『Kirakira Donki Video Introduction Sweets and other types of cute goods are very popular on Japanese Twitter and TikTok. Many people are tempted to check out these popular goods, but don't actually know where to buy them. In this article, we'll introduce Kirakira Donki, a trendy shop that recently opened in Odaiba. The video, titled "Kirakira Donki Opens in Odaiba! What's There to See? TBS NEWS DIG" (「キラキラドンキ」お台場にオープン！見所は？【Ｎスタ】｜TBS NEWS DIG), was uploaded by "TBS NEWS DIG Powered by JNN." Be sure to give it a watch! Kirakira Donki in Odaiba, Tokyo Source :YouTube screenshot Kirakira Donki opened in Tokyo's DiverCity, a shopping mall in Odaiba, in May 2022. Don Quijote has developed stores specializing in different concepts, such as "Okashi Donki" specializing in sweets, "Sake Donki" specializing in sake, "Cosme Donki" specializing in cosmetics, and even "Konkara Donki" which specializes in spicy foods. Their newest store, Kirakira Donki, which targets "Generation Z," has now popped up in Odaiba with trendy items, such as cosmetics and sweets that are popular on Japanese social media! About 60% of the staff working there are Generation Z, in their teens and 20s, and they select products that are popular on social media, as well as cutely-colored goods. In the video, you can see the inside of the newly opened Kirakira Donki. When you enter "Kirakira Donki," you'll see Don Quijote's official character "Don Pen" painted everywhere, and the ceiling is decorated in a playful style, reminiscent of an amusement park. In addition, large, cute pop-ups and handwritten product descriptions are meant to make the store catch the customer's eyes. These are just a few of the many creative details that draw customers to the store. Goods Sold at Kirakira Donki Source :YouTube screenshot The store has a wide variety of Korean food products, such as Planet Gummi, that became popular on Japanese TikTok, photogenic candies shaped like stars and hearts, as well as juices and even popular Korean and Chinese cosmetics that can be purchased for 500 yen or less! The store features a whopping 10,000 products that appeal to Japan's Gen Z. In addition, they have "Mobile Foods," like waffles and "Beauty Vinegar" drinks for take-out. 4,000 Kinds of Cute Cosmetics and Nearly 2,000 Varieties of Candy! There are about 4,000 reasonably-priced cosmetics sold at the store. This summer's hot sellers include stick-type A'pieu sunscreen in cute colors and bang styling sticks. The bang styling sticks are a popular product among teenagers that helps neatly tuck away frizzy hair during Japan's rainy season. In addition, there's a selection of around 1,800 kinds of sweets popular on Japanese social media, including cookies, gummies, and all sorts of candies. There's sure to be a candy that you'll like! Gummies Galore! Source :YouTube screenshot The Planet Gummi gummies became a hot topic on Japanese social media because of the sound they make when opened. The video even shows an elementary school girl that came to the store with her parents saying, "I'm happy I got to try the Planet Gummi gummies that I'd seen YouTubers eating! The girl's mom, who came with her to the store, also seemed to enjoy herself. Planet Gummi is a favorite in Japan, and now they're also available in a transparent blue color called "Planet Candy." This product was created by a long-established company founded in 1975. This candy is also slowly gaining popularity and is sure to be popping up on Japanese Instagram in the near future. In an interview with a customer to the store, she says "I was able buy some Korean snacks like Planet Gummi and Ozzy Strawberry so I'm happy!" Some of the items are available on the Internet, but being able to buy them in person is a totally different experience. In addition to the "Planet Gummi," new snacks such as "Pop Eye" and "Monster Gummies" that resemble poke balls are also popular on Japanese social media. Kirakira Donki has tons of products that fulfill the desires of Generation Z. It might even become a new tourist attraction in Tokyo! ◆Kirakira Donki DiverCity Tokyo Plaza Store◆ Hours: 10 AM – 9 PM Address: Tokyo Plaza 2F, 1-1-10 DiverCity Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN, 135-0064 Access: Public Transportation - A 5 minute walk from Daiba Station via the Yurikamome Line, a 3 minute walk from Tokyo Teleport Station via the JR Rinkai Line 【Official Website】Odaiba DiverCity Tokyo Plaza - Mitsui Shopping Park https://mitsui-shopping-park.com/divercity-tokyo/ 【TripAdvisor】DiverCity Tokyo Plaza https://www.tripadvisor.jp/Attraction_Review-g1066449-d2696968-Reviews-Diver_City_Tokyo_Plaza-Koto_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

Video introduction of the annual New Year's "First Tuna Auction" at the Tokyo Central Wholesale Market Toyosu Market in Koto-ku, Tokyo. This video, titled "Reiwa｜New Year's Tuna Auction｜and the Winner Is..." (令和初　マグロ初競り　落札したのは・・・), is a video that recorded the first tuna auction of the New Year in the first year of Reiwa (Japan's newest era). The annual New Year's Tuna Auction is held at Toyosu Market in the Tokyo Central Wholesale Market in Koto ward, Tokyo It was President Kiyoshi Kimura, shown at 0:47 in the video, that won the tuna for 193.2 million yen (~$1.8m USD); the second highest price in the history of the auction. In this article, we introduce the New Year's tuna auction and the president of Sushi Zanmai who won the expensive fish. The New Year's Tuna Auction: What Kind of Event Is It? Source :YouTube screenshot The New Year's Tuna Auction, in which Oma tuna is auctioned off at a high price unique to New Year, is an annual event that many fishermen participate in to celebrate the new year. The first auction for the 2020 tuna, shown in this video, began just after 5 a.m. on Jan. 5, and the Toyosu Market was filled with loud and energetic shouting. You can watch the auction starting at 0:04. The first tuna auctioned each year is called "Ichiban Tuna" (lit. "the first tuna"). The fish chosen is selected based on size, freshness, shape and taste. Every year at the New Year's Tuna Auction, the magnificent "Ichiban Tuna" is auctioned off at a so-called "celebratory price." Not only industry insiders, but now even the general public is paying attention to see how much the first auction for bluefin tuna, known as the "diamond of the sea" or "black diamond," will go for. The President of Sushizanmai Source :YouTube screenshot At the first tuna auction in 2020, Kiyoshi Kimura, president of Kiyomura, a sushi zanmai restaurant, won the bid for a 276-kilogram bluefin tuna from Oma, Aomori Prefecture. At 193.2 million yen (700,000 yen per kilogram), it was the second most expensive tuna sold at the auction. It is said that roughly 10,000 pieces of sushi can be made from this tuna. The highest ever tuna auction was recorded at 333.6 million yen, which was awarded by President Kiyoshi Kimura of Sushizanmai last year. Speaking of the president, Kiyoshi Kimura, is famous for posing with both hands spread out while shouting "Sushizanmai!!" Mr. Kimura, president of Sushi Zanmai, is also called "The Tuna Shogun" or "The Don of the Tuna Industry" by officials. Summary of the New Year's Tuna Auction Photo：Tuna This time, we introduced the New Year's Tuna Auction. In recent years, it has become standard practice for the president of Sushi Zanmai to make the winning bid for the first tuna of the auction, but the amount of the winning bid has drawn attention from all over Japan. As for the fishermen's share of the winning bid, 1.5% of the money will go to the Aomori Prefectural Fisheries Federation, 4% to the Oma Fishing Cooperative, and 5.5% to the consignees, with 89% going to the fishermen who caught the fish. At 1:14 in the video, the first delicious tuna sushi of Sushizanmai is also introduced; be sure to check it out! 【Official Website】Sushizanmai sushi in Tokyo https://honyaku.j-server.com/LUCSUSHIZA/ns/tl.cgi/https://www.kiyomura.co.jp/?SLANG=ja&TLANG=en&XMODE=0&XJSID=0

