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The article talks about the studies done in Japan over decades. They found that high animal protein intake is associated with a greater risk of intestinal problems.

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[Japan] has begun work on a floating solar power farm that will generate enough electricity for 5,000 homes. Multinational electronics company Kyocera is behind the project, which boasts the designation of being the world’s biggest floating solar farm.

The solar farm and power plant will float on a reservoir in Japan’s Chiba prefecture, southeast of Tokyo. Kyocera says the watery site was selected because Japan simply doesn’t have enough land for a utility-scale solar farm. The Yamakura dam power plant will be outfitted with 50,000 solar panels with an overall capacity of 13.7MW.

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😂😂😂👍👍 I'm sure you already know that "emoji" is a Japanese word. It consists of two words, "e" (pronounced like é in French, and means picture) and "moji" (means letter). Interesting how "😂" glyph was chosen, but the world definitely needs more laughter that makes us cry with joy for sure. I love it.

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…

Fumiko Yamamoto, 66, a pearl diver, told broadcaster NHK: “We want PR to find successors for the ama of Shima, but this character is just too far from what we actually look like. I’m so happy they’ve removed the designation.”

Hundreds of ama divers in Shima signed a petition calling for the withdrawal of the character introduced in October last year. Ama, who do not use breathing apparatus, have dived for pearls in Japan for centuries.

…

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It's really remarkable. I hope the town of books survives the digital book storm.

In a city known for its technological advancement, you might never expect that buying and selling books could still be a thriving industry today. But remarkably, with a history spanning almost 150 years, this legendary neighbourhood – known locally as hon no machi or “book town” – supports around 180 new and used bookstores, thanks to its prestigious universities and a voracious demand for books by knowledge-hungry students. There are so many books in each store that they literally spill out onto the sidewalk. However, shops have no good way of indexing each item – certainly not electronically – thus making it difficult to get desired titles into the hands of wanting book collectors.

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Series of steamy shojo manga illustrations takes on the sizzling topic of IT security | RocketNews24

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New appointment is the first graduate of the Cat Stationmaster Training School and a top-notch protege of the late Tama.

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Japan Meteorological Agency has reported that Asama Mountain, located between two prefectures of Gunma and Nagano, has erupted at around 9:30 in the morning (Japan time).

They confirmed a small amount of volcanic ashes has fallen at the OniOshiDashi area, about 4km north of the mountain.

Currently, the visibility is low, no other info about ashes is available.

The linked Japanese site has an image from a liveCam.

気象庁は6月16日、群馬県と長野県の県境付近にある浅間山（あさまやま）が、こ���日の午前9時30分頃に噴火したもようだと発表した。浅間山の北側約4キロメートルの鬼押出しで、微量の降灰を確認したという。視界不良のため噴煙の状況は不明。

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OKAYAMA--Mai Nakahara stood up from her wheelchair, slowly walked down the aisle and married her sweetheart, ending an eight-year engagement in which she lapsed into a coma and lost all memory of her fiance.

The 32-year-old bride’s remarkable recovery from an extremely rare brain disease to wedding bliss was made possible by the support of her family members and the never-ending devotion of her betrothed, Hisashi Nakahara, 34.

The nuptials at a wedding hall in Okayama on Dec. 21, 2014, were originally scheduled for March 2007. The couple dated for about a year before deciding in July 2006 to tie the knot.

…continue reading at AJW site

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Vegan Fried Rice

Authentic Japanese Chinese fried rice starts with an egg and hot oil in the pan, and while the egg is still runny, you add the cooked rice, about 8 seconds into cooking of the egg. The reason behind this is to emulsify the oil and coat the rice with the egg, which makes the dish light and fluffy, and non-oily — the most important aspect of fried rice.

Now, I’ve been trying to avoid animal foods,…

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Fukui Court decides on a provisional disposition upon not restarting Takahama nuclear power plant

The Fukui Prefecture Court has decided on a provisional disposition of not approving the re-operation of the No.3 and No.4 reactors of Takahama Nuclear Power Plant.

9 citizens of Fukui, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hyogo prefectures have pleaded the case to the Fukui Prefecture Court that the spent fuel cooling pool at the Takahama Nuclear Power Plant does not have the solid housing structure like the nuclear reactor housing, therefore, in case of a big accident occurs, it may violate the basic human rights.

