Category Archives: Others

Abandoned world war factory sitting still in farmland

SAITAMA, Aug. 15 – The day to remember the end of the World War II came again on August 15. However, in a crop land in Kushibiki region, Fukaya city, Saitama Prefecture, a thick concrete building always sits still to help you recall the war. The 5-square-meter 10-meter-high 2-story building used to be a gunpowder factory built during the World War II. Both the building and the farmland belong to a local farmer, but he grows nothing there as the land is always shady because of the structure. During the war, it was, reportedly, part of the No.2 arsenal of the Tokyo army base. It was moved from Tokyo to … Continue reading

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Green tea dealers of Shizuoka offering new ways to enjoy green tea at cafés

SHIZUOKA, Aug. 2 – How about choosing your favorite temperature to roast green tea leaves, or enjoying green tea made with an espresso maker? In an effort to spread green tea among young people who tend to drink coffee at cafés, tea dealers of Shizuoka Prefecture, a major tea producing region, are coming up with new ways of serving green tea. Maruzen Tea Roastery Last year, Maruzen Seicha Co. Ltd., a tea dealer in the city of Shizuoka, opened a green tea café in the city center full of coffee shops. Maruzen Tea Roastery lets customers choose the temperature to roast tea leaves from five different degrees between 80 and … Continue reading

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Kanekobara no Mushi-okuri Odori continuing to send away insects and pray for good harvest

July 29, SHIMANE – On July 20 every year, some villagers of Kanekobara, Shimane Prefecture, in summer yukata and with traditional straw hats with paper flowers and perform traditional dance named “Kanekobara no Mushi-okuri Odori,” which literally means “dance to send off insects” in Japanese. The dancers walk around the village to draw insects from the rice fields and flame them at the end of the ceremony. At 1:00 P.M., a straw-made soldier on horseback called Sanemori-san and 20 male villagers left the Mihoryo Shrine and started the 8-kilometer walk to the Suwa Shrine. Some with banners led the party and the others with traditional instruments such as kane (ching) … Continue reading

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Japanese seed maker develops sunflower that blooms upright

TOKYO, June. 29 — Takii Co., Japan’s seed maker of vegetables and flowers, has developed a sunflower that blooms upright facing on strong stems. Takii names the new series “F1 Sunrich Upright.” The Kyoto-based seed maker says the new sunflower is ideal for flower arrangement and bouquets as it is long lasting and upright facing on strong stems.

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Japan lobby group aims to boost home-grown wheat products

TOKYO, June 28 — Japan is seeking to boost the country’s production of wheat and barley by encouraging more wheat and barley farmers to be involved in sales of new products at a new outlet in Tokyo. The National Rice Wheat and Barley Improvement Association has opened a shop for testing sales of new products that use Japanese-grown wheat and barley. The association names the Tokyo shop “Mugi kurabe”. It has a fully-equipped kitchen, a place to display locally-produced new products and seating areas to eat them. The association will offer serving staff and transport costs for small businesses or growers to present their products in the Tokyo outlet. Japanese … Continue reading

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