Meteorologist Kana Fukuyama remarked on February 21, the opening day of the competition, “You can really smell the sweet fragrance of plum blossoms.” With temperatures working increased than standard in latest days, the blossoms are anticipated to advance rapidly, and a few early-blooming varieties have already reached their peak barely sooner than in a typical 12 months.

The space, as soon as often called “Japan’s top plum village,” endured a significant setback after Japan’s first home case of plum pox virus was confirmed in 2009. To stop the unfold of the virus, which weakens timber, authorities took the drastic step of chopping down contaminated and surrounding plum timber. Across Ome, roughly 40,000 plum timber had been felled.

So Suzuki of the Yoshino Baigo Shopping Association recalled the painful scenes. “I still remember when the trees were cut down. It was heartbreaking to watch, and I remember how difficult it was,” Suzuki mentioned.

In 2016, native residents took the lead in launching a replanting initiative. This 12 months marks the tenth anniversary of these efforts.

“It is said that trees become fully grown after 10 years, and they really have grown large and are blooming beautifully,” Suzuki mentioned. “We hope many people will come and enjoy them.”

About 1,200 plum timber have been planted up to now within the plum park, and Yoshino Baigo has begun as soon as once more to reclaim its standing as a celebrated plum blossom vacation spot. Visitors are being inspired to expertise the renewed panorama because the blossoms sign the complete arrival of spring in Ome.

Source: TBS

The Emperor, who reached his 66th birthday on February twenty second, spoke at a press convention held beforehand within the Ishibashi-no-Ma corridor of the Imperial Palace, noting that this 12 months marks 15 years because the Great East Japan Earthquake and 10 years because the Kumamoto Earthquake, and mentioned, “The impact of disasters differs for each person and carries a weight that cannot be measured simply by the passage of time. I would like to continue keeping those in disaster-hit areas in my thoughts.”

Ahead of his birthday, the Emperor addressed reporters, talking about his ideas for communities nonetheless recovering from current calamities and reiterating his hope that reconstruction efforts will proceed steadily. He conveyed his deep sympathy for individuals who have suffered harm and loss, noting the significance of standing near the individuals throughout troublesome instances.

The full, unedited video of the press convention has been launched, providing a complete account of the Emperor’s remarks as he commemorates his 66th birthday.

Source: TBS

At a gold-themed occasion held final month at a division retailer in Tokyo, a gold sculpture of Shohei Ohtani drew crowds of onlookers, with the pair of gold statues priced at 55 million yen and made utilizing roughly 3,000 gold cash. Interest in gold has intensified alongside rising costs and Ohtani’s international fame. Often known as a “safe-haven asset,” gold has surged to roughly 4 instances its stage earlier than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 4 years in the past.

Amid this backdrop, Japan’s solely working gold mine—Sumitomo Metal Mining’s Hishikari mine in Kagoshima Prefecture—has gained prominence. Development started within the early Nineteen Eighties, with the primary ore vein found at a depth of 100 meters in 1985, marking roughly 40 years since manufacturing began. From the mine entrance, staff descend to a depth of 345 meters, akin to the peak of Tokyo Tower.

At the positioning, geothermal scorching spring water performs a vital function in gold formation. Gold contained in magma throughout volcanic exercise about a million years in the past was carried close to the floor by scorching water, forming one of many world’s highest-grade gold veins. The mine’s whole tunnel size extends about 170 kilometers, and superior equipment is used to exactly find slim veins embedded in laborious rock. Automated gear assists with drilling and explosive placement, whereas staff monitor refined modifications in vein course and rock hardness.

Ore extracted right here averages about 20 grams of gold per ton—greater than ten instances the grade of main international mines. Quartz containing gold is sorted and transported to a refinery in Ehime Prefecture to be processed into gold merchandise. Sumitomo Metal Mining produces roughly 3.5 tons of gold yearly from the mine.

Matsumoto stated the Hishikari mine stays a invaluable asset for the corporate, which has extracted about 270 tons of gold there over the previous 4 many years. An estimated 154 tons should still stay, and ongoing exploration is underneath means across the web site. While gold costs are at the moment elevated, Matsumoto famous that monetary market dynamics typically drive demand, with about 30% of the roughly 5,000 tons of gold produced globally annually used for funding functions. Ongoing geopolitical uncertainty has pushed funds into gold as a steady asset.

The firm’s efficiency has been robust, with web revenue for the fiscal 12 months ending March 2026 anticipated to be about 8.5 instances increased than the earlier 12 months, whereas its share value has greater than doubled over the previous 12 months. Still, Matsumoto harassed that as a manufacturing-oriented firm, Sumitomo Metal Mining goals to deal with producing supplies somewhat than relying solely on value fluctuations.

