Managers at every company — especially big corporations — face a similar conundrum: What’s the ideal way to organize employees to generate the best ideas With other people who are similar or different New research from Binghamton University offers insight into these questions — and some of the results are not what you’d expect For nearly 20 years, Professor Shelley D. Dionne — now dean of Binghamton’s School of Management — and Distinguished Professor Hiroki Sayama have studied complex group dynamics and how they affect organizational performance. In a recently published paper in the journal npj Complexity they look at how various clusters of people tackle creative tasks Also contributing to the research are Yiding Cao PhD ’23; and Distinguished Professor Emeritus Francis J The experiments — conducted from 2018 to 2020 — involved 617 Binghamton University students who collaborated anonymously using a Twitter-like online interface on one of two tasks: Develop a catchy marketing slogan for a new laptop computer or write a fictional story they would log in daily for 10 working days for about 15 minutes each day to submit ideas and comment on or like their collaborators’ ideas Language analysis of self-introduction essays submitted before the experiments determined whether students shared similar views or backgrounds when grouping them together Some participants could communicate with their entire group while others were able to communicate only with their “neighbors” on a ring-shaped organizational chart the research team recruited PhD candidates majoring in marketing or management for the slogan task and staff members in the University’s Division of Communications and Marketing for the story-writing task Researchers admit that several of the conclusions from the study seem counterintuitive “If you connect all the participants in the social networks so that everybody can see everybody else’s ideas in the timeline, the experiment clearly showed that it killed idea diversity,” said Sayama, a faculty member at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science’s School of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering Those who interacted with fewer other participants caused them to feel more isolated but also produced better ideas when they put together people of diverse backgrounds the ideas became more conservative because everyone vetted it from their areas of expertise and steered the group toward “safer” alternatives “When we just randomly connected people together that turned out to be the most likely to produce the best ideas,” Sayama said He sees the process of generating ideas as similar to evolution with ideas as organisms that either adapt and thrive in a biodiverse ecosystem or are eliminated when they don’t survive the wrath of predators and their environment “When two people are talking to each other you are one island and I am another island There is a channel that connects the two islands and the ideas we are exchanging are like birds or fish or insects moving back and forth,” he said “Each brain contains thousands of different idea ‘organisms,’ and they escape from one island and get into another Island’s brain the idea will start replicating in your brain the whole process is about promoting biodiversity.” Sayama admitted that implementing similar experiments in a typical office environment would be difficult Researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze participants’ backgrounds and text inputs But managers can pare it down to a simple question: What is the objective If they want to promote a “biodiversity” of ideas that requires a different strategy than keeping one precious “species” (idea) alive Dionne believes the strength of the study is the intersection of different disciplines in exploring creative task processes within networks “Relating idea generation to evolutionary processes enabled the research team to use a common framework when deciding how to test assumptions but the common framework was merely a starting point,” she said “Without each team member bringing their unique expertise to the investigation we may not have been able to drill down into understanding collaborative actions in social network structures.” Sayama added: “There are lots of different messages that each person who reads this paper can take from the findings This is definitely not the conclusive end of the project — it only opens up many other directions that we hope we can pursue.” The experiments for this research happened before COVID-19 and in the first few months of the pandemic but the team became busy with the University’s public health-related decision-making tasks and the project went on hiatus “We had the experimental data but no mental or physical resources to analyze our findings and put them together into a paper during the pandemic,” Sayama said Dionne remembers being awestruck by what the team was achieving: “When I look back to 2018 ‘artificial intelligence’ honestly was not being widely discussed in management literature I knew once we could be together again that we had a unique opportunity to push the field forward.” What’s the best group to generate ideas Imaging Solutions Kento Sayama says Sony will show off cameras with AI-powered capabilities in Las Vegas TV Tech: What do you anticipate will be the most significant technology trends at the 2025 NAB Show Kento Sayama: AI has been at the forefront of so many industries and media and entertainment is no exception It holds a lot of promise in providing smart automation providing analysis and offering a tailored solution that continues to evolve and learn Time-consuming and laborious manual tasks can now be addressed by AI freeing up talent for more meaningful work AI is also helping create beneficial optimization It is definitely a buzzword but also something that is coming into its own and I expect to see AI-enabled solutions on display in many booths during NAB Show Sony will be highlighting several camera models—from the PTZ BRC-AM7 to handheld options like the PXW-Z200 and HXR-NX800—that employ AI for Auto Framing TVT: What will be your most important product news KS: We’re excited to show new products that support the media and entertainment industry Some highlights at the show will be the HDC-P50A POV camera which features a 2/3-inch three-chip 4K image sensor with global shutter SMPTE ST 2110 support and CCU connection options for enabling high frame rate of up to four times in 4K or eight times in HD Another standout is the BRC-AM7 4K PTZ camera with AI-enabled Auto Framing and Tracking New to NAB Show are Sony’s 16.5-inch 4K professional monitors BVM-HX1710 and BVM-HX1710N (with support for SMPTE 2110) which offer a peak luminance of 3,000 nits TVT: How is your new product different from what’s available on the market KS: Sony is proud to offer comprehensive solutions that cover nearly every professional need We seek to empower creators through this robust ecosystem of tools that can be used independently or connected seamlessly together for increased potential we’re invested in making powerful enhancements to many of our most popular products through firmware upgrades These beneficial updates come as a result of voice of customer feedback as we seek to implement the most requested features and capabilities from our community and provide a longer shelf-life for our technologies This allows our solutions to grow with users and makes their initial investment go further The professional video industry's #1 source for news TVT: What is it about the NAB Show that brings you back every year encouraged and reinvigorated by the important conversations I have with the media and entertainment community We work in such an exciting and dynamic business colleagues and even competitors as we all work toward a common goal — elevating storytelling in broadcast and production through advanced technologies and streamlined workflows NAB Show gives us the opportunity to connect with the industry in a central location and provides our users with a showcase of all of our offerings It is also a great event for highlighting innovation I enjoy seeing all of the groundbreaking new technologies that are poised to transform our future I am looking forward to Sony’s stage presentations which cover trending topics and feature insight and expertise from a range of engaging panelists The fall semester at Binghamton University started with the Department of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering upgrading to the School of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering, still under the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science Renaming to a school reflects exceptional growth in student enrollment faculty and research funding over the past decade Also, in the 2024 rankings from U.S. News and World Report, the industrial and systems engineering program ranked #26 among public universities in the nation (#36 overall) ISE is the second-highest-ranking program at Binghamton Here are other SSIE accomplishments from the second half of 2024 PhD student Tasneem Tawalbeh and master’s student Sam Gold were among the students who took part in the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) Student and Faculty Research Program during the summer. Working under the supervision of Assistant Professor Yuxin Wang they investigated a better way to make the perovskite solar cells by replacing the lead with a safer alternative A piece in this year’s Watson Review magazine looked at senior capstone projects from different departments at the college created a prototype of a hydrogen fuel station that can power hydrogen fuel cell bikes Nicole Dates ’23, MS ’24 was involved in several extracurricular organizations and did remarkable work during her time at Binghamton Her ambition has driven her to amass many accomplishments in her field Another Watson Review piece looked at energy research throughout the college. Highlighted are Assistant Professor Neha Patankar’s energy system models for power grids and Associate Professor and SSIE Associate Chair Yong Wang’s research into detecting smart grid cyber-intrusion improving recharging of lithium-ion batteries and analyzing off-peak usage Distinguished Professor Hiroki Sayama collaborated with researchers from Binghamton’s School of Management to look at how, in virtual teams where nonverbal cues are limited, a person’s engagement and influence in conversations can significantly