Under a canopy of fresh greenery, a traditional hand-propelled Japanese boat glides gently along the Hachiman-bori canal Those who enjoyed the 35-minute boat journey wore satisfied smiles as they headed toward their next destination In Omi-Hachiman City, Shiga Prefecture visitors can experience a boat tour on the Hachiman-bori canal old-fashioned townscapes that have served as settings for period dramas can all be enjoyed from the comfort of a traditional Japanese rowboat "Japan's most leisurely experience: a hand-propelled Japanese boat tour around the canal Enjoy a relaxing journey guided by our cheerful boatman." began recounting the history of Hachiman-bori moat as he guided the boat along the canal In a smooth voice, he explained, "Toyotomi Hideyoshi's nephew, Hidetsugu, built this canal in 1585. It connects to Lake Biwa allowing boats to dock and laid the foundation for a prosperous commercial city." Hachiman-bori moat also faced a crisis of survival it was overgrown with aquatic plants and had become a dumping ground for bicycles and tires Sludge accumulation from household wastewater emitted foul odors leading authorities to contemplate filling it in for parking lots and parks thanks to the determined efforts of residents who argued that the community would regret it Shigeko Takagi is the president of Rabbit House Co which operates hand-rowed boat tours around Hachiman-bori moat She sees succession as the primary challenge Hand-rowed boats do not require a license but rely heavily on skilled techniques explains the difficulties of the profession feeling the water's resistance with my hands to ensure we stay on course." a man with no prior experience in Japanese rowboats is undergoing training The guestbook aboard the boat is filled with warm messages such as "Thank you for a wonderful time the town's historic charm has been restored this beautiful scenery would not exist today We would not have had the opportunity for this serendipitous meeting by the water's edge I am deeply thankful to those who cherish the canal (Read the article in Japanese.) You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Nestled within the serene beauty of Omihachiman, La Collina stands as the flagship store of the Taneya Group in Japan, a collaboration brought to life by the visionary architects Michele De Lucchi and Terunobu Fujimori was born during a stroll through the lush oasis in March 2012 The discussions and interactions during this visit shaped the vision of a space where nature seamlessly integrating with the surrounding mountainscape The theme of La Collina Omihachiman is rooted in the concept of a gathering place where people get closer to nature and each other the team reflected the rich history and natural beauty of the region weaving a narrative of a place that would encapsulate the essence of Omi and extend it globally embracing both elements from the past and present reminiscent of the serene beauty found in Japan’s Satoyama and rice terraces a concept evolving over the years to reflect the slow flow of nature contemplating the coexistence of people and nature in the future.a serene fusion of nature and architecture the structure is enveloped in a green oasis showcases the president’s personally selected pillars from Mt Future plans for La Colina include small specialty stores and additional features like a nursery school drawing inspiration from traditional architecture and embodying the slow rhythm of the natural world symbolizing the unhurried flow of nature architect: Michele De Lucchi and Terunobu Fujimori company: Taneya AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Taneya Group’s founding principles are grounded in a concept called "sanpo yoshi" (“three-way satisfaction”) considered one of the roots of Japanese sustainability 2023 2pm EST / 11am PST / 7pm GMT / 8pm CET Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Which of these nearly identical chap sticks with labels in dark green with white letters do you prefer Have you ever noticed that one has a little girl dressed as a nurse on it and the other a boy who’s supposed to be Apollo and all I can see is a little kid pretending to be a Native American (Indian) One chap stick is made by Rohto and the other Omi Brothers but they both share the same roots: American missionary William Vories (1880-1964) who came to Japan in 1905 to work as an English teacher for a commercial high school in Shiga Prefecture Omi province was in present-day Shiga Prefecture It is known for its excellent merchants with business prowess Here is an impressive list of the big names that have roots in Omi: Itochu If all of these acronyms clicked right away For those with question marks popping up about 20 centimeters above your head here is a crash course: SDGs are the world’s to-do list to make the planet a better place for all people ESD is to encourage people to think and act responsibly SRI and ESG are about investing in a socially and environmentally sound manner CSR is about being conscious and accountable and giving back to society Omi businesspeople believed in "sanpo-yoshi"--no They focused on building long-term relationships based on trust and the conviction that all stakeholders should benefit--business has to be good for all four elements: the seller Old Western and Japanese buildings dot the immaculately clean historical streets of Omi It’s one of the most picturesque towns I’ve visited in Japan boats on Hachimanbori Canal with its crystal-clear waters and informative bilingual signboards throughout the town that explain the significance of different sites And within walking distance are serene and sacred shrines and temples plus the area’s most famous confectionery store with its you’ll-do-a-double-take building which stands for “Operations on Mission Industry.” Honorable Omi merchants accomplished their ethical and sustainable life missions for all a Washington-born and Tokyo-based photographer originally appeared in the July 3 issue of Asahi Weekly It is part of the series "Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan," which depicts various places across the country through the perspective of the author Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Iya Valley: Swinging vines and bridges bring Tarzan and Jane to mind Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Otsuki: Look around and you’ll find Momotaro everywhere Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/Ise Jingu: Finding divine grace along with hospitality at a grand shrine Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Makino Botanical Garden: Preserving the legacy of Japan’s ‘father of botany’ Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Echigo-Tsumari Art Field: Explore the ‘art de vivre’ of Niigata Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Dogo hot spring: Take a dip in bathhouses that are the stuff of legend 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 / Getty ImagesSave this storySaveSave this storySaveJust a half-hour train ride away from Kyoto A small town on the east shore of Lake Biwa the hamlet was developed as a merchant town in the last part of the 16th century for the benefit of the daimyo (or feudal lord) Toyotomi Hidetsugu’s newly built castle remnants of that era are still apparent in Omihachiman with its idyllic canal and Edo-era samurai houses serving up an inescapable first impression The sleepy village comes alive every couple of years with