Today's print edition Home Delivery Emerging from the head of the world's tallest bronze Buddha and climbing down to its right ear two specialist cleaners gave the imposing Japanese statue an annual spruce up Monday to help it look its gleaming best the pair blasted dust and bird droppings off the Ushiku Daibutsu monument Ibaraki Prefecture.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); The 120-meter structure is spruced up once a year by the two men who have been entrusted with the job for nearly a quarter of a century In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Please 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 2027ISO 9001:2015 Cert No.: CIP/5365/18/06/1061 – July 12 by Central Philippine University | Nov 22, 2024 | Centralian Link In collaboration with the CPU Local and International Linkages and Affiliation Center (CPU LILAC) the Central Philippine University Junior High School (CPU – JHS) welcomed delegates from Ushiku Junior High School for the Philippine Language Training Interactive Activity held on November 13 The event took place at the Education Media Center (EMC) Conference Room from 3:00 to 5:00 PM The program commenced with an opening prayer led by CPU Junior High School students Dianala emphasized the significance of cultural exchange in fostering fellowship She encouraged participants to seize the opportunity to learn about Japanese and Philippine cultures while forging meaningful friendships “We are here to learn more about the Japanese and Philippine culture make new friends later on and fellowship with one another,” Prof extending the greetings of University President Rev an English teacher at Ushiku Junior High School expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and reflected on his last visit to CPU five years ago He shared his excitement about resuming this cultural exchange after the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic Inoue highlighted the importance of student interactions encouraging participants to use English as a bridge to foster friendships and cultural understanding The event featured a series of interactive and educational activities Japanese students introduced themselves and participated in themed discussions with their Filipino counterparts in an interactive forum CPU Junior High School students showcased Philippine culture through captivating presentations while Japanese students performed “Rakugo” stories in English offering a glimpse into Japan’s traditional comedic storytelling A Japanese culture exchange session followed during which Ushiku students shared insights into their culture and answered questions from their Filipino peers The program concluded with a gift-giving segment where Japanese students presented traditional snacks and explained their significance The activity ended with a group photo session capturing the camaraderie and shared experiences of the day The Philippine Language Training Interactive Activity marked a meaningful milestone in fostering international relationships providing students from both schools a unique platform to celebrate diversity and strengthen the bond between Japan and the Philippines : +63 (33) 329-1971 or +63 (33) 330-7200 local 2129Mobile No : +639217602647Email Us: infocenter@cpu.edu.phFacebook Messenger: Central Philippine University – CPU Two of Rizin’s premier 145-pounders will face off at Rizin Landmark 5 looking to bounce back into the win column and put themselves in line for a shot at featherweight gold will feature a featherweight battle between hard-hitting fan-favorite Asakura and former Rizin featherweight champion Juntaro Ushiku that sees both men looking to bounce back from high-profile defeats Asakura’s foray into boxing ended in a second-round knockout loss to boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in September 2022 while Ushiku lose his 145-pound title to Kleber Koike via second-round submission at Rizin 39 in October the same year Now they both return to compete for bragging rights in a bout that has been put together for the Japanese fighting fans “This fight is a fight between two different styles so that’s what makes it intriguing,” Ushiku told reporters at a press conference in Yoyogi said he’ll return to the sport of MMA even better than before following his bout with Mayweather I’ve boxed and am confident that I have gotten stronger,” he said “I will guarantee a knockout within the second round I have no damage from the Mayweather fight I like the cage because it’s easier to defend takedowns.” The event has been brought forward one day and Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara explained the thought process behind the date switch other organizations will be holding tournaments in Japan and the athletes’ second camp will participate in both tournaments we moved the schedule forward by one day,” he said “In order to avoid overlapping competitions and to reduce the stress of athletes and seconds as much as possible I am grateful to the production staff who will be working a midnight shift to this decision “These upcoming events will be a grand sum of what RIZIN has been doing for the past 8 years We will be introducing 2 new venues to RIZIN both events were renovated for the Tokyo Olympics and are very excited to bring RIZIN to such prestigious venues.” The co-main event features another matchup of featherweight contenders with former champion Yutaka Saito taking on kickboxer-turned-MMA contender Ren Hiramoto Phone: +44 (0) 191 233 2225 Email: info@i2mediagroup.com the Ushiku Daibutsu is one of the tallest Buddha statues in the world this bronze statue stands an impressive 120 meters tall The Ushiku Daibutsu depicts Amitabha Buddha and was built to commemorate the birth of Shinran the founder of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Japanese Buddhism which has its headquarters at the Honganji temples in Kyoto The Ushiku Daibutsu is a truly massive statue with specific measurements that demonstrate its impressive scale while the base adds another 10 meters and the lotus platform contributes an additional 10 meters to the total height The statue's left hand stretches an incredible 18 meters the Ushiku Daibutsu weighs approximately 4,003 tonnes The construction of the Ushiku Daibutsu was a complex process that utilized a curtain wall system a central cast iron steel column was erected to support the statue's immense weight a pre-assembled steel frame structure was arranged around the column with the statue's 100-meter-tall torso divided into 20 tiers Each tier consisted of an average of 17 blocks with nine 1.5 by 1.5 meter bronze sheets welded onto each block's steel frame are much lighter compared to those used on the Great Buddha at Tōdai-ji temple in Nara While the exterior of the Ushiku Daibutsu is undeniably impressive visitors can also explore the statue's interior which houses a four-story building that serves as a museum known as the "Infinite Light and Infinite Life" level features a dark lobby with a single shaft of light illuminating a cauldron of smoking incense An elevator provides access to the upper floors called the "World of Gratitude and Thankfulness," is primarily dedicated to scriptural studies named the "World of the Lotus Sanctuary," is located at a height of 20–30 meters and showcases an impressive collection of 3,000 gold Buddha statues situated at 80–85 meters and called the "Room of Mt Grdhrakuta," offers stunning views from the observation windows in the Buddha's chest overlooking the adjacent flower garden and small animal park The World of the Lotus Sanctuary with over 3,000 gold Buddha statues The Ushiku Daibutsu is set within a spacious park that features numerous cherry trees Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the park as they approach the statue This two-story gate houses three Buddha images on the upper level while the ground floor features Japan's largest bronze incense burner and a small Pure Land garden representing Buddhist paradise The park offers a variety of seasonal attractions The summer months bring a special Obon festival light show and a spectacular fireworks displaythat illuminates the grand statue The Ushiku Daibutsu is open from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm (March to September) and 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (October to February) Admission fees are 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for children from April to November and 700 yen for adults and 350 yen for children from December to March allocate enough time to explore the statue's interior Japan In a Week Group Tours in Japan Discover Japan Group Tours in Japan The Tokaido Road Group Tours in Japan Urban and Rural Japan Group Tours in Japan Nightlife in Japan: Going out, seeing and drinking Markets in Japan Onsen, Hot Springs and Public Baths Family Travel Parks and Gardens Outdoor Activities Museums and Galleries Restaurants and Cafes View more Sign up and be the first to hear our news and special offers Japan","entityTaxonomy":{"content_category":{"1":"All about Japan"}},"userUid":0}); Location Please select your country on the list below: Discussion has concerned both the Immigration Bureau of Japan which oversees immigration and residency of foreigners The catalyst was the death in detention of former exchange student Wishma Sandamali Her death was initially reported at a time when the Diet was deliberating a bill to revise the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act Sandamali’s bereaved family members traveled to Japan and their efforts to uncover the truth surrounding her death were widely reported by the media Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Ishikawa Taiga questions Minister of Justice Mori Masako regarding the issue of immigration detention in a March 2020 House of Councillors Budget Committee meeting This was the prelude to revelations of problems at many levels of the immigration system including the normalization of inhumane treatment of detainees by immigration officials Japan’s immigration detention system was shown to violate United Nations’ human rights standards and scrutiny exposed a lack of transparency in the screening standards used to determine whether an applicant would receive special permission for residence in Japan the government’s bill to revise immigration law already criticized by the opposition as a change for the worse Plans to reintroduce the bill in the current Diet session are also presently on hold Sandamali’s family has filed a damages suit against the Japanese government and debate over immigration issues continues to rage shares the testimonies of immigration detainees The film’s title is the byname for the East Japan Immigration Center foreigners without residency status are detained here and at 16 other facilities across Japan many located near main airports or in major cities began visiting detainees at Ushiku in autumn 2019 long before Sandamali’s death at an immigration facility in Nagoya he went as a volunteer from the church he attended and resolved to record their testimonies as evidence in case anything terrible happened “There were ongoing hunger strikes at the center I felt it was vital to record the testimonies of detainees as evidence Kurdish detainee Deniz He came to Japan in 2007 and married a Japanese woman four years later Repeated applications for refugee recognition were rejected and he has been detained at Ushiku for many years now Detention center visitors are requested to “refrain from” bringing cameras voice recorders or cell phones when visiting detainees according to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website But Ash decided to carry a concealed video camera to record his meetings with detainees But as I learned about the conditions from detainees and some courageously asked me to share their stories.” and are seen sitting on the other side of the acrylic barrier fervently describing the inhumane treatment they suffer at Ushiku as well as their feelings of anguish and uncertainty The sense of urgency in the detainees’ interviews is enhanced by being filmed in the close quarters of the visitation room but Ash says he has received some negative reactions for “breaking the rules.” “It has been screened at film festivals in fourteen countries but outside of Japan almost no one has challenged my covert filming it is considered normal: just another form of expression My filming method only gets attention in Japan.” Use of concealed cameras is not unusual in undercover reporting Ash obtained permission from the people he was filming Controversy about bringing in the camera without official permission seems like a typically Japanese response—one Ash finds incomprehensible​ “I only filmed detainees sharing their stories The most shocking part of the film is not even what I secretly filmed but footage filmed by immigration officials themselves.” The footage Ash refers to shows six or seven officers violently restraining a male detainee who was handcuffed and assaulted by officials in what has been labeled an act of oppression Deniz has since launched legal proceedings against the government The footage used in the film was submitted to the Tokyo court by the government it was shot by immigration officials to support their conduct Deniz Immigration claims that the footage proves that They film such incidents to justify their actions precisely because there have been previous court cases asserting that unreasonable force was used against detainees It is fair to assume that even worse things take place that are not recorded “Officers couldn’t act this way if they recognized the detainees as human creating an arbitrary hierarchy that enables them to treat detainees as lesser beings It’s not enough to just censure these six officers and consider the matter finished They’ve simply been trained to act this way We need to understand that the problem is structural.” Many detainees have applied for refugee status due to persecution in their home countries it is more unbearable than ordinary imprisonment Desperation causes many to see hunger strikes as their only hope They believe that if they starve long enough their situation may be assessed as “risky,” securing them a provisional release The absurdity of this is obvious in the testimonies of detainees seen in the film I’d like to ask immigration myself,” says Ash I believe they release the detainees so they will eat and regain the strength for redetention.” In March 2020 Deniz was reunited with his wife when he was temporarily released from Ushiku there has been an increase in provisional releases across Japan in order to minimize close contact the pandemic has had a beneficial effect in that detainees have not had to resort to hunger strikes it seems likely that the situation will revert back is that even gaining provisional release does secure a far more humane lifestyle it is not a normal lifestyle providing much comfort “They don’t have the right to work Even though they are physically able to work It’s humiliating to be forced to rely on the favor of others simply to eat.” Aside from the two years when Ash studied in Britain he has lived in Japan continuously since 2000 he reported on the situation of children who were found to have thyroid gland growths after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident he does not want to turn a blind eye to its issues His gentle demeanor is not what you would expect of the director of such films but he seems to be concealing anger within “I don’t think I’d describe what drives me as anger But I tend to be drawn to people shunned by society I question why fellow humans are treated this way it’s not toward Japan or the party perpetrating exclusion: I’m angry about the issue itself I’m angry at myself for being unable to do anything.” Ash challenges us to be conscious of our responsibility to be witnesses to wrongdoings we see in society “I understand it’s only human to want to avoid involvement Nine detainees themselves were brave enough to raise their voices because they entrusted their testimonies to me.” In response to people criticizing his use of concealed cameras in filming Ushiku he notes: “These are mainly people who haven’t seen the film Some might be initially alarmed by the words ‘secretly recorded,’ but I believe they’ll understand why I had to do it when they see the film.” Ash is grateful to the many people who helped him to complete the film and finally achieve its release But because the issues are still unresolved “My hope is that people who see the film will want to know more about the issues and will investigate it further I’ve gotten involved by making the film Even just talking to someone else is something What I fear the most is indifference.” Ushiku director Thomas Ash Banner photo: a scene from the film Ushiku depicting the East Japan Immigration Center visitation room (© 2021 Thomas Ash) juvenile reformatories in Japan are trying to get more youth offenders to engage in their communities while acquiring technical skills that might lead to future employment Given the danger of released youths committing repeat offenses after failing to find work or a path forward in life experts say it is vital they meet people they respect and witness examples of success brought in a nonprofit group comprising former youth offenders to help inmates at a correctional facility he headed in Fukuoka city At discussion meetings with members of the NPO which have been held every three months since the program launched last year the youth inmates are free to ask questions and air their doubts and concerns "It is difficult for us to convince juvenile offenders with our theories What really moves them is seeing these 'seniors' (who have left facilities) coping in society while dealing with anxieties," said Nakajima the former head of Fukuoka Juvenile Reformatory Although reformatory instructors often advise youth inmates to break their ties with other delinquent youths in their circle sometimes it is better to seek a way back into society together "You don't have to force yourself to part ways," one member of "Second Chance "What does rehabilitation really mean?" Ryoya Yamashita the 25-year-old head of the NPO who also runs his own company replied "The important thing is to just continue leading a normal life." about 17,000 youths were apprehended in 2020 for offenses for which adults would face criminal charges which has continued to exceed 30 percent in recent years leading many experts to believe that employment is a key element to preventing young offenders from repeating crimes Reformatories are experimenting with various innovations including involving inmates with local businesses One is even aiming to have youth offenders acquire grape-cultivating skills used in wine production has been receiving technical guidance from Ushiku Chateau and aims to ship a wine "made with reformatory-grown grapes." Vines for wine varietals and the youths devote themselves to soil management and watering the plants A juvenile detention center in the city of Sasebo has youth offenders pay regular visits to homes for the elderly and facilities for children with disabilities while also participating in activities such as mowing lawns and interacting with the residents "There