WDHN - wdhn.com TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida canceled a planned trip to Central Asia on Friday to lead the government’s response after scientists urged people to prepare for a possible “megaquake” off the country’s southern coast The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its first ever “megaquake advisory” on Thursday warning of a possible future major earthquake triggered by the underwater Nankai Trough after a magnitude 7.1 quake shook just off the eastern coast of Kyushu island earlier in the day was the source of past devastating earthquakes Seismologists at the agency held an emergency meeting after Thursday’s quake to analyze whether it had affected the nearby trough and reassessed the risk of a major quake They urged people to observe high caution levels for about a week Tsunami advisories were issued for several areas but lifted hours later Kishida announced that he had canceled his planned Aug Uzbekistan and Mongolia as a result of the advisory “I have decided to stay in the country at least for about a week to make sure that government measures and communication are fully in place,” Kishida said The Fire and Disaster Management Agency instructed 707 municipalities designated as at risk from a Nankai Trough quake to review their disaster response measures and evacuation plans The meteorological agency’s first “megaquake advisory” sparked public unease and prompted local government offices rail operators and other agencies to begin introducing precautionary measures affecting holiday travelers during the summer “Obon” holiday week Some municipalities even closed parks or cancelled events for the coming week although officials and experts stressed that there was no need to shut down any normal activity They said the advisory was aimed only at raising awareness of a increased probability over the long term and that it was not for any specific timeframe or location Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi called on people to carry on daily social and economic activities such as traveling towns such as Higashi Osaka called on residents not to engage in “unnecessary and non-urgent” travel in case of a major quake called on residents to stock up emergency food and water and to discuss evacuation plans among family members The popular seaside town of Shirahama in Wakayama prefecture said its four beaches parks and other facilities would be closed for the next week An annual fireworks festival planned for Saturday was canceled another popular beach resort in Miyazaki prefecture Rail companies serving the region said their trains will operate at slightly reduced speeds as a precautionary measure a government disaster prevention team said that if a magnitude 9.1 quake struck near the southern coast it could generate a tsunami exceeding 10 meters (33 feet) with a death toll of more than 300,000 and economic damage of more than 220 trillion yen ($1.5 trillion) in a worst case scenario 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 Shibushi-shi Shibushi-cho Shibushi no Shibushi Shiyakusho Shibushi Shisho now say it fast and be sure to pronounce it properly is the name of a municipal support center in Japan specifically in Shibushi district of Shibushi Town the building has even become iconic among locals thanks to its mouthful of a name I'll be at Shibushi-shi Shibushi-cho Shibushi no Shibushi Shiyakusho Shibushi Shisho at sharp six o'clock The tongue twister came about following the merger of three towns locals began writing their addresses in this fashion: Shibushi Town Shibushi district The official name of the building when translated to English is: Shibushi Branch Office of Shibushi City Hall This is where the fun happens when you translate the entire thing into Japanese because 'city' is called 'shi' and 'branch office' is 'shisho' Thus the building is called Shibushi-shi Shibushi-cho Shibushi no Shibushi Shiyakusho Shibushi Shisho in Japanese According to Sora News the building will have a tiny change of name 2021 it'll be called Shibushi-shi Shibushi-cho Shibushi no Shibushi Shiyakusho Shibushi Honcho While it's no longer as fun as it used to be - since the challenge is to hit the 'Shisho' correctly - it's still a challenge saying the name quickly Today's print edition Home Delivery A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture on Thursday initially prompting a tsunami advisory for parts of the coast of Kyushu and Shikoku and for the Meteorological Agency to issue an alert warning of a further possible megaquake along the Nankai Trough area Thursday’s earthquake registered a lower 6 on the seven-point Japanese seismic intensity scale with its epicenter in the Hyuganada sea off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); A total of nine people were reported to have been injured in Kyushu’s Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures as of 7:30 p.m. according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency seven suffered minor injuries while the extent of injuries for the other two remains unclear Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said a landslide had been reported in the city of Shibushi in Kagoshima Prefecture At its own news conference following the quake the Meteorological Agency cautioned that people in the affected areas should be on alert for earthquakes measuring