Akita City "Akita Kanto Festival" Video Introduction This video, titled "Akita Kanto Festival to Be Held for the First Time in 3 Years" (秋田竿燈まつり 3年ぶりに開催), was uploaded by "The Asahi Shimbun Company." The Akita Kanto Festival, held in Akita City, Akita Prefecture, is known as one of the three major festivals in Japan's Tohoku region. Approximately 280 poles and 10,000 lanterns light up the summer night sky. This year's festival, which was held for the first time in three years due to the effects of the novel coronavirus, can be enjoyed in this immersive video. Akita Kanto Festival – The History of the Festival Photo：Akita Kanto Festival The Akita Kanto Festival attracts people with its amazing lantern-balancing performances. The festival is held every year from August 3 to 6. Along with Aomori's Nebuta Festival and Sendai's Tanabata Festival, the Akita Kanto Festival is one of the three major summer festivals in Japan's Tohoku region. It's an event that has been passed down for approximately 270 years to pray for the exorcism of evil spirits and a good harvest, and is designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. According to literature, the Akita Kanto Festival first appeared in 1789 in a travelogue by Tsumura Soan, a merchant, poet, and scholar of Japanese studies in the mid-Edo period, titled "A Snow-Covered Road." It is said to have originated from an event called "Neburi Nagashi" held around Akita City on July 6 of the lunar calendar, in which people decorated bamboo branches and silk trees with strips of paper with wishes written on them, walked through the town, and finally floated them away in the river. Later, the spread of candles during the Horeki period (1750-1765) and the use of tall paper lanterns were combined to form what we see today. Akita Kanto Festival 2023 - Highlights, Goods, and More! Source :YouTube screenshot The many hanging lanterns shown in the video show the beauty of the event as they light up the summer night sky. [Video] 0:16 - Lanterns Lighting Up the Night Sky The largest of the poles, called 'Owaka,' is 12 meters long and features 46 64cm x 45cm lanterns hanging from it, weighing a whopping 50 kilograms (110 lbs)! The highlight of the festival is watching the skilled performers holding these lanterns high in the air on the palm of their hand, while transferring them to their foreheads, shoulders, and even waists. [Video] 0:31 - Skilled Performers Balancing Lantern Poles The Akita Kanto Festival is also popular for the many food stalls set up at the festival site, including Kanto Yatai Village (竿燈屋台村, Kanto Yatai Mura), which has two locations, and the Local Gourmet Festival (ご当地グルメフェスティバル, Go-Touchi Gurume Festibaru) hosted by the Akita Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where visitors can enjoy local delicacies. In these food and beverage areas, consideration has been given to preventing the spread of the new coronavirus, such as by changing spaces to avoid dense crowding. Access to Akita Kanto Festival + Spectator Tickets Photo：Akita Station The venue for the Akita Kanto Festival is Kanto Odori Street (竿燈大通り, Kanto Odori), a 15-minute walk from JR Akita Station. Spectator seats are set up around the center strip of the 800-meter-long boulevard, and traffic will be limited around the venue in the evening. Tickets for spectator seats are also available, with prices varying by seat type. The price for the "Masu-seki" (box seating with a capacity of 6 people) is 28,000 yen, S seats are 4,500 yen, A seats are 4,000 yen, and B seats are 3,500 yen. If there are too many reservations for box seats, a lottery will be held. Please check the official website for more details, including the timing of ticket sales. In addition, events such as "Fureai Kanto" and the "Citizens' Parade" (市民パレード, Shimin Pareido) will be cancelled due to the coronavirus, and pre-recorded voices will be used for chanting. Summary of Akita Kanto Festival The many lanterns that light up the night sky and the skill of the performers who manipulate the lanterns is what makes the Akita Kanto Festival one the most popular summer events in Akita Prefecture. Each year, the festival attracts many people from both inside and outside of the prefecture. There are many hotels near Akita Station and the festival site where visitors can stay overnight. Easy access from the station makes it convenient for travel and sightseeing. In this exciting video, you can see the charm and highlights of the Akita Kanto Festival, as well as the fresh faces reflecting the joy of the people who are celebrating the festival for the first time in three years. [Video] 1:05 - Comments from Performers at the Festival We hope that at next year's Akita Kanto Festival, we'll be able to hear the taiko drums, hayashi band, and the chanting of the performers and crowd instead of prerecorded voices! 【Official Website】Akita Kanto Festival https://www.kantou.gr.jp/english/ 【TripAdvisor】Akita Kanto Festival https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298239-d8820142-Reviews-Akita_Kanto_Festival-Akita_Akita_Prefecture_Tohoku.html

Haneda Airport Garden, Haneda Airport, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Japan Video Introduction This video, titled "[Haneda Airport Garden] Fully Opened and Ready Promote Japanese Culture" (【羽田エアポートガーデン】全面開業　日本文化を発信), was uploaded by "Nihon Keizai Shimbun" (日本経済新聞). Haneda Airport Garden, a commercial complex directly connected to Haneda Airport's international flights and Terminal 3 had its grand opening on January 31, 2023. Stores with noren curtains and other elements of Japanese culture line the aisles. Haneda Sando is store designed to resemble the approach to a Shinto shrine, with stores on both sides of the aisle, which gives visitors a fun experience similar to that of a typical Japanese shrine festival. The Handa Airport Garden was created with the hope that visitors to Japan can experience Japan from the moment they step off the plane. Be sure to check out the video of Haneda Airport Garden as you read along. What is Haneda Airport Garden? Photo：Haneda Airport, Terminal 3 The Haneda Airport Garden, by Sumitomo Realty & Development, was originally scheduled to open in April 2020, following an increase in the number of international flights, but was postponed due to the impact of the novel coronavirus. The full opening of the new building has been planned in anticipation of a recovery in tourism to Japan. Directly connected to Haneda Airport Terminal 3, Haneda Airport Garden boasts 12 floors and a total area of 43,000 square meters. The first floor features restaurants, a food court, and other establishments for food and drinks, while the second floor is lined with shops selling local specialties, souvenirs, and sundries, making it a large-scale facility with approximately 70 tenants. In addition, there's a bus terminal on the first floor, which serves as a direct connection between tourist attractions and Haneda Airport, while the second through twelfth floors include a hotel and hot spring facilities. Haneda Airport Garden is a new commercial complex being called the "new face" of Japan. Haneda Airport Garden – Hours, Recommended Souvenir Shops, and Japanese Culture Source :YouTube screenshot Here we'll introduce the stores featured in the video as wel las their business hours. ●Hakuchikudo, a Fan Specialty Shop in Kyoto Hakuchikudo is a store with more than 300 years of history, founded in 1718. The store is popular for making beautiful and fashionable traditional Kyo-sen (Kyoto-style folding fans) created by techniques passed down from one generation to the next. [Video] 0:28 - Hakuchikudo ●Kurazukuri Honpo, a Shop Selling Traditional Japanese Sweets Established in Kawagoe in 1887, this Japanese confectionery store values "ingredients" and "technique" and sells exquisite wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) that are made with the care and passion of its craftsmen. The "Fukuzo" (福蔵, homemade red bean paste wrapped in baked rice cake skin) and "Beniaka kun" (べにあかくん, a biscuit made with butter, whipped cream, and Japanese sweet potatoes) are especially popular. [Video] 0:38 - Kurazukuri Honpo ●Yamakoshi Honpo, a Shop Selling Local Specialties From Niigata, Japan This shop sells local specialties from Nagaoka, Niigata. You can purchase special types of rice, processed rice products, miso, sake, and more. [Video] 1:02 - Yamakoshi Honpo ●Rokkakukan Sakurado is a shop specializing in cosmetic brushes. Visitors can purchase cosmetic brushes and miscellaneous cosmetic goods only available at Haneda Airport Garden here, as well as products from Chikuhodo, a famous cosmetic brush manufacturer in Kumano, Japan. [Video] 1:12 - Rokkakukan Sakurado From Kyoto ●Hakuchikudo and Kurazukuri Honpo are located in the "Japan Promenade" area, while Yamakoshi Honpo and Rokkakukan Sakurado are located in the "Haneda Sando" area. Both shops are making their first appearance in Tokyo. Business hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Recommended Restaurants at Haneda Airport Garden + Business Hours Source :YouTube screenshot In addition to shopping, visitors to the Haneda Airport Garden can also enjoy a variety of dining experiences. ●OEDO FOOD HALL Food Court (大江戸フードホール) (Hours - 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) The interior design is a modern interpretation of Edo-period Japan, and the walls are decorated with ukiyoe-style paintings, a type of woodblock print painting popular at the time. The food court serves a wide variety of dishes, including steak cooked on lava rock, juwari soba noodles made from 100% buckwheat flour, and tekkaju, a dish that uses natural tuna directly shipped from Misaki Port. The restaurant also features ingredients from Tokyo and neighboring prefectures. ●The Izakaya Umaiyo Sakana Umaiyo Sakana (うまいよ魚旨いよ魚) (Hours - 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) A wide variety of fish dishes can be enjoyed here, and customers can enjoy 27 kinds of sake carefully selected from all over Japan. The interior design, reminiscent of a shrine, is also worth noting. ●Hanayama Udon (五代目 花山うどん) (Lunch Hours - 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Dinner Hours 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) The popular "Hishikawa Udon" here has a chewy texture that could be mistaken for rice cakes, with their signature large noodles. Heijoen, a Japanese BBQ Restaurant (Hours 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) Heijoen is a restaurant where patrons can enjoy Japan's world-famous Wagyu beef. The menu includes delicious platters and Kobe Beef Tokusen Gozen, a set meal that includes an assortment of the finest cuts of Kobe beef, and the restaurant is proud of the high quality of its beef, which is mainly Kobe Beef. Haneda Airport Garden – Hotels & Natural Hot Springs Source :YouTube screenshot The Haneda Airport Garden is home to Villa Fontaine, the largest hotel directly connected to an airport, with a total of 1,717 guest rooms. Villa Fontaine is divided into two types: Villa Fontaine Premier Haneda Airport and Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport. Villa Fontaine Premier has parking available for one car per room (reservation required), and is recommended for those who not only want to use the airport, but also those purely interested in staying at the hotel. The hot spring facility "Izumi Tenku no Yu" located on the 12th floor of the hotel is drawing a lot of attention as a hot spring where you can enjoy airplane spotting and views of Mt. Fuji. There are four areas to enjoy, from relaxing hot springs to bedrock baths and saunas. Non-hotel guests can also use the facilities by paying a fee, and it's open 24 hours a day! Summary of Haneda Airport Garden Haneda Airport is aiming to become the new gateway to Japan. Haneda Airport Garden, which has just fully opened at Haneda Airport, is a commercial complex where visitors can fully enjoy Japanese culture. It's a great place for both Japanese citizens and foreign visitors to Japan alike to enjoy the delicious dining experiences, shopping, saunas, and more. The interior design is also really photogenic for any instagrammers looking for a new place to check out! Discover the new face of Japan at Haneda Airport Garden! 【Official Website】Haneda Airport Garden 【TripAdvisor】Tokyo International Airport, Haneda Airport

This video, titled "A Unique Building in Ginza: Based on the Theme of 'Sukashibori' (16/06/15)" (銀座にユニークなビル出現・・・「透かし彫り」がテーマ(16/06/15)), was released by "ANNnewsCH." The Ginza Place building, which opened in 2016 at the Ginza 4-Chome intersection, has 11 floors above ground and two basement levels, and is based on a traditional craft called "Sukashibori" (openwork/pierced work/fretwork) that involves creating patterns on thin sheets of wood. It contains a Sony showroom, an event space, restaurants, and many other areas, and as a "landmark for creating the Ginza of tomorrow," it serves as a base for contributing to the creation of a district in Ginza that communicates new values and a future for the world from Japan. The architect in charge of the exterior design was Klein Dytham Architecture, an internationally acclaimed firm with a deep knowledge of Japan.

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/

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 First in Japanese History! No.1 in the Popular Online Game "FORTNITE"! Are you familiar with e-sports? E-sports is a form of sport competition using video games. Players compete to show their mastery of the game and win massive prize pools. E-sports has actually been around for decades, but thanks to advances in technology and more and more people being connected to the internet, it has seen a surge in growth in the last 10 years, with professional teams popping up all over the globe. Japan actually has vocational schools that train e-sports players, and sends world class athletes to compete on the world stage. This video introduces Ruri, the first Japanese player to win the Australian Open Summer Smash 2020, a new tournament with 30 million yen (~$280,000 USD) in prize money at stake. What is FORTNITE? Source :YouTube screenshot Let's talk about the rules of FORTNITE, and how it's played. Starting at 0:38 in the video, you can see up close footage of the fast-paced, action-packed gameplay. FORTNITE is an online battle royale game with a twist. One of the main features of the game is called "building" which allows players to use materials they've found throughout the map to construct tactical structures that allow them to outmaneuver their opponents. The online battle royale game "FORTNITE," is developed by Epic Games in the UK. Supported platforms are PC, PlayStation 4, XboxOne, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android. There is a "save the world" mode where players work together to fight off waves of monsters, and a "battle royal" mode where players fight against one another to be the last remaining. Because of FORTNITE's in-game transactions, and depictions of violence, the game has a PEGI rating of 12+. The actual game is a 3rd person shooter where characters spawn into a map and have to scavenge the area for weapons, armor, and materials. Players start every match as a blank canvas, forcing them to adapt to their environment and make do with what they have. The story is post-apocalyptic in nature, with 98% of the world's population being eradicated by a sudden storm and the emergence of monsters called "husks." The player's goal is to fight to survive and save the human race. The "Australian Open Summer Smash 2020" Featuring FORTNITE Source :YouTube screenshot Cross-platform online games like FORTNITE, which are also compatible with handheld devices, have evolved remarkably in recent years. Ruri, a member of the Japanese professional team "CrazyRaccoon," managed to win such a large scale tournament at just 16 years old. The "Australian Open Summer Smash 2020" was held at a tennis stadium in Melbourne, Australia, also used for the Australian Open tennis tournament every February. The crowed roared when the Japanese team secured their victory. The second day's solo match (a charity tournament) also drew a large crowd where spectators gathered to see the winner's Victory Royale. The rules are simple- the last player standing wins. Summary of Japan's Australian Open 2020 Fortnite Win Source :YouTube screenshot Ruri is just 16 years old but is already an accomplished player that managed to win a prestigious tournament with a massive prize pool. Players also have rankings, similar to other sports, and it's expected that we'll see Ruri aiming for #1. In the world of e-sports, opportunities for young players like Ruri continue to grow. People even talk about the future of e-sports, saying that it's only a matter of time before it's a part of the Olympics. 【Official Website】Fortnite - Play Now for Free | Official Site | Epic Games https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/home?lang=en-US

Kyoto Station's Automatic Underground Bicycle Parking Area This video, titled "Automatic Underground Bicycle Parking Lot Opened in Front of Kyoto Station" (京都駅前に機械式地下駐輪場がオープン) was released by SankeiNews. The first automated underground bicycle parking lot in Kyoto made big news when it was opened on February 11th, 2015 at the East and West Hachijou Entrance to Kyoto station. This is a video showing footage of the automated storage and retrieval of a bicycle from inside the underground parking lot that was made available to the press upon opening. It's a sight that one would normally never be able to see and well worth the watch! More About Kyoto Station's Automatic Underground Bicycle Parking Lot Source :YouTube screenshot The underground parking lot has a 12 meter deep cylindrical design and the footage of the automated storage of the bikes underground is truly amazing! You can take a look at this from 0:06 in the video. One of these underground parking lots (called Eco-cycles) can store approximately 200 bicycles. The way it works is that you place your bike into an elevator-type booth, simply push a button and the bicycle will automatically be stored away in the underground parking lot. You can see this in the opening scenes of the video. When you would like to retrieve your bicycle, all you have to do is swipe your designated IC card and your bike should arrive through the elevator-style booth in approximately 13 seconds. This can be seen at 0:17 in the video. As you can see in the video, the front wheel of the bicycle is held by a machine, which allows the machine to move the bicycle to the correct location. It's truly amazing to watch the machine at work! Advantages and Disadvantages of Automated Underground Parking Lots Source :YouTube screenshot It can no doubt be said that the new underground bicycle parking lot in Kyoto is very convenient, but it's not without its disadvantages. Let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of this system. First of all, one of the advantages of the underground parking lot is that, being indoors, there is less risk of one's bicycle being damaged by rain or possibly being stolen compared to if it were parked outdoors. Another advantage is that since the bicycles are neatly stored away, the iconic scenery of the streets of Kyoto can be easily maintained. However, one of the disadvantages of such a system is the development cost. The cost to build one of these parking lots is approximately 160,000,000 yen (roughly 1.5 million US dollars) with the overall construction cost coming to approximately 426,600,000 yen (roughly 4 million US dollars), far higher than a regular outdoor bicycle parking lot. It is hardly a sum than can be covered by usage charge alone. For this reason, it's unlikely that this kind of underground parking area will be adopted by many local governments without good reason for it. Furthermore, the lack of information on running performance, maintenance costs and the fact that the parking lot is not equipped to handle non-standard bicycles are all problems that still need to be dealt with. Kyoto Station Automated Underground Bicycle Parking Lot Usage Fee Photo：Bicycle parking area For those who wish to use the new underground parking lot, you'll need to enter a fixed-term contract, which currently costs 2700 yen per month (as of Jan 2020). It is also possible to pay for parking per day at a cost of 150 yen; however, the parking lot can often be full so it's best to search for alternative parking options beforehand. Those wishing to enter a fixed term contract need to ensure that their bicycle meets the required standards for the automatic parking lot. You must know your bicycle's length, width, height and position of the front and/or rear basket, tire size, bike weight, and position of gears and possibly several other measurements. Extra precautions must be taken for bikes which have unique or special designs, such as road bikes, mountain bikes, and more. Summary of Kyoto's Automated Underground Parking Lot What 'd you think of Kyoto's new underground bicycle parking lot? Kyoto station's south entrance has long been troubled with the unauthorized parking of bicycles. It is hoped that the completion of this new underground parking lot will bring and end to this problem and help contribute towards maintaining the beautiful scenery of Kyoto. Videos of bicycles being sucked up by the automated machinery of Kyoto's underground parking lot have attracted a lot of attention on social media, so much so that many tourists are visiting Kyoto for the sole purpose of seeing this unusual parking lot! The development of this automated parking lot in the futuristic city of Kyoto is sure to have a profound impact on the rest of the world. 【Official Website】Automatic Underground Bicycle Parking Lot introduction｜KYOTO PARKING NAVI https://kyotopublic.or.jp/bikepark/

