Latest news with #NiigataUniversity
The Mainichi
02-07-2025
- General
- The Mainichi
News in Easy English: University students start food bank to help classmates in Niigata
NIIGATA -- Students at Niigata University started a food bank to help classmates who don't have enough to eat. On June 24, they gave free rice, noodles, snacks, and other food to students who needed help. Food prices have become very high, and many students say they can't buy enough food. Some students say, "Vegetables are expensive, so I don't buy them often." Other students say, "I wait until I'm very hungry to eat." The student food bank, called "Soleil," started in April this year. On June 24, they gave food to 65 students at the university campus. Each student received about eight kinds of food, like 5 kilograms of rice, cup noodles, and some snacks. Miku Yoshimura is 20 years old. She said, "Food prices are high and I'm busy, so it is hard to do part-time jobs. I'm thankful for this help. I'll share this food with my younger brother." Another student, Kozue Yamashita, 20, said, "Rice is now twice as expensive as it was two years ago. This rice I received is very helpful. Now I don't have to worry." Soleil asked about 170 students how many times a day they eat. More than 30% said they eat two or fewer meals a day. About 64% said they worry about having enough food. One student said, "I only eat one cheap meal a day." Yumi Oiwa, 20, is one of the student leaders of Soleil. She said, "Students need more help now. We hope to help more students and make this food bank bigger." Soleil plans to continue giving out food at the university regularly. They would also like food and money donations from local shops or groups. (Japanese original by Sayuri Toda, Niigata Bureau) Vocabulary food bank: a group that gives food to people who don't have enough campus: the place where a university or college is donation: giving money or things to help people in need part-time job: work that you can do for only a few hours or days a week leader: a person who guides others in a group regularly: happening often; again and again
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Nikkei Asia
30-06-2025
- Science
- Nikkei Asia
Solar beam reactor offers hope for realizing 'green' hydrogen ambitions
At CSIRO's Energy Centre in Newcastle, New South Wales, mirrors track the sun and reflect its light onto a central tower to power a beam-down solar reactor. (Photo courtesy of CSIRO) SHAUN TURTON SYDNEY -- Australian and Japanese researchers have announced a breakthrough in producing "green" hydrogen that offers hope of tapping the universe's lightest element as a clean -- and commercially viable -- source of energy. A joint effort by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and Japan's Niigata University this month finished demonstrating how concentrated sunlight could be used to produce green, or environmentally friendly, hydrogen.
The Mainichi
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Students at Japan's Niigata University support struggling peers by establishing food bank
NIIGATA -- A food bank launched in April by students at Niigata University distributed foodstuffs to struggling fellow students for the first time June 24. Amid soaring costs of utilities and food such as rice, students at the university have come together to support each other by establishing a food bank. They have shared their struggles with comments like, "Vegetables are so expensive that I don't feel like buying them," and, "I hold off eating until my stomach growls." The organization is determined to alleviate these concerns and is appealing for support from local businesses. The student food bank Soleil held its first food distribution on the Ikarashi Campus in the city of Niigata's Nishi Ward. They distributed about eight items for free, including 5 kilograms of rice, cup noodles and snacks, to 65 students who responded via social media or other means. Miku Yoshimura, a 20-year-old third-year student at the university's College of Creative Studies, mentioned she had been reducing her rice consumption recently. After receiving foodstuffs, she expressed gratitude, saying, "With the rising prices and my busy schedule making it hard to work part-time, this is a great help. I plan to share these items with my younger brother who lives nearby." Another third-year creative studies student, Kozue Yamashita, 20, noted, "The price of rice has roughly doubled since my first year. It's so harsh I do shopping with a calculator in hand at the supermarket. I received 5 kilograms of rice, so I can eat without worry." Yumi Oiwa, 20, a co-representative of Soleil and a third-year student at the same faculty, said she also feels the impact of rising prices when shopping. She is committed to "alleviating the food-related anxieties of students." Soleil conducted a survey in May targeting approximately 170 students in Niigata Prefecture. When asked, "Are you eating three meals a day?" more than 30% of students responded "almost two meals or fewer" or "not often." Additionally, 64% of respondents expressed concerns or worries about their diet. Struggling comments included, "I eat cheap frozen udon with different seasonings. Sometimes I eat just one meal a day," and, "I feel even convenience store rice balls are expensive now." According to Soleil, this is the first student-run food bank in the prefecture. Oiwa stated, "Food banks aren't familiar to students. We'd like to gather attention by having students run it for students and raise awareness by distributing on campus." Soleil plans to continue regular distributions on campus and is seeking donations and supplies from local businesses and organizations. Inquiries can be directed to Soleil via email at soleilfoodbank@ (Japanese original by Sayuri Toda, Niigata Bureau)
