Latest news with #Wajima
Japan Times
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Noto assemblies urge LDP lawmaker to step down over quake gaffe
The assemblies of four municipalities on the Noto Peninsula have demanded that ruling party lawmaker Yosuke Tsuruho step down from "a key post" over his gaffe about an powerful earthquake that struck the central Japan region last year. The assembly speakers from the cities of Wajima and Suzu as well as the towns of Anamizu and Noto, all located in Ishikawa Prefecture, made the demand in a joint letter of protest sent Friday to Tsuruho, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and chairman of the Budget Committee of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of Japan's parliament. On Tuesday, the Upper House lawmaker said in the city of Wakayama, during a campaign speech related to the July 20 Upper House election, that "it was lucky that the earthquake occurred in Noto." The four municipalities were heavily damaged by the Jan. 1, 2024, earthquake. "We are unable to believe from the comments and attitude (in Tsuruho's apology) that he is regretting his remark (in question)," the letter said. "We can't condone this," it said, noting that the controversial remark hurt the feelings of people affected by the earthquake. The local assembly speakers also sent a letter to LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama asking the party to take action against Tsuruho. Also on Friday, the Wajima city assembly sent a separate letter saying that it cannot forgive Tsuruho for his gaffe as it "deeply hurt people's hearts."
Yomiuri Shimbun
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Sumo Scene / Mourning the Passing of Masuiyama, Multitalented Sumo Wrestler with Records Outside of Ring
Last month, the sumo world lost another one of its popular stars from the halcyon days of the 1970s and '80s, but one whose talent outside of the ring may have matched his skills in it. Masuiyama, who reached the rank of ozeki and also made a name for himself in the entertainment world, died on June 15 at age 76. The era when Masuiyama, whose real name was Noboru Sawada, was active featured the popular yokozuna pair of Kitanoumi and Wajima. Although Masuiyama held the ozeki rank for a relatively short seven tournaments, he earned his share of the spotlight with a larger-than-life presence that sparkled in the ring. The name Masuiyama brings to mind images of his wide arsenal of flamboyant techniques. Among them, his impressive use of his legs for inner and outer trips was second to none, and this caused such problems for so many unwitting opponents. It was at the 1980 New Year Tournament where Masuiyama earned his promotion to ozeki. His use of an outer leg trip to topple yokozuna Wajima became a major factor in the decision to elevate him in rank. He finished the tournament with a 12-3 record and was awarded a third consecutive Technique Prize. Masuiyama, who never exceeded 120 kilograms at the time, said he honed the techniques by carefully studying timing and positioning when targeting his opponents' legs. This display of talent impressed even the most discerning sumo connoisseurs. One thing that can't be left out of any conversation about Masuiyama was his many talents outside of sumo. He not only inherited his ring name from his father (the original ozeki Masuiyama), but also his top-notch painting skills. So exceptional were he and his father that their works were selected for the prestigious Nika Art Exhibition. It also goes without saying that after leaving the Japan Sumo Association upon reaching the mandatory retirement age, Masuiyama found widespread success in a full-time career as a professional pop singer. There have been many sumo wrestlers who were good singers, with some even releasing records or showing their vocal skills on music TV programs. But Masuiyama's voice was in a league of its own. Even while he was still an active wrestler, he released a number of pop records that sold millions of copies, including 'Sonna Yuko ni Horemashita' (I fell in love with Yuko the way she is) and 'Sonna onna no Hitorigoto' (That woman's monologue). As he attracted a lot of attention for doing double duty as a sumo wrestler and singer, the sumo association put its foot down and demanded that he focus solely on his real job of sumo. That mainly led him to put his singing career on hold while he remained in the association. A multi-talented individual who transcended the boundaries of the top level of sumo: that was Masuiyama. My feeling now is that it is unlikely we will ever see another wrestler like him. — Kamimura is a sumo expert.
Japan Times
02-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Noto quake-hit area sees biggest roadside land price drop
The Asaichi-dori morning market street in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, registered the largest year-on-year drop among the 2025 highest roadside land prices surveyed by tax offices across Japan, according to National Tax Agency data released Tuesday. The latest prices of land facing major roads in Japan announced by the agency reflected for the first time the impact of a massive earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture on Jan. 1, 2024. The roadside land price for a plot in the Asaichi-dori area plunged 16.7%, a stark contrast to a 4.5% decline in the previous year.
