Official Author

坂崎 なお（Nao Sakazaki）

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!

CT Scanning Research of the Four Heavenly Kings Statues of Nan'en-do at Kofukuji Temple in Nara! This video, titled "Unkei’s ‘mark’ found on Four Heavenly Kings standing statues," is about the Four Heavenly Kings statues at Nan'en-do in Nara Prefecture. It was published by "Asahi Shimbun." In 2017, the Tokyo National Museum conducted CT scans on the Buddhist statues of Kofukuji Temple in Nara Prefecture (奈良県, Nara-ken) to coincide with a special exhibit called "Unkei—The Great Master of Buddhist Sculpture." It opened up the possibility that the creator of the Mujaku and Seshin standing statues (無著世親菩薩立像, Mujaku Seshin Bosatsu Ryuzo), known as the most highly acclaimed Japanese sculptures, was none other than genius Buddhist sculptor Unkei. Presently in Japan, it is said that there are 31 other statues created by Unkei, but there is a likelihood that the number will rise as surveys continue. The CT Scan Research of the Four Heavenly Kings Statues Source :YouTube screenshot According to the video, by CT scanning the Four Heavenly Kings statues of Nan'en-do, and the Mujaku and Seshin standing statues of the North Round Hall (北円堂, Hokuendo), it was discovered that wooden parts containing tree cores had been combined to make both groups of statues. It is therefore said that the Four Heavenly Kings statues at Kofukuji Temple were created by Unkei. The commonality in technique used in the Mujaku and Seshin statues is an important factor to back the claim that the creator of both groups of statues is Unkei. In the video, the statue, over 2 meters tall, is neatly wrapped, and from 0:49 in the video, the x-ray CT scanning begins. From 0:10 in the video, Ryusuke Asami, section chief of the planning division at the Tokyo National Museum, says in interview, "the Four Heavenly Kings statues have never been photographed using x-rays before and the structures of the insides of the statues has also not been understood." What are the Four Heavenly Kings? Source :YouTube screenshot The Four Heavenly Kings are the four gods of Buddhism that protect the four directions and consist of the Jikokuten statue (持国天像, Jikokuten-zo) of the east, the Zojoten statue (増長天像, Zojoten-zo) of the south, the Komokuten (広目天像, Komokuten-zo) statue of the west, and the Tamokuten statue (多聞天像, Tamonten-zo) of the North. The Four Heavenly Kings statues at Kofukuji Temple were thought to be the works of Unkei’s father, Kokei, but from this research and researches on their styles, it has become increasingly believable that these were created by the hands of Unkei himself. The National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties of Kofukuji Temple Photo：Nara Prefecture・Kofukuji Kofukuji Temple, located in Nara Prefecture, consists of historical buildings, such as the East Golden Hall (東金堂, Tokondo), the West Golden Hall (西金堂, Saikondo), the North Round Hall, and the South Round Hall (Nan'en-do). The wooden statues of the Four Heavenly Kings at Kofukuji were moved from the Old Golden Hall (旧金堂, Kyukondo) to the South Round Hall replacing the Four Heavenly Kings statues in the South Round Hall, which are introduced in the video. Other than these, there are many temple treasures at Kofukuji Temple which were created during the Heian period (794-1185) and the Kamakura period (1185-1333), including the Asura statue, the wooden Medicine King (Bhaishajyaraja) and Medicine Superior standing statues (薬王菩薩・薬上菩薩立像, Mokuzo Yakuobosatsu・Yakujobosatsu Ryuzo), the bronze Medicine Master sitting statue (薬師如来坐像, Yakushinyorai Zazo), Ryowakiji statue, the wooden Manjushri standing statue (文殊菩薩立像, Monjubosatsu Ryuzo), the wooden Vimalakirti sitting statue (維摩居士坐像, Yuimakoji Zazo), the wooden Twelve Heavenly Generals standing statues (十二神将立像, Junishinsho Ryuzo), and the bronze Buddha head. Summary of the Four Heavenly Kings of Kofukuji Source :YouTube screenshot This article introduced the massive discovery of the Four Heavenly Kings of Kofukuji possibly being created by the genius Buddhist sculptor, Unkei. The research by the Tokyo National Museum may lead to an important discovery that unravels the mysteries of history. Nara Prefecture has flourished for more than a thousand years, back when it was called Heijokyo (平城京, Heijo-kyo), and it still has many sightseeing locations, such as Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Shrine (春日大社, Kasuga-taisha), Yakushiji Temple, Taima Temple (当麻寺, Taimadera), and more. If you’re interested in Buddhist statues or Japanese history in general, we urge you to visit! 【Official Website】The Head Temple of the Hosso School (法相宗, Hosso-shu) Kofukuji Temple https://www.kohfukuji.com/english/

