown and Garrett say “[including] the kindness of the Shrine Keeper next door who told us stories and gave us lucky charms.” A Whisper in the Eye of the Storm also features repurposed materials. The installation’s prescription lenses were sourced secondhand through the Canadian Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centre (CLERC) in Calgary/Mohkinstsis With an eye toward sustainable solutions and audience connectivity this installation is an evocative journey through sight “It’s all too seldom we work with a team that believes so deeply in the power of art,” Brown and Garrett say of creating the artwork in Japan “We really felt that magic in Omachi.” A Whisper in the Eye of the Storm is on view in Omachi through November 4, 2024. You can learn more about the artists on Caitlind r.c. Brown and Wayne Garrett's website Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening Today's print edition Home Delivery There are a few things to consider before heading out for some art is a Fram Kitagawa event — if you can even get there you better pack an umbrella and bring shoes with some tread Located in a town bordered by some of the highest mountains in Japan, the triennale is on its third edition, with new works by 36 artists, nearly half of whom are women (a welcome improvement on the scant female representation at the Oku-Noto Triennale this time last year) Rugged twisting roads lead to installations tucked beside dams and inside shrines and forests the impresario who oversees the 24-year-old Echigo Tsumari Art Field and the Setouchi Triennale (among other such inconvenient art events) might eventually tire of his ever expanding site-specific hyper-local revitalization art empire But this festival has a surprise guest collaborator — namely weather — working its steady but inconsistent hand and the experience manages to stay self-regenerating and therefore unpredictable 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 Omachi City in Nagano Prefecture reported damage from the magnitude 5 earthquake that hit the northern part of the prefecture on April 18 around 8:19 PM The city registered lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 the quake toppled and damaged the statue of Jikokuten a nationally designated important cultural property S/ Kakuonji Temple Chief Priest/ This is the first time such a large earthquake has struck We would really like it to be repaired quickly so people can rest assured 13 cases of roof tiles falling as well as damage to graves and stone block walls have been confirmed The meteorological agency has warned residents to stay vigilant for earthquakes for the next week About Nippon Television Send help right to the people and causes you care about Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee Share price 8416.00p 2 May 2025 at 16:42 News releases ANA Holiday Inn Resort Shinano-omachi Kuroyon opens today 1 July in Nagano combining international know-how and spectacular natural surrounds for an all-new resort experience InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) today welcomes ANA Holiday Inn Resort Shinano Omachi Kuroyon marking the first international resort in Shinano-omachi area and Japan’s second Holiday Inn Resort Surrounded by the region’s rich nature the resort is located in the city of Omachi with Nagano the closest major city – and the highest prefectural capital in Japan – lending its acclaimed mountain vistas trails and untouched nature to the unique resort experience Following a significant refurbishment and overhaul of the resort ANA Holiday Inn Resort Kuroyon spans an incredible 470,000 square metres and opens with 73 guest rooms and suites each designed to offer a distinct sense of place and enable connection among families – including the new Kids Suite With nature synonymous to the resort experience guests will indulge in the traditional Japanese ritual of hot baths with the KUZU natural hot springs private baths and open-air baths overlooking the forest of the Northern Alps families can unwind with the indoor heated pool complete with activities all year round and stunning floor-to-ceiling window allowing nature Outdoor adventure is on offer with a 9-hole golf course featuring ‘natural hazards’ in key areas for family fun an all-weather tennis court and brand new Kids Club designed with animals and winter motifs in the Northern Alps toys and workshops for children of all ages Omachi's seasonal natural activities and tourist information for trails hikes and bike paths is also available at the hotel’s resort centre Guests will also enjoy an authentic spa experience and 24-hour fitness centre Local produce and seasonal ingredients from Nagano and Shinshu are on offer at the resort’s restaurants and cafes botanica restaurant features panoramic vistas of the resort with two private dining rooms while Eden Café & Bar offers a relaxing lounge and bar area for casual dining or drinks The Holiday Inn brand promise means kids under the age of 12 always eat and stay free For more information on the resort or to make a booking please visit www.kuroyon.holidayinnresorts.com InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales Approximately 400,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally Free shuttle bus services connecting the popular ski resort village of Hakuba and the neighboring city of Omachi as a measure to address overtourism by foreign tourists visiting the village’s ski slopes 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 By Masao Yamaguchi / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer The shuttle buses aim to encourage tourists visiting Hakuba in winter to come to the neighboring Omachi The shuttle buses will be operated by a council comprised of officials from the Omachi municipal government and the local ski industry The budget for the project is about 10 million yen and the operators will make use of a central government subsidy program for projects to promote sustainable tourism by preventing and reducing overtourism The name of the service is “Gurutto Bus” (excursion bus) They will operate two types of shuttle bus: One is the Accommodation Shuttle Bus and the other is the Dinner Shuttle Bus The Accommodation Shuttle Bus will be a large 45-seater bus and will operate from Dec The service it offers will be based on the concept of “having fun in Hakuba The Accommodation Shuttle Bus will leave from ANA Holiday Inn Resort Shinano-Omachi Kuroyon and the Omachi Onsenkyo hot spring district in the morning and travel to ski slopes in Hakuba and return to Omachi in the evening People who have booked accommodations in the city can use the shuttle bus; they will not be required to make reservations for it The Dinner Shuttle Bus will be based on the concept of “enjoying tourism in Hakuba and food in Omachi.” A medium-sized bus which can seat 27 passengers will be operated on weekdays from Jan It will leave from Hakuba Tokyu Hotel and Happo Bus Terminal in the evening and travel to the Omachi Onsenkyo hot spring district and Shinano Omachi Station Passengers will have dinner in Omachi and return to Hakuba by 10 p.m About 500 people are expected to use the shuttle bus Passengers with prior reservations will be given priority but people without reservations will be able to board the bus if there are seats available A one-way trip will take about 90 minutes on the Accommodation Shuttle Bus and about 80 minutes on the Dinner Shuttle Bus Nearly 1.13 million tourists visited Hakuba from November 2023 to February this year the highest number for any such period in the past two decades The number of ski resort visitors over the same period increased to approximately 810,000 up 1.2 times from the same period of the previous year and nearly 50% of those visitors were foreigners Hotels and restaurants in Hakuba are being packed to capacity due to the surge in the number of foreigners visiting ski slopes there Even more tourists are expected to visit the village this winter than last winter An official from the local ski industry said “I am worried that tourists will start opting for other ski resorts because all the accommodations