Video introduction of “Gozan-no-Okuribi” in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture This video, titled "Gozan no Okuribi 4K" (五山送り火 4K Gozan no Okuribi), was uploaded by "MOVIE JAPAN." The video begins with scenes of spectators at Gozan no Okuribi, part of the obon festival in Kyoto, on the banks of the Kamo River, and shows the different bonfires floating up into the summer night sky. What are "Gozan-no-Okuribi" and "Daimonji-yaki"? Meaning and History Photo：Gozan no Okuribi (Daimonji), Kyoto Gozan no Okuribi (Daimonji) is one of the four major festivals in Kyoto, along with Aoi Matsuri, Gion Matsuri, and Jidai Matsuri. The five mountains of Gozan no Okuribi, called 'Daimonji Yaki,' are all registered as Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of Kyoto City. In Kyoto, the souls of one's ancestors are called "Oshorai-san." Gozan no Okuribi is an event held every year on the night of August 16 to send the spirits back to the realm of the dead after they have returned during the Obon Festival. During Gozan no Okuribi, visitors can offer a homa stick, a prayer stick used in a ritual burning to ask for blessings. It is said that if you write your name and the name of your illness on the homa stick and offer it, your illness will be cured. The homa sticks will then be carried by the preservation group to the fire beds at the top of the mountains, where they will be burned in bonfires. For a donation of 300 yen per homa stick, anyone can make an offering, not just local residents. ※Homa sticks are only accepted at specific locations at specific times. Please confirm the acceptance periods, etc., via the FAQ on the official website as they differ for each location. As for how long the Gozan no Okuribi has been held, there are actually few historical documents of the event, and almost no records remain. The oldest documented historical account is from Ozuki Tadatoshi (Tadatoshi Sukuneki), which records that in 1649 Ozuki Tadatoshi saw the Nishiyama Daimonji, Fune (boat), Higashiyama Daimonji, and Minami (South) bonfires. The locations for Gozan no Okuribi are as follows. Bonfires will be lit at different times. Nyoigatake (Mt. Daimonji) on Mt. Higashiyama 【Daimonji】8:00 PM... Nyoigatake (Mt. Daimonji) on Mt. Higashiyama 【Myoho】8:05 PM... 'Myo' (妙) West Mountain of Matsugasaki; 'Ho' (法) East Mountain of Matsugasaki 【Funagata】8:10 PM... Funeyama in Nishigamo 【Hidari Daimonji】8:15 PM... Okitayama (Mt. Daimonji) 【Toriigata】8:20 PM... Mt. Mandara in Saga-Toriimoto In the past, many other characters were lit as send-off fires. Where to See Gozan no Okuribi Photo：Kamigamo Misono Bridge, Kyoto Here are some viewing locations where each of the five bonfires can be seen clearly. Daimonji: Around Misono Bridge, Marutamachi Bridge, Mt. Funaoka, Matsugasaki Station, Takano Bridge Myoho: The area around Notre Dame Jogakuin/Mt. Funaoka/Matsugasaki Station/Shogunzuka Toriigata: Seiryouji Temple North (清涼寺北)/Hirosawa Pond (Matsuo Bridge) Hidari Daimonji: Mt. Funaoka/From Kinkakuji Temple to Saiin on Nishi Oji Street/Shogunzuka Funagata: Around Misono Bridge/Mt. Funaoka/Kitayama-dori/Northwest from Kitayama Bridge/Around Matsugasaki Station/Shogunzuka Gozan-no-Okuribi can be viewed from restaurants, such as those on the Kamogawa Nouryou-Yuka (summertime decks with restaurants). Advance reservations are recommended for those who wish to view the bonfires while enjoying a meal in a relaxed atmosphere. Viewing the event and the bonfires in this way is sure to be an exceptional experience. If you're looking for some Instagram shots, you can also view the bonfire from higher places. From the observation deck of Kyoto Tower in front of Kyoto Station, you can enjoy Gozan no Okuribi along with a night view of Kyoto. A viewing event will be held for the first time at Kyoto Tower in 3 years. Tickets for this event will be sold in advance, so be sure to look up the information if you wish to attend. When is the Gozan no Okuribi (Bonfire on the Five Mountains) in 2024? Introduction of "Arashiyama Lantern Floating Ceremony" and "Hirosawa Pond Lantern Floating Ceremony Photo：Hirosawa Pond Toro Nagashi Lantern Float, Kyoto The Gozan Bonfire is held annually on August 16; in 2024, it will be held on Friday, August 16. On the same day, the "Lantern Floating Ceremony" is held to send the spirits of ancestors to the Pure Land in lanterns. Let us introduce you to the lantern floats held at Arashiyama and Hirosawa Pond. From both locations, you can also see the torii-shaped Gozan-no-Okuribi (bonfires). Arashiyama Lantern Festival Date: August 16, 19:00-21:00 Venue: Arashiyama Nakanoshima Park (Kyoto Prefectural Arashiyama Park) Access: Kyoto City Bus 28 "Arashiyama Koen Hirozawa Henshoji Temple Lantern Floating (Hirozawa Pond) Date/Time：August 16th, around 19:00 Place：Henshoji Temple Access: Kyoto City Bus 26 "Yamakoshi You can apply for the lanterns at Hirozawa Henshoji Temple using the application form on the official website or at the Henshoji Temple counter (1000 yen per lantern). In 2024, the festival will be broadcast live by KBS Kyoto. Summary of Gozan no Okuribi in Kyoto, Japan In the video, you can see tourists gazing up at the bonfires of Gozan no Okuribi. [Video] 0:45 - People Admiring the Bonfires of Gozan No Okuribi This short video contains the charms of Gozan no Okuribi, an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kyoto. Unfortunately, the 2020 and 2021 festivities were greatly reduced due to the novel coronavirus, and although the bonfires were lit, the floating letters could not be viewed. 2022 is scheduled to be the first time in three years that the entire festival will be able to be viewed. Bus tours that include meals, lantern floating, and viewing of Gozan no Okuribi are also available. Consider joining one one if you're traveling to Kyoto in the summer! The bonfires of Gozan no Okuribi, a summer tradition, float silently in the night sky of Kyoto. Enjoy the end of summer by remembering your ancestors. 【Tripadvisor】Kyoto Gozan no Okuribi https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298564-d8820274-Reviews-Kyoto_Gozan_no_Okuribi-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html

Introduction to Osaka Metro’s “Facial Recognition Ticket Gates” Today, we'll introduce “Osaka Metro Starts Testing Facial Recognition Ticket Gates（【改札機「顔パス」通過 大阪メトロが実証実験】)" a video by Kyodo News. This is a news video of Osaka Metro starting the testing of facial recognition ticket gates, in anticipation of the World Expo in Kansai. In December 2019, Osaka Metro released information of the next generation facial recognition ticket gates. By registering your faces photo data in advance, you can pass through ticket gates with facial recognition without using the conventional tickets and IC cards, which is an amazing technology. In the video, you can see Japan’s cutting edge technology. Please enjoy. What Kind of System Is Osaka Metro’s Facial Recognition Ticket Gate? Source :YouTube screenshot Osaka Metro installed the test ticket gate at the Dome-mae Chiyozaki Station on the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line in Osaka City’s west ward, and demonstrated its use before the media. As seen from 0:07 in the video, there are cameras set at the ticket gates, and these cameras recognize people’s faces passing through the gate, and the gate immediately opens. If people don’t need to take out tickets and IC cards, they can use stations without stress even when carrying heavy luggage or shopping bags. You can see in the video from 1:18 a passenger carrying big bags on both hands passing through the gate smoothly. The scene of passengers passing through the gate with facial recognition is introduced in the video from 0:26. In the video, Osaka Metro workers are shown passing through the gate with facial recognition, but in the future, they will build up systems so that ordinary passengers can use it as well. The Installation and Future Prospects of Osaka Metro’s Facial Recognition Ticket Gates Photo：Ticket gates Maybe it won’t be too long until people are passing the ticket gates with facial recognition and ticket vending machines disappear from stations. If no ticket vending machines are needed, it will be a cost reduction for railway companies, so it can be said that there are many benefits. This system is only a system using facial recognition technology, so if you are wearing masks and hats it leads to matching failure, and the gates don’t open. From now on, they will brush up the technology to improve on the ease of use for passengers. Summary of Osaka Metro’s Facial Recognition Ticket Gates Source :YouTube screenshot Technology of ticket gates opening through facial recognition is unprecedented, and Osaka Metro is garnering a lot of attention for this first attempt. Osaka Metro aims to install the facial recognition ticket gates to all stations by fiscal year 2024, in time for the World Expo in Osaka. These days, many technologies have become wide spread, such as cashless payments and QR codes. It can be said that these facial recognition ticket gates are one of these shifts toward the next-generation. 【Official Website】Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/

