Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker TOYAMA — The 2025 Tonami Tulip Fair kicked off Tuesday in Tonami, Toyama Prefecture, showcasing 3 million tulips of about 300 varieties. To use this site, please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page. This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content, and analyzing our website traffic. By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies. Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. The flowers are on display at Tonami Tulip Park in the city, which is one of Japan’s leading tulip-producing areas. The park features a 30-meter-long, 4-meter-high tulip corridor modeled after the “Snowy Great Valley” of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, a famous location in the prefecture. “Tulips are everywhere,” a woman from Kanazawa said. Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting, readable fomat. © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun TONAMI, Toyama — The tulips at Tonami Tulip Park, the main venue of the 2025 Tonami Tulip Fair, are in full bloom, the event organizer said Monday. Visitors to the event, which is being held in Tonami, Toyama Prefecture, can view tulips of various colors, including red, yellow, white and purple, from the viewing platform on the roof of Tonami Cultural Hall. The city’s mascots Tuli-kun and Lip-chan are also depicted using 210,000 flowers. EventsSIGN UPSIGN INbullishTonami HoldingsWatchlistTonami Holdings (9070 JP): Japan Post Holdings’ (6178 JP) JPY10,200 Tender OfferEvent-Driven484 Views26 Feb 2025 20:17The offer is attractive compared to historical trading ranges and peer multiples The offer represents an all-time high.What is covered in the Full Insight:Introduction to Tonami Holdings' MBOAnalysis of the Tender Offer PriceDeal Structure and Shareholder ApprovalComparative Valuation with PeersImpact on Shareholders and Future OutlookSUMMARY(Sign Up to Access)Try NowBegin exploring Smartkarma's AI-augmented investing intelligence platform with a complimentary Preview Pass to: Unlock research summaries Follow top independent analysts Receive personalised alerts Access Analytics including top global asset managers overseeing $13+ trillion Upgrade later to our paid plans for full-access 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 the design of the ‘tonami public library’ references the region’s wooden azumachi farmhouses which occupy the picturesque plains that surround the site the architects developed the project as an open plan space housed beneath a large timber roof the design also engages with the street that runs parallel to the building’s west facing façade here, thanks to floor-to-ceiling glazing, the library’s interior remains visible from the street. meanwhile, MIKAMI architects designed the roof to serve as a new landmark for the city of tonami with a scale an size that responds naturally to its context the interior of the space is also defined by the distinctive canopy with the dramatic pitch of the roof channeling light into the entirety of the space visitors are welcomed into an open plan hall that contains an information kiosk other more separate spaces include a multipurpose reading room an upper level accommodates additional reading and study areas with an archive also housed on site every visitor to the library will be enveloped in the warmth of wood and the soft natural light that streams in through the high windows,’ says MIKAMI architects name: tonami public library location: toyama prefecture japan client: tonami city completion year: 2020 building use: public library structure: RC+S gross built area: 2,819.48 sqm / 30,348.63 sqf total floor area: 3,342.62 sqm / 35,979.66 sqf architects: MIKAMI architects (representative) | oshida architects & engineers co.,ltd chief architect: kazuhiko mashiko (MIKAMI architects chief architect) design architect: taketoshi tomita natsumi koma (MIKAMI architects) | yukio hamagata (oshida architects & engineers co.,ltd.) structural engineer: kuramochi katsumi yusuke kawamata (MIKAMI architects) facility engineer: akeno facility resilience inc | masayuki okumura (oshida architects & engineers co.,ltd.) lighting design: reiko chikada lighting design inc AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Today's print edition Home Delivery As I lift a bowl of frothy matcha during a Japanese tea ceremony in the lounge of the Rakudo-An hotel in Tonami I hear a staff member whisper something to the guests behind me I turn around to my mother to check that I’ve not just made an embarrassing faux pas It’s only when I finish sipping and lay down the bowl that she leans in and says “You just drank from a 300-year-old priceless antique a pristine example of Korean Joseon dynasty pottery — the historically prized ceramic of choice for Japanese tea ceremonies — is one of dozens of museum-worthy antiques and artworks housed in Rakudo-An a newly opened boutique hotel in the heart of Toyama’s agricultural Tonami Plain A 15-minute walk from the nearest station and surrounded by nothing but rice fields and a scattering of distant farmhouses irrigation waterways and the sounds of nature.