in Hakuba are full.” “We would like foreigners visiting Hakuba to have accommodation and dinner options in Omachi so that we can add new attractions to Hakuba,” an official at the Omachi municipal government’s tourism and culture department said The Matsumoto municipal government operated a paid bus connecting Hakuba with restaurants and sightseeing spots in Matsumoto on a trial basis from Jan aiming to attract foreign tourists visiting Hakuba to their city as well While the average number of passengers per bus was small at 4.2 the number of tourists from Asia saw high growth and the city expects the number of tourists to further grow this winter they plan to operate the bus while improving its service Attention will be paidto whether Omachi will be able to take advantage of its privileged nearby position to compete with Matsumoto despite that city being overwhelmingly famous Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun By Aug 31 A candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State Publicity Secretary position has announced his withdrawal from the race citing pervasive injustice and undemocratic practices within the party expressed his disappointment and frustration with the party’s leadership accusing them of hijacking the PDP for personal interests and businesses He also lamented the lack of transparency in the congress process and the silencing of young voices the PDP has failed to learn from its past mistakes and has continued to repeat them The elders of the party have hijacked the PDP turning it into an avenue for their personal interests and businesses and the voices of young people are silenced “As a young person who contested for a position I can attest that the party has no room for youth participation It’s disheartening to see that the party doesn’t believe in empowering young people “I refuse to be part of a process that disenfranchises young people and perpetuates injustice I call on fellow young party members to join me in boycotting the congress and demanding a more inclusive and transparent party “I demand justice and transparency in the PDP I demand a party that believes in young people Anything less is unacceptable,” he said Omachi insisted that they need a PDP that values youth participation He said the party must reform and learn to trust and empower young people About | Privacy Policy | Advertising| Editorial | Contact Us Subscribe | Login Focus of current engagement: Large-scale transformation with an advanced industries client specifically in the field of management and strategy As an iron ore trader at one of the Japanese trading firms I felt my learning curve was getting flatter I hoped to contribute to solving important and difficult problems in the world After the MBA summer associate program at McKinsey I felt the firm was truly committed to solving difficult questions I wanted to be a part of it and make a difference in the world I planned to explore different industries and functions to find what excites me the most I am still on that journey and McKinsey is the best place for such a gypsy What did you love about the business school you attended Fuqua enthusiastically provides an environment to let students develop their collaborative leadership style which is one of the most essential criteria at McKinsey and other places which encourages that my family easily gets very close with other students’ families We keep in touch with friends not only in Japan but also in Houston and Hong Kong and everywhere I believe such an opportunity is hard to find at our age What lesson or skill did you learn from training at McKinsey and how has it helped in your role While I have spent less than a year at McKinsey one of the skills I learned – and am still developing – is how to structure abstract or vague ideas into a comprehensive format learning by exposing myself to different ways of thinking and structuring Tell us about an “only at McKinsey” moment you’ve had so far “Obligation to dissent” is one of McKinsey’s values that consultants in this firm truly cherish I was surprised how junior colleagues push back on ideas they think are not valuable for our clients and how the teams listen and discuss and problem solve together I remember when we were supporting the sales and marketing of a client a partner suggested we conduct a quantitative analysis saying we should focus more on collecting qualitative facts before deep-diving on quants The partner willingly accepted the idea and we moved in that direction I had never seen such a moment in my past career What advice would you give someone interviewing at McKinsey If I reflect back on my interview and the advice to be myself McKinsey evaluates both the case and the personal experience interviews and truly wants to know who you are I wrote down my stories with details of rationales such as “why I thought in this way and why I did this?” I made sure those were logical and told a story my interviewer could follow Who has had the biggest impact on you at McKinsey and how has she/he helped you My experience with an engagement manager at my first study was eye-opening for me The way he delivers content and manages the team is my role model work hard” type with a good sense of humor so the six months were really enjoyable as well as really valuable A fun fact about me is…upon graduation of junior high school in Japan I left my family to study abroad to Shanghai The three years in China with a local host family were incredibly fun and exciting Our Partner Sites: Poets&Quants for Execs | Poets&Quants for Undergrads | Tipping the Scales | We See Genius Website Design By: Yellowfarmstudios.com The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration has determined that the batch of noodles contains 0.195 milligrams of ethylene oxide per kilogram The batch contains 600 boxes of 30 servings A pack of Omachi noodles is sold in Taiwan Ethylene oxide is banned in food in Taiwan as authorities consider it a carcinogen as long exposure to it could increase the risks of cancer and some neurological diseases said that it did not sell the noodles to Qianyu even though it does produce noodles for the Taiwan market Each country and territory has its own food standard and therefore Masan Consumer produces products specifically for each country and territory "We have strict terms with distributors to prevent them from exporting products from one market to another." Masan Consumer affirms that the Omachi noodles meet Vietnam’s food standards and are safe for consumers Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade is looking into the issue several batches of instant noodle products by Vietnamese businesses were also recalled by the E.U Germany has issued warnings about certain imported Vietnamese instant noodle products that contain heightened levels of ethylene oxide Email: evne@vnexpress.netTel: 028 7300 9999 - Ext 8556 TDT | Manama                                                       The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com Email: ashen@newsobahrain.com Bahrain and Japan maritime cooperation reached new heights as both nations marked the 15th anniversary of Japan’s counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia was a powerful display to Japan’s unwavering commitment to securing global maritime routes Commander-in-Chief of Japan’s Self Defense Fleet commended the longstanding efforts of Bahrain’s Royal Navy expressing deep admiration for their role in sustaining regional stability “The stability of this region is crucial for fostering commercial collaboration,” OMACHI said during an exclusive conversation with The Daily Tribune His words emphasized the significance of cooperation in both defense and trade spotlighting Bahrain’s critical role as a maritime partner The commemoration event was jointly hosted by Japan’s Ambassador to Bahrain Ambassador Shaikh Abdulla bin Ali Al Khalifa Director General of Bilateral Relations at Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Commander of the Bahrain Royal Naval Force also acknowledged Japan’s pivotal contributions “Japan’s significant investment in the CMF over