up to lower 6 for the next week especially over the next two or three days the risk of buildings collapsing and of landslides had increased warning people to stay vigilant surrounding quake activity and rainfall A 50-centimeter tsunami was recorded at Miyazaki Port at 5:14 p.m. a 40-cm wave reached Aburatsu Port on the Nichinan coast in Miyazaki at 5:23 p.m. and a 30-cm wave reached Tosashimizu in Kochi at 5:46 p.m All tsunami advisories were lifted at 10 p.m Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed authorities to share accurate information about the tsunami warning and any damage urging residents to take necessary precautions to find shelter The government set up a task force under the helm of disaster management minister Yoshifumi Matsumura Kyushu Electric Power said there was no impact from the earthquake on its Sendai and Genkai nuclear plants which are located in the city of Satsumasendai in Kagoshima Prefecture and the Higashimatsuura district in Saga Prefecture Shikoku Electric Power said no shaking was detected at its Ikata Nuclear Power Plant in Ehime Prefecture — the only nuclear plant on Shikoku Island — adding that the plant’s Unit 3 has been shut down for routine inspections Several domestic flights scheduled to depart Miyazaki Airport after 5:30 p.m “The shaking was quite intense and lasted around 30 seconds,” a clerk at the airport told NHK “We were told that some windows have shattered.” several local train lines across Kyushu were still suspended because of the earthquake (JR Kyushu) reported suspension of some train services on the Nippo Line the Hisatsu Line and the Kitto Line as well as delays elsewhere on those lines It also noted ongoing delays on the Kagoshima Line and the Kyushu Shinkansen The Kyushu Shinkansen line resumed operations following the earthquake at around 5:25 p.m. The Meteorological Agency’s alert warning about a possible large earthquake around the seismically significant Nankai Trough area, issued later Thursday, was its first ever It is believed that the chance of a major earthquake occurring in the Nankai Trough is relatively higher than usual “I urge everyone to check information from the government go back to basic disaster preparedness and get ready to evacuate immediately in the event of an earthquake,” Kishida said in reference to the risk of a Nankai Trough earthquake urging people to refrain from spreading misinformation Kishida is scheduled to fly to Nagasaki to attend a ceremony to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing and from there to head directly to Kazakhstan for a four-day tour of Central Asia Kishida said he will decide whether to cancel these engagements or take further measures according to the developments of the next few hours 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 Japan will release hundreds of thousands of kiloliters of crude oil from its emergency reserves industry minister Koichi Hagiuda said on Wednesday as the country seeks to address rising prices in tandem with the United States and other major energy-consuming countries Hagiuda told reporters the timing of the release is still "under consideration," adding "We will be in step with the United States and other nations concerned." "The stability of oil prices is important in realizing an economic recovery," the minister said during his visit to the city of Kumamoto in southwestern Japan Trade and Industry said it will swiftly release the oil as soon as preparations for bidding and other conditions are finished Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the measure in what will be the first time Japan has tapped state-owned reserves to lower prices "Japan has decided to act in tandem with the United States and sell a portion of the state-owned stockpiles in a manner that does not violate the oil stockpiling law," which limits release for purposes such as responding to disasters and political turmoil overseas Tokyo plans to release reserves in excess of its target of storing enough oil for 160 days of consumption Japan's announcement came after the White House said Tuesday the United States will release 50 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves in coordination with other countries The measure was unveiled as surging gasoline prices and other fuel products have hit households and companies already struggling with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies oil prices rose in Tokyo amid doubts about the effectiveness of the move as the amount of oil they are to release is only worth several days of consumption as well as speculation that it could prompt OPEC Plus to limit output when they hold a ministerial meeting next month At the Tokyo Commodity Exchange on Wednesday Middle East crude oil futures sharply rebounded with its benchmark briefly jumping 3,280 yen ($28.5) per kl to 55,240 yen Japan's past decisions to tap reserves were to address supply concerns following natural disasters and overseas political turmoil the country has implemented releases five times including in the wake of the Gulf War in the early 1990s and the massive earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan in March 2011 While the Japanese government has been hesitant to tap into its stockpiles as it could deplete reserves on hand for natural disasters a senior industry ministry official said earlier it was "not an option" to refuse the U.S which relies on oil-producing countries in the Middle East for around 90 percent of its consumption started keeping crude oil reserves in the 1970s Japan has three different types of oil stocks -- state-owned reserves held by companies and those jointly stored domestically with oil-producing countries As a member of the International Energy Agency the Japanese government is obliged to maintain oil reserves equal to 90 days of net imports in the previous year while the quantity of private emergency stocks should be more than 70 days of its oil consumption in the previous year Japan had reserves for 242 days of domestic consumption of which 145 days' worth were state-owned and 90 days held by the private sector with the remaining volume jointly stored with oil-producing countries according to the latest government data released this month U.S. to release oil from reserves with Japan, China, other countries 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 Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information National Report The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its first megaquake advisory covering 707 municipalities from Okinawa to Ibaraki prefectures after a magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck off Miyazaki Prefecture on Aug The 707 municipalities were designated in advance under the protocol for an expected monster quake emanating in the Nankai Trough in the Pacific Ocean The trough has a history of huge earthquakes occurring in pairs Residents along the Pacific coast are urged to take caution for a possible megaquake over the next week registered a maximum intensity of lower 6 on the Japanese seismic scale of 7 in Nichinan The epicenter was around 30 kilometers off the coast in the Hyuganada sea at a depth of 30 km It occurred within the estimated epicenter area of a megaquake in the Nankai Trough which stretches from the Tokai to Kyushu regions off the Pacific coast Conditions were met for the JMA to issue what is called the Nankai Trough Earthquake Extra Information and the experts issued the megaquake advisory for the first time since the system was introduced in November 2017 The JMA’s strongest megaquake warning calls for evacuations in advance “The possibility of a (Nankai Trough) earthquake occurring is now several times higher than usual,” Naoshi Hirata professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo and chief of the JMA panel “We can’t tell exactly when or where a megaquake will occur but we want people to reaffirm their preparedness.” intensities of upper 5 were recorded in Kushima and Miyakonojo cities on Aug A tsunami advisory was issued for the Uwakai coast of Ehime Prefecture Kochi Prefecture and the Bungo Channel coast of Oita Prefecture Tsunami waves of 50 centimeters hit Miyazaki Prefecture Kagoshima and Kumamoto prefectures due to falling objects Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a news conference on Aug 8 that no abnormalities were detected at nuclear facilities including the Sendai nuclear power plant in Satsumasendai huge earthquakes have occurred within short periods of each other along the Nankai Trough The magnitude-8.4 Showa Nankai Earthquake in 1946 struck two years after the magnitude 8.2 Showa Tonankai Earthquake hit in 1944 the magnitude-8.7 Ansei Nankai Earthquake occurred only about 32 hours after the magnitude-8.6 Ansei Tokai Earthquake Researchers say there is a possibility of 70 to 80 percent that an earthquake with a magnitude of 8 to 9 will occur in the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years The municipalities covered by the megaquake advisory can be seen from the QR code below (This article was written by Ryo Oyama and Shoko Rikimaru.) A powerful earthquake hits off southern Japan; tsunami advisory issued Experts: Kyushu temblor unlikely to trigger Nankai megaquake Eight injured after earthquake rocks Shikoku and Kyushu Quake damages Wakayama after tremors rattle Mt 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 Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The city of Shibushi in Kagoshima came under fire after releasing an eel-farming ad that features an eel personified as a young woman in a school uniform bathing suit The city quickly pulled the ad after receiving many complaints that the commercial is "sexist" and the concept of "cultivating" a woman is inappropriate The video starts with a girl in a pool asking to be fed A man narrates over images of her swimming and relaxing poolside "I fed her delicious food until she was full and let her get a good night's sleep." Part of the objection to the ad likely stems from the commercial's loving tone in which a man seemingly starts to discuss his beloved girlfriend Some viewers might also see sexual innuendo when the young woman repeatedly fails to pick up a water bottle with her slimy eel hands Only at the end of the commercial does the girl transform into her true eel form and let viewers know the real meaning of the ad Before she transforms into an eel for her final swim the girl-eel says "goodbye" in a light-hearted voice with a smile The video ends with images of real eels cooking on a flame Although designed to promote a rural eel-farming industry Some net users commented that the ad is misogynist and "like child pornography." Another net user said that was obviously designed by middle-aged men who tend to govern Japan and control its companies while using images of uniformed high schoolers for promotion Ai Ōsawa, the actress who stars in the promotional video, defends the content of the ad She says the criticism is undeserved and people who object should look at the ad again from a different perspective Conveying eels as disturbing, and even likening them to the Chestbuster from Ridley Scott's Alien films seems acceptable Portraying a young woman as something to be raised is understandably hard for viewers to swallow Megu continued to appear on some promotional items in the Shima area [Via Kai-You] In an innovative step to protect the environment and declining “paper supplies,” Japan launched the world’s first eco-friendly toilet paper made from used diapers. According to KNews, in an initiative to protect the environment, a team of Japan’s governmental and private firms made the world's first toilet paper made from materials including used diapers, “Shibushi Osaki Roll.” The Shibushi and Osaki in Kagoshima Prefecture worked with the private firms on the project. The two municipalities with joint waste management systems started separating disposable diapers in April 2024 from other trash, and between April and September, they collected 98 metric tonnes of hygiene items and turned them into toilet paper. During the initial two months of the production, 30,000 rolls were created, which are currently sold at a pittance of just $2.70 per dozen. A Japanese newspaper, the Mainichi, quoted Satoshi Yoshida from Poppy Paper’s sales department saying, “This initiative could help diversify the ways to secure raw materials, especially as used paper supplies are expected to decline with the rise of paperless systems and a shrinking population.” The recycling process involves three significant steps: sterilising, deodorising, and bleaching using the technology provided by Tokyo-based hygiene product maker Unicharm Corp. Moreover, a spokesperson for the Osaki Municipal Government’s SDGs Promotion Council, Takumi Obo, urged, “Please support this eco-friendly product, which aims to promote a sustainable society by reusing local resources.” The recycled toilet paper is currently available at the seven stores in Kyushu’s Kagoshima Prefecture's Osumi region and southern Miyazaki Prefecture. Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account wanted to drum up some attention for their delicious So they filmed a glossy online advertisement meant to showcase their eels as some of the most exquisitely pampered and sustainable in the country Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience their method didn’t quite hit the artistic sweet spot they intended which featured a young girl who turns into an eel quickly received outcry for denigrating women and was mocked as a clip that looked like it belonged to a horror film the video opens with a teenager in a black swimsuit lounging around a pool asking the man to feed her and help her grow “I decided I would do anything for her as much as I could,” the narrator says with soft piano music playing in the background The message was meant to put the spotlight on sustainability using the tagline: “We’re growing eels carefully.” But some people on social media said it was sexist and brought to mind kidnapping and cannibalism “This makes me think of a girl who is being kidnapped and locked up it’s the delusions of a pervert,” said one Twitter user Shibushi officials quickly caved to social media protest and pulled the advertisement Japan’s industry has for years been threatened by rampant overfishing prices for the traditional delicacy have been rapidly rising But showcasing the eel industry in a commercial that was ultimately interpreted as sexist probably wasn’t the right way for Shibushi’s government to encourage consuming sustainably-farmed eel While Japan’s opposition party has a woman heading it for the first time in history the country still dismally lags behind in female work force representation transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account In a bid to foster the green campaign in Nadi a delegation from the local Government of Shibushi City in Japan visited the town last week The delegation visited the Nadi Town Council to hear about their environmental issues and progress Nadi special administrator Robin Ali said: “The meeting with the visiting delegation was to have some understanding on the current situation after the implementation of JICA partnership programme (Waste Minimisation without Incineration) for Fiji.” Mr Ali said the town council was grateful for the ongoing programmes in place He also thanked the Shibushi City Local Government director Junichi Nishikawa for the handing over of a cheque of US$500 (FJ$1043.85) Mr Nishikawa said: “The amount was collected as donation from staff members of Shibushi City and So-o Recycling Centre Company Limited for the rehabilitation work carried out by Nadi Town Council after TC Winston The town council’s senior assistant health inspector Premila Chandra said they have being actively involved in the Waste Management and Recycling Promotion Pilot Project for a few years now “That was conducted in Nadi Town Council and Lautoka City Council which has given me the opportunity to share this knowledge data and experience with our