Latest news with #Kanazawa
Japan Times
18-07-2025
- Japan Times
Man acquitted in retrial over 1986 Fukui murder
A Japanese high court branch on Friday acquitted a 60-year-old man in a high-profile retrial over the 1986 murder of a 15-year-old junior high school girl in the city of Fukui. The acquittal of Shoshi Maekawa, who was previously found guilty and served a prison sentence for the crime, was handed down by the Kanazawa branch of the Nagoya High Court, presided over by Judge Keisuke Masuda. In the country, since the end of World War II, at least 21 individuals in 19 cases, including Maekawa, have been acquitted for murder in retrials. Evidence newly disclosed by the prosecution played a decisive role in the latest ruling. This is likely to influence discussions on the retrial system, including setting rules for evidence disclosure. Maekawa has consistently denied the charges. His court battle centered on the credibility of testimonies from six acquaintances who claimed to have seen him with blood on him, as there was no direct evidence linking him to the crime. Investigation documents disclosed for the first time in the second retrial showed that a television program one witness claimed to have seen on the night of the incident was aired on a different day. In deciding last October to grant a retrial, the Kanazawa branch said that the revelation "raised serious doubts about the credibility of the statement and undermined the basis for the guilty ruling." The prosecution was criticized for failing to correct the error before the conviction, despite having known about it. In the first hearing of the retrial this March, the defense argued that the case was a miscarriage of justice, claiming that investigative authorities had failed to follow up on leads and had improperly induced acquaintances based on false testimony. Prosecutors sought a guilty verdict again, saying that "the testimonies of the six witnesses supported each other." Maekawa was arrested in 1987. The Fukui District Court found him not guilty, questioning the credibility of the testimonies. But the Kanazawa branch overturned the ruling and sentenced him to seven years in prison, which was finalized by the Supreme Court. After serving his sentence, Maekawa sought a retrial. This was initially granted in 2011 but revoked by the Nagoya High Court, prompting him to file again for a retrial in 2022.
Japan Times
01-07-2025
- General
- Japan Times
Noto quake survivor who lost 10 family members vows to keep telling his story
Naoyuki Teramoto, a 54-year-old nursing home worker from the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, lost 10 members of his family in the New Year's Day earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula last year. After a year of silence, he is now sharing his story in hopes the tragedy is not forgotten. 'I don't want people to forget,' Teramoto said in an interview. He avoided talking about his loved ones for the first year after the disaster but has since begun working as a storyteller and volunteer in the quake-hit areas. 'Speaking about it helps me face the grief.' On Jan. 1, 2024, Teramoto's 53-year-old wife, Hiromi, and their four children had gathered with her parents and brother's family in her hometown of Anamizu, Ishikawa Prefecture. Teramoto, who was working in Kanazawa at the time, had planned to join them later that day. At 4:10 p.m., shortly before his shift ended, the magnitude 7.6 quake struck. With communication lines severed and roads rendered impassable, he was unable to reach his family. 'I believed they had all evacuated somewhere,' he said. But on Jan. 4, he received word that his mother-in-law's body had been found. The next morning, Teramoto made it to Anamizu only to find the family home buried in a landslide. The bodies of his father-in-law and 21-year-old son, Shunki, were found that same day. By Jan. 7, the rest of his family — including his wife and three other children; 23-year-old Ryusei, 19-year-old Kyoya, and 15-year-old Mione, the only daughter — were confirmed dead. Kyoya had been preparing for his coming-of-age ceremony, and Mione was set to graduate from junior high school in March. A planned family trip never came to be. Their final memory together was a summer visit to Tokyo Disneyland in 2023. 'It's just too cruel,' Teramoto said, his voice choking with emotion. For much of the first year, Teramoto was overwhelmed with the need to clear debris and handle other post-disaster responsibilities. 'I didn't even have the time to grieve,' he said. But after attending a memorial ceremony on the first anniversary of the quake, he began speaking publicly about his experience. 'I've come to terms with it, and if my story can serve as a lesson, I'll keep telling it,' he said. He now shares his account outside the region but says the severity of the situation is not always fully understood. With 18 months having passed since the quake, he worries about fading public interest. 'It feels like people are talking about the earthquake less and less,' he said. 'If I don't keep telling the story, I'll be letting my family down. As long as I'm here, I have to keep their memory alive.' Translated by The Japan Times
