In the ancient capital Kyoto, a group of geiko entertainers are rehearsing for an upcoming annual autumn performance. Kyoto's geisha are known as geiko.
About 100 geiko and maiko apprentice performers took part in the rehearsal on Tuesday.
One of the show's major pieces is danced by 11 maiko in prayer for the prosperity of performing arts.
One of the performers said she felt nervous at the rehearsal, but added she wanted many people to come and enjoy their performances.
The annual fall dance performance, called "Onshukai," runs for 6 days from October 1st.
2010年9月29日水曜日
2010年9月23日木曜日
Japan to apply for resumption of meat exports
Japan is set to apply for a resumption of meat exports, following health checks of livestock that confirmed no foot-and-mouth infections in the southern prefecture of Miyazaki.
The agriculture ministry and Miyazaki Prefecture, which was hit by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in April, started checking more than 6,000 cattle at farms chosen at random earlier this month.
Veterinarians inspected the cattle for any symptoms of the disease and took blood samples from 2,100 for further tests. No suspected cases have been found.
Japan has suspended exports of beef, pork and other meat products since April, apart from shipments to some countries and territories.
In order to resume meat exports, a country must gain certification from the World Organization for Animal Health, known as the OIE, that the country is free from foot-and-mouth disease.
The agriculture ministry plans to apply for the certification to the OIE in early October.
In February next year, an OIE committee will determine whether to put Japan back on the list of foot-and-mouth disease-free countries. Consultation with countries receiving the meat will also be needed.
The agriculture ministry and Miyazaki Prefecture, which was hit by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in April, started checking more than 6,000 cattle at farms chosen at random earlier this month.
Veterinarians inspected the cattle for any symptoms of the disease and took blood samples from 2,100 for further tests. No suspected cases have been found.
Japan has suspended exports of beef, pork and other meat products since April, apart from shipments to some countries and territories.
In order to resume meat exports, a country must gain certification from the World Organization for Animal Health, known as the OIE, that the country is free from foot-and-mouth disease.
The agriculture ministry plans to apply for the certification to the OIE in early October.
In February next year, an OIE committee will determine whether to put Japan back on the list of foot-and-mouth disease-free countries. Consultation with countries receiving the meat will also be needed.
2010年9月20日月曜日
Pilots trained as 4th runway built in Haneda
Pilots are receiving training as Tokyo's Haneda Airport resumes its full-fledged handling of regular international flights next month for the first time in 32 years.
With the completion of the 4th runway in the southeast area of the airport, Haneda will ultimately handle 50 percent more landings and takeoffs than the current level.
The 4 runways form overlapping crosses, causing air traffic control to be unusually complex.
All Nippon Airways has been conducting training sessions for pilots and flight managers since August to ensure smooth flight operation on the 4 runways.
The trainees are reminded that planes can take off and land at the same time on 2 neighboring runways. Flight courses of departing and arriving aircraft may cross each other.
Air traffic controllers at Haneda are being trained on a special simulator to experience the complicated task of controlling operations on the 4 runways.
The 4th runway will open on October 21st, and regular international flights will begin on October 31st.
With the completion of the 4th runway in the southeast area of the airport, Haneda will ultimately handle 50 percent more landings and takeoffs than the current level.
The 4 runways form overlapping crosses, causing air traffic control to be unusually complex.
All Nippon Airways has been conducting training sessions for pilots and flight managers since August to ensure smooth flight operation on the 4 runways.
The trainees are reminded that planes can take off and land at the same time on 2 neighboring runways. Flight courses of departing and arriving aircraft may cross each other.
Air traffic controllers at Haneda are being trained on a special simulator to experience the complicated task of controlling operations on the 4 runways.
The 4th runway will open on October 21st, and regular international flights will begin on October 31st.
Baby crying sumo contest held in Tochigi
Many babies took part in a crying sumo contest at a shrine in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on Sunday.
The traditional event is held every year at Ikiko Shrine since Edo period to pray for children's healthy growth.
The babies are lifted up 3 times in a sumo-style ring.
Some started crying loudly, while others stared at the ones who were crying.
The babies who began crying first used to be pronounced the winners of the contest. But the shrine now designates all the babies as winners to pray for their health.
The children's parents cheered and took photos.
One mother said her baby began crying before the contest. But she added that she will be happy as long as her baby is strong.
