Designed by Apollo Architects & Associates a Kyoto house in Uji City is split into a series of courtyards adding a sense of wellbeing to its residential environment is a recent addition to the suburban streets of Uji City bringing together traditional interior touches wrapped up in a contemporary façade The residence was designed by Apollo Architects & Associates who considered the surrounding environment as they developed their plan Principal architect Satoshi Kurosaki says: ‘The ground floor is enclosed by reinforced concrete walls for security and privacy while the second floor is designed to be open with glass openings The interior is a courtyard-style building with a mix of large and small courtyards while at the same time aiming to create a continuity between the first and second floor spaces through the use of a large atrium.’ The L-shaped plot faces two roads along with an elevation change The architects tackled that by designing the residence like two cubic volumes that seemingly intersect each other concrete façade is broken up by a large south-facing window Soft cedar board lines the underside of a large overhang This modern interpretation did prove to be a challenge for the architecture studio as Kurosaki explains: ‘In order to resolve the contrast created by the insertion of modern architecture into the extremely classic cityscape of Kyoto we made positive adjustments to this project by incorporating classic design elements such as the cedar plank pattern on the exterior walls guests are welcomed into a bright two-storey atrium space a key element in traditional Japanese architecture adding an essence of calm while also connecting the residents to the outdoors The courtyards are dotted across the floor plan; for instance where a central courtyard area is equipped with a bench and fully opening sliding doors Each distinct courtyard makes a unique contribution to the spatial experience within the home guests will find a dedicated office space and fitness facilities this part of the house can be viewed from the ground floor which underlines a sense of wellbeing and productivity in the composition escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox ‘I want visitors to feel its dynamism and rich continuity within the space,’ says Kurosaki creating a multi-layered depth to the interior and exterior spaces and a variety of variations in light and shadow.’ Intricate detailing abounds in Element House a standout moment is the visually striking ceiling: ‘The ceiling scene which is lightly illuminated by indirect lighting is fantastic from both the inside and outside and is in keeping with the Kyoto cityscape.’ The series of concrete ribs and recessed solid walnut panels creates a moment of effortless harmony between traditional and contemporary materiality – important in striking a balance between the 21st-century residence and its historically rich context apollo-aa.jp Staff WriterTianna Williams is Wallpaper*s staff writer with work spanning from social media content creation to editorial When she isn’t writing extensively across varying content pillars ranging from design she also helps put together the daily newsletter writing about gorgeously designed houses and restaurants and day-dreaming about her next travel destination Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed From Please make sure your tray tables are stowed and your seats are in the upright position We're kicking off our latest Sense of Place series with an interview and performance from luvis a beautiful city south of Kyoto that's surrounded by nature and ancient history and his music fuses those two experiences into a sound that's both serene and full of energy This session was recorded in front of a live audience at Moon Romantic in Tokyo Big thanks to interpreter Iyuko Carlson for helping with this interview And make sure to stick around — we've got more Sense of Place adventures from Japan on the way This episode of World Cafe was produced and edited by Kimberly Junod Our programming and booking coordinator is Chelsea Johnson and our line producer is Will Loftus Become an NPR sponsor Boasting a rich history and serene natural sights Uji is known for more than just powdered green tea which began welcoming visitors in October 2024.  Read on for our recommendations on things to do We’ve also included tour ideas that encompass many of these experiences for your convenience.  Byodoin Temple is an architectural marvel and cultural landmark known for its serene atmosphere as the temple is featured on the Japanese 10-yen coin.  the temple complex’s most iconic structure is considered a masterpiece of Heian-period architecture; built by the regent Fujiwara no Yorimichi in 1053 it’s one of the only remaining examples of architecture from the Fujiwara Regent Period.  One of the building’s distinct features is its shape: The decorative wing corridors extending from either side of the main hall resemble the outstretched wings of a phoenix in flight along with the two phoenix statues on the hall’s roof is the origin of the hall’s common name stems from the sculpted image of Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Buddha) — a designated National Treasure — housed within its walls believed to be the oldest existing Shinto shrine in Japan is another UNESCO World Heritage Site with a history dating back to the Heian period it was originally built as a guardian shrine for Byodoin Temple.  asymmetrical roof of its honden (main hall) is a prime example of nagare-zukuri style architecture one of Japan’s most common forms of shrine architecture Ujigami is also known for its freshwater spring which is often used as a source of water for tea ceremonies and is considered one of the “seven best waters of Uji.”  Keep an eye out for the rabbit imagery sprinkled throughout the shrine — one of several legends explaining the Uji–rabbit connection says that rabbits guided the younger son of Emperor Ojin to Uji.  Cypress balustrades and bronze ornamentation help give the bridge which makes an appearance in The Tale of Genji A platform called the San-no-Ma extends beyond the bridge on the upstream side This is thought to have been the site of a shrine to Hashihime This same spot is said to be where Toyotomi Hideyoshi The Uji River — the only river flowing out from Lake Biwa Japan’s largest lake — is a historically important waterway that for generations has provided a link between Shiga and Osaka prefectures Its banks make for a scenic and relaxing walk especially during cherry blossom season and in the fall the nearby Asagiri Bridge leads to Tachibanajima one of two islands in the middle of the river Tachibanajima is one part of Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park and Yorimichi Park on the left-hand bank of the river you’ll find a 15-meter-tall historic pagoda it’s designated as an Important Cultural Property.  the park is a great spot to gaze at the glittering waters of the Uji River — and in spring to admire pale pink cherry blossoms dancing on the breeze.  A historically important tea production area thanks to its geography and climate Uji boasts a reputation for producing some of the country’s finest tea Uji tea has been considered the gold standard since the first half of the 14th century a visit to the city can’t truly be considered complete without imbibing some version of the beverage is one of myriad places in Uji to enjoy the city’s most famous product you can try authentic Uji tea with seasonal wagashi confections The teahouse also offers tea ceremony experiences which can be reserved with several days’ notice.  Tea lovers after a sweet treat or a more substantial meal will certainly find something to their liking at Nakamura Tokichi Honten, where tea makes its way into virtually every menu item — including the emerald-green soba. Founded in 1854 during the late Edo period, Nakamura Tokichi is one of Japan’s most beloved tea brands visiting the honten (main store) is a must for its exclusive and seasonal offerings.  A second Uji branch provides another location to enjoy tea-based goodies like matcha jelly packaged tea to take home is also on sale at both shops In addition to a plethora of mouthwatering matcha sweets — parfaits tiramisu and more — Uji also offers an interesting variety of savory matcha-rich dishes These concoctions may seem gimmicky to tourists, but some — like matcha croquettes, which synthesize the bittersweet flavor of matcha with the subtle sweetness of potatoes — are genuinely popular among Uji’s residents. Head to Hariyoshi to try the matcha-infused fried potato dish for yourself.  Matcha soba is a good option for those who don’t want to be too adventurous, as the taste doesn’t stray too far from standard soba. The flavorful noodles are available at many shops around Uji, but one spot to try them is Ran located a 5-minute walk from JR Uji Station.  Please upgrade to a more modern version to fully experience JapanToday site and for security reasons Mister Donut delighted customers with the news that it would be teaming up with matcha specialists Gion Tsujiri for another limited-edition collection Ever since the two first joined forces back in 2016 the so-called “Misdo Meets Gion Tsujiri” collections have become sell-out hits whenever they’re released and now they’re back with round two of this season’s two-part range the doughnuts all contain green tea sourced by Gion Tsujiri from Uji in Kyoto the premier matcha-producing region where the 150-year-old company is based there are two doughnuts that feature Gion Tsujiri’s hojicha giving us a colorful collection with arguably more variation in texture and taste than the previous lineup Let’s start by taking a look at the two hojicha doughnuts in the range ▼ Uji Hojicha Zukushi (270 yen takeout; 275 yen eat-in) this doughnut gives us nothing but hojicha as the smoky aroma of the tea has been kneaded into the dough and infused into the cream topping Hojicha kinako (roasted soybean flour) is dusted over to finish and the doughnut can be enjoyed on its own for full tea flavor or slathered in the kuromitsu (Japanese black sugar syrup) that comes with it ▼ Uji Hojicha Hojicha Chocolate Azuki (270 yen takeout; 275 yen eat-in) The hojicha-infused dough is once again dusted with hojicha kinako but this time it’s topped with azuki bean paste and a sprinkling of chocolate flakes for a different contrast in taste and texture ▼ Pon de Uji Matcha Luxury Quintet (388 yen takeout only) This third and final new offering in the second collection is a very luxurious matcha doughnut to celebrate Mister Donut’s 55th anniversary With five different matcha elements — dough warabimochi (a jelly-like bracken starch confection) and powder — this doughnut acts as the piece de resistance of the entire collection as it won’t be sold in stores and can only be purchased via the Misdo Net Order app ▼ Order and pay via the app and then pick up at your designated branch While the three above are brand new offerings ▼ Uji Matcha Zukushi (270 yen takeout; 275 yen eat-in) This “Nothing But Uji Matcha” doughnut contains matcha in the dough ▼ Uji Matcha