Japan Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Quake-hit residents eyeing reconstruction through power of radio
Residents of a district in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, one of the hardest-hit areas in the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, hope to boost reconstruction efforts through the power of radio. Wajima experienced significant damage in the magnitude 7.6 quake on Jan. 1 last year and in a heavy rain disaster that hit the peninsula last September. A group of people, mainly residents of Wajima's Machinomachi district, are preparing to open a full scale emergency broadcasting FM radio station in mid-June. The Machinomachi group has been given equipment and know-how from a group in Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture, that continued radio broadcasts for five years following the March 2011 temblor and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan including Onagawa. In February this year, the Machino Radio disaster FM radio station conducted a trial broadcasting session for one day to test radio reception. In mid-May, six members of the Machinomachi group visited Onagawa to try their hand at radio broadcasting, spending an hour in simulated broadcasts at the Onagawa group's Onagawa FM radio station on each of the three days of training. "We're working on launching Machino Radio's 'Machi no Wa!' (program)," a member of the envisaged radio station said in a simulated broadcast session while struggling to operate radio equipment. "There's someone who is listening in beyond the microphone," Toshiro Sato, 61, who was an emcee of Onagawa FM's radio programs, told the Machino Radio member. "It's important to keep in mind that you are creating (the program) together." After finishing her simulated broadcast session, Mizuki Yamazaki, 34, said, "Although I was really nervous, I had fun broadcasting while we all helped one another." Shin Nakayama, 29, who lost his 31-year-old sister, Miki, to the rain disaster, said, "I'll want to do my best for the radio, for my sister who can no longer do what she loved." "Although we still have a long way to go, I hope to tell people throughout the country that we aren't giving up and are trying to build ourselves back up," Nakayama said. Many residents of the Noto Peninsula's Okunoto area, including Wajima, have cable television due to poor radio signal reception caused by the area's complicated terrain. Last year's quake and rain disasters damaged many cable television-related facilities and relay stations, hampering disaster-affected residents' efforts to gather information on where evacuation shelters, emergency food distribution spots and disaster supply distribution centers were located. With the area's population largely made up of elderly people, information provided by local governments and others on social media often did not reach locals sufficiently. Following last year's disasters, the Machinomachi group focused its attention on using emergency FM radio as a means of sending out information and revitalizing the local area. "We hope to create an environment in which information is delivered to various people," said Yusuke Yamashita, 39, who heads the group. Onagawa FM, which supports the Machinomachi group, started out as an emergency disaster FM radio broadcaster after the 2011 disaster. Based on its experience, the Onagawa group helped a radio station begin broadcasting just after the 2016 Kumamoto quakes. "We're going to entrust Machino Radio with what we've done in Onagawa up until now," radio producer Tomohiro Oshima, 51, said. "We hope that (Machino Radio members) will gather local information and find a way to convey that information in their own words so that they can broadcast programs that energize the Machinomachi residents," he continued. As there are no public subsidies to open or operate FM radio stations, the Machinomachi group is asking the public for donations.
The Mainichi
29-05-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Editorial: Onosato's rapid rise to rank of yokozuna signals new era for sumo in Japan
Onosato, 24, has been promoted to yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo. In terms of speed, it was a record-breaking rise to the pinnacle of the sport, signaling the birth of a star wrestler with both popularity and ability. Hailing from Ishikawa Prefecture, Onosato is the first Japan-born wrestler to become a yokozuna in eight years, following his mentor Kisenosato (now stablemaster Nishonoseki). His promotion to yokozuna after just 13 tournaments since his debut is the fastest since the annual six-tournament system began in 1958, surpassing the 21 tournaments it took the champion Wajima, who was also from Ishikawa Prefecture, by a wide margin. Onosato's promotion also came after just nine tournaments following his entry into sumo's top makuuchi division, outpacing the Showa-era (1926-1989) grand yokozuna Taiho, who achieved the feat after 11 tournaments. In this year's May Grand Sumo Tournament, where his promotion was on the line, Onosato secured his second consecutive tournament victory on the 13th day. His total of four tournament wins is the most among active wrestlers. Onosato stands 192 centimeters tall and weighs 191 kilograms -- hefty even in the world of sumo -- and he wrestles with power from his large physique, coupled with speed at the initial charge. The wrestler's growth on the technical side has also been remarkable. From a young age, he has been diligent in his research of the sport, frequently questioning his coaches, analyzing match videos, and polishing his techniques. He seized the opportunity to ascend to the top of the sumo rankings in his first attempt, also demonstrating the mental strength to withstand the pressure. As his rank has increased, so has his popularity. Onosato is the second yokozuna to come from a student sumo background, following Wajima. During his time at Nippon Sport Science University, he became a student yokozuna and an amateur yokozuna. His achievements were recognized, allowing him to debut in the makushita division, several above the lowest jonokuchi division. The Yokozuna Deliberation Council unanimously recommended his promotion, with members successively expressing hopes that he would make new history in professional sumo. At the ceremony in which messengers from the Japan Sumo Association officially informed Onosato of his promotion, he declared his aim to become a "unique yokozuna." If he continues to work hard, he certainly has the potential to become a grand yokozuna. There was an incident in the past where Onosato received a stern warning from the Japan Sumo Association for drinking with a wrestler under 20. As a yokozuna, he will now be held to strict standards of "dignity." Onosato's success is uplifting those affected by last year's Noto Peninsula earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture. He is also driven by the support from people in his hometown. After the first tournament of the year, Mongolian-born Hoshoryu, 26, was similarly promoted to the rank of yokozuna, and the Nagoya tournament in July will have both an east yokozuna and a west yokozuna for the first time in four years. Amid concerns about a shortage of new wrestlers, it is hoped that they will strive through friendly rivalry to create an Onosato-Hoshoryu era and lead the sumo world.
