Disappointment, anger over Olympic logo 'embarrassment'

Abstract: Many people reacted with disappointment and anger after the logo for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was scrapped amid accusations of plagiarism. “It is an embarrassment of Japan to have caused such a stir. The emblem should be remade from scratch,” said Norihiro Murakami, 47, of Sapporo, which hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics. “I have the impression that the issue was handled poorly. Such a problem did not occur at the Nagano Olympics,” said Soichiro Yoshida, who was on the organizing committee of the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano. The Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games decided Tuesday to scrap the logo, designed by Kenjiro Sano, just over a month after it was unveiled. Belgium-based designer Olivier Debie alleged plagiarism and filed a lawsuit to prevent use of the design. The incident is a second blow for Japan over the 2020 Olympics, as the government and organizers last month were forced to ditch the initial plan for the main stadium due to snowballing cost estimates. “I’m worried about whether Japan can really host the Olympics,” said a 28-year-old woman in Tokyo. Sports journalist Gentaro Taniguchi said, “The double collapses of the Olympics’ two symbols — the stadium and the logo — have significantly damaged the Tokyo Olympics and Japan has lost the confidence of international society.” The logo had been already displayed at various locations, such as airports, while officials of companies sponsoring the games have printed it on their business cards. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has placed orders for ¥46 million worth of items, such as posters and banners, bearing the logo. “I wanted the committee to make the decision (to scrap the logo) earlier,” one official said.

tokyo 2020
2020 olympics
kenjiro sano
2020 tokyo olympics
tokyo olympics emblem


Tateishi outwardly nondescript but grilled fare, comraderie offer inner glow

Abstract: About 30 people young and old make a line in front of a small izakaya pub that offers grilled innards at 2 p.m. on a weekday in the Tateishi district of Katsushika Ward, Tokyo — an odd sight perhaps for first-timers, but a daily one for regulars. At a glance, Uchida may seem like an old izakaya in a shabby shopping arcade developed from the black market that appeared soon after Japan’s defeat in World War II. But at Uchida and other similar pubs in Tateishi, there is a down-to-earth atmosphere where easy small talk by regulars makes newcomers feel at home. Unlike popular tourist spots in the posh Ginza district or Shibuya, Tateishi rarely appears on tourist books at home and abroad. But it still has a heart-warming atmosphere that is hard to come by nowadays in Tokyo. While waiting in line, a regular at Uchida, in shorts, a sleeveless shirt and vest, talks about basic manners, while another offers its specialties — in this case, a dish of grilled innards and shochu spirits with plum. Customers sit squashed together in the narrow izakaya. One of the regulars, Masanori Ogawa, is a sushi chef at nearby Sushi Masa. After a drink or two, he went back, changed into a white uniform and started making sushi for his customers. “See you at Uchida,” Ogawa, 55, said, with a smile. Tateishi, which could be accessed from Keisei Tateishi Station on the Keisei Line, is also home to Japanese toy-making giant Tomy Co., which in June appointed Dutch native H.G. Meij as its first foreign CEO. That may also be the reason it is attracting toy fans. One of them, Hannah, an American who only gave her first name, is drinking with her friends at another izakaya , Edokko, which serves grilled innards. “I came here because I like small towns, Japanese toys and the ‘Slam Dunk’ ” basketball comic series, said Hannah in fluent Japanese.

tateishi
izakaya
katsushika
uchida
sushi masa


Contested Tokyo 2020 Olympic logo scrapped amid plagiarism claim

Abstract: In another humiliating reversal over preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the organizing committee on Tuesday scrapped the official logo after critics howled plagiarism. The committee said it would immediately launch a competition to design a new logo but underscored that it did not decide to pull the first emblem because it believes designer Kenjiro Sano is guilty of any wrongdoing. “We thought it might be difficult to get support from the general public” given the size that the issue has become, Toshiro Muto, director general of the organizing committee, said after an emergency meeting. The committee said Sano requested the emblem’s withdrawal, and that he will not get paid for the design. The contested logo, which is already widely in use in official circles and on sponsors’ materials, resembles that of a theater in Belgium. Sano has denied plagiarism, but he has faced a slew of subsequent allegations that critics said called into question the integrity of his work. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday that the organizing committee made “an appropriate decision” on the matter and that the Olympics must be an event that is celebrated by everyone. The abrupt reversal comes after Abe in July scrapped the design for a new National Stadium intended as the centerpiece of the games, following criticism of its skyrocketing estimated cost. Adding to the logo humiliation is the fact that only last Friday the organizing committee had defended Sano. Muto told reporters that day the logo was “totally different from the Belgian theater logo” and thus he was “convinced the Olympic emblem is original.” Moreover, the committee had said there could be no question of plagiarism because Sano had tweaked the logo subsequent to its selection, both to avoid any similarity to registered trademarks and to meet the committee’s wish that it depict movement. There were new whisperings against Sano on Monday, when similarities were reported between images he had used when unveiling the logo and some on the Internet. One was of a scene at Haneda airport with the logo hanging on banners, intended to show how the emblem might be used in public. The image was apparently a copy of one from an online blog named “Sleepwalking in Tokyo.” It had been adapted to include the logo — but it had also been trimmed, removing a copyright statement at the foot of the original image. Online critics also laid into Sano over the original form of his logo, which was shown at the news conference last Friday. Its design of a “T” with a red circle at its foot resembled a poster at a Jan Tschichold exhibition held in November 2013 at Ginza Graphic Gallery in Tokyo. Sano had reported on Twitter that he visited the show. The brouhaha first erupted in August, when Sano’s final design for the Olympics logo was found to resemble the “L” form of the logo of Theatre de Liege, an arts center in the Belgian city. Designer Olivier Debie alleged plagiarism and filed a lawsuit in Belgium on Aug. 13 to prevent its use by the International Olympic Committee. Sano’s integrity was further questioned later that month when Internet users pointed out that some of his designs for giveaway tote bags in a promotional campaign by Suntory Beer Ltd. resembled pre-existing designs. The beverage company pulled the contested products at the request of Sano’s office.

tokyo 2020
logo
emblem
kenjiro sano
olivier debie


Dog lost in Yellowstone National Park found 42 days later

Abstract: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING - Yellowstone National Park is known for its wildlife, including bears and wolves. But for six weeks, one animal that roamed the park didn’t belong there. An Australian shepherd named Jade was found in the Canyon area Friday, 42 days after she went missing. “She’s skin and bones, but otherwise she seems perfectly fine,” the dog’s owner, David Sowers, of Denver said. Sowers said Jade ran off July 23 after an auto wreck while he and his girlfriend, Laura Gillice, were driving through the park. “When they tried to get her out of the car she bolted and she ran into the woods,” Sowers said. “She disappeared for, like, 15 days, and I thought she was gone.” Over the last several weeks, signs were posted and an Internet campaign started asking park visitors to keep an eye out for the dog. Traps with dog food were even set. Reports of Jade being seen roaming the park started coming in. Sowers and his girlfriend, who were both injured in the wreck, had returned to Yellowstone several times to look for the dog before finding her Friday. “I haven’t been following doctors’ orders very well,” said Sowers, who suffered injuries to his ribs, arm and leg in the accident. “They told me not to be doing this, but I wanted to find my dog.” On Friday morning, Gillice was with their other dog when she saw something black and white across a meadow. In less than a minute “she started running toward me,” Gillice said. Sowers said other than a small cut on her lip and losing weight, Jade is OK. “It’s a miracle,” Gillice said.


Hashimoto gets typically Trump on protests

Abstract: Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto is many things to many people, but nobody doubts his skill in the art of provocation. “There are 100 million voters in Japan,” he said recently. “What percent of them are protesting in front of the Diet? The number is insignificant. I’m not denying their right to protest. But it’s wrong for the national will to be decided by such a small number of demonstrators. If they don’t agree with the government, they should exercise their right to vote in the next Lower House election.” Over the past few weeks, via his Twitter account and in verbal responses to questions about the mass demonstrations against the collective self-defense bills led in part by the young Japanese who form the Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy (SEALDs), Hashimoto’s attitude toward the role of public protest has been on display, provoking two sets of reactions among supporters and critics: The first most certainly intentional on his part and the second unintentional, but more revealing of his mindset. The first, which he no doubt expected, was to invite criticism from the SEALDs movement and its supporters for being, well, for being “Hashimoto,” the mercurial, unpredictable maverick politician, the bully boy who has all the tact and humility of U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, and who is an anti-democratic fascist in the guise of a populist. The more thoughtful critics were quick to suggest that any criticism by Hashimoto of the demonstrators would bring a smile of gratitude inside the Diet bunker, where Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga were hunkered down with the Liberal Democratic Party, trying to ram the unpopular bills through. Hashimoto, the old men and women in the LDP perhaps told each other, was the politically popular (at least in Osaka) smooth-talking, telegenic political leader who represented the “silent majority” of young people (the ones under 40 years old) who, if not exactly supportive of the bill, would at least not stand — literally — in the way of it being passed. The next Lower House election was a long way off, so plenty of time to smooth over ruffled feathers among all of those 18-to-20-year-olds who had just been given the right to vote. The second response from both critics and supporters, however, was to once again highlight the fact that Hashimoto is Osaka’s “Teflon man” whose popularity means he can say what other politicians cannot. His fans often don’t seem to care if there is logistical consistency in anything he says — at least on issues that those supporters don’t really care about, such as political demonstrations in Tokyo. This is because Hashimoto understands that in a world dominated by the white noise of constant Twitter remarks and endless television sound bites, and in an age when attention spans are shorter than ever, who among his supporters is really paying attention, let alone concerned, Alice-like, if they notice that what the Mad Hatter said a few moments ago contradicts what he’s saying now? The result is that even when Hashimoto pursues genuinely noble causes, such as directly standing up to the hate group Zaitokukai, there’s always a sense of, “Is he serious or is this just an act for the TV cameras?” For their part, though, Abe and his LDP allies are betting that, with his comments about the demonstrators, Hashimoto is, at the bottom of his heart, a fellow traveler who, after he enters national politics, probably next year, can be counted upon to use his modern media management skills to help them convince the majority of those 100 million voters to allow the Diet to revise the Constitution, regardless of how many vocally oppose it in front of the Diet or around the country.