the years has been instrumental in safeguarding maritime commerce and countering piracy,” Wikoff stated expressing gratitude for Japan’s steadfast support Asako OKAI highlighted the milestones achieved since Japan began its counter-piracy operations she revealed that Japan has deployed 74 vessels and 55 maritime patrol aircraft over the past 15 years have ensured the safety of countless vessels passing through one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes Though piracy incidents have decreased in recent years particularly following a hijacking incident in 2023 She noted that the diversion of military resources to address the Houthi threat in the Red Sea could potentially increase piracy activities by criminal organizations seeking new revenue streams reflected on the deepening ties between Bahrain and Japan which were strengthened by the signing of a defense cooperation and exchange memorandum during the 2023 Manama Dialogue This agreement has already resulted in joint goodwill exercises and high-level visits enhancing the strategic collaboration between the two nations The reception underscored the significance of multinational cooperation within the Combined Maritime Forces a coalition that allows for a coordinated and robust response to piracy and maritime security threats This partnership not only strengthens diplomatic and military relations but also reinforces regional stability ‘MURASAME’ docks at Mina Salman Port last night  The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun has urged the Ministry’s Top Management Staff to leverage their expertise in driving the country’s developmental priorities The Minister made the call in his office in Abuja during the assumption of office by the Permanent Secretary Special Duties the Minister noted that “the reforms embarked on by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration was aimed at improving the quality of life of Nigerians adding that these changes are pivotal to the country’s economic growth and development.” Edun emphasized the importance of teamwork and collaboration among the Ministry’s staff to achieve these goals He pledged to work closely with the Ministry’s staff to ensure seamless service delivery while also emphasizing the need for open communication and hard work to drive the Ministry’s objectives “We will operate an open-door policy encouraging ideas and innovations to improve our service delivery We will work closely with my colleague the Permanent Secretary the Directors and staff with a view to supporting the efforts of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Mr Wale Edun as well as the Honourable Minister of State for Finance Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite in ensuring the full implementation of the government’s economic reforms” Omachi stated With renewed commitment and a shared vision the Federal Ministry of Finance is poised to drive Nigeria’s economic growth and development ultimately improving the lives of its citizens IHG® will open ANA Holiday Inn Resort Shinano-omachi Kuroyon in 2020 following the signing of a management agreement with Kanden Amenix Co. which is the second Holiday Inn Resort in Japan can look forward to world-class facilities including a restaurant as well as a variety of activities that can be enjoyed in every season The hotel long been a favourite with visitors to Kurboe Dam who are looking for an experience that’s immersed in nature In Q2 2020 it will reopen as ANA Holiday Inn Resort Shinano-omachi Kuroyon following a full renovation of its 73 rooms with with another 30 rooms opening the following year Chief Executive Officer at Kanden Amenix Co. said: “We are pleased to have signed a management agreement with IHG one of the world’s largest hotel operators Shinano-omachi is a gateway city for the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route which have long been favourite destinations for Japanese tourists ANA Holiday Inn Resort Shinano-omachi Kuroyon will offer a great experience to visitors from around the world and we will be proud to introduce them to this beautiful destination.” The hotel is located in the north western part of Nagano Prefecture where is well known as a nature-rich sightseeing destination The city is the gateway to the Nagano prefecture side of Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route known as the “Roof of Japan” as it passes through the dynamic scenery of Mt In recent years the number of domestic and overseas travellers has increased attracting visitors who are looking to enjoy beautiful surrounds and winter sports in Hakuba one of the largest and highest quality ski resorts in Japan Holiday Inn brand family is the largest hotel brand in the world with more than 4,000 hotels open and more than 1,000 in the pipeline IHG currently has 32 hotels operating under three brands including Hotel Indigo and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 5,600 hotels and nearly 843,000 guest rooms in more than 100 countries, with over 1,900 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG® Rewards Club which has more than 100 million enrolled members InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales More than 400,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally Vietnam’s Masan Consumer Corporation has denied selling Omachi instant noodle products containing the banned chemical ethylene oxide (EO) to Taiwan and claims it is coordinating with Vietnamese authorities to clarify the issue one of Vietnam’s leading food and beverage companies released the statement on Wednesday after Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) announced that 1.44 tonnes of Omachi sour shrimp flavor instant noodles imported from Masan contained EO a chemical that is not yet licensed for consumption in Taiwan the seasoning packages that accompanied a batch of Omachi instant noodles imported from Vietnam by Taiwan’s Qianyu Co. Ltd Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) cited TFDA as reporting on Tuesday “This case does not comply with the provisions of Article 15 of the Food Safety and Hygiene Management Law on the standard of tolerance for pesticide residues,” the TFDA said on its website It concluded that “the non-conforming goods in the case will be returned or destroyed in accordance with the regulations.” The Omachin instant noodle in question was among 19 food items named by the TFDA in its list of border inspection violations released the same day and would therefore be returned or destroyed, CNA reported.  A representative of Masan Consumer has denied exporting instant noodles with EO to Qianyu and said the firm is coordinating with the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade the Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point (Vietnam SPS) and other competent state agencies to verify the matter The representative stated that Masan’s exports fully meet the quality standards of the countries to which it exports we adopt strict provisions in our distribution contracts that ban exporting products intended for one market to another,” the representative stressed As each country has its own food safety standards and regulations Masan exports different products to different countries in order to fully meet their specific requirements The corporation added that it regularly inspects its products and strictly handles violations of its contract regulations Omachi instant noodles meet all local food safety regulations and considered safe for consumption It also said Masan’s products have been officially exported to the U.S. the industry and trade ministry has said it will ask Masan to report on the issue and will provide information to the media after verification EO and its allowable limits have yet to be included in food safety legislation in Vietnam This is not the first time that Vietnamese foods have been found to contain excessive residue levels of EO several Vietnamese instant noodle shipments were subject to warnings and recalls for containing EO by several European countries Germany issued warnings against instant noodles including one with curry flavor and another with chicken flavor after finding them to have contained EO in excess of the EU’s acceptable level These products were produced by Asia Food Joint Stock Company based in Binh Duong Province “Exporters should note that each country its own food safety regulations including those related to acceptable levels of EO,” said Ngo Xuan Nam apply a maximum EO content of 7mg/kg for herbs is an organic compound usually found in the form of a colorless gas It is produced on a large scale and applied in several different production fields the Vietnam News Agency cited the industry and trade ministry It is often used to control insects and microorganisms in dry food products especially in spices and herbs such as paprika and cinnamon to kill Salmonella bacteria that causes food poisoning with scientific evidence in humans indicating that exposure to the gas for many years increases the risk of cancers of the white blood cells Long-term exposure to EO also increases the risk of breast cancer in women The European Chemicals Agency classifies EO is as a mutagen the Food Safety Authority of Ireland said.  