Kyodo News 40907, Kaiun-Suisan News 15932

Front page. At its monetary policy meeting on the 26th, the Bank of Japan decided to leave the target rate for the overnight uncollateralized call rate unchanged at the current level of 0 to 0.1%. The government has just lifted its negative interest rate policy in March, marking the first interest rate hike in 17 years, and appears to have decided that it is necessary to assess the impact on the economy. The Bank of Japan also provided its outlook for consumer prices, raising the rate of increase for FY2024 and FY2025.

Second page. A revised law that incorporates measures to address the “Logistics Issues of 2024” associated with the application of overtime work regulations for truck drivers was passed at a plenary session of the House of Councilors on the 26th with a majority vote in favor, including from the ruling party. It was established. In order to make the work of drivers more efficient, the main objective is to require shipper companies to formulate plans to reduce the amount of time drivers spend waiting at delivery points. It is expected that more than 3,000 companies will be targeted. Fully implemented by FY2016. The standards for companies that will be subject to the requirement will be determined by government ordinance in the future, but the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has announced that in addition to approximately 3,000 shippers, approximately 400 trucking companies and others will be subject to the requirement.

Third page. On the 26th, the Children and Family Affairs Agency announced the results of a fact-finding survey targeting child guidance centers and religious second-generation children across the country regarding religious abuse that is based on the beliefs and education of parents. Of the consultations that the 229 responding children’s counselors responded to between April 2022 and September 2023, 16.2% (37 locations) said that there were cases that were suspected to be related to religious affiliation. A total of 47 cases were consulted, of which temporary protection was granted in 19 cases. This is the first time that a large-scale fact-finding survey has been conducted by the government. A representative from the agency said, “There is an urgent need to create an environment in which children can send an SOS.”

Fourth page. Yukio Kasaya was a member of the Hinomaru Squadron that dominated the podium in the 70-meter ski jumping class (now Normal Hill) at the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics, and became the first Japanese to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics. passed away at a hospital in Sapporo due to ischemic heart disease at 7:35 a.m. on the 23rd. 80 years old. Born in Hokkaido. He participated in the Innsbruck Olympics in 1964, during the Meiji University era, when he graduated from Yoichi High School (currently Yoichi Benishi High School) in Hokkaido. After joining Nikka Whiskey, she achieved second place in the 70m class at the 1970 World Championships, using her strong take-offs and beautiful aerial stance as her strengths.

Kaiun-Suisan front page. During the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, there were cases where ships were evacuated offshore to protect them from the tsunami. In the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, many people were drowned in the tsunami, and it is dangerous. In principle, the Fisheries Agency asks people to flee to higher ground without getting on board, but it is calling for each region to create rules for going out to sea.

KS second page. On the 24th, the Gunma Prefectural Museum of Natural History (Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture) announced that the whale fossil that has been on permanent display since its opening in 1996 is a new species of Inca whale. Compared to individuals that have already been discovered, it is said to have a more primitive shape, with its nasal bones protruding from the front of its face.

Horse racing. Theo Royal is the favorite.

Kyodo News 40906, Sports, Navigation Report 1524-1552, Kaiun-Suisan News 15931

Front page. People such as Yusaku Maezawa, the founder of the clothing sales giant ZOZO, were scammed out of money through investment advertisements on social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook (FB). On the 25th, four victims, including men and women from Kobe and Tokyo, filed a total of approximately 23,000 yen with the Japanese subsidiary of Meta (formerly Facebook), the US IT giant that operates the social networking site, for failing to investigate whether the information was true or not. A lawsuit was filed at Kobe District Court seeking damages of 10,000 yen.

Second page. The Liberal Democratic Party has notified members within the party that the April activity fee and “summer activity fee” paid to constituency branch leaders will each be increased by 1 million yen from the previous amount to 3 million yen. Summer activity expenses will also be paid in advance. As several factions have decided to disband in the wake of the scandal surrounding their political funding parties, it seems likely that they are aiming to supplement their funding through party headquarters. This was announced by a person involved on the 25th. Political party grants, which are the source of funds for activity expenses, are distributed in four installments each year: April, July, October, and December. The Liberal Democratic Party pays constituency branch leaders six times a year, in equal installments, four times a year plus summer and winter. Normally, it is 12 million yen per year.