shape whether they’re perceived as a leader Ahmed Abdeen Hamed, a visiting research fellow, has created a machine-learning algorithm he calls xFakeSci that can detect up to 94% of bogus scientific papers — nearly twice as successfully as more common data-mining techniques Hiroki Sayama was among the Binghamton faculty members promoted to SUNY distinguished professors this spring The title is reserved for those who have achieved national or international prominence and exemplary reputations within their disciplines Before stepping down as Watson College dean in May, Distinguished Professor Krishnaswami “Hari” Srihari reflected on his 15-year tenure leading the college and his transition back to full-time research and teaching Nana Banerjee, PhD ’96, is the president and CEO of the weather and data analytics company Pelmorex goes beyond the local forecast of temperature and precipitation to provide personalized wardrobe suggestions travel recommendations and historical climate information Systems Science and Industrial Engineering celebrates elevation to school 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 A man accused of drowning a 3-year-old boy is seeking release from prison after allegedly receiving daily death threats since being held on pretrial detention accused of fatally drowning and abusing his 3-year-old stepson has been held pending trial since August at the Department of Corrections on $250,000 cash bail Charfauros appeared before Magistrate Judge Jonathan Quan to seek release from confinement Before attorneys shared their arguments on the possible release Charfauros answered questions from his attorney regarding the "difficulties" faced by Charfauros since being held at DOC considering inmates and detainees are aware of Charfauros' charges They're going to kill me," Charfauros said adding that he is being threatened "almost about every day." "I'm constantly reminded," Charfauros added while also confirming that he "100%" fears for his life Assistant Attorney General Monty May then took his chance to question Charfauros May asked about the nature of the threats and if they had been reported to DOC personnel Charfauros explained most threats had been verbal but when he was being held in the Hagåtña Detention Facility Charfauros added that he was not under the impression DOC officers would protect him stated that he was in protective custody and that the threats had been reported to DOC said the issue had not been reported to the Guam Police Department The Guam Daily Post inquired with DOC Director Fred Bordallo Jr further confirmed that Charfauros was being held at the Hagåtna Detention Facility but was transferred to Post 2 at the Adult Correctional Facility in Mangilao "for security and safety reasons." Bordallo also said DOC's Security Threat Intelligence Unit is monitoring "potential threat or risk of safety to the inmate." Charfauros stated in the hearing that he was held in Hagåtna from July 31 to Aug Timblin requested that Charfauros be released on the basis that Charfauros is neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community the case has been "grossly overhyped" and some evidence was false Charfauros was apprehended after an off-island family member contacted GPD about her nephew which resulted in GPD discovering Charfauros had allegedly abused and drowned the child The child was taken to the hospital hours after the alleged abuse and died three days later argued there was no evidence of the minor being "brutally beaten" and an autopsy conducted did not examine the child's lungs opposed Charfauros' release on his personal recognizance and stated there was a contusion found on the back of the minor's head something May said Timblin did not mention Quan said he was not inclined to release Charfauros on his personal recognizance because of the severity of the charges and that a deadly weapon allegedly was used that he would consider placing Charfauros on electronic monitoring Charfauros faces charges of murder as a first-degree felony and aggravated assault as a second-degree felony with special allegations of a deadly weapon used Email notifications are only sent once a day Poll results are published every Monday in The Guam Daily Post Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp Try your hand at picking tea leaves in one of Japan's most prominent tea-producing areas About an hour away from Tokyo is Sayama City and robust flavor of the tea produced from the local harvest Escape from the big city bustle and get hands-on with one of Japan’s quintessential beverages at a century-old tea farm in the green tea heartland Miyanoen invites visitors into their fields to learn about how tea is harvested as well as to experience the process firsthand Collect fresh and fragrant leaves in a bamboo basket try on the short navy kimono and red apron of a cha-musume A separate program allows guests to enjoy a variety of other tasty and culturally alluring activities such as making matcha tea or taking part in a traditional tea ceremony Slow down and take the time to savor the rich layered flavors of your very own hand-picked cup of Sayama tea https://miyanoen.com/school/%e3%81%8a%e8%8c%b6%e6%91%98%e3%81%bf%e4%bd%93%e9%a8%93-2/en/ Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages Investigative stories and local news updates Coverage of the Hawaiʻi State legislature in 2025 Award winning in-depth reports and featured on-going series Get the week’s news delivered straight to your inbox Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected The following came from Jackson Sayama, Democratic candidate for State House District 20, which includes St. Louis Heights, Palolo, Maunalani Heights, Wilhelmina Rise and Kaimuki. The other candidate is Republican Julia Allen Go to Civil Beat’s Elections Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot Hawaii has been deeply affected by the coronavirus pandemic Perhaps the biggest impact is to the economy and the tourism industry which has been Hawaii’s biggest economic driver Do you think state leaders have handled the response to the virus effectively including the approach to testing and health care as well as the stay-at-home orders that have caused serious economic harm While decisions like the stay-at-home order and the two-week quarantine were difficult sacrifices Hawaii’s relatively low infection rate is a testament to the state’s careful management of an unprecedented and rapidly developing COVID-19 crisis the miscommunication between state and city leaders has frustrated families and businesses desperate for a unified voice state leaders must clearly communicate how it will establish robust safety protocols for visitors so residents and businesses can return to work with confidence The underlying issue of Hawaii’s economic sustainability is the product of political inaction to wean the economy off of tourism It’s high time we build a Hawaii that works for our families by investing strategically in developing renewable energy technology strengthening interisland broadband networks growing our agriculture industry and modernizing school curriculum The state budget is facing record shortfalls Measures of austerity should only be considered after taking full advantage of available federal funding from the Federal Reserve Municipal Liquidity Facility ($2.1 billion) the Paycheck Protection Program ($487 million) These funds will help sustain essential services like DLIR’s unemployment benefits process Hawaii must explore alternatives to increase state revenue such as increasing property tax for non-resident homeowners and eliminate tax incentives for businesses that generate little economic benefit If such measures prove to be insufficient to address Hawaii’s budget shortfalls should take appropriate salary cuts before cutting salaries and positions of public employees What do you think should be done to diversify the economy What would you do as an elected official to make that happen I will encourage promising research and its commercialization through coordination with the University of Hawaii and business leaders invest in securing broadband connections across the islands and promote the development and innovation of renewable energy technology the state must pursue more public-private partnerships to invest in innovative projects While growing new jobs in innovative industries Hawa’i must invest in modernizing the school curriculum to prepare our students to take these jobs Despite great efforts by our public school teachers schools have struggled under burdensome mandates and limited resources for even the most basic school supplies faced with greater restrictions from COVID-19 schools must work with the community to continue students’ education I’ve worked with the Jarrett Middle School Foundation and the Palolo Housing to connect students with computers available in the Ohana Learning Center Just as I continue to work with Jarrett Middle School I will collaborate with community organizations to better allocate resources toward developing Hawaii’s future workforce Are you satisfied with the current plans to pay for the state’s unfunded liabilities how would you propose to meet pension and health obligations for public workers Would you support reductions in benefits including in pension contributions for public employees in light of virus-related budget shortfalls Despite the Legislature’s efforts to increase its contribution to the state’s $25.7 billion in unfunded liabilities from the Hawaii Employees Retirement System (ERS) and the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) Hawaii must make hard decisions to avoid failing to honor pension obligations the state has deferred payroll contributions to the ERS to fund other the state is projected to spend more than half of its annual budget towards the ERS and EUTF which will divert critical funds from public services like education I would explore additional sources of revenue as mentioned previously to make up for virus-related budget shortfalls and reassessing tax exemptions The state’s virus response effort has exposed deep rifts within the top levels of government so what would you do to ensure public confidence in Hawaii’s government officials and top executives As a member of my community’s neighborhood board I understand transparent communication and active community engagement are essential components to restore the public’s trust in our government Too often decisions that affect