Foods containing EO does not pose an acute risk to health but can cause increased health risks if consumed over a long period of time Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam Your comment will be reviewed before being posted A central Japan city is combining modern technology with specially trained dogs to chase away wild monkeys that have ventured from nearby mountains to ruin crops and damage property the city of Omachi in Nagano Prefecture began using a global positioning system to monitor the movement of wild monkeys that have devoured crops such as apples and buckwheat seeds annoyed local residents with their feces and urine and damaged roof tiles "There have been an increasing number of abandoned crop fields behind houses and wildlife habitats are believed to have come closer to where people live," a city official said Omachi officials are now considering connecting the GPS tracking devices attached to the necks of the monkeys with smartphone apps so a more traditional deterrent can also be used known as "monkey dogs," to deter the unwanted raiders 21 such dogs are used to control the around 900 monkeys estimated to live in the city "It is important for local residents to work together to prevent damage By using continuously advancing technology we would like to manage each of the (15 to 16) monkey groups," said Takahiro Isomoto Omachi was the first city in Japan to introduce a training program for monkey dogs after past tactics such as using loud noises and fireworks failed the number of wild monkeys spotted in residential areas has sharply dropped Dogs of any breed can join a five-month training session after a trainer deems them capable The last point is especially important as in the past some dogs were hit by cars as they were too absorbed in the monkey chase the Omachi municipal government has put up signs along the main roads that read Japan gov't eyes limits on dogs, cats kept by breeders to prevent abuse Cambodian province known for Angkor Wat bans dog meat business Popular unique-looking Akita dog Wasao dies To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox, subscribe here. 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. If you wish to change your message, press 'Cancel' to go back and edit. Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible. Heavy rain has been falling in the country since late last week. As much as 743.0 mm of rain fell in 48 hours in areas near the city of Unzen in Nagasaki prefecture, where a landslide struck early on 13 August 1 fatality was reported and 2 people were missing and 1 seriously injured On 15 August another deadly mudslide struck burying eight people in a house in Okaya City 2 were injured and 3 others rescued according to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA) According to figures from Japan Meteorological Agency Heavy rain also caused flooding in areas of Kumamoto and Saga Prefectures over the last 24 hours One person was reported missing in floods from the overflowing Kuma River in Hitoyoshi City severe flooding has affected Takeo City where some residents took refuge on the roofs of flooded houses FDMA reported 6 people were rescued from stranded vehicles and 8 from flooded houses At least 1 person had to be rescued after 2 houses were completely destroyed by a landslide in Kanzaki City Japan Ground Self-Defense Force troops were called on to rescue people from flooded areas of Ōmachi Town in Kishima District A hospital building flooded and patients had to move to its upper floors As much as 67 mm of rain fell in 1 hour in Ōmachi on 14 August Warnings for further heavy rainfall were issued by Japan Meteorological Agency in particular for Southern and Northern Kyushu regions until 18 August Richard Davies is the founder of floodlist.com and reports on flooding news Cookies | Privacy | Contacts © Copyright 2025 FloodList Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information the first Japanese conductor who chose opera houses in Europe as his base and who conducted both operas and orchestras His death was attributable to natural causes His family members and relatives have already held his funeral After graduating from the composition department of Tokyo University of the Arts he studied conducting at the Vienna Academy of Music where he was inspired by conductors such as Herbert von Karajan and Karl Bohm before becoming a permanent conductor of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra in 1961 he was appointed permanent conductor at the City Opera House in Dortmund in West Germany the first Japanese to do so in an opera house in Europe he became the first Japanese to conduct at the Vienna State Opera for which he worked from 1982 to 1984 under an exclusive contract he debuted in the United States by conducting the Cleveland Orchestra he conducted the first performance in China of "Turandot" by Puccini He held many positions including head of the Japan Foundation in Cologne and professor at Tokyo University of the Arts He also authored books including “Classic Ongaku no Susume" (Recommending classical music) Famed German conductor Winschermann dies at 100 VOX POPULI: Applause music to the ears of artists sidelined by pandemic Takemitsu’s legendary ’82 concert set for CD release Niigata bullring to provide stage for ‘Carmen’ performance Fangs worn to ward off evil deemed to be from extinct wolf 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 A fire destroyed the roof and interior of a historic building in Fresno’s Chinatown this past week The Bow On Tong in California is at least 90 years old, making it one of Fresno Chinatown’s oldest buildings, according to Battalion Chief Thomas Cope in an article by The Fresno Bee.  “People sent me photos of it as it was burning,” said Kathy Omachi, head of Fresno Chinatown Preservation Inc Cope added that Fresno City firefighters took a “defensive operational mode,” fighting the fire for around 3-and-a-half hours using 400,000 gallons of water, according to yourcentralvalley.com.  the fire was still particularly difficult to manage as the building had been unoccupied for 30 years “The fire caused the roof to collapse onto the second floor and it was what we call a pancake collapse,” Cope said “It trapped burning material underneath and because the building is unsafe for firefighters to enter we can’t get in there in order to open that up with chainsaws and hand tools and put out the remaining fire.”  