The Mainichi News Quiz: What do those two Japanese soldiers do in that new film?
What true historical event inspired the Japanese film "Ki no ue no Guntai" set after World War II??
A) Two soldiers surviving in the sea for months after their ship sank.
B) Two soldiers hiding atop a banyan tree for two years, unaware World War II had ended.
C) Soldiers surviving underground in Okinawan caves without contact for five years.
D) Soldiers secretly living inside abandoned buildings in Tokyo after World War.
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Asahi Shimbun
3 hours ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Fixture in Mito's nightlife leads revival of geisha party tradition
Yasuko Yasuhara performs traditional geisha dance in Mito on May 20. (Kazunori Haga) MITO--Yasuko Yasuhara, once a top party hostess in this Ibaraki prefectural capital, made an inevitable career shift as she grew older. In the process, she revived and protected not only her livelihood but also a generations-old 'ozashiki' entertainment culture that has now become an official part of Mito city's identity. The word ozashiki refers to a tatami-mat drawing room, particularly at fancy 'ryotei' restaurants, or to a party held in such a setting. The tradition features elegant dances accompanied by samisen music performed by geiko, as geisha are known here. Such events date back to at least the 19th century in Mito, once the seat of a branch of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Although it once nearly disappeared, the practice was recently recognized as an intangible cultural property of Mito. That designation came after the career shift of Yasuhara, a well-known local figure who has spent more than 30 years in Mito's nighttime economy. PARTY GAMES On a warm evening in mid-May, four female dancers led by Yasuhara took to the ozashiki room of a ryotei restaurant in Mito's Daikumachi nightlife district. Clad in formal kimono despite unseasonable heat, she danced with grace and charm, later switching to the samisen to lead party games. 'Even in this heat, you have to wear a lined kimono in May. It's tradition,' Yasuhara, 61, said, chuckling. 'The young girls probably think I'm a nag, but someone's gotta teach them.' NO. 1 HOSTESS Yasuhara entered the nightlife industry straight out of high school, working in bars and clubs that catered to local nuclear plant workers and young members of the Self-Defense Forces. At 23, she started working as a party hostess, a role similar to that of a geisha but typically without the traditional performances or kimono. She thrived during the economic boom in the late 1980s, often attending three parties a night. 'I could be No. 1 as a party hostess,' she said. 'It was my calling.' By 29, she had gone independent. At her peak, she managed a party hostess team of more than 60 staff members. However, traditional restaurant parties disappeared in Mito after the economic bubble burst. Demand for party hostesses declined further as customers shifted toward modern hostess clubs. Similarly, geisha numbers shrank in the city. In the 1980s, Mito had more than 90 geisha, but by the 2000s, only two remained. REVIVAL AND SURVIVAL To protect the endangered tradition of geisha performance, Yasuhara founded a local group in 2010 where geisha provide formal training in dance and samisen. Holding an instructor's license in traditional Japanese dance, Yasuhara believed she could help preserve the tradition by performing it herself. 'As I approached 40, continuing as a party hostess became more difficult,' she said. 'Reviving ozashiki culture was both a personal goal and a means of survival.' At first, Yasuhara and her colleagues were called to parties only to pour drinks, not to perform. Undeterred, they went on to perform at popular local festivals across Ibaraki Prefecture. Despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the group continued to host monthly performances in private venues, gradually building public interest. With Mito's formal recognition of the tradition this year, Yasuhara sees new possibilities. 'It's more responsibility now that we're recognized,' she said with a laugh. 'But it also opens more doors.' She hopes to introduce ozashiki dance to younger generations through school festivals and promote cultural tourism. 'This is a tradition passed down in the land of the Tokugawa,' she said. 'We can't afford to lose it.'
Japan Today
5 hours ago
- Japan Today
Japan's Michael Jackson impersonator helps tackle overtourism woes
Michael Jackton, a Japanese social media influencer impersonating late American pop star Michael Jackson, is pictured interacting with foreign tourists in Osaka on May 30. A Michael Jackson impersonator in Osaka is using his popularity on social media to help address issues such as overcrowding and littering caused by overtourism. The moonwalking performer, who calls himself "Michael Jackton" and has amassed nearly 13 million followers on video platform TikTok, frequently turns heads in Osaka's bustling Dotombori entertainment district and elsewhere in the western Japan city. In May, he was spotted performing the late American pop star's signature moves and suggesting a less congested area of interest to a group of foreign tourists. He also received applause for picking litter up off the street and putting it in a trash bin while dancing. According to the Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau, Osaka received 14.59 million visitors in 2024, many drawn by its tourist appeal, convenient access and proximity to nearby attractions such as Kyoto and Nara. "We are exceeding our capacity to accept (tourists)," a bureau official said. "Drawing people to less crowded areas is a big challenge, so we're grateful for the support of influencers." "There are many places and customs that foreigners do not know about," Jackton said. "By showcasing the appeal of such places, I hope to prevent the concentration of tourists and improve their satisfaction." © KYODO
Japan Today
5 hours ago
- Japan Today
Calpis taps to flow at 1,000 sites across Japan in new plan from beverage maker Asahi
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24 Green tea may be Japan's most traditional non-alcoholic beverage, but when Japanese people are feeling thirsty, especially on a hot summer's day, a lot of them would rather gulp down some nicely chilled Calpis instead. Depending on what part of the world you live in, you might know this yogurt-like drink better by its overseas-market name, Calpico, as bottler Asahi Soft Drinks realizes that in English-speaking areas, 'Calpis' can sound more than a little like a coarse reference to bovine urine, an undesirable mental image for a milky white beverage. But that potential for misunderstanding doesn't exist in Japanese, so if you mention Calpis in front of a group of Japanese people, they won't react with snickers. Instead, many will say they're in the mood for the stuff, and Asahi Soft Drinks wants you to be able to pour yourself a glass of Calpis straight from one of 1,000 Calpis faucet to be set up across Japan. The first of those is going to be going into service this summer at the Hotel Vison in the town of Taki, Mie Prefecture. With Calpis being refreshingly sweet but not as sugary as cola, it's a drink that kids and adults alike have enjoyed for generations, and taking a Calpis break so as not to get overheated while having summer fun is a nostalgic childhood moment for many. With that in mind, Hotel Vison's Calpis faucet will go into service on July 1, and the hotel hopes pouring their own Calpis from the tap will be an opportunity for friends and families to make new memories together. ▼ The Hotel Vison is a pretty fancy place, which speaks to how popular Calpis is across all strata of society in Japan. This isn't Japan's first-ever Calpis faucet. In 2019, as part of Calpis' 100th anniversary celebration, temporary taps were set up at the Tokyo Dome City and Osaka Expo City entertainment centers, as shown in the video below. However, the new Calpis faucet project looks to be a longer-term affair, with no mention in Hotel Vison announcement that theirs will only be around for a limited time. What's more, Asahi Soft Drinks says that while the Hotel Vison is a test site for the program, the company is aiming to install 1,000 Calpis faucets across Japan by the end of 2030. Specifics (such as whether Calpis from the faucet is complementary or must be paid for, hours of availability, and so on) will likely vary from site to site, but fans can look forward to more and more Calpis flowing in the years to come. Related: Hotel Vison Sources: Shokuhin Sangyo Shimbun via Livedoor News via Hachima Kiko, PR Times Insert images: PR Times Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Free Calpis fresh out of the tap available across Japan in celebration of 100th anniversary -- Asahi Brewery asks: Why not mix beer and Calpis? So we do… -- Transparent coffee! We taste-test Asahi's Clear Latte, marvel at Japanese drinks wizardry External Link © SoraNews24
