Society

Japanese gamers asked to not send Valentine's chocolates to favorite characters due to virus

Feb 14 (Japan Times) - Video game fans are being asked not to send chocolate to their favorite characters on Valentine’s Day amid the continuing spread of the coronavirus.

Every Feb. 14, gamers send chocolates to characters and developers of Square Enix Co., best known for the blockbuster Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy games.

This year, however, the Tokyo-based company has posted a message on its website asking fans to refrain from sending gifts this year.

Square Enix employees were given the option to work completely from home from December, making it difficult for its staff to receive such gifts at the office. The gaming giant also cited the government’s coronavirus state of emergency as a reason for the decision.

Outside the game industry, B. League basketball club Chiba Jets Funabashi asked fans on Twitter to refrain from giving chocolate to players.

New Flexible Solar Panels to Power Shinkansen Stations

JR Central has unveiled ultra-thin solar panels that can be installed on noise barriers along the Tokaido Shinkansen, aiming for deployment by 2050. Measuring just about one millimeter thick, the perovskite solar panels are lightweight and flexible, allowing them to be fitted onto the curved surfaces of noise barriers.

Will Japan’s Gas Costs Fall?

Following the Japan-U.S. summit during the Trump administration, discussions about liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports gained momentum. The agreement to expand LNG purchases from the U.S. was seen as a key development, but significant challenges remain. Will this lead to lower gas prices in Japan? And what are the five countries that pose obstacles to fulfilling this commitment?

Japan's Visa Easing for Chinese Tourists Sparks Political Debate

Japan’s recent decision to ease visa requirements for Chinese tourists has sparked mixed reactions, with some expecting an influx of visitors and others arguing that the impact will be limited.

Thousands Clash in Aichi’s Naked Festival

Aichi’s famed Konomiya Hadaka Festival took place on February 10th at Konomiya Shrine in Inazawa City, where men clad in only fundoshi loincloths clashed in a frenzied struggle. The traditional event, which has continued for over 1,200 years, centers around the ‘Shin Otoko’ or ‘Sacred Man,’ chosen by lottery, whom participants believe will cleanse them of misfortune if they manage to touch him.

Japan to Release Emergency Rice Reserves Amid Rising Prices

Rice prices in Japan continue to rise, despite the government’s plan to release emergency reserves in an effort to stabilize the market. A bowl of tendon, topped with freshly fried tempura, is incomplete without steaming hot rice, but the cost of this staple has been steadily increasing.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Thousands Clash in Aichi’s Naked Festival

Kobe Homes Targeted by Thieves? Mysterious Stones Left at Gates

Authorities in Kobe are investigating a series of suspicious stones found placed on residential gates, warning they may serve as burglary markers.

Police Raid Kyoto University Dormitory Following Student Protest

Six Kyoto University students have been arrested for storming the university’s main administration building during a 2022 dormitory festival with about 250 others, disrupting operations with loudspeakers, leading police to conduct a search of Kumano Dormitory on Sunday.

Low-Alcohol Drinks and Board Games: The Evolving Culture of Gen Z

Gen Z, known for valuing their personal time, is redefining how they unwind after work. From low-alcohol cocktails to board games, new trends are emerging in Tokyo's nightlife scene.

Fiery Descent at Wakayama's Kamikura Shrine

The annual Otomo Festival took place on February 6th at Kamikura Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. The event saw men clad in white robes, each carrying a flaming torch, racing down the shrine’s steep stone steps in a centuries-old tradition.