Omachi stated that The Bow On Tong needs around $200,000 in order to rebuild the remains She noted the building had a central place in the Fresno community and community members failed in saving The Bow On Tong from destruction “We all failed,” Omachi said in an article by yourcentralvalley.com “The older generation failed in planning for the future the younger generation failed in trying to preserve it and city and state government failed by not helping to maintain it.” According to ABC30 the cause of the fire is still under investigation and the Fresno Fire Department determined the building was not structurally stable and will be torn down “It’s heartbreaking. These buildings, they’re not gonna get built again. Once the history is gone, it’s gone,” said Eric Myers, one of the organizers for the Chinese New Year Parade set, as reported by yourcentralvalley.com Chinatown is nothing compared to what it used to be.” My grandfather was the head of Bow On Tong and built this building in 1920 for $2000 We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info. By Hamza Ibrahim a lawyer from Kogi State named Samuel Omachi published a critique of the Athena Center for Policy and Leadership’s review titled “Revelations of Bayelsa former Minister of Aviation and Chancellor of the Athena Center provides a comprehensive analysis of the off-cycle governorship elections held on November 11 raising pertinent issues about the electoral process in Nigeria Omachi dismissed the review as a mere tabulation of personal opinions claiming it lacks factual evidence and is biased due to Chidoka’s affiliation with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) He further questions the credibility of the data presented in the review arguing that the conclusions drawn by Chidoka are baseless and politically motivated a closer examination of Omachi’s assertions reveals significant gaps in his arguments beginning with his dismissal of the Athena Center review as a product of political bias The review is not a haphazard compilation of opinions but a meticulous analysis backed by empirical data The report utilizes data obtained from field reports To trivialize the review as mere political commentary is not only disingenuous but also reflects a lack of understanding of the rigorous methodology employed by the Athena Center One of Omachi’s key criticisms is the claim that Chidoka’s analysis of over-voting in the three states is unfounded the review clearly outlines the evidence of over-voting in specific polling units supported by discrepancies between BVAS records and the final results announced by INEC the review highlights significant variances in voter turnout figures when cross-referenced with the number of accredited voters recorded by the BVAS machines These discrepancies are not fabrications but are substantiated by data that is publicly accessible Omachi also questions the presence and capacity of the Athena Center’s observers during the elections He compares the Center’s efforts to those of other organizations like Yiaga Africa implying that the Center’s findings are invalid due to its smaller popularity as if an organization’s work should not be assessed purely based on its quality This argument is both reductive and dismissive of the valuable work done by specialized organizations The Athena Center’s focus is not on blanket coverage but on targeted in-depth analysis of specific issues within the electoral process The review’s conclusions are drawn from thorough investigations into key anomalies which were corroborated by multiple sources including election observers on the ground Omachi’s assertion that the review lacks probative value because it was conducted by a PDP member is a classic ad hominem fallacy The validity of an analysis is determined by the strength of its evidence and arguments not by the political affiliations of its author The review provides a factual basis for its claims challenging the electoral process in a manner that is constructive and aimed at improving the integrity of future elections To dismiss these findings solely based on the author’s political background is an attempt to sidestep the real issues raised in the report Another critical point raised by Omachi is the perceived incongruity in Chidoka’s conclusions regarding the impact of over-voting on the election outcomes in Bayelsa suggesting that it selectively undermines the victories of APC candidates while sparing the PDP candidate in Bayelsa the review does not make arbitrary claims; it assesses each state individually considering the specific context and data from each election The findings in Bayelsa are distinct from those in Kogi and Imo because the nature and extent of the irregularities differ in each case Omachi’s critique is riddled with inaccuracies and a failure to engage with the substantive issues raised by the Athena Center’s review By dismissing the review as mere political posturing he overlooks the critical contributions it makes to the discourse on Nigeria’s electoral process The Athena Center’s work is a valuable resource for anyone genuinely interested in understanding and improving the integrity of elections in Nigeria it would be more constructive for critics like Omachi to engage with the evidence presented and contribute meaningfully to the ongoing debate about electoral reforms in the country UPDATE NEWS: Nigerians can now earn US Dollars through domain flipping buy domain names for cheap and have it resold to earn up to $15,000 Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You Ninety-eight percent of Vietnamese households possess at least one Masan Consumer product each generating annual revenues exceeding VND2 trillion (US$78.5 million) Masan Consumer had five brands achieving revenue of over VND2,000 billion each These brands include CHIN-SU and Nam Ngu (spice industry) and Wake-Up 247 (bottled drinks and nutritional drinks industry) Robust brands have been instrumental in bolstering Masan Consumer's gross profit margin consistently maintaining it at elevated levels for many years The top two positions in the top five above are a pair of brands familiar to Vietnamese consumers: CHIN-SU and Nam Ngu in the spice industry this industry continued to be the mainstay of the business with sales recorded at VND10,446 billion ($410.3 million) an increase of 18.2 percent compared to 2022 The CHIN-SU line of East Sea Anchovies Glass bottles was introduced to offer premium quality with a high-end and luxurious design while Nam Ngu enhances Vietnamese specialties centered around fish sauce The Nam Ngu Specialties collection includes a trio of ready-to-use fish sauces combined with ingredients from three regions Another industry that experienced sales growth is the convenience foods sector both logging sales of over VND2,000 billion Experiencing a growth rate of 8.8 percent compared to 2022 the net revenue of this sector amounted to VND8,446 billion ($331.8 million) with revenue from high-end brands constituting 50 percent of the total a range of groundbreaking new products were launched introducing fresh and valuable experiences to consumers The Omachi self-boiling hotpot caters to the style and preferences of active while Pho Story blends the time-honored formula of renowned pho brands like Pho Thin Bo Ho The 1 and a half packets of Kokomi Noodles offer increased weight without altering the price The final product in the roster of Masan Consumer's top five each with revenues surpassing VND2,000 billion a brand within the bottled beverage and nutritional drink sector sales in this industry reached VND4,595 billion ($180.5 million) marking an expansion of 3.3 percent compared to 2022 Masan Consumer is dedicated to developing new bottled beverage products tailored to the preferences of Gen Z youth exemplified by offerings such as BUPNON TEA 365 reflected in the overall FMCG market experiencing a negative growth rate of two percent Masan Consumer recorded a growth rate of 13.1 percent compared to 2022 The company has continuously launched new products to meet more diverse consumer needs In tandem with the strategy of premiumizing key products Masan Consumer will also seek to expand development opportunities within industries such as cosmetics According to information from its latest annual report the firm will focus on the ‘Go Global - Make Vietnamese Food Global Food’ strategy in the near future this business successfully penetrated international markets CHIN-SU chili sauce has achieved prominence securing a position among the top eight items on e-commerce site Amazon in the U.S and claiming the top spot on the leading e-commerce site Given the existing potential within the regional consumer market 2024 