the Japanese type-designer-turned-retro-font archivist has been assembling pixel-based alphabets from arcade games such as Tank 8 “There are actually so many good arcade fonts that we collectively haven’t paid attention to,” said Omagari at the Cooper Union’s TypoGraphics conference in June Before the industry changed to high definition graphics in 2004 early game designers had to confine each letter within an 8 x 8 pixel grid conserving as much memory as possible for the graphics Most fonts were made by graphic artists or programmers who hadn’t been exposed to the rigorous “They were doing whatever they pleased and that’s why they’re beautiful.” There’s versatile Sprint 2, considered the “Helvetica of retro games;” the chunky outlined letters for Conan the Barbarian; and the Tron typeface, which signaled the “font of the future.” 1978 Taito Space InvadersImage: Courtesy of Toshi OmagariAdvertisementSprint2 the “Helvetica” of retro arcade game typographyImage: Courtesy of Toshi OmagariEven those tight parameters followed by amateur designers created enormous variation gradation and colors purposefully and artistically as seen in Capcom’s Street Fighter franchise History of “Street Fighter” in fonts.Image: Courtesy of Toshi Omagari1989 Final FightImage: Courtesy of Toshi OmagariAdvertisementDesigners were even able to create expressive calligraphic styles such as the handwritten typeface for the Simpsons game Typeface for “The Simpsons” by Konami.Image: Courtesy of Toshi OmagariAmong Omagari’s favorites is an elegant Roundhand-inspired typeface developed for an inglorious 1997 shooter game has been criticized for its depiction of women “The context of this typeface is really messed up,” says Omagari who is currently compiling his research in a book explains the challenge and delight in assembling the history of these overlooked typefaces and their unknown designers During a time when we’re obsessed with slick super high resolution graphics and screens Omagari says he hopes to spotlight the artistic innovation that emerged during this storied “The research inspired me a lot and made me realize how safe of an approach we have been taking!,” Omagari reflects “I feel I want to push my comfort zone in my future typefaces.” Global law firm K&L Gates assisted Samvardhana Motherson International Limited (Motherson) in entering into definitive agreements through its subsidiary SMRP BV to acquire a 95% stake in Japanese automotive parts manufacturer Atsumitec Co Atsumitec specializes in metal and machining primarily manufacturing chassis and transmission parts The acquisition involves a series of transactions Motherson will purchase at least 48.02% of Atsumitec’s shares from shareholders a squeeze-out or stock consolidation process will follow The final step involves a share repurchase by Atsumitec from Honda Motors Co resulting in a 95:5 strategic partnership between Motherson and Honda The transactions are expected to be completed in early 2025 pending clearance from Japanese merger control authorities The team also collaborated with local counsel across Indonesia served as financial advisor to Motherson on the proposed transactions Kuo stated: “It has been a pleasure to advise Samvardhana Motherson on this strategic acquisition and we are thankful for the trust they have placed in us multidisciplinary teams working alongside a sophisticated and focused client in-house team made this transaction possible This combination ushers an exciting new phase for the merged group As we continue to build our service offering for Indian clients this transaction is another endorsement of our capability and track record.” K&L Gates’ Corporate practice is one of the most substantial in the legal industry with hundreds of lawyers in offices on five continents providing clients with practical legal solutions in the structuring * All Singapore lawyers are members of K&L Gates Straits Law LLC the Singapore office of global law firm K&L Gates 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All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. For all open access content, the relevant licensing terms apply. Reading"Arcade Game Typography..." More fromWork Contact Advertising Opportunities Newsletters Insights + Opinion Creatives + Projects Advice + Resources Culture + Lifestyle Nicer Tuesdays The View From... POV Forward Thinking Review of the Year Jenny Brewer Olivia Hingley Ellis Tree Elizabeth Goodspeed Liz Gorny Extra Search “Typography in gaming is something I’ve always been interested in ever since I was young,” Toshi tells It’s Nice That “But it was only about three years ago that I took notice of the abundance of 8 pixel monospaced font formats thanks to the video game graphic issue of Idea.” Inspired by the renowned Japanese magazine he delved into an exhaustive research project into the design of 1970s then carefully categorising and analysing each one Toshi has now released a book on this extensive endeavour Published by Thames & Hudson and designed by Leo Field, Arcade Game Typography features four illustrated essays on videogame typography theory and practice not to mention the challenges and joys faced by its designers “Monospaced fonts in 8 pixels is a tight constraint,” adds Toshi on the technical prowess of designing fonts for arcade games you see designers overcoming the format in the sheer number of the typefaces.” Toshi is in support of the thought that limitation stimulates creativity All the fonts featured in the book were made without support from typography professionals a testament to the accessibility of the 8 pixel format “I want to encourage anyone who reads the book to try making one for themselves,” says Toshi of the book’s inspirational qualities “There has been no book like this in any region but not because of lack of interest.” For the last few years Toshi has witnessed enthusiastic responses from the industry when discussing the idea for the book “but it was not an easy topic though,” enlightens Toshi Preparation for the book involved a level of research rivalling a postgraduate degree not to mention an in-depth knowledge of the gaming For the designers tasked with creating arcade game typography their work needed to reflect the purpose of the game which offers a “short burst of entertainment” as opposed to the lengthier home gaming devices the type tended to be more colourful and flashy accompanying lighthearted music and playful motifs the limited edition publication features arcade favourites from the likes of Pac-Man as well as lesser known games providing an insight into the alphabets’ technical construction “I didn’t want to just document the fonts,” says Toshi finally “I wanted to bring back the best of the collection to the public consciousness.” He even predicts the near future appearance of colour pixel fonts in independent games as well as in other game-related media and goods Further Infowww.readonlymemory.vg/shop/book/arcade-game-typography Jynann Ong Jynann joined It’s Nice That as an editorial assistant in August 2018 after graduating from The Glasgow School of Art’s Communication Design degree In March 2019 she became a staff writer and in June 2021 Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Pinterest About Careers at It’s Nice That Privacy Policy Insights Residence Creative Lives in Progress If You Could Jobs © It’s Nice That 2024 · Nice Face Logo © It’s Nice That www.readonlymemory.vg/shop/book/arcade-game-typography Published by Thames & Hudson and designed by Leo Field, Arcade Game Typography features four illustrated essays on videogame typography theory and practice About Contact Advertising Opportunities Newsletters Insights + Opinion Creatives + Projects Advice + Resources Culture + Lifestyle Nicer Tuesdays The View From... POV Forward Thinking Review of the Year Jenny Brewer Olivia Hingley Ellis Tree Elizabeth Goodspeed Liz Gorny Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Pinterest Careers at It’s Nice That Privacy Policy Insights Residence Creative Lives in Progress If You Could Jobs Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Akita Prefecture--Billed as one of Japan’s top fireworks festivals the 96th All-Japan National Fireworks Competition will be held Aug Officials said 18,000 fireworks will be used for the show The event will close this year with a display created by a local pyrotechnics team representing Japan at an international competition taking place in Canada in July Better known as the Omagari fireworks festival the event will bring together 28 pyrotechnicians from Tokyo and 11 prefectures It will also offer a drone show for the first time in between the fireworks displays Team Omagari will make its debut at the International Fireworks Competition to be held in Montreal this summer to represent Japan The team comprises four local companies: Kitanihon Hanabi Kogyo Co. Billed as one of the world’s top fireworks contests the Canadian event also attracts pyrotechnicians from Italy The Japanese team will be the first to unveil its works titled “The Greatest Hanabi Show,” on July 4 called “The Greatest Show,” is a recreation of the fireworks to be displayed at the Canadian event While the Montreal edition sees 4,600 fireworks shot off into the sky in 30 minutes the Omagari version will set off 2,000 shells in five minutes in rapid-fire manner “We intend to stage a spectacular fireworks show,” a member of the executive committee said The daytime fireworks competition using colored smoke will start at 5:10 p.m. while the nighttime event will begin at 6:50 p.m Prepaid viewing seats will be set up for 102,000 spectators sold for between 50,000 yen ($320) and 7,000 yen The first batch of tickets will be sold online from June 10 with the second batch set for sale from July 16 For more information, visit the official website at (https://www.oomagari-hanabi.com/) Akita’s famed fireworks festival takes peace as its theme this year Famed fireworks festival to return to riverside in Akita Prefecture U.S specialists to put on a show for