Japan's Hot and Humid Summers Summer in Japan is hot and humid. When camping in Japan, it's essential to take measures against both the heat and insects. In this article, we'll introduce some recommended items to protect against the heat and keep insects away so you can enjoy an exciting summer camping trip in Japan. Video Introduction Photo：Women being bitten by bugs This video, titled "12 Recommended Items to Protect Against Heat and Insects When Summer Camping" (夏キャンプの暑さ対策・虫除け対策に買って良かったおすすめアイテム１２選をご紹介), was uploaded by "Camp Lab" (キャンプ研究所). When camping in summer, preventing insect bites and heat stroke is crucial to enjoying a safe camping trip. There are many dangerous insects in Japan, and it's important to take all possible precautions. In addition, many people succumb to heat stroke and other health problems in Japan's hot and humid summers. If you take proper measures to protect yourself from insects and heat, you can avoid dangerous situations, so be sure to keep reading so you can be prepared. 6 Tips to Keep Bugs Away When Summer Camping in Japan The first item introduces is the "Fuji Nishiki Power Forest Incense," an insect repellant item that forestry professionals also recommend. As this is professional-grade, the thickness and size are quite different from those for general use. You can see how they're used in the video. [Video] 0:57 - 1. Fuji Nishiki Power Forest Incense Mosquito Repellent Source :YouTube screenshot The next item is bug spray. We recommend a skin-friendly, DEET-free insect repellent that is safe for children to use. The video recommends commercial insect repellent sprays, as homemade sprays made with ingredients such as peppermint don't last as long. [Video] 2:04 - 2. Insect Repellent DEET has long been used in insect repellents in Japan, but more and more parents are avoiding it when it comes to their children because of its side effects that can cause skin problems. It's also important to avoid exposing skin to insect bites as much as possible when summer camping. Leggings and pants that cover the skin are especially important to protect against bites. [Video] 2:58 - 3. Leggings Next, the "Yabu Mosquito Barrier" is a type of spray that is sprayed on the grass around your tent to create a barrier effect. [Video] 3:29 - 4. Yabu Mosquito Barrier Source :YouTube screenshot In addition, insect repelling LED lanterns are a recommended nighttime insect repellant. [Video] 4:11- 5. Insect repelling LED lantern Taking advantage of the nature of insects to be attracted to ultraviolet rays, placing a lantern with built-in UV a slight distance from your camp prevents insects from being attracted to your campsite. Poison Remover is a useful first aid item for treating venomous insect stings. The syringe-like container allows pinpoint suction of the sting. [Video] 5:06 - 6. Poison Remover 6 Heat Protection Essentials for Summer Camping in Japan Photo：A portable fan The following items are recommended for protection against the heat when summer camping. Portable fans have clips and can be attached to car handles or tables and can also be used as stand-alone fans. [Video] 6:03 - 1. Portable electric fan Quick-drying, antibacterial, deodorizing, super-cheap sports shirts. Sports shirts are great for summer camping as you'll likely be hot and sweat throughout the day. [Video] 7:00 - 2. Sports shirts Cooling spray is a spray for clothing. It's an excellent product that allows you to feel a cool sensation just by spraying it on your clothes. [Video] 7:23 - 3. Cooling spray Gatsby Facial Paper with strong menthol is an item that gives you a cool and refreshing feeling just by wiping your skin with it, and it's cost-effective, too! [Video] 7:39 - 4. Gatsby Facial Paper Cooling towels are wetted and used as is. If you don't have a cooling towel, you can use a regular towel. [Video] 8:15 - 5. Cooling towel A cooling face gaiter is an amazingly useful product that makes you feel cooler just by putting it on your face. [Video] 8:40 - 6. Cooling face gaiter Summary of Summer Camping in Japan Photo：A woman enjoying solo camping This article introduced useful goods recommended for summer camping to protect against heat and insects. Japan's rainy season can feel hotter than you might think, so make sure you have the right heat protection gear, and be careful of heat stroke. Also, by taking all possible measures against insects, you'll be able to prevent unexpected accidents. We hope the information in this article will be of use during your next summer camping trip. If you want to camp in an area that's as cool as possible in the summer, it's important to choose the right campground. For the most part, campgrounds at higher elevations tend to be cooler. Also, here are some campgrounds that are considered relatively cool even in Japan's hot summers. ・Ontake Natural Recreational Forest Kurumijima Campground (Gifu) ・Togakushi Campground (Nagano) ・MUJI Minami-Norikura Camping Ground (Gifu) ・MUJI Campground Campania Tsumagoi (Gunma) ・Kyukamura Tsumagoi Kazawa Camping Ground (Gunma) That being said, with summer temperatures getting hotter and hotter each year, even at cooler campgrounds, you musn't let your guard down. Be prepared for the heat and insects, and enjoy your summer camping experience.

A Look at Five Outdoor Knives for Any Camping Situation! This video, titled "Recommended [5 outdoor knives] Which is the most popular one?" was released by "solo camp & camp cooking in Japan TANA channe." It introduces popular camping equipment, including outdoor knives. Outdoor knives can be used for many purposes, such as cooking, for use in bushcraft, and in worst case scenarios to chop wood, or as a survival tool in the event of a disaster. The video describes the feel and weight of the knives as well, so be sure to use it as a refence when purchasing an outdoor knife in Japan! The Different Outdoor Knives Introduced in the Video Source :YouTube screenshot Introduced from 1:53 is Opinel Knives’ "Opinel Carbon # 9" and "Stainless Steel # 7" which are made of carbon steel. Introduced from 8:04 is Kai’s "Shun" series knife which is a Santoku knife that is ideal for cutting apples and other fruits when cooking outdoors. Tana also recommends the Swedish brand "Mora Knife," Mcusta's "Damascus Knife," and the large Hogue Knife “EX-F01 Combat Knife." Choosing an Outdoor Knife Shown in the Video Photo：Various outdoor knives Outdoor knives can be purchased not only at specialty stores, but also online and at home improvement stores across Japan. The most popular are outdoor knives and tool knives that are made in Japan. We recommend checking out the various types (universal/specialized, etc.), the material (steel, carbon, etc.), the grind (flat grind/hollow grind, etc.), and the safety features, such as lock functionality, as well as cost performance when looking for the knife that is right for your outdoor experience. Also, check the material and durability of the blade, the length of the blade, and the portability, including whether or not it can be folded. When purchasing an outdoor knife in Japan be careful not to infringe on the Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law! Maintenance and Sharpening of Outdoor Knives Source :YouTube screenshot If you neglect proper maintenance on your outdoor knife after using it and put it back into its sheath it may rust while in storage. Be sure to clean your knife with a neutral detergent and lukewarm water. At 3:30, you can also see how a whetstone is used to sharpen a knife. Summary of Various Outdoor Knives for Camping In addition to the ones shown in the video, there are various other types of outdoor knives, including camping knives, Swiss army knives, folding knives, and more. If you get a knife to bring on camping trips, you can enjoy outdoor cooking and making excellent camping meals. Find the outdoor knife that works best for you and get out and enjoy the great outdoors!

A video of Tetsuko Kuroyanagi showing what is in her bag? The title of the video is“Testuko Kuroyanagi, showing the items in her bag!” In this video, a popular celebrity, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi shows viewers items inside her bag. An item introduced in the video at 2:26, she shows her smartphone screen. You can see screenshot is a photo of her and another Japanese celebrity, Akihiro Miwa. In the video, she also shows her colorful wallet, makeup bag, her favorite panda collections and more. Who Is Tetsuko Kuroyanagi? Source :YouTube screenshot Testuko Kuroyanagi was born in 1933. Her talent agency is called Yoshida Naomi Agancy and her nickname is Chuck. She is 163cm tall with the blood type of A. She is not married and she will be 87-years-old in August 2020. After graduated from Tokyo College of Music, she became a member of NHK Hoso Gekidan to start her career as an actor. Currently, she has been working as an Japanese actress, a voice actress, a TV entertainer, and a TV hostess. She is also known for her charitable works. She is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF as well as a peace activist. One example of her activism is her conservation work with Pandas. You can tell how much she loves pandas by watching the video at 0:26 where you see a post card of two pandas, and at 2:21 where we see her panda phone strap, and other panda goods. She is also a very successful essayist, and her work "Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window," published in 1981, became the biggest bestseller of the post-war era, with 8 million copies sold in book and pocket paperback (bunkobon) form. Her mother, Cho Kuroyanagi, is also a well-known essayist and created many fantastic works of her own. Tetsuko Kuroyanagi’s Works! Photo：Showa TV Tetsuko Kuroyanagi is a popular celebrity who has been active in the entertainment industry since the early days of television broadcasting. When she was young, her cute appearance attracted many male viewers. She continues to attract attention as the host of Kohaku Uta Gassen, and various other programs and commercials. Her famous program "Tetsuko no Heya" (Tetsuko’s room) was recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world record holder for the most talk shows broadcast by the same host. Despite concerns about her health in recent years, the show is still running as of 2020. More About Tetsuko Kuroyanagi Source :YouTube screenshot Tetsuko Kuroyanagi is known for her unique onion-shaped hairstyle. On TV shows, she sometimes surprises people by taking candy and other goodies out of her hair. She mentions this at 1:48 in the video. One of her signature dishes is Tetsuko Kuroyanagi Cake. It's a simple recipe that can be made with just biscuits, whipped cream and milk, but it tastes amazing. Summary of Tetsuko Kuroyanagi Source :YouTube screenshot The charm of Tetsuko Kuroyanagi is her cute and easygoing image. She also has a unique, smooth way of speaking which attract lots of viewers. She answers nine questions at 3:23 in the video. Lately she has been live streaming from her house on Instagram, using her smartphone. If this article has you interested in Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, be sure to check out her Instagram or some of her popular works!