is anticipated to sustain the success trajectory for Masan Consumer as it progresses toward the goal of deriving 15 percent of its sales from international business by 2027 Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam Bac Ninh is working to support domestic private sci-tech enterprises in accordance with the Party Central Committee's policy with the goal of making the province a role model in promoting and assisting the private sector Aeon – Japan's largest retail group – plans to increase the number of hypermarkets also known as "Super Supermarket (SSM)" and general merchandise stores (GMS) in Vietnam from 12 as of February 2025 to about 100 stores by 2030 With continued support from Vietnamese experts the “shrimp farming for hunger elimination” model is gradually taking shape in Cuba creating jobs for thousands of local workers and have strong political determination throughout the agricultural and environmental sectors on science – technology development Vietjet's consolidated revenue totaled 17.952 trillion VND (690 million USD) while pre-tax profit was 836 billion USD (32.1 million USD) The State Bank of Vietnam set the daily reference exchange rate for the US dollar at 24,938 VND/USD on May 6 Six commodities recorded more than 1 billion USD in value led by wood and wood products at 5.2 billion USD (up 5.8%) Vietnamese banks have also proactively improved their image and position in the international arena According to Brand Finance's 2025 rankings 13 Vietnamese banks are now listed in the Top 500 banks with the highest brand value globally Vietnam’s total textile and garment export turnover reached 1.8 billion USD representing an 8.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024 Total FDI poured into Hanoi during the first four months hit 1.48 billion USD The Brazilian government said that allowing tilapia fish imports from Vietnam is an irreversible decision and is part of its negotiations in late March to open the beef market in Vietnam Vietnam's GDP per capita was 4,535 USD in 2024 The Government aims to achieve over 7,500 USD in GDP per capita by 2030 and become a high-income country by 2045 economic experts have recommended Hanoi to implement a range of measures to manage inflation in the coming months They emphasised the need to strengthen price monitoring of essential goods A highlight of the Vietnam Goods Week in Malaysia is the introduction of Vietnamese culinary booths featuring iconic dishes like Vietnamese banh mi (baguette) and coffee by the "Saigon Station" restaurant The Sri Lankan President emphasised investment opportunities for Vingroup in the sectors it is strong at such as tourism especially in Colombo – Sri Lanka’s largest city an upcoming state visit to Kazakhstan by Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam promises to inject new energy into economic ties The Ministry of Industry and Trade have announced reductions in retail fuel prices after nearly four decades of economic reform the sector has grown steadily in both scale and quality becoming one of the key driving forces of the socialist-oriented market economy airports nationwide handled over 12,610 flights marking a 19.45% increase compared to the same period last year the students were informed about how to take advantage of the free trade agreements that Vietnam and Canada have signed to optimise supply chains they also heard about Vietnam's potential as an Asian logistics hub 2008 by the Ministry of Information and Communications Email: vietnamplus@vnanet.vn Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written consent National Report Nagano Prefecture--Fangs deemed to be from an extinct Japanese wolf species that people in bygone times wore as talismans to ward off evil were found by a curator combing through the collection of the city-run Omachi Alpine Museum here “The teeth are unlikely to have come from dogs a visiting researcher at the Mitsuminesan Museum in Saitama Prefecture outside Tokyo who examined the photos of the fangs “The features strongly suggest they are the teeth of a Japanese wolf.” the only ones of their kind from the Daihoku region in northwestern Nagano Prefecture were stored at the Omachi Alpine Museum and listed as “wild canine fangs” under the folk material category A skull’s nose tip with the two fangs on the right and left sides was in a paper bag with a crystal One of the teeth is 2.2 centimeters long and about 1 cm in diameter They were believed to have been initially discovered in what is now Omachi between the late Edo Period (1603-1867) and the Meiji Era (1868-1912) It was customary in those days for local folk to wear the teeth of wolves to protect them from evil when passing through mountains and forests The skull’s nose tip was donated by the owner The teeth were “rediscovered” after an Asahi Shimbun reporter contacted the museum to inquire about an April 8 article in a local newspaper’s evening edition detailing the museum’s plans to search for evidence Japanese wolves still existed Though the museum couldn't confirm that the survey went ahead as planned the museum's 32-year-old curator in charge of animal-related displays got interested in the canine variant and began searching the museum’s storage facilities Kuribayashi is pushing for the rediscovered fangs to undergo DNA analysis to confirm whether they are indeed from a Japanese wolf Japanese wolves are thought to have died out soon after the last one in the wild was caught in Nara Prefecture in 1905 More than 100 skulls of the species are estimated to exist nationwide Yagi said he has studied 70 or so Japanese wolf skulls from Tokyo who heads a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding Japanese wolves based on the belief that they still exist intends to visit the museum after the novel coronavirus pandemic dies down to “check the teeth with my own eyes” for a more accurate analysis “Wolf skulls were apparently used to treat people believed to be possessed by fox or other animal spirits,” Yagi said He noted that rudimentary “netsuke” ornaments were often fashioned from the snout of a wolf to help dispel evil Yagi speculated that may explain the presence of the teeth at the Omachi Alpine Museum “Wolf skulls exist in the southern Nanshin region and elsewhere in Nagano Prefecture,” Yagi said “Searching areas around Omachi is bound to lead to the discovery of more remains intrigued by the thought that “other Japanese wolves’ skulls may be in hands of old-established families and other venues,” are looking to gather more information on wolf remains from now on is home to abundant nature,” Kuribayashi noted “I want to amass more evidence to show that Japanese wolves once roamed the area.” Disease-repelling charm confirmed as skull of extinct wolf in Aichi The legend of ‘Monster Wolf,’ savior of crops VOX POPULI: Crowdfunding drive preserves symbolic local trolleybus reptile fossils in Fukui show diversity in age of dinosaurs Leprosy patient list offered in online auction stirs controversy Vox Populi Vox Dei is a daily column that runs on Page 1 of The Asahi Shimbun An exhibition hall called Torobasu Kinenkan (Trolleybus museum) opened this spring in Omachi It was built to preserve the history of the Kanden Tunnel Trolley Bus which served a total of 60 million passengers as the sole means of transportation to and from Kurobe Dam having remained accident-free throughout the years The entire fleet of 15 cars was initially destined for the scrap heap But calls for their preservation continued decided to save the last remaining car by raising 1.8 million yen ($16,500) through crowdfunding the donations grew to more than three times the target amount "The trolleybus was practically a symbol of Omachi," said Mitsuaki Miyasaka and we had to abandon the idea at one time." He recalled being overjoyed by the unexpected success of the first online fund-raising attempt ever made by the city And the city received messages from donors "The trolleybus represents a precious memory of our family trip," one said "I rode it many times as a member of the mountaineering club at my university," reminisced another "My late father