Chestnut Azuki (270 yen takeout; 275 yen eat-in) This doughnut delivers exactly what it promises with matcha chocolate on top and azuki red bean paste alongside a chestnut paste with candied chestnuts in the centre ▼ Pon de Double Uji Matcha (216 yen takeout; 220 yen eat-in) The classic Pon de Ring keeps things simple but delicious with a matcha chocolate coating ▼ Pon de Zaku Uji Matcha Kinako  (237 yen takeout; 242 yen eat-in) This Pon de Ring has a zaku (“crunchy”) texture thanks to the chunky kinako (roasted soybean flour) topping ▼ Pon de Uji Matcha Brown Sugar Warabimochi (237 yen takeout; 242 yen eat-in) With a matcha whipped cream and brown sugar warabimochi center this kinako-dusted doughnut has a very Japanese flavor ▼ If all that is yet to make your mouth water then the commercial for the matcha series might just tip you over The new hojicha doughnuts will be available in limited numbers from April 23 until the end of May while the new Pon de Uji Matcha Luxury Quintet can only be ordered via the app until May 30 it too will be around until the end of May so you have a little over a month to get your hands on them all -- We try the new FamilyMart Uji matcha sweets before they go on sale in Japan -- Mister Donut makes matcha lovers swoon with new Gion Tsujiri collection -- Mister Donut teams up with Gion Tsujiri again, this time with Uji Matcha and Uji Hojicha flavors Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts A mix of what's trending on our other sites Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker and color mirrors the natural landscapes of the region transforming the coffee stand into an homage to the abundance of spring water in Uji At the core of the design is the ingenious melding of traditional Japanese joinery techniques To reinforce the seismic resilience of the historic wooden structure the team incorporates steel pipes alongside the joinery echo the Japanese architectural philosophy of Ma—an appreciation for the intervals and spaces that define a structure all images by nishioka kiyoshi courtesy of Atelier Satoshi Takijiri Architects Tokyo-based Atelier Satoshi Takijiri Architects reshapes the role of the building within the community By preserving the historical character of the nagaya while introducing contemporary design elements the coffee stand offers a space that invites locals and visitors to rediscover Uji through a fresh lens Its open and adaptable layout creates a platform for artistic exploration.  This renovation project creates a multi-layered experience that celebrates heritage and progress at the same time The coffee stand in Uji aims to showcase the potential of architecture in merging tradition with innovation offering a unique environment for all who visit it enriches the cultural landscape of the region underscoring the enduring value of context-sensitive design Atelier Satoshi Takijiri Architects transforms a Japanese nagaya townhouse into a coffee stand the design takes inspiration from Uji’s connection to water a water motif expressed through the palette of vibrant blues and dynamic materials translucent corrugated panels and colored acrylic sheets evoke the rippling reflections of water diffused light interacts with the materials to create a vibrant interior atmosphere this renovation project creates a multi-layered experience celebrating heritage and progress at the same time name: Coffee Stand in Uji | @outstanding_coffee architects: Atelier Satoshi Takijiri Architects | @takijirisatoshi location: Uji design team: Satoshi Takijiri | @takijirisatoshi project management: roopee,Ltd | @roopee_info photographer: nishioka kiyoshi | @nishioka_kiyoshi AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Jura Synchro is a media news organization dedicated exclusively to synchronized skating world wide The goal is to inform about the sport through journalistic articles Jura Synchro undertakes to respect the Swiss editorial code of ethics and to follow the established editorial charter as well as its editorial line © Copyright By Jura Synchro 2015-2025 JuraSynchro V3.5.3.25 Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Kyoto Prefecture—A popular anime has inspired a young man to move here where the show is set and become active in the community around a local shrine featured in the series moved to Uji from his hometown in Mizunami He started working at a nearby air conditioner company on Jan His decision to relocate was motivated by the TV series “Sound The series is about a group of students who devote themselves to their brass band club at the fictional Kita-Uji High School Euphonium” when its first season debuted in 2015 and has since made repeated visits to Uji Oguri found himself particularly enchanted by the ambience around Byodoin temple he began to grow fond of shrines and temples although he’d previously had little interest in them “I feel relaxed when I’m here,” Oguri explained I started to think about moving to Uji in the future.” When the anime’s third season aired between April and June 2024 “Her smile lifted me up when I was having a hard time,” said Oguri Oguri visited Kohatajinja shrine in Uji’s Gokasho district in July that year which dates to 645 during the Asuka Period (592-710) the shrine was home to his favorite character “I should move here and help out at the shrine.” As the local population declined and the remaining residents aged Kimura had grown increasingly concerned about the dwindling number of people willing to act as “regional parishioner representatives” who are active in local neighborhood and residents’ associations “I would love to see a motivated individual from the younger generation who enjoys Kohatajinja and is considering moving to Uji represent our parishioners,” recalled Kimura Traveling between Gifu Prefecture and Uji before he moved Oguri volunteered to participate in the shrine’s grand autumn festival in November a meeting of the shrine’s parishioner representatives officially appointed Oguri as a representative He helped senior parishioner heads distribute “omiki” (sacred sake) to visitors when the New Year’s Day festival opened at midnight on Jan “I want to help out Uji and Kohatajinja from now on,” said Oguri 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 The city of Uji, Kyoto, is well known for Byōdōin, a Buddhist temple listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Nearby is another popular tourist site, though—one where visitors can have a genuine sadō​ (tea ceremony) experience a tea house operated by the Uji municipal government It sits just across from the famed temple’s Phoenix Hall which literally means “hermitage opposite the phoenix.” Visitors pass through a rustic gate to reach Taihōan Visitors can watch and drink matcha (powdered green tea) from Uji, famed for its tea farms The tea is accompanied by a seasonal Japanese sweet and a simple explanation of the tea ceremony and its steps provided by a sadō master The tea is prepared with soft water boiled slowly in an iron kettle heated over charcoal The bowls are chosen to match the season—for example a design featuring heads of rice for October A bowl of matcha is served at Taihōan The tea experience requires reservations in advance After watching the tea master prepare a bowl of tea participants enjoy traditional sweets before trying their hand at whisking matcha themselves Repeat visitors may notice the differences in each school’s techniques The main approach to Byōdōin is lined with old purveyors of tea and packed with tourists meandering the street with a matcha latte Tea is available in all forms—loose leaf and teabags among them—and in all price brackets and many businesses have their own educational exhibits the local newspaper Kyoto Shimbun reported that the explosion in the popularity of Uji matcha tea among foreign tourists was causing shortages Some stores have apparently begun imposing limits on the amount each shopper can purchase The street approaching Byōdōin is lined with tea houses and traditional confectioners The Made in Uji brand has now gained global recognition Its popularity can be traced to two factors The first was the so-called Häagen-Dazs Shock of 1996 the US ice cream manufacturer released a green tea product containing matcha which led to a jump in the production and cost of the tencha used to make the powdered tea It also touched off a boom in matcha-flavored sweets coffee chain Starbucks began selling matcha-flavored drinks matcha’s popularity has only increased: According to Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture production of tencha in Japan has almost tripled from 1,430 tons in 2012 to 4,176 tons in 2023 Uji tea’s prestige can be attributed to the area’s unique environment and the devotion of locals to production techniques This part of Japan was recognized long ago as an ideal place to cultivate tea The Uji and Kizu rivers flow through the area and it is blessed with a high annual rainfall sloped terrain has good water drainage and frequent fog inhibiting frost that could damage tea sprouts Tea cultivation was first introduced to Kyoto during the Kamakura period (1185–1333) and during the subsequent Muromachi period (1333–1568) the shogunate encouraged the development of tea plantations helping to build Uji tea’s first-class reputation the Nihon sankai meibutsu zue (Illustrated Famous Products of the Mountains and Seas of Japan) explained the transmission of tea and the origins of Uji tea It also described cultivation and harvesting in Uji and detailed the processing techniques suggesting that Uji tea was already a widely recognized brand throughout Japan “Picking tea in Uji” from Nihon sankai meibutsu zue (Courtesy National Diet Library digital collection) Uji tea refers to tea that is processed by Kyoto-based producers using traditional techniques although the tea may be cultivated in Kyoto or one of three prefectures close to Uji: Nara Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs has designated the tea culture of southern Kyoto Prefecture’s Yamashiro region as “Japan Heritage” in recognition of its importance to sadō​ and the region’s role in producing leading types of Japanese tea: powdered matcha Kyoto Prefecture is also leading an initiative to have the so-called “cultural landscape” of Uji’s tea registered as World Heritage tea grown to produce tencha (which is dried and powdered as matcha) and the top-quality gyokuro is shaded for the final few weeks prior to harvesting to protect the leaves from intense sunlight Tea cultivation under shade in Japan was described by Christian missionaries in the early seventeenth century and the technique was transmitted to the West Tencha tea grown in the shade of traditionally woven straw matting Visit the Tea and Uji Community Center Chazuna to learn more about the history and cultural background of Uji tea and a range of cultural experiences on offer including decorating your own tea canister and even grinding tea leaves to make matcha Chazuna features digital exhibits explaining the history of tea At Chazuna you can try using a millstone to grind tencha you can drink it alongside