A Special Interview With Youji Yamamoto! This time, we'll explore the charm of fashion designer Youji Yamamoto through the video "Legend｜What Making Clothes Means to Youji Yamamoto" (レジェンド、山本耀司の服作りが意味すること), released by "VOGUE JAPAN." Youji Yamamoto, featured in the video, is a designer who has been at the forefront of fashion since 1981, continuing to show off his collections in Paris. It's even said that there's a new Youji Yamamoto craze happening among the younger generation today. At 1:18 in the video, we're introduced to the model Kozue Akimoto. In addition, at 1:25 in the video,Naoki Kobayashi, a popular member of "The Third Generation J SOUL BROTHERS is also introduced. Who is Youji Yamamoto? Source :YouTube screenshot Youji Yamamoto is a designer born in 1943, and as of June 2020, he is 76 years old. After studying fashion at the Bunka Fashion College, he became interested in prêt-à-porter (high-quality ready-made clothing) after receiving the Soen and Endo awards. In 1977, he made his debut with East Collection (Tokyo Collection), attracting worldwide attention for his innovative designs. Youji Yamamoto later married a woman who was a patterner for his brand "Youji Yamamoto." His daughter, Rimi Yamamoto, is also active as a designer for her own brand. The Activities of Youji Yamamoto Source :YouTube screenshot As the saying goes, "The 20th century was an era of design," and Youji Yamamoto is credited with creating a number of innovative designs. His fashionable, age- and height-neutral collection of fashionable, "mode-style" clothing has captivated many fans. Youji Yamamoto is known as a dog lover, and he has designed clothes with his dog as a motif. He is also involved in the design of items such as hats and accessories. In 2015, he began trying new activities, such as a collaboration collection with Adidas for the tennis French Open. Summary of Fashion Designer Youji Yamamoto Source :YouTube screenshot The Youji Yamamoto brand featured in the video is available in stores in Japan as well as online. In addition to the men's line, you'll find plenty of women's items as well. If you want to learn more about Youji Yamamoto's activities, you can check out the NHK program featuring him or check out his fashion books. 【Official Website】Youji Yamamoto Official Site https://www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp/

Explaining how to spin a top The video “How to Spin the Top（【改訂版】コマのまわし方（ヒモの巻き方）【 How to spin the top 】）” was created by “Seiai Kindergarten - Fussa, Tokyo” and it explains how to wrap a string and how to spin a top. The video is for kids, so the basics of how to play with the top is easy to understand. This article introduces how to wind a top up and spin it. Be sure to follow along with the video! Traditional Japanese Tops Photo：Old-fashioned top Traditional Japanese tops are a toy played with by attaching a spindle to a circular piece of wood and using a string to spin it. The tip of the stem is thin, maintaining the balance in the center while the top spins. There are tops all around the world and each country has their own version with unique characteristics. For example, there are gasing in Malaysia that adults use and make bets with, diabolos in China that are known for their acrobatics, and spinning tops, used in performances, in Japan. The top has a very long history and it is said that they originally started from the spinning of snail shells. The oldest top in the world, was found in Egypt, and said to have been used around 2000 to 1400 B.C. It is believed that “finger twirling,” tops twisted using one's fingers, were the first kinds of tops invented. In fact, the oldest top is a simple hand-spun top made of carved wood. The whip top is still created as a Japanese folkcraft and wooden toy in Japan. How to Wind up and Spin a Top Source :YouTube screenshot As you can see in the video from 0:03, hold the top in your left hand and the string in your right. The string will have a knot at the end. Put the string on the left side of the stem and pull the knot towards your body on the right side of the stem. From there, place the long end of the string over the knot that you just pulled to the right side of the stem. It's difficult to explain, but you can see this at 0:18 in the video. Then, turn the top to the side while keeping the string tight, and hook the string on the stem on the bottom of the top. After wrapping the string tightly twice on the bottom stem, gradually wrap the rest of the string to cover the bottom of the top. When wrapping the string, it's easier to move the top to wrap it, as opposed to wrapping it using the hand holding the string. When you've finished wrapping it, you'll know you did it correctly by the nice pattern on the bottom of the top. How to Spin and Throw the Top Source :YouTube screenshot After winding the top up, it's finally time to let it rip! As shown in the video, hold the top in your left hand and dangle a bit string. Hold the dangled string between your right ring and pinky fingers, and make a fist around the string. Make a finger gun with your hand and hold the top with your thumb and index finger. After that, face the direction where you want to throw the top, open your legs slightly wider than your shoulder, lower your body and throw that sucker! It is better to throw it as horizontally as possible. Be careful not to throw it straight down as it won't spin and you might break your top with the force. You can watch how to throw it starting from 2:45 in the video. You can see man in the video doing tricks, such as placing the spinning top on the palm of his hand, and rope-walking, from 4:14. Summary of Japan's Traditional Tops Photo：Whip Top The video “How to Spin the Top,” created by “Seiai Kindergarten - Fussa, Tokyo,” introduces how to spin a top, a toy often used during New Years in Japan. The video explains how to wrap the top string as well, so it's great for beginners. It can also be enjoyed by advanced top users since there are difficult tricks in the video.

Introducing Yuzuru Hanyu! This time, we will introduce a video titled "All Japan Figure Skating Championship 2019 <Men's Short 1st place, Yuzuru Hanyu / Performance + Interview>"（全日本フィギュアスケート選手権2019＜男子ショート第1位･羽生結弦／演技+インタビュー＞）" by Fuji TV's official sports channel. The 2019 All Japan Figure Skating Championship featured in this video was held at the National Yoyogi Stadium No. 1 Gymnasium in Shibuya ward, Tokyo in the Kanto region for four days from December 19 to 23, in 2019. This tournament was the final round of the World Championship in 2020, and attracted the attention of many figure skating fans. Featured in the video is the popular figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu. His brilliant performance has attracted many fans. In the video, you can watch the boys' short performance from 0:39. What Kind of Competition Is the Figure Skating Introduced in the Video? Photo：Figure skating In figure skating, skaters competes not for speed but based on the beauty of their performance. The techniques include jumps, spins, step sequences, and spirals, including triple-axels and quad-rotation jumps. Points are determined according to the difficulty of the moves. The results of the boy's shorts of the 2019 All Japan Figure Skating Championship featured in the video, were 1st place / 110.72 points Yuzuru Hanyu, 2nd place / 105.71 points Shoma Uno. What Kind of Person Is Yuzuru Hanyu? Source :YouTube screenshot Yuzuru Hanyu is a popular figure skater from Miyagi and is affiliated with the Japanese airline ANA. His nickname is "Yuzu". Born in 1994, he is 172 cm tall (5.6 ft.) and currently enrolled at Waseda University as of January 2020. He has won two consecutive gold medals in the Sochi and Pyeongchang Olympics (Winter Olympics). He was awarded for his high scoring performance every time, and in 2018 he was the youngest national laureate at the age of 23. When Yuzuru Hanyu, dresses in a gorgeous design costume and appears in the skating rink, loud cheers ring out through the stadium, and after the performance, it's common that he will receive a lot of Winnie the Pooh stuffed animals that he loves. At the 2019 All Japan Figure Skating Championship, throwing of presents after the competition was prohibited, and it was a topic of hot debate at the time. In the video, you can see a Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal with the coach before the performance. You can also watch the interview after the end of the performance with the audience's cheering and loud applause from 4:28. He talks about his enthusiasm for free performance two days later. The History of Japanese Figure Skating and Famous Skaters! Photo：Figure skating The history of the figure skating world in Japan has been supported by skaters who perform well, such as Midori Ito and Shizuka Arakawa, as well as Miki Ando, Mao Asada, Daisuke Takahashi and Nobunari Oda. Currently, skaters such as Hanyu Yuzuru, Uno Shoma and Sato Shun are still active. If you go to the skating rink to watch the figure skating tournament, you can see various performances such as single skating, pair skating and ice dancing. Summary of the Performance and Interview Video of Yuzuru Hanyu Source :YouTube screenshot In the men's Free Competition that took place after the short, which you can see in this video, Shoma Uno who was in first place, managed to widen the gap between himself and Yuzuru Hanyu, and Yuzuru managed to place second. Yuzuru Hanyu's performance is very supple and beautiful. It's hard to take your eyes off of it. Be sure to take a closer look at the video to enjoy the charm of figure skating.