Associated Press
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
The Sound of Japanese Spirits presented by Kanazawa Asanogawa Enyukai Hall
This Summer, the Masters of Traditional Japanese Music Share the Aesthetic Soul of Japan Through Sound KANAZAWA, Japan, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer in Kanazawa, a rare opportunity awaits: a transcendent musical experience where Japan's deepest cultural sensibilities are brought to life through sound. 'The Sound of Japanese Spirits' is a new series of performances designed especially for international travelers, offering a window into the soul of Japan through its traditional music—enhanced with English narration. From July to August, this intimate series of concerts will welcome masters of Japanese instruments including Koto, Yokobue flute, Min'yō folk singing, Wadaiko drums, and classical Hayashi ensemble music. These artists are not only virtuosos in their fields but also cultural ambassadors, many based in Kanazawa and acclaimed across Japan for their artistry and refinement. Set in the atmospheric Kanazawa Asanogawa Enyukai Hall, a historic venue nestled in the heart of the city's preserved chaya district, each performance features a duet of musicians delivering rich, immersive renditions of Japan's ancient soundscape. More than a concert, it is a multi-sensory experience—one that invites reflection on the elegance, discipline, and spiritual depth embedded in Japanese culture. This new initiative follows in the footsteps of the Hall's acclaimed geisha stage performances and rakugo storytelling events, marking another milestone in Kanazawa's ongoing efforts to present its cultural heritage in meaningful and contemporary ways. Whether you're passing through Kanazawa or making it your destination, these Friday afternoon performances offer a resonant memory of Japan—crafted for the mind, heart, and spirit. To learn more about this unique cultural experience, you can also check the full event listing on Kanazawa Biyori: Event Details Dates: Every Friday, July 4 – August 22, 2025 Time: 16:00 PM – 16:50 PM (Doors open at 15:45 PM) Venue: Asanogawa Enyukai Hall, Kanazawa Tickets: ¥6,000 (incl. tax; non-refundable; not open to children under 7) Reservations: Online, available until 15:45 PM on the day of each performance Scheduled Performers: Utafusa Tsuriya – Koto Tamae Mochizuki – Hayashi percussion Mai Tosha – Yokobue flute Garen Kitamura – Koto Aya Kagayama – Folk vocals Hiroyuki Iwaki – Wadaiko drums **Organizer & Contact:** Asanogawa Enyukai Hall, Kanazawa TEL: +81-76-256-0908 Contact Information Company Name: Kanazawa Biyori Co., Ltd. Address: Sanpia Izumigaoka 511, 255 Fushimishinmachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa 921-8172, Japan Website: [email protected] Representative: Tatsunori Kita Phone: +81-76-255-7663 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Kanazawa Biyori Co., Ltd.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Sound of Japanese Spirits presented by Kanazawa Asanogawa Enyukai Hall
This Summer, the Masters of Traditional Japanese Music Share the Aesthetic Soul of Japan Through Sound KANAZAWA, Japan, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer in Kanazawa, a rare opportunity awaits: a transcendent musical experience where Japan's deepest cultural sensibilities are brought to life through sound. "The Sound of Japanese Spirits" is a new series of performances designed especially for international travelers, offering a window into the soul of Japan through its traditional music—enhanced with English narration. From July to August, this intimate series of concerts will welcome masters of Japanese instruments including Koto, Yokobue flute, Min'yō folk singing, Wadaiko drums, and classical Hayashi ensemble music. These artists are not only virtuosos in their fields but also cultural ambassadors, many based in Kanazawa and acclaimed across Japan for their artistry and refinement. Set in the atmospheric Kanazawa Asanogawa Enyukai Hall, a historic venue nestled in the heart of the city's preserved chaya district, each performance features a duet of musicians delivering rich, immersive renditions of Japan's ancient soundscape. More than a concert, it is a multi-sensory experience—one that invites reflection on the elegance, discipline, and spiritual depth embedded in Japanese culture. This new initiative follows in the footsteps of the Hall's acclaimed geisha stage performances and rakugo storytelling events, marking another milestone in Kanazawa's ongoing efforts to present its cultural heritage in meaningful and contemporary ways. Whether you're passing through Kanazawa or making it your destination, these Friday afternoon performances offer a resonant memory of Japan—crafted for the mind, heart, and spirit. To learn more about this unique cultural experience, you can also check the