the Biwako Biennale an initiative started by artist Yoko Nakata in 2001 that makes use of abandoned historic structures as exhibition spaces The event moved to Omihachiman in 2004 and has remained there since When Nakata would come home to Japan in the late ’90s and very early ’00s while living in places as far-flung as France and the Philippines she was struck by the systematic demolition of abandoned historic structures happening in her country “I was so sad that Japan kept on destroying beautiful houses that had been there since I was a child,” she says “I wanted people to notice how valuable those houses are—and so I started to combine art and those old abandoned houses.” She saw the Biwako Biennale as a project that would make these abandoned spaces culturally relevant again Omihachiman is the ideal location for the biennale’s goals—a surplus of historic structures paired with a small population that finds less and less utility for them “Everything was a new challenge to me [at the start] I had lived abroad for 20 years so I didn’t have any contacts,” Nakata says This year’s biennale is presented in 12 venues—most of them buildings from the 17-to-19th-century Edo period—throughout the town and the Philippines are participating in this year’s edition themed “Kizashi,” a Japanese word meaning “a sign of great things to come.” Planning which artists go in which locations—anything from a former sake factory to the second floor of a cafe—has become Nakata’s favorite part of the process “I make all the plans in my head,” she says As Japan grapples with the problem of a shrinking population—at a rate of about 270,000 per year as of 2015—while at the same time enjoying the perks of accelerated economic and technological progress a lot of buildings have unwittingly become irrelevant hanging around their cities like ghosts of Japan’s past projects like Biwako Biennale are using art to inject new life into these structures—or The 2018 Biwako Biennale is open to visitors in Omihachiman until November 11 RELATED: What Designers and Architects Can Learn from Japan’s Mindfulness Tradition I never knew that sister cities were a real thing According to Grand Rapids Sister Cities International sister cities are friendships that are formed between a United States city and a foreign city A post shared by Grand Rapids Sister Cities (@gr_sci) the concept of a sister city was started by President Dwight Eisenhower His plan was to get to know and ultimately understand other people from other cultures Grand Rapids Sister Cities International, or GRSCI is a non-profit organization that establishes and cultivates relationships between the city of Grand Rapids and its respective sister cities "Sister cities create relationships through the exchanges of culture there are 1,200+ sister city relationships between 780 United States cities and 86 foreign countries Japan is known for its important agricultural goods: rice and beef The city is located at the foot of the Hachiman-yama mountain and east of Lake Biwa Lake Biwa is Japan's largest inland freshwater lake Omihachiman is the largest student exchange program that Grand Rapids has with all of the sister cities Bielso-Biala was once two cities separated by the Biala River The city is the 3rd largest in the textile industry in the Austro-Hungarian empire It is also one of the most technologically advanced cities in Europe Ghana became sister cities with Grand Rapids The Ga District is a part of the Accra Metro region within the capital city of Ghana Gangnam-gu makes up one of the 25 districts within the city of Seoul They are mostly known for their advancements in finance Italy is known for its wineries and historic architecture Perugia's La Maggiore Music Academy and St Cecilia Music Center typically complete a student exchange on a yearly basis which is a traditional Mexican style of music The city is one of the fastest-growing cities in Mexico If you want to get involved with GRCSI Grand Rapids has six different sister cities throughout the world. Here are what they are known for and what they look like.\nRead More According to Grand Rapids Sister Cities International A post shared by Grand Rapids Sister Cities (@gr_sci) Grand Rapids Sister Cities International, or GRSCI If you want to get involved with GRCSI A farm raising only indigenous Japanese horses has been opened near a shrine known as a "horses' sacred site" in western Japan with the owner aiming to boost breeding to preserve such species Japanese horses were once raised across the country to work in fields and transport goods and people the indigenous horse population decreased as modern transportation developed and currently there are only some 1,700 left according to the Japan Equine Affairs Association the 33-year-old owner of the Mikarinonomori farm was engaged in projects to preserve indigenous horses and promote traditional horseback military arts at a different farm she used to work for in Yamanashi Prefecture raises four horses from two different regions in the country Hokkaido (Dosanko) and Nagano Prefecture (Kiso) Isobe plans to cooperate with other farms in breeding indigenous horses For her horse farm she picked a lot about 500 meters away from the Kamo Shrine which is dedicated to gods protecting horses Emperor Tenchi is said to have established a farm in vast swathes of the region in 668 and also try "Yabusame" horseback archery at her farm "I used to ride horses and I wanted to try it again," a female visitor from the city According to Isobe and the horse association there are eight breeds of Japanese horses from the northernmost main island of Hokkaido to the westernmost island of Okinawa (Mikarinonomori farm owner Ikumi Isobe rides an indigenous Japanese horse) The other breeds are Noma (Ehime Prefecture) Miyako and Yonaguni (both Okinawa Prefecture) They are gentle-natured and have strong bodies although the sizes are smaller than thoroughbred racehorses The height of their withers -- the part between the shoulder blades -- is around 1.3 meters while that of thoroughbreds is above 1.6 meters Other characteristics include relatively large heads and thick flowing manes it is believed that all Japanese indigenous horses are descended from animals brought from the mainland of Asia at various periods and routes dating back to the 6th century or earlier Horses played an important symbolic role in Japanese religion and certain shrines even today stable sacred white horses The Dosanko breed is descended from several local breeds imported from the Tohoku region when Japanese immigration to Hokkaido began in the 15th century Records indicate that the Kiso breed was raised systematically in the Kiso region of Nagano Prefecture as early as in the 6th century "I fear that Japanese horses are close to extinction I want many people to visit the farm as we protect them," Isobe said More on Japan:Japan's Nishikigoi carp gaining popularity overseas British charity still helping animals in Japan long after WWII Aging population, costs behind sliding number of pet dogs in 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 Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries Riding Japan’s ‘New Golden Route’: Traditional Niigata Colorful carp streamers With the world becoming increasingly globalized ‘avoiding the crowds’ is a vogue term for travelers Japan witnessed a massive tourism surge during the 2010s but there are sections of the country left