Latest news with #Kansai
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
The King and Queen of Lesotho to Visit Japan
H.M. Letsie III, King of the Kingdom of Lesotho and H.M. Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso will pay a visit to Japan from June 29 to July 4. During their stay in Japan, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress will participate the National Day Event of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, as official guest of the Government of Japan. The visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and the Empress is expected to further develop the bilateral relations between Japan and Lesotho. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Japan Times
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Cats, dogs, meerkats, goats: Interpets trade fair draws furry hordes
In the bustling city of Osaka, you might not expect to find an event with hundreds of animals running around — and not just cats and dogs, mind you. For the Interpets trade show, held this year from June 19 to 21, Kansai-area pet owners brought their rabbits, goats and even a meerkat or two to taste wares and try out new products from some of Japan's largest pet supply businesses. Inside the Intex Osaka convention center, 300 exhibitors showed off mostly new preparations of pet foods to assembled attendees, but cutting-edge products and live events also drew attention. Owners tucked their pets into walk-in showers and dryers for individual animals, while professional groomers raced against a clock and each other to perfect new styles on volunteer (or volunteered) pets. One such walk-in drier from South Korea-based Spacepet was particularly popular, with models in yellow, orange and white large enough to fit most cats and dogs around the size of toy poodles or Shiba inu (no such luck for Siberian husky owners like myself). The Intex Osaka convention center hosted the Interpets trade fair from June 19 to 21. | SHAWN B. SWINGER However, food was the main draw of Interpets. Aside from free samples of raw meat and jerky readily snapped up by hungry pets, a smorgasbord of conventional pet food was on offer alongside a swath of exhibitors selling organic sustenance, some like Okayama Prefecture-based Inaka no Ippin Honpo included animal products (deer ears, rabbit feet and emu eggs, to name a few) — that they claimed were hunted and processed by themselves. When all the excitement grew too much, there were 'manner corners' where animals could freely relieve themselves. Of the hundreds of dogs, cats and other animals witnessed, The Japan Times can report that no interspecies skirmishes occurred. Kumiko and Toshiko Suji, residents of Kyoto, attended Interpets with their pet goat, Mucca Ducati. Mucca (Italian for 'cow') is terrified of dogs, Kumiko said, so she had to wait in the convention center's food court with Mucca while she and her partner took turns perusing the booths to bring back treats. Kumiko was particularly interested in what kind of rabbit food was on sale, since she said that is Mucca's favorite. Mucca the goat's Kyoto-based owners brought her to Interpets so she would have a chance to try new food directly. | SHAWN B. SWINGER 'Mucca is very special to us, and we just want to give her the best life,' Kumiko said. The Sujis live in Kyoto but made the two-hour drive out to Osaka so that Mucca, who has her own Instagram page, can taste food and give her approval in real time. An Osaka resident, Tanue (he declined to provide his last name) brought his four dogs to the trade show: a Shetland sheepdog, two pit bulls and a Siberian husky, all of them under two years old. Tanue said he wants his dogs to have the best quality meat sourced directly from hunters, and the standout of the event for him was the booth from the online merchant FooDog selling food products from hunted deer. Tanue brought his four dogs to the Interpets convention, where he said he was on the hunt for 'the best' food products on offer. | SHAWN B. SWINGER The FooDog had brought three Doberman pinschers to munch on deer bones as a show of how much dogs would love their wares (indeed, these Dobermans were so calm that they barely gave any notice to the thousands of people and other dogs who walked inches away from them). 'My dogs deserve the best,' Tanue said of attending Interpets, 'so we came to give them the best.'