7-Dan Fujii and the Asahi Cup This video is titled "7-Dan Fujii, 2nd Consecutive Asahi Cup｜Shogi, 2nd Since 9-Dan Habu" (藤井七段、朝日杯2連覇 将棋、羽生九段以来2人目). It is a news video introducing the achievements of 7-dan Fujii who achieved 2nd consecutive Asahi Cup wins, released by "KyodoNews." He is only the second player in history to win the Asahi Cup twice in a row, after 9-dan Habu, and he showed us why, with his incredible performance during his matches. The media covered this massive feat extensively and brought it to the attention of the nation. In this article, I would like to introduce you to the 7-dan, Fujii, the youngest professional Shogi player in the world. Fujii's Feat in the Shogi Asahi Cup Source :YouTube screenshot On February 16, 2019, at the 12th Asahi Cup Open, held at the Yurakucho Asahi Hall in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, 7-dan Sota Fujii defeated the titleholder, Akira Watanabe, in the final to win the tournament. More impressive was that it was Fujii's first time playing against a title holder. Fujii 7-dan also won the tournament in the last round, defeating 9-dan Habu and others who had an overwhelming record of successive victories. This is an amazing accomplishment, and he is only the 2nd person in history since 9-dan Yoshiharu Habu to achieve this feat. You can see the final match against Akira Watanabe from 0:07 in the video. This is Fujii's first win since the 2018 Shinjin-O tournament, and he is delighted with his victory. We're looking forward to see what he can do in the future. In a post-game interview with Fujii, which can be seen at 0:41 in the video, he mentions that he "would like to use this experience to do my best and become stronger." In the interview at 1:05, Akira Watanabe acknowledges the strength of Fujii, and says that Fujii will only continue to get better. As shogi players, they are both still aiming for the top. Who Is Sota Fujii? Source :YouTube screenshot Sota Fujii was born in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, in 2002, and started playing shogi at the age of five, influenced by his maternal grandparents. At the age of 13, he became the youngest player ever to be promoted to 3-dan, and at 14, he went on to become a professional. He is the fifth person in history to become a professional shogi player while still in junior high school, following Hifumi Kato, Koji Tanikawa, Yoshiharu Habu and Akira Watanabe. He made his professional debut in 2016 in a ranking match against Hifumi Kato, which resulted in a victory. He is the youngest player to win an official game, at 14 years and 5 months. From there, he racked up a string of victories, winning 29 matches in a row after his debut. His dominant performance has attracted a lot of attention from the media. After that, he continued to improve his skills as a junior high school professional, breaking various records such as 50 wins and becoming the youngest player to win a total of 100 games. As a challenger, he has challenged masters, titles, and higher ranking masters and achieved a lot of victories. Fujii's Incredible Ability Source :YouTube screenshot The brilliance of Sota Fujii is the speed at which he can read the game as well as his strong early game, but most of all, professional players say that his endgame is especially impressive. Yoshiharu Habu has said of Fujii, that he is "good at cutting off the edges in the shortest possible course" and that he is similar to Koji Tanigawa, a 17th generation master. He is the pinnacle of shogi players, as he is not only unimaginably accomplished for his age, but also has great potential for the future. There are high expectations for him taking both the Meijin and Ryūō ranks. As of February 2020, Fujii ranks 3rd in terms of rating, which indicates his shogi prowess. Summary of 7-Dan Sota Fujii, the Young Genius Photo：Shogi "7-Dan Fujii, 2nd Consecutive Asahi Cup｜Shogi, 2nd Since 9-Dan Habu" is a video that introduces the feat of 7-dan Sota Fujii, who achieved 2 consecutive Asahi Cup victories. In the 13th Asahi Cup Open held in 2020, Sota Fujii broke through qualifying without difficulty, but lost to 7-dan Shota Chida in a semi-final round, and was unable to secure a third victory. We hope you enjoyed this article on Sota Fujii, the up and coming Shogi genius. If you're interested in trying out Shogi, don't be shy! It's a lot of fun!

The Video That’ll Take You Back Through the History of Cell Phones in Japan! The video we’ll introduce this time is one that looks back through the history of cell phones in the 30 years of the Heisei era. The video is called "【On-Site】Memory of Heisei, 30 Years of ‘Cell Phone’ Evolution（【現場から、】平成の記憶、「携帯電話」進化の３０年）"and is publicized by ‘TBS NEWS’. To say that cell phones are a truly indispensable infrastructure in Japan, a modern society, is not an exaggeration. A network disruption, once it takes place, becomes news all throughout society. In the early days of the Heisei era (around 1989), the use of cell phones was few and the general public did not carry them regularly. Now, the norm is 1 phone per person. Let’s look into the history of cell phones to see how they managed to evolve to a such great extent. History of Cell Phones 1: When Did the History Begin? The Early-Heisei Era and the Rise of Cell Phones Source :YouTube screenshot The history of cell phones began with shoulder phones launched in Showa 60 (1985). This can be seen from 0:37 in the video. At the time, it weighed 3kg and required ¥200,000 as a deposit on top of basic charge and call charges, so only about 490,000 contracts were made and it was a status symbol during the bubble economy. It was remotely a commodity in the wider society. The youngsters who only know of present cell phones would be astounded by its stunningly large size. As time passed, it became smaller little by little but didn’t amount to wide dissemination among the public. Then came the Heisei era. In the early days of the Heisei era, the size of shoulder phones became small and pagers and PHS were in. And in Heisei 11 (1999), the history of cell phones reached a tipping point. People not only talked on cell phones, they started to use them. Cell phones were dubbed Ketai and Docomo launched i-mode. Now connected to the internet, the number of cell phone contracts in Japan exploded. Source :YouTube screenshot In Heisei 12 (2000), ringtone service began, and in Heisei 14 (2002), cell phones with a camera were launched causing the ‘PIX’ (a message with a picture), fad. 1seg was also equipped to the phones, enabling people to watch TV programs on them, marking the transition from the period of analogue technology to one of digital. This is shown from 1:30 in the video. By then, the number of contracts had reached around 81 million, and a society in which almost every Japanese carried a phone was forming. With au (formerly IDO) and vodafone (formerly J-PHONE) joining the market with Docomo, it was a period where designs of phones became stylish and cool and communication technology saw a massive improvement. History of Cell Phones 2: Feature phones that went through a unique evolution in Japan! Source :YouTube screenshot In Japan, folding cell phones were popular until the mid-Heisei era. They were called "Garake", and many used it on a daily basis. The history of cell phones reached a critical juncture which led to modern cell phones. In Heisei 20 (2008), Softbank Mobile started selling the iPhone in Japan. On the day of release, more than 1,500 people lined up in a queue craving for the iPhone. Masayoshi Son, the CEO of Softbank Mobile at the time, said “the computer is now in the palm of your hand”, which is shown from 2:00 in the video. Smartphone was dubbed Sumaho (based on the Japanese pronunciation) and became widely popular. With the advent of smartphones, ‘Insta-bae’ where people take photos and upload them to the social media such as Instagram became a trend. Many companies now provide kakuyasu smartphones where prices are cheaper than they used to be. The video describes how smartphones now ‘connect’ people 24 hours, both in good and bad ways. History of Cell Phones 3 Evolution of phones into the future! Source :YouTube screenshot Japan, now in the Reiwa era, a period of next generation wireless communications has already begun. Starting with 5G, providing a speed a hundred times faster than the present, the use of electronic money is expanding as well. App stores are overflowing with new apps as well, making them indispensable in everyday life. Remote control of a robot is possible with just the touch of a button on your phone in this period. This can be seen at 3:03 in the video. How will cell phones transform in the future? No one can say for sure. Only time will tell. Summary of the History of Cell Phones This time, we introduced the history of cell phones in Japan. We’re sure many of you felt the nostalgia watching the video. The 30-year-long Heisei era is known as the period where phones went through an unimaginable evolution, but we can’t be more excited about the transformation of phones, becoming more and more convenient, in the future!

The Traditional Bullfights of Uruma City, Okinawa This video, titled "Okinawa Traditional Culture- Bullfighting Village Uruma City" is a video introducing the traditional Okinawan culture and bullfighting of Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture. Photo：View of Uruma City, Okinawa Miyagi Island from Sinugudo Banta Okinawa is a tropical island where you can enjoy the feeling of a resort while in Japan. In Uruma City Okinawa, there is a hidden sightseeing spot where you can see powerful bullfights. The powerful atmosphere, comparable to authentic Spanish bullfighting, is strong enough to be felt through the video. What Kind of Spot Is Uruma City's Bullfighting? Source :YouTube screenshot The bullfighting village of Uruma City, Okinawa is a rare spot where you can watch bullfights in Japan. You can see the bullfights at the dome-shaped bullring called the Ishikawa Multipurpose Dome, which was built in 2007. More than 20 bullfights are held annually in Bullfighting Villages, including an event where the whole island participates in bullfighting, gathering the strongest bulls from all over Okinawa. In particular, the "All Island Bullfighting Tournament" held three times a year in spring, summer and fall is a highly anticipated event that attracts more than 4,000 spectators to determine the best bullfight in Okinawa. Okinawan bullfighting, called "Ushiorase", has a long history and has been loved by many islanders since ancient times as a form of rural entertainment. Even if you win the tournament and become a champion, there's no prize, rather, you are fighting for honor. At the Bullfighting Village, you can purchase tickets on the day, so there's no need to worry about purchasing in advance. You can also take a walk and visit the cattle barns (Ushikaraya) in the vicinity. Rules and Highlights of Traditional Culture, Okinawa Bullfighting Source :YouTube screenshot Okinawa's bullfighting is not a style where bulls and bullfighters fight, but a one-on-one fight between cows. A bullfighter, called a "Seko," helps to encourage the fighting spirit of the bulls through a technique called "Yagui." The bullfighting tournament held in Uruma City has three major title matches: a lightweight class of 850 kg or less, a middleweight class of 970 kg or less, and an open weight class. There are also rankings, similar to those of sumo wrestlers. Okinawa bullfights have a variety of techniques, such as "oshi," "kake," "tsuki," "wari," and "haratori." These are different ways in which the bulls ram one another. Upon seeing one of these techniques, the crowd roars with applause and cheers the bulls on. There are various types of horns, such as Togai, Gun, Kabbler, Touchu, Hiller, Beauneue, and Hege. Depending on the style of horns, the bull may excel at attacking or defending. The detailed horn features and bullfighting techniques are introduced at 1:21 in them video. Be sure to check it out. The Appeal of Japanese Bullfighting Source :This article Video Bullfighting village Uruma has a local hero, "Traditional God Ulmer," who livens up the bullfighting culture. A local Okinawan hero program called "Bullfighting Warrior Wide" is also very popular. Introduced at 4:56 in the video, the local hero explains the charms of bullfighting to children. Check out the bullfighting girl's photo book by Okinawan bullfighting photographers. In Uruma City, many people who love bullfighting have spread the appeal of bullfighting in their respective forms. Summary of Bullfighting Village Uruma There are many more places to visit in Okinawa than just Shurijo Castle Park and Churaumi Aquarium. The bullfighting village in Uruma is one of the few bullrings in Japan where you can see the traditional bullfighting culture. In recent years, the number of local fans, tourists, and visitors to Japan has increased, and it has become a new tourist resource for Okinawa. At the "Uruma Festival" held in autumn, you can watch a bullfighting tournament for free. Feel the power of the bullfight in this video! Be sure to go sightseeing in the bullfighting village of Uruma to experience the bullfights, a traditional culture that will make for a unique experience. Be sure to check the bullfighting schedule on the official website. ◆ Ishikawa Multipurpose Dome Bullring Facility Overview ◆ 【Address】 2298-1 Ishikawa, Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture 【Hours】 Hours vary by event. 【Closures】Irregular holidays (varies by event) 【Access】About 50 minutes from Naha Airport using the Naha Airport Expressway, about 2 minutes from Ishikawa Interchange 【Parking】Available. 130 free parking spaces 【Phone number】Uruma City Tourism Division 098-965-5634

