A camera on an NHK helicopter captured images of tsunami waves flowing upstream near the mouth of a river in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture, at around 2:50 PM on Sunday.
The same phenomenon was observed after a major earthquake that hit central Japan in 1983 and a massive quake that struck off Tokachi in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido in 2003.
Associate Professor Yoshinobu Tsuji of the University of Tokyo's Earthquake Research Institute says tsunami-triggered rapid fluctuations in tide levels may have caused the tsunami to flow upstream.
The expert says tsunami waves could travel upstream for several kilometers, capsizing boats.
He says he has never heard of this happening in a river in the Kanto regio
2010年2月28日日曜日
Japan seeks to attract Singapore tourists
Officials from prefectures across Japan are taking steps to boost the number of tourists from booming Asian economies to their regions.
Officials from 31 prefectures jointly took part in an international travel fair that opened in Singapore on Thursday as part of a campaign to promote local attractions.
The campaign includes presentations that highlight the regions' nature and cuisine.
The travel fair is held by Singapore's tourism industry every year. It is popular as it offers consumers a chance to find bargain package tours before the spring and summer holiday seasons begin.
The number of foreign travelers to Japan dropped 18 percent last year because of a stronger yen and the economic downturn.
But the number of tourists from Asian countries, where the economies are making steady recoveries, is expected to return to previous levels sooner than other regions.
The number of tourists from Singapore has already shown an increase with a record number of Singaporeans visiting Japan in December.
Officials from Gifu Prefecture in central Japan, say they view nations in the Southeast Asia, including Singapore, as the most important markets next to China and South Korea.
They say incomes in those areas have increased because of economic growth.
Officials from 31 prefectures jointly took part in an international travel fair that opened in Singapore on Thursday as part of a campaign to promote local attractions.
The campaign includes presentations that highlight the regions' nature and cuisine.
The travel fair is held by Singapore's tourism industry every year. It is popular as it offers consumers a chance to find bargain package tours before the spring and summer holiday seasons begin.
The number of foreign travelers to Japan dropped 18 percent last year because of a stronger yen and the economic downturn.
But the number of tourists from Asian countries, where the economies are making steady recoveries, is expected to return to previous levels sooner than other regions.
The number of tourists from Singapore has already shown an increase with a record number of Singaporeans visiting Japan in December.
Officials from Gifu Prefecture in central Japan, say they view nations in the Southeast Asia, including Singapore, as the most important markets next to China and South Korea.
They say incomes in those areas have increased because of economic growth.
2010年2月23日火曜日
"Gagaku" music introduced to NY children
Children in New York had a chance to experience Japan's traditional court music called "gagaku," which dates back more than 1,000 years.
300 students took part in the event at an elementary school on Monday. It was sponsored by an organization which has worked to introduce Japanese music to the American people for 35 years.
Gagaku is said to be one of the world's oldest forms of music. Wearing ancient costumes, the musicians explained the instruments used in gagaku, such as the "sho" and "hichiriki."
The children listened intently to a performance.
They also had a chance to touch the instruments and learn how to produce sounds from them.
One student said the instruments were very different from ones in America, and that it was fun to play the drum.
300 students took part in the event at an elementary school on Monday. It was sponsored by an organization which has worked to introduce Japanese music to the American people for 35 years.
Gagaku is said to be one of the world's oldest forms of music. Wearing ancient costumes, the musicians explained the instruments used in gagaku, such as the "sho" and "hichiriki."
The children listened intently to a performance.
They also had a chance to touch the instruments and learn how to produce sounds from them.
One student said the instruments were very different from ones in America, and that it was fun to play the drum.
2010年2月22日月曜日
Japan's post office marks February 22nd
In Japan, Monday is a day of many "2"s. It is February 22nd in the 22nd year of Japan's Heisei era, which began with the enthronement of the current Emperor in 1989.
A post office in Fukushima Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo issued a commemorative card featuring the number, which is also included in its name and address.
The number "2" appears 4 times in the address of Nihonmatsu post office, whose name means 2 pine trees in Japanese.
Playing on the coincidence, the post office issued a card which also features a photo of cherry blossoms at Kasumigajo Castle, a local tourist destination.
The post office says all 100 cards sold out within 90 minutes, with some customers coming to buy them from outside the prefecture.