fireworks festival Fireworks displays are back this summer after COVID-19 hiatus VOX POPULI: Famed Akita fireworks festival returns after 3-year absence 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 Held in the city of Daisen in Akita Prefecture the Ōmagari National Fireworks Competition is regarded as one of Japan’s two greatest fireworks competitions together with the Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition The Ōmagari event is known as the birthplace of Creative Fireworks allowing pyrotechnicians to give free rein to their creativity This competitive category originated in Ōmagari along with the unique “daytime fireworks” category Ōmagari was the first place in Japan to introduce music to accompany a display of “Wide-scale Starmines,” fireworks that are launched in rapid succession The display culminates in an emotional climax with spectators and pyrotechnicians on the riverbank waving penlights This is another Ōmagari original that has spread throughout Japan over the past 20 years All of the many fireworks displays held throughout Japan are unique Each one of them boasts some special characteristic supposed to be “number one in Japan.” I think this is a sign of how developed and sophisticated Japanese fireworks have become There is an attitude of friendly rivalry among the organizers of the various events It’s always a thrill to look forward to the new fireworks each year You never know what you’re going to see next (Photographs and original Japanese text by Izumiya Gensaku.) Ōmagari Fireworks Bedazzle the World Every year is an elaborately planned show of fireworks provided by the organizers although the main event is the fireworks launched by the competitors local companies and the organizers launch fireworks too Warimono fireworks open up into a round shape The four concentric circles represent a chrysanthemum the more difficult the fireworks is to make Fireworks designed to look like willows The tips of the drooping branches flash on and off This nighttime firework is typical of standard ball type and is used as the criterion for scoring Various brilliant colors overlap in this example of Creative Fireworks The brilliant colors change five times in this firework Spectators are captivated by the variations Daytime Starmine fireworks (fired in quick succession) A firework called “Smoke Dragon” from the daytime fireworks category It has a parachute attached so that the firework descends slowly This parachute is also attached to nighttime fireworks A firework called “Smoke Chrysanthemum” from the “daytime fireworks” category A firework called “Niagara” made to resemble the Niagara Falls marked the opening of the nighttime fireworks Wide-scale Starmines opening out in the sky above “Niagara.” Wide-scale Starmines opening out in the sky above “Niagara.” Wide-scale Starmines opening out in the sky above “Niagara.” Wide-scale Starmines provided by the fireworks display organizers The extra-large Starmines that marked the finale Creative Fireworks designed to resemble cherry blossom The Omagari fireworks competition was held on Aug with a total of roughly 18,000 fireworks set off during the event While the Akita Prefecture city suffered flooding the day before following torrential rain organizers decided to stick to the original plan and hold the annual event A total of some 740,000 people came to see the fireworks display Municipal officials were forced to prepare crowd seating through the night after the Omono River in the city flooded the day before due to torrential rain The city was also flooded after rain in July A total of 27 competitors from 12 prefectures took part in the 91st national competition GALLERY: National treasures lit up at Kyoto temple GALLERY: Tokyo Skytree turns 5 GALLERY: "Revive" marathon held in tsunami-hit northeastern Japan 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 Akita Prefecture--Thunderous booms will echo in the night sky here on Aug That is when the All-Japan National Fireworks Competition will be held along the Omonogawa river more commonly known as the Omagari fireworks festival Seeing as peace is the theme of this year’s festival The festival was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but with a reduced number of seats for spectators and without street stalls about 100 stalls will be set up at the venue for the first time in four years “We felt the preciousness of peace because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” said Yasushi Saito head of the Omagari Chamber of Commerce and Industry “Now is the time to promote the peaceful use of gunpowder to the world.” The executive committee expects around 750,000 spectators this year Tickets for 99,000 prepaid viewing seats are currently on sale online For more information, visit the official website at (https://www.oomagari-hanabi.com/) Rolling Stones touched by Fuchu city’s fireworks spectacular in ’22 Sumidagawa river fireworks to return in July after 4 years Winter fireworks draw in tourists to famed shrine in Hiroshima Fireworks paint night sky over Osaka for 1st time in 3 years Fireworks festivals are an integral part of the Japanese summer tradition. They find their roots in the Suijinsai festival of 1733, during the Edo period This festival was held to console the spirits of those who died in the rampant famines and epidemics of the time while also seeking protection from misfortune and calamities.  also known as the National Fireworks Competition is making a much-anticipated comeback in all its grandeur The event will take place on August 26 along the Omono River in Daisen The 95th edition of the competition promises to be a grand spectacle A total of 28 fireworks companies from all over the country will be participating each aiming to showcase their artistic and technical brilliance.  With around 100,000 seats available at the main venue, the event is set to welcome 100 food and game stalls for the first time in four years. The organizing committee anticipates a total of 750,000 spectators, including those watching from nearby areas. This matches pre-COVID figures The origins of the Omagari Fireworks Festival trace back to 1910 It began as the Ou Six-Prefecture Fireworks Joint Prize Show ("Ou" is another name for the Tohoku region.) The festival has since become an annual summer tradition dedicated to promoting fireworks culture and advancing the art of pyrotechnics the festival had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Although it made a comeback in 2022 after a three-year hiatus President of Komatsu Fireworks and Vice Chairman of the Omagari Fireworks Festival executive committee we have the opportunity to showcase the very best of our skills It brings immense joy to the pyrotechnicians.” Daisen City increased its support for fireworks companies the executive committee raised ¥18 million JPY ($129,000 USD) through crowdfunding This was used to organize fireworks displays in the hometowns of fireworks companies and other events.President Komatsu continues "The raw material costs for fireworks have more than doubled compared to before the pandemic But we are determined to overcome these challenges and create an even more magnificent event." The upcoming Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks will take place over two nights from August 2 Its vibrant displays are expected to transform the night sky over the Shinano riverbed in Nagaoka The festival also holds historical significance for the city It commemorates the destruction caused by the Nagaoka bombing on August 1 The tragedy resulted in the loss of approximately 1,500 lives and the destruction of 80% of the urban area To honor the lives lost and symbolize the city's unwavering commitment to peace the Nagaoka Festival was first held in 1946 the festival features magnificent attractions such as the majestic "Phoenix," which spans an impressive 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) and embodies a hopeful message for recovery and reconstruction The grand "Niagara Falls" display makes use of the 850-meter (0.5 miles) bridge over the Shinano River with a diameter of about 600 meters (0.4 miles) an impressive array of approximately 20,000 fireworks will be set off ensuring that the event will be just as magnificent as last year's The Nagaoka Festival gained further recognition when it appeared in the film Casting Blossoms to the Sky (2012) directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi the event featured a fireworks display inspired by the film the paid event attracted about 280,000 people a total of 328,800 paid seats will be available along both sides of the Shinano River Japan has reclassified COVID-19 as a Class 5 disease putting it in the same category as other common infectious illnesses event organizers are still prioritizing safety such as placing hand sanitizers throughout the venue At the Lake Suwa Fireworks Festival in Nagano Prefecture the pyrotechnicians will be launching the fireworks from the lake What sets this festival apart is not only the breathtaking visuals but also the powerful boom and vibrations of the fireworks that can be felt through the body The basin's unique location surrounded by mountains also creates a beautiful backdrop for the spectacle The festival's history dates back to 1949, just after the end of World War II Its first edition lasted an impressive hour and a half and cost ¥186,000 JPY (about $1,340 USD) to organize The festival grew steadily in subsequent years But the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation in 2020 the fireworks displays were interspersed over 15 days to avoid forming crowds This year marks its grand return after a four-year hiatus in all its splendor.  As the city emphasizes quality over quantity it has kept the exact number of fireworks to be launched a secret the city received approximately ¥76 million JPY ($546,000 USD) in sponsorship funds the festival is expected to feature around 40,000 fireworks making it one of the country's largest displays Visitors to Suwa Lake can enjoy 10-minute nightly fireworks displays for about a month before and after the celebration on August 15 The mountains and the tranquil Suwa Lake provide an ideal setting for the pyrotechnicians to dazzle their audience creating unforgettable summer memories for all.  (Read the article in Japanese.)Authors: Tomoaki Yatsunami, Kenichi Honda, and Shigeki Harada You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " IFLR is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025 Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement klgates-220.jpg www.klgates.com E: ryan.dwyer@klgates.com W: www.klgates.com/tokyo-japan/ III concentrates his practice on cross-border M&A for Japanese clients investing outside of Japan foreign direct investment into Japan by US and other non-Japanese companies and international joint-ventures involving Japanese parties He is the managing partner of the firm's Tokyo office and a member of the firm's global advisory council He has extensive experience advising non-Japanese companies on the corporate employment and commercial aspects of transactions and investing in Japan and setting up and operating businesses in Japan He has worked across a number of industries on Japanese and complex cross-border deals with particular focus in the technology sector advising companies in relation to licensing and distribution agreements E: kyle.jackson@klgates.com Kyle Jackson is an associate at the firm's Tokyo office where he is a member of the corporate practice group He has advised clients on a wide range of cross-border transactions often involving multijurisdictional issues Kyle served as legal counsel for a leading Japanese chemical company in Tokyo where he was responsible for the execution of international acquisitions joint-ventures and joint development projects E: tsuguhito.omagari@klgates.com Tsuguhito Omagari is experienced in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions investments into Japan and by Japanese companies overseas private investment in public entities (PIPEs) He has acted for domestic and international banks manufacturing companies in various industries securities firms and real estate asset managers You have reached the limit for gifting for this month At this time of year Kohei Ogatsu would normally be spending his days busily preparing for the fireworks festivals that are a summer staple in Japan The coronavirus pandemic has changed all that Around 80 percent of the displays due to have taken place during the peak season for pyrotechnics have been canceled and that spells trouble for people like Ogatsu the 38-year-old director of the Tokyo-based Marutamaya Ogatsu Fireworks Co whose family business dates back to 1864 and who participates in the popular Sumida river fireworks display in Tokyo as well as overseas shows According to the Japan Pyrotechnics Association about half of its 320 members have suspended their operations the association's senior executive director said the industry finds itself in "an extremely difficult situation." He cites not only the cancellation of so many summer events--a number that could yet rise further--but also suggests the outlook is not good for the fireworks displays that were rescheduled for the fall to make way for the now-postponed Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics originally planned for this summer Ogatsu and 10 other colleagues from the industry recently decided to organize a surprise event that briefly lit up the skies around Japan they set off fireworks simultaneously in Tokyo and other locations for five minutes but with little prior notice so as to avoid drawing crowds of spectators Designed to raise spirits as the nation struggled with the coronavirus pandemic the idea recalled Japan's first-ever fireworks event which was held in 1733 following an outbreak of cholera to pray for the souls of those who died and for an end to the disease Ogatsu will be joining a similar project later this summer organized by a group based in the Akita Prefecture city of Daisen home to the annual Omagari fireworks contest Shinji Togashi of organizer Hanabi Support Project said the initiative has several purposes -- to cheer up and inspire the public amid the pandemic give a boost to the struggling fireworks or "hanabi" industry and preserve the art and culture of Japanese fireworks This event will see fireworks launched simultaneously at locations around the country for a 10-minute period on a given day in August The project has turned to crowdfunding to help pay for the displays and support the pyrotechnics industry reeling from the impact of the virus Those who contribute will receive edited footage of the event 81 fireworks makers and other businesses from 29 of Japan's 47 prefectures have said they will participate in the event as well as the will to carry on for tomorrow," Togashi "It is now our turn to encourage the fireworks businesses," he added Japan skies lit up with fireworks to brighten mood amid coronavirus Japan firework displays, other summer events canceled due to coronavirus Summer festival virus cancellations deal blow to local Japan areas Click here to read all the chapters from the IFLR M&A Report 2022 J Ryan Dwyer III is the managing partner of K&L Gates’ Tokyo office and is a member of the firm’s global advisory council Tsuguhito Omagari is a partner at K&L Gates’ Tokyo office E: andrea.ng@klgates.com Andrea Ng is an associate at K&L Gates’ Tokyo office She focuses on M&A and other corporate matters Fireworks festivals are a very popular feature of summertime in Japan held in the city of Daisen in Akita Prefecture This year's Omagari Fireworks Festival will be held on Saturday August 26 in the Omagari district of the city of Daisen in Akita Prefecture Twenty-eight fireworks companies from all over Japan will participate in the event with an estimated 18,000 fireworks to be launched The history of fireworks in Daisen dates back to the 1800s people used to dedicate fireworks at shrine ceremonies to pray for a good harvest It is said that the first historical appearance of Omagari fireworks was around this time when they appeared in an illustration in Tsuki no Dewaji a travelogue by the travel writer Sugae Masumi The event eventually evolved into a skills competition among pyrotechnicians (fireworks manufacturers) from all over the country They gather to show off their technical refinements The festival has grown into one of Japan's most prestigious fireworks competitions It is here that the Prime Minister's Award the highest honor in the fireworks industry Festival executive committee member Motegi Toshihiro shared some of the competition's highlights with us "The four competitive categories are: Daytime Fireworks a competition of contrasts in smoke and color; Chrysanthemum Fireworks 10 balls called Shin-iri Warimono* (about 30 cm in diameter) in a contest of designs using chrysanthemum-shaped fireworks; Freestyle Fireworks in which each technician uses their ingenuity and skill with No where they compete for the best themes and expressive displays within a 2.5 minute time limit and fireworks are judged from multiple perspectives I'm sure you'll thoroughly enjoy the expert skill and attention to detail that goes into each one of these fireworks." Both the competition and the Taikai Teikyo Hanabi at the end of the event are very worth seeing Motegi especially wants visitors from overseas to experience the uniquely Japanese artistry that combines delicacy with precision "I think that Japanese delicacy and aesthetics are unique and differ from those of fireworks in other countries each firework ball is launched with excellent precision and shows its beautiful ball shape when shot up into the sky this year the festival will be held normally for the first time in four years I hope you get to experience the amazing fireworks that can only be seen at the Omagari Fireworks Festival * Shin-iri Warimono is a chrysanthemum-shaped firework that forms a concentric perfect circle The core is the petal that is placed inside the outer petal This year's competition is open to Warimono fireworks with 30 or more cores that form a circle with four or more layers 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 The Japanese M&A market experienced a decrease from the previous year in terms of total deal value in 2022 Japan’s total M&A deal value in 2022 was $53 billion This is only a little over half of Japan’s total deal value of $100 billion in 2021 While healthcare-sector M&A grew from $6.7 billion in 2021 to $9.7 billion in 2022 consumer goods and technology sectors slowed down and brought in around half the deal value compared with the previous year The financial services sector brought in over $37 billion and the consumer goods sector brought in $7.9 billion in 2021 compared with $15 billion and $1.4 billion Technology-sector M&A was valued at over $26 billion in 2021 and dropped to less than half that in 2022 – $10 billion The drop in the technology sector is likely due to a slowdown in outbound deals by Japanese companies as there were $23 billion of outbound deals in 2021 compared with $8.5 billion of outbound deals in 2022 Although there has been a decrease in the total deal value the number of inbound and outbound deals has largely remained the same with 572 deals in 2021 and 556 deals in 2022 This suggests that while the deal value may have dropped Japan is still largely driven by private M&A transactions in terms of deal value and the number of deals 465 private transactions between Japanese companies and foreign companies resulted in over $39 billion in deal value compared with 31 public transactions between Japanese companies and foreign companies there are 1,071 Japanese companies acquired by domestic and foreign investment entities or funds The two largest inbound deals in 2022 were KKR’s tender offer of around $4.9 billion for a Hitachi Ltd (Hitachi) subsidiary (Hitachi Transport System or HTS) and Bain Capital Private Equity’s acquisition of the Olympus scientific