Ayumu Hirano: Aiming for a Top 3 Finish at the Olympics! This video is titled "Ayumu Hirano #3 Skater Skateboarder, and Silver Medalist at Winter Olympics" (平野歩選手がスケボー3位 冬季五輪の銀メダリスト). It was released by "KyodoNews." Ayumu Hirano is a halfpipe snowboarder who has won a silver medal at two consecutive Winter Olympic Games. Ayumu Hirano has been attracting attention since he started his skateboarding quest to take home a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The video shows the results of the Japan Open Park competition, which also serves as a selection event for the strengthening candidates, held on March 16, 2019 at the Kugenuma Seaside Park Skate Park in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture. Kensuke Sasaoka won the men's title at the Japan Open Park, Midori Okamoto won the women's title, and Ayumu Hirano placed third in the men's competition. You can see Ayumu Hirano talking about his passion for skateboarding in an interview in the video. This article introduces Ayumu Hirano and the appeal of skateboarding. What Is a Skateboarding? Photo：Skateboarding Skateboarding is an action sport that involves riding a board with wheels in the front and back. Skateboarding is also called "sukebo"in Japanese. Skateboarding is said to have been created in the 1940's on the west coast of the United States as a way for children to play, and it eventually spread throughout the world between the 1980's an 1990's. Skateboarding competitions include Street, Vert, Freestyle, Slalom, and more. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, there will be two types of events- street and vert. Ayumu Hirano will compete in vert. Vert skating involves using half-pipes, quarter-pipes, and bowls (essentially large, empty pools) to gain speed and doing insane aerial tricks that include grabs and flips. Competitors are judged on how many tricks they can do in the allotted time and how difficult their tricks are. Ayumu Hirano is introduced at 0:20 in the video. Who is Ayumu Hirano? Source :YouTube screenshot Ayumu Hirano is Japan's leading snowboarder at 160 cm tall (5'2"), and has won two consecutive medals in the half pipe of the 2014 Sochi Olympics and the 2018 Olympics at Pyeongchang. His unique hairstyle, which can be seen at 1:28 in the video, is also quite popular. His sponsors are Burton, Kinoshita Group, TEAM FALKEN, and more, and he has signed a global ambassador contract with UNIQLO to develop snowboard gear for competitions. Starting skateboarding and snowboarding at the age of four, he is trying to achieve mastery of both sports. Both his father and brother are athletes. In the interview with Ayumu Hirano at 1:28, he talks about his passion for skating and snowboarding and how he wants to train harder so he can challenge the sports to enjoy them even more. Summary of Ayumu Hirano Source :YouTube screenshot The video introduces Ayumu Hirano as he skates around the park, and also features an interview with the talented skater/snowboarder. To qualify for the Japan team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, you need to be ranked in the top 16 of the Olympic World Skateboarding Ranking as of June 2, 2020, or in the top 3 at the 2020 World Championships. Ayumu Hirano will continue to keep his eyes on the world championships as he aims for a top-3 finish. Be sure to check out Ayumu Hirano at the Olympic games! 【Official Website】Japan Skateboarding Federation http://japanskateboardingfederation.jp/

A Japanese DJ wins the World Championship! This video, publicized by "ANNnewsCH’, is entitled ‘“Unique” Japanese DJ Tops, Wins World Championships (19/09/29)（“独創的”日本人DJが頂点に　世界大会で優勝(19/09/29)）". DJ Matsunaga won ‘Battle for World Supremacy 2019’ of ‘DMC WORLD DJ CHAMPIONSHIPS’, one of the biggest DJ championships in the world which decides the top DJ in the world, held in London in September 2019, showing off his incredible techniques. ‘DMC WORLD DJ CHAMPIONSHIPS’ is a competition where DJs from all over the world compete with their techniques within a time limit. DJ Matsunaga had earlier won the Japanese competition ‘DMC JAPAN FINAL’ and had procured the right to represent Japan. At such a prestigious competition, DJ Matsunaga beat K-Swizz, the defending champion from New Zealand, enchanting the entire venue with his unique and funky style, despite it being his first time competing. In the interview after becoming the new champion, which can be seen from 0:25 in the video, DJ Matsunaga says “I’m yet to accept this as a reality, so I guess, for now, I’ll prepare to appreciate the feeling when it comes.” From 0:08 in the video, watch the performance that gave him the victory. Who Is DJ Matsunaga, Now a World-Champion DJ? Source :YouTube screenshot DJ Matsunaga’s full name is Kunihiko Matsunaga. He was born in August 1990 and he is 29 years old as of April 2020. His blood type is B. He participated with a casual outfit in this competition, but his characteristic is that he wears suits even during his performances. The reason for this he says, is that he is in his most perfect form when wearing a suit. He is very well-humored and when being introduced as the DMC Champion, he was mistakenly called as DJ Nakamura by the MC but spun it in a humorous light. ‘Creepy Nuts’, a DJ hip-hop unit of 1MC1 to which he belongs, has a regular radio program despite being a group of musicians, and open up an exhilarating talk with ‘R-Shitei (R-指定, R-Shitei)’, the other member. DJ Matsunaga as a DJ Source :YouTube screenshot What’s surprising about DJ Matsunaga’s career is that he accomplished the feat of becoming a champion of the DMC DJ Championship in Hokkaido in 2010, only 3 years after he embarked on his journey of becoming a DJ. Until 2016, he was simultaneously working as a TOC live DJ for the hip-hop unit Hilcrhyme. And in 2019, as mentioned earlier, he topped at DMC JAPAN, which is also a qualifier for DMC WORLD, and he was given the title of ‘Japan’s Number 1 DJ’ on his official profile. His title eventually changed to ‘World’s Number 1 DJ’ after being crowned as the champion at DMC WORLD. Success with Creepy Nuts Source :YouTube screenshot In the hip-hop unit Creepy Nuts, DJ Matsunaga unleashes his worlds-best technique as a trackmaker and turntablist. ‘R-Shitei’, the other member, topped at free-style rapping in a program called Free-Style Dungeon, and together they light up the hip-hip world. Having showed a formidable presence in clubs and live-houses, they participated in the large-scale rock-festival ‘Fuji Rock’ in 2014, and debuted on a major label in 2017 with the single ‘High School Debut, Uni Debut, We Failed All but Major Debut. (高校デビュー、大学デビュー、全部失敗したけどメジャーデビュー。, Koko-Debyu, Daigaku-Debyu, Zenbu Shippai Shita-kedo Meja-Debyu.)’. Check out the Worlds-Best-Performance of DJ Matsunaga! So what did you think? Do you feel like listening to the world's best DJ, DJ Matsunaga? DJ Matsunaga can be described as one of few people that changed the prevailing perception of the hip-hop world being formidable and distant, into a more familiar, pop-like image. Enjoy the techniques of the world’s best DJ. 【Official Website】DMC World DJ Championships - The Home Of The Worlds Biggest DJ Competition http://www.dmcdjchamps.com/