the community are determined unilaterally without input and consent from residents and businesses I will hold myself accountable to serve as an effective government liaison for my community by regularly attending neighborhood boards and making myself available to the concerns of residents Recent deaths of citizens at the hands of police are igniting protests and calls for reform across the country primarily aimed at preventing discrimination against people of color How important do you see this as an issue for Hawaii What should be done to improve policing and police accountability throughout the state Do you support police reform efforts such as mandatory disclosure of misconduct records by police agencies and adequate funding for law enforcement oversight boards that have been established in recent years With ongoing protests against racial injustice and the recent resignation of two reformed-minded members of the Honolulu Police Commission Hawaii must reassess its policing oversight and criminal justice system Hawaii should provide adequate resources and greater authority to law enforcement oversight boards so they can effect meaningful change and provide the public with opportunities to ask questions of the police I would also support mandatory disclosures of misconduct records by police agencies The over-representation of Native Hawaiians in Hawaii’s prisons is a clear indication that Hawaii’s criminal justice system is not immune to systemic discrimination Addressing this injustice will require a multifaceted long-term effort to improve education equality and transition away from incarceration toward rehabilitation programs Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizens initiative process I would not support creating a statewide citizens initiative process Despite the argument that a citizens initiative process would be more democratic it is vulnerable to the influences of special interest groups and doesn’t include the deliberative process that exists in Hawaii’s constitutional framework for a representative democracy To ensure a more democratic legislative process I will focus on increasing public participation in the legislative process by informing legislative efforts and neighborhood board meetings and by making myself available to the concerns of my constituents Hawaii’s public records law mandates that public records be made available whenever possible David Ige suspended the open government laws under an emergency order during the pandemic What would you do to ensure the public has access to open meetings and public records in a timely fashion While I understand the logistical challenges to produce public records during a time government employees cannot access necessary files I believe Hawaii must modernize its online infrastructure to ensure public records are made available even during a crisis The application of modern technologies should be expanded into all levels of government to ensure streamlined operations and transparency of public records The continued use of antiquated systems will further jeopardize the public’s faith in the government to serve with integrity and efficiency What should Hawaii be doing to prepare for the effects of climate change including sea level rise and threats to the reefs Flooding and sea-level rise exacerbated by climate change pose an immediate and significant threat to the health and safety of residents Hawaii must actively pursue flood mitigation projects like the Ala Wai Flood Control Project and infrastructure from anticipated major flooding events We must also identify at-risk coastal areas and explore long-term policy measures like a carbon tax to promote Hawaii goal to transition toward a 100 percent renewable energy grid by 2045 I will work with my community to ensure the Ala Wai Flood Control Project moves forward to strengthen Hawaii’s resiliency and meets the needs of the community What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your district Addressing the immediate economic recovery from COVID-19 is critical to getting families back to work and children back in school To facilitate an expedient and safe recovery I will dedicate all necessary resources to maintaining a robust system to track and contain the virus While it is yet to be determined what safety protocols will make up such a system I would support working with pharmacies with COVID-19 testing capabilities and airlines to incentivize visitors to be tested prior to travel I would support continued investment into the state’s capital improvement projects to provide work to those laid off and strengthen Hawaii’s infrastructure The coronavirus pandemic has exposed numerous flaws in Hawaii’s structure and systems from outdated technology to economic disparity If you could take this moment to reinvent Hawaii to build on what we’ve learned and create a better state Please share One Big Idea you have for Hawaii Having studied and lived in China and Japan I know Hawaii is perfectly positioned to be an economic and diplomatic nexus for the Pacific powers While attracting new business opportunities to Hawaii our communities can explore different solutions and systems to integrate and apply to local issues We can lay the foundation for this change by developing our current sister city relationships with Pacific powers and amending the Jones Act Hawaii can be so much more than a tourist destination but a bridge between two countries that can build a cooperative relationship to address global issues like climate change Unfortunately, being named a finalist for a Pulitzer prize doesn’t make us immune to financial pressures. The fact is, our revenue hasn’t kept pace with our need to grow, and we need your help Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in Hawaiʻi. We’re looking to build a more resilient, diverse and deeply impactful media landscape, and we hope you’ll help by supporting our essential journalism Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter who attended UC Berkeley in wartime and after donated to Bancroft Library the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to him and other Japanese-American soldiers from World War II Kenji Sayama, a 1942 UC Berkeley graduate and a veteran of the U.S. Army’s Military Intelligence Service, has donated to The Bancroft Library a Congressional Gold Medal awarded to him and some 19,000 other Japanese Americans who served in World War II They were recruited into all-Japanese-American military units known for the motto “Go For Broke.” presented the medal to Chancellor Robert Birgeneau and Bancroft Director Elaine Tennant on April 20 Congressional Gold Medal issued to Nisei soldiers “I can’t think of any better place to send (the medal) to than this university,” Sayama said after the ceremony He noted that he spent many hours at the Bancroft including on the day he was scheduled to take his Ph.D He said he got so involved in his studies that he forgot the exam until someone asked him about it that night Friday’s ceremony was attended by Sayama family members and Bancroft staff including Bancroft Director Elaine Tennant and Theresa Salazar curator of Bancroft’s Western Americana Collection That collection includes the U.S. government’s Japanese American Evacuation and Resettlement records from World War II, which are supplemented by personal papers from Japanese Americans in wartime internment camps. The materials, along with those from seven other institutions, can be found in the online Japanese American Relocation Digital Archives Sayama was among dozens of Japanese-American World War II veterans who received the medal in Washington That medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom are the nation’s highest civilian honors in part: “The United States remains forever indebted to the bravery valor and dedication to country that these men faced while fighting a two-front battle of discrimination at home and fascism abroad Their commitment demonstrates a highly uncommon and commendable sense of patriotism and honor.” “It is such an upbeat new chapter in the story of the Japanese internment that is so richly documented at Bancroft,” said Tennant Sayama is the first member of that group of internees who has brought us another later chapter of that story.” Sayama was attending UC Berkeley when President Roosevelt issued the internment order in February 1942; after he left school to look after his parents he was sent to the Rowher War Relocation Center in Arkansas Chancellor Birgeneau accepts the Congressional Gold Medal from Kenji Sayama and his wife The diploma he had earned (based on his mid-term exams) for his undergraduate work in zoology arrived in the mail while Sayama was interned That enabled him to teach science classes for youth in the camp for which Sayama said he earned $9 a month A black-and-white photo of Sayama in a Rowher classroom was recently uncovered in Bancroft’s Relocation Authorities records and was on display Friday His time was split between officers’ and Military Intelligence Service training in the United States receiving a master’s degree in 1950 and a Ph.D It wasn’t until 1992 that Sayama was able to don the traditional cap and gown and formally receive his degrees at UC Berkeley in a special convocation ceremony for all 17 other Japanese Americans who had to leave UC Berkeley before their wartime graduations the Class of ’42 classmate who gave Sayama his diplomas at that event A violent and brutal incident that led to the death of 3-year-old boy results in the child’s mother and stepfather being placed under arrest Twenty-seven-year-old John Paul Sayama Charfauros was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony Thirty-year-old Jonarie Marie Reyes Cruz was arrested on suspicion of child abuse Investigators with the Guam Police Department got involved after receiving a call on July 7 from a family member who lives off-island The relative told police they learned the child died after he apparently drowned The family member told authorities they were suspicious of how the child died The heartbreaking situation even had police Chief Stephen Ignacio cautioning the public of the gruesome details uncovered during a press conference held at the GPD Headquarters in Tiyan Thursday morning It was through video surveillance retrieved from the Villa Rosario Condos pool area in Dededo that officers witnessed the horrific incident Ignacio said Charfauros allegedly forced the child’s head underwater