The Osaka subway system and Dracula want to teach you about blood
Sysmex is a company that specializes in blood testing equipment, including machines that can automatically count blood cells and technology to help in the early detection of diseases. While this has helped improve and save countless lives in the over 190 countries they've operated in for over half a century, most people probably don't even know their name.
▼ They're also strong supporters of workplace diversity, with nearly half their staff vampires.
Not only that, but when you think about it, how much do you even know about your own blood? We know it's red, but we remember hearing that the plasma is yellowish, so maybe it's more of an orange or vermilion.
Sounds like we need to take a ride on the Osaka Metro subway system's Midosuji Line, because from August 3-23, they'll be hanging posters with a variety of blood-related trivia. Blood Donation Day is on August 21 in Japan, which is probably why they chose this period.
Posters both hanging on the walls and from the ceilings of train cars will teach of a variety of fun facts, such as: '90 percent of gorillas have B type blood.'
Another good one is that if you take all the blood vessels in your body and lay them end to end, they'd be long enough to go around the Earth two and a half times. That's mainly because our bodies have millions of tiny capillaries that reach almost every cell in them. In fact, the reason our lips are red is that all the capillaries can be seen there. I didn't know any of that. I just read it in these posters.
Other facts include that it takes about 30 seconds for blood to do a lap of the human body, sharks can smell a drop of blood from hundreds of meters away, crocodile blood has amazing antibacterial and antiviral properties, and freshwater eel blood is very poisonous to humans unless cooked, which is why unagi is never eaten raw as sashimi in Japan.
There are other posters as well, such as ones that talk about the concepts Sysmex has on display at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo. These are kind of fantastical brainstorming ideas that aren't actually in development, such as a dome where you can just chill out inside and be at one with your dreams for your mental health.
You're also sure to see pictures featuring this gentleman. He's Dracula, the Sysmex mascot. As you can see, he's lost a lot of his usual sex appeal and is more of a Bill Nye the Dracula Guy this time around, but that's fitting for a blood analysis company.
Sysmex hopes this will spark interest and discussions about the blood that flows through us and other creatures on this planet. So, check them out while they're hanging and take the opportunity to thank your blood for doing, um…
Source, images: PR Times
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- Unko Museum to open in Okinawa with some exclusive crap
-- Study of blood tests in Tokyo finds 98% as having vitamin D deficiencies
-- Want to read manga and eat ice cream for free? Give blood in Akihabara
External Link
https://soranews24.com/2025/08/04/the-osaka-subway-system-and-dracula-want-to-teach-you-about-blood/
© SoraNews24
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 days ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan Drugmaker Applies for Approval of Stem Cell-Derived Parkinson's Treatment; Aims to Obtain Approval Within FY25
Sumitomo Pharma Co., a major drugmaker, announced on Tuesday that it has applied to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry for approval to produce and sell a regenerative medical product for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The drug contains dopamine-producing nerve cells derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and is transplanted directly into patients' brains. It is the second application to the ministry for the approval of a regenerative medicine derived from iPS cells. Parkinson's is caused by a reduction in the nerve cells which produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter produced in the brain involved in body movement. Patients with the disease develop such symptoms as tremors in the hands or legs and have difficulty walking. In Japan, there are an estimated 250,000 people with Parkinson' treatment method was jointly developed by Sumitomo Pharma and a team of researchers from Kyoto University. These researchers conducted clinical tests from 2018 to 2021. In the tests, 5 million to 10 million nerve cells were derived from iPS cells taken from healthy people and transplanted into the patients' brains. The researchers published the results in the science journal Nature in April this year, stating that four of the six patients experienced an improvement in their symptoms. Sumitomo Pharma, which is in charge of producing the nerve cells, applied for the ministry's approval based on the test results. The regenerative medicine is covered by the government's special screening designation system, in which priority is given to applications for revolutionary medical treatments originating in Japan. According to the ministry, the length of time necessary for the screening, which is usually about a year, will likely be shortened. Sumitomo Pharma President Toru Kimura said, 'We will make utmost efforts to obtain approval by the end of this fiscal year. We want to respond at maximum speed [for the ministry's screening].' The previous application for production and sales of a regenerative medicine derived from iPS cells was submitted by Cuorips Inc., an Osaka-based startup, in April. The startup makes sheets of heart muscle cells for patients with serious heart diseases.