was one of the men who dug the Kurobe Tunnel." Many of the donors were fans of the trolleybus in and outside the prefecture In the 1968 blockbuster film "Kurobe no Taiyo" ("The Sands of Kurobe") that depicted the struggles of workers engaged in the dam construction project appeals passionately to his colleagues: "Let's believe in something that will make the impossible possible." but they remained undaunted and successfully completed the project that once seemed doomed to fail Next month will mark the 50th anniversary of the full opening of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Compared with the Kurobe Dam project that was dubbed "the most difficult undertaking of the century," the work done on preservation of a trolleybus was much smaller in scale the fervor of the people who fought to save the last trolleybus from oblivion was just as intense Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture Famed alpine route taking shape for April opening VOX POPULI: Fingers crossed for clear skies on night of May 26 for blood moon VOX POPULI: Deaths in detention: throwback to the prewar era VOX POPULI: Spying on staff is a failed strategy to make them more productive VOX POPULI: Mass forgery in petition drive a troubling sign for democracy Nagano Prefecture–Two missing climbers were found safe after they survived on river water for days in the Northern Japan Alps sought help after descending the mountains on his own to the Nanakura trailhead here on the night of Oct a Nagano prefectural police helicopter located the other climber a 23-year-old university student from Inagi on the border of Nagano and Toyama prefectures He was found near the Higashisawatani river running west of Mount Mitsudake at an altitude of about 2,200 meters The student was sent to a hospital in Matsumoto where he was well enough to have a conversation The two climbers said they brought three days of food for what was initially supposed to be a two-day climbing trip They started the journey at the Nanakura trailhead on Oct They emailed their families on the following evening to let them know that they would stay in the mountains for one more night That was the last time their families heard from them.After their food ran out Climber details close escape from avalanche that kills 1 in Nagano Startup offers radio-based search service in mountains Mountain climber attacked by bear falls off cliff to his death 2014The demolition of a building in Downtown Fresno for High Speed Rail has uncovered a link to the city?s past.FRESNO (KFSN) -- The demolition of a building in Downtown Fresno for High Speed Rail has uncovered a link to the city's past Some believe it offered proof tunnels below Chinatown actually existed A drizzly day didn't stop the demolition of the old Del Monte building Nor did the discovery of a large opening on G Street leading under Tulare Street Kathy Omachi of Chinatown Revitalization Incorporated believed the entrance may provide proof an elaborate tunnel system existed "It proves that we're not crazy," said Omachi "It proves that we're a determined group and that we have a valid story to tell and to preserve It's extremely important for the Valley." Omachi wanted to have the site documented and inspected She's worried it will be quickly filled in "If we don't fight for our history then there's no one that's going to fight for our children's history and this one is so tangible," explained Omachi you can drive around it and that it exists It's not just off of a page in a book Karana Hattersley-Drayton is the Historic Preservation Project manager for the city of Fresno She said a Sanborn Insurance map dating back to 1919 documented how the tunnel was used "That was an old conveyer belt system to move raisins from one side of the street to the other side underneath the street for the Pacific Seeded Raisin Company." Elizabeth Jonasson of the High Speed Rail Authority said "We are aware of the underground conveyance system located at the Del Monte demolition site and we have documented it during our archeological investigations." "This time we just want to document it and let people know that yes the area really is honeycombed by tunnels." Tunnels run beneath Chinatown: brick-walled passages that were once home to people and activities that could not be mentioned aboveground entering through a trapdoor in his grandfather's liquor store "There was a nightlife you couldn't see from the streets," he said the lace-work of tunnels sprawling under the city was just another tall tale from Fresno's days as a Western railroad town and a hub of gambling and prostitution a group of archeologists is using ground-penetrating radar to find evidence of the secret passages which are believed to branch out from long-abandoned basements littered with cobwebs and filth funded by the city and headed by a group working to preserve Chinatown will take data gathered via radar and compare the findings to the memories of those who recall the neighborhood's heyday vice president of Chinatown Revitalization That will help archeologists decide where to dig trenches and look for the passages The approximately six blocks just west of the railroad tracks that make up the historic Chinatown were Fresno's birthplace Unlike the better-known Chinese enclaves of San Francisco and New York there's little left of it today -- at least on the surface But fire insurance maps from the 1880s show a densely populated area a stark contrast from the wide-open ranch and farm country all around It was home to the Chinese laborers who laid Fresno's foundations and to successive layers of immigrants -- Japanese Basques and others -- who were kept separate from the growing white population by the iron boundary of the train tracks But it was also host to illicit activities kept out of the "good side of town" -- gambling was born here in 1913 "between a bar and a house of ill repute," she said some end in bricked-off walls that longtime residents say hide tunnel entrances Chinatown was still thriving -- both its respectable establishments and as its shadier side He remembers visiting the underground world with his father passing though a dark basement before descending into a lit tunnel with an arched roof and enough space for two people to pass by each other There were people there he recognized from the neighborhood And then there were the glamorous women whose images remain seared in his memory speculating that they were probably prostitutes He said it was something we don't mention." said the tunnels may have been built to provide cool underground storage in a region known for sweltering summer heat But they later proved handy for other purposes "These groups that lived on the fringe could have resorted to them to protect themselves though it still hasn't been proved by research that a tunnel one time extended beyond the railroad tracks into the traditionally white part of town possibly allowing "respectable" citizens access to the illicit charms of Chinatown "Some say that was blown up during Prohibition," said Hattersley-Drayton who got a lot of calls from longtime residents once the project got started many of Chinatown's buildings were torn down to make way for new development or freeways "Many of the older residents packed up and left but remains surrounded by artifacts from the days his family was an important part of the neighborhood: tall paintings and sculptures handed down by his grandfather and the old manual cash register that rang up purchases at the liquor store It's a part of the region's history that's been largely forgotten As downtown develops it's critical "to look at where we were," said Patti Miller Chinatown and its excavated tunnels might be developed for heritage tourism bringing some income to the now-impoverished area and it's about approaching parts of community history that are not in books," Brady said "Parts that are literally below the surface instant noodles are displayed in a prominent spot near the front door Among them are familiar Vietnamese brands such as Hao Hao and Cung Dinh noodles have won the hearts of Japanese people