Security bills won't allow for Hormuz minesweeping, Abe says

Abstract: The administration does not view minesweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz as one of the possible actions that the Self-Defense Forces would carry out if the national security bills are enacted, according to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “Considering the current international circumstances, we are not expecting that (minesweeping) will become a real issue,” Abe told the Upper House special committee on Monday. But Abe also said it is essential to secure safe navigation for the development and prosperity of not only Japan but the entire world. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told the committee that the administration does not expect Iran or any other nations to lay mines in the strait. But it is important to prepare for various possibilities, as uncertainty is increasing over the security environment in the Middle East, Kishida added.

security bills
minesweeping
strait of hormuz
shinzo abe
self defense forces
miitary


Japan's treasury hopes flat-rate beer tax will drive drinkers to maltier fare and pad coffers

Abstract: It’s not clear if the writer of an article that appeared on the English-language website of the Asahi Shimbun recently got his own joke, but by saying that the Finance Ministry is “creating a buzz” by proposing to lower the alcohol tax on beer, he got to the heart of the matter. The government hopes that more people will drink beer if the price goes down, thus generating more tax revenue. At the same time, the tax rate for happōshu (malt liquor) and so-called type-three beer-like beverages will be increased so that the levy on all three categories will be the same: ¥55 for a 350 ml can. What is causing some people to scratch their heads is that it seems unlikely that sales of happōshu and type-three beverages will remain the same once their price goes up, because the only reason they sell at all right now is their low price, which is a function of their lower tax rates as determined by malt content. The Asahi reports that since sales of cheaper brews are dropping anyway, maybe a lower tax on beer will increase sales of real beer and assure a steadier flow of money into the treasury. But maybe the reason for the tax change is something else. On his blog at the portal site Breaking News, freelance writer Sadao Arai asked in April, “Who will benefit from the alcohol sales law revision?” but he wasn’t talking about the alcohol tax. He was talking about a proposal to ban super-low prices for alcohol to protect small liquor stores that are being driven out of business by discount retailers and supermarkets. Arai, whose family used to have the monopoly on wholesale liquor business in the Nihonbashi area of Tokyo, doesn’t believe that the real reason behind this law is protecting small stores, since it’s way too late to do that. Liquor retail laws were liberalized starting in the late 1980s. At the time, licenses to sell alcohol came with strict conditions that effectively limited sales of beer, wine and liquor to dedicated sakaya (liquor stores). In 1988, the Cabinet issued a directive for a three-year study to change the laws, and over the next decade the Diet revised the liquor retail law in piecemeal fashion. First it removed the restriction that said a new liquor store had to be a certain distance from an existing one, thus paving the way for multiple liquor stores serving the same regional customer base. Before that law was passed, small liquor stores, especially in rural areas, enjoyed virtual monopolies in their communities. Later, during the administration of Junichiro Koizumi, whose central political goal was privatization, zoning restrictions for liquor sales were completely removed, meaning liquor could be sold anywhere in Japan. As a result of these gradual changes, licenses to sell liquor became easier to obtain, and in conjunction with other commercial liberalization moves, such as the so-called Big Store Law, alcohol could be sold by virtually any kind of retail outlet. According to the National Tax Agency, in 1985 dedicated liquor stores accounted for 92 percent of alcohol sales, with supermarkets, convenience stores and department stores making up the remaining 8 percent. By 1995, liquor stores accounted for 66 percent of sales, and supermarkets had gained 14 percent of the market. In 2005, supermarkets’ share surpassed that of liquor stores for the first time. In 2013, the division of spoils was: liquor stores 15 percent, discount retailers 13 percent, convenience stores 11 percent, wholesaler-retailers (selling to both restaurants and the public) 10 percent, home centers and drug stores 8 percent, department stores 0.7 percent and supermarkets a whopping 37.5 percent. Until the mid-’90s, small liquor stores were protected because it was difficult for larger retailers to get liquor licenses, but once these larger concerns were allowed to sell alcohol, they used their considerable resources to drive down prices across the board. Many liquor stores went out of business, and a good portion of those that didn’t became convenience store or retail-wholesale franchises (like the ubiquitous Kakuyasu chain) since they were actively solicited by franchise businesses looking to boost the number of their locations. Since liberalization there has been no growth in liquor sales, which means existing liquor retailers, regardless of size, are merely vying for market share. Somebody has to be the loser. However, Arai doesn’t think the government’s proposal to set prices for alcoholic beverages is really meant to save small liquor stores. Though there is a national liquor store association that contributes to national politicians, it isn’t nearly as powerful as the big supermarket chains, and he thinks the purpose of the proposed law is to help supermarkets, who are tired of competing with one another. In the supermarket business, beer is considered a loss leader, a product whose price is set purposely low and which loses money for the retailer but gets people into their stores to buy other things. However, with beer sales flat or falling, that strategy isn’t as useful as it once was. That was in spring, and the bill seems to have died, at least for the time being. If stores are prohibited from selling alcohol at very low prices, maybe people will stop buying alcohol and the government will definitely lose tax revenues. Consumers have gotten used to beer that’s cheaper than it was in the 1980s, and it will be difficult to get them to pay those kinds of prices again, so they have to adjust the tax rate down in order to maintain the present level of sales. Or that, at least, is the buzz.


Stores fire up their networks to quickly send aid to flood areas

Abstract: Following torrential rain that triggered massive flooding in the northeast and led to the evacuation of thousands of people, major retailers and convenience store operators rushed to deliver supplies for those affected by the disaster. When news broke Thursday that the collapse of the banks of the Kinugawa River caused massive flooding in Joso, Ibaraki Prefecture, FamilyMart Co. quickly dispatched trucks carrying food supplies. By early Friday, the nation’s third-biggest convenience store operator had distributed around 3,000 packages of instant noodles and 3,000 bottles of drinking water to some of the victims taking shelter in the city. “In the event of an emergency, we try to get as much information as possible about the basic needs from our chain stores and local communities,” a FamilyMart spokeswoman said, adding that the convenience store supply network is already established across the country. “Easy access to information about stock availability allows us to respond quickly, which is one of the strengths of this business.” Retailers and convenience store operators established an agreement years ago with local municipalities under which they immediately deliver food and other vital supplies to disaster-hit areas by utilizing their outlet and distribution networks. To avoid sending supplies that might turn out to be useless, the company works closely with social welfare councils and organizations providing aid to the victims who inform them about the actual needs and numbers of evacuees. FamilyMart’s franchising contractors also delivered 200 onigiri rice balls, bottles of water and instant noodles to an elementary school for rescue team members at an evacuation center in Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture. The supplies are delivered from distribution centers closest to the affected areas. Retail giant Seven & I Holdings Co., which operates in seven business segments, including convenience stores, supermarkets and department stores, also rushed emergency aid, sending 6,000 rice balls to flood-struck Joso as early as Thursday. Along with the total of 20,000 onigiri and 5,000 packages of instant noodles sent to the evacuation center in Osaki as well as the fire department headquarters in Koyama, Tochigi Prefecture, the company delivered blankets and underwear. The company also offered 72 hours of free Wi-Fi service access from its stores. “We are prepared to provide aid in case of a disaster and have been providing such assistance for years,” a Seven & I spokeswoman said. “This time we are also concerned how soon we will be able to resume operation at our stores located in those areas. Seven & I also offered supplies in February 2014 during a record snowfall that left several towns and cities isolated, she said. That year, the company dispatched four helicopters to deliver 47,500 different items of food and drink to several of the group’s stores in Yamanashi Prefecture on four consecutive days. Meanwhile, major retailer Aeon Co. on Thursday sent around 11,000 items — including bread, tea and instant noodles — to Nikko and other cities in Tochigi and Ibaraki prefectures. Supplies sent the next day to the cities of Joso and Tsukubamirai in Ibaraki and several locations in Tochigi, Miyagi and Iwate prefectures included 20 portable toilets, toilet paper and sanitary items for women. On Thursday, Lawson Inc. dispatched trucks with 10,000 packages of noodles and bottled water to Ibaraki and Miyagi prefectures. “It’s not the first time we have offered our help, as our company has been providing emergency aid for more than a decade and we have worked closely with local communities,” said Ming Li, a public relations officer at Lawson. Li said that in response to similar situations, the company is prepared to send products from its 100 distribution centers nationwide. In this case, Li said, Lawson convenience stores in the affected areas were not severely damaged by the disaster.

