Nippon Sekai

Lucky bags go on sale

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:05:12 +0100

The lucky grab bags known as fukubukuro (http://www.nippon-sekai.com/main/articles/society-and-culture/fukubukuro-lining-up-on-new-years/) began going on sale and many stores sold out of them in short order.

Meiji Shrine gets ready for the New Year

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:25:08 +0100

Meiji Shrine is getting ready to ring in the New Year and is anticipating over 3 million visitors over the course of the first 3 days of 2009.

New Years Eve preparations

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:10:52 +0100

Many people began their day preparing for the New Year by going through their own personal rituals on New Years Eve.

Kagawa New Years Sanuki Udon

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:59:45 +0100

Japanese noodle (udon) shops throughout Kagawa Prefecture were crowded on New Years Eve as customers ate Sanuki udon as part of their New Years ritual.

Hakodate onsen crowd on New Years Eve

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:50:33 +0100

Several thousand visitors hit an onsen in Hakodate on New Years Eve to wash away their fatigue from the old year.

Gigantic kagami mochi for New Years

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:34:21 +0100

As a good luck offering, giant kagami mochi (rice cakes) around the size of round mirrors, are dedicated at shrines in hopes for good harvests, fertility, etc.

Govt to again subsidize photovoltaics

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:43:36 +0100

The Japanese government said it would bring back subsidies totaling around 240,000 yen for solar panel (photovoltaic) equipment installed in residences.

Matsuyama Castle tower Susuharai

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:26:32 +0100

Matsuyama Castle (松山城) in Ehime Prefecture underwent its annual housecleaning on the 29th.

System glitch disrupts Shinkansen

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:13:46 +0100

A system glitch in JR East's Shinkansen control system (COSMO) affected all trains on the Tohoku, Joetsu, Nagano, Yamagata and Akita Shinkansen disrupting service for three hours.

New Years preparation at Motsuji Temple

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:03:55 +0100

Preparations for the New Years began at Motsuji (毛越寺) in Hiraizumi-cho, Iwate Prefecture.

Winter 2008 Comiket opens

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:53:47 +0100

Comiket (コミケット) 75, also known as Comic Market (コミックマーケット), opened this weekend at the Tokyo Big Sight.

Kyoto's Byodo-in Susuharai

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:47:05 +0100

Byodo-in (平等院), the UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, went through its annual dusting on the morning of the 28th.

McDonalds hires customers for promo

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:36:30 +0100

Over 1,000 customers who lined up for McDonald's Japan new Quarter Pounder sandwiches turned out to be hired part-timers.

Snow at Kinkakuji in Kyoto

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:29:59 +0100

Kinkakuji (金閣寺) or the Golden Pavilion Temple in Kyoto, was layered in a thin covering of snow on the 26th.

Tokyo Tower celebrates 50th anniversary

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:53:20 +0100

Tokyo Tower, one of Japan's most iconic symbols, celebrated its 50th anniversary today.

Sanriku Railway's "Kotatsu" Train

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:55:27 +0100

The kotatsu train of Sanriku Railway (三陸鉄道) in Iwate Prefecture will be in its 4th year of operation by the end of this year. A kotatsu (炬燵) is a low, wooden table frame covered by a futon, or heavy blanket, upon which a table top sits. Underneath is...

Pumpkin bath in Toyama Prefecture

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:06:14 +0100

December 21st was the winter solstice (and the official start of winter) and in Toyama Prefecture, a Japanese pumpkin (kabocha) bath was put on display.

Highest quality beef dishes

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:25:06 +0100

The king of delicious foods , Kei Kurusu (http://www.kurusukei.com/) took a Fuji TV news reporter around to recommend eateries which offered some of the highest quality beef dishes.

Tokyo Station Christmas Illuminations

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:10:54 +0100

The area surrounding Tokyo Station was bathed in the illumination of Christmas.

10,000 candles lit in Yokohama

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:52:00 +0100

As part of the countdown to the 150th year anniversary of the opening of the port of Yokohama in 2009, 10,000 candles were lit in Naka Ward near the Yokohama harbor.