Society

Tokyo 2020 unveils new promotional graphics

Sep 27 (Japan Today) - The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) has unveiled new graphics that are to feature on posters and banners across the city and during the planned â€œ1,000 Days To Goâ€ celebration period which will run from Oct 28 to Nov 29.

The chains of 45 squares that form the Tokyo 2020 Emblems now transform their shapes into various fireworks. The fireworks light up the sky expressing the excitement of anticipation. For young and old, people everywhere love fireworks. The dynamic firework designs emanating from Tokyo 2020 Emblems will raise the momentum for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. Seven new graphic elements have been createdâ€”two for Olympic-related promotion, two for Paralympic related promotion and three designed for use by either; Tokyo 2020, Tokyo 2020 corporate partners and approved event organisers will use these on posters, banners and merchandise.

On Oct 28, Tokyo 2020 will hold a "1,000 Days To Go" countdown event; the main street of Tokyoâ€™s famous Nihonbashi district will be decorated with the new graphics and turned into a giant sports field for the day. After watching demonstrations by athletes, the public will have the opportunity to learn about and practice some of the sports that will make their first appearance in the Olympic Games in 2020.

The Japanese Olympic Committee will also organise an Olympic Concert â€“ a classical concert performed against a backdrop of Olympic images projected onto multiple screens.

Shimadzu Unveils World's First Optical Lattice Clock

Shimadzu Corporation has launched the world's first optical lattice clock, which measures time using the oscillation frequency of atoms trapped by lasers. The clock boasts an unparalleled accuracy, with an error of just one second over 10 billion years.

Tohoku Shinkansen Cars Unexpectedly Detach

A Tohoku Shinkansen train came to an unexpected stop between Ueno and Omiya on March 6th after its coupled cars separated. The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on the Hayabusa-Komachi No. 21 train.

Japan to Release Rice Reserves as Prices Surge Past 5,000 Yen for 5kg

Japan’s rice prices have been steadily climbing, with the cost of a 5-kilogram bag rising from 2,430 to 3,297 yen last year and further increasing to 3,949 yen this year, putting pressure on household budgets. To curb these rising prices, the government has decided to release its rice reserves.

Gunkanjima Faces Collapse Risk as Buildings Deteriorate

The historic buildings of Hashima Island, commonly known as Gunkanjima, are facing a risk of collapse due to ongoing deterioration, it was revealed on March 3rd. The island, part of the "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution," a UNESCO World Heritage site that marks its 10th anniversary this summer, has seen its structures degrade significantly over time.

Nara's Omizutori Fire Ritual Marks 1,274 Year

The annual Shunie ceremony, commonly known as Omizutori, has begun at Todai-ji Temple in Nara. Carrying large torches, attendants lit the way as monks, known as the Rengyoshu, slowly ascended the steps of Nigatsudo Hall.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Free ‘Manhole Cards’ Resold for Thousands, Angering Collectors

A surge in the resale of 'Manhole Cards,' collectible cards featuring designs of local manhole covers distributed for free by municipalities, has angered collectors and local governments. Some cards are being resold for as much as 100,000 yen, prompting concerns over fairness and the original intent behind the initiative.

Abandoned Hospital Becomes Haunting Ground, Alarming Residents

An abandoned hospital in Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture, has become a well-known "haunted spot," drawing unwanted attention and raising concerns among local residents. Fresh footprints in the snow indicate frequent trespassing, despite the lack of any official visitors.