professionally ground tea to compare the difference incorporating more air to produce a creamy texture.” Other facilities in Uji have their own experiences on offer including drinking different brands of tea to guess which is which There are even tea plantations in the center of Uji itself and Chazuna has a terrace overlooking tea fields Harvesting of sencha takes place in three stages from April through the summer months But Uji’s tencha and gyokuro are harvested just once a year the shōgun’s family and other powerful provincial lords (daimyō) owned tea plantations in Uji collectively known as the “seven famous tea fields of Uji.” Of these the only one which remains today is Okunoyama-en Tea fields in Uji The plants are grown under shading to avoid direct sunlight then heated and dried in a separate device The dried leaves can then be ground by millstone to produce matcha is produced by harvesting young tea leaf buds grown under shade which are then steamed and kneaded as they are dried a tea factory in a residential district near Byōdōin uses traditional cultivation and processing methods to produce tencha and still uses a century-old tencha drying machine The device uses heated tiles to dry the tea leaves with radiant heat According to the factory’s fifth-generation owner Fukui Keiichi they steam the young tea leaf buds for around 30 seconds then dry them at around 200°C before separating the stalks from the leaves “Our tile tencha drying machine is very special It has been passed down since my great-grandfather’s days.” Fukui Keiichi of Fukubun Seichajō explains how their historic factory uses heat and wind to produce full-flavored tencha from Uji-grown tea Close to Uji Bridge is a tea house named Tsūen that looks as if it is right out of a period drama while also serving tea to travelers passing through Tsūen Tsūen also stocks top-shelf matcha produced by the aforementioned Fukubun Seichajō the twenty-fourth-generation owner Tsūen Yūsuke the high-grade matcha is particularly popular among visitors from Japan and abroad alike Tsūen tea house seen in the Ujigawa ryōgan ichiran (Sights on the Banks of the Uji River) (Courtesy the National Diet Library digital collection) In addition to selling various styles of Uji tea There are benches outside where diners can try mildly bitter tea-flavored dumplings and other treats while enjoying views of the river and Uji Bridge Matcha served with dango dumplings at Tsūen tea house There are many specialist tea purveyors in Uji that trace their origins back for generations Nakamura Tōkichi Main Store is a popular establishment dating back to 1854 Located on the high street leading to Uji Bridge Nakamura Tōkichi Main Store The shop building was originally a tea wholesaler Nakamura Tōkichi Main Store offers a range of seasonal products and has a tasting corner The store features striking white plastered walls and latticework a typical style used by wholesalers in the Meiji era (1868–1912) it was selected as a Cultural Landscape of Japan Various teas are available for tasting in the former tea drying area of the wholesaler Make a reservation to try your hand at grinding matcha then imbibing it in the tea ceremony as either koi-cha (thick tea) or the thinner usu-cha The Nakamura Tōkichi Main Store café is inside a refurbished former tea processing factory The café has a central atrium in the ceiling a legacy of the original tea processing factory when it allowed heat from the processing to escape The pillars still bear numbers jotted down by former employees The café’s most popular treat is its striking Maruto parfait The dessert is served in a bamboo cylinder and contains matcha-flavored ice cream and jelly combined with other ingredients such as shiratama (rice flour dumplings) and raspberries with a distinctive matcha taste and topped with ice cream Nakamura Tōkichi operates another store and café close to Byōdōin Popular sweets at Nakamura Tōkichi Main Store include Maruto parfait (foreground) and namacha jelly Walking through central Uji, you cannot help but notice the incredible array of matcha-flavored food and drink on offer. Matcha takoyaki (octopus balls) You could spend an entire day consuming the tea in wildly diverse forms a traditional favorite souvenir is the dumplings called matcha dango or skewered dumplings with a sweet soy glaze; dumplings​ topped with roasted kinako soy flour; matcha rusk cookies; matcha kintsuba (sweetened beans wrapped in dough)’ and fruit dipped in matcha chocolate An endless range of matcha-related souvenirs is available in Uji the green tea most commonly consumed in Japan Ōbakusan Manpukuji is a local temple established by Ingen (1592–1673) a Buddhist monk from China who introduced sencha culture to Japan is considered to have helped popularize sencha tea culture and to have founded Senchadō The All Japan Senchadō Federation has its headquarters alongside the temple and holds an annual tea event here Japan’s Council for Cultural Affairs deemed that the temple buildings represent important culture introduced from Ming Dynasty China (1368–1644) and requested designation of its three main structures as National Treasures Baisadō Research and text by Matsumoto Sōichi and Fujiwara Tomoyuki Banner photo: Enjoying matcha sweets at the Nakamura Tōkichi Main Store café The Council for the Promotion of the Ujicha Region has certified numerous Uji tea cafés in the city In a world increasingly marked by multilingualism classrooms have become a reflection of this diverse reality The dynamic practices of teachers and the multilingual origin of the students have given way to what is known as 'translanguage' attention has shifted to the need to explore the benefits of multilingual interactions from a broader perspective The Linguistics Applied to English Language Teaching Research Group (LAELA) at the Universitat Jaume I has completed a pioneering study on the benefits of plurilingual educational programmes (PEPLI and PEPM) in the Valencian Community by analysing the linguistic competence of students who are taught content subjects such as science in English and others such as mathematics in Valencian Theisresearch evaluates the effectiveness of content and language integrated learning programmes (CLIL) for language and content learning It analyses the relationship between the number of hours devoted to Spanish Catalan and English in the curriculum and their use in and out of the classrooms with 392 participants from primary school students 1,176 essays written in the three languages were reviewed The results reveal that language exposure time does not always correlate with better learning but the combination of classroom and non-classroom exposure bilingual (Spanish-Catalan) programmes were found to benefit English language learning This work is linked to the doctoral thesis carried out by Irene Guzmán-Alcón under the supervision of professors Pilar Safont and Laura Portolés with the collaboration of professors Christiane Dalton-Puffer (University of Vienna) and Otilia Martí and Richard Nightingale from the UJI The study analyses CLIL programmes in the multilingual context of the Valencian Community for the first time considering the multilingual competence of learners in this language community It also makes key recommendations for education policy makers in the region the study highlights the importance of promoting the mastery of English without neglecting the other languages of the curriculum since multilingual competence is an advantage for learning this foreign language it is suggested to promote a balanced integration of languages in the curriculum and to disseminate the benefits of plurilingual education among teachers and families 10.1080/07908318.2021.1979578 ‘In English!’ teachers’ requests as reactions to learners’ translanguaging discourse are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system Copyright © 2025 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Uji City's X (formerly Twitter) account unveiled the new Kyoto Animation promotional video titled (roughly translated) "Uji Has Many Stories," on August 1: The six-and-a-half-minute video follows a female tourist as she's taken to many of the sites within the city by a spirit rabbit the Statue of the Ten Uji Chapters from The Tale of Genji the Masuda Chaho (though more to feature Uji Green Tea) the tea fields near the Ocha to Uji-no-machi Historical Park Tsuen Main Branch (to once again feature Uji Green Tea) there is a collage of Uji City throughout the ages with how the background characters are dressed It's a whimsical and fantastic video that piques the interest of any viewer Takuya Yamamura directed the video, which stars Azusa Tadokoro as the woman Along with the new promotional video by Kyoto Animation, Uji City is also running a voice travel guide service staring Yūki Kaji as Hikaru Genji from arguably the world's first novel The guide highlights 23 locations in Uji City and generally follows the path the woman in the promotional video took it's a fun little way to experience the promotional video yourself While many anime fans know Uji City for Kyoto Animation's Sound! Euphonium the promotional video shows us a different side of the city And with a voiced tour by Hikaru Genji (Yūki Kaji) there is a lot of fun to be had in the city Sources: Uji City's website (link 2), Uji City's X/Twitter account, Uji City's YouTube channel a global boom is outstripping production of the powdered green tea The appearance of the vivid-green powder elicits smiles and appreciative sounds and anticipation among dozens of tea lovers Their hand-milled batches now ready for whisking with hot water they will soon be rewarded for their patience The foreign tourists attending a matcha-making experience in Uji, near Kyoto in western Japan bitter form of green tea the Japanese have been drinking for centuries and which is now at the centre of a global boom Made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and originally served, in highly stylised fashion, at formal tea ceremonies by masters of sado – the way of tea – matcha is the flavour profile of the times, the must-have ingredient in everything from lattes and chocolates to ice-cream and boiled sweets After the lean years of the Covid-19 pandemic a town known for deep historical ties to the matcha trade and bowls of “stamina” ramen topped with the chlorophyll-rich green stuff as are the family-run shops doing a roaring trade in packets of locally produced tea colourfully decorated containers and matcha-themed confectionery At Chazuna a park and museum devoted to the town’s tea culture matcha workshops are fully booked for the next fortnight “We opened in 2021 and for the first two years we didn’t have many visitors,” says Chazuna’s director “Then everything changed in March last year and People think that if they come to Kyoto on holiday then they absolutely have to come here for a matcha experience And then everyone posts their photos and videos online.” was among the first to ride the matcha wave “I have more or less stopped drinking coffee and now just drink matcha,” says Blackburn a former barista