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Diggings begin at Yoshinogari's 'mysterious area'

TOKYO - A comprehensive excavation has commenced at the largely untouched "mysterious area" within the Yoshinogari Site, a complex Yayoi archaeological site in Saga Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan.

In April of this year, a preliminary survey led to the discovery of a "stone coffin tomb" believed to have belonged to a prominent figure from the Yayoi period, attracting attention from across the country.

In June, efforts were made to open the lid of the tomb, revealing the presence of red pigment used by individuals of high status at the bottom of the tomb.

The full-scale investigation is scheduled to cover an additional 450 square meters, extending from the area around the sarcophagus tomb, with new discoveries expected.

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A section of stone wall at Hikone Castle, one of Japan’s few surviving original Edo-period castles and a National Treasure whose main keep remains intact more than 400 years after its construction, collapsed after heavy rain believed to have been caused by Typhoons No. 7 and No. 8, Hikone city officials said.

Japan’s weather agency carried out field inspections in Yamanashi Prefecture on June 28 after a powerful earthquake struck the Fuji Five Lakes area late on June 26, registering a lower 6 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in Fujikawaguchiko and injuring six people.

According to updates on June 28, the double-typhoon system that brought record rain, flooding, landslides and fallen trees to parts of Japan has moved away, but Kanto remains under cloudy rainy-season skies, with intermittent rain still possible and saturated ground keeping the risk of landslides high in areas hit by heavy rain.

Japan advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup after a 1-1 draw with Sweden on June 25, finishing second in Group F and setting up a Round of 32 clash with Brazil in Houston.

A powerful earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of upper 6 struck off Iwate Prefecture at around 7:30 a.m. on June 25, shaking parts of Aomori Prefecture and leaving Hachinohe, which was hit by a similarly strong quake last December, facing fresh damage.

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