The X-2 Stealth Aircraft - From the Wings to the Engine, This Machine Is Homegrown This news report introduces the first flight of the domestically manufactured stealth aircraft, the X-2. It's titled "Where's the Hinomaru? The First Flight of the Domestically Manufactured Stealth Fighter (22/04/16)" (日の丸戦闘機”の行方は　国産ステルス機が初飛行(16/04/22)). The X-2 shown in the video is a domestically manufactured stealth aircraft. From the wings to the engine, everything is made in Japan. It became a popular topic in 2016 when it made its first flight. Japan's X-2 Stealth Aircraft Source :YouTube screenshot The X-2 is an experimental aircraft for advanced technology demonstrations commissioned by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Technical Research and Development Division of the Japanese Ministry of Defense. 220 Japanese companies cooperated to develop this aircraft. The X-2 was named after the X1G, a modified Saab-Safir 91B high-lift research aircraft once used by the Defense Agency as an experimental aircraft. More than 90% of the X-2's parts were made in Japan, and it was developed under the name "Shin shin," which means Mt. Fuji. The X-2 was developed to demonstrate advanced military technology as a future domestically produced fighter, and to accumulate knowledge of stealth technology. Stealth fighters are characterized by their small size and shortened operational periods of a few hundred hours. Their engines are small and they are not equipped with weapons. The Body of the Japanese X-2 Stealth Aircraft Source :YouTube screenshot The Japanese stealth aircraft is equipped with a mechanism called "chine," which is used to reduce and absorb radar reflection and absorption, and the surface of the fuselage is specially coated with composite materials such as ceramic and silicon carbide. The X-2 has a total length of about 14 meters. Tests conducted in the radio anechoic chamber of the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) to investigate the RCS, which is the radar's reflection area, proved that the X-2 is smaller than a medium-sized bird and larger than an insect in terms of stealth performance. The development of the X-2 cost 39.4 billion yen and took seven years of prototyping from 2009 to 2014, with development completed in 2016. The cockpit has two displays and a heads-up display, while the seats and canopy are made of ITO, a material developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries that prevents radio waves from reflecting off of it. The engine of the X-2 is an XF5 developed by the Ministry of Defense's Air Equipment Research Center in cooperation with Ishikawajima-harima Heavy Industries, and is a turbofan jet engine with an afterburner that burns by blowing fuel into the exhaust of the jet engine again. The engine was developed through research into high-motion flight control systems, and the engine's three thrust vectoring paddles allow the direction of engine thrust to be controlled at will, even in areas of stalling where normal fighter jets would be unable to do so. In the future, the X-2 is expected to be commercialized around 2030, and is envisioned as the next fighter aircraft of the F2, which belongs to the older generation of aircraft. The First Flight of the X-2 Japanese Stealth Aircraft Photo：American stealth aircraft・F35 As shown in the video, the X-2, a 100% Japanese-made stealth aircraft, made its first flight at Nagoya Airport in April 2016. It has a top speed of 1,200 km/h, or supersonic speed. You can also see the X-2 flying with other fighters, such as an F15, at 0:39 in the video. Japan is the fourth country to fly a manned stealth aircraft, following the United States, Russia and China. Since then, it underwent several test flights and was kept in storage, but it became a hot topic of conversation when it was shown to the public at an air festival at the Air Self Defense Force base in Gifu. Summary of the X-2 Japanese Stealth Aircraft Source :YouTube screenshot What did you think of Japan's latest stealth aircraft? At 1:28 in the video, you can see comments from people who saw the first flight of X-2. Be sure to check out the test flight of the X-2 and see how awesome the new stealth aircraft is!

The Winners of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show! This video, titled "Japanese Designers Take Home Gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in the UK! (19/05/24)" (イギリスの園芸大会で日本人デザイナーが金賞受賞(19/05/24)), was produced by "ANNnewsCH." It's a short news clip about Japanese designers Miki Sato and Kazuto Kashiwakura who placed first at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London. Miki Sato and Kazuto Kashiwakura are young gardeners working in Hokkaido (北海道, Hokkaido). In this article, we'll introduce Chelsea Flower Show 2019, a gardening event that the gardening duo participated in in London. Before we go any further, check out the video to see what the competition is all about! The RHS Chelsea Flower Show Photo：Gardening The Chelsea Flower Show is a gardening event held at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the UK. The flower festival, the largest in the world, has a history as the oldest flower show in the UK. It's held every year in May, and landscaping craftsmen, carpenters, and plasterers gather from all over the world to attend it. There is also a shop that sells various gardening products. The eligibility requirements to join the contest and do exhibition sales are not easily met, so exhibiting one's own works is not an easy task. One of the highlights of the Chelsea Flower Show is the Garden Design Contest. The contest's show garden categories include a "Show Garden" category, an "Artisan Garden" category, and a "Space To Grow Garden" category. Each category varies in size and is judged on display, construction and planting techniques. If you're a gardening enthusiast, this is a must-attend event and the venue is packed with people. The Japanese Duo That Took Home Gold! Source :YouTube screenshot At the 2019 UK gardening competition, Miki Sato and Kazuto Kashiwakura took home the Gold Medal in the "Space To Grow" category at their first ever challenge. Their entry, "Kampo No Niwa," (The Garden of Chinese Herbs), was inspired by the nature of Hokkaido and depicted the flow of water as snow melted. The concept of the garden was "a garden for health and happiness" and it incorporated feng shui and included medicinal plants. The model garden of the Gold-award-winning garden is shown at 0:13 in the video. In 2018, Kazuyuki Ishihara also won the Gold Medal award for his "Omotenashi no Niwa" (Garden of Hospitality), exhibited in the Artisan Garden category. Kazuyuki Ishihara is a veteran of many gold awards and has been exhibiting at the Chelsea Flower Show since 2006. Summary of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Source :YouTube screenshot The video introduces Miki Sato and Kazuto Kashiwakura, the Japanese duo who won the Gold Medal award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. It also shows the site of the venue where their exhibition "Kampo No Niwa" is displayed. The video also includes an interview with visitors, so you can feel the atmosphere of the Chelsea Flower Show for yourself! If you're interested in gardening be sure to check out the video to see the award winning exhibit, "Kampo no Niwa"! 【Tripadvisor】RHS Chelsea Flower Show https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g186338-d10020593-Reviews-RHS_Chelsea_Flower_Show-London_England.html

Haneda Airport" Video Introduction of Haneda Airport, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Connecting Tokyo Metropolis to the World This video, produced by "Tokyo MX" focuses on the uncompromising facilities and services of Haneda Airport which has been named "the World's Cleanest Airport" by the British air transportation rating organization. Haneda Airport was ranked first among almost 550 airports across the world. It's been awarded first place for the 5th time, and 3 years in a row as of 2018. This article describes the airport's uncompromising commitments to the cleanliness alongside the video. The airport cleaning staff's interview reveals their passion to keep a clean establishment, which explains why Haneda Airport has been named the World's Cleanest Airport. There are also interviews with visitors to Japan praising the cleanliness of Haneda Airport as well. About Haneda Airport Photo：Haneda Airport-International Passenger Terminal-View from the Observation Deck Located in Tokyo, Haneda Airport is one of Japan's most popular airports, connecting flights to Tokyo and the rest of the world, and it is used by many travelers. It has been awarded the World's Cleanest Airport title for 3 consecutive years by the British air transportation rating organization. Chubu Centrair Airport (Nagoya, Japan) was ranked second, and then Incheon Airport (South Korea), Taiwan's Taoyuan Airport and Singapore's Changi Airport followed. Every facility in Haneda Airport is kept clean to provide maximum comfort to travelers, as is shown in the video from 1:12. Haneda Airport has seen an increase in foreign passengers in recent years, with the number of passengers nearly tripling between 2012 and 2017. It is being prepared for an increase in passengers expected at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The cleanliness of the airport reflects the Japanese concept of "hospitality". Haneda Airport features Terminal 1 & 2 exclusively used for domestic flights and International Terminal (Terminal 3). Haneda Airport has three domestic terminals, Haneda Airport Terminal 1 and 2, and Haneda Airport International Terminal, each of which is used respectively by the airlines JAL, ANA and SKY. It has an observation deck where you can enjoy watching planes taking off and landing, as well as restaurants and shops. Haneda Airport can be reached by train from JR Shinagawa or Hamamatsucho stations, or by limousine buses in the Tokyo Metropolitan area. The hotel and parking garage make it very convenient. The Incredible Hospitabitlity of Haneda Airport Photo：Haneda Airport Terminal 2 The airport is kept clean by the cleaning staff who never cut corners. They fully commit themselves - After washing off the stains on the polished floor, they measure the glossiness of the surface with a gloss meter to keep it at a certain level. This can be seen at 1:38. From 3:11, the video captures the toilet cleaning scene using a hand-mirror as not to miss any dirt. The International Terminal Senior Manager speaks about why they keep the airport so clean from 4:17. The efforts are made not only to offer the hospitality, but also for security and safety reasons as well. If the establishment is clean and in order, suspicious objects stand out and can be spotted immediately. Owing to the efforts made by the airport staff, Haneda Airport has become an airport praised by international travelers. The video contains interviews of the cleaning staff as well as of foreign passengers. Summary of Haneda Airport Tokyo MX's video focuses on the commitment of the Haneda Airport staff that has led to it being crowned the World's Cleanest Airport. The cleanliness of Haneda Airport represents Japanese hospitality. If you watch the video, you'll be able to appreciate the fact that the cleaning staff has received rave reviews from foreigners for the great work they do. Haneda Airport Information 【Address】Hanedakuko, Ota City, Tokyo 144-0041, Japan 【Access】15 minutes from Shinagawa Station by way of the Keikyu Airport Line. 20 minutes from Hamamatsucho Station, by way of the Tokyo Monorail. 【Parking】A toll car park 【Telephone No】03-5757-8111 【Official Website】 Haneda Airport Terminal https://tokyo-haneda.com/en/