According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Japan the number of Vietnamese people living in the country has increased to around 500,000 and Vietnamese instant noodle products have also made it to the country in larger numbers Minh said Japanese people are quite fond of Vietnamese cuisine so Vietnamese instant noodles are also a way for them to conveniently enjoy Vietnamese flavours the Nikkei Asia newspaper cited data from Japan’s Ministry of Finance in stating that the value of instant noodles imported from Vietnam was more than 3.3 million USD./ rising 38.5 percent from 2019 to nearly VND6.9 trillion ($302 million) last year with the brand claiming 45 percent of the high-end market Omachi was also the best-selling noodle brand in supermarkets Kokomi saw sales growing 43 percent to become the best-selling brand in the northern region Masan Consumer continued to post strong figures so far this year with revenue growing 10 percent to VND11 trillion The company expects instant noodles and porridge products to rise double-digit for the whole year Japanese producer Acecook posted a revenue of VND11.5 trillion last year 1.6 times that of Masan Consumer’s packaged food sales The company claims to account for half of Vietnam’s instant noodles market It forecasts sales to reach 350 million products next year Smaller noodle producers also recorded stable figures HCMC-based Vifon leaders once told press it made around VND200 billion a month saw revenue falling 2 percent to VND624 billion last year There are about 50 noodle businesses in Vietnam including foreign companies Vietnam became the third largest instant noodles market with over 7.03 billion servings consumed last year Public Relations Office, Government of Japan Home > Highlighting JAPAN > Highlighting Japan August 2019 > In Praise of Mountains The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route offers travelers a variety of sightseeing opportunities from majestic mountain scenery to the towering snow walls of Yuki-no-Otani in spring and the changing foliage of the Chubu-Sangaku National Park year-round No article or any part there of may be reproduced without the express permission of the Cabinet Office. Copyright inquiries should be made through this form •Omachi has been undergoing rehab since March after an injury rendered his 2022-23 FKF Premier League season over • Omachi made his Kenyan Premier League debut against Gor Mahia on February 4 at Moi Stadium Kasarani— coming on as a second-half substitute Nairobi City Stars winger Pius Omachi is on the verge of making a full return to the team after months on the sidelines Omachi has been undergoing rehab since March after an injury rendered his 2022-23 FKF Premier League season over It’s been a journey since his injury back in March he has come through to a point where he will soon start contesting for a place in the team for competitive games,” said Otieno Head coach Nicholas Muyoti added: “We have assessed him and he is now on the verge of returning to the squad He has taken part in our training sessions He recently played 45 minutes which shows he’s getting there Omachi hopes to feature in Kenyan Premier League matches in this calendar year I have been topping up on the minutes from one friendly game to the other The coach told me that I am just two matches from a return to KPL action," he said "It is my desire to get there as soon as possible I hope that will be before year’s end."  Omachi made his Kenyan Premier League debut against Gor Mahia on February 4 at Moi Stadium Kasarani— coming on as a second-half substitute is located at the foot of a mountain that leads to high peaks in Japan The shrine buildings have passed on an ancient style to the present day and boast a dignified presence among the beautiful forest 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 water fountains with "male" and "female" water and a luxurious hot spring hotel along Kashimagawa River are featured this week Our next train journey takes place along the JR Oito Line which runs from Nagano Prefecture to Niigata Prefecture Our aim is to find 15 famous spots recommended by the locals over three days This local line used to be called Shinano Railway the entire line was connected in 1957 and then became the Oito Line It now runs between the Matsumoto Station in Nagano and Itoigawa Station in Niigata spanning 41 stations and covering a total distance of 105.4km We start by travelling from Matsumoto Station to Hitoichiba The train journey takes about 15 minutes and we have until 12.25pm to find popular places around Hitoichiba A family we speak to in front of the station suggests we eat at a Western-style restaurant Ikoi We then drop by a confectionery shop nearby which is made using milk from a farm in Azumino A parent here recommends we check out the large tulip tree at a branch shrine is about 25m high and is more than 140 years old It was planted as a memorial tree of the Onmin Elementary School during the Meiji period The elementary school later closed down but the tulip tree remained As it is considered the oldest tulip tree in Nagano Prefecture it was designated a natural monument of Azumino City around 10 years ago We are driven back to Hitoichiba Station by the same kind resident we get to admire the magnificent view of the Northern Alps We have two hours to explore the area around Hotaka Station as our next train is at 2.35pm A local points us to a cafe near the station It was opened nearly 10 years ago by a sculptor are displayed all over the reservation-only cafe The owner has won various international art awards We next visit a wasabi shop to enquire about more well-known spots We are told about a pork cutlet restaurant We order the recommended Katsumian set menu which comes with raw sardines and fried pork cutlet pieces Pork from Nagano Prefecture is used for the pork cutlet Raw bread crumbs are used to get a nice texture and the meat is fried in lard and blended oil until it becomes crispy while the pork cutlet is served with ground sesame and sauce we take the train to Shinano-Matsukawa Station We decide to catch the 4pm train from here later We rent some electric bicycles and start exploring the town A farmer we speak to suggests we go to Totto-chan Square named after the elementary school where famous personality Tetsuko Kuroyanagi studied which used to be located in Tokyo’s Meguro ward has been reproduced using train cars donated by Nagano Electric Railway The unique classroom is housed inside a train car Ms Kuroyanagi is closely connected with this town Located near Totto-chan Square is a museum of picture book artist Chihiro Iwasaki The cover illustration of Ms Kuroyanagi's best-selling novel the museum asked Ms Kuroyanagi to be the museum director We ride back to the station and advance four stops ahead to Shinano-Omachi We want to find accommodation for the night here A local we speak to tells us there are two water fountains along a street so one type of water is “hard” - nicknamed as “male” - and another is “soft” and termed as “female” The “hard” spring water travels from the Northern Alps which are about 3,000m high The “soft” hot spring water comes from a woodland The names of “male” and “female” water originated from a legend where more baby boys were born in villages which used the “hard” water while the villages using the “soft” water had more baby girls it was believed that combining the two types of water brings luck in love We finally take the bus from Shinano-Omachi Station to Omachi Onsenkyo There are 10 hotels along the Kashimagawa River at the hot spring resort Ryokusuitei Keisui has 77 Japanese-and Western-style rooms which are spacious and offer a great view of the river They include Japanese beef and vegetables cooked in shabu-shabu style various types of raw fish and Shinshu buckwheat noodles 1)    Fans of famous author Tetsuko Kuroyanagi should visit Totto-chan Square2)    Try the “male” and female” water from two water fountains near Shinano-Omachi Station Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast Upgraded but still having issues? 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