Japan Today
3 days ago
- Japan Today
The 8 most annoying things people do on Japanese trains, according to local commuters
By Oona McGee, SoraNews24 For many people who commute by train, rush hour is an unavoidable source of significant stress. In Japan, where you'll find the busiest train stations in the world, stress levels can reach breaking point, making good manners and proper etiquette more than a common courtesy but a vital necessity. However, there are still some behaviours on trains that stick in the craw of local commuters. Japanese media site Biz Hits Career Blog, which addresses common work-related challenges and anxieties, recently sought to find out exactly what types of behaviours get on the nerves of commuters in Japan. After surveying 500 people, ranging in age from 20 to over 60, they found that 91.6 percent of respondents experience irritation during their commute, and close to half of those surveyed, 48.6 percent, travel on trains between 8 and 9 a.m. Emotions can easily fray during these morning rush hours, and commuters identified 8 things passengers do that make tensions rise. 8. Not observing proper cough etiquette (4.8 percent) Commuters who display poor cough etiquette — coughing or sneezing without a mask or hand covering — are derided for showing disregard for those around them. Not only is it discourteous but it poses a health risk that causes discomfort to others. 6. Strong smells (8.2 percent) Odors are hard to hide in crowded enclosed spaces, and it's not just bad body and breath odors that are offensive, as respondents also showed a dislike for strong perfumes and the scent of fabric softeners, saying they can cause nausea or headaches for sensitive individuals. 6. Forcibly boarding crowded trains (8.2 percent) Tying for sixth place on this list is the act of cramming yourself into a train at any cost, which can prevent the doors from closing and lead to delays while the train is held up at the station. It also causes a problem for those already inside, as they're forced to squeeze even tighter together to accommodate the extra passenger, leaving them even more frustrated than they already were. 5. Bags getting in the way (11.8 percent) While all bags have the potential to get in the way of others, many respondents singled out backpacks as the big offender, saying that those who wear them can bump into others unwittingly. Those who cited this as a concern said they would prefer it if people carried their bags in front of them or placed them on the floor to avoid disturbing others. 4. Sound leaking from earphones (12.4 percent) This is commonly seen as a careless act as it forces those around you to listen to whatever music, video, or game that might be emanating from your device. A lot of people who use headphones assume nobody around them can hear what they're listening to, so it's always worth checking on your noise levels. 3. Not leaving room for others to sit (14.6 percent) Nobody likes the so-called 'manspreading' that occurs on trains, but a similar act of gobbling up space can be seen when people cross their legs or put their bag on one side of a two-seater seat while pretending to be asleep next to it. While this type of nonchalant behavior is annoying at the best of times, it's even worse when it happens inside a carriage filled with people who are desperate to sit down. 2. Loud voices (15.6 percent) Talking loudly is generally considered bad manners in Japan as it doesn't respect the time and circumstances of others who are sharing the public space. One respondent said there are times on a commute when they need to think about work reports and things they need to get done when they get home, but when there's a person talking loudly near them they become distracted and can't get anything done. Other respondents said they don't want to hear others' conversations, particularly when it involves bad-mouthing gossip or everyday complaints. 