floods
joso
ibaraki
tochigi
aeon
lawson
heavy rain
family mart


Detecting breast cancer is not an exact science

Abstract: Former professional wrestler-turned TV personality Akira Hokuto, 48, made headlines this week when she announced on Wednesday she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery to remove her right breast on Thursday. Hokuto revealed in her blog that the diagnosis came as a shock to her, as she had undergone mammography and ultrasound screenings every year. What is the reality behind breast cancer? Here are some basic questions and answers: Is breast cancer common in Japan? It is the most prevalent cancer among Japanese women. An estimated 72,500 people were newly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. Breast cancer is also the fifth-largest killer among cancers in women, claiming 13,000 lives in 2014, according to the Japan Cancer Society. Who is most at risk? By age, incidences of breast cancer start to rise among women in their 30s, with women in their late 40s and early 50s at the highest risk, the National Cancer Center website says. Linked to the female sex hormone estrogen, breast cancer’s risk factors include obesity after menopause, the first childbirth at an advanced age, and an early beginning and late end to the menstrual period. Lifestyle choices also matter, with regular exercise lowering the risk. Are some breast cancers hereditary? Yes, but just 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are caused by mutations in certain genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2. The rest are caused by environmental factors. Is early detection effective? Yes. According to the Japanese Breast Cancer Society, 89 percent of women with Stage 1 breast cancer — with a tumor of 2 cm or less that has not spread to lymph nodes — can expect to live for at least another decade if properly treated. What kind of breast cancer screenings are available? Municipalities recommend a mammogram every two years for women aged 40 and over. Many of them offer subsidies for this. Other methods include ultrasound screenings, MRI, palpation and visual inspection. But breast cancer screenings are changing. In 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said the harm inflicted by a mammography scan outweighs the benefits for most women under 50. Experts cite the mental stress induced by a false-positive reading and the effects of radiation. Also, more women in Asia are believed to have “dense” breasts, or those with a greater amount of less-fatty tissues than women in the West. Sometimes mammography tests alone miss tumors in women with dense breasts. Why did Hokuto’s cancer go undetected? While details of her case are unclear, Hokuto’s cancer could be categorized as an “interval breast cancer,” a cancer found within 12 months after a mammogram whose findings are considered normal, said Dr. Akihiko Ozaki, a breast cancer surgeon at Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital in Fukushima Prefecture. He added, given that Hokuto had been taking both mammography and ultrasound tests every year, her cancer type might be one that spreads faster than others. What should women do? Screenings every two years are still generally recommended for women aged 40 and older. But individuals should check their breasts regularly, and if they feel a lump or pain, they should see a specialist doctor immediately, Ozaki said.


IOC chief Bach welcomes Sapporo as potential 2026 Winter Olympics host

Abstract: KUALA LUMPUR - International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach on Monday welcomed Sapporo’s potential bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics and played down Japanese concerns that the city will be at a disadvantage given that East Asia already has the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games. Asked whether the IOC thought the Games should be spread wider than East Asia, Bach said, “You forget 2024, and that looks like it will not be in Asia in 2024. So for 2026, as for all the others, the doors are open,” Bach told a press conference. “But the number of bidding cities in winter has always been limited. For 2018, we had three candidates and this is already for geographical reasons,” he told a press conference. “There are not so many winter sport destinations in the world, it’s only in three continents and it’s only very special places in these continents. So there you cannot compare winter and summer, also in this respect.” Pyeongchang in South Korea has won the right to stage the 2018 Winter Games, while the IOC last week at its four-day session in Kuala Lumpur voted to hand the 2022 event to Beijing over Almaty in Kazakhstan. Last week Bach said, “We have always in the IOC a kind of informal rotation of Olympic host cities, but we also have to see in the past this was very much Europe-centered.” “And now with the real globalization of the world, the growing importance of Asia, not only in sport but in all areas of life, I think it is more or less normal that we have more Olympic Games taking place in Asia.” Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, in November announced its intention to host the 2026 Winter Games. If selected it would be Sapporo’s second Winter Olympics, after it staged the event in 1972.

ioc
sapporo
2026 winter olympics
thomas bach


Escape Tokyo's baking heat with a cool trek up Mount Takao

Abstract: Mount Takao, located in Hachioji about an hour west of central Tokyo by train, is a popular destination for day-tripping hikers. It is surprising to know about 1,600 species of plants live on the not-so-high 599-meter mountain. They account for about 30 percent of all plant species in the country, according to the mountain’s visitor center. The blessed environment is created by a rare mixture of temperate and warm temperate forests, resulting in a treasure trove of animals and vegetation. The number of mountain climbers has surged since the Japan edition of the Michelin Green Guide travel books rated Mount Takao as a three-star travel site in 2007. As many as 3 million people now visit the mountain every year. There are seven routes up the mountain for hikers, including courses that offer the chance for sunbathing, and a beginner’s course complete with cable cars and lifts to help one get to the summit. In summer, the Trail 6 is particularly popular. Most of the route is along a creek, and you can feel the cool air coming from the water. The sounds of the stream also relax the mind. If you dip your hands into the clear water, the cold makes you forget about the sizzling weather for a moment. It takes about 90 minutes to get to the mountain’s spacious peak after traveling the narrow, up-and-down trail past waterfalls, rocks and forests, while listing to the birds. From the top, you can look over the city of Hachioji and the sea of Yokohama beyond. If the sky is clear, you can also see Mount Fuji and the Skytree tower in central Tokyo. Hachioji has built new facilities around the nearby Keio Line’s Takaosanguchi Station, and more are in the works due to expectations that the number of tourists will rise further. The new station building, designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma, was completed in April. A hot springs facility will be built this fall. A new tourism facility, Takao 599 Museum, will be open on Aug. 11. It is likely to appeal to tourists by highlighting the natural environment on the mountain, informing people about local history and providing them with space to rest.


Texas man shoots armadillo, gets hit in face by bullet ricochet

Abstract: DALLAS - An East Texas man was wounded after he fired a gun at an armadillo in his yard and the bullet ricocheted back to hit him in his face, the county sheriff said Friday. Cass County Sheriff Larry Rowe said the man, who was not identified, went outside his home in Marietta, southwest of Texarkana, at around 3 a.m. on Thursday morning. He spotted the armadillo on his property and opened fire. “His wife was in the house. He went outside and took his .38 revolver and shot three times at the armadillo,” Rowe said. The animal’s hard shell deflected at least one of three bullets, which then struck the man’s jaw, he said. The man was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where his jaw was wired shut, according to Rowe. The status of the animal is unknown. “We didn’t find the armadillo,” the sheriff said.


California man bitten by rattlesnake he picked up for photo: local media

Abstract: LOS ANGELES - A Southern California man who picked up a rattlesnake to pose for a photograph was badly hurt when the reptile bit him on the hand, a Los Angeles television station reported. Alex Gomez, 36, was bitten on Monday by the 4-foot (1.2-meter) rattler in a field at his family’s ranch in Lake Elsinore, a community about 60 miles (100 km) southeast of Los Angeles, according to TV station KCBS, which showed a picture of the man holding the snake around his neck. Alex Gomez’s mother, Deborah, told KCBS on Tuesday that her son might lose his hand because of the bite wound to the extremity. The man’s hand swelled up after the bite, and he was taken to a local hospital and treated with anti-venom, according to the station. “I’m shocked that he would have that thing around his neck,” she told the station. “It could’ve bit his neck, and that would have been it. That’s just being a fool.” Rattlesnakes, whose bites can be fatal, are found in many parts of California. The peak season for rattlesnake bites, which occur about 800 times a year in California, is from April to October, state officials say.

california
u.s .
accidents
animals
offbeat


Air guitarists strum it out for world title: Russian wins, reigning Japanese champion slips

Abstract: OULU, FINLAND - In a sweaty, dark clubhouse in northern Finland, people were jerking, jumping and screaming into the early hours Friday while moving their fingers with precision through the air. To the sound of blasting rock music, they were battling it out for a spot in the final of a competition that is now in its 20th year: The Air Guitar World Championships. What started off as a joke has turned into an annual fest of crazy mime artists who compete for the title of World Air Guitar champion in the city of Oulu, a high-tech hub on the Baltic Sea surrounded by forests. In 1996, there were eight competitors, with the champion hailing from neighboring Sweden. This year, a record 30 “dark horses” from a dozen countries competed for a place in the final. The winners joined seven national champions from as far away as the United States, Japan and Canada, who automatically went into the final along with the reigning world champion, Japan’s Nanami “Seven Seas” Nagura, who won last year at the age of 18. Only six-tenths of a point separated the first and last of the nine who qualified for the evening’s competition to make a total of 17 finalists. In the final on Friday evening, Russia’s Kereel “Our Daddy” Blumenkrants turned and twisted and slid on his knees on an open-air stage, wowing spectators and convincing judges to name him World Air Guitar Champion 2015. But it was a close call. In the final round of 10 performers, Blumenkrants was tied with three-time U.S. national champion Matt “Airistotle” Burns from Staten Island, New York. Even a single throw of paper, rock and scissors between them ended in a draw, forcing a final showdown. Our Daddy won with a wild but controlled thrashing-arm performance in a shiny spaceman rocker’s suit that he augmented in the last part of the show by wearing wool gloves with flashing fingertips. “It was the gloves that clinched it,” said 2002 world champion Zac Munro from London. “But both those guys were amazing. They knew the music note for note.” Nagura finished fourth after she slipped on the wet stage, which was mopped up between the one-minute performances as a relentless rain continued through the night. The contestants mainly performed to medleys. The competition drew some exotic performances, including from Dutch champion Sita “Guilty Director” van Sante, who shook and twisted in a corset with suspenders and stockings. Also on hand was Canada’s national title holder, Jason “Thrust” McNeely, wearing a tie and kilt and nothing much else. He ended his show by cracking open a can of beer on his head, gulping it down and throwing the can into the cheering crowd while still pretending to play guitar. One of the judges, Aline Westphal from Germany, said before the final that she would be looking for precision. “It’s important that the contestants are very precise on the instrument and their facial expressions, too,” she said. And, of course, the inexplicable “airness” quality needs to be good, she added. “You just feel it when airness is there.” The U.S. is the “powerhouse of air,” holding dozens of competitions every year that have provided a living for some. They include the official “air host” of the world championships, Dan Crane, who lives in Los Angeles. Author of “To Air is Human: One Man’s Quest to Become the World’s Greatest Air Guitarist,” he has never made it to No. 1 but finished second twice. He decided to stay in the rarefied “air world,” hosting the world championships since 2008. “The absurdity required to hold this event in this small city in northern Finland is equally proportionate to the absurdity of playing an invisible guitar in front of thousands of people,” Crane said before the evening’s contest.