Third page. [New York] (15 countries) on the 24th, Japan and the The United Nations Security Council jointly submitted a resolution calling on countries not to deploy nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction in outer space. ruzzia, a permanent member of the Security Council, exercised its veto power, calling for a “prohibition of the deployment of all types of weapons in space.” China abstained, and 13 other countries voted in favor. Security Council sources analyzed that the reason for this was ruzzia’s concern about Japan and the United States strengthening their missile defenses using space.

Fourth page. In the 2024 world airport rankings released by Skytrax, a British aviation-related research company, two Japanese airports made it into the top five: Haneda Airport in 4th place and Narita Airport in 5th place. Both New Chitose and Naha airports significantly improved their rankings compared to the previous year. Hamad Kukai of Doha, Qatar, who came in second place last year, has emerged as the world leader. Last year’s top spot, Singh Rengapore Changi Airport, fell to second place.

Horse racing. Theo Royal is the favorite.

The 169th Emperor’s Award for Horse Racing, Spring (28th, Kyoto 11R 3200m, turf 18 horses, GI). The order of the slots will be decided on the 25th, with Teoh Royal in slot 14 as the favorite. It was sidelined due to a broken bone, but has been used successfully since returning last fall. As it has won consecutive long-distance majors in its last two races, it can be said that it is at his peak now, in the spring of his sixth year of age. The first Kyoto course won’t be a problem.

Kyodo News 40905, Kaiun-Suisan News 15931

Horse racing notice as in No. 40902.

Front page. On the 25th, the Genkai Town Council in Saga Prefecture held a special committee meeting for nuclear countermeasures, and received a majority of votes in favor of various requests to accept a literature survey toward selecting a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste (nuclear waste) from nuclear power plants. It was adopted. The plan is to adopt it at the plenary session on the next day, the 26th. Mayor Shintaro Wakiyama has indicated that he intends to make a final decision on whether to apply for the survey after May. Kyushu Electric Power’s Genkai Nuclear Power Plant is located in Genkai Town, and this is the first time a municipality with a nuclear power plant has adopted various requests regarding nuclear waste investigation. This has the potential to make a difference in the nuclear waste issue, which lacks national discussion.

Second page. [New York, Tokyo] The yen exchange rate on the Tokyo foreign exchange market fell against the dollar on the 25th, at one point reaching around 155.50 yen to the dollar, the highest level since June 1990 in about 34 years. . 2-4th New York Foreign Exchange Market. This continued the trend of yen selling and dollar buying in response to the rise in US long-term interest rates in the market, with an awareness of the widening interest rate differential between Japan and the US.

Third page. On the 24th, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will require private companies to report to the ministry in advance when transferring cutting-edge technology, such as quantum technology, overseas, even if the transfer is not regulated under the current Foreign Exchange Act. The policy was announced. With ruzzia and China in mind, the aim is to prevent the risk of technology in areas where Japan has an advantage being diverted to military use or leaked. Furthermore, we call on the government to strengthen export controls on items that may be used in conventional weapons even if they are not in cutting-edge fields, and to investigate the possibility of such use.

Fourth page. The 25th marks the 19th anniversary of the 2005 Amagasaki JR derailment accident, in which 106 passengers and one driver were killed and 562 others were seriously injured. JR West held a memorial service at the “Forest of Prayer” built at the accident site in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, and president Kazuaki Hasegawa said, “We bear in mind the importance of life and believe that safety is the basis of management.” “And each and every one of us will continue to work tirelessly into the future,” he said, expressing his determination.

Kaiun-Suisan front page. Tampering with fuel efficiency data for ships and land engines by IHI Engine. Another scandal has come to light that has seriously shaken the trust in “Made in Japan.” There are cases where marine engines destined for overseas markets may violate nitrogen oxide (NOx) regulations. There were also cases confirmed that the fuel oil consumption rate stipulated by fishing boat inspection regulations may be outside the standard.

KS second page. On the 24th, NK released “WACDAS”, a tool that calculates the “route modification coefficient” necessary to consider optimal container stowage depending on the ship’s route and season. The same coefficient supports users with the software they use for safer and more efficient transportation.

Kyodo News Morning Japanese 40904, Sports, Kaiun-Suisan News 15930, Navigation Report 1510-1523

It is not unusual anymore: Kaiun-Suisan inserted before the Navigation Report. Last observed in No. 40878.

Horse racing notice as in No. 40902.

