The Dalai Lama celebrates his 90th birthday with thousands of Tibetan Buddhists
Sitting before a packed audience that included hundreds of red-robed monks and nuns who braved incessant rain to see him, he said: 'When I look back on my life, I see that I have not wasted it at all.'
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Japan Forward
10 hours ago
- Japan Forward
Nankai's Mission: Making Manners Matter on the Rails
Enter Nankai Electric Railway. Wait, weren't there posters about train manners inside their cars? "We don't create many posters of our own," says Akinori Oda, assistant manager in the company's public relations department. But that doesn't mean Nankai is inactive. The company serves Kansai International Airport, one of Japan's busiest international gateways, with around 30 million passengers annually. In that role, they display posters created annually by the Japan Private Railway Association and the Kansai Railway Association, both of which it's a member of. What sets them apart is their manners awareness campaign aimed specifically at foreign travelers. For instance, the company issues alerts to passengers who try to use escalators while carrying large suitcases or bulky carry-on bags. "After the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of inbound travelers began gradually rising around August 2023," said Oda. "But with that came a surge in accidents, such as luggage falling on escalators. While we had been making announcements at Kansai Airport Station, we decided to create posters as well to raise awareness." All of Nankai's posters are written in Japanese, English, Korean, and Chinese. Since customs and manners vary by country, the messaging avoids imposing Japanese norms on foreign tourists. Instead, it takes a more considerate tone, saying things like, "Doing A is dangerous. Therefore, please B." A multilingual etiquette poster by Nankai Electric Railway, encouraging good manners on trains for foreign visitors in English, Korean, and Chinese. (©Nankai Railway) In addition, since March of this year, the Rapi:t Express train connecting Kansai International Airport and Osaka Namba has included flyers in seat pockets with photographs illustrating "where to place suitcases and carry-on bags" and "the correct way to sit in your seat." "Every year, many foreign tourists visit Japan," Oda explained. "As the railway that connects directly to Kansai International Airport, we believe it is Nankai Electric Railway's mission to communicate effectively with these visitors." Hear, hear! An illustrated booklet outlining proper train manners, available inside the Rapi:t Express train. (©Nankai Electric Railway) Since 2021, Nankai Electric Railway has collaborated with students from Osaka Animation College in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, to produce educational animations. The titles include "Sachi's Promise" and "Nankai Electric Railway: Kai's Great Adventure!" Sachi's Promise follows the journey of Sachi Nakamatsu, a young woman who overcomes challenges to become a train driver for Nankai Electric Railway. Her surname, Nakamatsu, comes from a station on the Nankai Kada Line in Wakayama City, where she was born and raised. After graduating from a local high school, Sachi joins the railway company and fulfills her dream of driving trains on the Kada Line, a route she had been familiar with since childhood. Sachi's Promise follows the journey of Sachi Nakamatsu, a young female train driver overcoming the challenges of her profession. (©Nanakai Electric Railway) A scene from the manners awareness video Kai's Great Adventure! by Nankai Electric Railway, promoting proper train etiquette in a fun and engaging way. The first episode is titled Reckless Behaviors at Level Crossing. Meanwhile, the second episode is Railroad Crossing Emergency Button, and the third is Walking While Using a Smartphone. Each episode runs for approximately 30 seconds. Kai-kun is the younger brother of Sachi Nakamatsu. His approximately five-minute story teaches passengers about proper train etiquette. It's inspired by an incident that occurred during Kai's trip from his home in Wakayama to visit his grandfather in Namba, Osaka, via the Nankai Electric Railway. Professional voice actress Yuki Nakajima voices Yukiko Nakamatsu, while a student from Osaka Animation College voices Kai-kun. The story is available on the Nankai Electric Railway website. In January of last year, the company hosted a special visiting lecture called "Nankai Electric Railway School." The event was aimed at elementary school students living along the Nankai Electric Railway line. Nankai Electric Railway's outreach lecture at an elementary school, where train drivers are teaching students about proper railway etiquette. (©Nankai Electric Railway) In a rare move, the instructor for the event was not a station manager but a train driver. Furthermore, in March last year, the company organized a "manners training and exchange event" for foreign workers in Japan. Participants were taught proper railway etiquette and how to use ticket vending machines. Author: Ryuichi Tadokoro , The Sankei Shimbun (Read this in Japanese )
Toronto Star
14 hours ago
- Toronto Star
The Dalai Lama celebrates his 90th birthday with thousands of Tibetan Buddhists
DHARAMSHALA, India (AP) — The Dalai Lama turned 90 on Sunday surrounded by thousands of followers, who thronged the Himalayan town of Dharamshala, where the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism has been living in exile since fleeing Chinese rule in Tibet in 1959. Sitting before a packed audience that included hundreds of red-robed monks and nuns who braved incessant rain to see him, he said: 'When I look back on my life, I see that I have not wasted it at all.'