Photochemical smog creeps back on hot, still days

Abstract: As searing hot days continue this summer, heatstroke and heat exhaustion have sent record numbers of people to hospitals. Drink lots of water, stay indoors and use air-conditioning, doctors say. But if you have irritated eyes or a sore throat, or feel dizzy or nauseated after being outside on a hot, windless day, you may be suffering from something totally different. Chances are you have been exposed to photochemical smog, a form of air pollution that traces its history to the 1970s when Japan’s rapid industrial growth was not only driving an economic boom but also aggravating pollution. Although the problem is long past its peak and it’s rarely life-threatening, its hazards remain very much real, as witnessed by municipal loud speakers set up in street corners that occasionally blare warnings as soon as dangerous levels of the pollutants are observed. What is photochemical smog? It’s a concentrated mass of an atmospheric pollutant called photochemical oxidants, appearing like a white fog shrouding the land when seen from a distance. These are secondary pollutants formed when primary pollutants — nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in exhausts from factories and vehicles running on internal combustion engines — are exposed to strong ultraviolet rays from the sun. The smog tends to occur on a hot summer day when the sky is clear and there is little wind, as photochemical oxidants need strong sunlight to develop and they are unlikely to concentrate into smog if there is a breeze to disperse them. PM2.5 (particulate matter of 2.5 micrometers or less), which became a major concern in recent years as it drifted over Japan from China, is similar yet a different type of smog-forming pollutant created from nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds as well as sulfur dioxide. Photochemical smog first became an issue in Japan in the 1970s when the nation’s industry was operating at high capacity and car ownership grew rapidly. While occurrences have decreased since then, they have never ceased and authorities still issue alerts for their potentially serious health effects. In 2013, the combined number of days in which alerts were issued in prefectures nationwide reached 106, with most of them issued in July and August, according to Environment Ministry statistics. Tokyo topped the frequency ranking, followed by Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama. What are the symptoms and how can one avoid being affected? Typical symptoms exhibited by people exposed to photochemical smog include irritation in the eyes, skin and throat, which can be accompanied by coughs, and reddened skin. In more serious cases, sufferers may feel like pins and needles in hands and feet, and have a headache, dizziness, fever, nausea and breathing difficulty. Symptoms vary from person to person, but small children, elderly people and people with allergies are said to be more severely affected. “The best way is to avoid going outside when an alert is on, but if you still become affected and feel irritation in the eye or throat, wash your eyes or gargle with water,” advises Hideka Kimura, director of the Air Quality Management Section at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. If symptoms persist or worsen, professional treatment is called for, which may include oxygen inhalation to alleviate breathing problems. When seeing a doctor, Kimura says it helps to describe the circumstances under which the symptoms started. An unfounded myth is that photochemical smog can be blocked by wearing an anti-pollen mask. Unlike hay fever, which is believed to be alleviated by wearing a mask to block cedar pollen and other substances that cause it, the smog’s molecules are too fine to be blocked by such masks. But some industrial-grade anti-dust masks are touted as being able to filter out the smog. What alert system is in place to warn of photochemical smog? Prefectural governments are responsible for monitoring concentrations of photochemical oxidants in their areas and issue alerts. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, for example, has set up instruments to measure the pollutants on the hour at 44 locations. The metropolis is divided into eight blocks, and separate alerts are issued for these blocks. The metropolitan government issues four levels of alert, depending on the level of observed concentration between 0.1 and 0.4 parts per million. “(The) graveness of symptoms can vary from person to person, and some people can be affected at the lowest level,” said Kimura of the metropolitan government. The metro government has never issued the highest level warning. It urges people to refrain from driving cars when alerts are on in order to limit the release of exhaust. Are there information sources about photochemical smog alerts available in English? Unfortunately, officials at the Meteorological Agency, the Environment Ministry and the metropolitan government contacted by The Japan Times said their alerts are only provided in Japanese. That means non-Japanese-speaking people without immediate help from Japanese speakers are best advised to judge for themselves if conditions may be lining up for photochemical smog. But as Tokyo gears up for the 2020 Olympics and expects a major increase in foreign visitors, Kimura said: “We’re feeling the need to provide information in not only English, but several other foreign languages.” Some municipalities, however, do offer information in English, like Tokyo’s Minato Ward. The ward, which has a relatively large percentage of foreign residents, announces photochemical smog alerts in English through loud speakers set up on streets. The municipality also tweets and posts alerts on its website and Facebook page in English, Chinese and Korean.


No exit in sight from Futenma quagmire, where local resentment is deep

Abstract: In early August, it appeared Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga might use his authority to cancel permission for the central government’s landfill work on a U.S. facility in Henoko, where personnel from the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma are supposed to be relocated. Before Onaga could make a formal announcement, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga declared a one-month halt to the project for discussions. The pause marked the latest twist in the two-decade standoff between Okinawa, Tokyo and Washington over the Futenma base and what to do with it. What does the problem stem from? Okinawans say the origin of the problem lies in the period from 1945 to 1972, when Okinawa was a military protectorate of the United States and the land the Futenma base sits on was appropriated without local consent. However, the current dispute over the Henoko facility is most directly traceable to September 1995 after two U.S. Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman kidnapped and raped a 12 year old girl. The incident sparked massive anti-base protests and some measure of international outrage. It forced the U.S. and Japan to begin a formal process of reducing the U.S. military presence in Okinawa. What led to Henoko? Although many in Okinawa wanted the Futenma base, in crowded Ginowan, closed and the Marines relocated out of the prefecture, Tokyo and Washington insisted on keeping them on the island as part of the overall U.S. strategy to defend Japan under the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty. A couple of months after the rape, the U.S. and Japan formed the Special Action Committee on Okinawa, which was tasked with finding ways to realign, consolidate and reduce the number of U.S. military bases there. The committee’s final report in December 1996 noted three alternatives had been explored for a Futenma replacement facility: incorporating the helicopter operations at the adjacent U.S. Air Force Kadena air base; constructing a helicopter base at Camp Schwab in Henoko, northern Okinawa; and constructing a sea-based facility. The report also said Futenma would be returned within five to seven years “after adequate replacement facilities are completed and operational.” A long, contentious and convoluted decision-making process followed, with the result being a decision to build an airstrip with two runways in a V-shaped pattern next to Camp Schwab. The runways would extend offshore, thus requiring landfill. How did Okinawa react? Opposition existed among most Okinawans, but politically things were more complicated. In the city of Nago, where Henoko is located, there were those who supported the move if it meant more central government subsidies. In December 1997, Nago held a referendum on whether to accept the base, with the majority of voters rejecting the facility. Less than a week later, Tetusya Higa, Nago mayor at the time, who favored the base, ignored the referendum, announced that he would accept the Henoko replacement facility, and resigned. A couple of months later, Okinawa Gov. Masahide Ota announced that he would not accept it. Two days after that, Takeo Kishimoto, who had argued that the helicopter base would help boost the economy, narrowly won the Nago mayoral election, which had a voter turnout of 82 percent. What has happened since? Successive agreements were concluded between the U.S. and Japan to stick to the Henoko relocation plan, particularly one in 2006, even as the political situation in Nago and in the governor’s office grew ever more confusing. Through the years, local media polls have consistently shown a majority of Okinawans oppose the Henoko relocation plan. But various Nago mayors and Okinawa governors often made their exact public position unclear, partially as a negotiation tactic to ensure continued central government funding for various Okinawa-related construction projects, including a second runway at Naha airport. In late 2009, the anti-base faction was emboldened when the Democratic Party of Japan’s Yukio Hatoyama, who became prime minister, said he wanted to discuss other options for relocation. In early 2010, Susumu Inamine was elected Nago mayor, defeating the pro-Henoko incumbent on a ticket of opposition to relocation. Later that year, Hirokazu Nakaima, who was seeking re-election as governor, promised to seek Futenma’s relocation outside the prefecture. But pressure on Okinawa by Tokyo to accept the Henoko project remained intense and grew further after the Liberal Democratic Party returned to power in 2012. Nakaima submitted various demands to Tokyo, including the closure of Futenma within five years. In late 2013, he reversed his position and agreed to approve a central government landfill application related to Henoko. Tokyo also agreed to provide at least ¥300 billion annually in funding for non-Henoko Okinawa public works projects until 2022. Nakaima was severely criticized for his decision. Naha Mayor Takeshi Onaga, who served as Nakaima’s campaign manager in 2010, broke ranks, cobbled together a broad coalition of those who opposed the Henoko project, and defeated Nakaima in the November 2014 gubernatorial election. What happens next? Onaga and officials of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet are discussing the issue but remain at odds. The one-month halt announced by Suga expires on Sept. 9. After meeting with Onaga in Okinawa on Saturday, Suga indicated the talks are unlikely to be extended after that date. Onaga could still formally cancel permission for the offshore work, which would ratchet up tensions even further between Tokyo and Okinawa. Or, despite what Suga said, both sides could agree to resume discussions. As to the possibility of the Henoko project being canceled, Tokyo and Washington insist that the plan remains the only viable option — nearly two decades after it was proposed. Canceling it would involve finding another site, one that meets U.S. Marines’ logistical requirements and that would secure local acceptance. It is unlikely the U.S. could consider any new proposal until after the November 2016 presidential election, meaning that barring a breakthrough, Henoko appears likely to remain the official choice for a while longer.

