Travel

Grand Maritime Parade Held in Osaka Bay

OSAKA, Jun 01 (News On Japan) - A grand maritime parade featuring the iconic Japanese tall ship Nippon Maru and around 50 small yachts took place in Osaka Bay on May 31st near Yumeshima, the man-made island hosting the Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai.

The Nippon Maru is one of Japan’s most celebrated sailing ships, originally built in 1930 as a training vessel for cadets of the merchant marine. Constructed at the Kawasaki Shipyard in Kobe, the ship measures about 97 meters in length and features four towering masts rigged with 29 sails, earning it the nickname "Swan of the Pacific" for its graceful appearance at sea. For more than half a century, the Nippon Maru served as a training platform, preparing over 11,000 cadets during its active years.

The ship sailed extensively, both in domestic waters and abroad, representing Japan at international maritime events and goodwill visits. In 1984, the vessel was retired from active training duty and later preserved as a museum ship in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai district, where it remains docked today, welcoming visitors aboard. In 1989, a second-generation Nippon Maru was launched to continue training operations, ensuring that the spirit and tradition of the original vessel lived on.

Source: Kyodo

Fujii Becomes Youngest Lifetime Triple Crown Holder in Shogi History

Shogi champion Sota Fujii, who defended his title in the prestigious Ryuo Tournament, expressed his joy on November 11th after becoming the youngest player in history to qualify for the lifetime title of "Eisei Ryuo" (Lifetime Ryuo).

Japan Plans to Triple Departure Tax to 3,000 Yen

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) policy committee has drafted a resolution calling on the government to raise the “departure tax” to secure funds for overtourism countermeasures. The proposal seeks to increase the current 1,000 yen per-person levy to 3,000 yen, and to set the rate at 5,000 yen for travelers using business class or higher.

Tokyo Issues Influenza Epidemic Warning for First Time in 16 Years

Tokyo Metropolitan Government issued an influenza epidemic warning on November 13th after the number of reported cases reached the alert threshold, marking the first such announcement in November in 16 years.

Russia Bans 30 More Japanese Nationals

Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced on November 11th that it has decided to impose an indefinite entry ban on 30 Japanese nationals as a countermeasure against what it called Japan’s “hostile policies” following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mother of 12-Year-Old Thai Girl Caught In Prostitution Gets Arrest Warrant

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has obtained an arrest warrant for the mother of a 12-year-old Thai girl who was illegally employed at a massage parlor in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward, on suspicion of violating the Child Welfare Act.

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Mysterious Hole In Hokkaido Mountains Revealed

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