Society

Japan Has Made One of the Greatest Comebacks in Volleyball History

Aug 03 (Titans Volleyball) - Japan are on two victories after their come from behind 3-2 (22-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-17, 15-8) triumph against the Netherlands on Saturday. Ran Takahashi scored 26 points in the winning effort.

Thijs Ter Horst (NED): After the first two sets they started to put more pressure on us, and from our side we started to make some mistakes that were unnecessary. I think we wanted to close the game too quickly, instead of just playing our game. That's why we made a few too many mistakes. We are here [at the VNL] for the first time. In addition a few guys have never played in the national team before, so it's an amazing start for their international career. We have to enjoy, learn and keep going.

Ran Takahashi (JPN): The first two sets were very difficult for us, also mentally. However, what we did in the next three sets was showing in the game what we have worked on during training, and that was what helped us win this game. Playing a five-setter is a good experience for the future, and tomorrow we will try to play even better.

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

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

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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