solutions business for $3.1 billion KKR’s tender offer was concluded on November 29 2022 and settlement of the tender offer began on December 6 2022 which resulted in KKR acquiring approximately 51.11% of the common shares in HTS KKR’s purchase of the remaining shares is expected to give KKR 100% ownership of HTS by April 1 2023 Olympus’ sale of its scientific solutions business a unit producing life science and industrial use instruments (for example will allow Olympus to focus solely on its medical technology offerings The Hitachi and the Olympus deals reflect a similar trend in 2022 where many Japanese companies are choosing to concentrate their resources and streamline their business focus and strategies While 2021 was a year full of transformative M&A deals Japan had a general pause in transformative M&A in 2022 and while there were still some transformative deals the deal value was on a smaller scale – other than the Hitachi and Olympus divestiture deals – which meant that the typical value of these transformative deals was smaller in comparison with previous years With the combined impact of 2022’s interest rate hikes in Europe and the United States and the weakening yen Japanese companies are slowing down the pace of deals that involve European and US companies though acquisitive interest remains strong many Japanese companies have continued the trend of streamlining their business portfolios by selling businesses or subsidiaries that are no longer considered to be core businesses US private equity investments increased in Japan in 2022 despite a general decline in that category in the rest of the Asia-Pacific region This increase may be linked to the large amounts of uninvested capital (i.e. ‘dry powder’) held by funds launched within the past three years Combined with the high interest rates in the United States it seems likely that US private equity firms will continue to look towards Japan for investment targets the number of deals may continue to increase among Japanese companies that built up war chests during COVID but the weakened yen and general economic uncertainty may lead to smaller deal sizes and more private deals the decline of outbound deals and the increase of smaller deals were largely driven by a combination of high interest rate hikes in Europe and the United States global geopolitical shifts caused by the invasion of Ukraine and US–China tensions and the resulting disruption of global supply chains Japan is positioned to expand its M&A activities Hints of this can be seen where certain sectors (for example healthcare) retained a strong appetite for outbound acquisitions in 2022 resulting in deal values outperforming 2021 almost threefold despite the weakened yen Combined with the trend among Japanese companies of continuing to sell non-core businesses to refocus business strategies and and companies starting to look beyond China to gain access to Asian markets this positions Japan extremely well for future M&A activity The private equity market in Japan remains strong With funds focused on investing in the Japanese domestic market growing coupled with comparatively low interest rates in Japan This catalyses interest from overseas financial investors and most often in Japanese company carve-out deals which has continued to show interest in acquisitions the weakened yen makes it unclear when other Japanese companies will resume outbound deals at pre-pandemic levels As for special purpose acquisition companies the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) has held study group meetings the TSE reorganised its markets into a “Prime Market” but allowed some companies that do not meet the listing criteria for a specific market to remain for a transitional period the TSE announced that the transitional period will end in March 2025 1,451 companies on the Standard Market; and These companies are required to take certain actions to remedy their deficiencies Some may go private in collaboration with financial investors The Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) are the key regulatory authorities in Japan that govern M&A activities The FSA is responsible for enforcing the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA) and the JFTC is responsible for enforcing the Act on Prohibition of Private Monopolization and Maintenance of Fair Trade After the implementation of the amendment of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act in 2020 a foreign direct investment in 1% or more of a listed Japanese company engaging in certain covered businesses relevant to national security may require prior approval from the relevant ministries Companies Act requirements also affect M&A activity in Japan Publicly listed companies are subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the stock exchange where their shares are listed Tax reform proposals were announced on December 16 2022 and will be implemented in stages from the 2024 Japanese fiscal year The proposed tax reforms aim to increase investment in markets The reforms also include amendments to tax incentives These amendments target the promotion of open innovation which will allow certain M&A to be eligible for such tax incentives a global minimum tax that will be aligned with the OECD pillar two initiative will be implemented on April 1 2024 which will reduce international corporate tax competition in the hope of creating in a more level playing field The 2023 tax reform includes a tax deferral for shareholders affected by a ‘partial spin-off’ deal where less than 20% of the shares in the spun-off company continue to be held by the previous parent company This tax deferral benefit was initially planned to continue until March 2024 Trade and Industry (METI) plans to request in the summer of 2023 that this benefit become permanent The importance of sustainability management in Japan continues to grow as evidenced by the 2021 revision of the Japanese Corporate Governance Code and the 26th UN Climate Change Conference METI released the Guidelines on Respecting Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains Japanese companies to conduct human rights due diligence in their supply chains This has led to Japanese companies – both buyers and sellers – engaging in longer due diligence and negotiations as companies make sustainability management a pillar of their management policies and business strategies the Working Group on Corporate Disclosure of the Financial System Council an expert council established under the FSA published a report (the Report) on the proposed reform of corporate disclosure obligations for Japanese public companies The importance of reforms on non-financial disclosures by public companies; The abolition of first-quarter and third-quarter securities reports under the FIEA due to overlapping quarterly disclosure rules of the Japanese stock exchanges; and The expectation that Japanese public companies listed on the Prime Market of the TSE disclose English versions of sections addressing accelerated share repurchase programmes (especially risk factors) the FSA implemented an amendment to the Cabinet Ordinance which requires the disclosure of information relating to sustainability and more detailed disclosure about cross shareholdings These reforms will affect buyers and target companies and the way they approach evaluations and negotiations Japanese companies are embracing remote negotiations and dealmaking Japanese companies are investing in technology and updating their internal management practices This is a markedly different approach from how Japanese companies behaved in the past Buyers and investors should keep in mind that Japanese companies perhaps in response to COVID and to pressures from global trends are increasingly shifting their approach to dealmaking A sometimes overlooked set of issues for parties involved in deals with Japanese companies is post-merger integration (PMI) While many large consultancy firms offer PMI advice in some cases Japanese companies may hesitate to request PMI advice that can help Japanese companies with the integration of overseas assets which is where Japanese companies have historically experienced difficulties Addressing PMI planning early on in the deal can help to prepare all parties and support the dealmaking process Technology became more critical in the dealmaking process during COVID especially for Japanese companies that generally prefer face-to-face negotiations and on-site visits communications technology has been embraced and used in lieu of in-person meetings Japanese companies largely remain comfortable using the same remote communication tools and methods developed during COVID the primary means to obtain control of a public company are: in a merger or stock-for-stock exchange situation the target company must obtain an independent opinion that the contemplated merger or stock-for-stock exchange is not disadvantageous to its minority shareholders Shareholder activism has increased in Japan in recent years in part as a result of the Japanese government’s policies encouraging dissolving cross shareholdings Shareholder activists often urge companies to carve out non-core or non-profitable businesses and distribute excess cash to shareholders and it is increasingly common for Japanese companies to undertake a deal proposed by a shareholder activist A public takeover offer bid must be conducted in accordance with the FIEA it has become more important to comply with various recommended procedures discussed in METI’s Guidelines that are designed primarily to address management buyouts and acquisitions by a controlling shareholder the guidelines are taken into account in other public takeover offers as well The TSE’s amendment to the Corporate Governance Code also establishes high-level corporate governance standards that are seen to support the TSE’s establishment of new market segments Having a minimum of one-third outside directors; The creation of management appointment committees; and There is no COVID-related