who started drinking the Japanese pick-me-up eight years ago “I like the taste and the way it makes me feel It doesn’t leave me agitated … it makes me more focused.” But some visitors to Uji are still not convinced we don’t really like matcha,” says Henrik Hantel who is honeymooning in Japan with his wife “We tried it in Germany several times and disliked it but we thought Japanese matcha might be different … and it’s everywhere here so we don’t have much choice but to try it in its traditional home We’re going to give it one more go and hope we won’t be disappointed again.” A small matcha plantation near Chazuna a park and museum celebrating Uji’s historical links to the trade in green tea Photograph: Justin McCurry/The ObserverHowever the global appetite for all things matcha is a double-edged sword prompting tea companies in Kyoto to impose unprecedented purchase limits on the powder which has been consumed in Japan since the 12th century after it was introduced by Buddhist monks from China Soaring demand in Europe, the US and Australia has prompted warnings of further shortages this year. While consumption of leaf green tea and matcha is declining in Japan, the rest of the world can’t get enough, with the global market in matcha alone expected to surge from $2.8bn [£2.2bn] in 2023 to about $5bn by 2028 Japan produced 4,176 tonnes of matcha in 2023 Keen to exploit the growing commercial potential Japan’s government is reportedly planning subsidies to encourage growers to move away from traditional leaf tea and produce more tencha – tea for grinding – the type of leaf that produces matcha Official campaigns to spread the word about matcha have been wildly successful. The tea promotion account on Instagram run by the Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Centre Overseas consumption “reached a record high last year” Inevitably, social media has been a driver of interest. Matcha content is hard to avoid on TikTok with users pointing to evidence of the health benefits of regular consumption of antioxidant-rich green tea whose caffeine levels are slightly lower than those in coffee While he has been taken aback by the levels of interest in matcha – Chazuna will soon host large groups of British visitors – Sakayori appreciates its aesthetic “It’s not like drinking coffee or English tea,” he says “It’s about more than the taste… drinking matcha is an experience.” The march of the brilliant-green powder continues “We decided to try matcha along with a dessert and it was the best experience we’ve had so far,” they wrote in an email after speaking to the Observer “I still don’t think we’ll order it back in Germany but it was a happy way to end our matcha experience in Japan.” This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Uji matcha is a premium powdered green tea cultivated in Kyoto for nearly 800 years it is now experiencing an unprecedented surge in demand.  Known for its delicate balance of sweetness and astringency Uji matcha is believed to have originated during the Kamakura period (1185–1333).  it is enjoyed both as a drink and as an ingredient in various sweets The rise in demand is partly attributed to the significant increase in inbound tourism to Japan with some tourists reportedly bulk-buying matcha far beyond personal consumption.  stores have suspended sales temporarily and set a limit on purchase amounts with matcha being resold at steep markups.  The Japanese government now plans to increase matcha production Hosoi Farm began receiving messages on social media about matcha sales for business around the autumn of 2024.  it was rare for tea farms to receive such inquiries but now the farm is regularly inundated with requests for quantities ranging from tens to hundreds of kilograms of matcha "We initially directed these customers to other tea farmers but the demand has outgrown what we can handle," a Hosoi Farm representative explained.  He also expressed concerns that this overwhelming interest might lead to low-quality products or counterfeit matcha entering the market potentially damaging the reputation of the esteemed Uji matcha brand Interest in Japanese cuisine and health trends particularly in countries like the United States has fueled the demand for matcha-based products According to trade statistics from Japan's finance ministry green tea exports reached a record high in 2023 totaling 7,579 tons with an export value of ¥29.2 billion JPY (about $186.6 million USD) export volumes have increased by approximately 2.5 times with powdered tea products like matcha accounting for over 70% of the total export value The Kyoto Tea Cooperative Association noted that a shortage of Uji matcha had become evident by late October 2024 some retailers have suspended sales to ensure matcha is available for regular customers such as those involved in traditional tea ceremonies some stores continue to limit purchase quantities.At Tsuen Tea a long-established Uji tea shop in Uji City bulk purchases by inbound tourists have surged since November 2024 Some customers have bought up to 10 units of matcha leading to shortages of certain rare items believes the purchase limits at department stores may have contributed to this trend A representative from the Kyoto Tea Cooperative Association explained that high-grade matcha is inherently scarce and labor-intensive to produce They also confirmed that purchase restrictions are necessary at the moment advising consumers to buy only what they can consume as "matcha loses its quality when stored for long periods." Uji matcha has become a target for high-priced resales on shopping websites in Southeast Asia and other regions unauthorized trademark registrations for Uji tea have also emerged a Thai website listed a 40-gram matcha product for ¥4,400 — nearly three times its usual price The product was originally sold by a long-established Uji tea shop Similar resales have been seen on websites in Vietnam and Singapore where matcha is being sold for more than double its usual price While it remains unclear if these resales are directly linked to the surge in demand some Japanese companies have started implementing countermeasures These include discouraging purchases intended for resale and rejecting excessive orders or bulk shipments to the same address Counterfeit and imitation Uji matcha products have also appeared on overseas shopping platforms One such instance occurred when "Kyoto Uji" was registered as a trademark in China without authorization The Kyoto Tea Cooperative Association filed a nullification request with Chinese authorities in November 2019 Uji tea is cultivated in and around Uji City in Kyoto Prefecture where local tea producers carefully process it Its origins trace back to the Kamakura period when Zen monk Eisai brought tea seeds from China and planted them in Uji.  the powdered form of green tea made by grinding dried leaves Uji developed a new method of steaming and heat-drying fresh tea leaves where tea is prepared by infusing the leaves in hot water I’ve been trying to get my hands on some high-quality Uji matcha lately You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York Today's print edition Home Delivery When Nintendo announced it was building a museum dedicated to its 135-year history it was easy to picture a cartoonish facility with lots of bright colors and cheery music that would be a thrill for young children and a nostalgia trip for their parents In fact, the Nintendo Museum Kyoto Prefecture (about 30 minutes by train from Kyoto Station and 1 hour from Osaka Station) delivers in spades on the latter but is surprisingly lacking in the former.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); The first sign that the Nintendo Museum is not a playground comes just after you pass through the exterior gates The classic Nintendo symbols are there: A display with warp pipes plus an 8-bit depiction of Super Mario sliding down a flag pole provide an initial burst of what will be many hits of nostalgia Beyond those modest displays and speakers playing various Mario tunes there’s little on the outside of the building to distinguish it from any other corporate office you might find in Uji There’s a good reason for that: The building that now houses the Nintendo Museum opened in 1969 for the production of hanafuda playing cards and the Famicom (known outside Japan as the Nintendo Entertainment System) before finding a second life as a customer service center until 2016 it’s the inside of the building that you’re paying the ¥3,300 ticket price for The standard route through the facility starts with the main museum hall on the second floor an expansive space with dozens of large displays for each of Nintendo’s consoles and handhelds — from the Famicom released in 1983 right up to 2017’s Switch and everything in between (there is even a section dedicated to the wearable Virtual Boy including headsets through which you can view some of the console’s games) The front side of each display showcases original packaging of key software (including Japanese North American and European versions) as well as various hardware models and related accessories Items like the Game Boy Printer and the Power Pad the company’s earliest attempt to combine fitness and gaming provide nice shots of nostalgia on their own for children of the 1980s and ’90s a series of televisions showcase some of the systems’ key titles alongside giant controllers (more on those later) On the reverse side of each display is a look at what made the console unique and innovative — long a source of pride for the Kyoto-based firm — including what the company calls “world firsts,” such as the NES’ use of voice controls and the early stages of network gaming Visitors looking to discover bits and pieces from the company’s pre-gaming history won’t be disappointed A sizable section shows off some of the company’s early analog games including hanafuda cards and a large variety of toys It’s quite a collection and sure to recall memories for people who knew the Nintendo name long before it hit it big in electronic entertainment The displays are nicely presented and could easily provide a couple hours of browsing for anyone who grew up playing these games — think of it like the definitive refined version of retro gaming shops in Tokyo’s Akihabara or Osaka’s Den-Den Town neighborhoods the exhibits are presented with few additional explanations — in order to allow visitors to form their own thoughts and connections with the displays That feels like a missed opportunity to highlight the work of the people beyond some of gaming’s greatest creations Aside from a signed drawing of Mario at the entrance to the museum there’s hardly a mention of the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto let alone other luminaries like the pioneering former President Satoru Iwata or Game Boy designer Gunpei Yokoi A small collection of prototypes give some insight into the process behind the creation of Nintendo’s consoles but there’s little space devoted to the origin stories of Mario Link and Nintendo’s other favorite characters the next area on the route is where