In short, the Fukui Court sides with the citizens on the grounds of safety.

http://www.asahi.com/sp/articles/ASH3X43MLH3XPTIL00M.html

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Dolphins stranded on the beach in Ibaragi prefecture

On Friday, April 10, 2015, about 150 deep ocean dolphins (Peponocephala electra, aka electra dolphins) were found stranded on the beach in Hokota city, Ibaragi prefecture. Upon receiving multiple reports by the locals, Kashima Coastal Guard have confirmed that as many as 150 dolphins have been stranded on the beach, stretching for four kilometers. 

According to the city, many of the stranded dolphins have been injured and weakened. They are sometimes classified as melon-headed whales, and are about 2 to 3 meters long.

The local volunteers has been helping the dolphins from drying by pouring sea water, as well as transporting them back to the sea on a tarp.

So far, 3 relatively fit dolphins have been transported back into the sea the Coast Guard and the police ships to be released 10 kilometers off shore.

According to Aqua World Ibaragi Aquarium, electra dolphins, also known as melon-headed whales, live in the deep ocean, and very rare to be stranded on beaches.

One of the local men commented, “I have never seen this many dolphins stranded before. I feel sorry for them as they are still alive.”

In Ibaragi prefecture, there has been another incident of 52 electra dolphins in Shimozu Beach in Kashima city four years ago on March 5, 2011*.

* That was 6 days before the dreadful Great Earthquake that paralyzed much of the East Japan, that broke the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. I hope that was just a coincidence. 

April 10, 2015 (14:21) NHK News (the linked NHK page is available for limited time)

１０日朝、茨城県鉾田市の海岸にイルカおよそ１５０頭が打ち上げられているのが見つかり、地元の人たちが救出作業に当たっています。１０日午前６時半ごろ、鉾田市の海岸に多数のイルカが打ち上げられていると通報があり、鹿島海上保安署で調べたところ、鉾田市の海岸４キロほどにわたって、およそ１５０頭のイルカが打ち上げられているのが確認されました。 鉾田市によりますと、打ち上げられたのはイルカの一種「カズハゴンドウ」で、いずれも体長は２メートルから３メートルあり、多くは体じゅうが傷つき、衰弱しているということです。 海岸では、地元の人たちがイルカをシートに載せて海に戻そうとしているほか、イルカの肌が渇かないように水をかけ続けるなど、救出作業を続けています。 また、比較的体力があるイルカを放流するため、これまでに３頭が海上保安庁と県警察本部の２隻の船に載せられ、１０キロほどの沖合で放されることになっています。 アクアワールド茨城県大洗水族館によりますと、カズハゴンドウは、小型のクジラに分類されることもある、浅いところにはいない種類で、こんなに多くの数が打ち上がるのは珍しいということです。 近くに住む男性は「これだ��多くのイルカがこのへんに打ち上がったのは見たことがない。まだ生きているのでかわいそうです」と話していました。 茨城県内では４年前の平成２３年３月５日にも、鹿嶋市の下津海岸に５２頭のカズハゴンドウが打ち上げられているのが見つかっています。

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Shibuya Kokaido closing

This may be an old news, but I heard the news that Shibuya Concert Hall (渋谷公会堂) is closing in October 4 this year (2015). It's served as a great concert venue for 50 years. It will be torn down, and a new concert hall is scheduled to be open in 2018. 

source: https://twitter.com/vzensai/status/572387633734688770

On a personal note, I saw The Cars there. Good times!

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Shibuya-ku passes the same sex couple ordinance

"Tokyo's #Shibuya ward assembly passed by majority the ordinance to certify same sex couples as lawful partners." @47newsflash: 同性カップルをパートナーとして証明する東京都渋谷区の条例が区議会で、賛成多数で可決、成立。 http://www.47news.jp/smp/FN/201503/FN2015033101001656.html

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A Japanese company in Tokyo hoped to help their employees unwind and increase productivity by adopting rescue cats into their office. In a cramped and hectic city like Tokyo, having a pet is often a luxury. Most apartments do not allow pets and residents have to visit cat cafes to get their pet fix. The company named Ferray Corporation, an internet solutions business, has taken in nine rescue cats that are allowed to roam freely in the office. They become cute little balls of stress-relief. According to rocketnews24, the employees think the cats have been an enormous net positive. Office communication has increased dramatically. The cats have brought them together and lowered everyone’s stress. The company also encourages their workers to bring in their pets, so every day is Bring Your Pet to Work Day. If they don’t have a pet of their own, the company pays out a monthly “cat bonus” of about $42USD to anyone who adopts a cat that needs a home. Ferray says that the most important quality they look for in new hires is a “love of felines.”

Check out the photos of the feline employees at work at LoveMeow.com 😸😽