Revolutionary Regenerative Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury Patients The video we're introducing this time is a news video released by "HTB News," titled, “[HTB News] World's First! Nerve Regenerative Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury Patients." It details a therapy approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare for the first time, as a regenerative treatment method for spinal cord injury patients. In 2018, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare approved the regenerative Stemirac injections, jointly developed by Sapporo Medical University and Nipro. This regenerative treatment method extracts mesenchymal stem cells from the bone marrow fluid of spinal cord injury patients and cultures them into approximately 100 million cells. By injecting it into a vein by infusion, nerves in the damaged spinal cord are regenerated. In this clinical trial conducted at Sapporo Medical University, 12 of 13 patients had functional recovery. As a condition of approval, efficacy and safety checks must continue to be performed for the next seven years. A Look at Stemirac Injections Source :YouTube screenshot The approved Stemirac injection is the product name of the kit used for the treatment of spinal cord injury, and the generic name is "human (autologous) bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells." This regenerative therapy was approved in December 2018, subject to conditions and deadlines. Mesenchymal stem cells, which have been shown to differentiate into nerves and blood vessels, are collected from patients with bone marrow injuries and cultured to 10,000-fold over a period of about two weeks. The approximately 100 million cells administered intravenously over 30 minutes to an hour can improve neurological syndromes and dysfunction through angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory effects around the damaged spinal cord, and regeneration of spinal nerves. You can see how it works in detail at 0:23 in the video. This Stemirac Injection is the first product approved under Japan's revised regenerative medicine act. Costs and Side Effects of Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Therapy Photo：Chest pain Although they are developing groundbreaking regenerative therapy, the price of the therapy, as of February 26, 2019, is extremely expensive, costing around 14,957,755 yen (~$142,000 USD). Side effects of the treatment include bleeding, wound infections and scars from bone marrow harvest surgery. In addition, pulmonary infarction may occur due to administration of stem cell arteries. What Happens in a Spinal Cord Injury? Photo：Back pain The spinal cord is a tunnel-like organ surrounded by the spine that passes through the spinal canal and is responsible for transmitting commands from the brain to the ends of the body, such as the hands and feet. This spinal cord extends like a branch to the left and right, and from that position it is divided section by section into the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spinal cord. When the spinal cord is injured, there is no bi-directional transmission of commands from the damaged area to the neural circuits below. This can lead to disorders such as motor paralysis, sensory paralysis, complete motor paralysis, autonomic neuropathy, dysuria, and complications when defecating. Until now, the standard treatment for spinal cord injury has been to rehabilitate the injured nerve cells in order to alleviate the aftereffects of the injury, as regeneration is considered difficult. In addition, it is estimated that 5,000 cases of spinal cord injury occur each year, and it is estimated that there are more than 100,000 patients in Japan. Under such circumstances, the bone marrow injury regeneration therapy described in the video has become a beacon of hope for patients everywhere. Although the enormous medical expenses are a bottleneck, this therapy can lead to solutions for paralysis and disabilities such as stroke and spinal cord injury. Summary of Regenerative Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury Patients The regenerative therapy shown in the video is a true testament to how far modern medicine has come. What'd you think? Regenerative therapies have give hope to patients with spinal cord injuries. It'll be interesting to see what the future of regenerative therapy has in store for us!

Introduction of Obihiro Zoo’s Japanese Raccoon Dogs! This video, “しぐさが可愛い！おびひろ動物園のタヌキが人気に” (Too cute! The Popular Raccon Dogs of Obihiro Zoo!), is an interview-style video first televised on HTB News. In the video, “buried raccoon dogs”, the adorable sight of raccoon dogs playing in the pool of fallen leaves prepared by the zoo’s staff, is shown. But just why are the raccoon dogs of Obihiro Zoo (おびひろ動物園, Obihiro dobutsuen) burying into the fallen leaves? In this article, we will introduce these animals along with a video of the adorable raccoon dogs peeking out from the fallen leaves. Obihiro Zoo's Raccoon Dogs Source :YouTube screenshot The raccoon dogs shown in the video are named An and Shiro. Originally, the zoo staff had hidden food in the fallen leaves. However, the raccoon dogs continued to bury themselves comfortably in the pool of leaves, as shown in the video, due to the warmth provided by it. The adorable sight of their faces peeking out from amongst the leaves can be seen from 0:25 in the video. This video of the raccoon dogs playing in the pool of leaves was posted on Twitter by zoo staff, and began to trend on social media sites. What Are Japanese Raccoon Dogs? Source :YouTube screenshot Japanese raccoon dogs are a member of the Canidae family, and are a Japanese subspecies of the Asian raccoon dog. They can be found in certain areas of Hokkaido. Japanese raccoon dogs grow to a length of about 50 centimeters and weight about 4 to 8 kilograms. Those living in the wild have a lifespan of 6 to 8 years. They are mostly nocturnal, and subsist on an omnivorous diet of fruits, insects, and meat. The ezo tanuki species of Hokkaido is said to be different from the hondo tanuki species found in other areas of Japan. Japanese raccoon dogs come under the Wildlife Protection and Hunting Act of Japan, and cannot be raised as pets without special permission. Let’s Visit the Zoo to See the Japanese Raccoon Dogs! Source :YouTube screenshot The raccoon dogs can be seen in Obihiro Zoo, as introduced in the video. However, as mentioned at 0:44 in the video, the zoo closes for a certain period of time during the winter season, so do make sure to confirm the opening days before visiting. In recent years, the “natural behavior display”, where visitors can observe the behavior of animals in their natural habitat, has become a popular display method in zoos. In Hokkaido, besides Obihiro Zoo, zoos such as the popular Asahiyama Zoo (旭山動物園, Asahiyama dobutsuen) and Sapporo City Maruyama Zoo (札幌市円山動物園, Sappro-shi maruyama dobutsuen) also make use of such displays. In the souvenir shop of the zoo, you can purchase adorable raccoon dog plush toys as well. Summary of Japanese Raccoon Dogs at Obihiro Zoo In this one-minute video, you can get a sense of just how adorable and charming the Japanese raccoon dogs are. As seen from 0:50 in the video, as the season begins to change to winter, the raccoon dogs’ fur grows out rapidly and becomes soft and fluffy. For those who want to view this adorable sight, definitely pay a visit to Obihiro Zoo in the winter. 【Official Website】Obihiro Zoo | Obihiro City Homepage Tokachi https://www.city.obihiro.hokkaido.jp/zoo/

