Society

Over 1,000 Fire Ants Found at Yokohama Port

YOKOHAMA, May 23 (News On Japan) - More than 1,000 fire ants, a designated invasive species, have been found in a container at Yokohama Port. This marks the first confirmed case in Japan this year.

According to the Ministry of the Environment, on May 16, numerous ants were discovered in an empty container at Honmoku Pier in Yokohama City. The container had been shipped from a port in China, unloaded at Tokyo Port, had its contents delivered in Ōta Ward, Tokyo, and was then returned to Yokohama Port.

On the following day, pest control measures were carried out, and on May 20, experts confirmed that the ants were indeed fire ants.

Over 1,000 worker ants and more than 20 winged queen ants were found in the container.

This is the first time fire ants have been found in Japan this year.

Fire ants are known to have a potent venom and can sting humans. They are designated as a specific invasive species.

The Ministry of the Environment plans to continue placing insecticides and monitoring the situation.

Source: ANN

Southern Kyushu Enters Rainy Season Earlier Than Okinawa for First Time in 49 Years

Southern Kyushu has entered the rainy season, marking the first time in 49 years that it has done so earlier than Okinawa. It is also the earliest rainy season start for any region in Japan since the Meteorological Agency began keeping records. Authorities are warning of heavy rainfall not only in Kyushu but across other parts of the country as well.

Saitama Road Collapse Recovery to Take 5-7 Years

A road collapse in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture is expected to take five to seven years to fully restore, local officials said on Friday, following the recovery of a truck cab that had remained lodged in the sewer system since the January accident.

Eighty Years On, Okinawa Remembers the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill

Eighty years have passed since the end of World War II, yet the memories of its fiercest battles continue to echo in the heart of Okinawa. The district of Omoromachi in central Naha, now a lively urban hub filled with people, was once the site of one of the bloodiest clashes of the Battle of Okinawa—the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill.

Aoi Festival Kicks Off in Kyoto

The Aoi Festival, one of Kyoto’s three major traditional festivals, began on May 15th with a vibrant procession of around 500 people dressed in elegant Heian-period garments making their way through the streets of the ancient capital.

Japan Marks 150 Years of Meters

Japan’s prototypes of the kilogram and meter, which once served as national standards for weight and length, were presented to the press this week ahead of the 150th anniversary of the Meter Convention, the international treaty that standardized global measurement systems, to be marked on May 20th.

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