Society

Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko visit Hawaii to mark 150th year since first immigrant arrival

Jun 06 (Japan Times) - Prince Akishino and his wife, Princess Kiko, arrived in Hawaii on Monday for a six-day official visit to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Japanese immigration there - part of yearlong celebrations.

Prince Akishino laid a white wreath with peace lilies Monday at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in remembrance of fallen U.S. troops.

The couple was accompanied by cemetery director James Horton, and Adm. Phil Davidson, who last week became the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, the American military's Pacific headquarters.

The prince also laid a second white wreath at Ehime Maru Memorial in downtown Honolulu's Kakaako Waterfront Park, which commemorates Japanese lives lost when a U.S. Navy submarine rammed into a Japanese fisheries training ship in 2001, killing nine people, including four students.

During their visit, the prince is also scheduled to deliver a speech at a ceremony Thursday marking the arrival of the first group of Japanese immigrants to Hawaii in 1868.

The couple later visited the Bishop Museum and joined an opening ceremony for its special exhibition "Gannenmono: A Legacy of Eight Generations in Hawaii," which honors the first Japanese plantation workers to Hawaii - of which there were about 150 - known as the gannenmono.

Source: ANNnewsCH

Typhoon No. 24 (Fung-shen) Moves Toward Vietnam, Heavy Rain Forecast For Japan

Typhoon No. 24 (Fung-shen) is strengthening over the South China Sea and is expected to make landfall in Vietnam later this week, according to forecasts. Satellite images on October 20th show extensive cloud coverage over the central South China Sea. After passing over the Philippines, Fung-shen temporarily weakened but is projected to intensify again as it continues westward through Tuesday.

Real-Life Water Police: Protecting Tokyo’s Seas and Rivers

Tokyo’s seas and rivers, once considered lawless backwaters beyond the reach of regular policing, are now under constant watch by a dedicated force known as the “water police,” specialists who patrol the capital’s waterways, chase down smugglers, stop reckless jet ski riders, and carry out dramatic rescue missions to save lives.

Tourist Graffiti Threatens Kyoto’s Iconic Bamboo Forest

Kyoto’s world-famous Arashiyama district, a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists, is facing a growing problem of graffiti etched into the bamboo along its iconic “Bamboo Grove Path,” with more than 350 stalks now damaged — a practice that experts warn could eventually cause bamboo to weaken, fall, and even injure visitors.

Japanese Streaming Services Struggle Against Netflix

Japan’s streaming industry is under growing pressure as foreign giants tighten their grip on the domestic market, with Netflix’s latest move to secure exclusive broadcast rights in Japan for every game of the World Baseball Classic next March highlighting the widening gap.

Japan Tightens Rules on Foreign Business Visas

Investigators from the Immigration Services Agency conducted on-site inspections in Osaka on October 14th amid a surge in so-called 'paper companies' created by foreign nationals seeking residency.

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Mako Komuro Appears in Six-Page Town & Country Feature

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