Video introduction of "Nishinoshima" in Ogasawara Village, Tokyo Check out the news video “New footage of research in Nishinoshima. Nishinoshima growing to the size of 60 Tokyo Domes!（西之島調査の最新映像　東京ドーム約60倍に成長中！）” publicized by FNN.jp Prime Online. Nishinoshima is a newborn desert island that was born in the 2013 undersea volcano eruption, swallowing up preexisting islands. In the area around Nishinoshima, which was previously an isolated island far off in the sea, seabirds and fish have settled down and created a new ecosystem. Please enjoy this amazing footage of the new, growing Japanese island. How Big Is Nishinoshima? Source : YouTube screenshot Nishinoshima is a desert island located in the Ogasawara Islands (小笠原諸島, Ogasawarashoto),and is located about 1000 kilometers from Tokyo and about 130 kilometers from Chichijima Island (父島, Chichijima). Currently, as you can see in the video from 2:08, its land mass is about 2.9 square kilometers (1.1 sq. mi.), 1000 times the size of the original island. Nishinoshima, created by a volcano in Japan, is expanding little by little due to cinder from the mouth of the volcano building up and then hardening due to the flow of magma. Nishinoshima's New Ecosystem Source :YouTube screenshot Nishinoshima, the newly formed island in Japan, is made of black rough walls of cooled, hardened lava. The ground surface is covered with andesitic lava flow, creating the landscape of a precipitous cliff. The Geographical Survey Institute (国土地理院, Kokudochiriin) has been visiting the island to research its mantle and magma composition. According to this research, the island has expanded since it was born in 2013, and its ecosystem is changing as well. The masked booby (アオツラカツオドリ, Aotsurakatsuodori), shown from 0:23 in the video, is thought to have inhabited Nishinoshima very recently. As you can see from 1:38, the boobies have been spotted laying eggs inside of the island. A new life, that of a baby bird, is being born on this island. Summary of Nishinoshima, Japan's Newest Island Source :YouTube screenshot On Japan’s seafloor, active volcanic activity still continues and the continent is set to slowly grow bigger. When you see new islands appear and change the size of the continents, it reminds you that the shape of the continents shifts each and every year. Many experts are continuing research in Nishinoshima, so keep an eye out for any new information! Please enjoy this amazing footage of Nishinoshima, an island where very few have set foot. 【Official Website】Nishinoshima｜Marine Volcano Database｜Japan Coast Guard Marine Information Department https://www1.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/GIJUTSUKOKUSAI/kaiikiDB/kaiyo18-e1.htm

The Japanese Passport - The Strongest Passport in the World! The video in this article is titled "The World's Strongest Passport 'The Trustworthy Japanese' (18/12/29)" (世界最強パスポートを支える「日本人の信頼」(18/12/29)). In 2018, the Japanese passport became the world's strongest passport, beating out Singapore in the number of countries which you can visit without a visa. The Japanese passport can now take you to 190 countries without visas. In this article, we will introduce information about the Japanese passport. Be sure to follow along with the video as you read on! Research on Visas Photo：Blue City Introduced is a survey by a UK company that ranks the "most travel-friendly passports" in order of strength. According to the survey, conducted in January 2018, Japan was granted visa-free travel to Uzbekistan, famous for the ancient city of Samarkand, also known as the "Blue City," which can be seen at 0:59 in the video, and in October 2018, to Myanmar, which is shown at 1:22 in the video, leading to it being ranked first in the world! As a result, the Japanese can now visit Myanmar's famous world heritage site, the Shwedagon Pagoda, without a visa. Why Is the Japanese Passport Trusted? Source :YouTube screenshot At 2:05 in the video, we're shown an interview with Taro Kono, Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs. According to the interview, the increase in visa-free travel to these areas is largely due to the economic power and reliability of the Japanese people. This means that the world expects and welcomes Japanese tourists because they are safe and trustworthy. Passports and Visas Photo：Passport A passport is an identification certificate that contains information about a person, such as their nationality, etc. When you travel abroad, you need to apply for a passport at your local passport center and have it issued to you. It's important to remember that it takes some time for a passport to be issued and that it's only valid for a certain amount of time. Recently, registration for Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is also required to visit the U.S. A visa is an entry permit, and depending on the destination, you will not be able to leave the country without one. Different Kinds of Passports Source :YouTube screenshot The passport introduced at 3:17 in the video, is an official passport, called a "diplomatic passport" for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, which is different from the red and blue passports (general passports) that most people have. Also, as introduced in the video at 4:57, the imperial couple is treated as head of a state, and therefore do not have passports. Summary of the Japanese Passport Today, we introduced the Japanese passports - Now the strongest passport in the world! The fact that Japan has the strongest passport in the world is just a testament to the trust that Japanese tourists hold around the world. It's great to know that Japanese people are welcome in 190 countries and regions. Do you know how many countries you can visit with your passport?

Koichi Wakata: The First Japanese Captain of the ISS This video "Koichi Wakata: Proud to Be the First Japanese Captain of the ISS! (14/03/10)" (日本人初！若田さんISS船長に「和の心を大切に」(14/03/10))" is brought to you by ANNnewsCH. It introduces Dr. Koichi Wakata, who has become the first Japanese captain of the International Space Station (ISS). JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata has accomplished the spectacular feat of becoming the 39th captain of the ISS. A special ceremony was held in the Japanese Experiment Module (日本実験棟, nipponjikkentou) "Kibo" (きぼう). The ceremony is normally held in the American Experiment Module, however as this is the first time a Japanese astronaut has assumed the position of captain, on this occasion the ceremony was held in the Japanese Experiment Module. You can watch the ceremony in the video from 0:23. During the ceremony, Koichi Wakata talks of how he is proud to be the first Japanese captain of the ISS and is looking forward to working with everyone. The right to command was passed on to Koichi Wakata from the previous captain of the ISS Oleg Kotov. Koichi Wakata was captain of the ISS for a total of 2 months until his return home to Japan. More About Koichi Wakata: The First Japanese Captain of the ISS Source :YouTube screenshot Koichi Wakata was born in Omiya city, Saitama prefecture and is an astronaut working for JAXA (Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency). He has a Doctorates in Engineering and has been awarded the Kikuchi Kan Prize (菊池寛賞, kikuchikanshou). He graduated from Kyushu University (九州大学大学院, kyuushuudaigaku daigakuin) in March, 1989 and proceeded to work for Japan Airlines, also known as JAL. He was selected for the position of mission specialist for the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) in April 1992 and in January 1996 was the first Japanese mission specialist to take part in the STS-72 mission of the Space Shuttle Endevour. He mastered the difficult task of learning to control a robotic arm and succeeded in the retrieval of the SFU (Space Flyer Unit). He has completed four missions in space to date, including flights in American NASA space shuttles and Russian Roscosmos spacecraft. Koichi Wakata also made news after broadcasting videos of fun experiments performed in space, inviting viewers to send in their experiment ideas. In an effort to get children more interested in space, he performed various actions inside the space station such as folding clothes or arm wrestling the other astronauts. More About Koichi Wakata's Role Aboard the ISS Source :YouTube screenshot Below are a list of the tasks performed by Koichi Wakata as commander of the ISS: 1. Manage the crew and lead them to success in their missions. 2. Handle any emergencies that may arise such as fires or gas leaks and give directions as the leader of the crew. 3. Have a good grasp of the crew members' health conditions and work situations. 4. Summarizing adjustments to the work schedule with ground control. Not only does the job require good management skills but a high level of interpersonal skills are also necessary. Summary of Koichi Wakata Koichi Wakata currently works as the director of JAXA and is busy holding lectures and other events across the country. We hope you enjoyed learning more about the first Japanese captain of the ISS, Koichi Wakata. We look forward to hearing about more of his endeavors in the future! 【Official Website】Jaxa Astronaut Koichi Wakata, Space Station, Kibo, Information Center https://iss.jaxa.jp/en/astro/biographies/wakata/index.html

Universal Studios Japan's "Best Christmas Tree in the World" The video "The World's Best Christmas Tree- Universal Studios Japan's Light Show（電飾世界一のＸマスツリー USJ 光の演出）" shows the scene of the famous Christmas tree at Universal Studios Japan that was released to the press. The giant Christmas tree features 591,840 tiny illuminations! Also the largest snow crystal shape ornament is placed at the very top of the 30 meter tall Christmas tree. The number of illuminations and the snow crystal shape ornament displayed on this Christmas tree, which has been officially recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records, are magnificent. Please admire the beauty of this wondrous Christmas tree. The Universal Crystal Christmas Source :YouTube screenshot In winter of 2019, Universal Studios Japan organized the Christmas event from November 14, 2019 to January 13, 2020. Kanjani 8, a famous Japanese idol group was appointed as the ambassadors of the event. During this event, there was the new live show called “ The Crystal Promise “ instead of “The voice of an angel” that had been performed in the 2018 Christmas show. You can see this live show in this video (0:09). Also you shouldn’t miss the Yellow Christmas held concurrently in the Minion Park, and the limited-time Christmas goods to be sold. Everyone loves USJ's Christmas events, but keep in mind that the waiting time for events or attractions may be longer than usual if the park is crowded. What Kind of Theme Park Is Universal Studios Japan? Photo：Universal Studios Japan USJ is the famous theme park where you can experience Hollywood movies produced by Steven Spilelberg! According to the Trip Advisor, Universal Studios Japan ranks among the top theme parks in Japan such as "Tokyo Disney Land" and "Tokyo Disney Sea." Universal Studios Japan has various types of attractions such as Jurassic Park or Gramercy Park in several areas including New York or San Francisco. Everyone is looking forward to the new Nintendo area to be opened in 2020 where visitors can experience the world of Super Mario Brothers." There are too many attractions as well as eating places and souvenir shops in the park to be covered by a day trip. You can visit the Universal Studios Japan by overnight or a day trip and enjoy this theme park in any way you choose. Summary of Christmas Displays and Events at Universal Studios Japan Source :YouTube screenshot You can find how wonderful Christmas at Universal Studios Japan is just by watching this 1 minute video. If you want to create unforgettable memories during Christmas, we recommend going and seeing the awesome tree and events that USJ has to offer! 【Official Website】Universal Studios Japan｜USJ https://www.usj.co.jp/e/