counterparts at both national and regional level,” she said Health inspector Nafiza Ali said Fiji has been heavily involved in the raising awareness of three projects carried out here The includes ‘Waste Minimisation and Recycling Promotion Project in the Republic of Fiji Islands’ Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management in Pacific Island Countries (J-PRISM) and the Promotion of Shibushi Model (Waste Minimisation without Incineration) from Fiji to Pacific island countries “The practice of waste minimisation and recycling was a new concept for the people and therefore it was really difficult for people to grasp the changes in the waste management system,” she said “However behavioural changes were observed in our people after organising a series of meetings and pocket meetings with the community Educational materials were developed and distributed house-to-house creating awareness on this new concept.” Feedback:  waisean@fijisun.com.fj By entering your email address you're giving us permission to send you news and offers there’s a new toilet paper roll on shelves The Shibushi Osaki Roll is the world’s first toilet paper made from recycled diapers — and it’s available to purchase at seven stores in southwest Japan’s Kyushu While it may be difficult to wrap one’s head around the team of local governments and private firms behind the Shibushi Osaki Roll say the toilet paper is perfectly safe to use — and could be a game-changer for the environment which aims to promote a sustainable society by reusing local resources,” said Takumi Obo a spokesperson for the Osaki municipal government’s SDGs Promotion Council The project was spearheaded by the city of Shibushi and the town of Osaki in Kagoshima Prefecture The two municipalities have a joint waste management system and came together to begin recycling disposable diapers The two cities collected 98 tons of diapers and other used hygiene products and bleached before being shredded into a pulp the treated materials were mixed with recycled paper at a local Poppy Paper Co plant and transformed into rolls of toilet paper 30,000 rolls were created and are now being sold for just 400 yen — or about $2.70 — per dozen While it may not be something people think about while doing their business the traditional pulp toilet paper most of us are used to has a significant environmental impact According to The World Counts, 712 million trees are felled yearly to produce virgin pulp toilet paper which contributes to deforestation worldwide 1.5 pounds of wood are required for production Additionally, one roll of toilet paper requires up to 37 gallons of water to be produced, while recycled toilet paper takes up about half of that Disposable diapers are also a major waste management issue. In fact, disposable diapers are the third-largest single consumer item in landfills And they take an estimated 500 years to decompose The Shibushi Osaki Roll represents a new frontier for a wood And while these two municipalities tackle a small piece of that larger issue the effort could prove viability on a much larger “This initiative could help diversify the ways to secure raw materials,” Satoshi Yoshida from Poppy Paper Co., told The Mainichi “especially as used paper supplies are expected to decline with the rise of paperless systems and a shrinking population.” Header image courtesy of Osaki Municipal Government's SDGs Promotion Council Negativity is everywhere — but you can choose a different story The Goodnewspaper brings a monthly dose of hope Your first issue is free (just $1 shipping) he handed over the little Lala to his friend Yukio Nishimoto When Lala fully recovered a few months later, it was time to bid farewell. However, when Yukio tried to release the penguin into safe waters, the bird refused and returned to the abode where he felt the safest — Yukio's house (via My Modern Met). According to Newsner the Nishimoto family treated the aquatic bird as its own kept him in a personalized air-conditioned room Yukio trained him to walk a few steps to the nearest fish shop and get his diet in his backpack on his own Yukio's neighbors took Lala under their wings and poured water on his head to cool him off whenever he was out strolling. "Sardines and mackerel are his favorite. He loves to eat them. He is adorable!" said an unnamed shopkeeper, who lovingly put a fresh fish in his beak and another in his backpack (via YouTube) Lala formed a unique bond with his human family and captivated the town for over a decade until he died of old age Exotic animals such as lions are occasionally held as pets (via LifeHacker). But it is rare to find pet penguins. Penguins are carnivores, and about 80% of their diet consists of fish. According to Pet Keen Caring for 20 pet penguins is an demanding task as a single penguin can gulp down about 500 pounds of fish each year Penguins' feathers regulate their body temperatures, allowing the tuxedoed birds to survive in temperatures that range from 90°F to -60°F (via Smithsonian). In addition, penguins excrete a lot. According to News18 king penguins specifically poop in huge quantities Their poop is a potent source of nitrous oxide and contributes to global warming In addition to the physical logistics involved owning a penguin today in the United States — legally There are certainly plenty of other adorable pet options out there.