legislation that has an impact on this area a number of Japanese court decisions addressed the validity of takeover defence measures adopted by listed companies confronting hostile takeovers the decision of Japan’s Supreme Court in a case between Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho Ltd may have made it easier for Japanese companies to invoke a ‘poison pill’ defence against a hostile takeover TKS held a vote among its shareholders on whether to dilute ADC’s 40% stake in TKS but excluded ADC from the voting process and the shareholders ultimately voted to issue new warrants to dilute ADC’s 40% stake claiming that such exclusion infringed on shareholder equality by excluding ADC from the vote the lower courts determined that TKS’s actions were legitimate as the vote was used to assess whether the acquisition by ADC would hurt the interests of other shareholders and this decision was ultimately upheld by Japan’s Supreme Court ADC built its stake in TKS through on-market trades which fall outside the takeover bids (TOB) rules the FSA announced that it would consider an amendment to the TOB rules to determine whether they apply to on-market trades The inclusion of break fees has steadily increased but they are still comparatively rare and even if a break fee is included in the deal terms Japanese courts may not uphold a break fee on the ground that it goes against public interest if the amount is determined to be unreasonably high reverse break-fee arrangements have not gained much traction in Japan Earn-out clauses are still relatively rare in Japanese M&A deals and are generally only used in cross-border or large-scale transactions published a “Research Paper on M&A between Large Companies and Start-ups” in March 2021 that introduced the concept of using earn-out clauses when a company’s future performance is unpredictable and when an R&D-focused company has a high degree of uncertainty in achieving its performance goals Japan may begin to experience an increase in the inclusion of earn-out clauses in private M&A deals The FIEA tender offer rules do not apply to private company acquisitions as the target securities are not subject to the reporting requirement under the FIEA Cash offers are dominant among private takeover offers a company reorganisation (such as a merger or a squeeze-out by way of reverse share split the parties select the laws of Japan because agreements remain subject to certain mandatory provisions of the Companies Act This choice of law provision is frequently seen in arbitration clauses which also select Japan as the arbitral seat a so-called business court was established in Tokyo by combining the Intellectual Property High Court with certain departments of the Tokyo District Courts that had jurisdiction over commercial cases and insolvency cases The aim in forming this court was to provide a venue to deal with the internationalisation and complexity of commercial cases involving overseas business There were very few large-scale IPOs in Japan 2022 The reduced number resulted from lowered activity among large foreign institutional investors and monetary tightening causing the Japanese market to slump led foreign institutional investors to pursue less-risky investments This – combined with cases where IPO prices were set too low causing the IPO to fail to meet listing criteria – meant the amount of funds raised through 2022’s IPOs was on the lower side compared with recent trends despite the lack of large-scale IPOs and relatively low total amount of funds raised which is close to the average figure over the prior 10 years In response to concerns raised by the government in June 2021 relating to IPO pricing mechanisms (for example deep discount of an IPO price as compared with the post-IPO stock price) This has included amending the relevant rules of the Japan Securities Dealers Association and the TSE listing rules which is expected to improve and shorten the IPO process in Japan A steady increase of interest among overseas private equity funds is likely to continue in the Japanese market in 2023 despite a general decrease of private equity investments in the Asia-Pacific region Japanese companies will likely continue to divest non-core businesses and refocus their resources on a few core pillars and seek to improve their balance sheets Law firms and companies alike should be prepared to answer questions on growth strategy and how M&A can help to accelerate growth Shosho (Manageable Heat) is the season that begins around August 23 in the modern calendar The term “shosho” literally means “subduing heat,” which is an apt description The rice harvest begins in some parts of Japan It is also the time of year when typhoons are more prevalent This article will look at events and natural phenomena in the period roughly from August 23 to September 7 considered one of Japan’s Unique Festivals marks the end of Mount Fuji’s climbing season It is staged at Kitaguchi Hongū Fuji Sengen Shrine simultaneously with a festival at Suwa Shrine and is designated an Important Intangible Folk Property 90 or so three-meter high torches light up the streets Yoshida Fire Festival (© Jiji) Pyrotechnicians from across Japan pit their skills against one another at Ōmagari, one of Japan’s Three Major Fireworks Festivals. The event is more than a century old Displays are evaluated for their colors and shapes and the winner receives the Prime Minister’s Prize Ōmagari National Fireworks Competition The 210th and 220th days after Risshun because typhoons or strong winds are likely to occur Shibukawa Shunkai (1639-1715) was the astronomer who devised the Jōkyō calendar a Japanese revision of a Chinese calendar adapted to the country’s seasons He is said to have added the 210th and 220th days to the calendar after experiencing the rough weather he had been warned about by local fishermen Kazamatsuri (wind festivals) are held throughout Japan at this time of year to calm the storms Owara Kaze-no-Bon is held from September 1 to 3 in Yatsuo Men and women wearing straw hats that hide their faces dance the “Etchū Owara-Bushi” to music played on taiko drums kokyū (a stringed instrument played with a bow) and forlorn-sounding shamisen The event has marked the start of autumn in the Hokuriku region for over 300 years Owara Kaze-no-Bon dancers Disaster Prevention Day takes place on the same date that the devastating Great Kantō earthquake struck in 1923 It was established in 1960 to raise awareness of the importance of preparing for disasters Members of the public are encouraged to familiarize themselves with their local hazard map and to check their emergency supplies The Japanese word bōsai is broad in meaning, covering how to prepare for disasters and how to react when they … The seven flowers of autumn originate from a poem by Yamanoue no Okura (660-733) in the eighth-century Man’yōshū poetry collection They are bush clover Bush clover Bellflower Arrowroot Thoroughwort Golden lace Dianthus Pampas grass There are said to be around 200 species of dragonflies in Japan In the Warring States period (1467–1568) dragonflies were considered an auspicious symbol of determination as insects that only fly forward The warrior Maeda Toshiie (1538–1599) had his helmet decorated with a dragonfly in front A red dragonfly Figs are in season from the end of August through October. The kanji 無花果 (ichijiku) for the Japanese word mean “fruit without a flower,” because the flowers bloom inside the fruit and are not visible from outside Figs It is said that the name of this citrus fruit is derived from ancient times when they were used instead of vinegar, the word coming from su or “vinegar” and tachibana, the name of a kind of orange. The peak season for sudachi is August to October and Tokushima Prefecture is a key production region Their refined aroma stimulates the appetite while their light acidity is believed to prevent colds Sudachi (left) Although Japanese sardines are caught year-round they are considered in season from the rainy season through to autumn Japanese sardines and fish balls and guest lecturer at Tōhoku Fukushi University Banner photo: Kita-Biwako Great Fireworks Festival in Shiga Prefecture Akita Prefecture--The All-Japan National Fireworks Competition will be held in a riverside area here on Aug takes place along the Omonogawa river and features pyrotechnicians from 28 fireworks production companies around the country The committee will introduce measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in accordance with central government guidelines for large-scale events Visitors will have to go through checks at the entrance to ensure they are wearing masks and taking other precautions Balcony seats will be omitted from prepaid viewing seats to prevent visitors from being in confined and crowded spaces or about 60 percent of the full capacity of about 180,000 Daisen Mayor Hiroyuki Oimatsu told a news conference that the committee on May 17 unanimously approved his suggestion that the city host the fireworks event this year Tickets will be sold on-site from July 3 and online from July 11 For more details, visit the official website at (https://www.oomagari-hanabi.com/) Daisen aims to dazzle the world with fireworks to boost economy Japan fireworks makers to light up night skies at secret time to cheer nation Atlanta is known for its intown neighborhoods each with its own personality and unique vibe A common thread that unites the communities is Atlanta BeltLine a former railway corridor turned pedestrian path around the core of the city one of the largest transportation projects in Atlanta's history and one of the most ambitious sustainable redevelopment projects taking place in the United States right now Atlanta BeltLine comprises 22 miles of unused railroad tracks circling 45 of the city’s in-town neighborhoods By the time the BeltLine is complete in 2030 it will provide a 33-mile network of multi-use trails and walkways as well as access to outdoor art installations The BeltLine shouldn’t have any