The traditional event is held every year at Ikiko Shrine since Edo period to pray for children's healthy growth.
The babies are lifted up 3 times in a sumo-style ring.
Some started crying loudly, while others stared at the ones who were crying.
The babies who began crying first used to be pronounced the winners of the contest. But the shrine now designates all the babies as winners to pray for their health.
The children's parents cheered and took photos.
One mother said her baby began crying before the contest. But she added that she will be happy as long as her baby is strong.
2010年9月18日土曜日
Relatives of dead man indicted for pension fraud
Prosecutors have indicted 2 women for fraudulently claiming the pension benefits of a man whose mummified body was found in Tokyo.
The man is believed to have died more than 30 years ago, but prosecutors say his eldest daughter and granddaughter continued reapplying for his widower's pension, after his wife died 6 years ago.
The 2 women aged 81 and 53 are suspected of illegally having received total pension payments of 9.15 million yen or about 106,000 dollars over 35 occasions up to June this year.
The body of the man was found at his family home in Tokyo's Adachi Ward in July. If he was alive, he would have been the oldest man in Tokyo at 111 years old.
The body was discovered shortly after ward office staff visited the home to congratulate him on his age.
The women told investigators they used the pension money for living expenses and house repairs.
Police say the women have admitted to the charge.
The man is believed to have died more than 30 years ago, but prosecutors say his eldest daughter and granddaughter continued reapplying for his widower's pension, after his wife died 6 years ago.
The 2 women aged 81 and 53 are suspected of illegally having received total pension payments of 9.15 million yen or about 106,000 dollars over 35 occasions up to June this year.
The body of the man was found at his family home in Tokyo's Adachi Ward in July. If he was alive, he would have been the oldest man in Tokyo at 111 years old.
The body was discovered shortly after ward office staff visited the home to congratulate him on his age.
The women told investigators they used the pension money for living expenses and house repairs.
Police say the women have admitted to the charge.
Oshio sentenced to 30 months in prison
Former Japanese actor Manabu Oshio has been sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison for leaving unattended a woman companion who became gravely ill and died after taking an illegal drug with him.
The Tokyo District Court on Friday delivered the sentence without suspension. But the presiding judge said it is uncertain the victim may have lived even if Oshio had called an ambulance, thereby dismissing his responsibility for her death.
Prosecutors argued that the 32-year-old defendant failed to take proper action to resuscitate the 30-year-old woman after they took the illegal synthetic drug Ecstasy, or MDMA, at a condominium in central Tokyo last August.
Prosecutors had demanded 6 years in prison for Oshio, arguing that if he had called an ambulance, there would have been a more than 90-percent chance of the woman surviving.
Oshio's lawyers had put the possibility of the woman's survival at only 10 to 40 percent and argued that the defendant was innocent.
The Tokyo District Court on Friday delivered the sentence without suspension. But the presiding judge said it is uncertain the victim may have lived even if Oshio had called an ambulance, thereby dismissing his responsibility for her death.
Prosecutors argued that the 32-year-old defendant failed to take proper action to resuscitate the 30-year-old woman after they took the illegal synthetic drug Ecstasy, or MDMA, at a condominium in central Tokyo last August.
Prosecutors had demanded 6 years in prison for Oshio, arguing that if he had called an ambulance, there would have been a more than 90-percent chance of the woman surviving.
Oshio's lawyers had put the possibility of the woman's survival at only 10 to 40 percent and argued that the defendant was innocent.
Ancient peach stones unearthed at Makimuku ruins
Archeologists have unearthed more than 2,000 ancient peach stones near a large structure at ruins in the former Japanese capital of Nara.
The structure, which was discovered at the Makimuku ruins last year, dates back to the early 3rd century. Some say it may be the palace of Queen Himiko of the Yamatai Kingdom, whose existence is mentioned in ancient Chinese records.
In July, an excavation found the peach stones in an 80-centimeter-deep hole dug next to the possible palace.
In ancient China, peaches were considered sacred fruit that could bring about eternal youth and ward off evil.
Also unearthed from the hole were earthenware and wooden goods used for rituals.
Local researchers say they are surprised at the number of stones, and that special rites might have been held around the large structure.
The latest discovery is expected to trigger a new dispute over whether the fruit was used by Queen Himiko in her rituals.
