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Japan Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Japanese lawmaker under fire over Noto quake gaffe
Ruling party lawmaker Yosuke Tsuruho came under fire on Wednesday over his verbal gaffe about a powerful earthquake that struck Noto Peninsula last year. Tsuruho, a member of the House of Councilors from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said in a campaign speech in the city of Wakayama on Tuesday, "It was lucky that the earthquake occurred in Noto." Tsuruho apparently tried to say the government's moves to allow people to go through administrative procedures outside their area of residence were accelerated after the Noto earthquake. The chairman of the Upper House Budget Committee later on Tuesday withdrew the remarks and apologized. Speaking at a news conference in Wakayama on Wednesday, Tsuruho reiterated his apology and said, "I lacked consideration for the disaster-hit areas." He denied any plans to leave the LDP or resign as lawmaker. Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, criticized Tsuruho's remarks, while speaking to reporters in the city of Aomori on Wednesday. "This was unbelievable. It was beyond a slip of the tongue. He must deeply apologize to the people of Noto," Noda said. Tsuruho should decide his own fate, Noda said. "He has to take seriously how the public sees him." Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Keiichiro Tachibana said at a news conference in Tokyo: "It's important to stay close to the feelings of victims. No one should ever trample on them."
Japan Times
06-07-2025
- Japan Times
A tiny mountain hamlet keeps traditional log rafting afloat
I'm standing near the front of a 30-meter-long wooden raft a few minutes into a journey down the Kitayama River in northern Wakayama Prefecture's Yoshino-Kumano National Park. Piloted by a team of four drivers in traditional straw hats, the craft snakes its way toward a white-water section of the river appropriately nicknamed the 'Nose Dive.' The raft plunges into the rapids, followed by a wave of water washing over the 20 passengers, who laugh and whoop with excitement. They said we'd get wet — and they weren't wrong. With a population of less than 400, the tiny village of Kitayama is the only place in Japan where you can experience traditional ikada-kudari (log rafting). It's been on my radar for some years — I enjoy adrenaline-packed activities such as bungee jumping, tandem paragliding, canyoning and abseiling, but this was something unique: a natural rollercoaster through a remote gorge steeped in centuries of forestry history. In between the adventurous parts of the hour-long trip, there is plenty of time to sit down and soak in the surroundings aboard the raft: the emerald-green river, dramatic rock formations and waterfalls cascading down cliffs. Then, whenever we approach sections of rapids, the call goes out: 'Everybody up!' This certainly makes it more thrilling for the riders, but more importantly, it's easier for the raft to be steered and balanced, as our ikadashi (raft drivers) swiftly navigate the river, leaping from log to log as if it's second nature. During the rafting season, crews lash together logs and install seats and railings every morning. | KITAYAMA VILLAGE Earlier that morning, I'd watched the day's rafts being carefully lowered, section by section, into the river by crane, where they were then fitted with seats and handrails for the passengers. This painstaking work, repeated each morning during the rafting season that runs from May through September, is overseen by Masayuki Yamamoto, the president of Kitayama Shinko, the company commissioned by Kitayama to operate rafting as a tourism activity. 'We're protecting the landscape and nature of Kitayama,' Yamamoto says. 'Our mission is to preserve this long-standing tradition.' The remote hamlet's ikada-kudari dates back over 600 years, when the Kitayama River was the only viable route for transporting lumber from the forested mountains to the urban centers of Kansai. Kitayama's high-quality cedar was sought after by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, unifier of Japan in the late 16th century, for building his strongholds, creating a boom in timber transport. As the use of rafts to transport lumber increased, the practice of ikada-kudari was formalized in the 17th century, with a systemized distribution network put in place. At its peak, there were several hundred ikadashi in Kitayama. Logs were felled in the mountains and then rolled down the slopes, where they were tied together into long rafts. Drivers would then guide the lumber more than 60 kilometers downstream to the port of Shingu on Wakayama's southeastern coast, a journey that usually took two to three days. They made the return journey on foot, carrying their oars with them. It takes about three years of training to become a full-fledged "ikadashi" raft driver. | KITAYAMA VILLAGE The men who undertook this dangerous work were well paid for braving the currents to guide the massive rafts down the river. A local story surrounds the naming of Otonori, the starting point of the rafting trips. The original meaning was 'younger brother riding' — a reference to how families preferred to send off a younger son, deeming the job too risky for a precious oldest son and heir. The last rafts of commercial lumber went down the river in 1965. Roads had improved by then, making it more practical to transport logs overland. However, the tradition didn't disappear. In 1979, Kitayama launched sightseeing raft rides as part of a regional revitalization project, ensuring the legacy would float on in a new form. 'Luckily, some of the former log riders were still around, and they passed on their skills to a new generation,' says Yamamoto, who has been riding the rafts for more than 30 years and now heads a team of 16 ikadashi. He says that the job isn't just about physical strength. Teamwork and keeping a cool head are important for being a good river runner, too. 