Chiba man arrested after holding woman hostage for 18 hours in Shimane
A woman was released unharmed Wednesday morning after being held hostage for 18 hours by a man at the headquarters of a transport company in Shimane Prefecture, police said. Kaisei Nakao of Chiba Prefecture, who had wielded a sharp object, was arrested on the spot ...
Rock singer Hyde joins other Japanese musicians in promoting their hometowns
When Wakayama's newsletter featured native rock star Hyde on its front cover, phones at the municipal office lit up, alarming officials. "The response to the newsletter was beyond our imagination," recalled a city official. The Wakayama Municipal Government received over 1,200 inquiries about the monthly newsletter ...
Japanese fishermen and officials enraged over North Korea's missile firing
Fishermen and officials voiced anger and anxiety over North Korea's firing of a ballistic missile on Wednesday that fell into waters where Japanese fishing boats operate. The North Korean missile is believed to have dropped into waters in the nation's exclusive economic zone in the ...
North Korea fires ballistic missile built to be launched from submarine into Japan's EEZ
North Korea tested a suspected sub-launched ballistic missile in a technological advancement, if successful, could make it significantly more difficult to destroy its nuclear arsenal.
Workers from Japan's big cities decamp to Matsue in Shimane for teleworking stress test
The city of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture has embarked on an experiment to find out whether teleworking in the regional city helps reduce the stress levels of businesspeople who normally work in major cities. The city hopes the experiment will demonstrate the health-promoting benefits of ...
Iwami-kagura: The changing face of a Shimane theatrical tradition
Kneeling on the floor of his atelier in the Nagahama district of Hamada, Shimane Prefecture, master craftsman Katsuro Ka-kita applies the finishing touches to one of his colorful, striking and sometimes terrifying creations. Each depicts characters from Japanese mythology, such as the jealous female demon ...
Small Korean airline cancels charter flights to Shimane amid frayed ties
Korea Express Air, a small South Korean airline, has decided to cancel charter flights to Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, because of falling demand for package tours as Tokyo and Seoul find themselves increasingly at odds over wartime issues, local officials said Friday. Six round-trip flights scheduled ...
After seizure by Russia and payment of fine, crew of Japanese crab fishing boat released
All 10 crew members of a Japanese crab fishing boat detained by Russian authorities in late January were released Friday and are returning home, according to the consulate-general of Japan in Vladivostok. The captain of the Nishino Maru No. 68 from Shimane Prefecture has been ...
Japan stresses its claim to South Korea-held islets on 'Takeshima Day' as bilateral tensions simmer
An official from the Cabinet Office reiterates Japan’s claim to the disputed rocks situated midway between the feuding neighbors at an annual event in Shimane Prefecture.
Four men claiming to be from North Korea rescued in western Japan
Four men claiming to be from North Korea arrived on an island in western Japan on Tuesday, after their boat apparently lost power and came under the protection of Japanese authorities, police said. A wooden boat about 9.3 meters long and 2.4 meters wide was ...
Overnight stays at Shimane 'dinosaur hotel' museum gaining popularity
The Okuizumo Tane Museum of Natural History in Okuizumo, Shimane Prefecture, is a rare complex that is both a museum and hotel, and a recent dinosaur exhibition has seen it become a real hit with children. Following the end of normal business hours at around ...
Stoke the flames of tradition on Shimane’s ‘Iron Road’
Shimane Prefecture is an under-discovered wealth of history, natural beauty and high-quality artisan crafts — such as katana-quality steel. On this drive-yourself adventure step straight into Irontown and immerse yourself in the history and culture of tatara steel production.