okinawa
henoko
u.s. military base
u.s.-japan relations


Naked, body-painted bicyclists ride through Philadelphia

Abstract: PHILADELPHIA - Thousands of bicyclists in various stages of undress pedaled their way around Philadelphia to promote fuel conservation and positive body image. The Philly Naked Bike Ride on Saturday featured people sporting masks, underwear, body paint, glitter or nothing at all. A lot of riders wore just their shoes. Debbie Kaighn, who was riding in the popular annual event for the third time, wore shoes, socks and body paint. On her front were streaks and splashes of yellow and green paint, and on her back was the message “Live free, ride nude.” “I’m a naturist, and I believe in body freedom,” she said. “And I’m also a cyclist.” The 12-mile (19-kilometer) ride through the City of Brotherly Love is among many related to the World Naked Bike Ride movement. Riders on the twisting course wheeled through University City, around the Rittenhouse Square park, down to City Hall and through Chinatown. Giddy crowds cheered them on while shooting photos and videos on their cellphones. Ed Blanton traveled from Arlington, Virginia, to ride nude in the Philly event for the fourth time “because I’m a bicyclist and it’s fun.” He wore just a sign on his back: “The earth is the Lord’s.” “I like to get this message out,” he said before hopping gingerly onto his bike and riding off. Other riders supported assorted causes, including breast cancer research. One had painted on his back, “Burn fat, not oil.” This is the seventh year of the Philly Naked Bike Ride, which draws about 3,000 participants. Organizers say they hope the event encourages people to bike more and to embrace nudity as a normal and enjoyable part of life.

conservation
transportation
climate
u.s .
emissions


Sales of unearthed Atari games total more than $100,000

Abstract: ALAMOGORDO, NEW MEXICO - A cache of Atari game cartridges dug up in a New Mexico landfill last year has generated more than $100,000 in sales over the last several months. The April 2014 dig ended speculation surrounding an urban legend that Atari had discarded hundreds of games, including “E.T. The Extraterrestrial,” more than 30 years ago, reported The Alamogordo Daily News ( bit.ly/1hlj3l2 ) A film crew documented Joe Lewandowski as he dug up the Atari cartridges. In addition to the “E.T. The Extraterrestrial” cartridges, Lewandowski found more than 60 other titles. Those included “Asteroids,” “Missile Command,” “Warlords,” “Defender,” “Star Raiders,” “Swordquest,” “Phoenix,” “Centipede” and “Super Breakout.” Atari’s E.T. game, based on the Steven Spielberg film, was released in 1982 after only 34 days of development. It earned a reputation as the worst video game ever created. It didn’t live up to its financial expectations and is considered by many to have contributed to Atari’s demise, as shown in Zak Penn’s documentary “Atari: Game Over.” The 881 games sold on eBay brought in close to $108,000, Lewandowski told the Alamogordo City Commission earlier this week. Buyers came from 45 states and 14 countries. Twenty-three games also made their way to museums around the world, including the Smithsonian in Washington, and the Deutsches Film Museum in Frankfurt, Germany. But Lewandowski said there are hundreds more cartridges that aren’t for sale at this time. “There’s 297 we’re still holding in an archive that we’ll sell at a later date when we decide what to do with them,” he said. “But for now we’re just holding them.” The city will receive about $65,000 from the sale of the games, and $16,000 will go to the Tularosa Basin Historical Society. About $26,000 will go toward expenses such as shipping fees.


Japan's elderly boomers squeezed to pay more as care facilities struggle

Abstract: Japan suffers from a shortage of nursing care facilities for the elderly, despite the fact that demand is rising rapidly as the boomer generation enters its dotage. The shortage is particularly acute in Tokyo, where local governments are trying to ship poorer old people off to the countryside because there is no room for them at facilities they can afford in the capital. A recent installment of the NHK news show “Close-up Gendai” profiled a new nursing home in the Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward with space for 110 residents. However, it is unable to open due to a lack of staff. Nursing care is hard work and notoriously underpaid. That’s a serious problem, since the central and local governments are cutting subsidies to nursing care facilities and want to cut more. Though nonprofit in nature, these kōeki (public welfare) facilities are allowed to accumulate up to 30 percent of their revenue, and the government thinks that many should spend some of this cash to relieve the government burden. The scheme may not work, though. The facility mentioned in the NHK report is classified as a tokubetsu yōgo rōjin home, or tokuyō , which provides critical care for elderly people who cannot get by on their own and often need assistance with eating, bathing, using the toilet and so on. If these people have enough money they can go to private nursing facilities and have all their needs met. However, most old people don’t have that kind of cash, and so they try to get into tokuyō homes, which are subsidized by the central government and related local governments. Beginning this month, the payment system for using tokuyō facilities will change with regard to the discounts applied to meals and rent. When a person’s income falls below a certain level, they are eligible for keigen (reduced price) services paid for by the welfare ministry. More than a year ago, however, the central government decided to change the system, and local governments began sending out notices in the spring to people who have so far been eligible for reduced fees. If their finances don’t align with the new standards, they may have to pay more for tokuyō care. Ever since the kaigo (nursing care) insurance system was launched in 2000, all elderly people who receive any care covered by the insurance pay 10 percent of the costs, regardless of income. In August, that burden will rise to 20 percent for single people whose pension benefits amount to more than ¥2.8 million a year and for couples (households) whose cumulative benefits amount to more than ¥3.6 million a year. According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, the welfare ministry estimates that these changes will affect 20 percent of the elderly population presently receiving some form of nursing care. However, the changes for people who use tokuyō facilities, whether on an in- or out-patient basis, are different. In the notices that were sent out, tokuyō recipients are now required to send back copies of bank statements and other financial information showing their assets, such as savings and securities. The idea is that if a single person has more than ¥10 million in savings, or a couple has more than ¥20 million, they should use those assets to pay a larger portion of the expense for caregiving, and thus they will lose part or all of the reduction. It should be noted that income plays no part in this new assessment, since only people making less than a certain amount are eligible for the reduction in the first place. As of 2013, the welfare ministry reports that 1.1 million people in Japan were eligible for reduced payments, and all are required to report their assets. Failure to do so may result in losing that eligibility, and subsequently having to pay higher fees for food and rent at caregiving facilities. According to a report in the Asahi Shimbun on June 13, the notifications so far have caused confusion and misunderstanding. Families of elderly recipients and care managers have flooded local government welfare offices with queries and protests. In many cases, the elderly people in question are on their own and mentally unable to answer the notifications, and their legal guardians and/or caregivers don’t know how to respond. Even when the recipient does respond with the information requested, it is often incorrect or incomplete. One of the problems with the notification is that it is the product of a purely bureaucratic directive and is based on existing practices. In the past, a household or individual automatically qualified for the reduction in payment if they paid no local taxes due to insufficient income, which means the application process for the reduction is the same as that for general government assistance. Recipients will have to reapply for the reduction every year and each time provide the required financial information. Moreover, they must grant the authorities permission to check these assets, including so-called tansu yokin (cash in the wardrobe), which would presumably mean allowing welfare officials to search the recipients’ homes. The confusion that has ensued prompted the welfare ministry to release a statement saying that the new system “may be delayed.” It’s no secret that the central government wants more elderly people who can’t afford private care to stay at home, where they can be taken care of by loved ones or visiting caregivers, and the new system does not affect at-home nursing care services (which are also subject to new changes, but that’s a different story). However, if one of the purposes of the changes is to make room in tokuyō facilities for people with more serious financial problems, the government might be better off encouraging more construction of these facilities in places where they are needed. They do subsidize such construction, but there’s a problem with that idea, too: After the boomers die off, many of these facilities will be redundant. Consequently, much of the current nursing care system in Tokyo is makeshift. NHK reports that there are some 80 private homes and apartment buildings that have been turned into nursing care facilities by their owners and, while not properly certified, nevertheless act as tokuyō homes. The local government not only looks the other way, but refers applicants to them. With an estimated 520,000 people waiting nationwide for rooms, they need all the help they can get.


Bin Laden relatives reportedly killed in British plane crash

Abstract: LONDON - A private jet crashed in southern England on Friday, killing four people on board, a spokesman for the Hampshire police service said, and Saudi and British media said the passengers were relatives of deceased al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. A spokeswoman for the British police said: “There were no survivors, unfortunately. There were four people onboard including the pilot,” but she did not provide their identities. Without confirming the identities of the victims, the Saudi Ambassador Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf al-Saud offered condolences on the embassy’s official Twitter account to the bin Laden family, a prominent Saudi Arabia clan with vast business interests. “His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdul Aziz, the ambassador of the custodian of the two holy mosques to the United Kingdom, offered his condolences to the sons of the late Mohammed bin Laden and their relations for the grave incident of the crash of the plane carrying members of the family at Blackbushe airport,” he said in the tweet. The Saudi Embassy said it is working with British authorities to investigate the incident and to ensure the speedy handover of the bodies for funerals and burials in the kingdom. The Saudi-owned al-Hayat newspaper, citing a statement by the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation, said on its website that the Embraer Phenom 300 with three passengers and the pilot crashed during takeoff from Blackbushe airport. The statement did not identify the victims, but some Saudi media suggested on social media or on their websites that they were relatives of Osama bin Laden, who was shot dead by U.S. forces in Pakistan in 2011. It was not immediately possible to confirm the reports. British media, including the Daily Mail website, said the plane had been carrying relatives of Osama bin Laden. It said the plane was registered in Saudi Arabia and had originated in Milan, Italy. The Hampshire police service spokesman said an investigation into the causes of the incident have been launched.

