Black Bear Causes Chaos at Yamagata Airport
A black bear caused chaos at Yamagata Airport on Thursday, forcing air traffic controllers to cancel more than 10 flights. It was first spotted near the runway at approximately 7 a.m. Officials shut operations down, leading to a delay of up to an hour for flights. The large mammal then reappeared around noon, again halting flights. The runway was closed as airport staff used a high-visibility car to chase the bear away.
'Given the situation, there is no way we can host plane arrivals now,'
said
Yamagata airport official Akira Nagai. He added, 'We're in a stalemate.' Three box traps were set up. However, at the time of writing, the bear still hasn't been caught. It hasn't been seen since yesterday at around 3 p.m. Currently, operations are continuing as normal at the airport.
Bear Injures Two Men in Nagano Prefecture
On the same day that the black bear was wreaking havoc at Yamagata Airport, two forestry workers were attacked by a bear in Agematsu, Nagano Prefecture. They were spraying deer repellent in a forest at the time of the attack.
According to
the Nagano Prefectural Police and the fire department, the bear first bit the face of a 32-year-old man. The second man, aged 64, was bitten on his right leg. Both men were conscious as they were taken to hospital.
In April, Japan enacted a revised law allowing municipalities to authorize the 'emergency shootings' of dangerous animals that enter urban areas. Approved by the House of Councilors, it will take effect before the end of the year. A record-high 219 casualties, including six deaths, from bear attacks were reported in Japan in the 12 months to April 2024.
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The Mainichi
3 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Regions cashing in on Japan's anime, manga soft power reach: study
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The Mainichi
7 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Edging Toward Japan: Japan's greatest gift to the world may yet be Mister Donut
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This in fact occupies a significant part of our daily rituals in Japan. You tend to think that a place like "Mister Donut" -- a chain coffee shop selling a wide variety of donuts and various drinks and light meals -- is not really Japanese at all, but an American import like McDonald's. But I've increasingly come to think of Mister Donut as quintessentially Japanese and begun to ponder about what the Japanese have done to it to make it such an addictively agreeable place. After all, I never go to a donut shop in my own country, even though the Mister Donut chain actually has several outlets in my home region. Nor in fact am I remotely interested in going to donut shops in the U.S.A., where the modern donut was created to begin with. I can't really argue with the idea that the Americans make some huge and pretty damn impressive donuts. Once I stayed with my kids at a hotel in New York and an American friend kindly left for us on a table in our room a box containing some of the most memorably magnificent, juiciest and supersized donuts I have ever come across. Eating them at that moment seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime, or at least a once-in-a-decade, decadent event. In contrast, the far more modest donuts served up by Mister Donut in Japan feel like the type of thing you could eat several times a week without coming into any cardiac complications. But the donuts themselves are only a part of the story that make a trip to our local "Mister Donut" so wonderful. I have a strong feeling that a visit to a donut shop in the U.S. would be a pretty rough-and-ready (and unhealthy) experience. Yet calling to Mister Donut in Japan is in fact an immersive experience in Japan's "kawaii" ("cute") culture. From the moment you pick up a cute tray and a delicate pair of tongs to gently drop a little donut onto, you are voyaging in a protective womb of civilization as exquisite as that of the Heian Court. Everything is clean, there is precise attention to detail and a subtle symphony of features that gently soothe your senses. It always seems to be the kindest sweetest people serving you at the counter and you are presented with a cup and a small portion of coffee that can be endlessly refilled. The amounts are restrained and yet generous if you need them to be. The donut part of the menu might be American in original inspiration, but there are Japanese twists -- particularly by use of matcha icing or adzuki (red bean paste) fillings -- should you require them. (In my own seasoned experience, the half chocolate covered "Old Fashion" donut can not be bettered.) Then there is an accompanying menu of various diminutive bowls of noodles and dumplings that make this a decidedly Asian form of afternoon tea. And most importantly, there is the quiet, friendly ambience in the cafe itself -- chatting high school girls or university students or office workers reading a newspaper or housewives studying English or retired people reading a book. It is completely relaxed and civilised. You can sit there until the end of time and no one will bother you. Japan has a long history of importing ideas from other countries and then mastering them, adapting and refining them to an even higher level. But I honestly think that the greatest example of Japanese adoption and refinement is Mister Donut, which they have somehow converted from somewhere that I would never want to visit in Britain and America to somewhere that I love to spend time on a daily basis in Japan. If such things as Karate, Geisha and Tea Ceremony were to disappear from Japan tomorrow, I'm not sure I would notice, but take away "Mister Donut" and there would be donut-sized hole in my daily Japan existence. @DamianFlanagan (This is Part 64 of a series) In this column, Damian Flanagan, a researcher in Japanese literature, ponders about Japanese culture as he travels back and forth between Japan and Britain. Profile: Damian Flanagan is an author and critic born in Britain in 1969. He studied in Tokyo and Kyoto between 1989 and 1990 while a student at Cambridge University. He was engaged in research activities at Kobe University from 1993 through 1999. After taking the master's and doctoral courses in Japanese literature, he earned a Ph.D. in 2000. He is now based in both Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, and Manchester. He is the author of "Natsume Soseki: Superstar of World Literature" (Sekai Bungaku no superstar Natsume Soseki).
