Sports

Olympic Judo Stars' Hometown Unveils Giant Mural

Jul 26 (News On Japan) - A massive mural of siblings Hifumi and Uta Abe, who are set to compete in judo at the Paris Olympics and aim for consecutive gold medals, was unveiled on July 26 in their hometown of Kobe.

Hifumi Abe's mural appears at his alma mater, Shinko Gakuen High School in Chuo Ward, Kobe. The mural reaches up to the third floor of the school building and depicts him in a blue judo uniform, staring intently at his opponent.

Uta Abe's mural is painted on the wall of a building near the shopping street in the Suido-suji area of Nada Ward, Kobe. The project was organized by Adidas Japan, the Tokyo-based company with which the siblings have a sponsorship agreement.

Source: Kyodo

Huge Whirlwind Appears Off Japan's Northern Coast

A massive tornado-like phenomenon was observed late in the morning of October 2nd off the coast of Tsuruoka in Yamagata Prefecture’s Shonai region, with thick swirling clouds rising high into the sky as seawater was drawn upward.

Maebashi Mayor Admits Love Hotel Scandal Completely Her Fault

Maebashi Mayor Akira Ogawa held a closed-door meeting with all city council members on October 2nd to explain her repeated hotel meetings with a married senior city official, but afterward she avoided stating whether she would resign.

Why Did a Wooden Home in Tokyo Collapse?

A two-story wooden house collapsed in Tokyo’s Suginami Ward on the night of September 30th, with experts suggesting that the ground beneath the property, rather than the building itself, gave way, likely due to a cracked retaining wall.

Hokkaido Saw Record-Breaking Rainfall in Just Six Hours

Heavy rainfall battered parts of Hokkaido, with some areas receiving more than a month’s worth of precipitation in only six hours, prompting flood warnings and evacuation advisories. Meteorologists are saying the downpour was the result of a combination of unstable atmospheric conditions and moist air flowing in from the sea.

Kamakura Introduces Bathing Tax to Tackle Overtourism

Kamakura City in Kanagawa Prefecture has approved the introduction of a bathing tax, but the measure is drawing strong criticism from local hot spring operators since only two facilities fall under the new levy.

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Hyogo Governor Pulls Plug on Hanshin Victory Parade

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Boxing Champ Inoue Ties Record with 26th Consecutive World Title Win

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Dotonbori Divers Jump Into E. Coli-Filled Water

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Fujii Defends Shogi Title For Sixth Straight Year

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