have been inmates who developed an interest in such jobs after talking to old people and observing the way the staff work," said an official at the detention center director at the Kyushu branch of "Second Chance!" who has been providing support to juvenile offenders for many years is keen to point out that the feeling many youth offenders have that "life is over the moment they enter a correctional facility" is a misconception "If you work hard then it is even possible to run your own business one day," said Matsuo who himself made the transition from juvenile offender to company owner "It would be good if there is an atmosphere spreading in society that allows for do-overs." To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible Kleber Koike rode his submission expertise to a RIZIN title win The former KSW titleholder challenged two-promotion featherweight king Juntaro Ushiku in the main event of RIZIN 39 Sunday in Fukuoka and put him away with a triangle choke 89 seconds into the second stanza “I’ll catch [you],” Koike yelled immediately after locking the choke A teammate of RIZIN lightweight champion Roberto Satoshi at Bonsai Jiu-Jitsu Koike now rides a 6-0 streak under the company banner with six submission finishes "VOU PEGAR!" KLEBER KOIKE IS INEVITABLE‼️[Watch #RIZIN39 ➡️ https://t.co/40DpcCYUQV] pic.twitter.com/qihhdRiUnG RIZIN 39 also featured some nasty finishes in the undercard, with Koji Takeda lifting Zach Zane off the ground to secure an armbar, and Yoshiki Nakahara taking advantage of the rule set to stop Akira Haraguchi with soccer kicks Koji Takeda finishes Zach Zane in the first round with an armbar!Could we see him fighting for the title soon? [Watch #RIZIN39 ➡️ https://t.co/40DpcCYUQV] pic.twitter.com/3RDzudvkYM NAKAHARA GETS THE FIRST ⚽️ KICK FINISH OF THE NIGHT❕The elbow started it all [Watch #RIZIN39 ➡️ https://t.co/40DpcDh453] pic.twitter.com/MSIhDCYSmf Mehman Mamedov via TKO (corner stoppage) – Round 1 Sign In Subscribe Now Hundreds of visitors filed into the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre (KDCC) on the afternoon of Nov a celebration of Japanese culture and Whitehorse’s Sister City relationship with Ushiku This is the second consecutive year Japan Fest has been collaboratively held by the Japanese Canadian Association of Yukon (JCAY) and the City of Whitehorse The event was previously held in 2009 and 2019 and was organized solely by the JCAY This year’s festival ran from noon to 4 p.m and featured various shows and other experiences According to the festival organizer from the JCAY there were seven performances over the event’s four-hour run taiko (Japanese drum) performances and Bon Odori There was also a screening of a short film small children could enjoy a bouncy castle in the KDCC and colour pictures of iconic Japanese anime characters from popular franchises such as Pokémon and Dragon Ball Z The same organizer told the News that 500 to 700 people attended 2023’s Japan Fest Whitehorse and Ushiku have been sister cities for nearly four decades In addition to cultural exchanges between the two cities Whitehorse flies Ushiku’s flag on the fourth Monday of June Ushiku is located roughly a one-hour drive from Tokyo and is home to more than 84,000 people according to Japanese census data from 2020 Contact Matthew Bossons at matthew.bossons@yukon-news.com Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines Dozens of foreigners held at an immigration facility near Tokyo are staging a hunger strike to protest their protracted detention The hunger strike comes just days after an Indian man at the East Japan Immigration Center in Ushiku The incident is the latest in a string of deaths in Japanese immigration facilities that have been long criticized for their poor medical services and lengthy detention periods more than 40 detainees are taking part in the hunger strike which began Sunday at the facility which currently holds 335 foreigners "We are trying to persuade them to stop the hunger strike as it could harm their health," an official at the detention facility said while refusing to confirm how many people are taking part The hunger strikers are also angered that staff at the detention center have been insensitive to the circumstances surrounding the Indian man's suicide mostly those who were close to the deceased began refusing meals on Sunday morning but are drinking water and tea The Indian man in his 30s was found in a shower room with a towel bound around his neck shortly before noon on Friday a day after his request for provisional release was dismissed who supporters said was despairing of his situation was taken to a hospital but pronounced dead about an hour later Foreigners without legal residency status who receive deportation orders can be detained at 17 immigration facilities across Japan (Higashi-Nihon Immigration Center in Ushiku The Justice Ministry points to detention as being a way to keep tabs on foreigners who are in Japan without legal status argue it should be limited to short periods before deportation Committee Against Torture has also criticized Japan's long There is no legal time limit for detention in the country a doctor with deep knowledge of immigration issues said lengthy detention is a form of psychological torture "The hunger strike is evidence that detainees are psychologically devastated," he said a Vietnamese man in his 40s at the Ushiku immigration center died after falling unconscious His supporters said staffers did not provide adequate medical treatment to him even though he had reported he was suffering an ailment A 43-year-old Cameroonian man also died at the same facility in 2014 and his mother has filed a suit seeking state compensation claiming he was left unattended by the facility staff despite complaining of ill health known more commonly by his Sanskrit name Amitābha was the tallest statue in the world for a time Its reign lasted from when it was finished in 1995 until 2002 when an effigy of Vairocana was completed in Lushan another statue was completed in Myanmar that is six meters taller making this Japanese giant the third-tallest statue in the world The deity depicted, Amitābha or "Buddha of Infinite Light" Amida Nyorai is the central buddha of the Pure Land sect Amida is known for his good deeds spanning innumerable past-lives he allowed himself to be continually reborn to help others—the true sign of a Bodhisattva One can take an elevator to an observation room in the chest of the statue from here the beautiful countryside is in plain view Phone number for Japanese auto GPS: 029-889-2931 The tallest bronze seated statue of the Buddha in Japan This giant seated Bhudda of Healing dates to the 1780s “broken” crucifixion has become a popular pilgrimage destination This amazing mountain temple is topped by one of the tallest sitting Buddha statues in the world Plymouth's huge yet little-known memorial to the Pilgrims A hidden garden of stones engraved with scriptures A mysterious dark-skinned Christ statue has been this town's religious center for centuries One of the most popular megalithic sites in Ireland stands as a humbler version of Stonehenge Japan’s harsh and restrictive immigration policies, with indefinite detention for visa overstayers and minuscule refugee acceptance numbers (0.4% of refugee applications were approved in 2019) have long drawn foreign media attention and criticism — to little apparent effect In March, the death of a Sri Lankan woman at an immigration facility in Nagoya elicited widespread condemnation Ratnayake Liyanage Wishma Sandamali had spent months fruitlessly complaining to staff of ill health and public criticism increased when it was revealed that the facility had refused her repeated requests for outside hospital treatment — while releasing dozens of other detainees due to coronavirus infection concerns.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); the government and the ruling coalition dropped plans to amend the nation’s immigration law to make it even stricter including a proposal to criminally prosecute asylum seekers who do not comply with deportation orders Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information National Report cafe owner Kimiko Tanaka drives to the Higashi-Nihon Immigration Center in the neighboring city of Ushiku a trip she has made almost every week for 25 years managed by the Immigration Services Agency to visit detainees who have lost their residency status for various reasons Many of them develop mental or physical problems after several years of incarceration Some have committed suicide or waged hunger strikes in protest leads a civic group that supports foreign detainees that was established after the Ushiku immigration center opened in 1993 she has casual conversations with detainees through an acrylic partition to provide a distraction from their predicament Tanaka speaks basically in Japanese and listens to what the detainees want to say She takes notes on how they came to Japan and ended up in detention supplies they need and their health conditions to prepare for her next meetings with them She sees up to about 10 detainees on a single day and she now has more than 10 thick file folders worth of notes In a recent visit amid the novel coronavirus pandemic she learned that detainees feared infection because several people share cells Tanaka makes inquiries to immigration officials and asks them to improve the treatment of detainees “Those who could return home have already returned,” Tanaka said “People who are taken to Ushiku are the ones who have no choice but to stay They include those who have applied for refugee status those