The location of the Yamatai Kingdom, either near Kyoto and Nara or Kyushu in southwestern Japan, has long been a matter of dispute in Japan.
The structure, which was discovered at the Makimuku ruins last year, dates back to the early 3rd century. Some say it may be the palace of Queen Himiko of the Yamatai Kingdom, whose existence is mentioned in ancient Chinese records.
In July, an excavation found the peach stones in an 80-centimeter-deep hole dug next to the possible palace.
In ancient China, peaches were considered sacred fruit that could bring about eternal youth and ward off evil.
Also unearthed from the hole were earthenware and wooden goods used for rituals.
Local researchers say they are surprised at the number of stones, and that special rites might have been held around the large structure.
The latest discovery is expected to trigger a new dispute over whether the fruit was used by Queen Himiko in her rituals.
The location of the Yamatai Kingdom, either near Kyoto and Nara or Kyushu in southwestern Japan, has long been a matter of dispute in Japan.
2010年9月5日日曜日
Autumn salmon catch poor due to heat
Rising seawater temperatures around Japanese islands seem to be affecting the autumn catch of salmon.
Net fishing for salmon has begun in the Sea of Ohhotsk, off Hokkaido, northern Japan. The first day's catch was less than half the comparable amount last year.
Four fishing boats that returned to the port of Monbetsu from offshore fishing grounds early on Saturday unloaded slightly more than 2,000 salmon, less than half the amount on the first day of last year's season.
The salmon traded at prices slightly higher than those of the average year.
A fishermen's cooperative said seawater temperatures in the ocean are 2 to 3 degrees higher than usual, a condition that keeps salmon away from fishing sites.
The cooperative said the smaller catch on the first day makes members nervous about how large the season's total catch would be.
Salmon fishing will continue until late November.
The saury catch is also poor in waters around Hokkaido for the same reason.
Net fishing for salmon has begun in the Sea of Ohhotsk, off Hokkaido, northern Japan. The first day's catch was less than half the comparable amount last year.
Four fishing boats that returned to the port of Monbetsu from offshore fishing grounds early on Saturday unloaded slightly more than 2,000 salmon, less than half the amount on the first day of last year's season.
The salmon traded at prices slightly higher than those of the average year.
A fishermen's cooperative said seawater temperatures in the ocean are 2 to 3 degrees higher than usual, a condition that keeps salmon away from fishing sites.
The cooperative said the smaller catch on the first day makes members nervous about how large the season's total catch would be.
Salmon fishing will continue until late November.
The saury catch is also poor in waters around Hokkaido for the same reason.
H5N1 virus variant in pigs may infect humans
A group of scientists has determined that highly contagious H5N1 bird flu virus has infected pigs in Indonesia. The scientists believe that some variants of the virus may infect humans.
The researchers, who are mainly from the Institute of Medical Science of the University of Tokyo, collected specimens from pigs from 2005 to 2009 in various parts of Indonesia.
Of 702 nasal membrane specimens, 52, or 7.4 percent, contained H5N1 avian flu virus. Virus from one of the pigs has acquired the ability to infect the human throat and other body parts.
The researchers believe that the influenza virus reassortment incorporated genes of the avian and human-type viruses within a pig.
Human can contract H5N1 bird flu, although it is rare, but 60 percent of those whose infection was confirmed died.
Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the research group says pigs do not show signs of influenza-like symptoms often, making it difficult to detect.
He says that may lead to a spread of the H5N1 type of virus in many locations.
He says monitoring should be strengthened to guard against the emergence of a new type of influenza.
The researchers, who are mainly from the Institute of Medical Science of the University of Tokyo, collected specimens from pigs from 2005 to 2009 in various parts of Indonesia.
Of 702 nasal membrane specimens, 52, or 7.4 percent, contained H5N1 avian flu virus. Virus from one of the pigs has acquired the ability to infect the human throat and other body parts.
The researchers believe that the influenza virus reassortment incorporated genes of the avian and human-type viruses within a pig.
Human can contract H5N1 bird flu, although it is rare, but 60 percent of those whose infection was confirmed died.
Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the research group says pigs do not show signs of influenza-like symptoms often, making it difficult to detect.
He says that may lead to a spread of the H5N1 type of virus in many locations.
He says monitoring should be strengthened to guard against the emergence of a new type of influenza.
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