A Look at the Lively Underground Department Store! This video, released by "ANNnewsCH" is titled "New Year's [Underground Department Store] Bustling With Customers Returning Home for the Holidays!" It's a news video introducing the liveliness of Japan's department stores at the end of 2018. The video, which is crowded with people shopping for end-of-the-year ingredients and gifts for returning home, shows the Daimaru Tokyo store in Chiyoda, Tokyo. Why are so many customers visiting the basement floors of Japan's department stores? Read on to learn the secrets behind their popularity and get some awesome food recommendations! The Basement Level in Japan's Department Stores Photo：Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Depa-basement (デパ地下, "Depa-chika," short for Department store basement level) refers to the basement floor of a department store where foodstuffs are usually sold. There are many stores in Japan, including the Keio Department Store in Shinjuku, Matsuzakaya in Nagoya, Takashimaya in Kyoto, and Seibu in Ikebukuro, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, "Tokyu Food Show" in Tokyu Department, and more. The video shows the department store basement connected to Tokyo Station, which is home to many famous stores. The basement food store is close to the train and bullet train platforms and has a direct connection to the underground parking lot, making it easy to access. In addition, water and gas facilities can be installed at low cost, and the "fountain effect" is said to be one of the merits of the Depa-basement, as having a full range of stores in the basement increases sales upstairs. Delicious Food and Popular Recipes Source :YouTube screenshot The most popular item at the Tokyo Daimaru store's deli corner is the Mero Teriyaki, shown at 0:56 in the video. The "Meat Path" corner, which can be seen at 1:27 in the video, sells a deluxe beef tongue steak bento boxes with beef tenderloin steak from "Gyutanka Nezaki." Other popular items include deli items such as dried bonito and vegetable salads, as well as sweets such as whole cakes, chocolates and macaroons, candy, and alcoholic beverages. In addition to sales by permanent tenants, the basements of department stores also host events such as local product fairs featuring local products from Hokkaido and Okinawa, and ekiben (boxed lunches sold at train stations across Japan), attracting many customers. Summary of Japan's Department Store's Basements Source :YouTube screenshot In this article, we introduced a news video that shows the basement of one of Japan's department stores as it's flooded with customers at the end of the year. There are many tenants in the basement of a department store, and as shown in the video, the store is filled with delicious food. Most of the department stores in Japan are directly connected to train stations, so if you're looking to buy some delicious ingredients, be sure to drop by for a visit! 【Official Website】Daimaru Tokyo store https://www.daimaru.co.jp.e.md.hp.transer.com/tokyo/?_ga=2.195670380.1999862128.1591598074-89102328.1591598074

News Video Introduction about "Toyosu Market" in Koto-ku, Tokyo This video, titled "One Year After Relocation: 'Toyosu Brand' to the World," (【市場移転から1年　「豊洲ブランド」を世界へ】) was produced by TOKYO MX. It was in 2018 that Tokyo's Tsukiji Market, a project by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, was relocated to Toyosu Market, a central wholesale market in Tokyo. As you can see from 0:35 of the video, Toyosu Market held an event in October 2019 to celebrate the first anniversary of its opening, which drew many visitors to the market. In the video, you can find out what has changed since the market moved to Toyosu from interviews with real people working at Toyosu. What Kind of Place Is Toyosu Market? Source :YouTube screenshot As you can see from 2:11 in the video, thorough temperature control is essential for handling fresh produce in the wholesale seafood industry. A major feature of the Toyosu Market is its temperature control and hygiene management functions made possible by the latest closed-type facilities. If temperature and hygiene management can be achieved on a consistent basis, the number of items handled can be increased. The relocated Toyosu Market, shown in the video, is open to the general public for tours. In addition to the seafood wholesale building, the seafood wholesale building gallery tour, and the fruit and vegetable observation tour, there is a PR corner as well. The tuna auction viewing deck and the turret truck display corner are also a must-see. Toyosu Market also has restaurants, so you can stroll around and eat. On weekends and holidays, sushi and other gourmet foods are available for lunch at Toyosu Market, and many Tokyo residents and tourists come here to enjoy a stroll through the market. How Do the Toyosu Market Operators View the Move From Tsukiji Market to Toyosu Market? Source :YouTube screenshot Takayuki Shinoda, the third generation of Ishiji, a fishery wholesaler, says at 1:29 in the video that although he is already deeply familiar with Toyosu Market and has worked there, he has a special place in his heart for Tsukiji Market. Toyosu Market has a parking lot, but the nearest station to the market is in front of the Yurikamome Market station, and Shinoda says the market's inaccessibility is an issue for the future. Chef Akifumi Sakagami of Ginza's "Sushi Ginza Onodera," introduced at 4:50 in the video, hopes that Toyosu Market after the relocation will become "The World's Kitchen" and wants to build the Toyosu brand so that it attracts attention from all over the world. Summary of Toyosu Market's Relocation Photo：Toyosu Market As introduced in the video, the relocated Toyosu Market conducts daily sales and various promotions with the aim of establishing the "Toyosu Brand." The Tsukiji Market, once known and loved as "The Kitchen of Japan" is currently undergoing partial demolition, but even after the move to Toyosu Market, many restaurants remain in Tsukiji's other markets. If you're planning a trip to Tokyo, we recommend visiting Toyosu or Tsukiji Market and trying the delicious seafood they offer! 【Official Website】Toyosu market http://www.toyosu-market.or.jp/

Introducing East Japan Railway Company's New Vending Machine Subscription First, let's take a look at the video, "Japan's First Vending Machine 'Subscription Service' Twice as Many Applicants as the Quota!" This is a news broadcast video about the hot, new, first ever vending machine subscription service in Japan. The video introduces "Everypass," the vending machine subscription service provided by East Japan Railway Company Water Service. This article will take a look at the brand new service in Japan. A Tidal Wave of Applicants for the New Vending Machine Subscription Service! Photo：Digital signage The video shows the innovative vending machine "acure," located inside the stations of East Japan Railway Company, as shown at 0:15 in the video. According to the broadcast, despite the fact that the initial quota for this subscription service was 500 people, in just 4 hours nearly 1000 people (twice the quota) applied for this service. What Is the Vending Machine Subscription Service? What Kind of Plans Are There? Photo：A woman drinking water The first vending machine subscription service in Japan began accepting applicants in September 2019. This service has two plans: the "Acure Made Plan" where you can receive one drink per day out of some selected products in a vending machine by paying 980 yen (~$9.40 USD) per month, and the “Premium Plan” where you can receive one drink per day out of all products in a vending machine by paying 2480 yen per month. The “Acure Made Plan” is made to automatically switch into the “Premium Plan” after a month. How Can You Use This Vending Machine Subscription Service? Source :YouTube screenshot There are about 400 vending machines in the stations of Japan East Railway Company Area that you can use with this subscription service. At the same time as the initiation of this service, Japan East Railway Company also expanded its point-return system for the electronic money "a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suica" target="_blank" class="textlink">Suica." As you can see at 0:26 in the video, you can purchase a drink by holding a QR code that is delivered to a special app on your smartphone, up to the vending machine. You can receive one drink per day with this special app. Summary of East Japan Railway Company's Vending Machine Subscription Photo：Vending machine In recent years, more and more vending machines that accept electronic money are becoming available, in addition to the traditional method of purchasing beverages with small change. Furthermore, we can expect to see an increase in the number of convenient subscription-based vending machines like the one shown in the video, in the future. If you’re interested in a convenient subscription service that allows you to buy drinks at ease, why not apply for Everypass? 【Official Website】 Everypass – acure pass https://everypass.acurepass.co.jp/

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!