History of the highball, Japan’s popular whisky and soda cocktail
South China Morning Post -- Mar 26
The simplest things in life are often the best: sharing a pizza with friends, watching the sunrise with a loved one or sipping a perfectly executed two-ingredient cocktail, such as a whisky and soda, on a sunny day.
It wasn’t until after the second world war, in the 1950s, that the whisky highball started gaining popularity among the masses in Japan. During this time, Suntory opened a string of bars in the big cities, called Tory’s Bar, to promote the drinks company’s products.
This is when the Kakubin Highball (made using the iconic Kakubin whisky, created in 1937) became its bestseller.
Today, the drink is a staple in Japan; from yakitori bars to karaoke dens, and even vending machines stocked with delicious canned versions, the highball has become deeply ingrained in the country’s drinking culture. ...continue reading
Japan, US, S.Korea agree to activate real-time sharing of missile data this year
NHK - Jun 04
Japan, the United States and South Korea have agreed to upgrade their security relationship to enable real-time monitoring of missiles launched by North Korea. The countries will activate the new data-sharing mechanism by the end of the year.
Heavy rains pound wide areas of Japan
NHK - Jun 03
Heavy rain continued from Friday through Saturday morning, bringing record rainfall to several parts of Japan. The Meteorological Agency is calling on people to remain on the alert for landslides and swollen rivers.
Couple arrested for leaving partially burned newborn baby found on Shizuoka coastline
Japan Today - Jun 03
Police in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, have arrested a 24-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man on suspicion of abandoning a newborn baby girl whose partially burned body was found along the coastline last month.
Construction begins for new Haneda airport train line
Japan Today - Jun 03
A ground-breaking ceremony was held on Friday in Tokyo to mark the start of construction for a new train line connecting Tokyo Station and the capital's Haneda airport that will begin service before March 2032.
Japan PM’s private photo leaked, causes security concerns
Daily Sun - Jun 03
A private photo of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, taken at his official residence, was leaked by a magazine on Friday, with critics arguing the action was inappropriate and generated security issues at what they consider a public facility, reports Kyodo News.
Sales of some IC cards to be halted in Japan due to global chip shortage
NHK - Jun 03
Sales of Suica and Pasmo IC cards, which are used to pay for train fares and other payments in Japan, will be temporarily suspended from Thursday of next week due to a global semiconductor shortage.
Expressway tolls extended for 50 years to 2115
NOJ - Jun 02
Japan's House of Councillors pass a law Wednesday extending the deadline for collecting expressway tolls, which had been until 2065, by 50 years to 2115, TV Asahi reports.
Japan had warmest spring since 1898 with early blooms, summer temperatures
NHK - Jun 02
Weather officials say that Japan had the warmest spring in 125 years this year, characterized by early blooms on cherry trees, and summer-like temperatures on certain days in May.
New Murakami Haruki novel tops Japan book sales
NHK - Jun 02
The latest novel by Japanese author Murakami Haruki has racked up the country's highest sales for any category of book in the past six months.
Shogi star Fujii Sota at 20 becomes youngest player to win Meijin title
NHK - Jun 02
Twenty-year-old shogi sensation Fujii Sota has become the youngest player to win the Meijin title, the oldest of the eight major titles in the Japanese board game.
Japan to channel billions of dollars into raising birth rate
DW News - Jun 02
The Japanese government on Thursday announced specific measures to curb falling birth rates by boosting financial support for households with children.
Three people charged over Ghosn's escape found not guilty in Turkey retrial
NHK - Jun 01
A lawyer for three people who were charged with helping former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn flee Japan has told NHK they were acquitted by a Turkish court in a retrial.
University of Tokyo joins FSA on financial-crisis research
NHK - Jun 01
Japan's leading university and the Financial Services Agency have started working on a project to prevent future financial crises.
Japanese convenience store chain offers edible spoons to reduce plastic waste
nextshark.com - Jun 01
A Japanese convenience store chain will start offering edible spoons in June that customers can use to eat ice cream.
Discover the Excitement of Online Sports Betting in Japan
newsonjapan.com - Jun 01
Japan is home to a wide variety of sports, from football and baseball to horse racing and sumo wrestling, and so there are few better places to wager on via online sports betting platforms.
Law enacted that allows nuclear reactors to operate beyond 60 years
Japan Today - May 31
Japan on Wednesday passed a law allowing nuclear reactors to operate beyond 60 years, as it tries to reinvigorate the sector to meet energy challenges and climate targets.