largely unexplored by international visitors By traveling along the ‘New Golden Route’ on the Shinkansen (bullet train) you can access Japan’s most unique destinations This series of railways connects the major cities of Tokyo Kyoto and Osaka with central Honshu (Japan’s main island) Niigata, Shiga, and Saitama Prefectures fit into the latter category Each comes with its own distinct cultural traditions many of which have existed for hundreds of years: the high-end copperware of Gyokusendo in Niigata the nationally-acclaimed Omi beef in Shiga or the Kannon Pilgrimage trail in Saitama’s Chichibu City So hop on the Shinkansen for these often-overlooked destinations and check out these 24-hour itineraries for these three fascinating prefectures. And to make the most of the Shinkansen, consider the all-access Hokuriku Arch Pass Riding Japan’s ‘New Golden Route’: The vibrant cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka Closest Major Hub City: Tokyo (approximately 2 hours from Tsubamesanjo Station via Shinkansen) Start your Niigata journey on the Kubiki Cycling Road in Itoigawa a 20-mile cycling course on the Sea of Japan The course swerves lazily along vast seascapes and beaches flecked with jade pebbles Rent a bike from Itoigawa Station Geopark and head to the Benten-iwa a stoic landmass sitting off the coast around the midway point of the Kubiki Cycling Road Spewed up by a submarine volcano around one million years ago the Benten-iwa is surmounted by a shrine dedicated to the Shinto sea goddess Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto For lunch, park up at Roadside Station Marine Dream Nou 5-minutes along the coast home to Japan’s largest red queen crab market Find your crab of choice and tuck in on the sea wall overlooking the Nihonkai’s dramatic coastline From Itoigawa Station, head for the Musashino Sake Brewery in Joetsu; you can access Joetsumyoko Station in just 12 minutes via Shinkansen or rice wine commonly referred to in English to as ‘sake’ is an inextricable element of Japanese drinking and dining culture Niigata is one of Japan’s chief nihonshu-brewing regions with 89 breweries peppered throughout the prefecture Take a tour of the brewery here and sample some of Musashino’s signature styles be sure to check out one of the evening events held in the city center featuring more than 500 sake brands from local breweries head to Suzakaya Soba near the station for hegi soba noodles hegi soba are renowned for their tsuru tsuru (silky smooth) texture head to Myoko City just 30 minutes from Musashino Sake Brewery The Kanzuri Factory is a popular attraction in the area Kanzuri is a local seasoning made by fermenting peppers The peppers are also exposed to snow and soften their salinity and spiciness; you can see their vermillion sheen contrasting against the white fields of Myoko in winter You can purchase some take-home seasoning at the on-site Kanzuri shop head to the Lotte Arai Resort about 20 minutes via taxi Along with its chic furnishings and chalet-esque style it has great access to outdoor activities year round from ski slopes and snowparks to Asia's longest zip line (total length of around 5,000 feet) Before you leave Niigata, head to Gyokusendo in Tsubame This copperware factory has a 200-plus year history of making high-end Gyokusendo’s products resemble fantastical heirlooms and often change color over decades of slow oxidation reflecting the changing personalities of their owners Take a tour of the factory amid the crackling of a furnace and the clinking of hammers purchase one of their wares for a lifelong souvenir is the most northerly terminal on the New Golden Route and provides direct access back to Tokyo Riding Japan’s ‘New Golden Route’: Mountainous Gifu, Nagano and Gunma Closest Major Hub City: Kyoto (about 20 minutes on the Shinkansen from Maibara Station) Plonked beside Kyoto, Osaka and Nara, Shiga Prefecture is often overlooked by foreign travelers. It is, however, home to Japan’s largest freshwater lake, Biwa around which your travels in Shiga should revolve Almost the entire shoreline is surrounded by a bicycle and pedestrian path and historic sites such as the multi-tiered Hikone Castle and thousand-year-old shrines Circumnavigating the lake has acquired its own buzzword in recent years but usually takes a couple days even for avid cyclists For a one-day cycle plan, rent a bike from one of several locations around the lake and start at Maibara Cycle Station The station is directly accessible from Kyoto Station via bullet train on the eastern side of the North Basin and make the 20-mile journey south to Omihachiman make a detour to the castle of the same name – Shiga Prefecture’s most significant historical building is one of only 12 feudal castles in Japan with its original keep still intact Japanese beef is renowned for its fall-apart-in-your-mouth tenderness Shiga’s Omi beef is among the country’s best forming part of the three-piece pantheon of Japanese beef brands (alongside Kobe and Matsusaka) The following morning, head to Shinmachi Street full of preserved buildings constructed as the Edo Period (1603 – 1868) segued into the Meiji (1868 – 1912) where trimmed pines hang over wood-latticed storefronts serving traditional Japanese wagashi (sweets and snacks) Author’s note: bicycles can be returned to various stations around Lake Biwa. Riding Japan’s ‘New Golden Route’: The artisans of Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui Closest Major Hub City: Tokyo (approximately 30 minutes from Omiya Station via Shinkansen) less than two hours by train from central Tokyo Chichibu is a great introduction to Saitama’s religious heritage: it’s the starting point of the Chichibu 34 Kannon Temple Circuit which guides travelers past 34 Buddhist temples woven throughout the mountains Check out the first temple on the trail, Shimabu-ji, noted for its grand prayer hall. Then head for temple number four, Kinsho-ji where you’ll be greeted by neat lines of over 1,000 stone Buddhas and a ‘drunkard’ Jizo statue wearing a drinking vessel on its head For room and board, Nagatoro’s Choseikan is a traditional inn overlooking the river Relax in the onsen here and feast on a kaiseki­ dinner (multi-course cuisine using seasonal ingredients) a series of blends from the award-winning Chichibu distillery Before you make tracks from Saitama, visit the Gyoda rice paddies where huge artworks stretch across the fields Created by growing different colored strands of rice including pop culture icons or anything that has recently captured the national zeitgeist They’re available for viewing from mid-July to mid-October and for the best views head up to the 50-meter observation deck Take the one-hour train ride from Gyodashi Station to Omiya Station in Saitama City Omiya is the home of Japanese bonsai -- the art of growing botanicals on a miniature scale Check out the intricate garden and pristine displays at the Bonsai Art Museum or wander through a sea of green tranquility at the Omiya Bonsai Village less than two hours from Nagatoro on public transport is full of old-world architecture harkening back to its Edo Period glory days as a wealthy merchant hub were constructed with inner walls of clay helping them survive the Great Kawagoe Fire of 1893 Omiya Station is around 20 minutes from Kawagoe Station by train From here you can take a Shinkansen directly to Tokyo in under 30 minutes For more information on the New Golden Route, check out a downloadable brochure. This story was crafted collaboratively between Hokuriku-Shin’etsu District Transport Bureau, JR West and JR East and Lonely Planet. Both parties provided research and curated content to produce this story. We disclose when information isn’t ours. Determines the concept, provides briefing, research material, and may provide feedback. We provide expertise, firsthand insights, and verify with third-party sources when needed. 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 Mozambique’s acting ambassador to Japan recently met with the mayor of Omihachiman and sought that city’s cooperation with Mozambique possibly featuring a foreign retainer of feudal leader Oda Nobunaga in its pavilion at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo The request was made by Jose Antonio Justino Nhalungo during his talk with Omihachiman Mayor Osamu Konishi Mozambique plans to showcase at the pavilion its exchanges with Japan through the historical figure known as Yasuke A retainer of Oda Nobunaga in the the Sengoku warring states period Yasuke is believed to have been born in Mozambique Nhalungo visited Omihachiman after Toshihiro Takagi chairman of the Azuchicho chamber of commerce and industry in the city became acquainted with people from Mozambique this summer through business Takagi is familiar with the history of Nobunaga and Yasuke and invited Nhalungo and others to visit the city According to documents including “Shincho Koki,” a chronicle of Nobunaga written by an aide Yasuke was a servant brought from India when an Italian missionary came to Japan Yasuke was reportedly introduced to Nobunaga in February 1581 and gained his favor “Shincho Koki” described Yasuke as being 26 or 27 years old and having the strength of 10 men It is unknown what happened to Yasuke after the Honnoji Incident in 1582 a delegation of Japanese youths to Rome organized by the missionary and others made a stopover on an island in Mozambique on its way back to Japan in 1586 The delegation spent six months on the island waiting for seasonal winds to change direction saying his country is considering introducing the relationship between Japan and Mozambique through Yasuke in the expo pavilion Touching on the 450th anniversary of Yasuke’s arrival in Japan in eight years Nhalungo said his embassy is also considering organizing something to commemorate that occasion and sought cooperation Azuchi Castle will celebrate the 450th anniversary of its construction It would be nice if we could do something together for both events including the 450th anniversary of Yasuke’s arrival in Japan.” the group visited the ruins of Azuchi Castle and the Azuchi Jokaku Shiryokan museum Nhalungo told reporters that Yasuke is a hero in Mozambique and he would like to cherish the relationship between Japan and Mozambique Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Shiga Prefecture and Lake Biwa are remarkable spots that tend to fall in the shadow of Kyoto despite having cultural and natural beauties that are on par with Japan’s old capital Lake Biwa is Japan’s largest body of fresh water The name Biwa comes from the Japanese word for a lute-like instrument It is of the 20 “ancient lakes” and depending on what form of the lake scientists are tracing back we can say it’s 400,000 or four million years old The lake is a vital water resource and a wonderful travel destination You can take your pick of water activities such as swimming The Michigan Cruise is a slice of Americana in Japan in honor of Otsu’s sister city here are some unmissable things to see and do around Lake Biwa La Collina Omihachiman is a green paradise with grassy roofs a Japanese confectionery company that’s more than 100 years old This location is especially known for the freshly baked Baumkuchen that people line up for The whole area is free to enter and roam around there are two cafés and the Food Garage which is inspired by classic cars and even has a double-decker bus inside There are two sweets factories on the premises one for Baumkuchen and one for Castella cake You can watch the whole making process through the glass La Collina Omihachiman can be easily reached from Omihachiman Station by bus or car as it takes you through the old town and the picturesque Hachiman-bori canal you should also stop by Club Hario on the way another famous confectionery shop and café by Taneya Group Shigaraki pottery is one of the best examples of wabi-sabi It’s made from the endemic clay from Lake Biwa and cannot be replicated elsewhere You can buy items in the pottery stores and visit Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park and Museum you can also eat and drink from Shigaraki pots in local restaurants serving the rice they harvest in a Shigaraki pot of your own choice Just two stops (10 minutes) from Kyoto is Otsu Station Otsu is where the famous Tokaido road (the road that used to connect Edo and Kyoto) actually ends importing goods and transporting them to the old capital This made it such a thriving city that it was nicknamed Otsu Hakucho (meaning “a hundred cities”) with active family businesses that have been operating for more than a century a tea shop that opened in 1858 and still roasts Japanese green tea in front of the shop This area also boasts over 1,500 traditional wooden townhouses About a 100 of them have been renovated and converted into businesses and hotels or are in the process of doing so The Uji region is famed for green tea in Kyoto but Kansai people know of another smaller and secluded area that is of equal quality Located high in the mountains along the borders of Gifu and Shiga prefectures Mandokoro has pristine water and colder temperatures Mandokoro’s native tea bushes are able to withstand snow and grow lower to the ground compared to the standard cultivars at tea farms Chaen Musubi Tea Farm boasts the oldest green tea bush The owners of Chaen Musubi Tea Farm often chill bottles of green tea in the streams and sit and sip it by the river They’re a young couple that fell in love with tea culture and moved to Mandokoro Wagyu superfans will know that the internationally famous Kobe beef is not all there is on the luxury beef scene in Japan. It’s considered one of top three brands, the other two being Matsusaka beef and Omi beef from Shiga Prefecture Omi beef is the oldest wagyu brand in Japan and its history is entangled with Kobe beef Omi beef was referred to as Kobe beef in the past due to the fact that it was sent to Edo via the Kobe port That certainly explains why the Omi name hasn’t reached that far and wide yet Served with special red konjac on the side Omi beef is a must-try when in Shiga Prefecture Focus features two in-depth reviews each month of fine art architecture and design exhibitions and events at art museums galleries and alternative spaces around Japan The contributors are non-Japanese residents of Japan Akihiro Murayama (the gender-bending performer better known as Akihiro Miwa) The museum is housed in a renovated merchants' residence in Omihachiman Also from Grandma Sumi's Diary of Memories ." (a reference to the traditional Obon festival) Background: "Dad chased Mom with a scissors when he didn't like her new haircut who recognized the value of their work and carefully preserved it We are lucky to have access to these free-spirited and one wonders how many other self-taught artists might be undiscovered out there which is not professional or trying to be -- and also does not fit the usual mold of Art Brut (in practice often synonymous with art by those with mental disabilities or illnesses) -- is right in line with NO-MA's admirable philosophy of art without borders Visitors to NO-MA will also enjoy the lovingly restored building itself and will want to explore the rest of the Omihachiman Preservation District which contains not only many wonderful traditional Japanese buildings but also several fascinating examples of architectural East-West fusion by Kansas-born William Merrell Vories (1880-1964; during World War II he became a naturalized Japanese citizen named Mereru Hitotsuyanagi) Stroll or take a leisurely boat ride along the photogenic canal that served as a major trade artery when Omihachiman was a thriving merchant city and home to a unique museum with consistently intriguing exhibitions All images are provided by or displayed with the permission of Borderless Art Museum NO-MA Please upgrade to a more modern version to fully experience JapanToday site and for security reasons Shiga prefectural police have arrested a 74-year-old man serving a life sentence for murder on suspicion of killing and dismembering a man and dumping the body parts around Lake Biwa in 2008 The body parts of Hideyuki Kawamoto (then 39) were found one after another in six locations around Lake Biwa including Omihachiman and Otsu in Shiga Prefecture who is serving a life term in prison for another murder case on suspicion of strangling Kawamoto to death around mid-May 2008 Yuzuriha was a former colleague of Kawamoto at the construction company where they worked The two had been living together for a time and were part of a pachinko club Yuzuriha was sentenced to 25 years in prison for killing a 69-year-old man he knew dismembering his body and abandoning it in Kusatsu City and other areas Yuzuriha was transferred from Okayama Prison and arrived at Omihachiman Police Station in Shiga Prefecture on Thursday afternoon Served lifetime and then being re-arrested Seems like this guy's favorite pastime is killing and dismembering close associates They dress up as their favorite pachinko machines I’m sure ASICS doesn’t like seeing that Jacket on him Japan still has the death penalty for cases like this The suspect looks like any other Japanese person with that face covers on Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts A mix of what's trending on our other sites From the fields of Omihachiman in Shiga Prefecture comes a new plant milk with ties to the past: Peace While major brands have sidestepped soy milk for alternatives like oat Peace leans into Japan's deep-rooted culinary traditions Founder Kazunori Ishibashi recalls being sent on errands to the local tofu shop as a child Japan counted approximately 14,000 small-scale tofu makers which has dwindled to around 5,000 due to rising costs challenges finding successors and competition from corporate giants Ishibashi wanted to capture the essence of artisanal tofu in a format that caters to contemporary life Made exclusively of the Tamahomare cultivar of soybeans and water Peace soy milk is additive-free and packaged in a pouch that keeps it fresh for 30 days Using the knowledge and skills of expert tofu makers Peace is crafted to emphasize a soybean's mild flavor and natural sweetness A soy milk reminiscent of the best tofu from a family-run shop down the street Peace launched in August 2023 and is currently only sold online Join 100,000+ future-focused professionals in 180 countries already receiving our free trend updates Join 100,000+ professionals who receive our free newsletter ALTS design office wanted to maximize the design and appeal of the store while minimizing the construction costs the small building is located at the end of a road the architects attempted to keep the path to the stream and to make the design of the store spacious and translucent half of the building is made of glass that allows sunlight to filter in and make the space feel airy while keeping the other half private.  the tiny shop was designed as a contemporary gable roof complete with an exposed wooden structure and clad in a light grey aluminum facade the small venue houses the front of the house that includes a small pastry display the cashier and a bar top to eat the sweets and the back of the house with a fully equipped kitchen a seamless connection of interior and exterior creates a vibrant design: ALTS design office  designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. Strawberries make for a colorful display at supermarkets and produce shops during the season in Japan enticing customers with their multiple fragrant varieties the country has some 300 varieties of strawberries with some experts claiming that more than half of the world's breeds have their roots in Japan Strawberry harvests and the acreage used for growing the fruit have been declining steadily due to aging growers and a lack of successors there is a growing rivalry between producers looking to improve their own crops leading to an explosion of new varieties as they seek to gain an edge in national markets Some have dubbed the current situation as one of "Warring Strawberry States," a humorous comparison to the Sengoku ("Warring States") period -- a time in Japanese history characterized by civil wars and social unrest in the 15th and 16th centuries the juice just drips out," boasted Shinichiro Matsuda a senior official at the Shiga Prefectural Agricultural Technology Promotion Center as he described the textures of the "Mioshizuku" strawberry the first original breed of the fruit to be harvested in the western prefecture near Kyoto the new variety was born out of a selection process from approximately 1,600 candidates using a cross between "Kaorino," a strawberry with moderate acidity and a strong aroma Kaorino was developed in the neighboring prefecture of Mie while Akihime originated from Shizuoka Prefecture Full-scale sales of Mioshizuku began in Shiga Prefecture and the Tokyo metropolitan area in December Shiga is not known as a primary strawberry production area and strawberry farmers there had previously engaged almost exclusively in direct sales Matsuda emphasized the significance of the shift that resulted from the new breed "There would always be unsold products if direct sales by farmers continued and they would not be able to make a living," he said "We decided to supply our original variety to the market through new sales channels "It's not like becoming Tochigi or Fukuoka (the two top strawberry-producing prefectures)...first we are striving to boost awareness among locals and let them know how tasty it (the new breed) is," Matsuda said Matsuda says the Shiga prefectural government has set its sights on exporting the new brand overseas in the future Tochigi has been the country's largest strawberry producer for over half a century since 1968 proclaiming itself the "Strawberry Kingdom." Its original "Tochiotome" brand has long been recognized across the country becoming the main variety produced across many regions in eastern Japan both in and outside the prefecture has had to keep itself at high readiness and avoid resting on its laurels -- such as was the case during the Sengoku period that saw a superior power experience sudden decline and become supplanted by a subordinate one harvests and farming acreage have been declining in Tochigi leading to the development