problem living up to its slogan “Meeting planners are often looking for something unique as their attendees have met in various destinations across the globe and Atlanta BeltLine delivers,” said Charlene Lopez director of citywide sales at Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau The desire for authentic connection and engaging in local communal experiences has grown even stronger as millennials and Gen Zers — who want to play an active role in the event rather than be a passive listener — attend meetings and events for work in growing numbers “Because the path is so close to Downtown’s convention and entertainment district where most large meetings and events take place attendees can really have a full array of diverse experiences,” Lopez continued The BeltLine offers meeting planners and attendees an immersive experience that showcases Atlanta’s local flavor Some highlights include The Eastside Trail — the first section completed — which connects several of Atlanta’s in-town neighborhoods like Reynoldstown integrating newly renovated green spaces and improving walkability throughout the city Mixed-use developments are scattered along the BeltLine as well providing attendees with an array of entertainment and dining options as they explore Atlanta Roebuck & Company building situated between Atlanta’s in-town neighborhoods a large gathering space located inside The Roof at Ponce City Market on the 10th RFD Social is home to a >collection of bars and a truly unique meeting and event space designed to preserve the tower’s 1920s vintage feel and history Atlanta BeltLine’s Westside Trail is home to the Lee + White development it now offers dining and breweries steps away from the loop Those that want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta’s entertainment and drink scene might be pleasantly surprised to find 22-acre Centennial Olympic Park in the heart of Downtown and Piedmont Park just steps away from hotels in Midtown Historic Fourth Ward Park also has vast skyline views and space large enough to host a variety of events from concerts and festivals to outdoor yoga classes and recreational sports The BeltLine provides meeting attendees easy access to some of Atlanta’s best food and drink offerings showcasing the city’s blend of Southern hospitality and forward-thinking culinary innovation Most venues can host a variety of groups ranging in sizes and complete buyouts for meeting planners organizing event-related meals “Because restaurants and venues are connected by the loop it's a great layout for planners looking to organize a dine around or walking progressive dinner,” said Kristin Delahunt convention services at Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau “Some of Atlanta’s most popular microbreweries are situated on the BeltLine and double as excellent locations for large Ponce City Market provides a variety of restaurants and retail in one location with many of the shops offering team-building events for groups,” she continued Most of these dining options are also close to the convention and entertainment district making them an appealing option for meeting planners that want a genuine Atlanta experience without having to venture far The restaurant and retail development will continue to expand through more sections of the BeltLine over the next several years offering local business owners visible and high-traffic locations to grow while infusing the neighborhoods with homegrown dining and retail options “The BeltLine has become a staple in how our team promotes the city and creates destination appeal for convention attendees,” said Delahunt “The communities around the path have become their own destinations within Atlanta offering attendees a wider variety of experiences than ever before.” Still welcoming. Still Atlanta. In the last few weeks, we have started cautiously reopening while introducing health and safety methods. We’re open for you to join us here in Atlanta safely and we will also continue to provide our services virtually. Contact a member of our sales team to plan your next meeting This content was created collaboratively by Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau and Skift’s branded content studio, SkiftX Tags: atlanta, meetings and events, SkiftX Showcase: Destinations, SkiftX Showcase: Meetings and Events Subscribe today to keep up with the latest travel industry news Already a subscriber? Login New users get20% offtheir first year of Skift Pro We use Eventbrite to manage event bookings Eventbrite may store cookies on your device for functional Accept cookiesBook via Eventbrite This content is provided by " + networkList[key] + " If you view or interact with this content " + networkList[key] + " may store cookies on your device for functional By and 2019-08-29T13:30:00+01:00 On the fourth Saturday of August each year excited spectators flock to the city of Daisen for a fiesta of fireworks displays by the 30 best ‘hanabi-shi’ from across the nation the hanabi-shi are known for their skill in creating some of the most beautiful and innovative fireworks where they vie for the prestigious Prime minister’s prize Set against the backdrop of the Ōu mountains this is the Glastonbury of the fireworks world with festivalgoers queuing for hours and camping out to get the best seats approximately 20,000 carefully choreographed pyrotechnic explosions take place The article is rich in scientific detail and should be straightforward for your students to follow Fireworks are always of interest and your students will no doubt have many questions for you There are broadly three themes relevant to combined science and chemistry GCSE: combustion of gunpowder The first two are covered in the worksheet but the third is not and would benefit from a more discussion-based approach – with students orally evaluating the pros and cons of fireworks and the offset between human leisure activities and harmful effects to the environment getting that characteristic burst of colour when a firework lights up the sky is a bit like an experiment we’ve all done in the school science lab ‘It’s very much like when you put a piece of metal into the flame of a Bunsen burner and look at the colour,’ says Gary The hallmark of a great Omagari display is the layering of these chemical colours to produce fireworks with overlapping hues It was launched to celebrate the new year in Ras Al Khaimah The worksheet goes into detail on a simplified version of the combustion of gunpowder as well as the thermal decomposition of potassium nitrate Thermal decompositions are covered by the specification but the usual examples are metal carbonates The first question set focuses on the equations involved balancing them and then using quantitative analysis to establish reacting masses and volumes The second question set looks at the flame colours Students need to know the colours of the metal compounds stated but also must be aware of colour mixing and the difficulty of observational analysis You may wish to use this as a springboard to discuss instrumental analysis Download the worksheet as MS Word or pdf and the worksheet with answers as MS Word or pdf Download all Download this worksheet from the Education in Chemistry website: rsc.li/31WwDTP Highly skilled hanabi-shi layer shells within shells to make multicore fireworks that burst into one colour after another the shells are covered in thin layers of paper which create just enough pressure to control the explosion from the inner charge so that it forms the desired pattern More gunpowder is packed into an outer charge for generating the lift that sends it into the air which connects the lift charge to the central one The fuse burns just long enough to keep the main firework from exploding on the ground as it is lit fireworks are connected to an ignition device which sends an electrical signal at the precise moment each one needs to be lit to keep it in time with the music The signal triggers a heating element to ignite a small charge that in turn ignites the lift charge and fuse he’s referring to a mixture of small particles including acids They can be solid or liquid and some are small enough to get trapped in the lungs the government has restricted the use and sale of fireworks bringing maximum PM2.5 levels down by more than two thirds in 2017 and reducing the estimated number of early deaths to 31 A waiter from a restaurant lights fireworks on a street in Beijing on February 7 Guy Fawkes night fireworks can raise particulate matter levels by four or five times the average value But it’s even worse when 5 November falls on a still night ‘The pollutants from the fireworks don’t disperse,’ he explains pollution researchers are concerned about perchlorates chemicals used as propellants that can get into water as well as the colour-producing metal compounds pyrotechnics is hardly a dying art (or science) Despite clamping down on them in its own country China still exports more than £700 million of fireworks each year But Gary says he would set a ‘challenge’ to the makers of fireworks to reduce the pollution from their products A new source of inspiration for master pyrotechnicians Site powered by Webvision Cloud Public Relations Office, Government of Japan Home > Highlighting JAPAN >Highlighting Japan July 2014>Summer in Japan 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. © 2009 Cabinet Office, Government of Japan Art Deco FontThe distinctive Metro typeface was created by one of the world's most influential designers in the '20s but is only now being revived and reinterpreted for the digital age Save Monotype U.K.Tens of thousands of more-or-less similar typefaces are currently available, yet designers continue to create new ones and revive old ones every day. The soon-to-be released Monotype Metro Nova stands out as a notable resurrection of what was arguably a lost masterpiece by William Addison Dwiggins (a.k.a WAD or Dwig [1880-1956]) Dwiggins was a significant American designer who coined the term "graphic design" in 1922 