The Mainichi
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
News in Easy English: Expert says Japan's stored rice 'can still taste good'
TOKYO -- Japan's government has started selling older stored rice to lower rice prices. Usually, the rice stays in storage to help people after disasters. Selling this rice in stores is new, and some people are worried the taste is not good. Many people believe stored rice tastes bad. Yuichiro Tamaki, a politician, said rice stored for a long time is "food for animals." But rice expert Toshiaki Mitsui from Niigata University said older rice is still good to eat. He tested rice from different years. He said, "New rice tastes best. Older rice can be drier and lose some smell, but it can still taste good." The stored rice is kept at a low temperature, so it stays fresh. Rice stored more than five years is usually sold for animals to eat. Mitsui smiled and said even that rice has good quality, so farm animals eat well too. Rice cooker company Zojirushi says older rice cooks better if you add a little more water. It also says you don't have to wash old rice strongly. Washing it lightly is enough. (Japanese original by Shota Harumashi, Tokyo City News Department) Vocabulary stored rice: rice kept for use later politician: a person who works in the government expert: a person who knows a lot about something quality: how good something is disaster: something very bad like an earthquake or flood
Yomiuri Shimbun
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Niigata Pref. Students Learn About Agriculture, Climate Change on Texas Trip; Texas Students to Visit Niigata Pref. in August
Courtesy of Makoto Koide Niigata students visit volunteer activities at a marshland in Texas. Ten university students from Niigata Prefecture traveled to Texas in March to learn about agriculture and climate change as part of an exchange program between Japan and the United States. The Japanese students were able to work with students in Texas during their six-day trip. The Texas students are scheduled to visit Niigata Prefecture this August. The program is sponsored by the U.S.-Japan Council, which promotes exchanges between the two countries, with the cooperation of Tanaka Sangyo, a Joetsu-based construction company in Niigata Prefecture. Tanaka Sangyo has been engaged in rice cultivation for about 30 years, growing rice on about 340 hectares. As more rice farmers are leaving the business, the company expanded its rice field by 150 hectares over the past five years by taking over the fields of others who have quit. The partnership was made through an introduction by the U.S. Embassy in Japan, which had previously worked with the company. The program started last October with 10 students from universities in Niigata Prefecture, including Niigata University, and eight students from Texas A&M University. After an online workshop, the Niigata Prefecture students went to the United States to learn about measures on tackling climate change. While in Texas, the Niigata students went to a greenhouse that had automated equipment to manage plant growth, visited a large-scale range and saw crops being grown on the roof of a building in an urban area. The students also saw the effects of drought when they volunteered for marshland conservation activities. Akiyuki Tanaka from Tanaka Sangyo hopes the exchange will let young people know that, as digitization and automation advance, agriculture can be fun and exciting. Climate change The Yomiuri Shimbun Makoto Koide, left, shows a photo he took while visiting a greenhouse in Texas, in March in Niigata Prefecture. Climate change will heavily affect the agricultural industry in Niigata Prefecture. As of the end of October, only 4.3% of the Koshihikari variety of rice and only 14.0% of all the rice harvested in 2023 were considered high quality, the lowest ever. 'The price of rice is getting more expensive in Japan, and rice is disappearing from grocery stores,' said Mitsuki Ito, 20, who was a part of the group who went to Texas. 'I think the issue [of climate change] needs to be addressed worldwide.' The students from Texas are scheduled to visit Niigata Prefecture in August, and they will observe the area's agricultural practices, which take advantage of having both mountains and the ocean nearby. 'The American students might be surprised by how small the scale of Japan's agriculture is, but I hope they will see the quality of it, too,' said Makoto Koide, a participant from Niigata University.