A man who bought the card says he wants to give it to his younger sister, whose birthday is February 22nd.
A post office in Fukushima Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo issued a commemorative card featuring the number, which is also included in its name and address.
The number "2" appears 4 times in the address of Nihonmatsu post office, whose name means 2 pine trees in Japanese.
Playing on the coincidence, the post office issued a card which also features a photo of cherry blossoms at Kasumigajo Castle, a local tourist destination.
The post office says all 100 cards sold out within 90 minutes, with some customers coming to buy them from outside the prefecture.
A man who bought the card says he wants to give it to his younger sister, whose birthday is February 22nd.
2010年2月18日木曜日
Child abuse cases in Japan hit record 335 in 2009
Japan's police detected a record 335 cases of child abuse in 2009.
The National Police Agency says the number is up 28 from the previous year and the highest since 1999 when they started collecting such data.
234 cases involved physical abuse, 91 sexual abuse and 10 involved negligence on the part of the guardians of children.
356 people were arrested as abusers. The victims' biological fathers accounted for 33 percent, followed by biological mothers at 28 percent and stepfathers at 19 percent.
The number of victimized children also hit a record 347, with 28 of them killed as a result of abuse.
Police are concerned that child abuse cases often don't surface for a long time.
To detect abuse at an early stage, they inaugurated a system this month under which a non-profit organization will accept anonymous reports of suspected abuse. Police will also strengthen coordination with other institutions that deal with child abuse.
The National Police Agency says the number is up 28 from the previous year and the highest since 1999 when they started collecting such data.
234 cases involved physical abuse, 91 sexual abuse and 10 involved negligence on the part of the guardians of children.
356 people were arrested as abusers. The victims' biological fathers accounted for 33 percent, followed by biological mothers at 28 percent and stepfathers at 19 percent.
The number of victimized children also hit a record 347, with 28 of them killed as a result of abuse.
Police are concerned that child abuse cases often don't surface for a long time.
To detect abuse at an early stage, they inaugurated a system this month under which a non-profit organization will accept anonymous reports of suspected abuse. Police will also strengthen coordination with other institutions that deal with child abuse.
Sex crimes via social networking sites increase
A government survey shows that more than twice as many underage people became victims of sex-related crimes through social networking sites and blogs than through dating sites last year.
The National Police Agency says the number of people under the age of 18 who became victims of such crimes in 2009 through social networking sites and blogs was 1,136, up 43 percent from the previous year. The agency says the figure for dating websites was 453, down 37 percent.
Among those involved in crimes through social networking sites and blogs, 727 were victims in obscenity cases, while 335 were involved in either child prostitution or pornography.
Last May, a junior high school girl student in Kagawa Prefecture, western Japan, was stabbed in the neck by a high school boy whom she'd met through a social networking site.
The agency is calling on operators of such sites to step up anti-crime efforts, including restricting access by people under 18 and deleting harmful messages.
The National Police Agency says the number of people under the age of 18 who became victims of such crimes in 2009 through social networking sites and blogs was 1,136, up 43 percent from the previous year. The agency says the figure for dating websites was 453, down 37 percent.
Among those involved in crimes through social networking sites and blogs, 727 were victims in obscenity cases, while 335 were involved in either child prostitution or pornography.
Last May, a junior high school girl student in Kagawa Prefecture, western Japan, was stabbed in the neck by a high school boy whom she'd met through a social networking site.
The agency is calling on operators of such sites to step up anti-crime efforts, including restricting access by people under 18 and deleting harmful messages.
2010年2月17日水曜日
World's largest paper crane made in Hiroshima
A giant paper crane made by young people from Hiroshima has been recognized as the world's largest by the Guinness World Records organization.
The paper crane was made in August last year by a total of around 800 participants, mostly from Hiroshima Prefecture, in an attempt to send out a message of peace to the world.
The group took 3 days to complete the crane with a wingspan of 81.9 meters, which beats the previous world record, set in northern Japan almost ten years ago, by about 3 meters.
Meeting with members of the group on Wednesday, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba commended their energy and commitment.
Group leader Taeko Tada said the paper crane symbolizes young people's wish for peace and that she was pleased to see their work recognized by the world.
