Passenger tried opening door on ANA jet during flight: Our 5 most-read stories from last week
We've listed our five most read stories on The Mainichi news site, from top to bottom, that were published between May 24 and June 1. The first story was viewed by 17.0% of our regular readers. (The Mainichi)
ANA Tokyo-US flight made emergency landing after passenger tried opening door
WASHINGTON (Mainichi) -- An All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight heading to Texas from Tokyo over the weekend was forced to divert and make an emergency landing after a passenger tried to open an exit door mid-flight. Full story.
Japan's scorching summer heat forcing fireworks, other festivals to change schedules
TOKYO -- The extreme summer heat that has struck Japan in recent years due climate change is altering the landscape of annual fireworks and other festivals in the country, forcing the summer events to be moved to spring or autumn. Even so, there are cases where it has been difficult to reschedule the festivals due to their traditional nature. Full story.
Shiga governor says reactions to midge outbreak at Osaka Expo site excessive
OSAKA -- Shiga Gov. Taizo Mikazuki said reactions over a plague of non-biting midges at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai venue might be overblown. Full story.
Tokyo mom questions school collecting PTA membership fees before consent
When the new school year began in April last year, a 51-year-old Tokyo woman received a notice from her son's elementary school detailing various fees, which included a PTA membership fee. Full story.
Japan's former Princess Mako has 1st baby; gender, birthday undisclosed
TOKYO -- Mako Komuro, the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Akishino (Fumihito) and Crown Princess Kiko, has given birth to her first child, the Imperial Household Agency announced on May 30. Full story.
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Fuji TV third-party panel: Will no longer communicate with ex-TV star's side
A third-party panel set up by Fuji Television and its parent company says it will refrain from communicating with lawyers representing former TV personality Nakai Masahiro in the alleged sexual violence case, citing concerns over secondary damage to the victim. The panel said on Tuesday that it is also refusing again the lawyers' request to disclose evidence it had used to determine that Nakai had committed sexual violence against a former Fuji TV announcer. The panel went on to say that the views of both sides are far apart, adding that its members have found it difficult to bridge the gap. In a report released late March, the panel determined that the woman was subjected to sexual violence by Nakai while engaging in activities related to her work. Their finding was based on the definition of sexual violence by the World Health Organization. In mid-May, Nakai's lawyers requested that relevant evidence be disclosed. But the panel refused, arguing that the fact-finding process was appropriate and that it was under a confidentiality obligation to Fuji Television. On Friday, Nakai's legal team once again demanded that the panel disclose the evidence and provide an explanation, but were turned down in writing on Tuesday. Nakai was a member of the disbanded pop idol group SMAP. He became popular as a TV emcee and actor. He retired from show business in January, after a weekly magazine reported the scandal in December.
SoraNews24
21 hours ago
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Lock that opens when Osaka dialect is spoken unveiled at Expo 2025
Ore no Osakaben hetakusotte iitain? Hooooooonmaaaaaaniiiiii! One of the more impressive pavilions at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo is the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion. The overarching theme of having your future self digitally generated is cool, but along the way is a series of technological works in progress that changes over the course of the entire Expo. One such exhibit briefly displayed from 27 May to 2 June is the Key Voice: Open Sesame World by Advanced Media and West Inx. Advanced Media is the developer of the AmiVoice Japanese voice recognition software and West Inx is one of the oldest lock makers in the country. Noticing that the waveform of a voice recording looks a lot like the cuts of a key, they got the idea to develop a lock that opens with a specific vocal pattern. But in honor of the Expo, they didn't use just any vocal pattern, they used the Osakan dialect, known as Osakaben. I always liken Osakaben to something like the way English is spoken in Staten Island, New York, not in any grammatical or specific linguistic way. It's more the feel of it, in that it can superficially come across as a little dopey and blunt sounding, but it has a lot of charm and character too. When using Key Voice, visitors will be given the choice of three difficulty levels and then must recite one of 25 Osakaben phrases. If spoken in the proper Osakan style, a small model door will open. It's deceptively hard though, because when speaking Osakaben intonation can be very important. A good example is the classic ' nandeyanen ' which means something like 'What the hell?' and has a lot of the same nuances as 'oh, come on' in that it can be used to express frustration when your Internet cuts out, playful modesty when someone flatters you, or indignation when you get cut off on the highway. The good news for English speakers is that saying ' nandeyanen ' with pretty much the same intonation as 'oh, come on' in any of the three scenarios would be a pretty good fit. Another phrase is ' maido ookini ' which is a rather folksy way of saying something along the lines of 'thanks again, much obliged' and commonly heard from the staff in shops. This has more of a sing-songy intonation, going down two steps on mai-do , up one step on oo (pronounced like 'oh') and down two again on ki-ni . ▼ Just saying 'ookini' ('おおきに') straight won't open any doors for you here. Although not mentioned, I have to assume ' honma ' and/or ' honmani ' would be included as well. These literally translate to 'Really?' and are used in the same way to express surprise at hearing something or confirming something is true, again with a similar intonation to English. However, one additional use is sort of like 'Why I oughta…' again with a very similar intonation to the English phrase where you stretch it out on the vowel sounds to express anger comedically while shaking your fist, like ' Hooooooonmaaaaaniiiii… ' If you can get those, that's a good start but you'll also have to use them in context. In the video above, one of the intermediate-level phrases is ' Ke, bossabosa yakara kukurana akanwa. ' which means 'My hair's all kinds of messed up, so I oughta tie it up.' Unfortunately, its time at the Expo was very limited, but as luck would have it, Key Voice can still be tried out at West Inx's showroom in the Imabashi area of Osaka. There's still lots of cool things to be seen in the Osaka Health Pavilion though, and I also got word that Glico has just started handing out their new rice candies at the nearby Earth Mart pavilion, so be sure to check out both of those places if you go. Source: Kyodo via Livedoor News, PR Times, My Game News Flash Images: PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Metropolis Japan
a day ago
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Japanese Calligraphy & Sumi-e Workshop in Tokyo
Step into the serene world of Japanese calligraphy and Sumi-e (painting with black ink) with Tokyo-born artist Chiaki. In this immersive hands-on workshop in Tokyo, you'll explore the brush techniques, philosophy, and history behind Japanese calligraphy and ink painting. Chiaki's fresh, modern approach invites you to see calligraphy not just as writing, but as personal expression through art. Known for blending the timeless beauty of traditional calligraphy with minimalist contemporary design, Chiaki brings a truly global perspective to this ancient art form—drawing on her experience teaching and exhibiting in cultural institutions across Europe and Asia. No experience with calligraphy? No problem. You'll be guided step-by-step by Chiaki. During the workshop, you will get the opportunity to craft your own masterpiece on a traditional Japanese fan ( Uchiwa ), adding your personal touch. Don't miss out on this special opportunity to connect with Japanese culture through art in Tokyo this summer. The workshop is held in English and all materials are provided—just bring your curiosity and passion. No prior experience needed. Green tea and sweets will be served. Choose between attending on June 28 (6:00 pm-8:00 pm) or June 29 (2:00 pm-4 pm).