Kishin Shinoyama’s Exhibit! This video, titled "[Gallery AaMo] A Kishin Shinoyama Exhibition｜THE PEOPLE by KISHIN The Last Show" (【Gallery AaMo】篠山紀信展 写真力 THE PEOPLE by KISHIN The Last Show), is presented by “Tokyo Dome City.” The video is about the exhibit "THE PEOPLE" by genius photographer, Kishin Shinoyama. Kishin Shinoyama's photo exhibit "THE PEOPLE" was held at 32 venues across Japan for 7 years starting in 2012, and achieved the remarkable feat of having more than one million visitors. Who is Kishin Shinoyama? Source :YouTube screenshot Kishin Shinoyama is a photographer from Tokyo. He graduated Nihon University College of Art Photography Course and Tokyo College of Photography. He shoots a wide range of work in various genres and themes, from kabuki to nude. After divorcing his ex-wife, a model, he married idol singer Saori Minami. In recent years, he has released a number of photo books, including "Gekisha" and "digi+KISHIN," in which he photographed not only the aforementioned Saori Minami, but also other actresses and models, such as Rie Miyazawa, Suzu Hirose, and more. He also released "MAGIC," a photobook with a Disney theme. Kishin Shinoyama's panoramic photography technique, which uses multiple cameras, is known as "Shinorama. Kishin Shinoyama's photographs, taken using a highly original technique, have gained the support of people of all ages. "THE PEOPLE" Source :YouTube screenshot In an interview at 0:32 in the video, Kishin Shinoyama talks about the live nature of the exhibit. At a time when it was difficult to find a venue, information about the exhibit spread by word of mouth, and he was able to hold it in Osaka and Nagoya, making it a positive experience for him. Shinoyama's exhibit "THE PEOPLE" includes photos of Yukio Mishima, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Shigeo Nagashima, and Kirin Kiki. At 2:32 in the video, you can see an exhibit featuring photographs depicting the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. The "Power of Photography" exhibit, which began at the Kumamotoshi Gendai Museum in 2012, reached 1 million visitors at the Tokyo Dome City Gallery AaMo in Suidobashi. Summary of Kishin Shinoyama Source :YouTube screenshot As you can see in the video interview, he continues to take on new challenges with a lot of ingenuity. If this video has piqued your interest in Kishin Shinoyama's work, be sure to check out his work! You can also check out Kishin Shinoyama's Instagram page to see more of his work.