Beyond gold, the corporate mines copper, nickel and different assets abroad, primarily in South America, North America and Australia, typically in partnership with main international mining corporations. It operates eight abroad mines and can be increasing its supplies enterprise. One instance is a useful materials referred to as Solament, which absorbs infrared radiation whereas permitting mild to go by means of and has been included into merchandise similar to umbrellas that had been offered on the Osaka-Kansai Expo.

Matsumoto stated the worldwide surroundings has shifted from an period of free-flowing globalization to 1 marked by geopolitical competitors, making useful resource acquisition abroad harder and expensive. For Japan, which lacks home assets, constructing partnerships by providing superior refining and manufacturing applied sciences will likely be key to securing entry. Improving productiveness and decreasing prices at refining amenities are additionally important to sustaining competitiveness.

Looking forward, Matsumoto emphasised the significance of growing human assets to make sure the corporate’s continued progress over the following 400 years, noting that at the same time as AI advances, human judgment stays vital in course of growth and new product creation.

Japan’s solely energetic gold mine has produced about 270 tons of gold to this point and nonetheless holds important potential, with exceptionally excessive ore grades by international requirements. As gold costs soar and geopolitical tensions reshape provide chains, the mine’s function in preserving mining expertise and supporting Japan’s useful resource safety has taken on renewed significance.

Source: TBS

Shortly after 9 a.m., the beginning sign despatched waves of citizen runners off from in entrance of the Osaka Prefectural Government constructing, one after one other, as they started the 42.195-kilometer course.

In its 14th working, the occasion drew near 35,000 members. Osaka’s excessive temperature reached 21.4 levels Celsius on the day, akin to late April, however runners pressed on via the town’s landmarks towards Osaka Castle Park, cheered by spectators lining the route.

Participant: “It was hot, but I’m glad I was able to run a good time.”

Participant: “I’ve been aiming for a sub-three-hour finish for about 10 years, and I finally achieved it for the first time, so I’m really happy.”

Source: YOMIURI

Startup Space One has beforehand tried two launches of the small rocket Kairos at Spaceport Kii, Japan’s first personal rocket launch web site situated in Kushimoto, however each makes an attempt resulted in failure after flight termination measures have been triggered.

The firm had deliberate the third launch for the twenty fifth, three days from now, however introduced it could postpone the try on account of climate and different components.

Although a backup launch window has been set by means of March twenty fifth, the corporate mentioned the launch is not going to happen in February and {that a} new date will likely be introduced as soon as it’s determined.

Source: YOMIURI

Police arrested Sugimoto Nami, a navigation officer with Hiroshima-based delivery agency Shinsei Kaiun, on suspicion {of professional} negligence leading to loss of life and harm following the accident that occurred shortly earlier than 1 p.m. on February twentieth whereas she was working the cargo ship Shinsei Maru.

Investigators allege Sugimoto did not preserve a correct lookout forward whereas steering the vessel, inflicting it to collide with the fishing boat Kosei Maru and ensuing within the deaths of Yukichi Taniguchi, 84, and one other passenger.

The influence of the collision threw 13 individuals into the ocean, together with the 2 victims who later died, whereas 10 others suffered accidents starting from minor to critical.

Sugimoto admitted to investigators that she had been on the helm and that the vessel collided with the fishing boat.

The Japan Coast Guard’s Toba workplace can be questioning the 66-year-old captain of the fishing boat on a voluntary foundation as a part of its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Source: FNN

The shops will characteristic product lineups tailor-made to native consuming habits whereas additionally providing gadgets reminiscent of onigiri and sandwiches. By getting into India, the place robust inhabitants development is anticipated to help long-term consumption, Lawson hopes to domesticate the market right into a key income supply for its worldwide operations.

Source: テレ東BIZ

The Saidaiji Eyo is a conventional competition wherein practically bare males clad solely in loincloths compete fiercely to grab a pair of wood sticks generally known as shingi, or sacred sticks, believed to convey luck to those that receive them.

At round 10 p.m., when the sacred sticks have been thrown into the gang, steam rose into the chilly evening air because the mass of bare-chested males surged ahead, colliding violently in a frenzied contest to assert the objects.

Within minutes of the beginning, actions emerged from throughout the tightly packed crowd signaling misery, prompting firefighters and volunteer emergency personnel who had been on standby to hurry in, making a scene of confusion.

According to fireside authorities, six males have been taken to hospital, three of whom stay unconscious and in crucial situation. Police are investigating the circumstances beneath which the boys have been injured.

The Saidaiji Eyo is named a uncommon and weird competition that has continued for greater than 500 years and is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.

Source: TBS