Japan Today
8 hours ago
- Japan Today
Imperial Hotel, Kyoto to open in spring 2026
Imperial Hotel, Japan's premier luxury hospitality brand, has announced the upcoming opening of the Imperial Hotel, Kyoto in spring 2026. This distinguished 55-room, seven-story boutique hotel represents a bold fusion of historic preservation and modern elegance, centered around the revitalization of the Yasaka Kaikan, a nationally registered tangible cultural property. Originally built in 1936 by renowned architect Tokusaburo Kimura, the Yasaka Kaikan has long served as a cultural gathering place in Kyoto's historic Gion district. Once a venue for theatrical performances, the building faced seismic vulnerabilities that threatened its future. Now, through a meticulous conservation strategy, it is being reborn as a beacon of sustainable luxury and cultural continuity. 'This is a unique property where over a millennium of Kyoto's elegant cultural heritage enfolds the 135-year legacy of hospitality Imperial Hotel has carefully cultivated,' said Reiko Sakata, General Manager of the Imperial Hotel, Kyoto. 'With respect for the rich history of this location, my mission is to ensure a stay that is not only exceptional in quality but also leaves a lasting warmth in the hearts of our guests.' Recently appointed as General Manager of the Imperial Hotel, Kyoto in April 2025, Sakata has been with Imperial Hotel for 22 years. The transformation, led by Obayashi Corporation, the same Japanese construction company that built the Yasaka Kaikan nearly 90 years ago in 1936, preserves much of the building's original character. Notably, 16,387 original exterior tiles have been retained, and traditional Japanese techniques such as ikedori or 'live capture', where materials are carefully removed without damage for reuse, have been honored throughout the design. The hotel's construction team has also engaged in local community clean-up efforts, reinforcing a spirit of mutual respect and collaboration. The Imperial Hotel, Kyoto is more than a renovation—it is a story of respectful revitalization. The hotel adheres to strict height and design regulations, supports local artisans, and promotes immersive cultural experiences. It aims to contribute to Kyoto's tourism growth while mitigating environmental strain and overcrowding through sustainable practices. The Yasaka Kaikan also shares a unique historical link with the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Both buildings feature terracotta from Tokoname, and artisans who worked on Wright's Tokyo masterpiece also contributed to the Yasaka Kaikan — highlighting a rich architectural lineage. Upon completion, the Imperial Hotel, Kyoto will offer 55 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites, refined dining experiences, a signature bar, and a full suite of wellness amenities—including a spa, swimming pool, and fitness center. As the fourth property in the esteemed Imperial Hotel portfolio—following Tokyo, Osaka, and Kamikochi — this marks the brand's first new opening in three decades, reaffirming its enduring commitment to welcoming guests to Japan with unmatched grace and cultural depth. The property is set for completion by October 2025 with a scheduled opening in Spring 2026. Source: Imperial Hotel © Japan Today