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); “When I moved back to Toyama after living for years in Tokyo, I really thought that there would be nothing here to make me stay,” says Sari Hayashiguchi, producer of the Mizu to Takumi Toyama West Tourism Promotion Association “But I was surprised to find so much going on Toyama has a lot to offer — not just agriculture 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 Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information National Report Toyama Prefecture—For the dismayed organizers of an iconic flower festival here attempts to provide locals with complimentary tickets are not coming up roses While organizers of the Tonami Tulip Fair view reselling tickets intended for local residents as disrespectful authorities have clarified that doing so isn’t illegal distributed two free tickets to the tulip fair for each of the city’s roughly 18,000 households some of these tickets have surfaced for sale on the popular flea market app Mercari and other online platforms The official ticket price for visitors from outside the city is 1,500 yen for high school students and adults The distribution of free tickets began in 2000 but their appearance on online marketplaces is a recent phenomenon “This is disappointing,” a frustrated organizer said to be held from April 23 to May 5 this year making it one of the largest tourist attractions in the Hokuriku region Organizers have printed a “no resale” warning on the tickets since last year declined a request from the event organizers to remove the tickets from its platform saying that reselling such tickets doesn’t violate its regulations The company told The Asahi Shimbun that it refrains from commenting on individual items listed on the app The 2019 law banning the resale of tickets with identified buyers doesn’t apply to the Tonami Tulip Fair tickets “These complimentary tickets lack buyer identification falling outside the legislation’s scope,” explained an official from the Agency for Cultural Affairs 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 make sure JavaScript is enabled in your browser We use cookies to improve your experience and our services. We also share information about your use of our website with our analytics partners. You can change your cookies settings, please see our Cookie Policy. Otherwise Our Capabilities TOP Knowledge & Data TOP Sustainability TOP Japan is seeing its birthrate decline and population age with many of its citizens living into their eighties and nineties This has caused communities nationwide to face the serious issue of how to remain viable while helping their members remain healthy in old age businesses will play a supporting role in the endeavor one of Japan’s leading dairy product makers jointly launched a community health project to help the city of Tonami the project offers a model for municipal governments and local residents to revitalize their communities The project originated with people’s concerns about their health and future Since living to the age of 100 is not uncommon in Japan today a growing number of people hope to maintain their health into old age the more people are likely to be worried about health issues restrictions on activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic have made it more difficult for senior citizens to live a full life free of health-related worries While municipal governments must take steps to address matters related to health businesses should also provide support and make use of their resources envisioned a project together to help improve the health of local residents the Tonami city government contacted Meiji about forming a partnership and Dentsu was requested to devise ways to promote their project Tonami and Meiji formally initiated a community health project by forming a partnership agreeing to use in Meiji’s brand of R-1 yogurt and yogurt drinks in activities aimed at promoting health management among city residents and The project is designed to support the physical and mental health of all city residents The city government hopes this will bring more overall vitality to Tonami the city will promote good eating habits as part of a healthy lifestyle by having Meiji continue providing support for community health activities with its R-1 brand of yogurt and yogurt drinks The goals of the project were to improve the health of city residents in terms of physical activity levels and mental well-being the project sought to revitalize the entire community the activities encouraged must be deeply rooted in the community three important steps were taken when designing the project we described the city’s health management partnership with Meiji in simple terms Although the project was based on a legal arrangement we chose words with which city residents could identify and that conveyed the meaning of the project we created a project leadership team comprising people from various local government departments Having government representatives directly involved demonstrated the city’s commitment to the project we set up a system to have city residents participate as project ambassadors and provide information through social media we aimed to ensure that the city government and local residents would join forces to propel the project forward to monitor the progress of the project’s goal of bringing vitality to the city a leading expert on well-being and head of Keio University’s Wellbeing Research Center Plans are in place to have him conduct physical and mental health assessments in the future When determining what exactly the project would do we decided on three main objectives for improving community health: increasing physical exercise among the elderly providing educational programs for children and teaching young and middle-aged people how to increase their life expectancy Activities have been carried out to increase physical exercise among the elderly sessions aimed at helping senior citizens maintain their muscle strength were held 12 times The sessions invited participants to take on the challenge of becoming an active centenarian each session featured seminars on the benefits of yogurt and maintaining good health in old age While participants socialized after the sessions Some participants commented that the sessions provided a good opportunity to exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic had decreased their opportunities to do so Others said that the seminars had made them aware of the importance of maintaining a good posture when watching television at home After the final seminars were held in August some participants continued to follow the exercise program on their own Seminars also were held to teach young people how to increase their life expectancy by eating more vegetables a community health project summer festival was held in August at a large shopping mall in the city to raise awareness about the project The event invited visitors to participate in a series of hands-on activities which had participants exercise and check their basic fitness level Over 1,000 people participated in all the activities during the two days of the festival exceeding the number of participants in the previous year.The event was well-received by people of all ages It was also covered by a television station and newspaper which helped raise public awareness of the project we plan to start providing educational programs to children one of the three main objectives of the project To measure the effects of the project’s activities we will shift to conducting well-being assessments with a view to making this project a Japan-wide model the project is being promoted only in the Hokuriku region but we are working hard to promote it nationwide We hope the project will serve as a model for municipal governments and local residents to jointly promote good health and revitalize their communities at a time when people are living far into old age 砺波市×R-1 街の強さひきだすプロジェクト（Japanese language only） service detail inquiries or requests for collaboration here Novatek’s Yamal LNG Project on the Yamal Peninsula two of Japan’s largest general trading companies will acquire a 10 percent stake in the Arctic LNG 2 project This investment will complete Novatek’s search for investors for its latest project Mitsui & Co. is looking to complete a basic agreement with Novatek’s Chairman of the Board Leonid Mikhelson for the investment within the next week, Japanese media reports The deal is supported by the Japan Oil Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) an independent government corporation. The final agreement likely in the presence of Russian President Putin during the G20 summit in Osaka later this month Russia’s largest privately-owned natural gas company successfully launched the Arctic’s first liquefied natural gas project with investments from France’s Total and China’s National Petroleum Company and Silk Road Fund in 2017 Yamal LNG produces up to 17.5 million tons of LNG per year Novatek retains a 50.1 percent majority stake in Yamal LNG while Total holds a 20 percent direct stake and China holds the remaining 29.9 percent For its next Arctic endeavor, Arctic LNG 2 with a capacity of 19.8 million tons, Novatek has been looking to diversify the portfolio of investors while retaining at least a 60 percent stake. In its search for investors, Novatek has been courting financing from Saudi Arabia “Russia has sought to diversify investors in the Arctic LNG 2 project as it saw the risk of solely depending on China and has lobbied Japan and Saudi Arabia to join,” explains Aki Tonami Associate Professor of International Relations and Economics at the University of Tsukuba With its investment Japan’s government aims to secure a stable supply of LNG flowing from the Arctic to the Pacific This new agreement also follows on the heels of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe’s effort to ameliorate Japanese-Russian relations with the aim to resolve a territorial dispute in the North of Hokkaido “The Abe administration thinks that there’s no better time than now to do so while Abe & Putin are in power,” explains Tonami “Prime Minister Abe and his administration believe that if the economic relationship between the two countries is somehow improved it may move the discussion on the territorial issue forward.” However little progress has been made on the issue and the Japanese public remains skeptical about its prospects Japanese companies are reluctant to invest in or conduct business with Russia Apart from the general notion that “doing business in Russia is difficult,” investments in Novatek’s projects are seen as financially risky as the company may be included in the case of future U.S it appears that the government has managed to convince Mitsui & Co and Mitsubishi to support Prime Minister Abe’s project of creating closer economic ties “But this must have been a difficult process had to promise to finance 75 percent of the $2.8 billion investment,” continues Tonami MOL’s Vladimir Rusanov Arc7 LNG carrier on its way to Yamal LNG While Mitsubishi and Mitsui & Co. have not yet been directly involved with Novatek’s Arctic endeavors, Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL), one of the world’s largest shipping companies and part of the Mitsui group of affiliated companies, is one of Novatek’s shipping partners owning and operating four of the 15 ice-class carriers transporting LNG along the Northern Sea Route Additional Japanese investments may come from Marubeni, also a major general trading company, and MOL for Novatek’s LNG transshipment hub in Kamchatka. The two companies’ signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a LNG transhipment and marketing complex at Kamchatka in 2017 High North News is not responsible for the content or opinions expressed on external web pages Editor in Chief:Trine Jonassen E-mail High North News Editor/Commentator: Arne O. HolmTel: (+47) 905 29 472 Journalist:Hilde-Gunn Bye Journalist:Astri Edvardsen Translator:Birgitte Annie Molid Martinussen On the day in 