and slapped and punched his face repeatedly Charfauros removed the 3-year-old from the water and sits him on the edge of the pool As soon as Charfauros releases the 3-year-old to stand the 3-year-old slumps over then falls backward causing his head to hit the concrete deck,” said Ignacio “He attempted to revive the child before putting the child back in the water on his back as he sat at edge of the pool He forced the child underwater with his feet.” Footage showed other family members leaving the area as this occurred Investigators discovered Charfauros then allegedly put the child’s head underwater for two seconds then lifted him out before dragging him toward a pavilion and dropping him on the concrete deck The child lost consciousness when Charfauros allegedly picked the boy up by his wrist and dropped him again causing his head to hit the concrete once more The alleged violence continued as Charfauros forced the boy to walk on his own “The victim struggled as they exited through gate,” he said More than one hour had passed before the child was taken to Guam Regional Medical City then transferred to the Guam Memorial Hospital whenever Cruz reported the child was found floating in the pool The toddler spent the day in critical condition and on life support before doctors declared him brain dead He was taken off life support the following day and died Child Protective Services and GPD’s Criminal Investigation Division were called to investigate when officers learned Charfauros and Cruz allegedly lied about what actually occurred to the child.Court documents state Cruz admitted that she "lied" and asked others to lie for her as well She knew it was wrong of her adding that she also deleted all of the text messages from Charfauros.  The investigation led to the pair being arrested on July 31 Both are being held in the Department of Corrections prison The West has long recognised that soft power can be an inexpensive and low-risk route to influencing others In 2007 soft power was identified as an important feature of China's national policy It has since sought to articulate its own theoretical basis for soft power and has made a concerted effort to increase its soft-power activities around the world This paper argues that China's soft power is based on a combination of modern Marxist and ancient Confucian thought These ‘Chinese values’ are seen as being in competition with the ‘American values’ of democracy Beijing wants to strengthen its voice and influence in the world to encourage a sense of pride within Chinese living in China and overseas in order to strengthen the control of the Chinese Communist Party The Confucius Institutes are the main tool that Beijing uses to exercise soft power abroad but it has also used the television and the internet to spread its message So far China's soft-power activities have not been particularly successful mainly due to Beijing's reluctance to accept the risks of allowing an uncensored civil society Osamu Sayama is a Visiting Fellow in the International Security Studies group at RUSI security and international affairs to help build a safer UK and a more secure Copyright 2025 | The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies | RUSI is registered as a charity in England and Wales - Charity number: 210639 | VAT number: GB752275038 Today's print edition Home Delivery Fireworks festivals are one of Japan's most popular summer attractions — but this year multiple organizers are canceling the much-awaited event due to complaints of debris causing property damage 10 festivals have been canceled in the Kanto region including the Adachi fireworks festival due to a storm on Saturday according to tourism information website Walkerplus.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); One city that will not be celebrating with fireworks this year is Funabashi in Chiba Prefecture canceled its yearly summer fireworks festival after debris from the event damaged seven boats docked in a nearby port last year which cost the event organizer ¥12 million ($76,200) in damages In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors A man accused of repeatedly drowning and abusing his 3-year-old stepson was allegedly "teaching him to swim and horseplay," court documents stated were charged in the Superior Court of Guam after the Guam Police Department arrested them in connection to the death of Cruz's 3-year-old son The investigation into the child's death was launched after GPD received a phone call from a concerned off-island family member who said that her nephew's death "was suspicious because no one called the police." According to court documents police then learned during their investigation the child was brought to Guam Regional Medical City by Cruz on July 4 when medics then brought him to Guam Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on July 7 The child was found to have "a substantial amount of water in his lungs," the magistrate's complaint stated before detailing the interview police had with Charfauros on Wednesday Charfauros allegedly said he was attempting to teach his stepson how to swim on July 4 and that "he may have went a bit far as far as teaching him to swim and horseplay" but denied hurting the 3-year-old "Charfauros also told police he was trying to make T.C strong from the inside out and was 'shuffling' T.C Defendant Charfauros said that he pushed T.C.'s head under water and wanted to make a man out of T.C.," according to the complaint Surveillance footage of the incident further showed Charfauros was "dunking" the child's head under water multiple times and was punching the child "in a violent fashion along his rib and head/facial areas while inside the pool," the complaint stated "Charfauros is seen multiple times striking T.C while in the water and around the pool area Defendant Charfauros is also seen throwing T.C into the 5-foot-deep part of the pool where two other witnesses observed T.C go all the way to the bottom," according to the complaint and she allegedly admitted she told Charfauros to stop several times as he handled the child in a "reckless manner." Cruz added she also saw Charfauros throw the child into the air and roughly pat the child's back after his head hit the concrete ground as a result of the 3-year-old "falling back helplessly," the complaint stated Cruz further admitted she should have stopped Charfauros Regarding bringing the child to the hospital Cruz told police the 3-year-old's stomach was full of water and she took him to GRMC and told staff "he slipped and fell in the water and was in the water for over a minute." "Cruz admitted that she 'lied' and asked others to lie for her as well," the complaint stated "Cruz wrote that she knew it was wrong of her." Cruz additionally said she saw her son go to the bottom of the pool and that she deleted all of her text messages with Charfauros One of the witnesses Cruz asked to lie was interviewed and reported she was present during the incident and heard from Cruz the child had died Cruz allegedly told the witness "please don't say anything about what happened," the complaint stated "(Witness) told police that Defendant Cruz later told her that she told the hospital that T.C (Witness) also told police that Defendant Cruz later told her the kids were taken away and that she will need (witness) as a witness," the complaint stated GPD also interviewed another witness present who reported he was swimming with Cruz's family and saw Charfauros "drowning" the 3-year-old and "smacking" the child to wake him up "(Minor) also overheard Defendant Cruz tell T.C would die when Defendant Charfauros was drowning him," according to the complaint Charfauros was charged with murder as a first-degree felony and aggravated assault as a second-degree felony with special allegations of using a deadly weapon which was identified as "pool water" in the complaint Cruz was charged with child abuse as a third-degree felony and misdemeanor charges of destroying evidence and tampering with a witness View Visitation & Service details > 2017 with her loving daughters by her side Guam to the late Jesus Baza and Angelina (Taitingfong) Sayama She became a US Navy wife and worked in office administration for May-Grant Associates since 2003 May and their children Liam and Taylor of Lancaster and Jessica E engaged to Amanda Reitz both of Lancaster; 6 brothers Judy and Elaine; and many nieces and nephews Lourdes family will host an informal gathering from 5 to 7 PM Memorial contributions may be made to the Ann B Condolence Message: Be sure to include your name Please note that your condolence will not appear on this page until it is reviewed Condolences usually appear within 24 hours of being submitted Tanya and Jessica so very sorry to hear of your moms passing I used to work with her at SMH and my daughter Tanya babysat you two onetime Your mom will always have a special place in my heart She was such a sweet person and I will remember her just that way I’m sure you both will miss her very much You and your families will be in my prayers you were named because she liked my daughters name Familia: A thought of comfort and condolences to our grieving family  May our prayers ease your pain of this loss Mom will be missed and will forever be watching over you all.  Love Lina & Kalani (Sayama Perez) Auntie Deding: Today you will go to your final resting place & before you do My family & I would like to say ADIOS Asta ki umali’e’ hit ta’lo.  Hu Guaiya hao Tiha (Translation: Goodbye until we meet again Remembering Lou for her kind and gentle spirit  When were members of Bethany class at Abbeyville Road Christian Church I always appreciated her caring nature for others and and cheerful manner  The last time I saw Lou she lovingly showed me pictures of her grandchildren  With sympathy and prayers for her family I was a nurse in the triage department and spent many lunches talking to her.What I learned she loved her daughters and her Grandchildren with all her heart My Condolences to you Jess and Tanya to hear the loss of your Mother who is my 1st Cousin We got to see and enjoyed her company eating reminiscing our childhood and capturing the moments taking pictures and videos and seeing her off to go back home to you all.  everyone looked up to you coz you were such a beautiful women you always scold me and Judy to do good,but you know me and Judy we always get into trouble You will be missed dearly and to your beautiful girls may you cherish mom forever I am so sorry for the loss of your wonderful mother.  