Yoshiharu Habu's Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon This video, titled "Yoshiharu Habu, Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon｜Interview" (羽生善治竜王　喜び語る　紫綬褒章受章会見), contains footage of an interview that took place in 2018 with top shogi player Yoshiharu Habu after receiving the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon. In 2018, Yoshiharu Habu was awarded the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon as well as being publicly presented the National Honor Award (国民栄誉賞, kokumineiyoshou) by the Prime Minister. Please check out this video which contains footage of an interview with Yoshiharu Habu in which he expresses his feelings after winning the prestigious award. More About Yoshiharu Habu and His Career History Source :YouTube screenshot Yoshiharu Habu was born in 1970 and is a professional shogi player famous for winning all seven shogi titles. He has two daughters with his wife Rie Habu (羽生理恵, habu rie). He joined the Hachioji Shogi club (八王子将棋クラブ) when he was an elementary school student and debuted as a professional shogi player in junior high school. After his debut he became the top shogi player in Japan, attracting a lot of attention. According to the Shogi Federation (将棋連盟, shougirenmei), Yoshiharu Habu is the top earner among all shogi players in the country, earning more than 100 million yen (~$1,000,000 USD)/year. What Kind of Player Is Yoshiharu Habu? Photo：Shogi In 2017, Yoshiharu Habu became the first shogi player to win all seven shogi titles: Eisei Ryuo (永世竜王), Juku Eisei Meijin (十九世名人), Eisei Oi (永世王位), Meiyo Oza(名誉王座), Eisei Kio (永世棋王), Eisei Osho (永世王将) and Eisei Kisei (永世棋聖). He also continues to hold the NHK Cup title. Yoshiharu Habu has a famous saying which translates in English to "Don't take the easy victory, dare to make an adventurous move" (目の前の勝利よりあえて冒険的な一手を指す). His willingness to take on a challenge may be the secret to his great success winning all seven shogi titles and also receiving the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon. The Medal of Honor With Purple Ribbon Photo：Calculating The Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon is awarded to those who have achieved excellence in their field of work, be it academia, the arts, sports, and so on. The Medal with Purple Ribbon is awarded in accordance with Article 7 Section 7 of the Constitution of Japan. In recent years, it has also been awarded to Hiroyuki Sanada and Mariko Hayashi. Yoshiharu Habu won the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon of Autumn. Other Medal of Honor awards include the Red Ribbon (紅綬褒章, koujuhoushou), Green Ribbon (緑綬褒章, ryokujuhoushou), Yellow Ribbon (黄綬褒章, oujuhoushou), Blue Ribbon (藍綬褒章, ranjuhoshou) and Dark Blue Ribbon (紺綬褒章, konjuhoshou). Summary of Legendary Shogi Player, Yoshiharu Habu Source :YouTube screenshot If you still haven't yet, be sure to check out the video to hear Yoshiharu Habu speak about his family from 0:51 and about the much talked about Shogi AI from 8:49. Other famous shogi players in Japan include the up-and-coming Souta Fujii (藤井聡太, fujiisouta) and retired player Hifumi Kato (加藤一二三, katouhifumi). Those interested in the traditional Japanese game of shogi, be sure to check out some of the matches, such as the famous Ryuo tournament (竜王戦, ryuuousen)!

An Interview With Tomoyasu Hotei! This time, we'll introduce the video "Tomoyasu Hotei- MATERIALS (HOTEI LIVE IN LONDON)" (布袋寅泰- MATERIALS（HOTEI LIVE IN LONDON)), released by Tomoyasu Hotei's official You Tube channel. "HOTEI LIVE IN LONDON Electric Samurai - Live at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire-" introduced in the video, is a live tour that was held in London in 2013. Tomoyasu Hotei released his first solo album "Guitarism" in 1988, and he is still active mainly as a solo artist. The interview video contains plenty of Tomoyasu Hotei's current thoughts and future prospects after 25 years of a solo career. What Kind of Musician Is Tomoyasu Hotei? The History and Current Life of the Famed Guitarist Source :YouTube screenshot Tomoyasu Hotei is 6'2" tall. In 1981, as a guitarist for BOØWY, he made his debut with Kyosuke Himuro, Tsunematsu Matsui and Makoto Takahashi and they were a hit. After the dissolution of BOØWY in 1987, he continued his musical activities with COMPLEX, alongside Koji Kikkawa. In the UK and Germany, he has released several albums under the name "HOTEI." He married Miki Imai in 1999 and has one daughter. He currently lives in London and continues to perform a wide range of musical activities. Listen to Tomoyasu Hotei's Cool Songs! Source :YouTube screenshot Some of Hotei's hit songs include "thrill," "POISON," and "bambina." Tomoyasu Hotei is also known for a wide range of activities, such as providing music to other musicians and composing music for movies. In 2003, he composed the main theme of the American movie Kill Bill, directed by Quentin Tarantino, making his name known around the world. The appeal of Hotei's music is his sharp guitar sound. You can also see Tomoyasu Hotei's awesome guitar skills at 0:46 in the video. There are songs that you can enjoy with pop lyrics as well, so you're sure to find something you like. Check out Hotei's official YouTube channel to see the many PR videos for his music. Summary of Tomoyasu Hotei Source :YouTube screenshot "HOTEI LIVE IN LONDON Electric Samurai - Live at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire-" introduced in the video, is a popular live DVD released in 2014. The interview from 1:21 in the video talks about his life in London. If you like the cool sounds of Tomoyasu Hotei's rock n' roll soul, be sure to check out his DVD. Also take a look at Hotei's official Instagram where you can see him playing on Instagram live. 【Official Website】Tomoyasu Hotei http://www.hotei.com/en/