the museum breaks out of its shell and shows off the creativity that has made Nintendo famous Super Nintendo (SNES) and NES kiosks that can play a handful of favorites visitors can use cards preloaded with virtual coins to play solo or with a friend One coin gets you seven minutes of gametime (so you won’t be able to hog playtime on an entire run of Super Mario Bros.) Another area has mini batting cages dressed up like a Showa Era (1926-89) living room allowing visitors to do their best Shohei Ohtani impression on Nintendo’s Ultra Machine batting toy All that’s missing is a mother’s voice telling you to knock it off and take it outside as you swing a big foam bat and (hopefully) lace line drive after line drive around the mock living room is undoubtedly the room that features giant controllers that allow you to team up with a partner to play various games one person controls the directional pad and the other handles the A X and Y buttons as you both attempt to make your way through the opening levels of 1990’s Super Mario World If you plan on bringing young children to the museum the first floor is where they’ll have the most fun although this still feels more geared toward adults who grew up with classic ’80s and ’90s Nintendo games no trip to a museum would be complete without a stop at the gift shop the one at the Nintendo Museum is rather disappointing There’s a decent selection of goods that you can’t find at Nintendo’s growing number of retail stores in Japan T-shirt or magnet — or are prepared to fork over ¥11,000 for a giant plush controller — there’s not a lot to get excited about here If all that playing has you feeling hungry the Hatena Burger shop is right next door to the gift shop albeit a bit on the expensive side at ¥1,900 for most combo meals but the real disappointment is a lack of creativity in both the interior decor and the menu Visitors expecting anything like Kinopio’s Cafe at Universal Studios Japan will be sorely disappointed “disappointing” is not the right word for the Nintendo Museum as a whole it doesn’t quite rise to the level of a can’t-miss experience for visitors with limited time and packed itineraries That goes doubly so for those traveling with children: For a company that’s been bringing joy to young gamers for decades the Nintendo Museum is a better destination for kids at heart than actual kids But if you grew up on consoles from the NES right through to the GameCube this place is going to bring back all kinds of long-forgotten memories The recurring exclamation from journalists and photographers when the museum opened for members of the media on Sept 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 The Uji City YouTube channel has released the full version of Kyoto Animation‘s animated PR video for the city Kyoto Animation previously released a 30-second version of the Uji ni wa Monogatari ga Aru (Tales Exist in Uji) video This longer version allows viewers to enjoy the beautifully recreated sights of Uji and the very pleasant jazz score for a good six-and-a-half minutes which is directed by Tsurune‘s Takuya Yamamura a young woman finds herself chasing after a supernatural rabbit after it consumes her phone People from past eras appear during her search — one shot has a pulled rickshaw and an ox carriage trundling along while modern cars drive by in the opposite lane In addition to the rabbit and various Uji locations (like Byodoin Temple and Uji Bridge) the video also features matcha-flavored items — soft serve Want to keep up with our anime and anime-adjacent news stories? Subscribe to our newsletter, where you can get updates on our user-voted anime chart rankings as well • Character designer and animation director: Kengo Narimatsu (Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S key animator) • Storyboard artist and unit director: Aiyume Yoshida (Sound Euphonium: Ensemble Contest key animator) • Art director: Mao Takayama (Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S background artist)• Color designer: Yuki Honiden (Sound Euphonium: Ensemble Contest finishing check)• Compositing director: Keisuke Sudo (Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S compositor)• 3D director: Mitsuki Takaki (Tsurune Season 1 assistant 3D director)• Music composers: Ai Kuwabara, Takumi Katsuya, Akira Yamada Gresa Pallaska in the role of Aida and Arben Bajraktaraj in the role of Ilir which Albania has selected as a candidate for nomination for the "Oscar" award in the "Best International Film" category which reveals the true price of power and parental love" also consists of the actor Arben Bajraktaraj.  "Water Point" was the only film that competed to become Albania's candidate for the 97th edition of the "Academy Awards".  only the cinematographic house 'Era Film' applied with the feature film 'Water Point' The commission voted unanimously in favor of the candidacy presented by the cinematographic house 'Era film' for the film 'Pike uji' as a representative of Albania in the category 'International Feature Film' in the 97th edition of the 'Oscar' awards" it is written in the announcement of National Center of Cinematography the film has been well received by the public and critics in Tirana where it has been showing since last week.  "Director Budina together with the main actors received long applause at the end of the show Critics have particularly praised Gresa Pallaska's performance as Aida calling it shocking and unforgettable.Audiences have also reacted positively with many viewers describing the film as 'exciting' 'Water Point' has been the main topic of discussion most of which consider it as one of the best Albanian films of recent years" the Albanian media reported after the premiere who has built a successful career in a system that often requires compromises.  "But what happens when the system she served turns against her faces serious charges that threaten everything she's built What sacrifices is she willing to make to protect her son and her position in a faltering world of privilege How far will Aida go to protect her son?  Director Budina has said that he hopes that "Water Drop" will be able to touch the foreign audience as well. "We are deeply honored that 'Water Point' will represent Albania at the 'Oscar' This film deeply explores the psychology of a powerful mother facing the challenges of a complex system We hope it will touch the hearts of an international audience" The role of Aida for the actress Gresa Pallaska was also a kind of personal reflection.  "Acting the role of Aida was an intense emotional journey I could identify with the challenges Aida faces in balancing professional and family life the moral dilemma she faces made me reflect deeply on the limits of parental love" Pallaska was quoted as saying after the premiere in Tirana.  the film is expected to have its international premiere at the category A festival and then it will be shown in the cinemas of the Balkan countries expanding its audience beyond the Albanian borders had described "Water Drop" as a challenging film.  "It was the most difficult film of my life the social-politics of Albania in a time of transition how we relate to reality and what position we have in relation to law also known for "Shelter in the Clouds" and "Agon" In the unfolding story is the mother who learns that her son has committed a rape and the difficult choice of whether to trust her son or her own female instinct Director Budina has also worked in the field to analyze this topic who had a terrible dignity within themselves It was just a quiet conversation without knowing what I was going to do A break of that kind deserved to be made into a movie and put the finger on those who cause the violence and not on the people who at a given moment may have a disaster It can happen to all of us and we don't know how we will report in those moments This site is controlled and managed by KOHA are protected by KOHA's copyright and KOHA retains the reserved rights for them Materials on this site may not be used for commercial purposes without the prior permission of KOHA is prohibited The use of materials from any website or other medium without the permission of the KOHA Group on behalf of all the units that make it up (Koha Ditore is a violation of copyright and of intellectual property according to the legal provisions in force All violators of these rights will face the law The translation of contents into other languages ​​is done automatically and there may be errors Annex of the former Radio Prishtina (first floor) George Bush pn Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon 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Singapore Matcha shortage, who? After receiving hit success last year, Mister Donut’s limited-edition Uji matcha range is coming back to our shores in yet another collaboration with Morihan the well-established tea specialist prides itself on the highest grade of matcha – and we now get to enjoy it in a series of affordably-priced sweet treats Get ready to start queueing again for Mister Donut’s Uji Matcha Pon De Ring coated in matcha milk chocolate and now topped with crispy rice puffs for a textural twist a bomboloni that’s piped with matcha cream and dusted with matcha powder there’s also the Uji Matcha Pon De Sando where two matcha doughnut halves sandwich a layer of matcha cream filling each matcha doughnut will set you back just $3 opt for a value-for-money six-piece ($14) or 10-piece bundle ($23) with additional ones at just $0.50 per piece Mister Donut took Singapore by storm when it launched its first outlet here two years ago drawing long queues of eager fans waiting for a taste of its famous doughnuts the Japanese chain has expanded all across the island with over 10 convenient outlets for those craving a sweet treat Its latest outlet just opened at Thomson Plaza on March 25 so those living in the area no longer need to make their way to Bishan’s Junction 8 to settle their cravings Mister Donut Singapore’s Uji matcha doughnuts will be available at outlets islandwide from April 1, 2025, for a limited period only. Find an outlet near you here Japan’s Instagram-worthy ‘flowering ice cream’ comes to Singapore in a limited-time food truck A famous South Korean bakery is bringing its signature bakes to Singapore in mid-2025 Sweet news: Pierre Hermé’s world-famous macarons are making their way to Singapore Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! tiktokfacebooktwitteryoutubeAbout us Contact us There was a decidedly international flavor to the 29th All Japan Women’s Sumo Championships where two-time defending world champion Ivanna Berezovska from Ukraine won all four of her bouts to take gold in the over-80 kilogram category Berezovska has been a fixture on international podiums for several years.