1. Not moving (18.0 percent) At the very top of the list of annoying behaviors is passengers who refuse to move inside the train, particularly those who take up a spot in front of or beside the doors, even when it's very crowded. As people board and alight the train, it's expected that passengers in the vicinity of the doors will either move further inside and down the aisle, or step off to make room for the flow of people before stepping back on again. Those who don't do this are seen as inconsiderate and self-serving, which causes frustration for other passengers. After identifying the top 8 annoying passenger behaviors amongst respondents, the survey went on to ask how people deal with them. The most popular answer, at 58.2 percent, was to simply 'put up with it', with many venting afterwards with friends, colleagues and family members. The second most popular answer was to 'leave the situation' (24.4 percent) by changing carriages, followed by 'shoot a glare' (9 percent) at the offending person. Another coping mechanism was to 'push back' (7 percent) when being pushed by someone, and lastly, 'wear headphones' (3.8 percent) to escape the situation. Only a very small minority of people said they would take any kind of action towards the person who is irritating them. Even when people were to act, they would prefer to use non-verbal actions such as glaring and pushing back rather than entering into a face-to-face confrontation. So next time you're on a train and someone is staring at you, they might not be admiring your good looks — they might be trying to convey their annoyance. But then, if you find yourself becoming annoyed by their glare, you could always adopt one of the popular coping mechanisms and move to another carriage, or simply pop your headphones on and imagine yourself far away in a deserted island paradise… as long as you remember to keep the volume down. Sources: Biz Hits Career blog, PR Times Images: Pakutaso Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】 -- What are you supposed to do with your backpack on a crowded train in Japan? -- Japan bad train manners survey reminds us of three things to watch out for while riding the rails External Link © SoraNews24
Japan Today
6 days ago
- Japan Today
The Osaka subway system and Dracula want to teach you about blood
By SoraNews24 Sysmex is a company that specializes in blood testing equipment, including machines that can automatically count blood cells and technology to help in the early detection of diseases. While this has helped improve and save countless lives in the over 190 countries they've operated in for over half a century, most people probably don't even know their name. ▼ They're also strong supporters of workplace diversity, with nearly half their staff vampires. Not only that, but when you think about it, how much do you even know about your own blood? We know it's red, but we remember hearing that the plasma is yellowish, so maybe it's more of an orange or vermilion. Sounds like we need to take a ride on the Osaka Metro subway system's Midosuji Line, because from August 3-23, they'll be hanging posters with a variety of blood-related trivia. Blood Donation Day is on August 21 in Japan, which is probably why they chose this period. Posters both hanging on the walls and from the ceilings of train cars will teach of a variety of fun facts, such as: '90 percent of gorillas have B type blood.' Another good one is that if you take all the blood vessels in your body and lay them end to end, they'd be long enough to go around the Earth two and a half times. That's mainly because our bodies have millions of tiny capillaries that reach almost every cell in them. In fact, the reason our lips are red is that all the capillaries can be seen there. I didn't know any of that. I just read it in these posters. Other facts include that it takes about 30 seconds for blood to do a lap of the human body, sharks can smell a drop of blood from hundreds of meters away, crocodile blood has amazing antibacterial and antiviral properties, and freshwater eel blood is very poisonous to humans unless cooked, which is why unagi is never eaten raw as sashimi in Japan. There are other posters as well, such as ones that talk about the concepts Sysmex has on display at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo. These are kind of fantastical brainstorming ideas that aren't actually in development, such as a dome where you can just chill out inside and be at one with your dreams for your mental health. You're also sure to see pictures featuring this gentleman. He's Dracula, the Sysmex mascot. As you can see, he's lost a lot of his usual sex appeal and is more of a Bill Nye the Dracula Guy this time around, but that's fitting for a blood analysis company. Sysmex hopes this will spark interest and discussions about the blood that flows through us and other creatures on this planet. So, check them out while they're hanging and take the opportunity to thank your blood for doing, um… Source, images: PR Times Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Unko Museum to open in Okinawa with some exclusive crap -- Study of blood tests in Tokyo finds 98% as having vitamin D deficiencies -- Want to read manga and eat ice cream for free? Give blood in Akihabara External Link © SoraNews24