who have lived in Japan for many years and have a foundation for their lives only in Japan people who fled from their countries and applied for refugee status at airports were handcuffed or tied with a rope around the waist for detention Tanaka emphasized that some people are being unnecessarily detained “It’s a big misunderstanding to think that all detainees are criminals,” she said a Nigerian detainee died during a hunger strike to protest his incarceration at an immigration center in Nagasaki Prefecture In response to the incident and issues surrounding the long detention periods the government started considering measures to prevent a recurrence and to deal with the problems The Diet has started deliberating a bill to amend the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law submitted in February the bill does not include an upper limit on detention periods nor the establishment of a judicial review system to examine the necessity of detainments a United Nations working group said the long detentions and the lack of a judicial review system violate the International Covenants on Human Rights and called on Japan to correct the situation The proposed revisions would also make it possible to deport those who have applied for refugee status Detainees and their lawyers place deep trust in Tanaka Her civic group was given the Human Rights Award from the Tokyo Bar Association in 2010 “Most people (who come to Japan) will return home after they work for certain periods and make money,” Tanaka said She thinks it would be mutually beneficial to accept those who have no choice but to stay taxpayers’ money is being spent to hold them in detention facilities where they become exhausted both mentally and physically “We Japanese would also be troubled if we had the same problem in foreign land,” she said “You can see it coming if you use your imagination a little.” She also said foreigners are indispensable to lifestyles and the economy in Japan “Everyone has something to do with foreigners I wish an increasing number of people would feel the same,” Tanaka added experts urge Japan to review immigration law draft revisions EDITORIAL: Possible changes to immigration law fall short of global standards　 Refugee support group criticizes bill to reduce detention time Deportees likely to face shorter detention stretch after outcry panel blasts Japan’s lengthy detainment of visa violators Ministry panel proposes new penalties for refusing deportation 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 a Japan-based filmmaker who worked to expose conditions inside the nation’s much criticized immigration facilities staunchly defended his decision to secretly record interviews with detainees to ensure the subject matter got a wider airing Detainees often languish for years in facilities across Japan for overstaying their visas His documentary film “Ushiku,” which consists of video and audio recordings of interviews with nine detainees at the Higashi-Nihon Immigration Center in Ushiku is scheduled to be screened in Tokyo and elsewhere from Feb “Is this what you call hospitality?” a detainee of African descent asks in the film in reference to Japan’s boasts of offering “omotenashi” to visitors The detainee went on a hunger strike after his requests for temporary release from the facility were rejected 14 times A Kurdish detainee attempted suicide after waiting more than four years at the facility for his request for refugee status to be granted began visiting foreign nationals detained at the facility in 2019 He left the United States around 20 years ago to work in Japan as an assistant English teacher He then got into filmmaking and produced a highly acclaimed documentary on the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster he had no plans to shoot a film about the detention facility But as a devout Christian who was raised in a family of a minister and joined the church choir when he was a boy Ash became angry at the way long-term detentions were taking a toll on detainees’ mental and physical health He listened to their problems as a church volunteer The Immigration Services Agency prohibits visitors from taking photos or videos of their conversations with detainees Ash concealed a tiny camera to record interviews with detainees who were seated on the other side of an acrylic panel The immigration facility banned him from visiting after finding out he was secretly filming Ash said he felt he had no choice but to secretly record the interviews “Many Japanese have no idea what is going on at the immigration facilities,” he said “I’m sure they will understand why I felt compelled to shoot the film if they watch it to listen to what detainees have to say.” The film’s official website can be accessed at: (https://www.ushikufilm.com/) Asylum seekers speak out about cruel detention in secretly shot film volunteer visits center to support foreign detainees Russian who swam to Japan says less stressed than in Russia man sues for alleged assault at immigration facility in Tokyo Security guard injures detainee at immigration facility Immigration chief vows to stop detaining all visa overstayers 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 Yoshiaki Hotaka / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer Ibaraki — The bronze daibutsu Buddha statue in Ushiku is said to be the tallest of its kind worldwide it towers over onlookers who come to see it my first reaction was “It’s as if the Great Buddha of Todaiji temple in Nara was standing up.” But then I came to the conclusion that the statue was “outrageously humongous.” the 15-meter-high Great Buddha of Nara would probably slip snugly into one of the 18-meter-wide palms of the Ushiku Buddha the Ushiku Daibutsu statue has distinctive hair called “rahotsu,” which can mean “coiled curly hair” in English and about 480 of them adorn the Buddha’s head the Ushiku Daibutsu’s right hand offers the ant-like size observers a sense of enlightenment and the left hand accepts their wishes and prayers The Ushiku Daibutsu should have been lit up on New Year’s Eve to bring in the New Year with a lively atmosphere the scale of the New Year’s events was drastically scaled back and the event went quiet worshiper attendance plunged to 60% of what it was in the same period in the previous year When I visited the site last month by bus from JR Ushiku Station “How much longer will it be until the coronavirus pandemic ends?” with a heavy heart the Ushiku Daibutsu stands out like a giant the bigger it gets and the Buddha will eventually eclipse the visitor’s field of view This causes the faces of most people who approach it to naturally turn upward For what it’s worth in the current situation there might be nothing better than to have experiences such as this It was built by Higashi Honganji temple in Taito Ward Its construction started in 1983 and was completed in 1992 The height of the daibutsu itself is 100 meters and the pedestal is 20 meters Take the elevator up to its chest 85 meters high and you’ll find the observation deck Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun YAMAGATA--A film featuring secretly recorded interviews with detainees at an immigration facility in Ibaraki Prefecture sheds light on their inhumane long-term detentions as they wait for word on their refugee applications 9 in the Perspectives Japan program of the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival 2021 used a hidden camera to record interviews with foreign nationals detained at the Higashi-Nihon Immigration Center in Ushiku “And they say ‘omotenashi,’ ‘Japan is full of hospitality,’” one of the detainees said in the film one detainee staged a hunger strike and was granted temporary release from the immigration facility but resorted to another hunger strike after being detained there again Another was forcibly restrained by detention officers who yelled at the detainee the film was screened at film festivals in the United States Europe and South Korea and won many awards The director plans to arrange showings of the film after it was streamed at the film festival in Yamagata Many of those detained at the facility said they fled conflicts in their home countries but their requests for refugee status would not be granted “At least they have to tell me that we’re not giving it to you,” one of the detainees said in the film The director said he felt that it is his mission to try to improve their plight after he began visiting detainees at the facility as a volunteer in 2019 “Asylum seekers don’t have the option to return to their home countries even if they wanted to,” he said “I hope the film will help inspire people to take action instead of just feeling sorry for them.” Sisters question ‘final’ report on death of detainee from Sri Lanka EDITORIAL: Report on death of detainee casts doubt on respect for human rights Japanese version held a press conference and announced updates about RIZIN.31 - the promotion’s 5th event of the year RIZIN CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara started the press conference saying “We are planning to put on monthly events for the rest of the year while following the guidelines given from the government I am proud to announce that we will be holding an event in Okinawa for the first time in November RIZIN.32 will be held at the Okinawa Arena which I think is the best Arena in Japan that holds 10,000 people.” Sakakibara also announced that he will be having the Featherweight Champion Yutaka Saito to headline RIZIN.31 in Yokohama revealing the event poster which has Saito as the main design Reigning Featherweight Champion Yutaka Saito (20-4-2) asked