'The conditions are always changing in this job, so it keeps you on your toes,' he says. The log rafting season in Kitayama runs from May through September. | KITAYAMA VILLAGE Nevertheless, customs are evolving. In August 2024, 21-year-old Moko Ono made history when she joined Kitayama Shinko to become Kitayama's first-ever female ikadashi. Although the former gym instructor from Shingu had never actually ridden the rafts before, she responded to a call for new drivers based on the appeal of an active job outdoors, even though she admits that her mother wasn't keen on the idea in the beginning. 'Before I started the job, we took a test ride together,' Ono says. 'She was a bit worried, asking if I'd really be able to do this since it's a physically demanding job, and there are risks like falling off the raft. But she respected my decision and now she understands my wishes.' As Ono approaches her first work anniversary, she still has some way to go before completing the three years of training required to become a full-fledged ikadashi, but she says she hopes to see more women joining the ranks in the future. Outside of the rafting season, the ikadashi work other jobs, and Ono can often be found behind the wheel of the village bus, ferrying schoolchildren and seniors who can no longer drive. Some of her colleagues take part in forestry and conservation work or help with cultivation of jabara, a distinctive citrus fruit and Kitayama's other major industry. Native to Kitayama, jabara has a bold, tangy flavor that falls somewhere between an orange and a lemon, making it popular for use in products like jams, sauces, sweets and juices. Ono recommends a ponzu-style local product called Japon, which she says goes perfectly in nabe (hot pot) dishes or as a dipping sauce for gyōza dumplings. "Ikadashi" drivers use long poles to guide the log rafts down the Kitayama River. | KITAYAMA VILLAGE Kitayama has another unique distinction as Japan's only 'enclave village': though officially part of Wakayama, it is entirely surrounded by Mie and Nara prefectures. When Japan's feudal domains transitioned into modern prefectures, Shingu was aligned with modern-day Wakayama, so Kitayama chose to follow suit because of the historical and economic ties to its neighbor down the river. At the end of our trip, I join my fellow passengers on the bus that ferries tourists between the Kitayama Village Tourism Center and the rafting departure point. A change of clothes and a welcome dip in the onsen (hot spring) await at the neighboring hotel, which is open to day-trippers as well as overnight guests. I'm dripping wet, but my enthusiasm for the experience — and the enduring history it represents — is undampened. Kitayama's log rafting runs twice daily on weekends in May and June, and then daily except for Thursdays through the end of September. Riders must be between the ages of 10 and 75 and in good health. Rides cost ¥7,700 for adults and ¥3,300 for children under 12. Advance reservations are required. Due to the remote location, an overnight stay is recommended. For more information, visit the Kitayama Village website . Travel and accommodation for this story were provided by Wakayama Prefecture. No portion of this story was shared with any third party prior to publication.
NHK
01-07-2025
- General
- NHK
Riding the rapids on Japan's last log rafts
Deep in rural Wakayama, a centuries-old river rafting tradition is making waves with its first-ever female crew member steering both the raft and a cultural shift.
NHK
28-06-2025
- NHK
Four giant pandas leave Japanese theme park for new home in China
Four female giant pandas have left a theme park in the western Japanese prefecture of Wakayama for their new home in China. Rauhin and her daughters Yuihin, Saihin and Fuhin are being transferred from Adventure World in the town of Shirahama to China as the contract for a bilateral joint-conservation project is set to expire shortly. On Saturday, the pandas were put into four separate cages, and loaded onto two trucks. They were not shown to the public to ensure their well-being and safety. The operator of the park said the animals were in good shape and were munching on bamboo as usual. Around 300 people, including staff and their families, gathered at the park. Park director, Imazu Koji, told them that Saturday marks a new start, and he asked everyone to see the pandas off with smiles. The trucks left the facility a little before 8:30 a.m. One of the keepers, Nakaya Yuka, who has taken care of the pandas for eight years, said they seemed a bit restless in the unusual atmosphere, but were eating well. Nakaya said she has no concerns because the staff are closely coordinating with their Chinese counterparts. The pandas will be sent to a breeding facility in Sichuan Province on a chartered flight.
Japan Times
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Fans bid farewell to four pandas in Kansai ahead of return to China
Fans bid farewell to four giant pandas at a zoo in the Adventure World amusement park in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, on Friday, the final viewing day for the animals ahead of their return to China. Rauhin, 24, and her three daughters — 8-year-old Yuihin, 6-year-old Saihin and 4-year-old Fuhin — will be transferred to China on Saturday, ahead of the expiration of the amusement park's contract with the Chinese side in August. They were all born at Adventure World. After their return, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo will be the only giant pandas in Japan. On Friday, some 1,400 people lined up in front of Adventure World to see the four pandas, prompting the amusement park to open at 9 a.m., an hour earlier than usual. "They gave me a lot of happiness and comfort," said Ayako Takenaka, a 53-year-old from Honjo, Saitama Prefecture. "It's quite a pity because I had thought I would be able to keep seeing them again and again in the future," Takenaka said with tears in her eyes. "I wish for their happiness." The birth of Saihin inspired Yukiko Matsuoka from the city of Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture, to visit a variety of places to view animals. "I only have gratitude because it started here," the 47-year-old said with a smile. "I want to see them off with a happy heart." "I find them cute but feel sad," said Yuma Okazono, a 20-year-old from Kobe. "I hope they will remain in good shape in China." All giant pandas in Japan, including those born in the country, are on loan from China for breeding research purposes.