She was truly an amazing woman grandmother and friend.  I am lucky to have known her and to have called her a close friend.  She shall be missed greatly.  I will keep you all in my heart and prayers.  Love to all.  Jennifer Glassman  Love from the Backcountry Edge family (Jess’s coworkers) Our seven funeral homes in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties makes it easy and convenient to make arrangements and host services close to home from complications due to a duodenal perforation She was a quiet person but truly enjoyed being with family and friends She was always hardworking and together with her husband enjoyed raising their family on their farm in Elwood CA to Kazuo Kishimoto and Izumi (Tomoshige) Kishimoto 1948 at the Ogden Buddhist Church in Ogden she grew up and lived in farming country near Fresno and her baby sister Patty to live in Japan while the parents returned to America to work and earn money She and her siblings lived in Japan with their grandma and uncle for four years before returning to America entered World War II after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor President Roosevelt signed Executive order 9066 which authorized the forced removal of Japanese citizens living in west coast states to relocation centers further inland her family along with over 10,000 Japanese Americans were uprooted and sent to the Gila River Relocation Center located within the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona They could take very little of their belongings with them and had to leave most of their belongings behind her family of 6 lived in a single room in the barracks during their time in camp passed away at the young age of 43 while still in camp her family moved to Utah at the suggestion of a distant family relative The whole family worked hard as farm laborers and had to adjust to snow and cold winters which they were not accustomed to Mary attended and got her diploma from Davis High School and worked various jobs when not in school or not doing farm work It didn’t take long for them to realize they were meant for each other They were engaged a few months later and married in August 1948 Together they started a family and worked on the Sayama brothers farm until they bought a farm of their own in Elwood They raised four children and taught them the importance of family She and her family were members of the Honeyville Buddhist Church and actively participated in many church related activities Her husband Kazuo was president of the church between 1966-1969 she lived with her daughters for several months until she was ready to return to her home in Elwood where she lived by herself until 2014 (age 88) From 2014 on she rotated living with her daughters in Utah and son in San Jose arts and crafts (in particular Japanese Bunka embroidery and crocheting) always getting blue ribbons at the Box Elder County Fair and often receiving the big purple “sweepstakes” ribbons UT; 11 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews Also surviving is one brother Tom (Eiko) Kishimoto her husband Kazuo Sayama in 1995; brother Dick (Kiyomi) Kishimoto in 2007; and sister Patty Kishimoto in 2015 2023 at 10:00 am at the Honeyville Buddhist Temple (3945 W 6900 N UT) with Reverend Jerry Hirano officiating Interment will be at the Brigham City Cemetery (300 E 300 S Online condolences and the link to the livestream of the service may be found at www.ruddfuneralhome.com please send donations to the Honeyville Buddhist Temple LLC | www.standard.net | 332 Standard Way hiroshi nakamura and NAP architects have recently shared images of the sayama forest chapel which forms part of the sayama lakeside cemetery complex in the saitama prefecture, japan the modest timber structure is located at the threshold of dense forest and a small clearing next to a scarcely used road stretching along the cemetery that leaves no room for pedestrian traffic or reflecting.  the roof forms projecting lines that frame openings on all sides image © koji fujii | nacasa & partners inc (also first image) the complex- the final resting place for various religions practices- led NAP architects to seek a structure that would create an architecturally secular space for accommodating the mourning the japanese gassho-style structure of two opposing walls leaning against one another was utilized to fulfill several conceptual and structural purposes the gentle tee pee-like form alludes to the form of the hands made when praying its subtly angled walls form an intimate space that follows the form of the body when praying as if the structure were to be praying as well the section tapers towards the top of the roof to avoid the branches of the forest canopy the floor plan meanwhile occupies the triangular site with circular voids that preserve existing trees.  the understated elevation features silvery roof tiles and triangular gassho-style openings image © koji fujii | nacasa & partners inc composed of fractalizing lines which naturally form between ceiling and floor a curving surface of vertical wooden planks the resulting interior features a dark slate floor that subtly slopes towards the triangular-framed glass windows the timber structure forms rhythmic patterns along the walls that accentuate the curves and the height of the space always ending at each wing in the gassho form the roof system is comprised of hand-crafted aluminum tiles that span from the top of the ridges to the ground level- a neutral backdrop amidst the natural landscape that similarly accentuates the curves of the form the minimalist interior allows the grieving to focus their energy towards the exterior forest image © koji fujii | nacasa & partners inc the slate floor, timber structure and aluminim roof come together with very clean details image © koji fujii | nacasa & partners inc the vertical planks in between openings form naturally curved tapering columns image © hiroshi nakamura and NAP architects image © koji fujii | nacasa & partners inc hand-crafted aluminum tiles clad the roof system image © koji fujii | nacasa & partners inc exposed wooden structure during construction reveals the skeleton of the building image © hiroshi nakamura and NAP architects AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style CRIME SCENE: The Villa Rosario Condominiums complex is seen Tuesday A mother and stepfather have been indicted on charges related to the death of a 3-year-old boy in early July a Superior Court of Guam grand jury produced a true bill after finding probable cause to indict John Paul Sayama Charfauros and Jonarie Marie Reyes Cruz on charges stemming from the death of Cruz's 3-year-old son Charfauros was charged with murder as a first-degree felony and aggravated assault as a second-degree felony with special allegations of use of a deadly weapon attached to the charges Cruz was charged with child abuse as a third-degree felony and destruction of evidence and tampering with a witness as misdemeanors who are both being held at the Department of Corrections pending trial will appear in court on Thursday for their arraignment hearings where they will plead guilty or not guilty to the charges Charfauros and Cruz were charged after a concerned off-island family member called the Guam Police Department to report her nephew's "suspicious" death GPD subsequently launched an investigation and learned that the child was brought to Guam Regional Medical City by Cruz on July 4 before being taken to Guam Memorial Hospital Police then learned the child was with Cruz and Charfauros at the pool of Villa Rosario Condominiums in Dededo with other family members on July 4 Surveillance footage viewed by investigators showed that Charfauros was repeatedly dunking and punching the child in the pool Footage additionally showed Charfauros dropping the child on the concrete deck near the pool Charfauros is seen leaving the pool with the child the 3-year-old was not taken to GRMC until more than an hour after leaving the pool Cruz informed GRMC staff her son had slipped fell in the water and remained in the pool for over a minute She allegedly admitted to lying to hospital staff asking others to lie for her and also deleting all messages she had with Charfauros he allegedly stated he "may have went a bit far as far as teaching him (the 3-year-old) to swim and horseplay" but denied hurting the boy While picking tea leaves in the fields of the Sayama Green Tea School I glanced up and saw a friendly Totoro statue standing outside a neighboring house the rolling hills surrounding the tea school near Tokorozawa in Saitama Prefecture are called the Totoro Forest The area is said to be the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki’s classic animated film The Totoro statue (which can be visited as a separate activity aside from the Sayama Green Tea School) was one of the many highlights offered during my enlightening experience at the family owned and operated farm Sayama Green Tea School consists of five local tea farms – Sayama Farm Nishizawa Farm and Ikenoya Farm – where international guests are welcome to enroll in a range of programs from picking tea leaves to roasting leaves to brewing the perfect cup of green tea I was surprised that Ryoichi Wada’s tea farm – Sayama Farm – is just a 30-minute train ride from Tokyo’s Ikebukuro Station led us to the tea fields to demonstrate how to pick the perfect tea leaf sifting through the plants and selecting the shoots Our next lesson was to learn the manufacturing process Wada dumped a mound of crushed green tea leaves in a tray on top of a mysterious wooden box and turned a dial We craned our necks to see something like a gas burner inside Heat emanated from the box as Wada flipped the crushed tea leaves over to distribute the heat evenly I ran my hands through the tea leaves over and over The final stage of our schooling was the tasting Wada taught us to cool down the boiling water before pouring it on the leaves how long to wait for the tea to brew and how to pour the tea into each cup little by little He explained to us that the time isn’t wasted in waiting but rather provides the chance to chat with family and friends “I think it’s a great tragedy,” he told us philosophically “that young people only know the taste of bottled green tea.” The particular tea produced at Sayama Farm and the surrounding green tea farms is called Sayama Green Tea and traces