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Kimio Ida

Japan Times

JAPAN

Nov 12, 2002

Boatmen boast of Biwa's bounty

OMIHACHIMAN, Shiga Pref. -- Among the many tours available for enjoying the beauty of Lake Biwa is a ride aboard a small wooden boat rowed by a skilled sculler who also serves as a guide.

Japan Times

JAPAN / KANSAI BEAT

Jun 14, 2002

Shiga town offers city-slickers way to taste farm life, work firsthand

IMAZU, Shiga Pref. — Grabbing a firsthand taste of Japanese country life for a few days is proving to be a popular pursuit here, especially among children from the city.

Japan Times

Events

Apr 2, 2002

Self-serve food, drink outlet lets finicky buy by measure

OSAKA -- The Japanese diet has evolved in recent years to the point that almost any food from any country is available. But one shortcoming of this burst in variety has been waste, as curious consumers find themselves stuck with half-empty bottles of seasonings and drinks.

Japan Times

Events

Feb 5, 2002

Artificial jellyfish find niche market with aquarium hobbyists

NARA -- Jellyfish swimming up and down inside a water tank may be a comforting sight to see, but keeping them alive is another matter entirely. Help, however, is on the way, said Hideaki Okuda, a maker of artificial jellyfish.

Events

Jan 22, 2002

Exhibit of dwarf 'ume' gives preview of spring

NAGAHAMA, Shiga Pref. -- An annual exhibit of dwarf "ume" (plum) trees at Keiunkan Hall here is giving visitors a glimpse of early spring. Of 300 bonsai trees prepared for the event, about 100 will be shown till March 10.

Events

Jan 8, 2002

Contractors seek green image, recycling

OSAKA -- Amid rising environmental awareness across the business spectrum, the construction sector is often hit for lagging in this regard.

Events

Oct 16, 2001

Ecotourism campaign spotlights Shiga area

MAIHARA, Shiga Pref -- In an effort to draw more visitors to this area, the Shiga Prefectural Government is running a one-month ecotourism campaign.

Events

Sep 18, 2001

Shikoku has 1,400-km path to spirituality

OSAKA -- People often go to great lengths for spiritual enlightenment, and a 1,400-km pilgrimage to 88 key temples on the island of Shikoku is certainly no exception.

Events

Sep 4, 2001

City of Moriguchi turns back to historic roots

MORIGUCHI, Osaka Pref. -- Other than the odd rice paddy, the city of Moriguchi now has little evidence of its pre-1960s days as a farming area.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY

May 20, 2001

Yoshimoto's talent for comedy

There was a time when parents in Osaka used to scold their kids by threatening, "I will send you to Yoshimoto!" if they were fooling around. Today, though, Yoshimoto Kogyo Co. has become Japan's largest entertainment agency, and most parents would be happy if their children worked for it. Its tarento...

Events

May 1, 2001

Uprooting shoots is rite of spring

YAWATA, Kyoto Pref. -- Although most varieties of vegetables are now available regardless of season, freshly picked bamboo shoots remain a true sign that spring has sprung.

COMMUNITY

Mar 29, 2001

The bubble rises skyward again, carrying a doughnut

This balloon's gondola is 6 meters in diameter and shaped so passengers can move around freely.

JAPAN

Feb 18, 2001

Unusual body shop fills in the blanks

OSAKA -- After dealing with the usual prewedding chores of choosing venues, flowers, dresses, menus and guests, the young bride-to-be was faced with one final task: find a finger to go with her ring.

JAPAN

Jan 7, 2001

Book of Allied surrender fliers proves hot draw for publisher

OSAKA -- The publisher of a book reproducing a series of "rakkasan" (parachute) news leaflets that were dropped on battlefields in Japan and Southeast Asia by the U.S. military toward the end of World War II is excited over the high demand for his book.

JAPAN

Nov 12, 2000

Osaka man's barber shop is his castle

HIGASHI-OSAKA, Osaka Pref. -- It's the usual shopping arcade stretching from a train station, a sight seen anywhere in Japan, except that a castle comes into view between arcade ceilings. Kosaka Castle.

JAPAN

Oct 29, 2000

Collectors go cuckoo for Choco Eggs

KADOMA, Osaka Pref. -- Chocolate eggs are an integral part of Easter celebrations in the West. Although they have yet to catch on in Japan, one particular egg-shaped variety has become a hit here.

JAPAN

Oct 15, 2000

BOJ tour aims to educate the public

KOBE -- Some words of advice for those who dream of laying their hands on 100 million yen -- don't spend money on lottery tickets, just join a tour organized by the Bank of Japan's Kobe branch.

JAPAN

Jun 11, 2000

Eco-friendly taxis ply Kyoto

KYOTO — Kyoto has long been a mecca for school excursions, especially in May and June, but only recently have environmentally friendly taxis been gaining popularity as a means of touring the city.

COMMUNITY

Apr 2, 2000

Museum strives to keep kanji alive

KYOTO -- With the spread of word processors and computers, more and more Japanese are forgetting kanji. In an effort to curb this trend and increase interest in the characters, the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation in Shimogyo Ward here will open a kanji museum Monday.

JAPAN

Sep 16, 1999

Stag beetle hunter casts doubt on reported 10 million yen deal

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.

What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

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