Japanese stop-motion film brings 'wooden' samurai to life

TOKYO, May 18 (Nikkei) - In the gruesome climactic scene of the film "HIDARI," the samurai hero Hidari Jingoro, spinning in midair, slices through the torsos of 12 of his adversaries simultaneously with a chain saw. For a split second, time seems to stand still, until the victims' bodies, chopped in half as if they were fruit, fall limply to the ground.

But instead of blood and guts, it is sawdust that spews from the enemies' gaping stomachs. And instead of the dull thud of human bodies, it is the clinking of wood that rings out as Hidari's unlucky conquests hit the floor. ...continue reading

Weather authorities urge caution against floods, landslides in Ishikawa

Japan's Meteorological Agency has changed its heavy rain emergency warning for parts of Ishikawa to a warning. But it is still urging people to stay alert for possible floods and landslides in the central prefecture. (NHK)

Ohtani Hits Milestone with 52-52 Record

Shohei Ohtani returned to Dodger Stadium in spectacular fashion, hitting a home run and stealing a base in his first game back, raising his season total to 52 home runs and 52 stolen bases.

China to Lift Japanese Seafood Ban

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says Japan and China have reached an agreement that will lead to the resumption of China's imports of Japanese seafood. (NHK)

Tohoku Shinkansen Unexpected Detaches at 315 km/h

The Tohoku Shinkansen came to a halt for five hours on Thursday due to an unexpected mid-journey separation of the linked Hayabusa and Komachi trains, 30 minutes after passing Furukawa Station with a total of 320 passengers on board.

Eruption Warning for Izu's Sumisu Island

The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued an eruption alert for Sumisu Island in the Izu Islands, following the detection of discolored water in July.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Entertainment NEWS

The Future of Kabuki (The Next Generation, Part 2)

In this video, we continue to highlight some of the young talent in the kabuki world. (Kabuki In-Depth)

U-NEXT Secures Exclusive Rights to Harry Potter

U-NEXT announced on Thursday that it has signed a new exclusive contract with Warner Bros. Discovery, which boasts a library of over 2,500 titles, including the Harry Potter series, to be available on U-NEXT starting September 25th at no additional cost.

Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance | Exclusive Clip

Eleven months into the One Year War in U.C.0079, top Zaku II pilot Captain Solari faces the Earth Federation’s new lethal weapon: the mobile suit Gundam. Check out the opening scene from Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance, a new animated series premiering October 17th. (Netflix Anime)