Society

Japan claim fifth FIBA Women's Asia Cup title in a row after epic Final in Amman

Oct 04 (fiba.basketball) - AMMAN (Jordan) - Japan lifted their sixth FIBA Women's Asia Cup trophy and fifth in a row on Sunday night in Amman after an incredible Final showdown against China,

In a repeat of the previous title game, it was Japan who prevailed as they won 78-73 in a fantastic advert for the women's game. Hoping for their first silverware since 2011, China were largely undone by the brilliance of point guard Saori Miyazaki who showed out with 26 points and 11 assists.

Himawari Akaho was rewarded as being a standout leader for the champions with the TISSOT MVP award for the tournament, so often setting the tone for the suffocating defense that Japan rely on. She was joined in the All-Star Five by Miyazaki who led the tournament with 9.6 assists per game.

Yueru Li and Sijing Huang of China also sealed a place, with tournament leading scorer Sami Whitcomb of Australia included after propelling the Opals to back to back bronze medals.

The event also served to confirm the field for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 Qualifying Tournaments, with Japan, China and Korea joining host nation Australia.

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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