The grand prize on the 2026 competition was awarded to Graphic Holdings Presents Wakka, which emerged victorious following the ultimate spherical of judging.

The competition, held for the thirty fifth time this yr, concluded with a remaining stage efficiency on the Odori Nishi 8-chome venue in central Sapporo on the night of June 14th. After the judges’ deliberations, Wakka was named the general champion of the occasion.

A complete of 275 groups, together with worldwide individuals, took half on this yr’s competition, 5 greater than in 2025. Throughout the five-day occasion, groups showcased polished performances at venues throughout town, bringing the annual celebration to a detailed.

Earlier within the competition, parade performances had been held all through Sapporo, together with on the Odori Parade venue in Chuo Ward, the place preliminary judging occurred. Teams delivered their most refined routines earlier than spectators and judges.

Audience members praised the performances regardless of difficult climate circumstances. One spectator described the dances as “powerful and impressive,” whereas one other stated the performances had been so inspiring that they lifted spirits even in the course of the rain.

Although the competition was briefly affected by heavy rainfall, the occasion continued by way of its remaining day, culminating within the number of the 2026 grand prize winner and the shut of one in every of Hokkaido’s largest cultural celebrations.

Source: 北海道ニュースUHB

As the night solar slowly sinks behind the mountain ridges, the wind that ripples the lake floor falls nonetheless, leaving the deep blue waters to replicate the encompassing timber in a scene of exceptional tranquility.

According to Semboku City’s tourism division, the flooded forest attracted little consideration even from native residents till seven or eight years in the past, when pictures shared on social media started drawing wider curiosity. In latest years, the location has seen a rising variety of vacationers and pictures fans. Foreign guests are additionally widespread, and kayak excursions by the submerged timber have turn out to be a well-liked attraction, contributing to native tourism and regional revitalization.

Lake Shusen is a synthetic lake created by the completion of Yoroihatake Dam in 1957. The lake is understood for its vivid cobalt-blue waters, a colour believed to end result from aluminum particles contained within the extremely acidic waters of the upstream Tamagawa Onsen space. These particles replicate daylight, significantly blue wavelengths, giving the lake its distinctive look.

During the flooded forest season, a bridge on National Route 341 that crosses the submerged woodland turns into a popular pictures spot. The reputation has led to lengthy strains of illegally parked automobiles, prompting metropolis authorities to induce guests to not cease alongside the roadway.

The flooded forest, nevertheless, is predicted to vanish from view for a number of years starting subsequent yr. Large-scale renovation work is scheduled on the Yoroihatake Hydroelectric Power Station, which is related to the dam. According to the Akita Prefectural Tamagawa Hydroelectric Power Office, water ranges in Lake Shusen can be maintained at decrease ranges year-round for the following six years.

If development proceeds as deliberate, the lake’s water stage is predicted to rise once more in May 2032, permitting the flooded forest to reappear.

For guests having fun with what stands out as the remaining alternative to expertise the surroundings for a while, the sight of the submerged timber rising from the darkening waters at nightfall creates a dreamlike ambiance able to making time appear to face nonetheless.

Source: 産経ニュース

At round 3:30 p.m., a person who witnessed the incident referred to as emergency companies, reporting that somebody had gone below the water within the Itadori River close to Hise, Horado district, in Seki City.

According to police and fireplace officers, Ziad Alhelal, a Syrian nationwide employed as an organization employee, was rescued by employees members from a close-by campground. He was present in cardiopulmonary arrest and was transported to a hospital, the place he was pronounced lifeless about two hours later.

The accident occurred roughly 100 meters upstream from Jomon Bridge on the Itadori River. Authorities stated the river was not swollen on the time and the present was comparatively calm.

Alhelal had been visiting the river with seven buddies. Police stated he was using in a two-person inflatable raft when it overturned, inflicting him to fall into the water and drown. Investigators are inspecting the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Source: 東海テレビ ニュースONE

DALLAS, fifteenth June, 2026 (WAM) — Japan produced one other trademark World Cup efficiency because the Samurai Blue twice got here from behind to safe a deserved 2-2 draw towards the Netherlands in a pulsating Group F encounter at Dallas Stadium on Sunday.

The Dutch appeared to have achieved sufficient to assert all three factors after objectives from Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville gave them the lead on two separate events. However, Japan’s resilience as soon as once more got here to the fore as second-half strikes from Nakamura and Daichi Kamada ensured the spoils had been shared.

The end result leaves Group F finely poised, with each groups taking some extent from what might show to be one of many hardest teams of the event.

The occasion, titled Student Runway, was open to feminine college students starting from elementary college pupils to vocational college college students, no matter prior modeling expertise.

A complete of 450 contestants who superior by means of the morning preliminary rounds took to the runway in colourful and elaborate outfits, confidently showcasing their model earlier than guests.

Following the runway displays, viewers members forged votes to pick 300 individuals because the first-ever Nagoya Select Models.

Source: 東海テレビ ニュースONE

The solar energy facility, often called “Kary Roof,” was put in on the roof of the corporate’s Urasoe plant by Okinawa Electric Power and Okinawa New Energy Development.

The system is anticipated to produce about 10% of the plant’s electrical energy wants and contribute to an annual discount of roughly 330 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Yoshihiko Koyama, president and consultant director of Okinawa Coca-Cola Bottling, mentioned the corporate hopes to proceed advancing efforts to scale back CO2 emissions and deal with environmental points with assist and experience from its accomplice firms.

The Kary Roof undertaking has been more and more adopted by native governments and companies throughout Okinawa, with the Okinawa Coca-Cola set up changing into the 63rd deployment of the system.

At the launch ceremony, Okinawa Electric Power Executive Vice President Hayato Naritoko expressed hope that consciousness of constructing a decarbonized society would proceed to unfold all through Okinawa.

Source: 沖縄ニュースOTV