Sendai star festival draws large crowds despite fresh COVID wave

Aug 07, 2022 | News On Japan

Aug 07, 2022 (Kyodo) - An annual star festival in the northeastern Japan city of Sendai, known for its hundreds of brilliant hanging decorations in shopping areas, commenced Saturday with the biggest crowds expected since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Sendai Tanabata Festival adds to the list of major summer events being held in Japan following cancellations or restrictions on spectators in previous years due to COVID-19, although the country is now facing its seventh wave of infections driven by the highly transmissible BA.5 Omicron subvariant of the coronavirus.

Organizers expect around 2 million people to visit the three-day star festival, which was canceled in 2020 for the first time during the postwar era and held with reduced decorations in 2021. ...continue reading

Source: 日テレNEWS

Flights Canceled, Shinkansen on Alert as Typhoon No. 6 Approaches Kyushu

[updated 10:30 a.m.] Typhoon No. 6 is disrupting travel across Japan on June 2nd as it moves north toward Kyushu after battering Okinawa and Amami, with Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways cancelling a combined 237 domestic flights, affecting around 14,000 passengers. The Tokaido Shinkansen that runs between Osaka and Tokyo is still operating on schedule, although limited services may occur from tonight as heavy rain is expected to spread from western Japan toward central and eastern regions through June 3rd.

Typhoon No. 6 Leaves 29,000 Without Power as Heavy Rain Threat Spreads

[updated 10:45 a.m.] Typhoon No. 6 continued moving north toward Kyushu on June 2nd after battering the Amami Islands overnight, leaving around 29,000 households without power, disrupting transportation across southern Japan and forcing evacuation advisories affecting approximately 83,000 residents, while forecasters warned that heavy rain could spread flooding and landslide risks across western and eastern Japan through June 3rd.

Prime Minister Takaichi Holds Phone Talks With Iranian President

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on June 1st, urging Iran to demonstrate maximum flexibility in its ongoing discussions with the United States and expressing hope that an agreement on the nuclear issue can be reached as soon as possible.

Koizumi Rebuts Accusations of 'New Militarism' at Security Forum

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi strongly rejected accusations that Japan is embracing "new militarism," describing such claims as false while delivering a speech at a major regional security conference in Singapore on May 31st.

Bear Sighting Hoax Posts Trigger Police Investigation in Aomori

A series of false bear sighting reports posted to an online alert system operated by Aomori Prefecture has disrupted schools, prompted a police investigation, and raised concerns about the growing impact of misinformation on public safety.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Yobuko Underwater Restaurant Promises Bigger Windows Ahead of Renewal

One of Kyushu's most distinctive dining destinations, the underwater restaurant Manbo in Yobuko, Saga Prefecture, has temporarily closed after 43 years in operation as construction advances on a new and modernized replacement scheduled to open this autumn.

Hokkaido Appoints First Government Hunter to Tackle Growing Bear Threat

A veteran hunter with 42 years of experience has become the first person hired by Hokkaido as a "Government Hunter," a newly created role aimed at strengthening bear control measures and improving public safety.

Kansai Airport Completes First Major Renovation Since Opening

Kansai Airport has completed its first large-scale renovation since opening, 24 additional stores, including a Universal Studios Japan outlet, marking the theme park's first airport store in Japan.

Osaka Suspends New Special-Zone Minpaku Applications

Osaka City will stop accepting new applications for its special-zone minpaku program on May 29 as complaints over noise, garbage disposal and other issues involving guests continue to increase.

Kyoto Company Targets Beef Cutlets as Inbound Tourism Strategy

Sanmarc Holdings is betting on Kyoto's global appeal and the growing popularity of gyukatsu among foreign tourists as it accelerates overseas expansion, with President Yuki Fujikawa positioning the beef cutlet chain as a key driver of the restaurant group's inbound tourism and international growth strategy.

Work While Traveling: 'Otetutabi' Gains Popularity in Hokkaido

A new travel style known as “Otetutabi,” which combines short-term work with tourism, is rapidly gaining attention across Japan as both travelers and local businesses search for new ways to address changing social and economic realities.

Debate Reignites Over Western Japan Bullet Train Route

The route dispute surrounding the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Osaka has been thrown back into uncertainty, with the long-discussed "Obama-Kyoto Route" effectively returned to square one as ruling coalition lawmakers consider eight alternative plans, including a route via Maibara Station in Shiga Prefecture.

Traditional Rice Planting Festival Held in Shirakawa-go

Traditional rice planting was held on May 27th in Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture, where women dressed as saotome carefully planted Koshihikari rice seedlings as traditional rice planting songs echoed across the historic village.

< 2 3 4 5 >