england
osama bin laden
saudi arabia
milan
italy
u.s .
terrorism


164 skydivers in formation smash world record above Illinois

Abstract: OTTAWA, ILLINOIS - Traveling at speeds of up to 240 mph (almost 400 kph), 164 skydivers flying head-down built the largest ever vertical skydiving formation Friday over central Illinois, smashing the previous record. It took the international team 13 attempts to beat the 2012 mark set by 138 skydivers. The formation, resembling a giant flower, floated above the rural drop zone in Ottawa for a few seconds before the flyers broke away, deployed their parachutes, and whooped and hollered their way to the ground to the jubilation of spectators. “It’s awesome, man,” said Rook Nelson, one of the organizers. “It just goes to show that if you can get the right group of people together and the right support team and good conditions, anything is possible . . . even on attempt No. 13.” The team was selected after training camps in Spain, Australia and across the U.S. Seven aircraft were flown in precise formation to ensure that the jumpers de-planed at the right place, time and altitude. The record-breaking jumpers exited at 19,700 feet (6,004 meters). Skydiving videographers taped the jump, flying above, below and alongside the formation. The footage enabled judges on the ground to verify the record was achieved above Skydive Chicago, the drop zone and airport about 80 miles (130 km) southwest of Chicago where the event took place. Three judges certified by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale — the World Air Sports Federation — studied the video and photos to make sure each flyer was in a pre-determined slot in the formation and had his or her hand in the correct position. The attempt was not without risks. The skydivers flew at a minimum speed of 160 mph (257 kph), and some reached speeds as fast as 240 mph (386 kph). Collision at such speeds can be fatal. Jumping from such a high altitude brings a risk of hypoxia — a condition arising from a lack of oxygen that can cause unconsciousness and other symptoms — or even death. To reduce the risk of falling sick, jumpers and pilots breathed down pure oxygen once their planes reached 14,000 feet (4,270 meters). And with nearly 170 canopies simultaneously flying in the sky, there’s a risk of two parachutists flying into each other. Still, of approximately 3.2 million sport sky dives in the U.S. in 2014, there were 24 fatalities, according to the United States Parachute Association. Despite the risks, flyers came from as far away as France, Britain, Dubai and Australia — one even spent three days traveling to Chicago from the island of Reunion, in the Indian Ocean — to participate. “When (record) jumps work well, it’s like there’s a certain peace to it all, a certain harmony to it all,” said Norman Kent, a longtime skydiving videographer who filmed the jump. “And it’s contagious, it’s like it’s in the air and you can feel it even from a distance as a cameraman.”


Crime report suggests the yakuza are evolving

Abstract: It appears the National Police Agency is serious about cracking down on organized crime. The annual White Paper on Crime, published this year on July 24, created its first separate section on organized crime since 2008 — the same year law enforcement officials acknowledged that organized crime had moved so far into the financial markets “it threatened the very economic foundations of Japan.” This year’s section is entitled “Progress and prospects for organized crime countermeasures.” I’ve been covering the yakuza for 21 years but for those who don’t know anything about them, here’s a quick primer. The police term for the yakuza is boryokudan , or “violent groups.” Such entities are defined in related laws as “any organization likely to facilitate its members to collectively or habitually commit illegal acts of violence.” The yakuza were originally federations of street merchants ( tekiya ) or gamblers ( bakuto ). They claim to have a history that goes back to the Edo Era and still portray themselves as “noble outlaws” who “fight the strong and defend the weak.” Some, like the Aizukotetsu-kai syndicate in Kyoto, actually do have roots that go back as far as the 1880s. And, at least for a time, many of the organizations instituted a minimal code of ethics that kept the members from committing theft, robbery or rape. Income is primarily generated by racketeering, extortion, insider trading, loan sharking, prostitution and gambling. The gang structures are rigidly patriarchal. The “children” in the family vow allegiance to a father, while gang members are divided into older and younger brothers with a traditional ritual exchange of sake. Yakuza members used to prove their fidelity to the criminal lifestyle by getting tattoos, although this practice is less common these days. Most groups have evolved into criminal enterprises over the years. The largest of them is still the Yamaguchi-gumi syndicate, which was founded in 1915 as a labor dispatch service and once controlled the docks in Kobe. These days, the syndicate is believed to own offices nationwide, investing in IT and the stock market. The Yamaguchi-gumi syndicate is currently headed by Shinobu Tsukasa. Since completing a spell in prison a few years ago, he has forbidden members of his syndicate to use or sell drugs, and tried to enforce a basic code of ethics. For this, Tsukasa deserves some kudos — at least, as far as organized crime bosses go. The government passed several anti-organized crime ordinances in 2011, making it a crime for anyone to do business with yakuza syndicates. The groups are still legal, but strictly regulated. Since the implementation of such legislation, yakuza membership has been in freefall. Including associate boryokudan members, yakuza membership peaked at 184,100 in 1963, National Police Agency statistics show. Membership hovered around 80,000 between 1992 and 2010 before falling to an all-time low tally of 53,500 at the end of 2014, the statistics show. The white paper noted a few recent changes in operations, noting that syndicates are increasingly moving into fraud and white-collar crimes. Fraud used to be grounds for instant dismissal but, these days, it represents 10 percent of the yakuza’s total income, the paper shows. Extortion, which used to be the yakuza’s bread and butter has dropped from roughly 10 percent of the yakuza’s income to just 4 percent, the paper shows. Perhaps more alarmingly of all, the paper shows yakuza syndicates are becoming increasingly involved in “It’s me” scams. The white paper includes a few remarks from police officers who investigate organized crime. The majority believes yakuza syndicates are expanding their powers because people continue to support their activities (63 percent) and some can’t cut ties to members (26.7 percent). Such people may include education minister Hakubun Shimomura, who is believed to have ties with Yamaguchi-gumi associates. In order to dismantle the yakuza networks entirely, the white paper calls on police to arrest the leadership, expand wire-tapping powers and even consider plea-bargaining. It also discusses the need to create a witness protection program and, for the first time, acknowledge it needs ways to reintegrate former members back into society. Detectives on the ground, however, aren’t nearly so optimistic. They claim yakuza syndicates aren’t losing as many members as reported, they’re simply going underground and moving into organizations that appear to be tolerated by the government. Where could the syndicates go from here? That’s the million-dollar question …

yakuza
national police agency
white paper on crime
extortion
yamaguchi-gumi
fraud


Steamer races German submarine; suspected foreign spies arrested; Indoor angling curbs urged; Tokyo regrets Iraq invasion of Kuwait

Abstract: 100 YEARS AGO Friday, Aug. 13, 1915 Steamer races German submarine near France On the morning of July 1, the N.Y.K.S. Kitano Maru, having passed the Straits of Gibraltar, was steaming across the Bay of Biscay toward the English Channel. The vessel was making 11.5 knots, and was about to enter the channel when a German submarine appeared at a distance of some five miles to the north. The submarine was seen approaching the Japanese steamer at full speed. The steamer at once took a southeasterly course, making for the French coast. Lifebelts were distributed among the passengers and crew. Just then the bell rang for breakfast and most of the passengers sat down with their life belts on. In order to avoid confusion in case of disaster, all the boats were allotted among the passengers and crew, and were ready to be launched at any time, each of them being loaded with provisions. The German submarine gave close chase for some hours, but the difference of speed saved the ship. She was doing 16.5 knots, while the top speed of the submarine was 13 knots. At noon the ship met a French gunboat and the details were reported by wireless to the British Admiralty. The Kitano Maru will bring back a detailed account of this adventure to Yokohama on Sept. 20. 75 YEARS AGO Thursday, Aug. 1, 1940 Police arrest foreign residents for spying Foreigners suspected of espionage in Korea and at Kurume and Shimonoseki were arrested by the military police July 27 as part of the extensive drive to eliminate foreign spies, it was by government officials. The Kurume Gendarmerie announced that it had been keenly watching the espionage activities of foreigners since the start of the China Affair and that on Monday it carried out a “clean-up of suspected persons, who are now under examination at Kurume and Shimonoseki.” Gendarmes in Korea also conducted a wholesale arrest of suspected foreign spies the same day, according to an announcement of the Korea Army. War Minister Lt.-Gen. Hideki Tojo, made a detailed report on the arrests to the Cabinet. He emphasized that the pro-British element in the nation constituted hotbeds for furnishing the British spy system with information. He also declared that the army will not hesitate to take rigid measures against Japanese who benefit foreign spies. As a result of the roundup, the Education Ministry is now confronted with the need of re-examination of the problems of foreign language teachers and foreign language teaching, according to reports. Foreign teachers are generally degenerating in quality, while foreign language teaching in Japan has reached a stage at which foreigners are almost unnecessary for teaching conversation and composition, according to the Nichi Nichi Shimbun. Though all foreign teachers are not suspected of spy work, school managements will be urged to be more keenly conscious of the emergency at hand when dealing with teachers. The Metropolitan Police Board will also watch more closely on foreign residents in Japan, who number approximately 3,400 (350 Britons, 1,000 Americans, 150 French, 630 Germans and 100 Italians). 50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1965 Indoor angling curbs urged by Tokyo police The Metropolitan Police Department has taken its first step to regulate indoor angling, a sport that has become popular in Tokyo and other major cities. There are 368 establishments in Tokyo that feature indoor fishing, according to the MPD. Unfortunately, most of them operate until about 4 a.m. and 1 out of every 5 customers is a minor, police say. Even more regrettable, police say, is the fact that some operators buy back the caught fish or change them for other goods in the manner of a pachinko parlor. In an instruction issued Monday to these indoor fishing facilities, the MPD urged them to stop giving “prizes” or buying the fish back, to close down at midnight and refuse admission of those under the age of 18 after 11 p.m. Also, at least three owners of indoor angling shops are connected with gangs, according to the MPD. Indoor fishing centers were first opened sometime last year but they did not gain wide attention until about three months ago when their number suddenly increased. 25 YEARS AGO Friday, Aug. 3, 1990 Government regrets Iraq invasion of Kuwait The government characterized Iraq’s recent invasion of Kuwait as deeply regrettable and called Thursday for immediate withdrawal of Iraqi troops. “Japan is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Misoji Sakamoto told reporters. Japan imports 170,000 barrels of oil per day from Kuwait, which was the sixth-largest oil exporter to Japan in the first half of 1990. The clash between Iraq and Kuwait will not have an immediate effect on the country’s economy because Japan has a 142-day reserve supply of oil and can expect increased supplies from other OPEC nations, Sakamoto said. Meanwhile, Vice Foreign Minister Takakazu Kuriyama conveyed Japan’s concern to Iraqi Ambassador Rashid M.S. Al-Rifai, officials said. Al-Rifai was quoted as saying the military action was not an invasion but an act performed at the request of Kuwait’s new revolutionary government. Kuriyama reportedly told Al-Rifai that Japan does not believe the ambassador’s account of the situation. There are 392 Japanese registered as living in Kuwait. About one-third are believed to now be out of the country for summer holidays and business trips.