Front page. On the 24th, IHI announced that its subsidiary IHI Koki Co., Ltd. (Tokyo) will produce engines for ships and land. The company announced that it had falsified fuel efficiency data. The tampering took place at two factories in Japan. Of these, the new internal combustion engine factory (Shinichi) has sugar production that began in the late 1980s. A whistleblower revealed that since 2003, for which data is available, there have been 4,361 deliveries both domestically and internationally, with customers including the Japan Coast Guard and JR Hokkaido.

Second page. Ibaraki Prefectural Police announced that a 70-year-old woman in the prefecture was defrauded of a total of approximately 700 million yen from November 2011 to April of this year, police said on the 24th. The fraud was solicited using a LINE account pretending to be economic analyst Takuro Morinaga. The woman paid the entire amount from her savings and said, “I completely believed the photo because it was real.” According to the National Police Agency, this is the highest amount of damage ever recorded in an “SNS-type investment scam” in which people impersonate celebrities on social networking sites (SNS). The total amount was 7.79 billion yen.

Third page. [Ottawa] Plaques formed in blood vessels of 257 patients with carotid artery disease. A research team from Italy and other countries announced on the 24th that when they removed and analyzed 60% of the bones, they detected microscopic plastics, such as “microplastics” less than 5 mm in diameter. The detected group had more than four times the risk of developing a stroke, myocardial infarction, or dying from any cause than the undetected group.

Fourth page. The pee (sprayed urine) that cats leave on the walls with their tails up is said to be smellier than urine on the sand or the ground, and is a source of concern for owners and local residents. Iwate University has recently conducted an analysis showing that the cause of the odor is not that the components of urine differ depending on the location, but that the protein in the urine makes it easier for urine to adhere to vertical pictures, causing the odor to spread. Professor Masao Miyazaki (Molecular Biology) summarized: “It may be useful for the development of new deodorizing methods, such as drugs that break down proteins.”

Kyodo News Japanese 40903, Kaiun-Suisan News 15930

Horse racing notice as in No. 40902.

Front page. On the 24th, the Ministry of the Environment began implementing a “Heatstroke Special Warning Alert” nationwide as the number of heat waves increases to disaster-level. Until October 23rd. It is assumed that there will be dangerous and widespread heat unprecedented in the past. The government urges maximum preventive action as there is a risk of serious damage to health. At the time of the announcement, municipalities will open pre-determined “designated heat evacuation facilities” (cooling shelters) such as community centers.

Second page. [Washington] On the 23rd, the U.S. Senate passed an emergency budget bill of approximately $60.8 billion (approximately 9.4 trillion yen) to support Ukraine in the face of ruzzia’s invasion. President Biden will sign it into law on the 24th. The environment has now been created for the United States to resume supplying ammunition and weapons in earnest. According to US media, the US government is considering providing approximately $1 billion in additional military aid as a first step. In a statement, Biden said, “We will uphold democracy and freedom and stand up against tyranny and oppression in general,” and welcomed the emergency budget, saying it would “make America and the world safer.” It has been announced that it aims to begin providing additional military support within the week.

Third page. Regarding the mayoral election in Tokyo’s Koto Ward in April last year, he was charged with providing 1 million yen in cash to a former ward councilor as campaign compensation, as well as posting paid advertisements on the Internet during the election period, according to the Public Elections Act. The trial of former ward mayor Yayoi Kimura (58), who was charged with violations (such as bribery), was held at the Tokyo District Court on the 24th. Prosecutors requested a sentence of one year and six months in prison, arguing that he had “engineered an advantageous election campaign by means prohibited by law.” The defense requested a lenient sentence. The verdict is set for June 14th.

Fourth page. Sales of miscellaneous goods such as keychains and bags made from recycled screens that would otherwise have been discarded when movie theaters closed or had to be replaced are expanding. The screen is mainly made of vinyl chloride, which is durable and resistant to fire, water, and mold. Some have small holes for acoustic effects, and they have a unique texture. Even theater personnel are prohibited from touching the screen, so one person involved says, “It gives it a special feeling.”

Kaiun-Suisan front page. The sinking of a sightseeing boat off the coast of Shiretoko, Hokkaido has cast a dark shadow on tourism in the local town of Shari. Two years have passed since the accident on the 23rd, but according to the town, the number of tourists singing in 2023 has decreased by about 30% from 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic. Mayor Hiroaki Yamauchi feels a sense of crisis, saying, “Due to the accident, the recovery is clearly slower than in surrounding municipalities.”