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); The veteran moved to Japan last year to escape the ongoing war in her home country and has continued her winning ways in sumo’s birthplace Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division. Ronaldo Odhiambo moved in with his grandmother in her rural western Kenyan town Damaris Ogwang Ombura became the anchor for five grandchildren “She didn’t find it easy to bring food to the table,” Odhiambo recalled “She prioritized paying school fees for us.” But persistent hunger made concentrating hard When he was 12, Cup of Uji arrived at his Homa Bay County school bringing a bit of miracle in a serving of morning porridge “It changed my life,” Odhiambo said of Cup of Uji a nonprofit that The Rockefeller Foundation helps fund Today 21 years old, Odhiambo is pursuing procurement and supply chain management at Maseno University in Kisumu County “My grandmother tells me I am keeping her alive and adding value to her life,” he said “My top priority is to graduate and make her proud.” longer dry spells and less predictable rainy seasons – is triggering increased food insecurity in Kenya where 98 percent of all crops are rain-fed Acute hunger increased by 85 percent from 2016 to 2021 in Kenya, with an unpredictable climate and extreme weather acting as a “threat multiplier” to drive food insecurity, according to an Oxfam report that examined 10 countries identified as climate hotspots Most of the 10.3 million Kenyan children who attend primary school and 3.7 million enrolled in secondary school head to class without having eaten breakfast. More than a quarter of Kenya’s children under age five experience stunted growth increase in acute hunger in Kenya from 2016 to 2021 of multilateral climate funds support child-responsive adaptations return on investment for every dollar spent on school feeding Broadly speaking, children globally bear the brunt of climate-triggered hardships, including hunger, and yet a meager 2.4 percent of multilateral climate funds support child-responsive activities, according to a UNICEF report released in September is well aware that climate change makes it harder for families to serve up a meal “We see the impacts even in the village where my grandparents are from,” he said So we’ve lost land where food used to grow and people are fighting over the agricultural plots that remain.” Amonde founded Cup of Uji in 2011 when he was still in college It feeds over 10,000 students daily and is supporting the Kenyan government’s drive to achieve universal school meals by 2030 To reach 100,000 students with Cup of Uji by the end of 2024 The Rockefeller Foundation grant is aimed at part in using the Athi River Primary School south of Nairobi as a pilot site to test several factors including experimentation with different ingredients such as wholegrain maize it currently costs the equivalent of about 10 cents in U.S “Making sure children have access to nutritious meals is one of the most important challenges we can take on,” said Betty Kibaara “Children are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity which can cause irreversible damage to their physical and emotional development,” she said our Food Team partners closely with the Kenyan government to help develop a roadmap to reach universal school feeding.” Amonde felt compelled to help his community he noticed that some children in his village lacked proper clothing so he used his allowance to purchase baby clothes at the local Friday market as worshippers closed their eyes for the final prayer he discreetly put the clothes in a bag at the back of the church so parents could take what they needed on their way out he gathered donations to help his fellow students pay mandatory school fees where Amonde was majoring in journalism and mass communication he continued to nurture his early passion for helping children becoming chairman of a club to donate to orphanages across Kenya While visiting the primary school where his mother taught he realized that many children who had lost one or both of their parents were living with grandparents who could afford only one meal a day This recognition would give birth to Cup of Uji Amonde initially decided to focus on feeding just over 100 children which cost him about 3,500 shillings a month—just over $23 U.S Cup of Uji recently piloted a program to test cricket-based uji with 2,700 students as part of his effort to find ways to reach more young students like Odhiambo The cricket-based meal is high in protein and amino acids and the nutritional value is there also,” Amonde said so we will need to experiment with techniques for preparation A retired grocer offered a novel solution to make his corner of Bangkok greener and more walkable Smallholder farmers in Africa are upping their productivity through an app that allows them to share tractors that are otherwise unaffordable The Rockefeller Foundation's mission is to promote the well-being of humanity and make opportunity universal and sustainable Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on all the latest news and events Leaf KYOTO CJPF Award 2025 Second Prize in the video category for the PR video of Uji City won the runner-up prize in the video category of the "CJPF Award 2025," a contest for videos promoting the attractions of Japan to overseas audiences The award-winning work "Uji has a Story" is a 6-minute 30 second movie produced by Kyoto Animation based on the fact that Uji City is the setting of the last ten chapters of Murasaki Shikibu's masterpiece "The Tale of Genji" "This is a wonderful work by Kyoto Animation the world's top studio located in Uji City and excitement of Uji through animation that will be favorably recognized as Japan by people all over the world we hope to convey the charms of Uji to people of all ages Check out the award-winning video on YouTube The DAM-Decision and Memory group at Universitat Jaume I in Castelló led by Raphael Kaplan and composed of researchers from Spain has recently published the results of two studies that provide new insights into human brain behaviour in everyday activities such as decision-making and social interaction doctoral students Mariachiara Esposito and Lubna Abdul have shown that the hippocampal and medial prefrontal cortex regions of the brain use the boundaries of a context to guide decision-making in both spatial and abstract contexts as explained in the article "Flexible hippocampal representation of abstract boundaries supports memory-guided choice" recently published in the journal Nature Communications The boundaries of an environment help us to navigate in physical space and remember where we have been The hippocampus is responsible for remembering these positions and is sensitive to changes in these spatial boundaries What was not clear is whether hypothetical limits for example the relationship between the size and the price of a flat when you are looking for one for a person or for a family involve the same regions of the brain in the same way This research demonstrates that the brain can integrate the limits of different characteristics and adapt them to changes in context and criteria in order to guide everyday decisions such as economic decisions In another of Dr Kaplan's lines of research doctoral student Marta Rodríguez has shown that subjective preferences affect the way we link different people together for example when we organise a meeting and need to remember our guests' preferences and the relationship between them The brain regions responsible for remembering other people's preferences also show us how they differ from our own even if a comparison between them is not necessary suggests that our personal biases influence how we remember other people's preferences The results of the study "Social knowledge about others is anchored to self-knowledge in the hippocampal formation" also recently published in the journal PLOS Biology provide key information on how our cognitive biases shape social memory The DAM-Decision and Memory group at the Universitat Jaume I studies the cognitive and neural computations that guide decision-making and long-term memory in everyday life teaches on the Master's Degree in Brain and Behaviour Research which includes internships in research laboratories linked to this speciality The research published in Nature Communications and PLOS Biology is supported by the Research Talent Support Programme of the Valencian Community (CIDEGENT/2021/027) the UJI's Research Plan (UJI-B2022-45) and the Ministry of Science Innovation and Universities (PID2021-122338NA-100) 'Flexible hippocampal representation of abstract boundaries supports memory-guided choice'. Mariachiara Esposito, Lubna Abdul, Ameer Ghouse, Marta Rodriguez Aramendía, Raphael Kaplan. 2025. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57644-6 'Social knowledge about others is anchored to self-knowledge in the hippocampal formation'. Marta Rodríguez Aramendia, Mariachiara Esposito, Raphael Kaplan. 2025. PLOS Biology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003050 a 21-year-old university student from Texas is determined to experience the best that Japan has to offer She has already encountered Mickey Mouse in Tokyo Disneyland and travelled on the bullet train to the second city of Osaka But the climax of her brief holiday takes place in a much less famous place — Uji where she joins a queue of other foreigners all here to satisfy the same craving When the doors of Nakamura Tokichi tea shop open they hurry past the rest of the produce to a small display of metal tins putting only 40 on sale each day; within a few minutes Leaf KYOTO Store Locations [Uso and Boku] in Uji where you can enjoy the cute art of shaved ice A complete reservation system via Instagram DM please check the reservation method of Instagram stories for reservations and a one-hour shift system with a capacity of 4 to 5 people Everyone who was able to make a reservation despite the seemingly difficult process looked ecstatic as they looked at the real shaved ice A detached cafe that doubles as a paint showroom is located about 20 minutes walk from JR Uji Station The shaved ice made by Instagrammer Kubo is unique in its visuals it quickly became so popular that it was difficult to make reservations Akiko KuboI post articles about eating while walking as Instagrammer kubotosou He doesn't want to go to a restaurant where he has to wait for hours to wait so he has made reservations at his own restaurant “I got hooked on kakigori five or six years ago I started holding my own shaved ice event once a month A 400 yen cup of black tea that will make you unable to take your eyes off the koala's playful expression Coupled with the charm of the utensils created by my acquaintance Hikaru Masuda we have created shaved ice that will make anyone feel happy It's not uncommon for people to order three or four drinks by themselves "We only produce cute things (laughs) I want to keep responding to customers who say Tokyo The museum is located at the site of Nintendo’s former Uji Ogura factory in Uji City Nintendo Museum is created to offer a comprehensive look at the history of the world-renowned entertainment and video game company you can expect an engaging variety of interactive exhibits to fully immerse yourself in the world of Nintendo there will also be workshops to craft your very own Hanafuda playing cards Hanafuda is a traditional flower-themed card game and it was Nintendo's first ever product when the company was founded back in 1889 The museum also features an on-site café serving up hamburgers and special drinks This café is only accessible to those visiting the museum so you'll need an admission ticket to enjoy the space.  