Rice farmers in Fukushima Prefecture have begun shipping early-harvested rice after it cleared tests for possible radioactive contamination. Rice is Japan's staple food.
The first batch of newly harvested rice was loaded onto trucks at a farm in Koriyama City on Monday.
Earlier this month, Fukushima checked radiation levels of early-harvested varieties of rice at paddies of all rice growers in the prefecture. Test results confirmed the safety of all the checked rice, although a small amount of radioactive cesium was detected in rice grown at one location.
A farmer who shipped his rice on Monday said he feels relieved as he is able to offer safe rice to consumers.
But he said the early-harvested variety accounts for only 5 percent of his crop, so he is still worried if he can ship other varieties, including the mainstay Koshihikari brand.
The freshly harvested rice will be available in local super markets from Tuesday.
2011年8月29日月曜日
2011年8月17日水曜日
Kyoto Daimonji held with March 11 messages
An annual bonfire festival has been held in Kyoto with messages from survivors of the March 11 disaster inscribed on local firewood.
The city government originally planned to use the firewood from trees swept away by the March 11 tsunami. But the plan was cancelled after radioactive cesium was detected in wood sent from the hard-hit town of Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture.
Instead, event organizers used local wood and copied the survivors' eulogies or messages on them.
On Tuesday evening, the first fire was lit in the shape of the Chinese character "Dai", meaning large, followed by silent prayers for the disaster victims.
As Buddhist monks chanted sutras, four other fires were lit in a variety of shapes such as a boat and shrine gate, on the slopes of adjacent mountains.
The display illuminated the night sky above the ancient capital.
It is believed the bonfires help send off the souls of ancestors that have briefly returned home during the Buddhist Bon festival in mid-August.
The city government originally planned to use the firewood from trees swept away by the March 11 tsunami. But the plan was cancelled after radioactive cesium was detected in wood sent from the hard-hit town of Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture.
Instead, event organizers used local wood and copied the survivors' eulogies or messages on them.
On Tuesday evening, the first fire was lit in the shape of the Chinese character "Dai", meaning large, followed by silent prayers for the disaster victims.
As Buddhist monks chanted sutras, four other fires were lit in a variety of shapes such as a boat and shrine gate, on the slopes of adjacent mountains.
The display illuminated the night sky above the ancient capital.
It is believed the bonfires help send off the souls of ancestors that have briefly returned home during the Buddhist Bon festival in mid-August.
35 killed, 7,000 treated for heatstroke in a week
Last week was the most fatal week this year for heatstroke in Japan, with the deaths of 35 people.
The Fire and Disaster management Agency says the number of people hospitalized for heatstroke during the week through Sunday was 7,071 -- the largest number by the week for this year.
More than 1,000 people per day were treated at hospitals over 3 consecutive days through Thursday, as the mercury shot up to more than 35 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country. Wednesday was particularly severe, with the number reaching 1,428.
An NHK survey shows that at least 35 people died of heatstroke in 12 prefectures during the week through Sunday, marking the largest weekly death toll this year.
People aged 65 and older accounted for 77 percent of the deaths. More than 30 percent died between 5 PM and 5 AM.
Emergency officials say the number of heatstroke cases increased because temperatures remained over 25 degrees at night last week, in addition to the intense heat during the day.
They are calling for caution against heatstroke at all times, day or night, as the hot weather is expected to continue this week.
The Fire and Disaster management Agency says the number of people hospitalized for heatstroke during the week through Sunday was 7,071 -- the largest number by the week for this year.
More than 1,000 people per day were treated at hospitals over 3 consecutive days through Thursday, as the mercury shot up to more than 35 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country. Wednesday was particularly severe, with the number reaching 1,428.
An NHK survey shows that at least 35 people died of heatstroke in 12 prefectures during the week through Sunday, marking the largest weekly death toll this year.
People aged 65 and older accounted for 77 percent of the deaths. More than 30 percent died between 5 PM and 5 AM.
Emergency officials say the number of heatstroke cases increased because temperatures remained over 25 degrees at night last week, in addition to the intense heat during the day.
They are calling for caution against heatstroke at all times, day or night, as the hot weather is expected to continue this week.
2011年8月16日火曜日
Gov't to help quake survivors get licenses
Ministries and agencies that oversee occupational licenses have been asked to be flexible in helping survivors of the March disaster.
The Internal Affairs Ministry has received many complaints and inquiries from survivors about getting relief in applying for licenses.
The ministry conducted a survey of 73 licenses, which have more than 5,000 applicants annually.
The results showed that no measures have been taken for 26 licenses, including ones for administrative procedures specialist and tax accountant, such as postponing the application deadline or changing the exam date.
For 46 licenses, including for first-class architect and information processing technician, those who lost their certificates in the disaster had to pay fees to have them re-issued.
The 12 ministries and agencies in charge of licensing explained that there were no legal provisions and no such requests were made.
The Internal Affairs Ministry asked them to deal with the matter beyond the conventional framework.
It said it will make more requests if necessary based on the needs of the people in the disaster-affected area.
The Internal Affairs Ministry has received many complaints and inquiries from survivors about getting relief in applying for licenses.
The ministry conducted a survey of 73 licenses, which have more than 5,000 applicants annually.
The results showed that no measures have been taken for 26 licenses, including ones for administrative procedures specialist and tax accountant, such as postponing the application deadline or changing the exam date.
For 46 licenses, including for first-class architect and information processing technician, those who lost their certificates in the disaster had to pay fees to have them re-issued.
The 12 ministries and agencies in charge of licensing explained that there were no legal provisions and no such requests were made.
The Internal Affairs Ministry asked them to deal with the matter beyond the conventional framework.