KS second page. A land-based mackerel farm that can be eaten raw, built by Kamome Mirai Suisan in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, a subsidiary of major brand name brand JGC, in an industrial park in the town has been completed and opened to interested parties on the 23rd. It was done. One of the largest mackerel farms in East Japan, with a completely closed circulation system that purifies and reuses artificial seawater. Cultivation will begin in mid-June, and the plan is to grow them to 25 to 30 centimeters and ship them for the first time next spring.

Kyodo News 40901, Kaiun-Suisan News 15929

Front page. Two Maritime Self-Defense Force SH60K patrol helicopters crashed during a training exercise in the waters east of Karasujima in the Izu Islands, killing one person. On the 22nd, interviews with related parties revealed that the company was not connected to the system called for. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force believes there is a high possibility that the two aircraft collided, and is carefully investigating the causal relationship with the accident.

Second page. [Taipei] According to the Taiwan Meteorological Authority and the eastern Hualien Prefecture offshore and inland areas, at around 2:30 a.m. on the 23rd (3:30 a.m. Japan time), there were earthquakes of magnitude (M) 6.0 and 6.3. Both times, a seismic intensity of lower 5 was observed in Hualien County, and the shaking was felt throughout Taiwan. According to the Hualien County Government, two buildings in Hualien City, Hualien Prefecture that were damaged by the eastern coast of the Earthquake on the 3rd have tilted significantly. No one was inside the building and no one was injured.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says there is a possibility of slight sea level changes along the coast of Japan, but there is no fear of damage. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurred just after 8 a.m., with a seismic intensity of 5+ being observed in Hualien County.

Third page. In September 2022, at Kawasaki Kindergarten, a certified childcare center in Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture, a child, China Kawamoto (age 3), was left on a bus and died of heatstroke, resulting in a case of professional negligence. On the 23rd, former kindergarten director Tatsuyoshi Okada (74) and former class teacher Ako Nishihara (48), who were charged with capital murder, admitted to the charges at the Shizuoka District Court (presiding judge Tsunashi Kunii). During questioning, the defendant said, “I would like to apologize to Mr. and Mrs. Kawamoto for causing the loss of China-chan. I believe it is my responsibility.”

Fourth page. On the 22nd, the Ministry of Finance announced that the percentage of small and medium-sized enterprises that achieved a loan increase rate of “5% or more” in fiscal 2024, which combines the pace of raising the base salary (pair) and regular salary increases, was 24.4%. This was discovered through a survey. For large companies, the difference is 53.3%, and the gap is still quite large. 50.2% of medium-sized and small-to-medium-sized enterprises are unable to pass on labor costs to prices, and there are no indications that they are securing funds for loans.

Kaiun-Suisan front page. The 23rd marks two years since the accident in which a tourist boat sank off the coast of Shiretoko, Hokkaido in 2022. Yuya Kudo (42), a social worker from Kanagawa Prefecture and co-representative of the passenger family association, responded to an interview with Kyodo News by the 23rd, expressing concern about the accident being forgotten and saying, “It’s my responsibility to talk about it. I think so,” he said.

KS second page. [Manila] On the 22nd, the Philippine military held a ceremony to begin the regular joint exercise “Balikatan” with the U.S. military at Aguinaldo Base in Manila. It mobilized approximately 17,000 people, the largest ever. As China increases its coercion in the South China Sea, two Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessels provided by Japan will participate in a maritime exercise for the first time in the South China Sea with four warships from the United States, France, and the Philippines. It is inevitable that this will provoke China. Balikatan will be held around the Philippines until May 10th. In addition to Australia, which has a Visiting Forces Agreement with the Philippines, France is participating for the first time. Over a dozen countries, including Japan, will also participate as observers.

Kyodo News 40900, Sports, Navigation Report 1494-1499, Kaiun-Suisan News 15928

Front page. On the 22nd, the Fair Trade Commission imposed the first administrative penalty on Google for discontinuing the provision of technology to LINE Yahoo and restricting the company’s ability to distribute search-linked advertisements to other companies’ portal sites. Based on the Antimonopoly Act’s commitment procedure, which does not result in a finding of violation, the improvement plan submitted by Google was approved. The restrictions lasted for more than seven years, during which time advertisers and portal site operators had only one choice: Google.

Second page. On the 22nd, the government conducted a comprehensive review of national funds, which are used to promote medium-to-long-term policies but are said to have accumulated wastefully, and transferred 546.6 billion yen to the national treasury, which it determined had no prospect of being used. They announced that they would return it. They also announced the abolition of 11 dormant projects that used the fund, and whose role as subsidy payments had already ended, with expenditures continuing only for administrative purposes. Numerical targets have been set for all projects that will continue to be viable, allowing for verification of results. This was reported at the Digital Administrative and Financial Reform Conference on the same day.