no museum in Japan would be complete without an incredible gift shop The Nintendo Museum shop will carry a diverse range of official merchandise featuring your favourite game worlds and characters as well as memorabilia exclusive to the museum the man behind iconic games like 'Super Mario' and 'Legend of Zelda' as he gives you a preview of the new museum it looks like the museum will have a massive display area showcasing Nintendo's video game hardware through the years there are also zones where you can play some of Nintendo's most popular games with larger-than-life controllers Tickets for the Nintendo Museum cost ¥3,300 for adults ¥2,200 for visitors between the ages of 12 and 17 and ¥1,100 for children six to 11 years old For more information on the Nintendo Museum, visit the website.  Kyoto ranked as one of the world's most beautiful cities for 2024 Sale of Suica IC transport cards to resume this autumn Shinjuku now has a ninja show co-produced by the Japan Ninja Council These cookies featuring Hello Kitty and her Sanrio friends go on sale next month Five million red spider lilies will be blooming at this Saitama park soon Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan. facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramAbout us Leaf KYOTO Store Locations Popular bagel specialty store moved to Uji [Kuunel no Tsuzuki] a bakery that has operated in Mimuroto for about seven years has moved to the Ujibashi-dori shopping street and restarted under a new name so she continues to carry the sign as a bagel specialty store 1 popular Uji green tea white chocolate 220 yen plain 170 yen with the true taste of wheat Nishi values in bagel making is the moist and chewy texture Using only carefully selected Hokkaido wheat according to the season he pursues elasticity and mellowness of wheat in the dough which were newly introduced after the relocation are also recommended as a delicious way to enjoy bagels Leaf KYOTO A new branch of the popular ramen restaurant "Menya Inoichi" opened in Uji a popular ramen restaurant from Kyoto that has been selected as a "Michelin Bib Gourmand" for nine consecutive years will open a new restaurant [MENYA INOICHI #3] (Uji City utilizing an old Japanese-style architecture house The restaurant has a noodle-making factory built to serve freshly made noodles as well as a garden where visitors can enjoy the seasonal atmosphere The menu is based on the soup made from the seafood-based 100% dashi that symbolizes "Menya Inoichi," and is harmonized with seasonal ingredients from Kyoto to create a dish with flavor which can only be enjoyed at this restaurant Enjoy the one and only noodle cuisine in Uji a town that attracts a lot of attention from home and abroad Leaf KYOTO Store Locations At Washun Kien in Uji you can easily enjoy restaurant-quality food says of his decision to open a restaurant in Uji which is said to be a town where people stay until 4:00 p.m So I hope that our efforts as the younger generation can help the city become more vibrant Owner Takashi Okamoto started his own restaurant in his hometown in May of this year after gaining experience at famous ryotei restaurants such as Kikunoi and Okamoto Enjoying the outdoors with his children on his days off is his recent boom who is overflowing with love for his hometown is a talented chef who studied at prominent Kyoto restaurants such as Kikunoi and Okamoto Each of his carefully prepared dishes is delicate and beautiful and you will fall in love just by looking over the counter at the way he leads his dishes to perfection Each diner is served a plate before ordering who is a father of three children in his private life The restaurant is not only stroller-friendly but also equipped with cutlery and chairs for kids The restaurant offers authentic Japanese cuisine at a casual price from 2,000 yen for lunch and from 6,000 yen for dinner a la carte the chef's taste shines through in the antique tableware he has been collecting since he was a teenager Let's go out to spend an evening in Uji for the chef's cuisine Leaf KYOTO Three Buildings of Manpukuji Temple in Uji on Sunday to mark the establishment of a monument to the victims of the 2019 Kyoto Animation Co arson attack ahead of its fifth anniversary Thursday 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 built in the Historical Park of Tea and Uji Town features a design symbolizing the individuality of the 36 victims soaring into the sky adorned with inscriptions such as “Dreams and passion from person to person.” Tokyo University of the Arts was responsible for the production of the first memorial monument to the victims which was funded with part of the donations made over the incident that came from around Japan and abroad The ceremony was attended by about 100 people A message from a representative of the company’s employees was read out during the event It expressed hope that the monument will serve as a symbol for many people Hatta handed Uji Mayor Atsuko Matsumura a document marking the donation of the monument to Uji In a speech by a representative of bereaved relatives a man who lost his daughter said: “I hope that KyoAni’s works will endure in the hearts of many and that the spirit of the staff who died will live on there wasn’t an official place to express our feelings,” said Koji Fukui a 38-year-old Aichi Prefecture resident and KyoAni fan “So I hope various people will come here and that KyoAni and Uji will continue to develop toward the future.” Plans are also underway to set up a memorial monument at the former site of the company’s No killing 36 people and injuring many others Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Leaf KYOTO Southern area of Kyoto you should visit now Recharge your energy with delicious food and good luck spots a national treasure known as the oldest existing shrine building and the colorful and cute bunny fortune lined up at the awarding booth will soothe your heart located in the southwest back ogimon (unlucky gate) has been prayed to as the guardian deity of the capital along with Hieizan Enryakuji Temple in the northeast ogimon (unlucky gate) The main shrine is surrounded by approximately 150 colorful sculptures and a red seal with a dove character can be obtained upon request Shokado bento is characterized by its crisscrossed interior and high rimmed lid was a priest of Ishinomizu Hachimangu Shrine the hermitage he established after his retirement and invented it as a container for cooking Kyoto Kitcho Shokado offers mainly Shokado bento in a refined Japanese space The precincts of the shrine are home to approximately 300 plum trees which begin to bloom from the beginning of the year and visitors are greeted by plum blossoms that open into plump buds around the time the entrance exam season begins The ume trees are beautiful as they bloom slightly in memory of Michizane and the competition with the ume crest is also deeply moving this specialty coffee shop has continued to pursue high-quality specialty coffee with the hope that customers will enjoy coffee not as something special including French press coffee and cappuccinos which bring out the best of specialty coffee and other food items that complement the coffee 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 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 Leaf KYOTO Store Locations Enjoy the taste of tea at a new spot [TEA SQUARE MORIHAN] in Uji and Kokura Morihan is a long-established tea manufacturer and seller in Uji will be designated as an important building in the Uji landscape in 2022 and the company opened a complex to make effective use of the valuable space In addition to drinks such as gyokuro and sencha teas Forestry and Fisheries Award at the Uji Tea Fair we also recommend sweets made with high-quality tea leaves such as freshly ground matcha and dorayaki made with roasted tea The facility is designed to be "fun just to look at," and new attempts are being made to introduce the world of Uji tea such as allowing visitors to look through glass windows at the viewing area where tea masters inspect the quality of tea The dora is filled with cream kneaded with matcha green tea or roasted tea and sandwiched between chewy crusts the bitterness and astringency are reduced allowing you to fully enjoy the flavor of the tea Leaf KYOTO At the Nintendo Museum in Uji visitors can experience the origins of Nintendo by trying their hand at making hanafuda (Japanese playing cards) Nintendo is now world-renowned as a video game console manufacturer but its origins actually lie in hanafuda (Japanese playing cards) ［In the workshop "Let's make Hanafuda" held in the craft room of the Nintendo Museum anyone can easily make Hanafuda using a special kit Hanafuda (Japanese playing cards) are now made by machine Visitors can simulate the process of those days by selecting a pattern Proceeding to the 2nd floor through the café in the 3rd Exhibition Hall with a row of hanafuda (Japanese playing cards) lined up at the entrance A total of 48 hanafuda cards depict the seasonal flowers Visitors first select their favorite month at the reception desk and four cards each depict a scene from one of the four seasons in Japan: plum blossoms and Japanese bush warblers in February People can choose according to the current season or according to their own birth month or month of memories The month of December in particular has the name [Nintendo] on it All the designs were so beautiful that it took me a long time to choose one I decided to make hanafuda with beautiful autumn leaves and deer for October and cool phoenixes and paulownia flowers for December After selecting the hanafuda to be created move to the work table lined with colorful inks and brushes The colorful and bright space makes us excited so if you have any questions about how to make a card The colors used for Hanafuda vary from month to month check the ink colors and the order of application written in the upper left corner of the stencil The colors are applied by layering the stencil on top of the base paper on which the pattern is drawn according to the instructions Put a few drops of ink on the base palette The key here is to remove the liquid so thoroughly that the ink is just a smudge it will bleed out of the patterned paper frame the more carefully you need to apply the paint otherwise blurring will be more noticeable... I immersed myself in the work of painting while learning the craftsman's skills Put a thin layer of glue on the back side of the detached hanafuda and paste it in the middle of the black backing paper we folded and pasted the backing paper to make a frame This is more detailed and difficult than I had expected... Be careful not to apply too much glue or it will stick out and become sticky Put the completed Hanafuda in a case and it will look cool Let's take a commemorative