for a title match and he was presented with one of Japan’s top featherweights - DEEP Featherweight Champion Juntaro Ushiku (19-8-1) Saito is the former Shooto Featherweight Champion with his last 3 victories coming in the RIZIN ring where he captured the inaugural Featherweight title against fan-favorite Mikuru Asakura at RIZIN.25 last November avenging the sole loss he had against fellow RIZIN debutant Daisuke Nakamura in an instant rematch at DEEP 102 - 3 months ago The pair had previously met at DEEP 100 in February Ushiku won the title from Satoshi Yamasu at DEEP 97 after a 3-0 stretch in the promotion Tsuyoshi Sudario (3-1) makes his 5th straight appearance in RIZIN when he takes on fellow up-and-comer Saint (2-0) Sudario has spent the last few months training in the United States following his first professional loss in an all-out war against top heavyweight Shoma Shibisai at RIZIN’s Tokyo Dome mega-event in June The New Jersey born Saint debuted in MMA earlier this year He scored a 43-second KO against RIZIN alum Ryo Sakai and a unanimous decision against 33-fight veteran Seigo Mizuguchi respectively The RIZIN Japan Bantamweight Grand Prix completed its Quarterfinals last event While the Bantamweight division keeps its momentum the Featherweight division will prove that it has not slowed down when a showdown between Masanori Kanehara (27-14-5) and Takahiro Ashida (24-10-2) will take place at the PIA Arena MM in Yokohama Kanehara is the former Sengoku Featherweight Champion and Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix Champion who made his RIZIN debut at RIZIN.21 in February of 2020 in a 2nd round stoppage loss to top-ranked bantamweight Victor Henry and will clash with former DEEP Featherweight Champion Ashida Ashida made his RIZIN debut at RIZIN.24 against surging contender Kyohei Hagiwara Asakura brothers’ teammate Rikuto Shirakawa (10-8-1) returns to action against Takuya Yamamoto (7-1-1) Rikuto Shirakawa has spent the majority of his professional career as a Bantamweight but has recently moved up to Featherweight since fighting in RIZIN and has shown success with the transition The Osaka native is coming off of a TKO victory against veteran and former ONE title holder Kotetsu Boku as well as a unanimous decision victory against the explosive Jin Aoi at RIZIN.29 this past June Yamamoto is the GRACHAN Featherweight and Lightweight Champion with his sole loss coming via DQ due to an illegal strike This event continues to introduce new Featherweights as Daisuke Nakamura (30-20-1) makes his RIZIN debut against another promotional debutant Suguru Nii (12-10) Nakamura is a 51-fight veteran with 15 wins by submission Having made his MMA debut in July of 2002 at PRIDE The Best Vol.2 he has competed across a plethora of promotions challenging for 4 titles and capturing the DEEP Lightweight Championship before losing the title to fellow veteran Satoru Kitaoka where he challenged Juntaro Ushiku for the DEEP Featherweight title coming up short in a split decision loss - after scoring back-to-back KO victories to earn the title shot Nii is the former GLADIATOR Lightweight Champion and has competed across DEEP and Pancrase for the majority of his career He has 10 finishes with 6 in the first round and has faced fellow RIZIN competitors Yojiro Uchimura and Kyle Aguon Former DEEP Flyweight Champion Yusaku Nakamura (16-8-1) squares off against former DEEP Flyweight title challenger Nakamura was set to compete against Pancrase Strawweight Champion Daichi Kitakata this past June at RIZIN.29 however that fight was scrapped after Kitakata withdrew due to health issues His last bout was against Tatsuki Saomoto at RIZIN.23 in August of 2020 where he suffered a 1st round stoppage against the ZST Flyweight Champion Nakamura now returns in what will be his 5th RIZIN appearance where he seeks to snap a 2-fight losing skid Ito made a spectacular promotional debut against Kohei Sugiyama this past March at RIZIN.27 with his last outing being a title challenge against former RIZIN veteran Yamato Fujita for his DEEP Flyweight title Daichi Abe (9-4) also will be debuting under Japan’s premier banner Abe is the former Pancrase Welterweight Champion and reigning DEEP Interim Welterweight Champion The 3-fight UFC veteran is riding a 3-fight win streak having captured his current title against RIZIN veteran Gota Yamashita at DEEP 100 this past February and has faced familiar names such as Tyson Nobumitsu He is riding a 2-fight win streak with both coming by KO Former ZST Flyweight Champion Seiichiro Ito (13-4-2) looks to level his RIZIN record against newly crowned Fighting NEXUS king Kunta Hashimoto (7-1) Ito won his last bout against Yuta Hamamoto at ZST 69 in November 2020 snapping a 3-fight skid where he lost his title to Tatsuki Saomoto and suffered back-to-back stoppage losses to Manel Kape and Makoto Takahashi Hashimoto is a 22-year old up-and-comer from Fighting NEXUS He is riding a 4-fight win streak and recently defeated 45-fight veteran Takehiro Ishii 2 months ago to claim the Fighting NEXUS vacant Flyweight title The step up in competition for Hashimoto and return to RIZIN for Ito is a pivotal bout for the pair of flyweights Kanna Asakura (18-5) welcomes promotional newcomer Saori Oshima (6-2) Asakura is the former Super Atomweight Champion and Grand Prix winner and is coming off a split decision loss in her rematch with Ayaka Hamasaki for the Super Atomweight title - a fight which became an instant classic having conquered the DEEP Jewels Atomweight Grand Prix this past June and holds wins over RIZIN alumni Sakura Mori She also avenged her loss to Si Woo Park in the Grand Prix This fight holds potential title implications for the Super Atomweight division I demanded this fight to be a title defense I’m going to do what I do and that is to defend my belt in a convincing way My opponent is a young fighter and I’ve watched him throughout his career I’m ready for a tough fight but I’m confident I will get a finish.” “I’m honored to be given the opportunity to fight for the title on my promotional debut I will put everything I worked for on the line to fully capitalize on this opportunity The Champion is very clever and he can execute his game plan very well “I lost my last fight and now I have to fight my way back to a title fight Oshima is a great fighter and I respect her for all of her accomplishments “I will be stepping in the ring with pride I have 2 year old twin daughters and I want to inspire all the working mothers out there “I was so ready to fight in my last fight but my opponent got sick the day of and I ended up doing stand up comedy in the ring I have so much energy and I can’t wait to explode in my next fight This will be a walk in the park because I am overcharged and I have 2 fight’s worth of energy.” “I’m not going to respond to what my opponent had to say but I’m simply excited to be fighting on this card I think this is Nakamura’s time to hand over the torch and hang them up “I want to show you the romance of a 41 year old man following his dreams and do my best to win every fight that is put in front of me.” “I’ve been a bouncer for 13 years and I will be representing all bouncers when I step in that ring Nakamura always wears his tight black shorts throughout his career and I respect him for sticking with his style I think his tight black shorts have seen more wars than most people I will face him with full respect for him and his tight black shorts.” It was hard to resist not making my return when so much is happening in the Featherweight division right now I know where I’m at and I know what I’m supposed to do My eyes are set on that belt and Ashida is just a stepping stone “It’s been over a year since my last fight in RIZIN and although I won I’m here now and I will make sure everybody knows that they made the wrong decision for not bringing me back sooner.” “This will be my first fight at Lightweight and I do believe I am the only Japanese fighter who has what it takes to take on international competition I will put on the fight of the night performance on October 24th so look forward to it.” “I came here to knock everybody out in the Lightweight division” “When I was given the offer I had no idea who my opponent was but I heard that he’s a 2 division champion for GRACHAN and the last GRACHAN who fought in RIZIN was pretty good so I’m looking forward to seeing what he brings.” “This is my first time in RIZIN and I will do my best “Yokohama is my home town and I have been grateful to be fighting for most Yokohama events but I haven't been able to leave good results lately so for this one I look to put on a great showing and hopefully it will lead to NYE .” “This will be my first time in RIZIN and nobody knows me but I plan to put on a performance to be remembered I look to dominate in all aspects of the fight and hope Ito comes prepared.” “Last year I was at the Yokohama event as a spectator This fight will be the beginning of my second year as a professional fighter I will show you what I’ve learned in the US My opponent is big and has a long reach but I will fight my fight regardless of my opponent.