Third page. [Beijing] On the 22nd, a lawyer for the bereaved family of a former Chinese comfort woman who suffered sexual violence at the hands of the Japanese military during the Sino-Japanese War filed a complaint with a high school in Shanxi province demanding compensation and an apology from the Japanese government. It has been submitted to the People’s Court (High Court). According to Chinese media, this is the first time in China that a lawsuit has been filed against the Japanese government over comfort women. All similar lawsuits in Japan ended in failure, but the government took action based on the Japanese government’s loss in the comfort women lawsuit in South Korea. The focus is on whether Chinese courts will accept the complaint. The decision is expected to take approximately one month.

Fourth page. On the 22nd, the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced the 2024 new employee attitude survey. When asked how long they would like to work at the company they are working for, 26.4% of respondents said they would change jobs if given the chance, exceeding the percentage of respondents who answered “until retirement” (21.1%) for the first time in 18 years since fiscal 2006.

Kyodo News 40899, Kaiun-Suisan News 15928

Front page. Regarding the era name “Reiwa”, before the announcement on April 1, 2019, Takaya Imai, who served as the Prime Minister’s secretary in the Abe administration at the time, spoke about the administrative staff responsible for the rapid determination of the era name. On the 21st, interviews with government officials revealed that the government had independently presented Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with three ideas for the era name, including “Kaou,” which is derived from the Japanese national book. It was also revealed that before the announcement, “Banna”, which is derived from Chinese classics, was considered the most likely era name to replace “Heisei” among government officials. Five years after the announcement, the final details of the selection process have been revealed.

Second page. Two Maritime Self-Defense Force SH 60K patrol helicopters with a total of eight people on board crashed in the waters east of Torishima in the Izu Islands, killing one person, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said on the 22nd in Ichigaya, Tokyo. At a press conference at the Ministry of Defense, it was revealed that analysis of the flight recorders of the two aircraft was underway, adding, “At this point, there is no data indicating any abnormalities with the aircraft in flight.” he said. The Maritime Self-Defense Force and Japan Coast Guard continued to search for the seven missing people.

Third page. [London] Sweden’s Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) announced on the 22nd that global military spending (expenditures, some estimates) in 2023 will be $2.443 trillion, an increase of 6.8% from the previous year. 377.761 billion yen). This is the 9th consecutive year of increase and the highest amount since SI PRI started collecting data in 1988. This was influenced by ruzzia’s invasion of Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. All of the top 10 countries have increased their military spending since the previous year, and the flow of military forces around the world has significantly slowed down.

Fourth page. A survey released by the Ministry of Finance on the 22nd revealed that 63.1% of medium-sized and small-to-medium-sized enterprises nationwide implemented base raises (pairs) to raise the base salary in fiscal 2024. The percentage of medium-sized and small businesses that had a pair increased by 8.8 points from 54.3% in FY2011, making it clear that the move to raise wages against the backdrop of labor shortages and high prices is spreading to small and medium-sized enterprises as well. became.

Kaiun-Suisan front page. Aiming for a “nuclear-free world” on a journey around the world that transcends generations. A ship carrying atomic bomb survivors left Yokohama Port on April 13th. The non-governmental organization B-Sport (Tokyo) began its voyage in 2008, and it was the first voyage in four years, with interruptions due to the novel coronavirus. A-bomb survivors will give testimonies at ports of call, and a photo exhibition related to the atomic bomb will be held on board. “I want people to empathize with the inhumanity of nuclear weapons.” “Young people will inherit this feeling, and Ukrainian women living in Japan will also appeal for world peace.”

KS second page. Weather News (Head Office Chiba) announced on the 18th that it will begin offering a “ship sway screen” that predicts and visualizes ship sway as a service for commercial operations starting in May. Until now, shaking has been determined empirically based on the direction of the ship’s bow at night, but by displaying the magnitude (angle) of shaking numerically in advance, safe navigation will be supported. In recent years, various weather phenomena have become more intense due to climate change, and string heights are also on the rise. There were concerns that the risks to crew safety, cargo and ship hull would increase, and countermeasures were required.

