Society

Mary Fujishima, J-pop matriarch of Johnny & Associates, dies at 93

Aug 18 (Japan Times) - Johnny & Associates Inc. announced today that its honorary chairperson, Mary Yasuko Fujishima, sister of music mogul and company founder Johnny Kitagawa, died of pneumonia at a hospital in Tokyo on Aug. 14. She was 93 years old.

A funeral service was held with close family members. There are no plans for a memorial service at this time.

Fujishima was born in Los Angeles in 1927. She helped build up her brother’s talent agency, founded in 1962, working on the management side of the business while Kitagawa nurtured some of Japan’s most popular male idol groups, such as SMAP and Arashi, and became a dominant force in the entertainment industry. Kitagawa died on July 9, 2019, after which Fujishima’s eldest daughter, Julie Keiko Fujishima, became company president.

Source: ANNnewsCH

Over 300 New Geoglyphs Discovered by Yamagata University in Nazca

Yamagata University, which has been conducting research on the Nazca geoglyphs in Peru, announced the discovery of over 300 new geoglyphs, depicting a variety of subjects, including humans and animals.

University of Tokyo Raises Tuition Fees for First Time in 20 Years

The University of Tokyo has officially decided to increase tuition by approximately 110,000 yen for incoming undergraduate students starting next academic year, bringing the total to 642,960 yen.

Flooding Hits Temporary Housing in Quake-Stricken Wajima

Flooding has reached the temporary housing in Wajima City, built for earthquake victims, and volunteers have begun clearing the mud starting on September 24.

Russian military plane intrudes into Japanese airspace, Tokyo lodges protest

A Japanese government spokesperson says a Russian military airplane entered Japanese airspace three times on Monday. (NHK)

Kishida vows in meeting with Zelenskyy continued support for Ukraine

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has conveyed his country's intention to maintain support for Ukraine to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (NHK)

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