“ “I’m a marine serving at the Yokosuka base I’m excited to showcase my skills in RIZIN My opponent is just a big sack of nothing so I’m not worried He’s an easy opponent for me because I’ve succeeded in several life threatening missions and I don’t plan to fail this one Yutaka Saito vs Juntaro Ushiku - 66kg RIZIN Featherweight title fight Tsuyoshi Sudario vs SAINT - Heavyweight MMA Rules Daisuke Nakamura vs Suguru Nii - 66kg MMA Rules Daichi Abe vs Akira Okada - 71kg MMA Rules Rikuto Shirakawa vs Takuya Yamamoto - 66kg MMA Rules Seiichiro Ito vs Kunta Hashimoto (Flyweight) RIZIN.31 will be broadcasted LIVE on SkyperfectTV streamed on RIZIN LIVE PPV and Exciting RIZIN with Japanese commentary International PPV with English commentary will be available on LIVENow Doors are expected to open at 12:30PM with the Opening Ceremony at 2:00PM on October 24th (Sun) at the PIA Arena This page contains English content only such as interviews and press conferences RIZIN held a press conference to announce the card for RIZIN LANDMARK 5 in YOYOGI 12 of the 20 fighters competing on the card were present at the venue where ‘100 Fan Club’ members were invited CEO Sakakibara announced that the previously announced date of RIZIN LANDMARK 5 in YOYOGI had been changed from April 30th (Sun) to April 29th (holiday and the athletes' second camp will participate in both tournaments In order to avoid overlapping competitions and to reduce the stress of athletes and seconds as much as possible I am grateful to the production staff who will be working a midnight shift to this decision." “These upcoming events will be a grand sum of what RIZIN has been doing for the past 8 years Aside from the date adjustment and new venues CEO Sakakibara informed the press about upcoming announcements “RIZIN 42 fight announcements will be held early next week Juan Archuleta from Bellator is confirmed to participate in the May 6th event.” The marquee matchup of the double main events initiated the comments from the fighters side former Featherweight Champion Ushiku briefly said “This fight is a fight between 2 different styles so that’s what makes it intriguing I’ve boxed and am confident that I have gotten stronger I will guarantee a knockout within the 2nd round I have no damage from the Mayweather fight so I feel good I like the cage because it’s easier to defend takedowns.” Regarding the co-main event The battle between the two former title challengers holds heavy title implications in 2023 who will be returning to the fight after losing the title match in April last year who is currently winning two consecutive MMA matches This is the best card that has been put together for the RIZIN LANDMARK series and I will do my best to put on the fight of the night But it’s easier to follow due to less official’s interference.” Hiramoto called a man in a suit over to his seat and used him as an interpreter “I got knocked the fuck out yesterday so I am not allowed to speak I have talked massive shit to hype a fight I know I’m getting better and the Saito fight will be fireworks He’s a great well rounded fighter but I don’t see myself losing to him The cage will make my Karate stand out more.” Will the inaugural Featherweight King Saito show the difference in power and experience or will Hiramoto continue his winning streak Koji Takeda vs Luis Gustavo [71kg - RIZIN MMA rules]Tsuyoshi Sudario vs Roque Martinez [120kg - RIZIN MMA rules]RENA vs Claire Lopez [49kg - RIZIN MMA rules]Kanna Asakura vs Mei Yamaguchi [49kg - RIZIN MMA rules]Johnny Case vs Ali Abdulkhalikov [71kg - RIZIN MMA rules]Masanori Kanehara vs Sora Yamamoto [66kg - RIZIN MMA rules]Kazuma Kuramoto vs Shinobu Ota [61kg - RIZIN MMA rules]Callyu Gibrainn vs Mikio Ueda [120kg - RIZIN MMA rules] “I think fighting Gustavo would be great fun I don’t care who my opponent is but I’m going to go in there and do what I do best I can’t wait to get back in the cage once again.” “I want to keep facing international opponents and if there’s an opportunity I would like to fight internationally “I’m in great shape and ready to put on a show I will keep winning and get myself a title shot “I gave an embarrassing performance on New Year’s Eve My opponent is coming straight from the UFC and will be a tough fight I train in the cage in the US so I’m excited that I get to fight in the cage so I will need to push myself more to make it to the other side.” “I am happy to be able to fight in Japan again I want to continue fighting under the best ruleset in the world “I apologize for not being able to attend the press conference today due to poor physical condition I have been talking about re-challenging the United States for some time but since there is a tournament in Hawaii to be held this year I received a proposal to gain experience in a 52.2kg strawweight competition in a cage I will be participating for the first time seems to be strong in both striking and ground fighting so I will do my best to strengthen my overall strength and show everyone how I can KO.” “Being able to compete on the RIZIN stage is a great opportunity to get the most motivation I will be able to increase the range of my attacks and I am looking forward to showing the Japanese fans a wonderful match Japan is a country of martial arts and I am honored to be able to fight in Japan as a martial artist And I would like to thank everyone at RIZIN and Combate Global for giving me this precious opportunity We promise a performance and victory that won't disappoint you!” “Being eliminated in the opening round of the GP had me down but I was able to come back with everybody’s support I don’t have any plans of losing to an outsider so please support me I had a time where I didn’t like this sport anymore I trained with Mei last year and she’s very tough overall “I was thinking about changing my career as a DJ since I couldn’t get fights but I’m excited to be back and doing what I do best I'm always grateful for the promotion who gives me opportunities I’ve been wanting to fight for quite some time but I got my chance and am grateful There are many fighters who I have not competed against so I would like to the opportunity to face them and eventually fight for the title” I would like to thank all the fans who always support me I love you all and thank you more than I can put into words And I would like to thank President Sakakibara and all the RIZIN staff for giving me the opportunity to fight RIZIN is undoubtedly the best organization in the world The fact that I can renew my contract and continue to fight in front of the world's best fans is the ultimate happiness for me and I am determined to leave my legacy in Japan Thank you all for your continued support!” “I am very happy to be able to fight with RIZIN again I have been preparing to fight whenever an offer comes from Japan I think my opponent is the right opponent for me to fight but he's confident in his abilities and believes he'll be the last one to get the winner's call I was disappointed that I couldn't perform in perfect condition but this time I think I can show my true ability to everyone in Japan but he’s a young prospect that I cannot ignore I will show my experience and teach him real MMA MMA these days gives credit to fighters outside of their fighting ability but I know and real people know who’s best and I’m here to prove that.” “I’m grateful to be matched up with such a great opponent I will fight him with respect but I am going in there to make a new era I think Kanehara is the toughest out of all featherweights here So I think beating Kanehara will give me confidence to beat everybody sitting up front.” “I will win all my fights this year and go after the belt.” Many fans have been asking who’s the better wrestler and now it’s time to show who’s best against my former rival I don’t think Kuramoto is better than Motoya and I think I’m better than Kuramoto.” I’m in the amazons getting ready to destroy this guy “I made my MMA debut last year and ended up disappointing many people I’ve worked very hard the past year to show my abilities My opponent is a striker and that’s my bread and butter I will outstrike my opponent and put my name on the mat” Japanese version Copyright THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS. All rights reserved. Photo: SUPPLIEDTWENTY students from Ushiku Eishin High School and their teachers have used their trip to Orange to explore further afield All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueOrange City Council held a reception for the group on Tuesday morning but Orange High School principal Chad Bliss said it had been one event in a complete program "They've been in Canberra for the last few days - they visited the Australian War Memorial and learned about the history of Australia," he said Japanese exchange students discover region with help from Orange High School"They've been to Questacon for a science day and .. The students are staying with host families from Orange High School and Mr Bliss said it was an ideal opportunity for the school's Japanese language students to hone their skills "We've been able to reciprocate visitors for the past 30 years and it is an important opportunity to share their culture and experiences," he said Japanese exchange students discover region with help from Orange High SchoolMr Bliss said the sister city relationship between Orange and Ushiku played a crucial role in maintaining the exchanges and the visitors were lucky to see the region after some rain "It's greener than it looked three months ago," he said Mr Bliss did not comment on the coronavirus issue, while James Sheahan Catholic High School has decided to delay its April Japan and Sri Lanka trips Danielle started at the Kiama Independent in 2010 before moving to the Central Western Daily in 2014. She covers council, court, politics, general news and business, and elections are her favourite time of the year. Got a tip? Email danielle.cetinski@centralwesterndaily.com.au Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! They are pictured with (back) teacher Hitoshi Kezuka and councillors Neil Jones and Chris Gryllis Photo: MARK LOGAN 0311mljapaneseABOUT 1000 teachers and students from sister cities Orange and Ushiku in Japan have benefited from sharing their cultures during the past 25 years and deputy mayor Chris Gryllis hopes it will last 25 more Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueOrange City Council welcomed 17 Japanese exchange students from Toyo Ushiku High School on Wednesday.  