Society

Marathon in Hokkaido moves online with record 3,000 runners to join

Jul 27 (Kyodo) - An annual marathon in Hokkaido, called off this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, has been moved online and attracted a record 3,000 applicants in a week, its biggest draw since the race started in 2015.

The participants of online version of the Okhotsk Abashiri Marathon 2020 will run 42.195 kilometers in any place at any time between Sept. 14 and 27, using an app called "Tatta" that records their running data with GPS.

The application process opened on July 1, with a total of 3,000 slots available. By the next day, 2,000 people had applied, with the race filling up on the morning of July 8.

Despite the expensive fee of 15,000 yen ($140), applications for two courses that come with horsehair crab or local brand wagyu beef gifts, both local specialties, reached their capacities of 100 in the early morning of July 1.

Student's Homemade Bomb Sparks School Lockdown in Sapporo

A suspicious object feared to be explosive was discovered at a high school in Sapporo on the afternoon of November 22nd, causing temporary chaos. The object was found to have been brought to the school by one of its students.

China to resume visa-exemptions for short-term Japanese travelers

China says it will resume allowing visa-free visits by Japanese nationals on short-term trips from the end of this month. (NHK)

Japan Grapples with Poverty and Rising 'Invisible Homeless'

Japan is facing a deepening crisis of poverty and inequality, with rising reports of 'invisible homeless' individuals and growing economic hardships among the population. Discussions over reforms to the country's tax and welfare systems have taken center stage, as policymakers grapple with how to provide meaningful support.

Ueno Toshogu Shrine Shines in Gold with Special Lighting

A special lighting ceremony was held on November 20th at Ueno Toshogu Shrine, located in Ueno Park, Taito Ward, Tokyo. The event featured a unique lighting design created by renowned lighting designer Motoko Ishii.

World's First Fiber Made From Bagworm Silk Revolutionizes Industry

A Japanese pharmaceutical company has announced the successful commercialization of fiber made from silk produced by bagworms.

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Sex industry recruiters in Tokyo arrested

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Human Hand Found Sticking Out From Ground at Cemetery in Nara

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