Washoku Added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List This video, titled "[Washoku] Added to Unesco's Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Health and Beauty Evaluation (12/13/05)" (「和食」世界無形文化遺産に決定　健康・美しさ評価(13/12/05) ), is a news report about washoku being approved as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, in December, 2013. As shown in the video, "Washoku: Traditional Dietary Cultures of the Japanese" (「和食 日本人の伝統的な食文化」) was formally approved to be added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list at a meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee held in Azerbaijan in 2013. You see the moment of the announcement in the video around 0:05. The fascination with washoku is, as shown in the video at 0:30, it's beauty. Japanese cuisine is characterized by its beautiful display, respect for nature, and how healthy it is, which led UNESCO to place it on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list. What Is Washoku? The History and Style of the Dishes Photo：Washoku Washoku is a traditional eating practice of Japan, also referred to as Nihon-shoku (日本食, Japanese food) or Nihon-ryouri (日本料理, Japanese style cooking). Traditionally, in Japan, washoku was made using seasonal ingredients for particular annual events. The history of Japanese food dates back to the Yayoi period (~300 B.C - ~250 A.D.), more than 2,000 years ago, and by the Asuka period, the unique Japanese diet, consisting of main dishes (主菜, shusai), side dishes (副食, Fukushoku), and one soup, three sides (一汁三菜, Ichiju-sansai), had already been established. What is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage? Photo：Traditional Spanish cuisine UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage is different from UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, which aim to protect buildings and tangible cultural properties. UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage was established to ensure better protection of important intangible cultural heritages, such as folk culture, folklore, oral literature and social practices, traditional crafting techniques, and festivals. Some examples of this include the gastronomy of France, the Mediterranean cuisine of Spain, Italy, Greece and Morocco, traditional Mexican cuisine, and the Ceremonial Keşkek tradition of Turkey. In Japan, Traditional Ainu dance, Nôgaku Theatre, and Kabuki have also been approved as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages. Summary of Washoku Photo：Kaiseki cuisine As you can see in the video, Japanese food culture, which has been around since ancient times, has been recognized by the world and is attracting a great deal of attention. When you're visiting Japan, be sure to stop by a Japanese restaurant and enjoy the delicious food of an itamae chef! There are websites that offer instructions on how to make Japanese food, so you can use the recipes as a guide to make nutritious and balanced Japanese food as well!

Aerial video introduction of "Ose Myojin no Kamiike" in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture This video, “絶景空撮 大瀬崎 神秘の自然と信仰の岬 - Aerial view of Cape Osezaki - Secret nature and religious cape -」,” is an aerial video of Cape Osezaki’s Kamiike Pond, located in the bayside of Numazu city, Shizuoka prefecture, produced by “FUJISAN DRONE BASE.” Osezaki is a cape in Numazu city, Shizuoka prefecture, extending into Suruga Bay, and is also called the Ose no Kami Pond of Ose Myojin, or Biwa Island. As shown at 0:50 in the video, you can see the great view of Mt. Fuji over the sea from Osezaki Kamiike Pond. What Kind of Sightseeing Spot Is Osezaki Kamiike Pond? Photo：Osezaki Kamiike, Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture As seen in the video at 0:15, Osezaki features the beautiful Kamiike Pond, with the longest part of the pond being about 100 meters wide. Osezaki’s Kamiike Pond is called an "unexplored area," "mysterious spring," and is a mysterious spot considered one of the seven wonders of Izu. Although Ose Myojin’s Kamiike Pond is located at the tip of a cape, it's a fresh water pond, and fresh water fish, such as carp, call this pond home. It is said that Mt. Fuji’s underground water pours into Ose Myojin’s Kamiike Pond, but the mystery of Ose Myojin’s Kamiike Pond has yet to be solved. The water quality and depth are also unknown. Let’s Visit Ose Shrine in Osezaki! Photo：Osezaki and Ose Shrine Around the Osezaki Kamiike Pond are many large juniper trees with thick foliage. Osezaki’s juniper forest has been designated a Natural Monument. Hikitechikara no Mikoto (Ose Shrine) seen in the video at 1:14, is located at the peak of Osezaki, with an elevation of approximately 10m, and is called the protectorate god of the sea. Other highlights include a sacred tree said to be 1,500 years old, a pair of iron geta (sandals) dedicated near the torii gate, and a strange fan made of tengu leaves derived from the legend of tengu. Sightseeing Around Osezaki’s Kamiike Pond Photo：Clownfish Around the scenic Osezaki is the Ose beach, which is one of Japan’s “Top 100 Beaches.” Spending time listening to the waves and taking in the sunset is very relaxing. Osezaki is also popular as a diving spot, and many divers visit here during the on season. Osezaki is also known as a fishing spot, but collecting animals and plants around Kamiike Pond is prohibited by the Cultural Assets Preservation Act, so be careful not to break any laws. Summary of Ose Myojin’s Kamiike Pond Source :YouTube screenshot Shizuoka prefecture’s Osezaki Kamiike Pond area, introduced in the video, is a nice Instagram spot where you can see the beautiful sea and Mt. Fuji. There are many sightseeing spots in Izu, book a hotel nearby and visit Osezaki. In the spring time, cherry blossoms bloom nearby as well. We also recommend participating in a tour visiting Ose Myojin’s Kamiike Pond and the nearby area. ◆Hikitechikaranomikoto Shrine (Ose Shrine) General Information◆ 【Address】329, Nishiura Enashi, Numazu city, Shizuoka, ZIP 410-0244 【Access】80 minutes by bus from JR Numazu Station 【Admission fee】100 JPY 【Hours】8:30-17:00 【Parking】Available 【Telephone】055-942-2603 【Tripadvisor】Ose Myojin’s Kamiike Pond https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1019668-d1313552-Reviews-Ose_no_Kami_Pond-Numazu_Shizuoka_Prefecture_Tokai_Chubu.html

The Cashier "Pepper" by "Pepper" This video, titled "Pepper for Biz [Cashier for Pepper] Feature Introductory Video" (Pepper for Biz 「レジ for Pepper」 機能紹介ムービー), introduces the functions of "Cashier for Pepper" of "Pepper for Biz." The video was released by SoftBank. The video shows how Pepper is used to automate tasks, such as customer service, product ordering and accounting in the store. "Cashier for Pepper" is a solution in which all customer service is handled by a service robot. What Kind of Robot Is Pepper? Source :YouTube screenshot Some of you may have seen Pepper or had conversations with him at smartphone shops or restaurants in Japan. Pepper is a humanoid robot developed in 2014 that can recognize emotion. The emotion-recognizing personal robot is powered by an emotion engine and cloud AI, which allows it to make flexible decisions based on the situation. Pepper performs a series of necessary operations, such as customer service and accounting at stores. Features of "Cashier for Pepper" Source :YouTube screenshot "Cashier for Pepper," shown in the video, is a full-scale, self-checkout system, that performs a series of operations related to product purchases. Pepper is a service robot that can attract customers, recommend products (with a recommended "Plus One" feature"), select menus, and print order sheets on a tablet all at in one. Some of these features can be seen at 1:13 in the video. As shown at 1:31 in the video, Pepper also has the ability to select a payment method, allowing customers to pay with an IC card. Pepper's payment terminal is linked to the POS system, so it can handle a wide range of payment types, including QR payments and electronic money payments. "Cashier for Pepper" also includes a customer registration with Pepper's facial recognition system, order history check, and inbound functions in Japanese, English, and Chinese. This is explained at 2:45 in the video. Summary of "Cashier for Pepper" Source :YouTube screenshot In recent years, due to a decline in the number of workers, the shortage of cashiers has become a major problem in Japan. "Cashier for Pepper" has the potential to be the cashier of the future. If you'd like to implement "Cashier for Pepper" as a staff member to reinvent your store, you can start by checking out Pepper's features and pricing on their website.