Winnipeg Free Press
16 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
England's Lionesses find a home from home at Zurich's fairy-tale ‘castle'
ZURICH (AP) — England's hotel at the Women's European Championship is a 'home from home,' although it is likely a step above the players' normal abodes. Nestled in the woods on top of a hill overlooking Zurich and flaunting an array of spires and cupolas, the iconic Dolder Grand looks like a castle that has jumped straight out of a book of fairy tales. Inside, old-world grandeur with chandeliers and sweeping staircases meets sleek modernity, as well as panoramic views over Lake Zurich and the Alps. 'My first 24 hours here I was just going 'Whoa, whoa!' the whole time,' said England defender Esme Morgan, who plays for Washington Spirit in the United States. 'We feel very lucky with how well we've been taken care of and its sort of the perfect base for us to go on through the tournament and where everyone can just relax and get together to watch the other games.' The players can also relax by perusing the Dolder Grand's art collection with more than 100 works by artists including Salvador Dalí and actor Sylvester Stallone. The hotel has a 4,000 square-meter spa, that includes an infinity hot tub with stunning views — an ideal place for the Lionesses to recover after a match. England began its title defense by losing to France 2-1 on Saturday and next plays on Wednesday against the Netherlands in Group D. 'We feel super welcome' Rooms at the Dolder Grand start at 740 Swiss Francs ($930) a night for a double to around 14,500 Swiss Francs ($18,300) for the two-floor Presidential Suite — which, like some of the other suites, includes a butler service. The Dolder Grand — which featured in the movie 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' — was chosen after a year-long search by the English Football Association, with staff having the perhaps enviable job of visiting 23 facilities, tasked with finding the team a home from home. 'About a year ago, for the first time, I stepped into the door of the Dolder and we could just feel the excitement of the hotel staff,' said the team's general manager, Anja van Ginhoven. 'One of the first things they said to us, similar to The Lensbury (on the outskirts of London where the Lionesses stayed in 2022), they said 'We want to be part of this.' 'We feel super welcome and very supported. All they want to do is give us a great home away from home.' The Lionesses arrived on their team bus, shortly after flying into Zurich, and were greeted by beaming hotel staff. Guests normally arrive by car — often very nice ones — or by a short journey up on the rack-and-pinion railway, which has its terminus adjacent to the hotel. The hotel dates back to 1899 although it underwent an extensive renovation at the start of the century, led by Norman Foster. Dignitaries and film stars Apart from the reigning European champions, the Dolder Grand has hosted a plethora of celebrities, from Hollywood stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Leonardo DiCaprio, to the Rolling Stones, as well as royalty and dignitaries including Winston Churchill, the Shah of Persia and King Charles, when he was a bachelor prince. The Dolder Grand also had a cameo role in FIFA business and soccer conferences during the presidency of Sepp Blatter that ended in 2015. During the now-notorious World Cup bidding contests for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, scandal implicated two FIFA executive committee members weeks before they were due to vote. FIFA vice president Reynald Temarii was staying at the Dolder Grand the night before he was due for a dressing-down meeting with Blatter at FIFA headquarters. In 1996, the hotel is also where FIFA — with Blatter as secretary general — formally sealed the diplomatic deal to have World Cup co-hosts for the first time, awarding the 2002 edition to Japan and South Korea. Uncertain stay Just how long England will be able to enjoy the grande dame of Zurich hotels remains to be seen. Sarina Wiegman's team also faces the Netherlands and Wales in Group D. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Football may or not be 'coming home' — as England's team anthem goes — but the Lionesses might not want to. ___ AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar contributed to this report ___ AP soccer:
