Travel

Kanda Festival Reaches Fever Pitch as Over 200 Mikoshi Enter Shrine

TOKYO, May 11 (News On Japan) - The Kanda Festival, one of Edo’s three great festivals, reached its peak on May 11th as more than 200 mikoshi paraded through the streets of central Tokyo before converging on Kanda Myojin Shrine.

From early morning, a steady procession of mikoshi arrived at the shrine in Chiyoda Ward, accompanied by the spirited chants of bearers energizing the crowd.

The highlight of the day was the "Mikoshi Miyairi"—the entry of the portable shrines into Kanda Myojin after making their way through the city. With traffic restrictions in place around the shrine, large crowds gathered to watch the climactic event, fueling a festive and electric atmosphere.

The day also marked Tokyo’s ninth summer-like day this year, with the temperature reaching a high of 26.7 degrees Celsius at 1:30 p.m.—on par with late June weather.

Source: TBS

Typhoon Makes Landfall in Hokkaido for First Time in Nine Years

Typhoon No. 5 made landfall near Cape Erimo in Hokkaido in the early hours of July 15th, marking the first time in nine years that a typhoon has struck the northernmost of Japan’s main islands.

Japan's Ruling Bloc Faces Tough Battle to Keep Majority

The ruling coalition is facing an increasingly difficult battle to retain its majority in Japan’s House of Councillors, according to a mid-campaign opinion poll by FNN ahead of the July 20th election. Meanwhile, the minor party Sanseitō is showing strong momentum and could see a significant boost in its number of seats.

Man Killed by Bear Attack While Delivering Newspapers in Hokkaido

A 52-year-old newspaper deliveryman was killed in the early hours of July 12th after being attacked by a bear in a residential area of Fukushima Town, Hokkaido.

Illegal Outdoor Bathing Spot in Niseko Forced to Close

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Hermes Birkin Breaks Record as Japanese Collector Pays 1.47 Billion Yen

A first-generation Hermes Birkin bag has been sold at a Paris auction for approximately 1.47 billion yen, marking the highest price ever paid for a handbag. The winning bidder was a Japanese collector, and the sale was held by Sotheby’s.

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