photo on the spot Nathaniel Gbaoron $(document).ready(function(){(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})}); Leaf KYOTO ［The Nintendo Museum a facility where visitors can learn about and experience the history of Nintendo's entertainment exhibits almost all the video games and consoles that Nintendo has ever sold in Japan The museum exhibits a variety of the company’s products playing cards that the company has been selling since its founding in 1889 showing visitors how Nintendo has become one of the world’s largest game companies along with subsequent gaming consoles and gaming software The museum also has a space where visitors can use huge controllers to play historically popular video games The museum offers many fun experiences such as Japanese traditional Hyakunin-isshu card game that visitors can play with their smartphones “We hope that people of all generations will enjoy the museum and that the museum will help revitalize the city,” Shigeru Miyamoto executive fellow and representative director of Nintendo The museum is about a five-minute walk from Kintetsu Ogura Station It stands on the former site of the company’s Uji Ogura hanafuda card factory which also served as a repair center for video game consoles Leaf KYOTO Store Locations Enjoy a luxurious break with freshly rolled sencha from Baicha Nakamura in Uji A set to compare one iced and two hot teas in order The flavor of the tea can be felt most strongly only for a few hours after it has been freshly rubbed We offer tea in a state that normally only those who work at the tea factory have the opportunity to drink it Eishi Nakamura began this new challenge while struggling with a specially ordered miniature tea-making machine he worked at Nishi Tea Factory in Kagoshima for 7.5 years to learn more about the world of tea he returned to Kyoto and opened the store after a year of preparation is the third son of the fifth generation of Nakamura Fujiyoshi Honten a long-established tea wholesaler established in 1854 and grew up in a family with ties to Uji tea and he became an apprentice to a tea farmer in Kagoshima who followed organic farming methods he realized that each tea has its own unique story and charm which involves rubbing the tea leaves and gradually drying them My colleagues tell me how I can do such a time-consuming job making the tea leaves for that day's use on the same day (laughs) (Laughs) But I don't mind if I can show them the charm of each variety and each tea plantation and its mild taste penetrates the body easily The store stocks about 10 varieties of tea leaves directly from tea farmers in Kyoto The store sells a wide variety of tea leaves so you can find the tea leaves you like while listening to Nakamura-san's passionate tea talk The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international community’s efforts to protect and preserve World Heritage partnerships for conservation Ensuring that World Heritage sites sustain their outstanding universal value is an increasingly challenging mission in today’s complex world where sites are vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled urban development Our Partners Donate Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information 794 on the model of the capitals of ancient China Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan from its foundation until the middle of the 19th century As the centre of Japanese culture for more than 1,000 years Kyoto illustrates the development of Japanese wooden architecture which has influenced landscape gardening the world over Construite en 794 sur le modèle des capitales de la Chine ancienne Kyoto a été la capitale impériale du Japon depuis sa fondation jusqu'au milieu du XIXe siècle En tant que foyer de la culture japonaise depuis plus de mille ans Kyoto retrace le développement de l'architecture japonaise en bois et l'art des jardins japonais qui a influencé la conception des jardins dans le monde entier أُنشئت كيوتو في العام 794 على نموذج عاصمات الصين القديمة وهي كانت العاصمة الامبراطوريّة لليابان منذ إنشائها وحتّى منتصف القرن التاسع عشر وبصفتها مهد الثقافة اليابانيّة منذ أكثر من ألف عام، تُعيد كيوتو إحياء الهندسة المعماريّة اليابانيّة الخشبيّة، لا سيّما الهندسة المعماريّة الدينيّة وفن الحدائق الياباني الذي أثّر على طريقة تصميم الحدائق في العالم بأسره 古京都是仿效古代中国首都形式，于公元794年建立的。从建立起直到19世纪中叶古京都一直是日本的帝国首都。作为一千多年来日本的文化中心，古京都不仅见证了日本木结构建筑，特别是宗教建筑的发展，而且也向世人展示着日本花园艺术的变迁，现在日本的花园设计艺术已经对全世界的景观花园设计产生了重大影响。 город Киото был имперской столицей Японии с момента своего основания до середины XIX в бывший центром японской культуры на протяжении более 1000 лет демонстрирует историю развития японской деревянной архитектуры Искусство японских садов Киото повлияло на ландшафтное садоводство во всем мире Construida el año 794 a imagen y semejanza de las capitales de la antigua China Kyoto fue la capital imperial del Japón desde su fundación hasta mediados del siglo XIX Núcleo central de la cultura japonesa desde mil años atrás Kyoto es un vivo exponente del desarrollo de la arquitectura tradicional en madera –sobre todo la religiosa– así como del arte paisajístico nipón que ha influido en el diseño de los jardines en el mundo entero The Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto Uji and Otsu Cities) consist of seventeen component parts that are situated in Kyoto and Uji Cities in Kyoto Prefecture and Otsu City in Shiga Prefecture 794 on the model of the ancient Chinese capital Kyoto has acted as the cultural centre while serving as the imperial capital until the middle of the 19th century As the centre of Japanese culture for more than a thousand years it spans the development of Japanese wooden architecture Most of the one hundred ninety-eight buildings and twelve gardens that make up the seventeen component parts of the property were built or designed from the 10th to the 17th centuries All of the seventeen components of the inscribed property are religious establishments except for the castle of Nijo-jo Together they cover a total of 1,056 hectares and are surrounded by a buffer zone of 3,579 hectares Criterion (ii): Kyoto was the main centre for the evolution of religious and secular architecture and of garden design between the 8th and 17th centuries and as such it played a decisive role in the creation of Japanese cultural traditions which had a profound effect on the rest of the world from the 19th century onwards Criterion (iv): The assemblage of architecture and garden design in the surviving monuments of Kyoto is the highest expression of this aspect of Japanese material culture in the pre-modern period building complexes and gardens that make up the inscribed property represent various unique periods of history seen together they illustrate the general historical development of Japanese architecture and gardens Together the seventeen component parts provide a clear understanding of the ancient capital’s history and culture the property gives a very comprehensive picture of Japanese culture over the long period of time the integrity of the property is ensured in both its wholeness and intactness each of the seventeen individual parts of the property exhibits a high degree of individual integrity Because the scattered component parts exist within an urban context uncontrolled development poses a threat to the inscribed property’s overall visual integrity In the light of the Japanese tradition of restoration and reconstruction the buildings and gardens that compose the property retain high levels of authenticity Although in only very rare cases have entire buildings the rigorous respect for the original form and materials that has prevailed in Japan for more than a millennium has ensured that what is visible today conforms in almost every detail with the original structures This tradition has been reinforced since the end of the 19th century when the Ancient Shrines and Temples Preservation Law was enacted (1897) replaced and this work is done with careful documentation and scientific investigation While gardens were not well preserved in the period immediately following the Second World War since 1965 garden conservation has been included as part of the work supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and is undertaken with the same attention to excavation surveys and other research Those responsible for such work have taken great pains to ensure the use of traditional materials and techniques to the extent of reproducing original tools When earlier restoration or repair work used inappropriate materials or techniques this work has been replaced with repairs based on appropriate research with no conjecture Damaged components of both the wooden buildings and gardens are replaced only when necessary and attention is paid to historical detail Authenticity of workmanship is enhanced with careful study of techniques and the use of appropriate tools Most of the one hundred ninety-eight buildings across the inscribed property remain in their original location the buildings and gardens composing the property retain high levels of authenticity in terms of form/design gardens composing the property are protected under the 1950 Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties Among the one hundred and ninety-eight buildings thirty-eight are designated as National Treasures and one hundred and sixty as Important Cultural Properties eight are designated as Special Places of Scenic Beauty and four as Places of Scenic Beauty proposed alterations to the existing state of the property are restricted and any alteration must be approved by the national government or local governments in case of minor alteration Strict enforcement of building codes is carried out in the buffer zones and ongoing communication exists between the city government and property owners to balance protection of the property’s integrity with urban development The buffer zones are covered by the Historic Environment Control Area proposed development activities are controlled by (i) the National Parks Law (ii) the Ancient Capitals Preservation Act (iii) Scenic Zones under the Shiga Prefecture Scenic Zone Ordinance or the Kyoto Prefecture Scenic Zone Ordinance and/or (iv) regulated areas under the City Town Planning and relevant city ordinances building height in the urban areas is regulated by the Historic Environment Control Area Kyoto City also developed its new landscape conservation policy and strategy in 2007 to strengthen the height control for buildings and to enhance the building design codes In terms of ownership of the inscribed property religious organizations own sixteen of the seventeen component parts Day-to-day management is the responsibility of the individual owners who conduct necessary repairs including seismic strengthening As fire is the greatest risk to the property the monuments are equipped with automatic fire alarms some owners of the component parts organize fire brigades that work in cooperation with public fire offices Uji and Otsu Cities provide the owners of the component parts with both financial assistance and technical guidance for their protection and management