its history to the 14th century Sayama Farm has embraced the farm-to-table philosophy black and iced teas can be enjoyed at their café The Sayama Green Tea School offers a fascinating opportunity to learn about the entire process of tea-making – in addition to a photo op with Totoro Find more information about Sayama Green Tea School on our Concierge listing Six students from Vestal High School (Vestal New York) who worked with Binghamton University Associate Professor Hiroki Sayama throughout the 2016-17 academic year had the opportunity to present their work at NetSci 2017 a professional network science conference held in June in Indianapolis They were the only high school students whose poster was accepted for presentation “How Behavioral Attributes Affect the Cohesiveness of Society: An Agent-Based Social Network Simulation,” was an investigation of community interaction conducted by Vestal High School seniors Evan George Kashaf Nadeem and Sheng-Liang Slogar; and juniors Ewa Sulicz Mentored by Sayama and Vestal High School computer science teacher Carol Reynolds the students created a simulation of a growing and evolving community of hundreds of virtual residents They then ran and recorded approximately 200 simulations using different variables to determine what would happen to the community over a millennium The students were surprised to discover that the community easily fractured in multiple clusters and the conditions for the community to remain united were not trivial “This conference was a life-changing experience,” says George “We were all pretty nervous about presenting our work but people were interested in our concept and commended us They were shocked to learn we’re high school students!” “The students did a fantastic job at NetSci,” says Sayama who has been working with the high school for several years through the Computational Understanding of Living Systems (COULS) program “They demonstrated computationally how our society may evolve dynamically “This was my first venture into the world of academics and research,” says George “It has convinced me to pursue research of some kind at college.” All three Vestal High seniors who participated in the project will attend Binghamton’s Thomas J Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science in the fall George and Slogar plan to study computer science High schoolers mentored by Binghamton professor present at national conference is currently engaged in the “UPCYCLE B” project which proposes sustainable lifestyles for the next generation The project’s third sustainable craft beer*2, Sayama GREEN a byproduct whose low use value prevented it being fully utilized until now On the same day, Sayama HONOKA TUMBLER IN THE FOREST which is made using materials including the tea dust*3 produced when tea leaves are sifted and shredded The 15th-generation proprietor of Okutomi-En a tea farm that has been in business since the Edo period from cultivation to processing and distribution he is broadening the possibilities of tea while continuing to enjoy the process The 6th generation proprietor of a tea shop with a philosophy of “producing tea that makes customers happy.” He produces variety-specific teas and teas made with the “magatama” method Information for the media is available here Under-aged drinking and driving are prohibited by law Telo Taitague and Chris Barnett to give the Supreme Court of Guam the authority to license advance practice paralegals saw general support during its public hearing Thursday but that also came with some concerns and recommendations from stakeholders The legislative intent of the bill states that in consideration of the nationwide shortage of attorneys supreme courts in several states are adopting training and licensing programs that allow qualified paralegals who generally cannot provide legal advice or represent clients in court to perform duties traditionally reserved for practicing attorneys or law clerks "It is the intent of I Liheslaturan Guåhan to allow the Supreme Court of Guam the authority to license and regulate the paralegal profession and determine the qualifications for advanced paralegal practice," Bill 307 states The measure gives the Guam Supreme Court the option to adopt paralegal rules for qualifications licensing requirements and scope of practice But a later provision mandates the Guam Supreme Court to create and publish rules for the proposed chapter That apparent contradiction drew attention from the Judiciary of Guam despite praising the bill's authors for proposing a program that could help provide services for those most vulnerable in the community also laid out several recommendations "to ensure the bill achieves this goal."  "A few sections of the bill appear to contradict each other The proposed section 9702 states that the court may adopt rules section 9706 then requires the Supreme Court of Guam to create and publish specific rules for the new chapter This seems to contradict the discretionary power suggested in section 9702 and may conflict with the separation of powers outlined in the Organic Act We recommend harmonizing these sections to reflect the Supreme Court’s established authority without imposing mandatory rulemaking," Chief Justice Robert Torres Torres also noted that the Guam Supreme Court already has inherent authority to regulate all persons providing legal services and recommended removing or amending the language about "allowing" the local high court to license and regulate the paralegal profession The Judiciary also suggested changing the proposed definition of paralegals in Bill 307 to better align with law in other jurisdictions Whether the bill is even necessary in light of the existing authority of the Guam Supreme Court was a point of discussion Thursday between Sen Thomas Fisher and Attorney General Douglas Moylan "It seems you and I agree at least at one point which is the answer to the question is not evident We need to look into it a little bit," Fisher said Thursday please provide a licensing scheme if you choose to do so I think is the one you're addressing," Moylan responded while Fisher said the discussion would "clearly" come up again if Bill 307 passed Moylan's written testimony stated that the Office of the Attorney General supported the measure but added that more provisions are needed to avoid effects on "paralegals" at the OAG and other government entities "Allowing any outside licensing other than their current job classifications will do exactly the opposite to the intent of Bill 307-37 that is to reduce the support services for prosecutors and assistant (attorneys general) and this AG’s ability to fulfill his many legal duties," Moylan's testimony stated "'Paralegals' which were and are hired through the merit system meeting minimum qualifications established by the Civil Service Commission since 1983 have been employed throughout the government of Guam The legislation must not touch this classification group in any way They should not be subject to any additional licensing scheme," Moylan added the Judiciary also brought up concerns over the lack of paralegal education programs Torres said states with programs similar to those proposed through Bill 307 typically require applicants to obtain an associate degree or higher While Guam Community College and the University of Guam provide some legal studies neither one offers paralegal programs any longer "Reviving and expanding these programs is necessary given the modest participation rates in other jurisdictions Without proper education programs - and adequate funding to support these programs - this bill may not effectively address Guam’s legal service demands," Torres added a faculty member at UOG who testified Thursday in support of Bill 307 said UOG is "adept in position" to restructure and reintroduce its paralegal program to meet local needs The last issue the Judiciary brought up was the potential financial impact of Bill 307 The Bureau of Budget and Management Research requested that the measure be granted a fiscal note waiver noting that the Judiciary believes the approximate fiscal impact of the bill cannot be determined now despite it being premature to determine the exact impact of the program regulations and licensing processes will "inevitably increase administrative costs." this could lead to increased unfunded costs for our branch we respectfully urge that these financial considerations be considered to ensure that our judiciary can effectively manage these new responsibilities," Torres stated Election Questionnaires sustainable vision for Hawaiʻi and a lifelong commitment to bettering the future of our local families and children my district has been home my entire life and I will work tirelessly to ensure that my community and Hawai`i can continue to be home for local families for generations To listen to and address the concerns of my community I currently serve on my local neighborhood board and have conducted outreach with houseless communities around Oahu I’ve also interned with the Honolulu Mayor’s Office of Economic Development My global experiences studying in China and Japan gives me a unique perspective on Hawaii’s role in the Pacific – not just a tourist destination to attract global opportunities to innovate and develop solutions for both local and global issues My top priority is to ensure the health and financial security of local families and businesses by strictly enforcing and managing COVID-19 safety protocols While Hawaiʻi must work towards diversifying its economy the immediate focus must be on safely reopening Hawaiʻi to visitors The further we delay reopening our economy the more local businesses will go under and families will suffer While we cannot completely eliminate the risk of infection the State must enforce pre-testing and quarantine procedures as well as expand its local capacity to track Without enforcing robust safety protocols and expanding testing it will be difficult to mitigate and monitor the spread of the virus much less reopen the economy without risking another outbreak I will work tirelessly to strengthen the State’s capacity to manage this pandemic and to communicate these efforts with my district to inspire security and confidence Despite recent spikes in active COVID-19 cases I would not advocate for a full lockdown as was done during the initial outbreak or reinstate an inter-island quarantine To mitigate the spread and strengthen the State’s ability to respond I