The Introductory Video of HTV “Kounotori” 8 This video, released by JAXA, is titled "H-2 Transfer Vehicle: Kounotori 8 (HTV 8) Mission Summary." The H-2 transfer vehicle Kounotori 8 (HTV 8), featured in the video, is an unmanned vehicle developed in Japan that delivers supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). It has a 100 percent mission success rate and boasts one of the world's largest resupply capacities. This article will tell you everythign you need to know about Kounotori 8! Kounotori 8 Source :YouTube screenshot HTV Kounotori 8 started its demonstration tests for the development of the new Space Station Replenisher (HTV-X) in order to expand space utilization and to transport equipment to test future space exploration technologies. As you can see from 0:58 in the video, the H-IIB rocket was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in September 2019, approaching the ISS that orbits the earth at an altitude of 400 meters above ground and a speed of about 8 kilometers per second. The attitude control sensor of the former HTV "Kounotori 6" controlled its attitude using the earth as its axis. The Kounotori 8, on the other hand, uses a star tracker (stellar sensor), controlling its attitude based on stars’ positions. You can see how it works from 1:46 in this video. In the technical verification, the loading capacity was increased by about 30 percent through the use of a new supply rack to enhance the transport capacity of the vessel. The Resupply Mission of Kounotori 8 Source :YouTube screenshot As seen at 2:29 in the video, Kounotori 8 is captured by the robotic arm of the ISS and begins it's 34-day resupply mission. It carries not only food but also transportation equipment for the ISS’s planetary exploration, such as new batteries and SOLISS, (Small Optical Link for International Space Station). From 3:35, you can see a video of the global camera equipped with SOLISS. Moreover, Kounotori 8 was also equipped with CBEF-L (Cell Biology Experiment Facility-Left), a device to study biological cultures in space, and "Hourglass" a gravity dependency investigating device. A microsatellite was also injected into orbit at the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo." Summary of Kounotori 8 Source :YouTube screenshot From 5:11 in the video, you can see Kounotori 8 completing its 34-day mission and re-entering the earth's atmosphere. Kounotori's resupply mission to the ISS was a success thanks to Japan's high-precision space technology! 【Official Website】 HTV "Kounotori" 8 Fun! Fun! JAXA! https://fanfun.jaxa.jp/countdown/htv8/

Japan's Amazing Vending Machines! The video we’ll introduce this time is titled "Japanese Vending Machines are AWESOME 日本の自販機すごい！！" It introduces some of the awesome vending machines you can find throughout Japan! The vending machines shown in the video can only be found in Japan, so be sure to check them out! The Vending Machines in the Video! Photo：Digital signage As you can see from 0:26 in the video, many of the vending machines placed in Japanese stations can accept not just cash, but train cards (electronic money such as Suica, etc.) as well. You can purchase coffee, tea, and juice just by tapping your card against the vending machine, so there's no need to carry any bothersome change. Japanese vending machines sell cold drinks, and in the winter there are hot drinks as well. This is a unique characteristic of Japanese vending machines that you won't find in other countries. A vending machine at Akihabara station is introduced at 2:05 in the video as well. This vending machine has a touchscreen and the description of each drink is displayed on the screen. There's also a vending machine for ice cream shown at 2:35 in the video. Features of Japan's Futuristic Vending Machines Photo：Vending machine Vending machines are handy machines where you can purchase a drink at the push of a button. The drinks are cheap too, costing only about 100-160 yen. Japan is said to be the vending machine superpower of the world, and there are about 2.56 million vending machines in Japan, which generate a whopping 2.2 trillion yen annually. They’re placed in various places throughout towns, and places like stations and offices, so you can grab a drink whenever you like. Types of Vending Machines and the History of the Vending Machine Vending machines were invented in Japan more than 100 years ago in 1890. Thereafter, from the Showa period (1926-1989) to the Heisei period (1989-2019), the types and provided services of vending machines continued to evolve. In recent years, there are even vending machines where you can purchase hot meals that include things like Takoyaki, and there are also vending machines that are used to take orders and dispense tickets at restaraunts. You can even get train tickets with vending machines. There are a fixed set of rules regarding the location and height of Japan’s vending machines, and they are placed according to these safety standards. Summary of Japan's Vending Machines Photo：Vending machine This article introduced talked about the different types of vending machines that can be found throughout Japan, and how to buy products from them. The functions of vending machines continue to evolve year after year and there are an increasing number of them making it more convenient to get what you need, and it's even gotten easier to pay thanks to things like electronic money. The vending machines that Japanese people use in their day to day lives are often seen as amazing futuristic devices. If you're planning on visiting Japan, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for some amazing vending machines!