2011 that Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi graduated from the same junior high school in Fukushima Prefecture The Olympic-bound badminton doubles team of Takuro Hoki TAKAOKA – In a Toyama Prefecture gym last May the badminton doubles team of Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi were involved in a fierce rally during a practice session open to the media in preparation for the Paris Olympics all under the watchful eye of Japan’s national team coach That Hoki and Kobayashi — affectionately referred to as “Hokikoba” — will be battling for a medal in Paris is testament to their mental strength and determination made stronger by ordeals that exceed anything encountered in sports On the day in 2011 that the two graduated from the same junior high school in Tomioka The two were temporarily separated as their families were forced to evacuate the devastated area Eventually they were reunited and formed a doubles team acknowledge that the earthquake made them “stronger,” and now they aim to repay all those who helped them along the way through success in Paris The two compete for Tonami Transportation Co.’s badminton team and practice in Takaoka while Kobayashi provides winning smashes from the back Yamaguchi Prefecture native Hoki and Kobayashi when they enrolled at badminton powerhouse Tomioka Daiichi Junior High School in Fukuhsima Prefecture and lived together in the dormitory the school’s graduation ceremony had already finished and Kobayashi was off the school grounds when the powerful earthquake struck He evacuated to higher ground to escape the oncoming tsunami “It was like being on the verge of death,” he said recalling the horror of the experience was located in the evacuation zone set up in the wake of the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings All activities by sports teams were on hold and Yugo Kobayashi share a laugh in Takaoka The pair’s close relationship is one of their strengths It was the coach at Tomioka High School at the time who scrambled to help them find a place to play eventually hooking Hoki up with the team at Tonami Transportation the intense practice sessions exposed him to the speed of active national team players and the top level of the sport who had evacuated to Kyoto to live with relatives was allowed to join in the practices of a nearby high school “There is no place but Tomioka High School where I can play at a high level.” the Tomioka High School badminton team resumed practice in Inawashiro Among those sharing the court was singles star Kento Momota Ohori paired up Hoki and Kobayashi for doubles The facility which served as their dormitory also housed evacuees from the area around the nuclear power plant the two questioned whether it was appropriate for them to keep practicing “It is your mission to go out and win games and be a shining example.” Hoki and Kobayashi would train several times a year at Tonami Transportation they won the title at the Inter High School Athletic Meet They continued to make progress after joining the company upon graduation But their encounters with disaster were not over The Noto Peninsula Earthquake that struck on Jan 1 this year also caused damage in Toyama Prefecture and Hoki’s apartment building became unlivable after tilting due to liquefaction It only reinforced their belief that their appearance at the Olympics can be more significant if they can give courage to the people affected by the disaster by doing the best they can agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to the widow of a 43-year-old employee who committed suicide in 2019 after developing depression due to his grueling work hours In the agreement reached with the bereaved family on Dec Panasonic apologized for allowing its working environment to have such a tragic outcome It also acknowledged the company had failed to recognize it was imposing such heavy workloads that employees felt obliged to take work home Labor experts said Panasonic’s acknowledgement of the hours the man had put in at home as legitimate overtime is highly unusual as such matters would normally be disputed in court Labor authorities ruled in favor of the bereaved family’s claim for workers’ compensation in March due to “karoshi,” or death from overwork but found no evidence the company forced the man to work at home “The Panasonic case drives home the point that the labor authorities’ definition of work hours no longer reflects the reality of today’s workers,” said Tadashi Matsumaru The man worked at a Toyama factory of Panasonic affiliate Industrial Solutions in Tonami He had the title of deputy section chief of the technology department He joined the factory in 2003 on a temporary basis and gained regular employee status in 2009 The man was transferred to the technology department from the manufacturing department in April 2019 following his promotion from assignment manager His new job involved significant change in the man’s daily workload Even after toiling at the office after the workday was over he still took a company computer home to try to finish his work assignments The employee took his life in October 2019 His widow applied for workers’ compensation and the labor ministry’s Labor Standards Inspection Office in Tonami ruled in March that her husband’s death was work-related making the family eligible for compensation Labor authorities determined that the man fell into severe depression because of the tremendous pressure he faced following the job promotion they decided the hours he had worked at home did not count as overtime “He did so of his own volition,” said a report on the issue “Nor are there indications of the existence of implicit instructions” to work at home Panasonic initiated its own