The Japanese Dormouse This video, titled "Chino Legacy - A Chino Legacy to Leave to the Future - #16 'Japanese Dormouse'" (茅野レガシー～未来に残したい茅野遺産～#16「ヤマネ」), introduces the cute Japanese dormouse, an endemic species of Japan designated a nationally protected species. The Japanese dormouse is a rodent found in Yatsugatake, which straddle Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures, as well as in low mountains and subalpine areas throughout Japan. During hibernation, the Japanese dormouse crawls into private warehouses and cottages to curl up and take shelter. so there is a possibility of encountering them unexpectedly. About the Japanese Dormouse Source :YouTube screenshot The Japanese dormouse is a small mammal that belongs to the order Rodentia along with squirrels and other rodents, and is of the family Gliridae, and Glirinae genus. As you can see from 0:10 in the video, it has a cute appearance with its round eyes and soft fur. Because it's designated as a nationally protected species, it is forbidden to catch them or keep them as pets. They are 6 to 8 centimeters long, with black vertical stripes along their backs and a bushy tail. They are omnivorous, feeding on insects and fruits. They are often found running around the forest in preparation for winter. As you can see from 1:19 in the video, they nest in tree trunks and cracks in rocks and can race up trees using their sharp claws. It is a very agile animal that can hang on thin branches and jump from branch to branch. They are nocturnal creatures that live in trees, so you won’t encounter them often; however, during winter, you may see them curled up on the ground hibernating. They are also called "Ball Mice" or "Ice Mice" based on their curled up appearance. A hibernating Japanese dormouse sleeps so peacefully that even if you rolled them around, they would not wake up. You can see a curled-up Japanese dormouse hibernating at 2:07 in the video. In spring, they return to their natural habitat in the mountains. The Japanese Dormouse - A "Living Fossil" Photo：Excavating fossils Fossils of Japanese dormice have been excavated from the strata of Europe and Japan from 50 million and 20 million years ago, respectively. In other words, it is believed that the Japanese dormouse has existed on Earth since about 50 million years ago, after the extinction of the dinosaurs. This would have been during the Cenozoic Era, a time when ammonites and marine reptiles became extinct, and mammals and birds prospered. This of course means that they existed long before humans came to be. Because the Japanese dormouse has not changed in ecology or form since these ancient times, it is referred to as a living fossil. After the advent of mankind, the Japanese dormouse was recorded as a delicacy eaten by noblemen in Roman times. They would put Japanese dormice in vases and fatten them up with nuts and then cook them. They were eaten on a daily basis as appetizers or desserts. The Japanese Dormouse as a Pet Photo：Japanese Dormouse Due to the Japanese dormouse being designated as a nationally protected species, it is not allowed to have them as pets in Japan. However, you will see types of dormice from Europe or Asia in pet shops. When keeping them as pets, having a nesting box, drinking water, bedding materials, and a running wheel should suffice. When they begin hibernation, they sleep for half of the year, earning them the name "Sleeping Mice"; be sure to arrange their living quarters so you can see them sleeping! When they wake up from hibernation, it's mating season and they attract females with high-pitched calls. If you keep them as a pair, be aware that breeding occurs during this period. Summary of the Living Fossil - The Japanese Dormouse Source :YouTube screenshot Did you enjoy learning about the cute Japanese dormouse? We hope you were able to learn more about the biology of the Japanese dormouse, a once semi-endangered species and protected species in Japan. If you haven't yet, be sure to check out the video to see footage of this cute critter!

Antenna Shops in Ginza and Yurakucho! “Strengthening Cooperation! Antenna Shop Battlefield（連携強化！　アンテナショップ激戦区）,” created by “Tokyo MX,” is a news clip that was broadcast on January 18th, 2017. There are many antenna shops that are operated by local governments and companies from all over Japan. Antenna shops are shops that sell local products, foods, traditional crafts and souvenirs. There are also sightseeing information booths and restaurants/cafés that sell local cuisine and sweets. It is like a showroom and gallery for local governments. As you can see at 0:27, there are a lot of antenna shops inGinza and Yurakucho, creating a sort of "antenna shop war-zone." In this article we'll introduce popular products at antenna shops in Yurakucho. Be sure to follow along with the video! Antenna Shops around Yurakucho Source :YouTube screenshot The antenna shop battlefield from Yurakucho to Ginza is 300 meters in diameter. According to research, annual sales of Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza reached over one billion yen; 100 million yen of which is from soft-served ice cream. You can see the survey results at 0:35 in the video. Soft-served ice cream costs 350 yen (~$3.50 USD), which means there are a lot of people visiting this place. At 2:18 in the video, you can see Hiroshima Brand shop TAU and Okinawa Ginza Washita Shop, which have sales between 700 million and 1 billion yen. As introduced at 1:45, Oishii Yamagata Plaza sells "tama konjac," a local specialty, as well as fresh local vegetables from Yamagata. Antenna Shop Cooperation Source :YouTube screenshot The antenna shops around Yurakucho cooperated to bring more visitors to the area. The "National Men's Ekiden Stamp Rally," a coordinated event that ran from January 6th to the 22nd in 2017, was a stamp rally event to visit 16 shops in the Yurakucho area with a stamp collecting card. If you collected seven stamps, you could enter to win a gift from the local government and merchandise for Ekiden. The main antenna shop during the event is “Hiroshima Brand shop TAU.” The branch manager talks about why he started the event and introduces the popular product “Hassaku Orange Rice Cakes” during his interview. Summary of Yurakucho's Antenna Shops Photo：Raw Yatsuhashi “Strengthening Cooperation! Antenna Shop Battlefield” introduces how lively the antenna shops in Yurakucho are. There are other antenna shops in Kochi, Tokushima, Kagawa, Hakata, Akita, Toyama, Osaka and Shizuoka as well. There's also Hokkaido Foodist and Kyoto Kan around Yaesu, Tokyo. The antenna shops in Ikebukuro, Kansai, Fukuoka, Nagano, Aomori, Gifu, and Aichi are gaining popularity as well. Be sure to check out the homepage to see store hours and holidays. Enjoy buying local products from all over Japan in the heart of Tokyo!

The Powerful Sport, Jukendo! This video is titled "銃剣道 其の一 Jukendo PART1." Jukendo is a sport/martial art that looks very similar to Kendo. You wear protective gear similar to Kendo, but it uses a wooden gun with a bayonet to attack with mainly thrusting techniques as opposed to a shinai's slashing techniques. The guns are modeled after the rifles used by the old Japanese military, which had a rifle with a blade tip, and the sport is also called Jukenkakuto and other names. Because it is a very practical martial art, it has been incorporated into police and self-defense force training. Although the number of people who practice Jukendo is low, it was once a common martial arts class, and has been seen at national athletic meets, national championships, and national youth competitions. Basic Knowledge and Skills of Jukendo Source :YouTube screenshot The wooden gun, weighing 1.1 kg, with an overall length of 166 cm, is one of the most distinctive features of Jukendo. You can see it at 0:13 in the video. It is said that the Japanese style of Jukendo is the origin of modern Jukendo, whereas the western style of Jukendo was integrated with kendo. Historically, it is said to have originated at the end of the Edo period, when the style of fighting changed from swords to guns, and the tips of swords or daggers were attached to the tips of imported guns to be used as bayonets. The Rules of Jukendo Source :YouTube screenshot The rules of Jukendo were established by the All Japan Jukendo Federation, and nowadays it has become a competitive martial art. The rules are basically a one on one format, and fighters win by scoring strikes to the upper body, stomach, lower body, throat, wrist, and shoulder. Matches are held barefoot on the floor with no shoes on. You can see basic techniques at 1:03 in the video. The Appeal of Jukendo Source :YouTube screenshot In the video, you can see an interview with a Jukendo practitioner at 2:14, where he talks about the appeal of the martial art. Jukendo is a grueling sport, originally designed to kill with a combination of gun and sword, aiming at the left side of the chest where the heart is located, or the throat, but they all say with a smile that they are so happy when they win a match after rigorous training that all of the hardships along the way were worth it. Unlike a bamboo sword, Jukendo uses a weapon that is larger and heavier than a wooden sword, so if you're hit on the hand by your opponent, you may actually experience broken fingers. Therefore, in Jukendo, body parts that are easily targeted by thrusts are protected by thick armor. Hand wraps are also worn to minimize injury. Summary of Jukendo Source :YouTube screenshot Hiratsuka Tsuchizawa Junior High School in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, the only school in the country that adopted Jukendo as a class, decided to end the class in 2018, and it became a widely talked about subject. However, the topic has increased awareness of Jukendo, and now it is said that the competition population is gradually increasing, with the number of dan (titles) recipients and female players on the rise. In all Japanese martial arts, it is important to train the mind and body and start and end with a bow. In particular, foul play is severely punished because there is a risk of serious injury if an offense is committed. It can be said that the key to aspiring to and becoming strong in Jukendo lies in the steady training of the body and mind. 【Official Homepage】All Japan Jukendo Federation http://www.jukendo.info/english

Sightseeing Video Introduction of "Fujindo" Cave, a limestone cave in Tano County, Gunma Prefecture, Japan This video, titled "The Largest Limestone Cave in Kanto!" (関東最大級の鍾乳洞 『不二洞』), shows a fabulous view of the Limestone cave located in Gunma. There are many mysterious limestone caves found throughout Japan. Of all the limestone caves, Fujido Cave, located in Kawawa Nature Park in Ueno-village, Tano District is the largest in the Kanto region, with an astonishing length of 2.2 km. Fujido is designated as a natural monument of Gunma Prefecture. If you explore inside of the Fujido, you're sure to have an extraordinary experience! You can see a number of breathtaking views in the video. Be sure to check it out to see the mysterious Fujido Cave! Fujido Cave Photo：Fujido Cave A limestone cave is a natural cave that is formed over a long period of time by the gradual erosion of limestone rock due to the inflow of underground water. It's said that the Ueno-village area, where Fujido Cave is located, was once covered with a deep virgin forest. Villagers in the area discovered the cave about 1,200 years ago, and since then, the cave has been used as a place for Buddhist training. In the Fujido Cave, the Fujido Yayoi Matsuri (festival) is held every March. Through the festival, people pray for the safety of the Fuji cave, the largest cave in the Kanto region. Highlights of Fujido Cave! Source :YouTube screenshot You can see the exploration of Fujido Cave at 0:38 in the video. At the end of a 120-meter underground tunnel, visitors climb up a 40-meter pit staircase to find a spacious limestone cave. The cave is kept cool throughout the year at a temperature of about 11 degrees Celsius(51.8°F). In the limestone cave, there are a lot of Instagram worthy spots made by nature such as the "Five Colored Clouds" (0:54), "Yama's Staff of Pilgrimage" (1:25), "Dragon King Falls" (1:44), and "Nyoraido" (2:02) and many more. There’s a legend about "Yama’s Staff of Pilgrimage" that says if you make a wish and touch it seven times, your wish will come true. Source :YouTube screenshot Inside of the cave, there are 45 spots named after Buddhist beliefs. At 2:17 in the video, you'll see a sparkling tower made of limestone. This tower, called "Renge-no-To" (Lotus Tower) is the largest stone in the cave. Next, at 2:34 you can see "Hi-no-Hashira" (The Pillar of Flame), and at 2:49 the sacred spot known as "Gohyaku-Rakan." It is said that it takes about 100 years for the limestone to grow 1 cm. Next time you visit Fujido, pay attention to the artistic shape of the cave and try to comprehend the amount of time it took to form. Summary of Fujido Cave, the Largest Cave in the Kanto Region Photo：Fujido Cave A limestone cave is a mysterious phenomenon created by nature. In recent years, the area around the Fujido Cave has become a popular power spot. Inside the cave you can also see the lit-up limestone, as shown in the video. Since the footing in the cave is not very good, we recommend that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes that are easy to get around in. If you're looking to travel to some of Japan's best-kept secrets, come to the mysterious Fujido Cave and experience the beauty of mother nature. Check out the video and feel for yourself the deep history and wonder concealed within the Fujido's limestone walls! ◆Fujido Cave◆ 【Address】665 Kawawa, Ueno-village, Tano Gun, Gunma Prefecture 【Access】35 minutes by car from Shimonita Interchange on the Joshinetsu Expressway 【Hours】9:00 AM - 4:30 PM　※ 9:00 AM 〜 4:00 PM in November, 10:00 AM〜 3:00 PM from December to mid March 【Closures】Open year round 【Average time spent here】About 40 minutes 【Parking】Available 【Telephone】 0274-59-3117 【Entrance fee】Adults 800 yen/Elementary and middle school students 500 yen (※ as of November 2019)

Satsuma Heki Ryu Koshiya Kumiyumi This video, titled "Koshiya Kumiyumi, Battlefield Archery Demonstration" (薩摩日置流腰矢組弓 演武), shows a performance of Japanese archery at the World Kyudo Competition. During the Warring States period (1467-1615 A.D.), archery was often used as a martial art on the battlefield. The video shows a powerful archery competition, so you can enjoy a taste of traditional Japanese culture. Satsuma Heki Ryu Koshiya Kumiyumi Photo：Japanese archery Satsuma Heki Ryu Koshiya Kumiyumi (roughly "Satsuma Heki School of Archery"), one of the schools of Japanese archery, was established by Heki Danjo Masatsugu during the Muromachi period (1336-1573 A.D.). However, as guns came to be used in battle, archery gradually came to be neglected. At this time, the Satsuma Heki School continued to study the art of archery while passing on the techniques to its senior apprentices. They devised tactics, such as "Koshiya" and "Sashiya" which were used to form a formation before loosing all arrows at the same time, as well as "Oshitsume" and "Totsugeki." Schools Derived From the Satsuma Heki School The Satsuma Heki School is where Kyudo began and the school has had a strong influence on Japan since the Warring States period. After the Warring States period, the style was divided into various schools of archery derived from the Heki School, and has continued to the present day. The major schools are the Izumo School of the Yamato Heki Line ("Yoshida School"), Yamashina School, Sakon Emon School, Okura School, Insai School, Daishin School, Jutoku School, Sekka School, and Dosetsu School. The Iga-Heki lineage includes the Chikurin School, the Ikkan School, and the Honda school. Other schools, such as the Urakami lineage of the Satsuma Heki Insai School, the Settsu lineage of the Satsuma Heki Insai School, the Heki To School and the Itsumi School are also active. The Satsuma Heki school focuses on the way the bow is held, and the basic shooting technique is to hold the bow diagonally in front of you in a raised motion and then draw the arrows. Each school has its own unique shooting techniques and movements. The Demonstration of the Satsuma Heki School Source :YouTube screenshot The video begins with nine armor-clad performers entering the archery arena. You can see from the video that there are a lot of spectators watching the event. From 0:37 in the video, the performers release their bows one after another with a loud shout. In the performance shown at 2:08 in the video, you can see that after releasing the bow, they gradually move closer towards their targets. This is the formation and method of shooting would have been used on the battlefield in the same way. Summary of Satsuma Heki Ryu Koshiya Kumiyumi's Archery Performance Kyudo is one of the unique Japanese martial arts that developed during the Warring States period. This video shows the powerful demonstration by the Satsuma Heki School of Archery. If you're interested in Japanese martial arts, be sure to check out the awesome form of these iron clad archers!

Check Out the Video of the Cardboard Artist Fuyuki Shimazu! The video we introduce this time is "Peeping in 2.0 From Trash to Treasure. The Cardboard Artist Traveling Around the World, Fuyuki Shimizu." When most people hear the word “cardboard”, they probably think of some useless boxes left over from moving. Fuyuki Shimazu however, creates various cardboard items with original ideas based on the concept “From trash to treasure”. This time, we'll introduce the activities of the cardboard artist Fuyuki Shimazu in detail. Fuyuki Shimazu, the Cardboard Artist Introduced in the Video Source :YouTube screenshot What made Fuyuki Shimazu interested in cardboard was something that happened when he was a student at Tama Art University. Since his wallet was ragged and he had no money to buy a new one, he made a cardboard wallet by using some cardboard he found. Since then, Fuyuki Shimazu has started making card cases, coin purses, clutch bags and so on, using unneeded cardboard as materials. You can see these products made from cardboard at 0:17 in the video. Fuyuki Shimazu, a cardboard artist, introduces his works on his Instagram and online sites, and widely introduces the appeal of cardboard art at workshops. The Charm of Cardboard Art Source :YouTube screenshot From 1:13 in the video, Fuyuki Shimazu talks about the charm of cardboard. Fuyuki Shimazu made cardboard art while traveling around the world, and he says he was often fascinated by cardboard design and applications overseas. He says, speaking about the fun of cardboard art, “From the moment I start selecting unwanted cardboard pieces for my work, the cardboard looks like a treasure”. In 2018, a documentary film introducing the activities of Fuyuki Shimazu, titled “Travelling Cardboard” (English title “From All Corners”) was released and it became a hot topic. Also in January 2019, he was introduced as a cardboard artist on the TV program “ Arashi-ni-shiyagare” that the popular pop idol group “Arashi” appears on. In the TV program, Satoshi Ono, one of the group members of Arashi, had a go at making a cardboard wallet. Fuyuki Shimazu is drawing attention from a wide range of people as a cardboard artist. Summary of Cardboard Artist Fuyuki Shimazu Source :YouTube screenshot Fuyuki Shimazu, the cardboard artist featured in the video, sells his work on his own website called "Carton." Prices start at 15,000 JPY (as of February 2020). There is also information about the workshop where you can learn how to make cardboard art. In Amazon and other sites, you can buy his book “How to make Shimazu Fuyuki's cardboard wallets” which comes with a cardboard wallet pattern. If this article or video has you interested in the activities of the cardboard artist, or you want to buy one of his works, be sure to check out his website.

露店商・直次郎包丁による啖呵売の紹介動画 こちらの動画は「Muzina Shanghai」が公開した「2019年版今宮十日戎、名物露店 堺・直次郎包丁の啖呵売」です。 啖呵売（たんかばい）とは、露店で商品を叩き売りするときに話す口上のことをいいます。 直次郎包丁が注目されるのは、この包丁屋さんが度肝を抜くような実演販売をするところ。 動画では0:28から、包丁で木の板を切る様子が紹介されています。 今回は堺・直次郎包丁の紹介動画を元に、昭和感漂うちょっとディープな日本を紹介しましょう。 露店商が集まる今宮戎神社の十日戎 大阪市浪速区にある観光名所のひとつ、今宮戎神社。 毎年正月になると今宮十日戎、通称「えべっさん縁日」が開かれ、境内には露店がたくさん出店します。 「えべっさん」とは、七福神の恵比須天のこと。 天下の台所として賑わう大阪は、商売繁盛を司るえびす神信仰が今も厚く、親しみを込めて恵比須天を「えべっさん」と呼んでいるのです。 ちなみに、えびす宮の総本山は兵庫県西宮市にある西宮神社。 ここは毎年正月になると福男選びレースを行い、全国的にニュースで話題になる神社でもあります。 露店・直次郎包丁の啖呵売 動画では冒頭から直次郎包丁の啖呵売が紹介されています。 啖呵売とは、映画「男はつらいよ」に出てくる主人公・寅さんが露店で叩き売りしているシーンがわかりやすくイメージできるのではないでしょうか。 啖呵売の醍醐味は露店店主との値引きの駆け引きです。 直次郎包丁でも「安いよ、安いよ」と呼び込みをし、一方でお客さんも値引き交渉を負けじと行っています。 動画では1:30からお客さんとの値段交渉が始まっていますが、こうしたコミュニケーションも露店の面白さといえますね。 堺は刃物の名産地 直次郎包丁がその名に冠している堺という地は、刃物の名産地でもあります。 とくに堺産の和包丁は有名で、プロの料理人が使う包丁の多くが堺産の刃物なのです。 和包丁は刃がすべて鋼でできている全鋼製が特徴です。 定期的に研ぎを入れるなどメンテナンスが必要で、手間がかかりますが切れ味のよさは維持できます。 今では手入れが簡単で錆びにくいステンレス製包丁が普及し、全鋼製の包丁を家庭で見かけるのも少なくなってきました。 こうした全鋼製の包丁は通販でも購入できます。 露店商・直次郎包丁による啖呵売紹介まとめ 動画でご覧になれる堺・直次郎包丁のような啖呵売をする露店商は数を減らしています。 昔ながらの趣を残す直次郎包丁の啖呵売は、古き良き日本の歴史を伝える貴重な文化とも言えますね。 皆さんも露店巡りをしてみるのはいかがでしょうか。

Japanese Wagyu Beef This video, titled "Wagyu Beef Sales in Australia!," Was created by JETRO. In recent years, the ban on the importation of Japanese Wagyu beef into European and Asian countries has been lifted, and since 2018 the exportation of Wagyu beef from Japan to Australia has become possible. That being said, is there really a demand for Japanese Wagyu beef in Australia, the number one producer and exporter of "Aussie Beef"? What Breeds of Cattle Are Being Raised in Australia and Japan? Source :YouTube screenshot When you think of Wagyu beef, the native Japanese species Hidagyu (飛騨牛), Kagoshima Wagyu (鹿児島和牛), and Omigyu (近江牛) probably come to mind (or not). There are four types of cattle in Japan raised for Wagyu beef production: Japanese Black (黒毛和種, kurogewashu), Japanese Brown (褐毛和種, akagewashu), Japanese Shorthorn (日本短角種, nihontankakushu), and Japanese Polled (無角和種, mukakuwashu). Independent rules in Australia state that only beef from cattle with a 50% or higher Wagyu lineage may be classified as Wagyu beef. From 9:20 in the video, Australia's Wagyu farming representative, David Blackmore, explains that Japanese and Australian cattle are being cross-bred to produce Australian Wagyu beef. More About Japanese Cuisine, Food Products, and Business Dealings in Australia Source :YouTube screenshot Since the ban on the importation of Japanese Wagyu beef was lifted, Japanese agriculture, business negotiations regarding marine and food products have been held in Sydney. Various companies, organisations, distributors and buyers such as Osawa Enterprises (大沢エンタープライズ, oosawa enta-puraizu) and Kirishima Ranch (霧島ランチ) have taken part in the business meetings. Japanese restaurants in Australia are using imported Japanese Wagyu beef to attract customers to their restaurants. From 2:08 in the video, you can see Japanese Wagyu beef being sold at 3-5 times the price of Australian beef at the store Tokyo Mart (東京マート, toukyouma-to). Even at such a high price, Japanese Wagyu beef continues to sell well. The Key to Increasing Exportation of Japanese Wagyu Beef? Photo：Sukiyaki Japanese cuisine holds the key to increasing the exportation of Japanese Wagyu beef in Australia. From 1:29 in the video, we're introduced to the Japanese restaurant Masuya (鱒屋). High quality Japanese Wagyu beef can be best enjoyed not only as steak, but also in traditional Japanese dishes such as Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu. The high quality products, manufacturing techniques, and food culture of Japan is gaining popularity worldwide. Summary of the Exportation of Japanese Wagyu Beef As you can see from the video, Australia is currently one of the top exporters of beef in the world. However, recently there is growing demand for tender and delicious Japanese beef such as Wagyu or Kuroge. Since the ban was lifted on the importation of Japanese Wagyu beef, distribution has spread worldwide and the superb taste of Wagyu beef is attracting attention from foodies overseas. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Wagyu beef!

Virtual Influencers This video, titled "A Virtual Influencer With 1.6 Million Followers!," is a video that introduces virtual influencers, a hot topic as of late. Have you ever heard of a "virtual influencer"? A blogger or YouTuber who has many followers, and therefore, a lot of influential power, is referred to as an "influencer." Currently, there are virtual influencers with more than 1.6 million followers on Instagram. These CG virtual influencers, who are currently attracting attention worldwide, are being used to spread information online. Popular Virtual YouTubers such as the Japanese Kizuna Ai (an anime-style virtual character) are gaining popularity. In this article, we'll talk about some of these characters, who are also referred to as "virtual humans" and "virtual dolls." These virtual characters are an inexpensive and more appealing way to advertise compared to conventional mass media, and are being utilized by various companies including fashion brands. The World's First Virtual Influencer Modeling Agency Set up in Japan Source :YouTube screenshot These virtual influencers, fictitious characters created using 3D computer graphics, regularly post pictures of their daily life on social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram, as well as modelling, singing, and dancing. Virtual characters are used by various companies to model apparel and cosmetics, and are proving to be a very effective means of advertising. The virtual modeling agency featured in this video works with the second hand clothing retailer "yutori." The modeling agency is VIM (previously YYZ). They're introduced at 0:24 in the video. From 0:32, you can see one of their realistic virtual models modelling an outfit of second hand clothing. The two models introduced in the video are called Aoi Prism (葵プリズム) and uca. Both are Japanese style virtual models. From 0:39, fashion director Soudai Yamaguchi (山口壮大, yamaguchisoudai) talks about how a high level of 3D computer graphics can be used to create a virtual model that rivals an actual model with little difference in how their daily life and work are portrayed on screen to viewers. How Virtual Influencers Are Created Source :YouTube screenshot From 1:09 in the video, VIM representative Takanori Kataishi (片石貴展, kataishitakanori) is questioned about the creation of their virtual models. Unfortunately, he couldn't go into details on how the models were created as it's a company secret. However, from looking at the video it's clear that they are created using fairly high level computer graphics. Summary of Virtual Influencers Source :YouTube screenshot Although their use is fairly limited at the moment, it's expected that these virtual influencers will play an active role Japan in the future. Every day new virtual influencers are being born; for example the first ever virtual celebrity Hiro Mizushima (水嶋ヒロ, mizushimahiro) and other popular virtual influencers on SNS such as "imma" and Liam Nikuro (二クロ・リアム, nikuroriamu). Be sure to check out these characters online when you have the chance!

The Super Kendama Elementary Schooler! This video, titled "[Kendama｜5th Grader] 10 Amazing Tricks, One After Another! the Young Super Talent That Made It to the Finals!" (【KENDAMA】](「【けん玉 小学5年生】スゴ技10連発！世界選手権決勝トーナメントに最年少で進出したスーパーキッズ！【KENDAMA】」), was created by "Bukapi Bukatsu ONE" (「ブカピ 部活ONE」). The video shows 5th grader Maharu Tashiro performing 10 difficult Kendama tricks. Maharu Tashiro is a talented elementary school student, and the youngest finalist of the World Kendama Tournament. You can see his impressive techniques and high level skills in the video. Be sure to follow along as you read this article! What is Kendama? Photo：Kendama Kendama is a wooden toy consisting of a cross-shaped handle (Ken) and a ball with a hole (Tama). Generally, Kendama is written as [けん玉 (Kendama)], using hiragana, but it's often written using Kanji such as "剣玉," (lit. sword ball) "拳玉," (lit. stick ball) or "剣球" (lit. sword sphere) (all pronounced Kendama). Kendama are comprised of just a few parts: Ito (string), Kensaki (spike), Osara (cup), and Tama (ball). The most general ways to grip Kendama are straight (Masugu) and tilted (Naname). Kendama has a long history and is generally believed to have originated during the Edo period (1603-1868). The electronic Kendama, Dejiken (デジケン), produced by Bandai (バンダイ), was also popular at one time. The Kendama Prodigy Source :YouTube screenshot The talented kid Maharu Tashiro, shown in the video is the Super Kendama kid who drew attention at the World Kendama freestyle Tournament "CATCH&FLOW2017," held in Tokyo in 2017. He performed amazing Kendama tricks in the Kendama tournament, which top Kendama performers from both inside and outside of Japan attended, and became the youngest finalist in the history of the tournament. He also participated in "CATCH&FLOW2018" the following year and advanced to the final, making him a finalist in back to back tournaments. Maharu Tashiro started playing Kendama when he was a 1st grader. He practices Kendama at least 2 hours a day. Sometimes he practices all day if it’s a holiday. This can be seen in the interview at 0:14 in the video. Source : YouTube screenshot He practiced by watching professional Kendama players an mimicking their techniques. His dream is to become the number one Kendama player in the world, so he practices hard to make this dream a reality. You can see his world class Kendama tricks from 0:25 in the video. Border Balance→Lighthouse Flip (Tonbogaeri) →Lighthouse (Touritsu), tap x2→Juggle lighthouse x2, Ruler of Time, Lightning Swap Spike (Inazuma swap ken), Windmill Warbler (Fusha Uguisu)→ Windmill Over the Valley (Fusha Taniwatari)→Windmill Spike (Fusha ken), Lunar Landing (getsumen)→ lighthouse flip (Tonbogaeri)→Lunar Landing Reverse (Uragetsumen)→Lighthouse Flip Tap (Tap tonbogaeri)→Cushioned Plunge (Cushion sakaotoshi), Flying Stick (Haneken), Clutch→Swirl (kurukuru waza), Tight Rope→Spike Juggle, Spike Juggle x 10. The tricks are absolutely incredible! Summary of the Kendama Prodigy! Did you enjoy reading about super Kendama kid? The video shows him performing 10 awesome Kendama tricks, so definitely check it out! If you're interested in Kendama, there are classes all over Japan where you can learn how to play Kendama. You can also purchase Kendama online at stores such as Amazon.

