National | FOCUS Sep 16, 2020
Forestry still the most dangerous industry in Japan
by Naoki Toya
Bereaved families of victims are calling for an overhaul of the industry's lax safety management and are turning to the courts for relief.
National May 7, 2020
Schools reopen in some parts of Japan after pandemic shutdown
Mixed reactions from students and parents as schools in Tottori and Aomori prefectures reopen following April closures due to coronavirus concerns.
National Apr 19, 2020
Lack of aid guarantees divides prefectures over emergency business closures
by Eric Johnston
The possibility of closures has prompted concerns that without financial guarantees from the central government, the impact could devastate local economies.
National / Social Issues Apr 7, 2020
Local officials and residents fear influx from Japan's virus hot spots
by Eric Johnston
With the number of novel coronavirus infections rising in Tokyo and other major urban centers, some concerned residents are fleeing to nearby prefectures where the number of cases is minimal. But that is creating worry and wariness among local officials and residents, who are less ...
National Apr 1, 2020
Cardboard and plastic: Tottori Prefecture goes low-tech to protect officials from COVID-19
by Tomohiro Osaki
In a nation famed for its cutting-edge robots and toilets, one prefecture is going defiantly low-tech in its effort to defend its officials against COVID-19. In what has been proudly dubbed a "Tottori-style office system," the Tottori Prefectural Government has begun using cardboard and plastic ...
Business Nov 7, 2019
'Five shining stars' snow crab sells for world record ¥5 million in Japan
A snow crab caught off Tottori Prefecture sold for a record ¥5 million ($46,000) at auction, the local fisheries association said Thursday. The gourmet itsukiboshi (five shining stars) crab, weighing 1,240 grams and with a 14.6-cm (5.7-inch) shell, was caught after the fishing season opened ...
National Oct 2, 2019
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 ...
National Jul 12, 2019
With Japan's increasing tourism numbers, tensions will inevitably follow
by J.J. O'Donoghue
When is a ghost not a ghost? When it is, in fact, graffiti attributed to a 23-year old Australian tourist who this past May went on a spree of tagging the word "ghost" at various locations throughout the city of Kyoto, including bridges along the ...
National Mar 3, 2019
Fishing boat crew returns home to Tottori Prefecture after being released by Russia
A Japanese crab-fishing boat detained by Russian authorities in late January over alleged illegal fishing returned to its home port Sunday. "I'm sorry for my family. I'm relieved that we've been able to come back," Hideji Kagami, the 52-year-old captain of the Nishino Maru No. ...
National Nov 25, 2018
High bid for Japanese snow crab makes it into Guinness World Records
A snow crab caught in Tottori Prefecture earlier this month has been recognized by Guinness World Records as garnering the most expensive bid ever for a crab at auction, the prefectural government said Saturday. The crustacean, which was caught in the port in the city ...
National / Science & Health Sep 2, 2018
Diabetes camp helps Japanese children take control of disease at young age
During a summer camp in Daisen, Tottori Prefecture, children screamed with excitement as they ran toward incoming waves at a beach. They were no different from other kids enjoying themselves except that they had diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes because it ...
National Jul 28, 2018
Tottori airport revamp adds stores, doubles down on 'Detective Conan' theme
An airport that was renamed after a popular comic book detective a few years ago has completed a revamp as it looks to lure more tourists to sparsely populated Tottori Prefecture. The revamped airport, unveiled Saturday, now has more stores, including one stocked with goods ...