investigation by examining the employee’s computer log to determine whether the man was forced to work even after he went home it recognized that its liability extended beyond what the labor authorities had deemed as appropriate This case was not the first death at Panasonic to be ruled by labor authorities as work-related an employee in his 40s who also worked at a Panasonic factory in Tonami committed suicide due to his long work hours “We will continue with our company-wide efforts to prevent a recurrence.” The man’s widow said she suspects Panasonic’s corporate culture involves exerting silent pressure on its workers She said her husband was the type of man who went out of his way to be recognized as a hard worker she noticed a sharp increase in her husband’s workload shortly before he took his life: “I can’t finish it The woman described her husband as a good father who doted on his children and enjoyed playing soccer with them on weekends he became too exhausted to show up for their soccer games something he had always looked forward to before Panasonic’s offer of an apology and relief money came as she was preparing to take legal action to seek compensation for his death “I suspect that he was under silent pressure to finish up his work by taking it home,” the woman said “I sincerely hope that his death will prompt the central government and society to review the way people work including overtime that they have to do at home.” A 2017 online survey by JTUC Research Institute for Advancement of Living Standards a think tank affiliated with Rengo (Japanese Trade Union Confederation) showed that 30.9 percent of respondents said they must work even after going home one-third said they work overtime at home “constantly” and “often.” The survey involved 2,000 individuals working in the private sector (This article was written by Yusuke Noda and Teruaki Sakamoto.) Toshiba systems engineer’s suicide ruled work-related Employer sued by widow over husband’s death from COVID-19 Toyota settles over employee’s suicide in power harassment case Famed roll cake shop in Hyogo twice warned for labor abuse Authorities deem young Mitsubishi worker’s suicide to be job related Health center staff in Saitama fear dying of overwork TOYAMA – A large-scale tulip festival kicked off Tuesday in Tonami with venues decorated with 3 million tulips of 300 varieties please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent The Tonami Tulip Fair is supported by The Yomiuri Shimbun Hokuriku Branch Office and other organizations and is held annually in the city which is known as one of the nation’s leading tulip production centers The rest are expected to bloom around the end of April Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting TOYAMA — An annual tulip festival opened on Saturday in Tonami one of the country’s foremost tulip producing cities The Tonami Tulip Fair features 3 million tulips in 300 varieties mostly at the main venue of Tonami Tulip Park Attractions include a large picture composed of 210,000 tulips and the “Valley of Flowers,” a corridor with roughly 4-meter-tall walls of tulips supported by The Yomiuri Shimbun’s Hokuriku Branch Office and others many of the tulips are already in full bloom The organizers recommend coming as early as possible to catch the flowers in their prime that means just one thing – it’s tulip time Tulips are the eye-catching heralds of spring so the stage is set for forthcoming floral fun Check out these unmissable destinations that prove spring just isn’t spring without the tulips Everland welcomes spring with its annual tulip festival at the Four Seasons Garden it’s time to get snap happy with the Garden Studio with some 20 themed photo spots created in collaboration with photographer Joong Seok Oh a giant chair and the 26m Flower Magic Tower and 700 flowerpot varieties that will get Pinterest pinners chomping at the bit You can also peruse 30 varieties of rare tulip including striped varieties with two-color petals like the Doberman tulip – as well as exciting parades and a multimedia fireworks show and you can check out a gallery of images from the festival below Though they actually originated in Turkey, you can’t talk tulips without mentioning the flower’s spiritual home, the Netherlands. The Keukenhof Tulip Festival has its roots in the 16th century when the tulip was first introduced to the country During the so-called Tulip Mania period in the 1630s the price of a Viceroy tulip bulb skyrocketed to the equivalent of 10 times an artisan’s annual salary (around US$350,000 in today’s money) These prized tulips are again the main attraction at this year’s festival Down Under, spring comes around in September – and that’s the time to check out Oz’s terrific tulips. Australia’s Tulip Time Festival at Corbett Gardens is marking its 57th anniversary this year and was named World Tulip Festival of the Year by the World Tulip Summit Society in 2015 Corbett Gardens will showcase activities and attractions The Tonami Tulip Festival boasts 2.5 million tulips of 600 different varieties and a bird’s eye view of the festival from the tall Tulip Tower reveals a breathtaking mosaic of color One of the key highlights of the festival is its fashion show 30,000 tulips are used to recreate the famous Toyama sightseeing spot and you can also check out a “snow valley” composed entirely of tulips lined with 400m of spring-blossoming Japanese cherry trees this is a spot beloved by dating couples and flower lovers alike This festival is held to celebrate the anniversary of the flower’s arrival in Europe and wander through color-themed garden rooms These are connected by corridors lined with white lily-flowered and classic tulips that adorn an old brick terrace with