would support pre-testing protocols for visitors and the expansion of the Stateʻs contact tracing and testing capabilities I will coordinate with the area superintendent and teachers to ensure all measures are taken to protect the health and safety of school staff If additional resources are required to accommodate for distance learning I would work to bring resources from the community and State to do so With one of the highest unemployment rates in the country the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) has been overwhelmed by laid-off workers awaiting their unemployment benefits To ensure families can receive their much needed benefits DLIR must work to expand its capacity to process claims as well as modernize the software Hawaiʻi must invest in expanding its financial aid to organizations like AUW that administer rental relief and other services for struggling families I would coordinate with food distribution networks and other community organizations to identify individuals who require help Maintaining the State’s capacity to serve the community whether it be processing unemployment benefits or teaching students or downsizing would only be considered after exhausting all possible financial mechanisms to make up for the shortfall in revenue The State must invest in its community by streamlining processes and programs needed by struggling families and businesses To lay the foundation for a more diverse and resilient economy I will encourage promising research and its commercialization by coordinating with the University of Hawaii and the business community I will also invest in securing broadband connections across the islands work with the local defense industry’s ongoing programs to develop Hawaii’s tech-based industry and promote the innovation of renewable energy technologies Hawai’i must also invest in modernizing the school curriculum so our students are ready to take these jobs after they graduate Having talked to local teachers and Ruth Silberstein the former area superintendent and former principal of Palolo Elementary I understand the hard work and coordination required to realize such a curriculum I will fight for school funding and to provide teachers with the freedom to tailor their curriculum to the needs of their students The police can only serve our communities well if we can trust them and that requires a high level of accountability we first need to give more authority to oversight panels for the police departments we need to create better standards ranging from implicit bias training to police records It’s unacceptable to have cases of “unknown” deaths in police custody or under-recording deaths due to faulty “homemade” records as stated by Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard we need to rethink the police’s role in houselessness While these sweeps may garner support from residents and businesses these actions only serve to push houseless individuals from one neighborhood to the next and further strain the relationship between the houseless and the government The State of Hawaiʻi was founded upon the illegal annexation of the Hawaiian Kingdom While this original sin and subsequent inequalities felt by the Native Hawaiian community must be addressed TMT is also the kind of innovative project Hawaiʻi needs to attract local talent to elevate its standing in the global scientific community and to bring millions of dollars in investment into the local economy the University of Hawaiʻi must decommission five existing telescopes and restructure its management to respect the sacred land and include input from the Native Hawaiian community Whether it’s TMT or other development projects Hawaiʻi must coordinate closely with local stakeholders to ensure transparency and accommodate community concerns and neighbors leave Hawaiʻi because of rising costs of living and lack of job opportunities I know that I am a young voice in this election but Hawaiʻi must change if my generation and future generations are to call Hawaiʻi their home today’s problems won’t be solved if we expect others to solve them As a candidate born and raised in District 20 who has gained a global perspective and is committed to building a better future for local families I am ready to serve as District 20’s next State House Representative “We were very fortunate to have three outstanding applicants all of whom were accepted and are looking forward to spending next year at Oxford Washington and Lee University signed a memorandum of understanding with Oxford University’s Mansfield College that would allow W&L students to study at the university in the U.K Mohini Tangri and Kenta Sayama – are preparing to pack their bags and spend their junior year there studying a broad range of subjects across the humanities and social sciences while taking in the sights and sounds of Oxford in residence at Mansfield College,” said Mark Rush director of international education at Washington and Lee While the three students intend to study a wide variety of subjects all expressed interest in Oxford’s new human rights institute They are also looking forward to experiencing the tutorial style of teaching “While one important aspect of global education is exposing students to different cultures and different people it is also about exposing them to different educational models,” said Rush “The tutorial system at Oxford will broaden and deepen their exposure to different pedagogical structures which will be a great addition to their educational experience.” Hear the students talk about their upcoming year: Kaoru Sayama looks set to finally return in the new RPG Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's new trailer has reignited hope among fans that Kiryu might one day find love - and with one particular person Yesterday, December 7, RGG Studio rolled out the new Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth trailer below at The Game Awards 2023 and you're in for a double whammy surprise - not only is fan-favorite Shun Akiyama apparently returning for the new game It's been years since we've seen Sayama in a Yakuza game The cop played a huge role in Yakuza 2 (and Kiwami 2) and drew very close to Kiryu over the course of the game to the point where the two were basically joined at the hip and verging on a romance and Sayama abruptly transferred overseas to America at the beginning of the game "KIRYU SHE'S WAITING FOR THE RING GODDAMMIT DO IT" writes the top-voted Reddit comment under the post "MARRY HER PLEASE KIRYU PLEASEEEE I BEG YOU DESERVE HAPPINESS" adds another similarly intense comment What's odd about the entire thing is how Sayama's looking at her ring finger when she says "maybe a part of me is still waiting for him," before the trailer cuts to Kiryu in a bucket hat Perhaps Sayama is alluding to how she never got married because she was waiting for Kiryu to propose?  and it might need to be if we've got to cover the topics of Kiryu Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is out on January 26 Read up on our full Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth preview for what we made of the whacky RPG when we played it for ourselves.  Hirun CryerSocial Links NavigationHirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021 In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry Archive Architecture Privacy Policy | About Our Ads Freshman Hawaiʻi State Rep. Jackson Sayama and several state lawmakers introduced House Bill 446 that would help alleviate the increasing thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles The bill passed first reading in the House and has been assigned to committees Catalytic converters contain precious metals that thieves steal and then sell as the price of metal skyrockets The bill calls for new requirements on the buyer and seller of catalytic converters and increases fines for violators Businesses that buy used parts and metals would be required to refuse the purchase of used motor vehicle parts or accessories and report the attempted sale to police if a seller does not provide appropriate information at the time of the attempted sale The bill would help protect families dependent on their vehicles to go to work and take their children to school “Many families are already struggling with the pandemic and don’t have an extra $1,000 to $2,000 to replace their stolen catalytic converter,” Sayama said “Just as the legislature cracked down on the theft of copper in 2013 we must place safeguards to prevent the illegal trade and theft of catalytic converters now.” Although online classes have become a key part of the education landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic, Binghamton University’s Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science has been offering distance learning for decades In fact, Watson’s EngiNet program has been around long enough that it actually used to mail out lectures on VHS tapes and students would send back any homework or exams for evaluation Recently, though, the New York State Education Department approved master’s and PhD degrees in systems science as the first Watson College graduate programs that can be completed entirely online. More applications for fully remote graduate degrees in the Department of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering (SSIE) and Watson College are in the NYSED pipeline “Our department is very excited that we finally have SUNY and NYSED approval to offer our systems science degrees online,” said Professor and SSIE Department Chair Mohammad T. Khasawneh “Our highly interdisciplinary systems science program continues to grow in breadth, depth and application, building on the solid foundation established by the late Distinguished Professor George Klir the father of the systems science discipline we will be able to offer this unique program that’s known nationally and internationally to a much wider audience around the globe.” The broad spectrum of research topics within systems science includes computer simulation In additon to academic and entrepreneurial pursuits companies hire systems science graduates as quality engineers Professor Hiroki Sayama said that the online program is designed primarily for distance-learning students with full-time jobs Those students watch classes in the evenings or weekends through asynchronous education “We have the recording facilities in the EngiNet classroom but now I can also record on my own computer,” Sayama said “We upload