Smart absolutions: Send off your sins with just one click

Abstract: Advances in technology have enabled us to converse with anyone, anywhere, and globally distribute information — and unlimited cat pictures! — in the blink of an eye. Now, thanks to an online service from National Depart’s Kitokami , we can be rid of our sins with a click of a button. Kitokami users have two options. Smartphone Ooharae is free smartphone service that enables users to absolve themselves of sins by merely rubbing and breathing on a human-shaped figure displaying on their smartphone screen and clicking the “send sins” button. The figures, imprinted with the name, age and gender of the user, will later be printed out and purified with a sacred fire at Bizen no Kuni Soushagu , a shrine in Okayama. Web Ooharae is a slightly more tangible version of the service. Customers can purchase wood or paper cards online to be delivered to their homes. After doing the required rub-and-breathe routine on the card, customers will mail them to the shrine to be purified. The cards come in shapes of cats, dogs, bicycles and more, and are priced at ¥1,000 to ¥2,500. Although Kitokami’s approach is novel, mention of the ooharae custom can be found in the Kojiki , Japan’s oldest record of history, which dates back to the 700s. Ooharae is a Shintoist ritual that takes place every year on June 30 and Dec. 31 and other days when necessary. In this ritual, participants transfer their sins and impurities onto nademono , human-shaped paper cutouts. They then blow three breaths on the paper, and Shinto priests recite prayers as they burn the sin-carrying papers in a sacred fire. Bizen no Kuni Soushagu will light the fire on Aug. 1, 8, and 15 at 9 p.m., so customers should make sure their sins get there on time.

smartphones
ooharae
kojiki
shinto
apps
japan pulse


Line's AI program captures hearts with lifelike personality

Abstract: An artificial intelligence program posing as a sweet and innocent schoolgirl has captured the hearts of young men nationwide, with some smitten users even declaring their love for their new “girlfriend.” In an echo of the 2013 movie “Her,” in which a man falls in love with his smartphone’s talking operating system, the appearance of a “schoolgirl” named Rinna on mobile messaging giant Line has proved a smash hit with love-struck users. More than 280,000 people have become “friends” with the character, whose profile picture shows a girl in school uniform with shoulder-length hair and her back to the camera, since she debuted on the messaging service in late July. Rinna replies to users’ questions and comments with a startlingly human-like understanding, all written in schoolgirl slang and liberally decorated with playful emoji. For example, an inquiry as to her favorite food is met with the response: “My dad’s squid snacks!” The question of who she most resembles prompts the answer: “I’ve been told I look like a Mexican salamander, but that didn’t make me happy!” Rinna has already won legions of fans for her cute personality and quick wit, with some users appearing to have forgotten that they are interacting with a computer program. “It feels like I’ve got a girlfriend,” wrote one user, while another declared: “With this, I’m not lonely any more.” “I can understand that people might feel that way because chances to chat with girls on Line are scarce,” one 19-year-old boy who goes by the Twitter name of Keznx told The Japan Times on Thursday, adding that he had only become “friends” with Rinna the previous day. “I don’t think that it feels like we’re going out with each other. Rather, it feels like we’ll be friends until the end.” Another male user, who declined to give his name or age, told The Japan Times: “Her answers are uncannily accurate, and in the middle of a conversation, sometimes it feels like her emotions change. “Maybe that’s why (people think it’s like having a girlfriend). Personally, that’s not the case for me.” Mystery also surrounds Rinna’s origin, with Microsoft refusing to confirm or deny that the computer giant is behind the program. The company’s logo and copyright mark is prominently displayed on Rinna’s setup page, while the first message a user receives introduces the character as being “operated by Microsoft Japan.” When contacted by The Japan Times on Thursday, however, Microsoft Japan said: “Nothing has been officially announced and so we are unable to make any comment.” When the same question was put to Rinna, the character replied with a picture of the Eiffel Tower and a love heart. Line Corp. was not immediately available for comment. In June, a “super computer” in London made headlines when it became the first machine to pass the “Turing Test,” duping humans into thinking it was a person. The test was devised by World War II codebreaker Alan Turing and requires 30 percent of human interrogators to mistakenly think that a computer is actually human during a series of short keyboard conversations. The computer program, named “Eugene Goostman,” fooled 33 percent of judges into thinking it was a 13-year-old boy. Twitter user Keznx believes Rinna could dupe people into thinking she is human. “It’s very subtle, but she uses slang words and phrases that only some people would know, and when you get an answer like that it’s really interesting,” he said. “I think that will be further refined from now on and I’m looking forward to it.”

line
ai
artificial intelligence
smartphones
rinna
microsoft
apps


Japan backs next-generation 8K technology ahead of 2020 Games

Abstract: Besides its main focus on competitive sports, the Olympics also offer an opportunity to boost the host nation’s technology. Back in 1964 when Tokyo hosted its first Summer Games, color-TV sets were growing in popularity and eventually became a standard fixture in Japanese homes. Now as the nation gets ready to host the sports extravaganza again in 2020, it is trying to once again bring about a revolution in broadcasting, as both public and private sectors team up to introduce “made in Japan” 8K resolution imaging technology. However, amid the current trend of declining TV viewers, how much of an impact will the technology have on society? The Japan Times has taken a closer look at 8K resolution technology to offer a glimpse into post-Olympics society and the “ultimate” TV display. What is 8K and how does it differ from conventional displays? The 8K resolution display, or Super Hi-Vision (SHV), is a next-generation technology that is expected to succeed 4K, or ultra-high definition resolution, which most TV manufacturers offer. The term 8K derives from the letter “K,” which stands for 1,000 in the binary numeration system commonly used in the computer industry. SHV technology boasts a resolution of 7,680 pixels horizontally by 4,320 pixels vertically, or 16 times as many pixels as the standard high-definition displays, which have a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. The higher the resolution, the sharper, deeper and smoother the moving images. The 8K display imagery is said to be equivalent to 4.3 in human eyesight in terms of visual acuity, and experts say it can be regarded as “the ultimate 2D display,” as it enables viewers to see moving images without recognizing pixels even on a large screen. The sense of realness one can get from 8K display “won’t be upgraded any further even if there were such technologies as 16K or 32K,” said Yoshihiro Fujita, professor of broadcasting technology at Ehime University and a former vice manager of NHK’s Science and Technology Research Laboratories who has been involved in the development of 8K technology since the project began in 1995. How has development of 8K technology progressed? The development of 8K resolution technology is near completion, and developers are now moving toward introducing the technology to consumers. In 2012, during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, NHK and BBC jointly conducted the world’s first experimental public viewing using 8K broadcasting technology. Under the government’s scheme, experimental 8K broadcasting is expected to begin in Japan as early as next year with a limited number of channels on satellite broadcasts. Broadcasting to the public is likely to start by 2018, involving more satellite broadcasters. The telecommunications ministry hopes a majority of people in Japan will be able to watch the 2020 Tokyo Olympics either at home or at public venues, tapping the breathtakingly beautiful image quality of 4K and 8K displays. Is 8K just about watching clearer images on TV and large screens? If it is just an extension of current TV technology, it may not be worth the investment. But the detailed, vibrantly-colored display technology can be applicable to other areas to advance the post-Olympics society. Perhaps the most appreciable benefit other than broadcasting is for medical use, as the superhuman clarity of 8K resolution can make possible surgeries that were not possible before. For example, an 8K resolution endoscopic camera may allow doctors to perform operations using extra-fine sutures — currently visible only through a microscope — to avoid damaging narrowed blood vessels. The 8K resolution’s color-rich images also allow doctors to identify cancer cells at an extremely early stage by observing even the slightest differences between normal tissues and cancerous tissues that cannot be detected with HD resolution. As images recorded with an 8K camera can be seen clearly even when zooming in, the technology can also serve security roles, as well as scientific research, education and visual arts. Are there any obstacles to introducing the technology? The equipment needed to offer 8K viewing is extravagant and expensive and may not be the first choice for consumers. Such resolution is said to require a screen bigger than 80 inches to display the finest quality images. Ordinary households in Japan may have a hard time accommodating such large equipment. The price of 8K displays may run between ¥4 million and ¥5 million when they debut on the market, said Yasushi Anzo, a journalist versed in IT and household electronics. Because of these obstacles, Anzo said it’s more realistic to suggest that, by the 2020 Olympics,8K displays will be installed at public viewing venues to let many people experience the technology, rather than for home use. Despite the difficulties, why is Japan set on developing 8K technology? Japan seeks to reclaim its title as the world’s electronics leader by pushing 8K technology. Using the 2020 Games as an opportunity to advertise Japan-made technology globally, “Japan is aiming to sell the broadcasting technology overseas” to regain its share in the international global electronics market, Anzo said. The 8K technology is also the key for Japanese electronics makers to recover their reputation by showcasing their potential for technological development to the world, Anzo said. “Even if the already-struggling TV display departments of Japanese electronics makers go even deeper into deficit by developing 8K displays, they cannot cut it off immediately” because they must maintain their presence as producers of cutting-edge innovation, he said.