The paper crane was made in August last year by a total of around 800 participants, mostly from Hiroshima Prefecture, in an attempt to send out a message of peace to the world.
The group took 3 days to complete the crane with a wingspan of 81.9 meters, which beats the previous world record, set in northern Japan almost ten years ago, by about 3 meters.
Meeting with members of the group on Wednesday, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba commended their energy and commitment.
Group leader Taeko Tada said the paper crane symbolizes young people's wish for peace and that she was pleased to see their work recognized by the world.
2010年2月11日木曜日
Folklore performing art festival underway in Tokyo
An international festival featuring folklore performing arts is underway in Tokyo.
About 80 performers from Japan, Thailand and Estonia are taking part in the annual event organized by Japan's Cultural Affairs Agency.
A group of children from Sendai, northern Japan, performed a traditional dance that imitates the movements of rice planting.
The dance, which is usually performed in January to pray for a good harvest, was designated as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage last year.
A troupe from the Estonian island of Kihnu presented wedding songs and dances that have been preserved and passed on by generations of women.
The dancers wore handmade traditional costumes. The bridegroom is the only male performer.
The festival will run through Wednesday.
About 80 performers from Japan, Thailand and Estonia are taking part in the annual event organized by Japan's Cultural Affairs Agency.
A group of children from Sendai, northern Japan, performed a traditional dance that imitates the movements of rice planting.
The dance, which is usually performed in January to pray for a good harvest, was designated as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage last year.
A troupe from the Estonian island of Kihnu presented wedding songs and dances that have been preserved and passed on by generations of women.
The dancers wore handmade traditional costumes. The bridegroom is the only male performer.
The festival will run through Wednesday.
2010年2月4日木曜日
Sumo grand champion Asashoryu retires
Sumo Grand Champion Asashoryu has retired from the traditional Japanese professional sport, saying that he is very sorry for causing trouble due to assault allegations against him.
The Mongolian-born Yokozuna submitted his written retirement to a Japan Sumo Association board meeting on Thursday. The board accepted his retirement.
The board meeting heard from Asashoryu about his alleged assault of a man last month, during the time of the New Year sumo tournament, after he had been drinking.
Later, he said at a news conference that this is a time for him to put an end to the confusion he has caused. He said he does not regret quitting sumo after winning 25 tournament championships in his career.
The Mongolian-born Yokozuna submitted his written retirement to a Japan Sumo Association board meeting on Thursday. The board accepted his retirement.
The board meeting heard from Asashoryu about his alleged assault of a man last month, during the time of the New Year sumo tournament, after he had been drinking.
Later, he said at a news conference that this is a time for him to put an end to the confusion he has caused. He said he does not regret quitting sumo after winning 25 tournament championships in his career.
Japan's oldest human bone discovered in Okinawa
A human bone found in Okinawa, southern Japan, has been identified as the oldest remnants of man in the country -- estimated to go back around 20,000 years ago.
The bone was discovered in a cave on Ishigaki island, located in the southernmost part of Okinawa prefecture, along with 8 other human bones and massive animal remains.
A group of researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo, identified the fraction of bone -- 8 centimeters wide and 12 centimeters long -- as being about 20,000 years old, and belonging to the Paleolithic Period. It is believed to be part of the skull of a male in his 20s to 30s.
The latest discovery moves back about 6,000 years the date of the oldest human bone found in Japan. The oldest bone previously discovered was in Hamamatsu city, central Japan, which had been identified as 14,000 years old.
An anthropologist says it could provide important clues on how the Japanese race evolved. The expert says further research could shed light on the links between humans in Okinawa and those in mainland Japan.
The bone was discovered in a cave on Ishigaki island, located in the southernmost part of Okinawa prefecture, along with 8 other human bones and massive animal remains.
A group of researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo, identified the fraction of bone -- 8 centimeters wide and 12 centimeters long -- as being about 20,000 years old, and belonging to the Paleolithic Period. It is believed to be part of the skull of a male in his 20s to 30s.
The latest discovery moves back about 6,000 years the date of the oldest human bone found in Japan. The oldest bone previously discovered was in Hamamatsu city, central Japan, which had been identified as 14,000 years old.
An anthropologist says it could provide important clues on how the Japanese race evolved. The expert says further research could shed light on the links between humans in Okinawa and those in mainland Japan.
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