of the new "Tochiaika" breed Tochiotome has already lost its top ranking to Tochiaika in terms of total crop acreage in the prefecture according to a survey conducted last year by a local agriculture cooperative Tochiaika was developed by the Strawberry Research Institute of the Tochigi Prefectural Agriculture Experiment Station in 2018 and has been shipped outside Tochigi since the fall of 2021 The prefectural government will step up its marketing for Tochiaika under a plan to expand its acreage to 80 percent of the total land area for strawberry cultivation in 2027 It stood at 55 percent in the local survey Tochiaika was born after seven years of development a disease that causes leaves to turn yellow and shrivel the yield of Tochiaika is 1.3 times that of Tochiotome per unit area meaning it can withstand long-distance transportation a strawberry researcher at the Tochigi institute another distinct feature of Tochiaika is that it can be shipped in mid-October A high unit price in the early season leads to increased revenues growers harvest their main strawberry varieties until May or June But Hatakeyama said studies are underway to develop breeds for longer cropping periods It is difficult for strawberry plants to bear fruit and grow large under high temperatures in the summer But some experts say a breed good enough to eat year-round may be developed sooner or later FEATURE: Muslims in Japan serve up curry for quake-hit Noto residents FEATURE: Edible bug businesses 'hearing crickets' at crossroads in Japan FEATURE: New rice dictionary cooking up lexicon for Japan's revered staple By Soichiro Nakamura / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer a confectioner in the city of Omi-Hachiman The product has since developed into the shop’s signature product and enjoys wide popularity The shop developed its version of baumkuchen to match Japanese tastes which differs slightly from the katakana spelling for baumkuchen The product is one of the city’s most popular sweets with about 7.7 million cut pieces flying off the shelves each year Club Harie’s recipe has remained almost unchanged since around 1973 — when the firm first began producing the sweet — with the production process being handed down from chef to chef which is created by mixing sifted flour with beaten eggs is continually tweaked to reflect changes in temperature and other factors A pastry chef keeps a close watch on the multiple layers of dough cooking in the oven concentrating on changes in color and aroma to determine the perfect baking time aimed at ensuring softness The skill is said to take about three to five years to master Club Harie currently has 22 stores nationwide with 47 chefs baking 1,600 long cakes a day “The passion that each chef pours into the product makes it even more delicious,” suggested Ryosuke Obama Western-style sweets were first produced in the city in 1951 by Taneya a Japanese-style confectionery store founded in 1872 The initiative reportedly began after the shop came into contact with Western culture through William Merrell Vories (1880-1964) an American architect who lived near the store at the time Former Taneya Group Vice President Shoji Yamamoto — grandson of Taneya founder Hisakichi Yamamoto — used to practice making Western-style confectionery in Kyoto would return to Taneya to bake and sell baumkuchen it would harden after a while and he could only sell around five or six pieces a day but the only people who really enjoyed it were pastry chefs,” said Eigo Kishimoto an advisor to Club Harie who originally trained with Shoji Although the cake did not initially prove popular one child in particular was thrilled by its deliciousness: Club Harie’s current president Takao Yamamoto — now 51 Yamamoto recalled how he used to snack on pieces of baumkuchen left over after the production process despite scoffing it down each day,” Yamamoto said “I was always so excited to see the baked ‘logs’ before they were sliced The company began developing baumkuchen as its signature product in 1995 when Club Harie was founded as Taneya’s Western confectionery division Takao became absorbed in researching ways to make his favorite baumkuchen even tastier While using the recipe passed down from his predecessors as a foundation he used a process of trial and error to overcome the problem of the product becoming hard upon cooling Club Harie open a specialty shop in an Osaka department store The product quickly gained popularity via word of mouth and the company became known as “Club Harie of Baamukuuhen.” “Our chefs pour their heart and souls into each of the 20 layers necessary to bake one piece,” Takao said “I want to continue supplying truly delicious products.” .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk | jkaczmarczyk@mlive.com Meijer GardensWhere: 1000 E Free for ages 2 and younger and for Meijer Gardens membersMore info: Call 616-957-1580 or 888-957-1580 or go online to meijergardens.org GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has one of the few railroads in the world that really can take you around the world Meijer Gardens' popular Railway Garden has unveiled a new display highlighting Grand Rapids' relationship with its five Sister Cities throughout the world join another 30 Grand Rapids-area landmarks in the display that's part of Meijer Gardens' annual "Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World" exhibition The 20th annual holiday exhibition opens today "It's a great team effort and a great way to highlight our 20th anniversary theme of 'Welcome the World,'" said Steve LaWarre, director of horticulture at Meijer Gardens Each of Grand Rapids' five Sister Cities now is represented with a miniature landmark that's part of the Meijer Gardens' Railway Garden named for its miniature railroad that travels through four different greenhouses The intricately crafted buildings use plant and natural materials to fashion the miniature buildings out of eucalyptus leaves walnut bark and pine cones along with honeysuckle cinnamon sticks and gourds among other elements Japan -- One of the 33 sacred Kannon temples of Western Japan its visitors arrive by climbing 808 stone steps It is said that this temple is responsive to the prayer's petition for longevity Omihachiman became Grand Rapids' Sister City in 1986 showcases the 19th-century Viennese architecture of Emanuel Rost Bielsko-Biala became Grand Rapids Sister City in 1991 this magistrature was built in the city's main square and is affectionately known as the Palazzo Nuovo del Popolo which overlooks the verdant valley of the Tiber River became Grand Rapids' Sister City in 1993 • Independence Square - Black Star Gate in Ga District Ghana --This monument is part of Black Star Square which hosts Ghana's Independence Day Parade each year on March 6 Ga District in the capital of Accra in the country formerly known as the Gold Coast became a Grand Rapids' Sister City in 1996 • Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan in Zapopan Mexico -- is a monumental example of 17th century colonial Baroque architecture and is one of the most visited sanctuaries in Western Mexico Located in the central region of the State of Jalisco Zapopan became a Grand Rapids Sister City in 2008 The five buildings include Independence Square-Black Star Gate from the GA District in Ghana; the Palazzo Dei Priori Japan; the Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan from Zapopan Mexico; and the Town Hall in Bielsko-Biala Representatives of Grand Rapids Sister Cities committee helped select the cultural landmarks in the five cities "It's a great way to connect us with our Sister Cities," said David Hooker "President Eisenhower created Sister Cities International to promote peace and understanding one community at a time," Hooker said "There's a varnish-lacquer that goes over the top to make it waterproof," Hooker said "Because we have to water the plants." Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk covers arts and entertainment for MLive and The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at jkaczmarczyk@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. 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To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division was falsely arrested for theft and released three days later the prefecture’s Omihachiman Police Station announced Tuesday The woman had consistently denied the charge police received a report from a volume retailer in the city on Saturday morning that the woman shoplifted a pack of sushi priced around ¥300 and they caught her red-handed based on eyewitness information saying she had received the already purchased item from a man she knew The police examined the store’s security camera footage in detail and saw the man and the woman together and he told them that he had given the woman the sushi The store’s sales records also showed that the sushi had been purchased The woman was found to have been falsely arrested and was released on Tuesday night Police said it took three days to release the woman because “It took time to confirm her statement.” They expressed their apologies Leaf KYOTO Shiga At [Omi Beef Mori Shima Omi Hachiman Branch] in Omi Hachiman you can have Omi beef raised on rice straw in Ryuo Town Omi beef was transported to the Kanto region and spread its deliciousness [Mori Shimamitsu] it takes two years to fatten Japanese black beef on its own ranch and raises high-quality Omi beef They are fed with locally grown rice straw "We keep the right amount of space and raise it with love so that it is as stress-free as possible." We also sell processed products such as miso-zuke and broiled grills because we don't want to waste our lives A dish in which the surface of roast loin is seared and then marinated in a special garlic soy sauce the umami and fragrant flavor of the meat spreads “The marbled meat that melts in your mouth and the springy parts are all Omi beef They will surely make people who eat them happy,” says Mr Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tokyo attended the opening of the Biennale and met Ms Eva Petrič she also met with the Mayor of Omihachiman and the Biennale Chairman They discussed cultural cooperation between Slovenia and Japan and the participation of Slovenian artists in the Biennale The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia also became a nominal supporter of the Biennale More about the participation of Slovenian artist Ms Eva Petrič in the Biwako Biennale available at this link Did you find the information you were looking for Do you want to receive a response from the responsible institution Clicking on the link will open your default e-mail program and automatically draft a message that you can send to the institution responsible for the content of this website ask for a reply Its first confectionery dates back to the Meiji Era in 1872 when the company was founded in Omihachiman Much of the rice that goes into making their famous mochi comes from the rice fields around Omihachiman you don't have to go that far to try Taneya's mochi or indeed any of their other dainty Japanese sweets as they have shops and cafes scattered across Japan.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); If you're in Umeda and in need of an escape from the crowds head for Taneya's shop at the back of the cavernous confectionery hall in the Hankyu department store Just next to the shop they have an elegant and petit cafe with seating for about a dozen The menu is an ode to mochi: the bijou cakes come covered in sweet pumpkin paste If you want to take the sweetness up a notch further which folds cream into mounds of mochi and gelatinous cubes made from rice configuration I opted for: a neat row of mochi cakes on crackers delivered with a tiny bottle of extra virgin olive oil and a soy sauce-flavored mousse that's more miss than hit although you may feel you're missing out on the sweet treats which takes place seven times daily just a few feet from your table Japanese version has a history that goes back some 150 years The premises of its headquarters feature an incredible garden and forest maintained by an in-house team of gardeners We check out what lunches they have to keep their stamina up we visit a factory that manufactures hearses to meet the demands of today Tune in to discover the techniques involved in making hearses and find out what the professionals do for lunch parcel delivery driver Takahiro Otaki called his subcontractor to say for the first time he would not meet his morning deadline for deliveries has worked as a sole proprietor for a delivery company that subcontracts parcel deliveries for Amazon.com Inc He's among the myriad of delivery drivers across the country who are toiling under grueling conditions for relatively low pay Otaki's smartphone’s Amazon app showed 132 parcels to deliver to 96 destinations considering that Otaki works in Nagasaki city which has many hills and narrow roads that make it difficult for drivers to approach some homes but his phone died since the Amazon app ate power faster than it could be recharged Otaki was finally able to call the delivery company’s office and said he would not be able to meet the morning deadline When he first began working as a delivery driver But that number began increasing in the spring of 2022 and now there are days when he has to deliver 200 parcels his daily pay of 14,500 yen ($98) increased by just 500 yen That translates to about 70 yen for delivering each parcel he has to pay for gasoline out of his own pocket Otaki and fellow drivers formed a labor union and entered into collective bargaining with Amazon and the subcontractor The union is demanding higher pay and a more manageable number of parcels to deliver more drivers will quit because not many will last in such a lousy environment,” Otaki said Those who deliver daily necessities to the residents of isolated islands also have few options except to persevere under difficult conditions Okishima island lies in Lake Biwako about 1.5 kilometers from the coast of Omihachiman Parcels are transported by a ferry that makes 12 trips a day and reaches the island in 10 minutes The 240 or so residents of Okishima receive their parcels from the ferry But for those islanders who use Yamato Transport Co. Kitamura works for a seafood company on the edge of Lake Biwako she loads Yamato Transport parcels kept in her employer’s storage facilities onto a dolly and boards the ferry she delivers 30 packages and there has been a noticeable increase in parcels from Amazon in recent years Kitamura transfers the parcels to the cart of a three-wheeled bicycle she only has to look at the recipient’s name before starting her delivery rounds Kitamura has been delivering on Okishima for about 10 years Yamato Transport contacted the seafood company where she worked because it had a refrigerator to keep parcels cool before delivery Kitamura agreed to make the deliveries every weekday and has been doing so ever since she was hospitalized for surgery to correct a blockage in her intestines another employee at her seafood company took parcels to the ferry while Kitamura’s younger brother received and delivered the packages to Okishima residents “I am not young so I don’t know if I can continue delivering for the next 10 years,” Kitamura said “I have to remain in good health because a successor has not yet been found.” (This article was written by Takuya Isayama and Yuki Shibata.) 