Kyodo News 40898, Sports, Navigation Report 1491-1493, Sunday Newsletter

Front page. Late at night on the 20th, two Maritime Self-Defense Force SH60K patrol helicopters crashed during training in the waters east of Torishima in the Izu Islands. A total of eight people were on board, and the MSDF discovered and recovered two flight recorders at the search site. At a press conference at the Ministry of Defense in Ichigaya, Tokyo on the morning of the 21st, Minister of Defense Minoru Kihara said that since the two planes were found in close proximity, it was “highly likely that the two planes collided.” The Maritime Self-Defense Force rescued one of them, but he was confirmed dead. The search for the remaining seven people continues and the cause of the accident is being investigated.

Second page. On the 21st, Tochigi Prefectural Police and other authorities arrested the suspect Ayaka Tateyama (25), a construction worker from Hanada, Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture, on suspicion of destroying the bodies of a man and a woman in a riverbed in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture. I was arrested. Approval or disapproval has not been disclosed. On the 17th, he turned himself in at a police box in Tokyo. On the 20th, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and Tochigi Prefectural Hibiki established a joint investigation headquarters at the agency’s Osaki Police Station. We are investigating whether multiple other people were involved.

Third page. A LGBTQ parade was held in the Shibuya area of Tokyo on the 21st in an effort to improve the rights of sexual minorities and broaden social understanding. Organizers announced that approximately 15,000 people marched, waving rainbow flags symbolizing sexual diversity. According to the sponsoring organization “Tokyo Rainbow Pride,” its predecessor, the ballet, began in Tokyo in August 1994, and this year marks its 30th anniversary. Although the first event had only a few hundred people, ballade has spread to all over the country and has been held more than 200 times in more than 30 prefectures.

Kyodo Furusato News 952, Sunday Newsletter

Ultraviolet rays become a concern, Tanaka Hat Shop in Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture, is busy shipping straw hats. Founded in 880 (Meiji 13), the company has carried on the handmade tradition for over 100 years. Yu Tanaka (33), the 6th generation owner, says of the company’s appeal, “Each hat is carefully made and fits perfectly on your head, making it easy to wear.” During the Meiji period, hats were worn and the culture of the state was introduced, and in Kasukabe, where wheat was first cultivated, people began knitting wheat stalks left over after the harvest. It is said that in those days, it was often worn during agricultural work. The manufacturing method has not changed since then. The tools used to determine the shape, such as wooden molds and shins, have been passed down for decades. The process of spinning and weaving thin grains of wheat is a craftsmanship that only a few people can master, and it takes about 10 years to become an expert. There are only a few workshops in Japan that have inherited the techniques. Unlike mass-produced overseas products, they are made to fit the round shape of Japanese people, so you won’t get tired even if you wear them for long periods of time. A special feature is that the size can be adjusted using the sweatproof tape on the back. Approximately 20 years ago, cloth hats became mainstream, and although there were times when business was difficult, they continued to manufacture hats because they could not let the tradition die out. Recently, the benefits of natural materials have been reconsidered, and the company now makes about 50,000 pieces a year.

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The Tokushima Ramen Museum, where you can purchase frozen products from famous local ramen shops in Tokushima Prefecture, opened on the 17th in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture. There are 8 Tokushima ramen shops with different types of subs: brown, white, and golden. Ramen bowls and staff T-shirts from each store are also on display, and curator Kiyonori Takahashi (47) says, “Just by coming, you can get a feel for the world of Tokushima ramen.” You can take them home, compare them, and even make your own toppings. “It’s attractive to be able to do that,” he said. The in-house vending machines sell meals that include soup, noodles, chashu, and other ingredients. There are 7 types, one of which changes monthly. Prices range from 800 to 1,200 yen. Tokushima ramen is characterized by the addition of an egg on top, and there is also a raw egg vending machine in the building next door.

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The town council of Zao Town, Miyagi Prefecture (approximately 111,000 people), which had had no female councilors or candidates since its establishment in 1955, now has three female councilors for the first time. Both women participated in a “mock magnet meeting” held by the town last year through open recruitment, and served as female council members, which led to their candidacy. Ta. This may provide hints for further efforts to increase women’s participation in local assemblies. 16 men and 3 women are running for town council elections in February 2017 (constant number of 13) due to the expiration of their terms of office. Chika Kon (52) was the top overall winner, while Masayo Ito (68) and Maiko Fujisawa (40) also won. “Based on my experience, I want to get involved in the town,” said the person, who works as an after-school child care assistant, with enthusiasm.