those lectures and all other current materials to students many distance-learning students can participate in real time through Zoom.” Different off-campus graduate students have different lifestyles and learning styles Some students like to interact with instructors while others prefer to watch lectures and skip back a bit to anything they missed Students can meet with faculty members at office hours specifically set up for remote students “It’s really important to make sure they have actual engagement,” he said the research supervision is the same as any other student There are regular meetings between student and advisor and the student will conduct research based on very rigorous discussions.” Sayama currently has 12 students with full-time jobs and he hopes this NYSED certification will encourage more to seek master’s and PhD degrees in systems science “It’s a great opportunity to students as well as to the University,” he said Systems science graduate degrees now can be earned online SEARCHJOIN CLUB This week, a comprehensive, all-encompassing exhibition devoted to the beloved anime house arrived in Tokyo’s Roppongi Hills skyscraper Details of the interactive tribute soon surfaced; it was revealed that the building would house rare publicity posters and concept artwork alongside real-life replicas of film relics such as the giant airship from Castle in the Sky Even the skyscraper’s restaurant presented a themed menu featuring a black burger in tribute to the soot sprites One of the studio’s most iconic films is My Neighbour Totoro a tale of two girls in the countryside that meet a giant There’s a child-like innocence that permeates the film – on the surface it appears to be a message of hope and optimism explored through fantasy in times of hardship one famous fan theory that refuses to die – it’s so famous that the studio had to release a statement denying its accusations back in 2007 we unpick the theory that the film’s cuddly cat is actually a death god and that the storyline makes reference to a brutal schoolgirl murder The Sayama murder case is the famous tale of a 16-year-old girl snatched raped and murdered on her way home from school in the Sayama Prefecture region 1963 and controversy surrounds the suspect that was eventually arrested and charged with 31 years in prison – the theory stands that he was These rumours were fuelled by the suicide of another man in the local area just days after the schoolgirl murder who had the same blood type as the man arrested Apparently the suicidal suspect couldn’t be the rapist because he suffered from erectile dysfunction how the hell do you link Ghibli’s most famous cuddle cat to the brutal rape and murder of a schoolgirl The first clue comes in the protagonists’ names Satsuki (Japanese for ‘May’) and Mei – both of which reference the attack date Then there are numerous clues suggesting the film takes place in Sayama including a tea shop labelled ‘Sayama tea’ and a hospital whose name translates almost exactly to an IRL hospital located in the city Upon first glance I thought the soot sprites were pretty damn cute The animated black balls are littered throughout darkness in the film but have been turned into kawaii Japanese toys adorned with googly eyes – harmless There are contrasting reports; some believe that soot sprites are rumoured to be seen before death in Japanese folklore whereas others maintain that they’re merely a fictional creation devised by Studio Ghibli – either way the fact that they re-emerge just as Satsuki plans to join her sister in death seems more than coincidental A real-life rendering of the Cat-bus is set to be one of the main attractions at the upcoming Ghibli exhibition in Tokyo the bus is a high-octane vehicle designed to transport its passengers directly to the realm of fantasy – after all a verse in the film’s song describes Totoro as a deity that comes to you “only when you are a child” and one of the Cat-bus stops literally translates as ‘Path to the Grave’ – so maybe not so magical after all Totoro may be Ghibli’s most loveable yet enigmatic mascot It seems throughout the film that the two girls are the only characters that can actually see Totoro – why The song verse states he’s only visible to children but Kantu the cat is apparently a death god only visible to the deceased there’s deeper meaning behind the accusation – this theory insinuates that Mei actually drowns in the river and Satsuki herself dies on the hunt for her missing sister There’s a parallel between this and the Sayama case namely that the 16-year-old victim had an older sister who responded to a ransom note by showing up at the desired location with a stash of fake banknotes After she learned that her efforts had been in vain A ceremony was held in December at Honda's plant in Saitama Prefecture to mark the end of production of finished cars at the facility TOKYO -- Honda Motor is getting ready to switch off its engines As part of a radical restructuring leading to an all-electric future Honda has cut its domestic auto production capacity to slightly over 800,000 vehicles a year takes over the design of JINS Besta Sayama store  JINS Besta Sayama by TYRANT Inc. is a roadside eyewear store located on the premises of a supermarket in the suburbs of Sayama, Saitama Prefecture. The design features a wooden frame with a gentle gable roof The entrance and terrace are positioned under the two-meter eaves projecting to the north and south surrounded by various types of bushes and medium-height trees like silver tea trees and Russian olives Constructed using the conventional wooden frame construction method the building adheres to a 2.35 m × 4.2 m grid The grid is based on the dimensions of fittings and passage widths ensuring that pillars don’t obstruct the layout and sheathings are complemented by floor mortar and a reddish-brown accent of antirust coating on the metal The large north-to-south opening creates a bright space with a neat, clean appearance. TYRANT Inc.‘s design prioritizes simplicity and comfort utilizing architectural elements such as the warmth of wood rather than relying on decorative treatments to establish a straightforward and inviting commercial space JINS Besta Sayama roadside store stands within a supermarket premise in Sayama the wooden design emphasizes simplicity and functionality the entrance area is surrounded by silver tea trees and Russian olives opts for a conventional wooden frame construction considering cost-effectiveness and workability the design focuses on creating a comfortable commercial space without excessive ornamentation the grid structure is built on a 2.35 m × 4.2 m grid ensuring unobstructed passages and fitting placement and sheathings are complemented by gray wall painting gray wall painting and a reddish-brown antirust coating on metal add subtle contrasts name: JINS Besta Sayama architect: TYRANT Inc. | @tyrant_inc photography: Yasuhiro Takagi 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. edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom Colossal Located in a forest just beyond a nondenominational cemetery sits the Sayama Forest Chapel, a three-year-old building designed by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP (previously) From a bird’s eye view the chapel appears to form both a star and two hands pressed together in prayer which is a traditional Japanese structural form called “Gassho-zukuri.” “For those who are in deep grief and inconsolable, how can architecture nurture them? With this in mind, I designed buildings that gently surround them and support their intentions,” explained Nakamura to Yellowtrace The building was also built in a way to promote growth around its exterior with walls tilted inward to leave room for the forest to grow around its shape. The chapel’s floor and patterns of its slate also lean toward the forest subtly asking visitors to concentrate their mind on the surrounding elements of nature The chapel was named as a winner in the religious buildings and memorials category in this year’s Architizer A+Awards, an awards program that celebrates the year’s best in architecture and products. (via Yellowtrace) Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member now Join more than 200,000 subscribers and get the best of art and visual culture from Colossal Copyright © 2025 Colossal. See our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy The WWE Hall of Fame is missing some very notable 1980s WWE Superstars Vince McMahon built his WWE wrestling empire largely on the backs McMahon took his father's regional promotion and broke the old territory system rules to fulfil his own wrestling manifest destiny He stopped cooperating with other promoters and treated them like competing businesses The days of WWE being involved in talents exchanges McMahon’s plan was to raid his rivals for their top stars and then be the only game in town and Randy Savage were among the superstars McMahon bought to help build his empire They became household names and helped WWE broaden its audience to include people of all ages WWE became as popular as major sports leagues like the NFL and MLB there were other important pieces to the puzzle and it is puzzling that some of these important pieces have still not been recognized for their accomplishments It may be a matter of time for some but others may never take their rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame were one of WWE’s top tag teams in the 1980s innovative style was a precursor to later teams like The Steiner Brothers They had some memorable matches against The Hart Foundation with whom they shared tremendous in-ring chemistry The British Bulldogs WWE Tag Team Championship reign included some impressive defences against teams such as Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy They dropped the belts to The Hart Foundation after an injury to Dynamite Kid there is no telling how long they may have kept the belts They were two-time Stampede Wrestling International tag team champions and competed in All-Japan’s Real World Tag League The British Bulldogs made their mark in WWE during an era with a loaded tag team division that included Demolition Being one of the elite teams in WWE at that time was an accomplishment within itself and well-deserving of being recognized with induction into the WWE Hall of Fame WhatCulture is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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