full event listing on Kanazawa Biyori: Event DetailsDates: Every Friday, July 4 – August 22, 2025Time: 16:00 PM – 16:50 PM (Doors open at 15:45 PM)Venue: Asanogawa Enyukai Hall, KanazawaTickets: ¥6,000 (incl. tax; non-refundable; not open to children under 7)Reservations: Online, available until 15:45 PM on the day of each performance Scheduled Performers:Utafusa Tsuriya – KotoTamae Mochizuki – Hayashi percussionMai Tosha – Yokobue fluteGaren Kitamura – KotoAya Kagayama – Folk vocalsHiroyuki Iwaki – Wadaiko drums **Organizer & Contact:**Asanogawa Enyukai Hall, KanazawaTEL: +81-76-256-0908https:// Contact InformationCompany Name: Kanazawa Biyori Co., Izumigaoka 511, 255 Fushimishinmachi,Kanazawa City, Ishikawa 921-8172, JapanWebsite: info@ Tatsunori KitaPhone: +81-76-255-7663 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Kanazawa Biyori Co., Ltd.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Kanazawa University research: High-speed AFM and 3D modelling help towards understanding the dynamics of a protein implicated in several cancers
KANAZAWA, Japan, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University observe and model how the enzyme ADAR1 interacts with double-stranded RNA, which may be useful for future cancer treatment strategies. An enzyme type noted in several cancers is the family of adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs). These enzymes convert adenosines in double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into inosines, which cells read as guanosines. As such, ADARs can contribute to changes in protein-coding sequences and diminish the robustness of various RNA processes. Studies have shown that silencing one type of ADAR – ADAR1 – can prevent cancer proliferation and sensitize cancers to immunotherapy, suggesting that they could be a promising target for cancer treatments. However, so far, it has been difficult to pin down information on the structural dynamics of ADAR1 due to its size and complexity. Now, researchers led by Madhu Biyani at Kanazawa University, WPI-NanoLSI, Yasuhiro Isogai at Toyama Prefectural University, and Manish Biyani at Ishikawa Create Labo and Kwansei Gakuin University have combined high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) and 3D modelling to shed light on the enzyme's conformations and interactions with dsRNA. Like many proteins, ADAR1 functions through changes in its conformation. However, most experimental techniques for determining protein structure, as well as 3D modelling algorithms, give static or average conformations that obscure the structural dynamics so important to the protein's function. Combining 3D modelling with HS-AFM proved helpful in shedding light on these dynamic aspects of ADAR1. The researchers first used 3D modelling based on the machine learning algorithm AlphaFold2 to predict the conformations of the enzyme and noted that it could take the form of monomers, dimers, trimers, and tetramers. HS AFM observations, as well as theoretically simulated HS AFM, supported these initial conclusions regarding the possible oligomer formations. The researchers then looked at the conformations the enzyme formed in the presence of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). In particular, the researchers focused on a certain aryl hydrocarbon receptor 3'UTR mRNA as the target for ADAR1, since this receptor is known to be involved in the metabolism of substances alien to the body at those points. Observations of the dsRNA with HS-AFM not only agreed with previous structural studies but were able to provide insights into the structure of the target region in particular. Thanks to the speed and resolution of the HS-AFM image capture, the researchers were able to identify different conformations in the proteins that seemed to relate to distinct phases of the deaminizing process. In their report of the work, the researchers explain how ADAR1 first "searches" for the dsRNA and on "recognizing" it, adopts a flexible conformation as it approaches. The enzyme then engages in what the researchers describe as "capture" of the dsRNA backbone, for which the conformation transitions to something more stable and "anchor-like". The researchers highlight the role of dsRNA binding domains (dsRBDs) to stabilize the interaction with the dsRNA at this stage. They also note "a visibly large interfacial interaction between the deaminase domains, forming a dimer" as the enzyme dimer loops out on the dsRNA. The enzyme subsequently scans the RNA and dissociates to search for adenosine sites to convert. "These observations suggest that the dsRBDs are critical for initiating interactions between the deaminase domains, thereby promoting the formation of a stable, functional dimeric complex capable of efficiently binding and catalyzing the editing of dsRNA substrates," the researchers conclude in their report, thereby flagging the insights this study offers for further work towards possible cancer therapeutics. The researchers further propose future studies to compare ADAR1 and ADAR2, and to perform mutation analyses to clarify how ADAR1 dimerization influences A-to-I RNA editing, ultimately aiming to develop effective ADAR1 inhibitors. Figure 1: Three-dimensional modeling analysis of ADAR1 2025 Biyani, et al., Nature Communications Figure 2: Simulated AFM images of ADAR1 2025 Biyani, et al., Nature Communications Glossary Atomic force microscopy This imaging technique uses a nanosized tip at the end of a cantilever that is scanned over a sample. It can be used to determine the topography of a sample surface from the change in the strength of forces between the tip and the sample with distance, and the resulting deflection of the cantilever. It was first developed in the 1980s, but a number of modifications have augmented the functionality of the technique since. It is better suited to imaging biological samples than the scanning tunnelling microscope that had been previously developed because it does not require a conducting sample. In the 2000s, Toshio Ando at Kanazawa University was able to improve the scanning speed to such an extent that moving images could be captured. This allowed people to use the technique to visualize dynamic molecular processes for the first time. ADARs Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs) convert adenosine to inosine, which is interpreted by cells as guanosine. This editing can influence alternative splicing, miRNA processing, double-stranded RNA stability, and protein-coding sequences. In mammals, there are two known ADARs responsible for adenosine to inosine RNA editing – ADAR1 and ADAR2. Notably, overexpression and increased activity of ADAR1 have been observed in cancers of the liver, breast, esophagus, prostate, and bone marrow. 3D modelling Several techniques are now available for protein structure prediction. In this study, the researchers used AlphaFold2 to model the structure of human ADAR1. Due to disorder regions in the N-terminal 822 residues, the final model focused on residues 823-1226, which encompass the deaminase domain. This monomer model served as the basis for building higher-order structures—dimer, trimer, tetramer, and polymer by superimposing it onto the ADAR2 dimer structure (PDB ID:1ZY7) through sequence alignment. Since determining ADAR1's full structure is challenging due to its size and complexity, the better-characterized ADAR2 provided a template to generate ADAR1 multimer models. Reference Madhu Biyani, Yasuhiro Isogai, Kirti Sharma, Shoei Maeda, Hinako Akashi, Yui Sugai, Masataka Nakano, Noriyuki Kodera, Manish Biyani, Miki Nakajima, High-speed atomic force microscopy and 3D modeling reveal the structural dynamics of ADAR1 complexes, Nature Communications 16, 4757 (2025). DOI：10.1038/s41467-025-59987-6 URL: Funding and AcknowledgementsFinancial support from the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C), KAKENHI, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) (23K06067 to MadhuB), and the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), MEXT, Japan, are gratefully acknowledged. The authors thank Prof. Toshio Ando, Dr. Kenichi Umeda, Ms. Wei Weilin, Ms. Aimi Makino, and Ms. Kayo Nagatani for their technical support of HS-AFM experiments. Contact Kimie Nishimura (Ms)Project Planning and Outreach, NanoLSI Administration OfficeNano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa UniversityEmail: nanolsi-office@ Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan About Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa UniversityUnderstanding nanoscale mechanisms of life phenomena by exploring "uncharted nano-realms". Cells are the basic units of almost all life forms. We are developing nanoprobe technologies that allow direct imaging, analysis, and manipulation of the behavior and dynamics of important macromolecules in living organisms, such as proteins and nucleic acids, at the surface and interior of cells. We aim at acquiring a fundamental understanding of the various life phenomena at the About the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)The WPI program was launched in 2007 by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to foster globally visible research centers boasting the highest standards and outstanding research environments. Numbering more than a dozen and operating at institutions throughout the country, these centers are given a high degree of autonomy, allowing them to engage in innovative modes of management and research. The program is administered by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). See the latest research news from the centers at the WPI News Portal: WPI program site: About Kanazawa UniversityAs the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 17 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities. The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa, a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the fiefdom (1598-1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 10,200 students, including 600 from View original content: SOURCE Kanazawa University