2nd labor union for drivers of Amazon calls for better hours Push for home deliveries minus human contact to thwart robberies Delivery drivers in Japan to join solidarity protest against Amazon Drone delivery service catering to remote islets takes to the skies Drone delivers cake from oven in 16-minute run over Lake Biwa A 14-year-old junior high school girl jumped to her death from the roof of a 14-story apartment building in Kumamoto City on Sunday afternoon the girl jumped from the building in Chuo Ward at around 2:05 p.m. She died about an hour after being taken to a hospital Police said the girl’s mother called 110 and said that her daughter was on the roof of their building When a police officer and her father arrived on the roof the teenager jumped right before their eyes Although the service door leading to the rooftop was locked police suspect that the girl managed to pass through the fence Must have been awful at home to jump in front of your parents Cultures where people believe more in afterlife More young people are lead to commit suicide If everybody was well aware that there's no second chance I believe suicide would be much less common around the globe The stresses of being a junior or senior high school student in Japan are unbelievable I am in no way surprised by so many high school kids choosing death over the expectations and rigors of the high school system you have never been a 13 year old girl" - Cecilia Another day when the parents failed to communicate with their child.. You and Buglehead above are making assumptions When your kids hit their teens you might start to understand And the teachers had no idea about the child’s life at school I don’t think the girl jumped because she believed in life after death Her parents will never get over this tragedy She should have had 80 more years of experiences A life at any age is not great news to anyone living or left behind and young life is even more tragic Whatever the circumstances were that made this child make this dreadful decision is unbearable to imagine her pain There are so many things that can push young people to make this kind of decision The stresses and strains of being a teenager the lack of sufficient support structures etc You would think that by now there'd be a clear and obvious national campaign highlighting all these issues and ways in which youngsters can get immediate confidential help or support Such a campaign / charity / organization should be clearly visible and promoted within all schools at least in the form of posters and leaflets but more preferably in some kind of physical form too - i.e don't know if school problems were the cause but Japanese education system way too stressful and counter productive many others have committed suicide over school related stress I will make sure to keep communicating with my children The basis was not there in their household I see it ALL THE TIME; The moment the child comes out of the vagina and judging people at the worst moment of their lives I hope you are more open-minded as your kids get older You can't force them to talk to you - you need to listen you will find it much less easy to criticize others Like there is no stress for kids in other countries Please let's not make this a "it only happens in Japan" thing Please do some basic research before spewing this misinformation behind such wonderful and blissful countries as Canada and New Zealand You're confusing the suicide rate in general with the rate for kids You people blaming schools and parents here are so judgemental and you should probably stop it Depression is a disease that can strikke anyone I hope you never have to grieve a loved ine that takes their own life And this is exactly why those parents failed Stop making assumptions and stop blaming the parents when you do not know all the details or is there actually evidence to support this assertion Sounds like something someone theorized and decided was true rather than a statement made based on facts Someone who hasn't raised children through to adulthood: Of course I'm entirely speculating on the two - I don't know for sure that either of my assertions is true But I'd be willing to bet that they both are I have two teenage sons who have gone through generic public schools in Tokyo One is still a student in a high ranked public high school Neither experienced nor reported seeing the kind of stress you are claiming For eighteen years I interviewed (in Japanese) high school applicants to a private university I also taught first year college students (again in Japanese) fresh out of high school in a seminar course that focused on college admission None reported experiencing or seeing the kind of stress you are claiming but half of all high school students do not go on to college the bulk go to private colleges that have what amounts to open door admission Only a small fraction of all students aim for colleges with competitive admission Stories about youth suicides in the US or UK stay local if they are reported at all In Japan any youth suicide anywhere in the country can become national news Suicide is not about believing in afterlife or bullying Japanese version It’s all things that Japan is famous for: tradition and quality and conviction.” That is how a Western chef describes Japan’s fatty marbled beef In January the farm ministry proposed a bill to criminalise unauthorised export of wagyu eggs or sperm Smugglers could spend as long as ten years in jail This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Sperm wail” Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents Ahead of the vote on May 3rd, politics has flipped The country is making it first big bet on semiconductors This one could be riskier than their last major crisis in 2019 After the Kashmir attack, military action is possible but comes with huge risks Japanese version Japanese version First Team Inui: Eibar is the best team I've ever played forStatements made by the SD Eibar Japanese player in the Hochi Shimbun soon to complete his first season with the armero club regards SD Eibar as "the best team" in which he has played Speaking to Japanese newspaper the Hochi Shimbun Inui highlighted the fact that Eibar is a club which is "very friendly good understanding and friendship among everyone" "I am very grateful for the way everyone has treated me. I do not speak Spanish very well yet but my teammates treat me really well There is a team lunch and this is helping me a lot" said Inui in relation to the two or three times a week that the entire squad eat together in the txoko at Ipurua 1988) came to Eibar last summer from Eintracht Frankfurt with a contract that commits him to the armero club for the next three seasons To date he has played a total of 1,030 minutes in 17 games (11 times in the starting line-up) and has scored two goals.