Society

Gov't starts search for fire ants at 68 ports

Aug 03 (Japan Today) - The Japanese government launched a search Wednesday for venomous fire ants at the 68 ports that regularly receive shipping containers from other countries including China.

The Environment Ministry and the transport ministry began the search from the Port of Yokohama, near Tokyo, where more than 700 fire ants have been found in a crack in asphalt at its container yard in July.

The ministry plans to install receptacles to trap the ants on three separate occasions between now and the end of October. If fire ants are found, it will take measures to deal with them, including putting out poisonous feed.

"By confirming (their existence) early, we want to start taking steps to prevent their entry (into the country)," said Environment Ministry official Yusuke Miyake.

Fire ants -- native to South America -- enter into Japan with containers shipped from overseas. They are known for their sting, which can cause anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can lead to breathing problems and even death.

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

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Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

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