Japan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Household electricity bills in Japan set to fall in July due to subsidies
The nation's 10 major electricity suppliers said Friday that power bills for standard households will fall by between ¥520 and ¥691 in July from the previous month. Behind the drop is a resumption of government subsidies to cut electricity costs from July to September, when the use of air conditioners spikes. Falls in prices of liquefied natural gas will also contribute to the decline in electricity bills. The subsidies will be ¥2 per kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed in July and September and ¥2.4 per kilowatt-hour in August. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings and Kansai Electric Power define a standard household as one consuming 260 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month. Given that, the subsidies alone are projected to push down the bills for such households for July by ¥520. For Tepco, the July bill for a standard household will decrease by ¥616 to ¥8,236, while Kansai Electric expects a drop of ¥520 to ¥7,271. Subsidies are also set to be reflected in city gas bills, by ¥8 per cubic meter in July and September and ¥10 per cubic meter in August. The subsidies will push down the gas bills of four major suppliers, including Tokyo Gas, by between ¥241 and ¥318 for July. Subsidies for electricity and gas bills began in January 2023 as a temporary measure in response to soaring fuel costs following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The program was halted and restarted several times. The last time it was implemented was from January to March this year. The government plans to spend ¥288.1 billion from its fiscal 2025 budget reserves for the electricity and gas subsidies.
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Times of Oman
Japan: NTT showcases cutting-edge technology at Osaka Kansai World Expo
Osaka: The Osaka Kansai World Expo was recently held in Japan, serving as a global platform to showcase the cultures, arts, and technologies of various countries. At the event, leading Japanese Information and Communication Technology firm NTT presented its cutting-edge IOWN technology. This technology enabled seamless, real-time communication between Japan and Taiwan, offering high capacity and enhanced energy efficiency. NTT also contributed to a digital adaptation of the Kabuki play Senbon Zakura ("A Thousand Cherry Trees"), which featured a fusion of the virtual performer Hatsune Miku with live stage actors. Katsuhiko Kawazoe, Senior Executive Vice President, NTT, said "This digital Kabuki performance marks its 10th show since it began in 2016. At that time, most of the audience consisted of elderly viewers. To spark interest in Kabuki among younger generations, NTT proposed a performance enhanced by its advanced technology. I will never forget the first event in 2016. Many young people gathered, primarily to see the digital character Hatsune Miku. But after the performance, many of them were moved to tears. I asked one group, "Was it impressive?" They replied, "I realized I was deeply moved by Kabuki itself--that's why I wept." I will never forget that response. It confirmed for me that young people can indeed be emotionally touched by Kabuki when allowed to experience it in a way that resonates with them". The most advanced performance featured a simultaneous, collaborative presentation by Japan and Taiwan, with real performers and virtual characters appearing together on a single screen. Ordinarily, internet connections introduce a delay of several seconds. However, thanks to IOWN technology, this performance was achieved with no noticeable delay. Katsuhiko Kawazoe, Senior Executive Vice President, NTT, said, "I recognise that it was successful in reducing network delay and overcoming the limitations of distance. In addition, a key goal of IOWN development is to help protect the global environment by reducing energy consumption to one-hundredth of current levels--this is the ultimate objective. At the Expo, NTT incorporated this technology and successfully reduced energy usage to one-eighth of conventional levels."
Japan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Japan Times
Fine feline twosome on the hunt for a gentle home
Brown tabby Acai and white-and-gray Grape were born in April 2023. These two beauties are brothers and best buds, and we have our fingers crossed that they'll find a home together. Though the pair appear to have been loved, they were rescued from a hoarding situation where they lived in shocking conditions. Sadly, the two of them were exposed to a virus while still in their mother's womb. It's not degenerative or contagious, nor does it affect their daily lives or lifespan, but the exposure did leave them somewhat uncoordinated. While Grape and Acai are healthy overall, they walk a bit strangely and aren't great at jumping. | Reiko Sugawara As a result, Acai and Grape have slightly odd gaits and are not great at jumping — but they are healthy otherwise. Very gentle and eager for affection, they are currently at a foster home, where they are growing more and more relaxed each day. They are quiet cats, not overly playful, preferring gentle petting instead. We think this duo would make a great addition to a peaceful home with someone who loves them just the way they are. If you are interested in adopting, email ARK at Tokyoark@ or call 050-1557-2763 (English or Japanese) Monday to Saturday (bilingual) for more information. Animal Refuge Kansai (with offices in Kansai and Tokyo) is an NPO founded by U.K. native Elizabeth Oliver. It is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned animals. All animals are vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. Prospective owners are required to undergo a screening process. Web:
