Latest news with #Nakayama
USA Today
06-07-2025
- Science
- USA Today
What is life? A little microbe raises big questions.
It's tiny and needy, but is it alive? That's a question prompted by recent research that highlights a surprisingly complex part of biology. The organism in question is a microbe called Sukunaarchaeum mirabile, discovered by researchers in Canada and Japan who were looking at the DNA of a species of marine plankton, according to a new paper published on bioRxiv. They've found it's unusually reliant on an alive host to survive, which could further blur the lines between cellular life and viruses — which generally considered to not be alive. The National Human Genome Research Institute describes viruses as existing "near the boundary between the living and the nonliving." Viruses can't function without interacting with a living cell. On their own, they're also essentially inert – unable to move – as a 2017 study notes. Enter Sukunaarchaeum mirabile, which could complicate things further. What is it? "This organism represents a totally new branch in the archaeal tree of life," lead researcher Takuro Nakayama of the University of Tsukuba told USA TODAY. (Archaea are microorganisms that define the limits of life on Earth.) "Sukunaarchaeum is not a virus, but a highly streamlined cellular organism," Nakayama said. According to the new study, which has yet to be peer-reviewed, "the discovery of Sukunaarchaeum pushes the conventional boundaries of cellular life and highlights the vast unexplored biological novelty within microbial interactions." Named for a Japanese deity Named for a Japanese deity known for its tiny size, Sukunaarchaeum has one of the smallest genomes ever recorded: "Its genome is drastically reduced – less than half the size of the previously smallest known archaeal genome," Nakayama said. The authors in the study write that "its genome is profoundly stripped-down, lacking virtually all recognizable metabolic pathways, and primarily encoding the machinery for its replicative core: DNA replication, transcription, and translation." "This suggests an unprecedented level of metabolic dependence on a host, a condition that challenges the functional distinctions between minimal cellular life and viruses,' the study says. 'The tip of the iceberg' "Sukunaarchaeum could be just the tip of the iceberg, pointing to a hidden diversity of life forms with ultra-reduced genomes within the so-called 'microbial dark matter,'" Nakayama told USA TODAY. Indeed, the discovery of Sukunaarchaeum's bizarrely viruslike way of living 'challenges the boundaries between cellular life and viruses,' Kate Adamala, a synthetic biologist at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities who was not involved in the work, told Science magazine. 'This organism might be a fascinating living fossil – an evolutionary waypoint that managed to hang on.' The study concludes that "further exploration of symbiotic systems may reveal even more extraordinary life forms, reshaping our understanding of cellular evolution." What does 'life' mean to scientists? "I am not an expert on the philosophical definition of 'life," Nakayama said, adding that the definition is not uniform among scientists and is a subject of continuous debate. "Many scientists would agree that cellular structure, the ability to replicate, and the ability to metabolize are key features of life. Viruses typically lack these features," he said. "The discovery of Sukunaarchaeum is interesting in this context because it lacks one of those key features: metabolism. The existence of a cellular organism that seemingly lacks its own metabolism provides a new and important perspective to the ongoing discussion about the definition and minimal requirements of life." Contributing: Joel Shannon, USA TODAY
Sydney Morning Herald
25-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Split your mochi with a piece of string at this hidden Japanese cafe
They're made here by Chisato Nakayama, who grew up in Hokkaido with grandparents skilled in traditional mochi. Daifuku translates as 'great fortune' and is linked with special occasions. Nakayama recalls New Year celebrations with these treats. She later relocated to Tokyo, where many noteworthy examples of the mochi style can be found (I recently lined up behind locals at Shinjuku Isetan's amazing food hall for that exact reason), but Nakayama didn't have the luxury of exploring them. 'I was crazy busy working as a nurse, I didn't have enough time to enjoy daifuku,' she says. Mochi-making as a career option didn't emerge until December 2024, when she started experimenting with rice flour and fillings at the home of Tin Jung Shea. He runs charming, just-like-Japan venues (from the sake-bar squeeze of Nomidokoro Indigo to smoky Yakitori Yurippi) and along with Studio Hiyaku's Sunny Liu, he's behind the SevenH complex where Sydney Daifuku Store is located. The site is in a highly leafy residential area: you even second-guess whether you're going the right way as you head towards its address – it seems so unlikely that any shop could surface here. Then SevenH appears, with its understated open design and paved outdoor area. It's a serene spot that's in tune with the quiet, made-to-order tempo of Sydney Daifuku Store, which shares the space with Comission Coffee.
Sydney Morning Herald
21-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney's new Japanese cafe, where your cutlery is a piece of string
They're made here by Chisato Nakayama, who grew up in Hokkaido with grandparents skilled in traditional mochi. Daifuku translates as 'great fortune' and is linked with special occasions. Nakayama recalls New Year celebrations with these treats. She later relocated to Tokyo, where many noteworthy examples of the mochi style can be found (I recently lined up behind locals at Shinjuku Isetan's amazing food hall for that exact reason), but Nakayama didn't have the luxury of exploring them. 'I was crazy busy working as a nurse, I didn't have enough time to enjoy daifuku,' she says. Mochi-making as a career option didn't emerge until December 2024, when she started experimenting with rice flour and fillings at the home of Tin Jung Shea. He runs charming, just-like-Japan venues (from the sake-bar squeeze of Nomidokoro Indigo to smoky Yakitori Yurippi) and along with Studio Hiyaku's Sunny Liu, he's behind the SevenH complex where Sydney Daifuku Store is located. The site is in a highly leafy residential area: you even second-guess whether you're going the right way as you head towards its address – it seems so unlikely that any shop could surface here. Then SevenH appears, with its understated open design and paved outdoor area. It's a serene spot that's in tune with the quiet, made-to-order tempo of Sydney Daifuku Store, which shares the space with Commission Coffee. While Nakayama consulted relatives as she fine-tuned recipes ('I was asking family all the time'), she also lightened the mochi dough for local tastes. You see her roll it out and pad the centre with ingredients before presenting the completed daifuku to try. The pillowy pastry feels like a soft cloud you can pinch, and a big joy of the eating comes from lopping it in half with a twist of supplied string. Transparent dough gives way to a colour burst of jewel-like anko-lined strawberry, for instance, or a whole grape coated with white bean paste.
The Age
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Sydney's new Japanese cafe, where your cutlery is a piece of string
They're made here by Chisato Nakayama, who grew up in Hokkaido with grandparents skilled in traditional mochi. Daifuku translates as 'great fortune' and is linked with special occasions. Nakayama recalls New Year celebrations with these treats. She later relocated to Tokyo, where many noteworthy examples of the mochi style can be found (I recently lined up behind locals at Shinjuku Isetan's amazing food hall for that exact reason), but Nakayama didn't have the luxury of exploring them. 'I was crazy busy working as a nurse, I didn't have enough time to enjoy daifuku,' she says. Mochi-making as a career option didn't emerge until December 2024, when she started experimenting with rice flour and fillings at the home of Tin Jung Shea. He runs charming, just-like-Japan venues (from the sake-bar squeeze of Nomidokoro Indigo to smoky Yakitori Yurippi) and along with Studio Hiyaku's Sunny Liu, he's behind the SevenH complex where Sydney Daifuku Store is located. The site is in a highly leafy residential area: you even second-guess whether you're going the right way as you head towards its address – it seems so unlikely that any shop could surface here. Then SevenH appears, with its understated open design and paved outdoor area. It's a serene spot that's in tune with the quiet, made-to-order tempo of Sydney Daifuku Store, which shares the space with Commission Coffee. While Nakayama consulted relatives as she fine-tuned recipes ('I was asking family all the time'), she also lightened the mochi dough for local tastes. You see her roll it out and pad the centre with ingredients before presenting the completed daifuku to try. The pillowy pastry feels like a soft cloud you can pinch, and a big joy of the eating comes from lopping it in half with a twist of supplied string. Transparent dough gives way to a colour burst of jewel-like anko-lined strawberry, for instance, or a whole grape coated with white bean paste.
Yomiuri Shimbun
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Felt Art Cats and Dogs Ready to Spring into Life at Ibaraki Museum
The Yomiuri Shimbun Midori Nakayama holds two of her felt artworks. CHIKUSEI, Ibaraki — Stretching their bodies or strolling, many of the cats and dogs created by artist Midori Nakayama have lively expressions and look as if they are about to move. Visitors to the Shimodate Museum of Art in Chikusei, Ibaraki Prefecture, can get a close look at her felt art masterpieces at an ongoing exhibition. About 500 pieces — mainly cats and dogs — created with wool felt are on display. Now a leading felt artist in Japan, Nakayama majored in Japanese painting at an art university. In 2001, she came across felt art and started creating works modeled after her family dog. She then began receiving orders from pet owners who saw her work and now creates custom items. The exhibition featuring her artworks has been held across the nation. At the museum, the space under the high ceiling has been put to use to showcase her artworks. 'I hope visitors can enjoy the display of cats holding umbrellas coming down from the ceiling,' she said. The exhibition runs through June 29. The museum is closed on Mondays. Admission is ¥700 for adults.