to explain all his graphic trades: calligrapher the first modern sans-serif typeface done for the leading American type supplier's most famous type machine There were other popular sans serifs--"gothics"--but not from Linotype Metro was so named because it was intended for newspaper use in large and small sizes it was linked to but distinct from Modernist European sans but the original drawings disappeared into the archives of the Printing Museum in North Andover until filmmaker Doug Wilson stumbled upon them during research the director and producer of the critically acclaimed documentary Linotype: The Film-In Search of the Eighth Wonder of the World (2012) persuaded the famous type company Monotype U.K to turn Dwiggins's pencil sketches into a digital font to use for his film Type designer Toshi Omagari was assigned to make the new Metro Nova which Monotype will officially introduce later this year The decision to produce a new or revived face isn't made lightly and promoting a font in today's competitive font marketplace legacy was a major factor: "Metro will always have a special place in Linotype history," he explained in an email "I chose to make it the 'signature' face of Linotype: The Film because I felt it was a great typeface that didn't get the respect it deserved in the digital age." But it was only when he pulled a drawing out of one of the many black boxes and saw a capital "A" that had a graceful slanted apex did he realize this typeface "had much more life and character" than he realized but typeface nuances govern our reading habits As Wilson researched through old type specimen books he discovered that there were two Linotype releases: Metro and which was more "modern" and "sterile" than Dwiggins's original glyphs "I believe this [change] was from customer feedback but I greatly preferred the original Metro," he says Wanting the "great old quirks and lively characters," Wilson contacted Dan Rhatigan "about having someone draw up just an all-caps version" that could be used exclusively for his film credits since he wanted to use only typefaces that were originally designed for the Linotype to help the film's authenticity Omagari designed an all-caps version in the bolder Metro Black the idea for a full typeface with additional weights began to materialize as Metro Nova But the effort raises the question of why another typeface is necessary "You always think you don't need any new music until you hear that new song that grabs you and expresses your thoughts and ideas perfectly why redesign it instead of just porting it to a new medium The answer may fascinate typography nerds.. director of words and letters at Monotype told me that "Metro was indeed special but it was originally--at just four weights and three italics--a small family and was drawn within the requirements of the Linotype typesetters at the time." The family included Metrolight which also shared the same character widths resulted in the "italic designs--which are normally slightly condensed and spaced tighter than their roman [or non-italic] counterparts--had to be drawn wider and spaced more open than they should bold designs were forced to be drawn to more condensed proportions than normal." The characters in the original Metro started quite wide in the lightest weight and became progressively more condensed in heavier designs is not encumbered by these design restrictions," Haley says "The various family members were drawn within purely aesthetic considerations." Omagai says that he tried "to imagine what Dwiggins would have done today." Metro was first released around the time when the iconic faces Johnston Underground and Futura (promoted as the typeface of the future) came out "The sharp cuts and organic shapes of lowercase letters contributed to the calligraphic feel of the face that was even stronger than Gill and still seems to remain rare in sans serif," Omagai says about Metro's abundance of stylistic alternates and weights More type-nerd info: "Each style contains nearly 900 glyphs I am particularly proud that Metro Nova is the first typeface that has alternate Icelandic 'ð' The Metro Nova family is also substantially larger than Dwiggins's original seven weights Each design has an italic complement for a total of 26 styles The family is also available as a suite of OpenType Pro fonts consumers determine how a face is used--good or bad Dwiggins's Metro was intended as a text face Metro Nova was designed for largely for display--headlines and signs and the like "I personally want to read a book entirely set in it." It took 14 months for Omagai to complete all the characters and the payoff is not in Metro Nova's commercial success than in its physical details "The lowercase 'e' is what I adore the most," he says "It is said that you get the 'e' right when it looks like it's smiling and the one in Metro Nova is exceptionally joyful--it makes me smile too." National Report Tokyo's medical care structure is so overwhelmed by the novel coronavirus pandemic that less than 10 percent of COVID-19 patients in the capital can be accommodated in hospitals for treatment “The situation in Tokyo is out of control,” said Norio Omagari director of the Disease Control and Prevention Center under the National Center for Global Health and Medicine who is a member of an expert panel advising the metropolitan government on the crisis health experts put the figure at 9.5 percent as of Aug “an extremely low level” in the words of one panel member the usage ratio of hospital beds set aside for COVID-19 patients with serious symptoms approached 90 percent leading the experts to warn that if the current trend of surging infections continues the capital’s medical care structure will be overrun and lives that might have been saved could be lost The daily average of new COVID-19 cases over the course of the past week reached 4,631 an 18-percent increase over the preceding seven-day period The average rate over the course of a week of positive COVID-19 test results was 24 percent as of Aug compared with 22.5 percent the previous week Omagari said that meant a large number of individuals are infected but not yet officially confirmed as such The Tokyo metropolitan government defines COVID-19 patients with serious symptoms as those requiring ventilators or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation But the health ministry also includes those in intensive care units in its figures If such patients are included in the Tokyo tally to calculate the ratio of hospital beds in use for serious patients the figure currently stands at 89.2 percent “There is already a shortage of beds where ventilators and ECMO machines can be used,” noted Masataka Inokuchi vice chair of the Tokyo Medical Association and also a panel member Touching upon the low hospitalization rate Inokuchi called on the authorities to grasp as soon as possible any worsening of symptoms among those recuperating at home so as to prevent more patients from developing serious symptoms The metropolitan government said it had secured a maximum of 6,406 hospital beds for COVID-19 patients one official said some beds could not be used meaning there is no leeway to allow in more patients Metropolitan government officials have notified the 170 or so hospitals accepting COVID-19 patients to confirm whether the number of patients now receiving treatment is below the number of beds they initially said would be available (This article was written by Momoko Ikegami and Yoshitaka Unezawa.) Tokyo secures 36 hospital beds for infected patients denied treatment Experts: Tokyo could see 10,000 COVID-19 cases a day in 2 weeks Spiking COVID-19 cases in Tokyo could top third wave in a month Tokyo hospitals bracing for the worst in virus infections Conflicting views given on whether Tokyo is nearing a COVID-19 crisis a new book from Monotype’s Toshi Omagari takes a deep dive into the distinctive typefaces of the golden age of arcade games The landscape of gaming has changed dramatically since the rise of early arcade video games in the 70s. Despite the array of all-singing, all-dancing games vying for our attention today, there is a still a huge amount of nostalgia for the games that defined pretty much every 80s kid’s childhood (arguably helped by the Stranger Things effect) While there has been much written about the influence of arcade games on popular culture a new book is honing in on a small but vital detail of the gaming experience: the pixel typeface Painstakingly compiled by Monotype typeface designer Toshi Omagari the book highlights the creativity of video game designers during this period who were having to create fonts within the confines of an 8×8 square grid Omagari discusses the process of tracking down the typefaces for hit games ranging from Super Sprint to Shinobi Arcade Game Typography: The Art of Pixel Type is published by Thames & Hudson on 31 October; thamesandhudson.com Find out details for the undergraduate art and design showcases taking place this summer around the UK the result of the mammoth 18-month project seeks to place brand at the forefront of Amazon’s business Peperami’s much-loved Animal mascot has been given a makeover for the contemporary age keeping his swagger while losing the laddy 90s elements of his character David Craft of Fearless Union explains how it was done Brands are treading a delicate path in an age of increasing protectionism where having a strong national identity can be a blessing or a curse Copyright © 2025 Centaur Media plc and / or its subsidiaries and licensors Built by Standfirst For further display of news in English with photographs in JPG file on "indianewscalling.com" Berry has been eating Ivorish's 'bread pudding berry' and 'New York butter' filling French toast with heaps of mountains Research results that the baby's health risk increases as the father is older and under stress Nov 09, 2018 21:00:00 in Coverage Robot succeeded in human eye surgery for the first time in the world, demonstrating 10 times accuracy of human surgeon I tried to eat "thick thick noodle backfat heavy oil soba large vase" which rich in thick noodles of rice cake and thick oil entangled May 11, 2017 23:00:00 in Coverage "Give a new sense to the user" What is necessary for the next-generation character AI? US Marine Corps special vehicle photo & movie such as 'MRAP' to protect passengers from bombs and armored trucks Aug 25, 2012 18:35:22 in Coverage Fireworks (Hanabi “花火”) are regarded as a summer tradition in Japan as the history of Japanese fireworks dates back in 1733 Fireworks are a very special thing and one of the the most exciting events of the year for Japanese people numbers of large-scale fireworks festivals (Hanabi Taikai “花火大会”) are held across the country mostly in July and August Visitors can view spectacular fireworks that have been prepared for months by pyrotechnicians you can also see how people celebrate the summer and feel the authentic summer vibes in Japan people commonly dress up in Yukata (casual Kimono for summer) and enjoy strolling around the venues in a festive atmosphere with a range of traditional food and snacks sold at stalls as well as festival games If you are planning to visit Japan in summer there are many fireworks festivals taking place during summer I would like to introduce some of the best fireworks in Japan in 2025 summer Makomanai Fireworks Festival (真駒内花火大会) is a largest-scale fireworks event in Hokkaido launching approx 22,000 fireworks displayed in the night sky along with music It takes place at Makomanai Sekisui Heim Stadium in Sapporo City Nakafurano Lavender Festival & Fireworks (なかふらのラベンダーまつり & 花火大会) is held at Hokuseiyama Lavender Field one of the most popular lavender fields in Hokkaido yet viewers can enjoy the fireworks from a very close distance from the top of the surrounding hills Aomori Fireworks Festival (青森花火大会) is held on the last day of Aomori Nebuta Festival the famous Japanese summer festival that features massive Nebuta floats and takes place in Aomori City for 5 days every year from 2 to 7 August The waterfront fireworks illuminate the ocean and the night sky making it a perfect finale of the festival Omagari Fireworks Festival (大曲の花火) is held annually in Daisen City It’s counted as one of Japan’s three major fireworks It’s a national fireworks competition where top fireworks experts from across Japan compete their skills Viewers can enjoy spectacular and creative fireworks with advanced techniques The event also displays daytime fireworks from 17:10 to 18:00 Akagawa Fireworks Festival (赤川花火記念大会) is one of top fireworks festivals in Japan Approximately 12,000 fireworks are dynamically launched within a range of 700m taking advantage of the vast Akagawa River Only selected pyrotechnician participate the event and showcase their masterpieces of fireworks Sendai Tanabata Fireworks Festival (仙台七夕花火祭) is held on the night before Sendai Tanabata Matsuri (a.k.a Sendai Star Festival) one of the biggest traditional summer festivals in Japan The fireworks are launched from the city center in Nishi Park Soma Fireworks Festival (相馬花火大会) is a fireworks show that features approx 11,000 fireworks and is synchronized with music so you can enjoy the fireworks up close without finding a spot in the crowd there is a premium table where you can enjoy watching the spectacular fireworks show with a special dinner course Sumida River Fireworks Festival (隅田川花火大会) is Tokyo’s largest and oldest firework event with the long history since Edo Period It’s held on the last Saturday of July and features approx 20,000 fireworks launched in the night sky of Tokyo for 90 mins The event attracts around 1 million views every year Numbers of large-scale fireworks festivals are held in Tokyo during summer You can check more of Tokyo’s upcoming fireworks from the link below Makuhari Beach Fireworks Festival (幕張ビーチ花火フェスタ) a.k.a Chiba Shimin Fireworks Festival is the largest fireworks event in Chiba Prefecture The seaside event displays approx 20,000 fireworks in various shapes and colours Sakura Hanani Festa (佐倉花火フェスタ) will be held at Sakura Furusato Square around the shore of Lake Inba-numa in Sakura City The event features approx 20,000 fireworks including “Big Premium Star Mine” launching 8,000 fireworks in 10 mins along with music There are some paid seats available where you can watch fireworks without crowds and a hand-held fireworks show right in front Minato Mirai Smart Festival (みなとみらいスマートフェスティバル) is one of the biggest fireworks event in the Great Tokyo Area It takes place in Minato Mirai 21 area in Yokohama and displayed approx 20,000 fireworks in 30 mins The festival also features live performances of a street artist and taiko drums before setting off the fireworks Fuji Five Lakes Fireworks Festivals (富士五湖花火) is a 5-day fireworks event held on the foot of Mt Fuji It takes place at each lake of the Fuji Five Lakes (Lake Yamanaka Lake Shoji and Lake Motosu) from 1st to 5th August annually Atami Sea Fireworks (熱海海上花火大会) is a historical fireworks since 1952 It’s held over 10 times a day through the year The venue of the event is Atami Bay which is surrounded by mountains and creates a sound effect like in a large stadium You can enjoy the fireworks both in the sky and from the reflection on the water Nagaoka Fireworks Festival (長岡花火大会) is one of three major fireworks in Japan held in Nagaoka City in Niigata Prefecture for 2 days (on 2nd & 3rd August) annually It attracts around 1 million viewers in 2 days every year The spectacular fireworks are displayed over the Shinano River including massive 650m wide fireworks and the 2km long “Fireworks Phoenix” Lake Suwa Fireworks Festival (諏訪湖祭湖上花火大会) is one of the biggest fireworks festivals in Japan featuring 40,000 fireworks in launching from the lake in Suwa City Also the mirrored surface of the lake displays spectacular reflections of the fireworks Toyota Oiden Festival Fireworks (豊田おいでんまつり花火大会) is held as a part of Toyota Oiden Festival a traditional 2-day summer festival in Toyota City It’s one of the biggest fireworks displayed in central Japan featuring approx 15,000 creative and colourful fireworks Ise Shrine Dedication Fireworks Festival (伊勢神宮奉納全国花火大会) is an event to votive fireworks to the Ise Shrine It’s also a fireworks competition with approx 10,000 high quality fireworks created by 40 different pyrotechnicians from across Japan to show their skills Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival (びわ湖大花火大会) features approx 10,000 fireworks launched over Lake Biwa Viewers enjoy the unique view of fireworks created by the jets of the lake water and the reflections on the surface of the lake Several fireworks festivals are held in Osaka during summer Check the following article to find Osaka’s upcoming fireworks Tottori Hanakairo (とっとり花回廊) is a flower park with gardens with seasonal flowers as well as greenhouse and walkways in a 50 ha space The park hosts a fireworks festival in summer featuring approx 15,000 fireworks which is the largest scale in The San’in Region There are reserved seats and non-reserved seats available Matsue Suigo Fireworks Festival (松江水郷祭 湖上花火大会) is a 2-day fireworks event featuring approx 10,000 fireworks on each day The view of colourful fireworks reflected on the lake is breathtaking Naruto Fireworks Festival (鳴門市納涼花火大会) is the largest-scale fireworks event in Tokushima Prefecture the traditional dance festival taking place for 3 days from 9th to 11th August 2023 Note: The Naruto Fireworks Festival 2024 is cancelled Kanmon Kaikyo Fireworks Festival (関門海峡 花火大会) is displayed across the Kanmon Straits between Shimonoseki City (Yamaguchi Prefecture) and Kita Kyushu City (Fukuoka Prefecture) Approx 15,000 dazzling fireworks are launched from both side of the straits Chikugo River Fireworks Festival (筑後川花火大会) is held at the bank of Chikugo River It has a long history of over 350 years and attracts over 450,000 viewers every year The venue is split into 2 and approx 18,000 fireworks are launched from two different locations on the river shores in Kurume City The popular Dutch theme park in Nagasaki City Huis Ten Bosch hosts a summer event “Light and Canal Summer Festival” everyday from July to September which includes a fireworks show “Summer Night Fireworks” on selected days Huis Ten Bosch hosts the biggest fireworks event in Kyushu region in autumn featuring approx 22,000 fireworks which synchronize with music The Kyushu Ichi Foreworks Festival is scheduled to be held on 16 November 2024 Ocean Expo Park Fireworks Festival (海洋博公園花火大会) is the largest-scale fireworks event in Okinawa It displays approx 10,000 fireworks from the Emerald Beach in Ocean Expo Park (Kaiyo Koen) which is located near the popular Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium Thank you very much for reading! Which fireworks festival do you want to see the most? And if you are going to a fireworks festival, don’t forget to dress up in Yukata and enjoy summer festival food For more information about travelling Japan in summer "The world is my oyster." As a dedicated globetrotter and hammock enthusiast and discovering the world’s most incredible destinations I’ve always had a deep connection to my roots but my love for adventure has led me to spend over a decade exploring countries across the globe—from culture-rich cities to remote hideaways Travel isn't just a hobby for me; it's a lifestyle I'm constantly searching for new ways to fuel my wanderlust I’ve developed a wealth of knowledge and a treasure trove of tips that make traveling more enjoyable I've come to appreciate not only the beauty of travel but also the importance of understanding diverse cultures and I’m excited to share those lessons with others and firsthand stories that help travelers navigate their journeys to Japan or setting off on a global adventure From hidden gems in Japan to travel hacks that make any trip smoother I hope my insights inspire you to embark on your own adventures and make the most of every moment You can also find my stories here ▶ https://medium.com/@nahobm