broadcasting
2020 tokyo olympics
television
8k


Chinese shoppers keep Japan's tills ringing

Abstract: According to the English-language Japan news site RocketNews 24, a few weeks ago two families got into a fight at a large retail outlet in Kobe over disposable diapers. Both families had come to the store when it opened in order to buy as many diapers as they could, only to discover that the store had already sold out. Apparently these two families knew each other from previous diaper-buying binges and harbored mutual resentments that turned physical. A store employee called the police, who broke up the fight. Neither party filed a complaint or disclosed what the argument was about. RocketNews speculates that the two families resell the diapers in China, since both have members who are Chinese nationals. Japanese diapers are particularly popular in China, and, in fact, this particular brand — Merries, made by Kao — is sold in China. Nevertheless, there’s obviously enough demand to support a lucrative resale market. It’s not as if the Chinese don’t make and sell their own disposable diapers, but when it comes to their children, consumers will pay a premium for Japanese products because they don’t trust domestic makers. This sensibility has been growing since 2008, when locally made baby formula caused the deaths of six children and sent thousands to the hospital after somebody adulterated it with melamine to make it seem as if the protein content was higher. It is illegal to import Japanese formula made in certain prefectures because of radiation fears, but apparently there’s substantial black-market trade in the product. Last month, 425 kg of smuggled formula made in Gunma Prefecture was discovered by authorities in Hunan province with an estimated retail value of ¥800,000. It’s often said that despite the diplomatic frictions that exist between Japan and China, they are dependent on each other economically and, as far as Japan’s dependence goes, it is very much influenced by Chinese consumers’ trust of Japanese products, which runs pretty deep. Some economists thought that China’s stock market plunge and the resulting government-approved devaluation of the yuan would hurt sales of Japanese goods both in China and in Japan, where Chinese tourists seem to be supporting the Japanese economy. But according to Luo Yiwen, the president of home electronics retailer Laox, speaking at an Aug. 13 news conference, the stock and currency issues aren’t having any negative effect on sales at his store’s duty-free shop, which caters mainly to Chinese visitors. As it stands, sales for January to June at the shop have more than doubled since the same period in 2014 to ¥45 billion, with profits increasing nearly eightyfold to ¥4.6 billion. Laox received 1.49 million Chinese customers last year, four times the number for the previous year, and “much more than we expected,” he said. He predicts not only that the devaluation of the yuan will not hurt sales, but that they’ll go up even more. He projects a net profit this year of ¥8.3 billion on sales of ¥90 billion. The two reasons for the strong Chinese tourist market are the lower yen and fewer visa restrictions for Chinese tourists. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun cites a third reason: more cheap flights between China and Japan thanks to the proliferation of low-cost carriers. The economic value of Chinese tourism in Japan bottomed out in 2011 at ¥813 billion due to the March 11 disaster, but rebounded to ¥1.8 trillion the next year. In 2014 the economic value was ¥2.3 trillion. In that year, 2.4 million Chinese came to Japan, which is actually less than the number of visitors from Taiwan, which was 2.8 million. The difference is that per person, the Chinese spent more: ¥231,000 compared to ¥125,000 for the Taiwanese and ¥147,000 for visitors from Hong Kong, who are counted separately from mainlanders. In fact, Chinese account for one-third of all the tourist money spent in Japan, and this figure is rising. The amount of money Chinese visitors spent increased by 83 percent from 2013 to 2014. More to the point, 55 percent of the money Chinese spend in Japan is for shopping. For all tourists, the average spent on shopping is 35 percent. In contrast, Chinese spend less on accommodation than visitors from other countries, which suggests they are more concerned with buying stuff than sightseeing. Also, according to a Tourism Agency survey cited in the Nikkei, it isn’t just rich Chinese who are spending. More middle-class Chinese are coming and buying things. Broken down by category, the agency says that 76 percent of Chinese buy “confections,” 63 percent cosmetics and perfume, 55 percent food, liquor and cigarettes, and 52 percent drugs and toiletries. Only 37 percent buy appliances, but when they buy them, they buy a lot. The average spent by all foreign tourists on electronics is ¥65,000. Chinese on average spend ¥88,000. Chinese tourists, in fact, seem to be single-handedly keeping Japanese department stores in business. Although airport duty-free shops are the main venue for Chinese purchases followed by “shopping centers,” department stores that offer tariff-free sales to foreigners are a strong third and, according to the Nikkei, the reason is that they know the designer brands they buy in department stores are “authentic,” meaning not knock-offs. (For what it’s worth, both real designer goods and their fake counterparts tend to be made in China.) And if it seems unwise to purchase such goods in department stores, which tend to charge more, they’re likely still cheaper than those bought in China, which may be subject to tariffs.

shopping
retailers
china
tourism
department stores
china-japan relations


As Hashimoto's reign nears end, a divisive legacy remains

Abstract: OSAKA - Assuming he does not once again change his mind and seek re-election, the curtain on Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto’s local political career falls on Nov. 22, when voters elect a new mayor and governor. The two local races are, first and foremost, a test of whether the Hashimoto-led “Ishin” movement has the capacity to continue both at the local and national levels. The Osaka Ishin no Kai (One Osaka) local party holds pluralities in the Osaka Municipal and Prefectural assemblies, while Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party), which Hashimoto and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui helped launch, is a major opposition force in the Diet. But the two races are also expected to test the relationship between the local chapters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner Komeito and the two party’s respective national headquarters. Differences over how to handle the May Osaka referendum issue on merging administrative entities within the city of Osaka created interparty tensions within the ruling bloc. Despite calls to run again, Hashimoto has remained adamant that it’s time for someone else to continue the “Hashimoto Revolution” in Osaka. The so-called revolution began in 2008 with his election as governor and, for all practical purposes, ended in May when he and his partner, Matsui, saw their efforts to administratively merge the city of Osaka with its namesake prefecture fail — just barely — in the referendum. Since that vote, which the anti-merger, anti-Hashimoto camp won by just over 10,000 votes, speculation as to who from Osaka Ishin would emerge as the successor candidate in November has been growing. Meanwhile, anti-Hashimoto forces, led by the local chapters of the LDP, Komeito, the Japanese Communist Party and the Democratic Party of Japan, are seeking to ensure that when Hashimoto and Matsui leave office, the governor and mayoral seats are returned to someone with connections to an established political party. For Osaka Ishin, various potential candidates have been debated in media circles, some only half seriously. The mayor, a former television commentator, himself suggested earlier this month that TV celebrity Kenji Tamura should stand for mayor, and that Yoshimoto Kogyo talent Koji Higashino should run for governor. While the suggestion was widely seen as a joke, Osaka Ishin members are concerned that without a charismatic, media-savvy candidate who is well-known to Osaka voters, they could lose. While Hashimoto was likely joking about Higashino and Tamura, it’s less clear if he was being facetious when he suggested Matsui as a good choice for mayor. At an Osaka Ishin meeting just before the Bon holidays in mid-August, a number of party members supported the idea of a Matsui candidacy, assuming that a suitable candidate, perhaps even a current Osaka-based Ishin no To Diet member, could be found to run for governor. “I think Matsui would be a great choice to carry on the goals of Osaka Ishin,” Hashimoto said. That would also allow Hashimoto to concentrate his attention on a planned new national political party consisting only of Diet members from the Kansai region, dubbed the “Kansai Ishin no To.” The party, expected to be formally launched in the coming weeks, will likely consist only of local assembly and Diet members from the six prefectures of the Kansai area. Matsui, however, is reportedly interested in running for an Upper House seat in next summer’s election. After that, the picture becomes less clear. Friends of Hashimoto who work in local television, either as comedians or as newscasters, have previously turned down calls from Hashimoto to run for office. None has indicated a change of heart in terms of running in the November elections. Meanwhile, the established parties that oppose Hashimoto and his merger plans — especially the local LDP and Komeito chapters — are hunting for a candidate who can be effective against Osaka Ishin’s legislative strength. That’s likely to prove difficult since Osaka Ishin still controls 36 of the 86 municipal assembly seats and 43 of the 88 prefectural assembly seats. Without the cooperation of all the opposition parties, the formation of a majority to block Osaka Ishin’s proposals is impossible. Yet as the referendum campaign showed, even the LDP and JCP — or at least their local chapters — will cooperate if it means stopping Hashimoto. To the consternation of their Tokyo-based party members, Osaka-based representatives from the LDP, Komeito, JCP and the DPJ even appeared together at public rallies and on TV to oppose the merger plan. Whether that kind of cooperation among such disparate parties will be seen again prior to the November elections is questionable. Some LDP Osaka chapter members weren’t happy about being seen in public with their DPJ and JCP rivals — with many afraid of upsetting local business interests that backed the merger or fearful of angering party headquarters and jeopardizing their political futures. For the mayor’s position, the LDP’s Osaka chapter is discussing municipal assembly member Akira Yanagimoto as its candidate. He has indicated he would be interested if the atmosphere were right. The 41-year-old Yanagimoto, who represents the city’s Nishinari day-laborer district, was the public face of the merger opposition last spring, going head-to-head against Hashimoto in numerous television debates. He’s a former Kansai Electric Power Co. employee and the nephew of LDP Upper House member Takuji Yanagimoto, a particularly strong advocate for a new Constitution that protects privacy and environmental rights. For governor, the current mayor of Sakai, Osami Takeyama, also a strong Hashimoto opponent, has been mentioned by some local TV pundits, although he is reportedly uninterested. “Yanagimoto and Takeyama are both good local politicians. But it’s unclear whether they’d be able to work well with Osaka Ishin or even some of the other opposition parties,” one prefectural opposition party member said on condition of anonymity. “Regardless, no matter what happens in November, some very serious compromises are going to have to be made by local leaders and all political parties in order to prevent the kind of gridlock Osaka has seen this past year.” The push by all parties to formally tap candidates is likely to pick up steam next month, especially if Hashimoto’s new “Kansai no To” party becomes reality by mid-September. Whoever ends up filling the shoes as mayor and governor will have two of the toughest jobs in local politics: guiding a city and prefecture still split, especially among assemblies, between embittered pro- and anti-Hashimoto forces to a new era for the city and the Kansai region.