They will spend 10 days with host families from Canobolas Rural Technology High School didgeridoo and Wiradjuri language workshops and trips to the Bathurst goldfields and the Parkes radio telescope who also chairs the sister cities committee under the leadership of then-mayor Tim Sullivan “Nobody thought it would last as long as it has but I believe it has lasted because of the value we’ve gotten out of it with the student exchange program,” he said “We think in excess of 1000 students and teachers from both countries have participated over the last 25 years.” Cr Gryllis said students covered their own costs as part of the exchange program which encouraged students to form friendships in another country and develop their language skills Ushiku is located about 75 kilometres from Tokyo and is home to the Ushiku Daibutsu Teacher Hitoshi Kezuka said the students had already visited Uluru and the Blue Mountains and looked forward to witnessing nature.  “Some have been motivated by the program to study English or international tourism,” he said Canobolas Rural Technology High School is the only school to have participated in all 25 years of programs and community engagement officer Vince Lovecchio said the reward was witnessing the bond between the exchange students and their host families and showing the students new things.  “One of the greatest things is they love looking at the sky at night and experiencing the open space,” he said Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords Juntaro Ushiku came into the main event of Deep 102 with revenge on his mind and gutted out a decision victory over Daisuke Nakamura He retains the featherweight title after the win at Korakuen Hal on Sunday night It was no secret that Nakamura was hunting for the knockout, he finished the champion in a non title fight at Deep 100 earlier this year The 41-year-old former lightweight champ constantly pushed forward with his hands low trying to lure Ushiku in They trading kicks for the first few minutes of the opening round with Nakamura getting the best of the exchanges right knee combo before they started to grapple Nakamura swept his opponent and had the armbar locked in Ushiku was able to spin out and land on top to ride out the round with a few strikes inside the guard Nakamura again pushed the pace to start the second round This time around he mixed in boxing combinations with his kicks Ushiku was able to use his wrestling to turn the tide Ushiku was able to clinch up and land the first of many takedowns A few punches followed then Nakamura reversed the position and connected with some knees to the midsection The referee separated them for inactivity and Ushiku battered the calf with kicks but he ended the round on his back Entering the final round there was nothing to choose between the two men Ushiku dug deep and focused on controlling Nakamura for the rest of regulation He applied the pressure with constant level changes and clinch positions along the cage The champion completed multiple takedowns throughout the round and Nakamura pulled guard in a last-ditch effort to turn the fight around Four out of the five judges scored the fight for Ushiku and the other had it for Nakamura with all five scorecards reading 29-2 The champion moves his record to 19-8-1 while the challenger losses for the first time since 2016 and drops to 30-20-1 Joao Batista Yoshimura repeated history by knocking out Tatsuya Mizuno in the co-main event, but this time he had the Deep middleweight belt to show for it. The Brazilian had stopped the Japanese veteran in a non title fight at Deep 98 last year Yoshimura was patient in his approach allowing Mizuno to move around so he could collect data The first round was competitive with the 40 year old light on his feet landing a mixture of strikes while his opponent kept to single power punches for the most part Yoshimura picked up the action and started headhunting He landed a heavy right hand that had Mizuno on shaky ground A wild exchange ensued before Yoshimura flatlined his Japanese foe with a haymaker The Brazilian moves up to -4 and wins the Deep middleweight title while Mizuno drops to 22-14-1 and loses his belt The interim lightweight championship clash between Juri Ohara and Ryoto Oki had all the makings of a classic until an ill-fated low blow ended the contest prematurely at the start of the final round Ohara began the match investing in the kicks sometimes barely missing a fight-ending blow Oki would rush in and connect with punches while his opponent would march forward The second round was more intense as Ohara was dropped by a solid left hook while moving to engage in the action A crushing uppercut also landing flush and the 30 year old had no choice but to clinch up and slow the pace Oki stomped Ohara’s left foot multiple times while locked against the fence but once they separated a brawl broke out A tornado of strikes from both fighter continued throughout the round Ohara connected with a straight right and collapsed his foe He punched Oki repeatedly yet somehow the Krazy Bee fighter survived with an an iron chin and a sheer refusal to quit When the bell rang to end the second frame both fighters were on wobbly legs from fatigue Unfortunately the first strike thrown in the last round was a groin shot by Oki Ohara was given a break to try and recover but he could not and the fight went to the scorecards The judges gave Ohara (29-18) the unanimous decision and the interim lightweight title while Oki (4-1) suffers the first setback of his career Juntaro Ushiku defended his  featherweight title with a split decision win over Koya Kanda at Deep 105 in Tokyo on Sunday. The 26 year old is enjoying a landmark year, having snapped up the Rizin belt from  Yutaka Saito with a second round TKO at Rizin 31 in October Ushiku’s triumph over Kanda was a much closer affair The challenger has also competed in Rizin but was knocked out by Tetsuya Seki at Rizin 22 Kanda has spent his entire pro career competing in Deep and put together three straight victories to earn himself a title shot The Chiba native started aggressively and unleashed the right hook Ushiku marched forward with an overhand left Each man then resorted to low kicks before Ushiku connected with the right hook The champion began to find his range and was landing punches on the inside Kanda responded by switching stances and let go with some body kicks before returning to orthodox to throw the high kick Ushiku finished the round strongly and landing punches while Kanda responded with knees and elbows Ushiku resorted to the overhand left in the second round and followed up with the jab Kanda continued to find a home for some solid knees which he used to fake a set up a left cross Kanda then cracked the champion with a left low kick and a right jab Kanda landed the right jab and the left cross He followed with a right hook as he drove the champion into the cage The 25 year old then did more good work with the knees only for Ushiku to return the favour Kanda replied using hooks from both sides and did well to resist the takedown attempts from Ushiku continued to edge the battle and capitalised on a Kanda knee in the third round to secure the takedown and land in top position Both fighters looked to attack with knees when they found their feet while Ushiku did well to keep Kanda at range using the jab The ‘Fighting Bull’ then threw the right low kick following by a body kick His opponent reacted with a left kick to the body and a right kick but it was too late to turn the tide Four out of five judges scored the fight in favour of the champion as he completed the second defence of his title and extended his record to 21-8-1 The featherweight title changed hands at Rizin 31. Promotional newcomer Juntaro Ushiku snatched the belt from former champion Yutaka Saito with a second round TKO in Yokohama Ushiku was switching stance in the opening round and landed a solid body kick from southpaw but ate a left hook for his troubles Saito dragged him down and briefly had his back but the challenger slipped out easily The champion tested his opponent’s guard with a one two but Ushiku’s defence was tight They clinched up in the corner of the ring and the referee separated them with 90 seconds remaining in the round Ushiku landed an inside low kick and and jumped guard He was looking for a triangle choke but the round ended before he could sink it in Ushiku caught Saito’s groin with a glancing low kick at the start of the second and the referee paused the fight to give the champion time to recover The champion looked to throw a straight right to the body followed by a left hook upstairs but neither landed flush The action slowed as they clinched in the corner but the referee stepped in to separate them with just over a minute remaining in the round Ushiku attacked with a flying knee as Saito appeared to be changing levels It wasn’t immediately obvious how much damage had been done as both men returned to the clinch But blood was pouring freely from Saito’s face and the referee called for the doctor Slow motion replays showed that Ushiku’s knee had connected clean with the bridge of Saito’s nose With the win Ushiku improves to 20-8 and becomes the new Rizin featherweight champion who was extremely unhappy with the stoppage There was a major upset in the c0-main event too. Promotional newcomer Saori Oshima (7-2) beat super atomweight tournament winner Kanna Asakura (18-6) by split decision and could well have earned herself a title shot A featherweight fight between Mikuru Asakura and Juntaro Ushiku will headline Rizin Landmark 5. It will be the former’s first appearance since his defeat to Floyd Mayweather on New Year’s Eve Asakura faced Mayweather in an exhibition boxing match It was his first time competing in the sport and unsurprisingly he was no match for the best boxer of the century But the 30 year old has won his last two MMA fights Asakura (16-3) and his brother are two of Rizin’s biggest stars and he will be looking to make it three in a row and potentially secure a title shot here Ushiku (22-9-1) was the featherweight champion but lost his belt to Koike Kleber Erbst at Rizin 39 He was submitted by the Brazilian in the second round A post shared by MMA Junkie (@mmajunkie) ONE Championship veteran Mei Yamaguchi (21-14-1) has signed with Rizin The 40 year old lost her last three fights for the promotion and has been matched with former Rizin super atomweight champion Kanna Asakura (19-7) here Yutaka Saito (20-7-2) will also be looking to snap a three fight losing skid The 35 year old takes on charismatic kickboxer Ren Hiramoto (2-2) who is coming off back to back decision wins A post shared by REN HIRAMOTO 平本蓮 (@ren___k1) As previously announced Rena Kubota will be back in action at Rizin Landmark 5 She has been matched with Claire Lopez in Yoyogi on April 29th in a catchweight contest Rena normally competes in Rizin’s super atomweight division which is set at 108lbs But she will be moving up to 112.5lbs for this contest which will be her first since suffering a fractured orbital Rena was last seen beating Anastasiya Svetkivska by decision in the quarter finals of the super atomweight Grand Prix But she had to withdraw from the tournament after suffering a serious facial injury in that fight With travel restrictions still in place we have seen a lot of all Japanese title fights this year. There will be another one on October 24th as Yutaka Saito defends his featherweight strap against Juntaro Ushiku at Rizin 31 Saito (20-4-2) beat Mikuru Asakura at Rizin 24 to become the promotion’s inaugural 145lbs champion Earlier this year he beat Vugar Karamov by split decision in a non title bout Ushiku (19-8-1) will be making his promotional debut He is the reigning Deep featherweight champion and has won seven of his last eight fights In the heavyweight division former sumo wrestling star Tsuyoshi Sudario (3-1) has been matched with Saint (2-0) The American has two wins for Deep but his real name remain a mystery Rizin 31 is set for the PIA Arena in Yokohama. As previously announced the event will feature a super atomweight fight between Kanna Asakura and Saori Oshima The event will also feature two flyweight fights a division Rizin has traditionally shown little interest in Yusaku Nakamura faces Yuki Ito while Seiichiro Ito takes on Kunta Hashimoto In the bantamweight division Masanori Kanehara takes on Takahiro Ashida At featherweight Daisuke Nakamura  faces Suguru Nii Japan’s RIZIN Fighting Federation returned to action on Sunday 2022 with RIZIN 39 going down at the Marine Messe Fukuoka in Fukuoka The event was headlined by a featherweight title fight that saw former KSW star Kleber Koike Erbst challenging champ Juntaro Ushiku for RIZIN’s featherweight championship the opportunity had been a long time coming and he had won six straight heading into the fight — including five under the RIZIN banner familiar names like Yusuke Yachi and UFC vet Daichi Abe a 2019 Contender Series alum who has also competed for the likes of LFA and on the bare-knuckle boxing side of things RIZIN 39 takes place on Sunday, September 23, 2022 in Fukuoka, Japan. The card streams live via Fite.tv starting at 1AM ET — full results can be found below Mikuru Asakura extended his winning streak to three and underlined his title credentials with a decision win over former featherweight champion Juntaro Ushiku at Rizin landmark 5 yesterday. It was his first fight back since being stopped by Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition boxing match last year In this battle between two southpaws Asakura looked to land the straight left right from the opening bell He followed up with an axe kick attempt and Ushiku decided to pull guard Ushiku couldn’t do anything off his back and the referee eventually stood them up Asakura scored with a left kick to the body while the former champion attempted a spinning back elbow which narrowly missed At the start of the second round Ushiku looked to catch a body kick from Asakura but his opponent wiggled free He then ate a left hand to the body and jumped guard again Once again a stalemate ensued on the ground and the referee stood them up Asakura was able to score with more knees and elbows before the end of the round A post shared by 朝倉 未来 Mikuru Asakura (@mikuruasakura) Ushiku jumped guard immediately at the start of the third round He couldn’t get the fight down but was finally able to time a knee from Asakura and secure a single leg Ushiku briefly had the back but he was too low down to get a grip on Asakura’s neck and his opponent simply stood up and waited for the referee to separate them They briefly traded punches before the former champion completed a double leg takedown He was able to keep Asakura on his back until the final seconds of the fight No sooner had the referee stood them up than the bell sounded to finish the contest With Ushiku unable to secure any submissions or do any damage while on the ground the superior striking of Asakura was clearly the difference All three judges saw it that way and he improves to 17-3 while his opponent drops to 22-10-1 Asakura wins a unanimous decision win over Ushiku in our main event [ #RIZIN_LANDMARK5 | @FiteTV | Watch the PPV here: https://t.co/0fE6L8rbwg ] pic.twitter.com/lFPG9dNfJ3 — RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) April 29, 2023 Former featherweight champion Yutaka Saito (21-7-2) scored a split decision win over kickboxer turned mixed martial artist Ren Hiramoto (2-3) Kleber Koike is one of the most prolific submission artists in the sport The Brazilian has choked his previous six opponents out and has looked imperious since signing with Rizin in 2020 He is convinced that he’ll continue his blistering form when he challenges Juntaro Ushiku for the featherweight strap at Rizin 39 on Sunday “I’ve came all this way with five finishes and will do the same in my next fight I will submit Ushiku,” he told Rizin Confessions A post shared by Kleber Koike (@kleber_koike) The Brazilian acknowledges that his opponent poses a threat His head kick and flying knees are dangerous But I’m not worried and won’t be surprised Koike doesn’t even see Ushiku as his main rival in the featherweight division and says that honour goes to another man “I think (Mikuru) Asakura has the most dangerous weapons.” A post shared by Kleber Koike (@kleber_koike) Ushiku is riding a four-fight winning streak and is the reigning featherweight champion in both Rizin and Deep. The 27-year-old beat Yutaka Saito to win the belt and then successfully defended it against the same opponent He’s the current champion because he beat the champion It’s no secret that Koike will be looking to score another choke to win the title on Sunday but he warns that there is much more to his game than his trademark submission “There’s always a risk of getting hit but that isn’t a problem for me (because) I’m always loose and I can get back in the fight You all probably think my weapon is just the triangle but I have so much more to show I’ve chosen only to show you the triangle and the rear naked choke I still haven’t shown my 100% in Rizin yet I think I can show 100% in my next fight,” he said A post shared by Kleber Koike (@kleber_koike) Koike is based long term in Japan and is part of the Bonsai team that has been so successful with Rizin His team mate Roberto de Souza is the reigning lightweight champion and is one of three Brazilians from that camp on the roster But while he has been in Japan for nearly 20 years Koike was born in Brazil and used a football analogy to explain why he has been so dominant in the featherweight division If somebody comes into my guard I will submit him.” During his early days competing in jiu jitsu tournaments Kleber would clean beaches or do part time construction work to make ends meet He hasn’t been able to fight more than twice in a calendar year since signing for Rizin but says that financially speaking winning the belt would be a game changer “No doubt becoming a champion will be a game changer I will be able to support my family much more I will be able to support everybody around me RIZIN Fighting Federation returned to action on Sunday The event saw a featherweight title fight top the card with champion Yutaka Saito putting his belt on the line opposite Juntaro Ushiku Also known as “Fighting Bull,” the challenger was the current DEEP featherweight champion In addition to the title fight atop the card fighting in the co-main event against Jewels atomweight and DEEP microweight champion Saori Oshima Asakura was competing for the first time since her losing bid to claim the RIZIN super atomweight title against Ayaka Hamasaki UFC alums Masanori Kanahara and Daichi Abe also fought on Sunday’s card RIZIN 31 takes place Sunday, October 24 at the Pia Arena in Yokohama, Japan. The event can be streamed online via LIVE-NOW Full results from Sunday’s event are available below.