Travel

Japan’s Influenza Outbreak a Problem for Tourists?

Feb 15 (News On Japan) - Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, widely known for her role in the 2001 television drama 'Meteor Garden,' passed away at the age of 48 due to pneumonia induced by influenza. Hsu contracted the flu during a family vacation in Japan over the Lunar New Year holiday and subsequently developed severe pneumonia.

Barbie Hsu, affectionately called "Big S," began her entertainment career in 1994 as part of the pop duo S.O.S. with her sister Dee. She transitioned to acting and gained widespread fame for portraying Shan Cai in "Meteor Garden," a role that resonated with audiences across Asia. Beyond her acting career, Hsu was an active supporter of various charitable causes, including animal rights, and collaborated with organizations like PETA.

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In her personal life, Hsu had a history of health challenges, including epilepsy and heart disease, which had led to previous hospitalizations. She was married to South Korean musician Koo Jun-yup, also known as "DJ Koo," and had two children from her previous marriage to Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei. Her sudden passing has led to a surge in demand for influenza vaccinations in Taiwan and other parts of Asia, highlighting the potential severity of flu-related complications.

Global Matcha Boom Pushes Tea House Fees Up 50%

The global matcha boom is driving up costs in Japan’s historic tea capital, with Uji City in Kyoto Prefecture set to raise usage fees at its municipal tea rooms by roughly 50% as soaring demand pushes up the price of tencha, the raw material used to produce matcha.

Six Students Taken to Hospital After Eating Overly Salty Pizza

Six junior high school students were taken to hospital after falling ill from eating pizza made during a home economics class in Kitakyushu last month, with officials suspecting the cause to be an excessive amount of salt added to the dough.

Osaka Fraud Losses Top 33.9 Billion Yen as Police-Impersonation Scams Surge

Losses from special fraud and SNS-based investment and romance scams in Osaka Prefecture over the past year exceeded 33.9 billion yen, marking a record high.

Japan Supplies Generators to Ukraine

A ceremony was held in Kyiv on February 11th where the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) presented generators to Ukraine as the country grapples with worsening electricity shortages following Russian attacks on energy facilities, with citizens struggling to endure severe winter conditions and international assistance for power infrastructure continuing to grow.

Water Supply Disruptions Continue in Hakone

A renewed water outage struck Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture after supplies briefly resumed on February 11th morning, with authorities reinstating water restrictions from 9 p.m. as frozen pipes and low reservoir levels linked to an intense cold wave continued to disrupt supply across the region.

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Ninjas Clear Weeds From Castle Wall

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Nara Targets Wealthy Travelers With Luxury Lodging on Former Todaiji Grounds

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