spring-blooming bluebells at every step of the way But the tulips are the real stars of the show – with cut flowers also on display in a marquee run by Bloms Bulbs winners of 65 gold medals at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show You can catch all the fun from April 22 to May 7 Worthy Farm after the festival is an apocalypse of scrap metal There was a moment on Thursday at Glastonbury – my first time at the festival – when it seemed as though everyone was destroying everything I hadn’t prepared myself for people dropping their rubbish and walking away from it; or peeing on the land which ruins the river and kills the fish and wildlife; or leaving their mess on the toilet seats without a thought for the next person I had naively expected a wonderland of cooperation and conservation I found it hard to get past my anger about those who litter There are workers appointed to clear this up I coped better than I expected with the bits of Glastonbury I thought I’d struggle with As the 800-strong litter-picking crew begin the mammoth task of clearing an estimated 1,650 tonnes of waste – including 5,000 abandoned tents 2,200 chairs and 950 rolled mats – it has crossed my mind that I could return as part of their team I’d get some satisfaction from mitigating the ingratitude of people who don’t give a damn about keeping the farm clean for each other and the wildlife though: the rubbish gets cleared up but the people don’t learn “Everyone’s so lovely, I love it here,” gushed a man next to me as we waited for breakfast hotdogs at the Popdogs stand on Sunday. Many have this loved-up feeling by the end of the festival, but I didn’t. There are enough people behaving badly to make me suspicious of the whole crowd. The few who enjoy themselves thoughtlessly, going against the green Glastonbury ethos The song marks Nakamura's solo artist debut and the debut single for the song will ship on October 30 The story centers around Mizuki Hijiri, a high school girl who just transferred schools. At her new school, she has a fateful encounter with boys suffering from chūnibyō (adolescent delusions of grandeur). There is Noda who dreams of becoming a hero, the tragically handsome otaku Takashima who only likes 2D girls Nakamura the supposedly "reincarnated" angel or devil and the self-professed string-puller Tsukumo Source: Shugo Nakamura's Twitter account via Ota-Suke If JavaScript is not enabled on your browser 2012 - ORIX Corporation (TSE: 8591; NYSE: IX) a leading integrated financial services group announced today that it will conduct a solar power generation business with a maximum output of 1,502 kW (1.5 MW) at the Tonami plant of Hokuriku Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Roof rental solar power generation is a business in which ORIX rents the roofs of factories warehouses and other facilities owned by customers and generates electricity from solar power generation systems installed on them ORIX will achieve efficient power generation by taking full advantage of customer-owned facilities and not just conduct large-scale solar power generation that leases idle land from local governments and companies in addition to being able to effectively utilize assets customers should also see an improvement in the efficiency of facility air conditioning thanks to the heat-shielding effect of the solar panels ORIX is developing various electricity-related businesses including the ESCO (Energy Service Company) business bulk electric power purchasing for condominiums electric power trading and biomass power generation ORIX will continue to actively develop renewable energy and other energy-related businesses as well as aim to provide new added value to customers  (*) Calculation based on consumption of 3,600 kWh a year per household Source:Electricity Statistics Information,The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan These documents may contain forward-looking statements about expected future events and financial results that involve risks and uncertainties Such statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements Factors that could cause such a difference include those described under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and under “4 Risk Factors” of the “Summary of Consolidated Financial Results” of the “Consolidated Financial Results April 1 2012 News Releases List Large crowds attend annual floral show in European style gardens 6819TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The 2025 Shilin Residence Tulip Festival opened with 130,000 tulips in bloom from the Netherlands and Japan Known in Europe as “magical flowers” for their vibrant colors and unique shapes, the festival features eight exhibition areas designed to delight visitors and provide picturesque backdrops for photos, per a Taipei City Government press release Visitors can admire tulips without traveling abroad as Shilin Official Residence chose the theme “Meeting Love” for this year’s event. Tonami City Mayor Natsuno Osamu whose city hosts Japan’s largest tulip expo in late April attended a press conference to promote the Taipei festival the event draws large crowds annually Many of the tulips were sourced from Tonami City Managing the flowers’ low-temperature requirements has not only contributed to this stunning floral showcase but also fostered cultural exchange between Taipei and Tonami The "Love in Tonami" exhibition area highlights varieties presented by Japan’s imperial family Japan’s famous koi fish have been incorporated into floral arrangements This year’s festival showcases exquisite horticultural techniques as tulips require careful environmental control and cold temperatures to bloom in their most vibrant hues the festival features classroom courses