It said it will make more requests if necessary based on the needs of the people in the disaster-affected area.
2011年8月14日日曜日
Gujo dance festival comes to a climax
A traditional summer dance festival has reached its climax in the city of Gujo in central Japan.
Thousands danced all through the hot summer night.
The Gujo Odori festival dates back about 400 years.
It is held every year from July to September in an old town in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture. The festival is designated as an "Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property" by the national government.
The highlight is 4 consecutive nights of all-night dancing, which began on Saturday.
68,000 locals and tourists, including foreigners, gathered for the festival. People wearing yukata, a cotton kimono, danced to the music of Japanese flutes and drums.
Organizers expect about 200-thousand people will come to the festival.
Thousands danced all through the hot summer night.
The Gujo Odori festival dates back about 400 years.
It is held every year from July to September in an old town in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture. The festival is designated as an "Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property" by the national government.
The highlight is 4 consecutive nights of all-night dancing, which began on Saturday.
68,000 locals and tourists, including foreigners, gathered for the festival. People wearing yukata, a cotton kimono, danced to the music of Japanese flutes and drums.
Organizers expect about 200-thousand people will come to the festival.
Sweltering Bon holidays in Japan
Measures are being taken across Japan during the ongoing Bon holidays to beat the sweltering summer heat.
In the hot spring city of Beppu, Oita Prefecture, western Japan, children climbed onto the floating leaves of a huge water lily on Saturday.
The Giant Amazon Water Lily is native to South America, but has also taken root in the hot spring resort, where its leaves grow as wide as 1.5 meters, enough to hold 20 kilograms.
Children were both excited and scared as they took turns trying to stand on the swaying leaves.
The 3-day event ends on Monday.
In the northern Hokkaido prefecture, the Hokkaido Railway Company turned on a water sprinkler for the first time this summer on Saturday.
A diesel locomotive pulled a 4-car train carrying water tanks to spray water onto the rails. The company takes the measure because 12 years ago the rails buckled in the summer heat.
Over the space of 4 hours, water was slowly sprinkled onto the tracks of the Hakodate line between Sapporo and Iwamizawa and elsewhere.
In the hot spring city of Beppu, Oita Prefecture, western Japan, children climbed onto the floating leaves of a huge water lily on Saturday.
The Giant Amazon Water Lily is native to South America, but has also taken root in the hot spring resort, where its leaves grow as wide as 1.5 meters, enough to hold 20 kilograms.
Children were both excited and scared as they took turns trying to stand on the swaying leaves.
The 3-day event ends on Monday.
In the northern Hokkaido prefecture, the Hokkaido Railway Company turned on a water sprinkler for the first time this summer on Saturday.
A diesel locomotive pulled a 4-car train carrying water tanks to spray water onto the rails. The company takes the measure because 12 years ago the rails buckled in the summer heat.
Over the space of 4 hours, water was slowly sprinkled onto the tracks of the Hakodate line between Sapporo and Iwamizawa and elsewhere.
2011年8月7日日曜日
Symbol of anti-airport movement in Narita removed
A building that was once a stronghold for opponents of Narita airport has been demolished, despite opposition from activists.
The building, located within Narita airport, near Tokyo, was a symbol of the movement that began in 1966 when the Japanese government decided to expropriate land from farmers to build the airport.
The airport's operator said the building was hampering the construction of a taxiway.
In May this year, the Tokyo High Court ruled in favor of the airport operator and ordered the removal of the structure.
The demolition work began early Saturday morning amid protests from activists.
A member of the group said it was regretful that the symbolic structure was demolished by force.
The president of Narita International Airport Corporation, Kosaburo Morinaka, said that the airport is the gateway to Japan and the company is determined to keep it operating smoothly.
The building, located within Narita airport, near Tokyo, was a symbol of the movement that began in 1966 when the Japanese government decided to expropriate land from farmers to build the airport.
The airport's operator said the building was hampering the construction of a taxiway.
In May this year, the Tokyo High Court ruled in favor of the airport operator and ordered the removal of the structure.
The demolition work began early Saturday morning amid protests from activists.
A member of the group said it was regretful that the symbolic structure was demolished by force.
The president of Narita International Airport Corporation, Kosaburo Morinaka, said that the airport is the gateway to Japan and the company is determined to keep it operating smoothly.
Todaiji Buddha undergoes annual dusting ritual
The Buddha statue at Todai-ji temple in the Japanese ancient capital of Nara has undergone a traditional dusting.
The ceremonial service is held every year ahead of the Bon Buddhist festival when people welcome back their ancestors' spirits later this month.
At 7 AM on Sunday, about 150 Buddhist priests and others gathered for a ceremonial chanting of sutra.
The priests then climbed onto the hands and knees of the statue and carefully removed dust with brooms and dusters.
Some workers were raised on hanging chairs to clean the 15-meter-tall statue's head and shoulders.
Visitors took photos and videos of the unusual scene, as dust filled the temple hall.
A man from Osaka says he can really appreciate the size of the Buddha when people climb onto it. He said he is glad that he had a chance to see it being cleaned.
The ceremonial service is held every year ahead of the Bon Buddhist festival when people welcome back their ancestors' spirits later this month.
At 7 AM on Sunday, about 150 Buddhist priests and others gathered for a ceremonial chanting of sutra.
The priests then climbed onto the hands and knees of the statue and carefully removed dust with brooms and dusters.
Some workers were raised on hanging chairs to clean the 15-meter-tall statue's head and shoulders.
Visitors took photos and videos of the unusual scene, as dust filled the temple hall.
A man from Osaka says he can really appreciate the size of the Buddha when people climb onto it. He said he is glad that he had a chance to see it being cleaned.
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