Ayatori! This video was created by "Ayatori Dekita!" Fun Lessons From Baaba!" The title of the video is "[Ayatori Shapes] Cradle, Rice Field, Diamond, a Japanese Hand Drum, a Ship, and a Rope Bridge. Slightly Difficult Techniques of Ayatori for Adults [Audio Commentary] String Figures / Baaba's Ayatori" (あやとりできた! ばぁばが楽しく教えるよ」が制作した『【あやとり連続技】ゆりかご・田んぼ・川・ダイヤモンド・つづみ・船・つり橋　ちょっと難しい変身あやとり　大人向け【音声解説あり】String figures / ばぁばのあやとり). The video explains advanced level Ayatori for adults, in a slow, easy-to-understand format. Be sure to check it out! What is Ayatori? Photo：Ayatori Ayatori is a game where you make different shapes with a string looped around your fingers. It's basically the same as cat's cradle, but the shapes/names are different due to cultural differences. Ayatori is also called "Itodori" and "Chidori," in different regions of Japan. It's a very popular game played by children all over the world. It is said to have a great effect on children's intellectual development because of the use of hands and fingers and using one's imagination to think of shapes and understand how to manipulate the string. Ayatori can be played with multiple players by taking turns and transforming the string into different shapes, or it can be played solo, as shown in the video. There are also people who do magic tricks that involve ayatori. The origin and the history of ayatori is unknown, but there is a theory that it started around the Heian period (794-1185) in Japan. Unfortunately there is no proof to back this theory. Basic Techniques and How to Play Ayatori Source :YouTube screenshot This video gives an easy to understand commentary on how to make different shapes for solo play ayatori. The video starts with a single string sitting in a loop on a table. From there, Baaba teaches viewers how to hold the string, and then how to make a cradle (3:04), a rice field (5:21), a river (6:09), a diamond (9:47), a Japanese hand drum (12:46), a ship (13:20), and finally a rope bridge (14:03). This video also gives tips on how to hold the string on your fingers and how to remove it from your fingers. There are a lot of cool techniques you can learn by watching it. Some other techniques, not shown in the video, include "rubber," broom, ladders, turtles, bridges, stars, and even Tokyo tower! Rubber and broom are relatively easy to make, so these are perfect for beginners. Overview of Ayatori Photo：A parent and child playing Ayatori Ayatori is a fun game that can be enjoyed with just a single piece of string! Be sure to watch the video to learn about some cool shapes that you can practice. It's also great for kids, so if you have some little one's of your own, be sure to try it together!

Pedaling Made Easy Thanks to "Free Power" This video, titled "Hill Climbing Made Easy｜A Non-Electric Assisted Bicycle (10/18/2019)" (坂道もスイスイ　電動じゃないアシスト自転車とは？(18/10/19)), was produced by "ANNnewsCH." It introduces "Free Power," a power assisted bicycle not powered by electricity! This article will talk about the revolutionary non-electric power assisted bicycle "Free Power FG-1" (フリーパワーFG-1), that doesn't use motors, batteries, or electricity and costs 1/3 of a normal, electric power assisted bicycle. From 3:01 in the video, the news anchor can be seen riding the bicycle and seeing what it's like. She's blurts out how surprised she is saying things like "it doesn’t even feel like you're going up a hill!" Be sure to take a look at the video to see what "Free Power" is capable of! The Non-Electric, Assisted Bicycle, "Free Power" Source :YouTube screenshot In Japan and many other places, the bicycle is a necessary item in daily life, used for going to work or to school, and in Japan, where there's a LOT of hills, you need a lot of physical strength to get around without walking. For that reason, in recent years, power assisted bicycles have become very popular and the numbers of products being shipped overseas is also on the rise. In the video, a new type of non-electric assisted bike is shown. The non-electric assisted bicycle "Free Power" uses the "free power crank gear," with a specialized silicon piece inside, that can be attached to the pedal of the bicycle you are currently using (some bikes may not be compatible). You can see how to attach the gear at 2:48 in the video. The way it works is that when you pedal, the silicone absorbs the force and makes it lighter, and due to the repellent force, there is more acceleration. This makes it easier to move forward and reduces energy loss. The details of the parts of the assist gear are explained at 3:49 in the video. The Effects and Features of "Free Power" Source :YouTube screenshot The effects and features of "Free Power" are as follows: 1. Very easy to start pedaling 2. Easy on joints (knees, ankles, etc.) 3. Able to sustain speed 4. Easy to travel uphill and pedal for long distances 5. Less prone to sore muscles Free Power was developed by Free Power Inc. and is sold at stores like Cycle Olympic and more. It's possible to have the assist gear attached at stores where they are sold, and the number of stores that stock them is continuing to increase. It is a very popular product and is continuously sold out, so be careful not to miss your chance! Summary of the Non-Electric Assisted Bicycle "Free Power" Photo：A mother and child on an electric-assisted bike "Free Power" provides long term pedaling support without the need to carry a heavy battery and without worrying about running out of charge. Watching the video "Hill Climbing Made Easy｜A Non-Electric Assisted Bicycle (10/18/2019)" you'll probably be surprised at how easy it is to get around. If you're like many, and find yourself riding your bike for long distances and being worn out, why not give "Free Power" a try? 【Official Website】FREE POWER｜Bicycle｜Bicycle Repair https://www.olympic-corp.co.jp/cycle/freepower

The Ancient Ryukyuan Martial Art "Kobudo" This video, titled "８０歳の棒術が速すぎる！沖縄の古武道が超実戦的だった Amazing! A 80-year-old Master, Ryukyu Kobudou," was produced by "kuro-obi world." It introduces Kobudo, an ancient Ryukyuan martial art. From 0:10 in the video, Koutaro Iha, the president of the Ryukyu Society of Ryukyu Kobudo, shows off his brilliant techniques with movements that will have you thinking "there's no way this guy is 80." If you want to learn practical Kobudo, check out the video to learn some awesome techniques! In this article, we'll introduce Ryukyuan Kobudo, alongside the video! What Is Kobudo? Source :YouTube screenshot Ryukyu kobujutsu is an ancient martial art that has been handed down in Okinawa Prefecture since ancient times. It generally utilizes weaponry and is also called Okinawan kobudo, Okinawan kobudo, or Ryukyu kobudo. Ryukyu kobudo has been practiced by samurai since the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom (1429-1879 AD). practiced a wide range of martial arts that involved stick fighting, spears, karate, swords, archery, long swords, nunti, mountain-based sword styles, sais, canes, paddles, tonfa, and more. There are three main types of Ryukyu ancient martial arts schools. Three types: Shinken Taira's system (Ryukyu Kobudo Preservation Society, Ryukyu Kobudo Preservation Society), Motobu Choyu’s system (Motobu Goten Kobu Martial Arts Association), and Matayoshi Shimkou’s system (Kinkou Karate Okinawa Kobujutsu). About the Kobudo in the Video Source :YouTube screenshot This video introduces the appeal of Ryukyuan kobudo at the Ryukonkai dojo. Koutaro Iha of the Ryukyu Kobudo is the chairman of Ryukonkai, and performs stick fighting with a speed and ferocity atypical of an 80 year old man. His son, Mitsutada Iha, is the general director of the Ryukonkai Shudokan general headquarters. Shown at 2:11 in the video, we can see both super practical and practical techniques. In this video, you can see a little bit of the Ryukyu kobudo DVD "Great Heritage 3: The Pilgrim of Martial Arts." In the DVD, you can learn a type of stick fighting called "Sakugawa no Kon." Kobudo is general referred to as a type of budo arts are generally one of martial arts and ancient martial arts, but is a very practical form of budo. Normally, Ryukyu kobudo is fought with a weapon in hand, but if you can't do karate, you can't do kobudo, so it is sometimes practiced with bare hands. From 2:47 in the video, you can see ancient Ryukyuan martial arts techniques, such as "Nunchaku art," "Toma no Tonfa," "Ishikawa Shou kama," "Chikin akachu no Ake," and "Okinawan karate." This DVD is available at the Toei Video Online Shop. Summary of Kobudo Source :YouTube screenshot The video produced by "Kuro-obi world" shows the skills of an 80 year old Ryukyu Kobudo master. You can see the kobudo master, who has incredible mental, technical and physical abilities, carefully teaching the techniques of Ryukyu kobudo. Be sure to check it out of you still haven't yet!