on tulip bulb care and cultivation an outdoor market, street performances and special photo areas for friends and family to capture memorable moments Visitors are encouraged to take public transportation to the Shilin Official Residence. For more details, please visit the event’s official website Taipei fines firms for repeat labor violations Taipei government censured over kindergarten sexual assaults Taipei's Xining Market set for demolition in 2026 Taipei Dome and Tokyo Dome consider ‘sister dome’ agreement Taipei launches Christmas-themed events and activities Taipei MRT reminds passengers of drinking water ban Taiwan dollar hits NT$29 per US dollar triggering currency exchange rush Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes off east Taiwan Central Bank steps in as Taiwan dollar posts strong single-day gain Vietjet flight makes unscheduled landing in Taiwan Four Vietnamese residents found dead in northern Taiwan Taiwan ranked 2nd most innovative country in world US tech earnings spark Taiwan stock market rally Taiwan ranks 1st in Asia on World Press Freedom Index US Congress members urge Somalia to reverse Taiwan passport ban TOYAMA (Japan) — Panasonic Corp and two of its officials were referred to Japanese prosecutors on Wednesday (March 15) over the more than 100 hours of overtime work a month at a factory in Toyama Prefecture that led to the suicide of one worker who are in charge of ensuring safe working conditions are alleged to have three workers at the device-manufacturing plant in Tonami work for up to 138 hours a month in overtime between December 2015 and last June in violation of a labour-management agreement one man in his 40s committed suicide in June prompting labour standard inspectors to launch an investigation into the company’s work practises The worker’s death was later determined as karoshi He had worked over 100 hours in overtime just before he took his own life Panasonic in a statement acknowledged it has been referred to prosecutors for making the three employees work illegal hours in overtime The company has declined to provide details on the worker’s death Panasonic’s device-solution division makes electronic parts for use in automobiles and smartphones Its Toyama plant in Tonami employs about 250 people Todayonline.com and Today Online domains and apps are now part of 'Channelnewsasia.com' domain We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with TODAY to be fast Upgraded but still having issues? Contact us Japanese version This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page With the release of Psycho-Pass: Providence (2023) the Psycho-Pass franchise is celebrating its eleventh anniversary the first season having begun back in 2012 That season introduced us to the trio Akane Tsunemori characters who are complex and fascinating to watch We were also introduced to the dystopian setting and how the country has changed because of the Sibyl System as this is a series with three whole seasons of anime and five films criminally asymptomatic – all these terms need no introduction to the experienced viewer And that’s why this isn’t a good entry point into the series because the film expects you to be familiar with the lore and what happened in past seasons and films nothing will reach the heights of the first season Psycho-Pass: Providence aims to explain what happened before season 3 and why Akane Tsunemori was imprisoned along with better explaining the motives for Kei Mikhail Ignatov and Arata Shindo fans of Psycho-Pass should enjoy the latest entry in the series a Ministry of Foreign Affairs ship tasked with protecting Professor Milicia Stronskaya faced an assault from an organization known as the Peacebreakers one of the senior members named Kai kills Professor Stronskaya while attempting to find her research documents – referred to as only the Stronskaya papers now back in Japan and operating as a special investigator within the Foreign Affairs Suppressing Action Department (SAD) having dropped onto the ship via gliding gear Kogami’s efforts are thwarted as he encounters a brainwashed agent from the SAD who quotes the Bible and ignores his injuries preventing him from stopping the Peacebreakers Inspector Akane Tsunemori raises concerns about Japan’s Ministry of Justice being dissolved arguing against it and its use of international law while discussing the Sibyl System’s expanding influence overseas This discussion takes place in a meeting with high-ranking government officials including Director Atsushi Shindo (father of Arata from the third season) who is in charge of the nation’s Immigration Bureau and holds a lot of political clout they are informed about the Peacebreakers incident and proceed to the site where Stronskaya’s vessel was found destroyed Chief Josui Kasei instructs Tsunemori to step back from the inquiry headed by agent Frederica Hanashiro and SAD Director Yabuki enforcer Nobuchika Ginoza discovers that the vessel was actually under SAD protection enforcer Sho Hinakawa uncovers evidence indicating that Professor Stronskaya sent a message before dying to PSB analyst and Tsunemori’s friend he confides in Tsunemori about his past collaboration with Stronskaya whose research focuses on the Sibyl System’s impact on foreign nations The two of them used to get into several debates over the years Saiga also reveals that Stronskaya’s message directs him to a PO Box in a sector in Japan dedicated to accommodating immigrants seeking citizenship in Japan Chief Kasei initiates a collaborative effort between the PSB and SAD forming a joint task force to recover the Stronskaya papers before the Peacekeepers can get their hands on them Hanashiro provides Tsunemori’s team with a briefing about the organization which was originally a black-ops unit under Foreign Affairs but later went rogue for unknown reasons led by Tonami in lieu of their supposed “god,” known only as “The General.” and the latter is less than thrilled about it also part of the investigation as a profiler works on building a psychological profile of Tonami he urges Kogami to offer an apology to Tsunemori for the events that led to his fleeing the country Saiga cautions Kogami against succumbing to his violent instincts once more expresses surprise that Kogami is working with the PSB and SAD but Saiga explains that he is working only with Akane Tsunemori Kogami tries to apologize as told but is unable to Tsunemori cautions that she will have no choice but to arrest him if he goes against the law again as he did with killing Shogo Makishima the task force discovers a decoy package inside cunningly concealing the actual whereabouts of the papers Tsunemori and Kogami deduce that this entire operation has been orchestrated as a ruse to entice the Peacebreakers into revealing themselves from their hiding place This is because the entire district has been evacuated Hanashiro admits to it and promises that Saiga launch an attack against them for the Stronskaya Papers it becomes evident that the Peacebreakers possess unusually low Crime Coefficients and the unsettling ability to somehow brainwash SAD agents emphasizing the importance of remaining open-minded when seeking truth and justice while Kogami engages in a protracted exchange with Kai Despite Kai’s eventual victory over Kogami he surprisingly chooses to depart the scene leaving cryptic clues behind that point to the Peacebreakers’ headquarters Tsunemori is sad about Saiga’s death and is upset with the Foreign Affairs Department for the way things went With help from their Enforcer analysts and the hints left by Kai they are able to trace the location of the headquarters of the Peacebreakers tortured and injured but still alive and comes across Kai he surrenders and reveals himself as a deep undercover SAD agent called Akira Vasily Ignatov (the older brother of Kei from the third season) Taken into custody owing to potential brainwashing Akira provides Kogami with critical information about the Divider a powerful software capable of hacking into the computer chip enhancements in the minds of the Peacebreakers This software effectively severs their feelings of guilt granting them remarkable combat skills and enabling them to brainwash others Akira discloses that he possesses the Papers revealing that Professor Stronskaya died voluntarily to protect Akira’s undercover identity The Papers turn out to be a blueprint for a Conflict Coefficient providing Sibyl with the means to control war and manage foreign affairs trying to flee with the Stronskaya papers after wounding Kogami Akira resists Tonami’s control and enables Shindo to deliver a fatal blow to him Akira requests Shindo to take care of his brother Now in possession of the Stronskaya papers offering the research in exchange for ensuring that his son relying on Sibyl’s belief in the potential of humanity which Sibyl says is their reason for existing Shindo gives his wisdom to the newlyweds and his son through a wedding speech emphasizing the importance of seeking truth as a guiding principle for justice he tragically takes his own life to uphold his silence about the agreement he made with Sibyl a heartbroken Arata asks Tsunemori about his father’s death she nudges him to embark on his own quest for the truth gently telling him to discover the facts surrounding his father’s suicide Tsunemori finds out from Ginoza that the investigation has been halted which Kasei confirms as the Sibyl System and Peacebreakers have made a deal In exchange for the Stronskaya Papers and their own city-state within the country they will aid Sybil’s goal of being adopted in other countries across the world Not wanting to let the Peacebreakers get away with everything they did and Hanashiro choose to act on their own to bring them into custody They split into teams who will infiltrate the new Peacebreakers city-state As they arrive on the Peacebreakers’ island their dominators don’t work as the Divider is still in effect So the remote team works through enforcers Sho Hinakawa’s hacking abilities and Teppei Sugo’s piloting ability to bring down the satellite controlling the Divider and they’re able to engage the Peacemakers with the dominators is also able to convince Kasei to lend aid arguing Akane Tsunemori is too valuable to the Sibyl System Tsunemori pretends to have the Stronskaya Papers and demands a meeting with The General The General is revealed to be a medical AI derivative of the Sibyl System whose purpose was to increase morale for those serving in the army Realizing her ruse when Tsunemori tries to arrest him But Tsunemori manages to throw her dominator on The General’s console connecting it to the Sibyl System and erasing it Tonami is about to kill Tsunemori and says that the traditional justice system and laws are unneeded Just as Tonami is about to pull the trigger with Tsunemori upset that she failed to stop him yet again enforcers Ginoza and Sugo are sent to work with the SAD who reveals her dissatisfaction and disillusionment with the Sybil System’s authoritarian ways This is despite her being promoted to a high-ranking government position similar to the power held by Director Shindo Tsunemori carries out her plan by shooting Chief Kasei live on television and the public wonders why but no answers are forthcoming emotional Mika Shimotsuki to look after the team Akane Tsunemori is finally overwhelmed by the case and all that happened and begins to cry while a newly freed Kogami plans to have her released Designed by Two Words