Latvian staffer at Osaka expo goes viral with love of Japan
Artur Galata, 31, who has been posting on X and Instagram, said he was "very happy to work in my favorite country" after having visited 11 times since April 2017, traveling to more than 40 of the 47 prefectures.
Galata has been fascinated by Japanese anime since watching it aired in the Latvian language when he was an elementary school student. He then deepened his knowledge of Japanese culture and customs by reading books related to the country given him by his family.
"The most attractive part is the kindness of Japanese people," Galata said, adding he has been particularly impressed by the well-maintained roads, packaging for onigiri rice balls sold at convenience stores, and how he was served at restaurants.
His popular social media posts include humorous descriptions of how certain Japanese words using the same kanji characters are read differently and expressing his amusement about soy beans transforming into different kinds of food such as miso, soy sauce and tofu.
In the expo, Galata has been working at the Baltic Pavilion jointly presented by Latvia and Lithuania, using four languages to welcome guests. He enjoys communicating with his followers and going to karaoke with other expo staff.
During his planned eight-month stay, which began in April, Galata plans to visit the remaining prefectures he has yet to travel to, he said.
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SoraNews24
4 hours ago
- SoraNews24
This Japanese cafe for stuffed animals is a sweet day out for nuikatsu fans
Plushies are the VIP guests at this cafe, complete with tiny menus and mini desserts. Scrolling through your social media feed, you might stumble across an image of a beautiful vista that has a stuffed animal thrust into the frame. Searching further you might discover that the person who took that photo is sure to include their stuffed animal in every single shot from their vacation. This is just one example of the hobby nuikatsu, taken from nuigurumi (stuffed toy) and katsu (activity). The hobby isn't limited to travel photos at famous sightseeing spots, though. It's also about snapshots of partner plushies living their everyday lives to the fullest. A common activity is to go out for a simple meal together, showing off their plushie pals alongside delicious food and drink. For those who want to enjoy this aspect of the hobby to the fullest, there's wandering pop-up restaurant Little Lou's Cafe that has been making rounds in Tokyo; a dedicated nuikatsu cafe where you can enjoy tea and sweets with your little friend without needing to feel self-conscious about the gazes of non-nuikatsu fans. While we'd usually send one of our crack reporters to cover this intriguing location, we felt it deserved a more special treatment, given its targeted clientele, so please welcome our temporary reporter: Luu-chan. Luu-chan is a cat that has kept our Japanese-language reporter Mariko Ohanabatake company ever since she was 9 years old. Even to this day, they still share the same bed, so you know that the bond between them is both a strong and deep one, despite Mariko getting married and the family of stuffed animals increasing. ▼ Luu-chan has a great relationship with her friends. Dressing up in her favorite outfit, Luu-chan set out to explore this amazing cafe for plushies and their guardians. Arriving at the time of her reservation, she immediately noticed that the entrance had a photo spot opportunity, and couldn't resist striking a pose. Walking through the door, she was greeted by the fox manager and pastry chef, Lou-san. ▼ Luu-chan 'I've been looking forward to my first cafe visit!' Upon giving her name, she was directed to her seat, which had her own name written there. ▼ Luu-chan 'My name is here. Such amazing hospitality!' The cafe even provided a plushie-sized menu, while including an enlarged version for their guardians to peruse at the same time. It's such a warm and considerate establishment, where the guardians can feel like their plushies are truly valued. After all, they are important friends and family members. Looking through the menu, Luu-chan opted for the two sweets and one drink set for 2,300 yen (US$15.67), plus an extra 200 yen to upgrade to an ice cream float. Thinking about her beloved partner, Luu-chan selected Mariko's personal favorites of pudding, banana cake, and a melon soda float. When the plate arrived, Luu-chan was impressed once again. Not only did they include a guardian-sized portion for Mariko, but they were sure to add in a plushie-sized portion for herself, both of which were entirely edible. Sitting next to the melon soda float, Luu-chan looked down at her light green tutu and cherry-patterned bib, and remarked that she looked like a melon soda float fairy. Luu-chan was having a great time at the cafe, and was thrilled to be spending some valuable time with her guardian. Photos taken care of, she turned her attention to the food. She already rated them highly just based on the appearance, but the taste? Well, they were absolutely delicious. The firm pudding was especially amazing. The scent of egg and the gentle sweetness made them both reminisce on their time together as children. Fully immersed in a world full of kindness, cuteness, and deliciousness, the two of them couldn't wipe the smiles off of their faces. Being in such an atmosphere, it made striking up conversation with other patrons very easy. Another visitor was a rabbit named Nana-chan, who came all the way to Tokyo from the island of Shikoku with her guardian. Luu-chan could tell that they too had built a relationship full of love. They decided to take a commemorative photo together, to mark their meeting, creating a very special memory. Within the cafe, there also happened to be a little shop selling stuffed animal clothes and accessories, from tiny sizes to large. They even had a mirror just for the plushies, so they could check out how they looked. Luu-chan couldn't resist herself and tried on straw hats, sailor hats, and little purses. Everything was just too cute, but she eventually whittled the selection down to her favorite items and made her purchases. ▼ She chose a mint-colored sailor hat and a little pouch. She even decided to pick up some souvenirs for her friends waiting back at home. There was also an event where the guardians could write a message to their plush pals, which when folded form a bouquet. ▼ 'To Luu-chan, thank you for always being with me. From Mariko.' Finally, Luu-chan managed to squeeze in an interview with Lou-san, the fox patissier and creator of this wonderful cafe. Luu-chan: This cafe is so lovely. When did you start it? Lou: We started the stuffed animal cafe in 2022. Since it operates as a pop-up, it's only open a few days at a time, but recently we've been running it about two to three days a month. However, we can sometimes get so many reservations that we often have to use a lottery system to determine who can visit. Luu-chan: Wow, it's so popular! What's the hardest part about running a cafe for plushies? Lou: Due to the sweets being different sizes for the guests and their guardians, the molds and baking times are different, so that is probably the trickiest part. Luu-chan: How did you decide on the menu? Lou: The first thing I consider is whether I can make a version for plushies. As it is always their satisfaction that comes first, I always try to consider it from the perspective of other plushies when designing the menu. Luu-chan: That's the hallmark of a true plush patissier. Everything tasted amazing, and we were both completely satisfied. I'll definitely bring my friends along next time, too. As Luu-chan made her way back home, she couldn't help, but reflect on her life. When she and Mariko were younger, they would always go out together, but after Mariko left her behind once, the traumatic memory caused her to become a stay-at-home friend. So, for Luu-chan, this outing was very special for her, becoming an irreplaceable memory. In every photo, she's looking straight at the camera, posing perfectly, and radiating happiness. Luu-chan hopes that she and Mariko will continue to share beautiful memories together for many years to come. She also didn't forget to brag about her trip out to her friends when she got home. ▼ 'I went to a cafe!' Little Lou's Cafe is a pop-up store that opens irregularly, so if you and your beloved plushies want to visit, you will need to check out the next event dates on their social media accounts. However, it is reservation only, so unfortunately you can't walk in if you happen to pass by. The store will next open on August 12, 13 and 17 at Una Camera Livera in Tokyo. Even if you don't get a chance to visit the cafe, it shouldn't stop you from creating wonderful memories with your own childhood friends. Sure it might feel a little awkward at first, but remember that even the Japanese ambassador to the UK is getting in on the nuikatsu action, so you should relax and treasure the time you have with someone you have spent so many years loving deeply. Shop information Little Lou's Cafe Address and opening times are non-fixed. Refer to the shop's social media pages: Instagram; Twitter Reservations are open for a 24-hour period that will be announced on the Instagram page. Reservations for August are finished. Website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
6 hours ago
- SoraNews24
Elegant ghostly Ghibli curtain captures the ungraspable form of No Face【Photos】
Clever design trick brings the Spirited Away star's otherworldly appearance into your real-world home. Spirited Away's No Face is one of the easiest characters to see through in any anime from Studio Ghibli. That might seem like an inaccurate description of a deeply complex figure who ends up as someone unimaginably different by the end of his character arc, but I'm not saying that No Face is thematically transparent, but that he's visually translucent. ▼ What's going on inside No Face is often obscured, but the stuff on the other side of him? Not all that hidden. This unique aspect of No Face's appearance can be hard to capture in plushies and figures, but the designers for Ghibli specialty shop Donguri Kyowakoku have come up with a clever way to preserve this ethereal aesthetic with a new No Face noren, a traditional Japanese doorway curtain. The curtain actually has a two-layer construction, and is made of a lacey material that allows a measure of light to pass through. That means that when the layers of fabric overlap, they still block enough light to function as curtains, but since No Face's features are only present on the front cloth, his silhouette appears indistinct and vaguely defined, just as it would to Chihiro and the other characters within the anime. The complete curtain measures 82 centimeters (32.3 inches) across and 90 centimeters in length. In classical Japanese interior design, noren can be used for both exterior and interior doorways, but Donguri Kyowakoku realizes that some fans might prefer to use this as a poster/wall scroll instead. Because of that, the noren comes with only a tiny cleft at its bottom, leaving it up to you as to how long a cut, if any, you want to make. The No Face Rainy Night Double-layer Noren is priced at 5,280 yen (US$36) and can be ordered through the Donguri Kyowakoku online store here. Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku Insert images: Studio Ghibli, Donguri Kyowakoku ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
14 hours ago
- SoraNews24
Shohei Ohtani's hometown creates rice paddy art and manhole cover in his honour
World-famous baseball player gets a big accolade in Japan… with his beloved dog. Every year in Japan, various rice fields around the country are transformed into massive 'Rice Paddy Art' (or 'tambo art,' as it's known in Japanese), where different varieties of rice are planted in precise positions to create vast, colourful murals. This summer, one particularly eye-catching design has cropped up in Iwate Prefecture — a larger-than-life image of Major League Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani. The art appears in Oshu City's Esashi Ward, which began hosting rice paddy installations in 2009 as a way to promote agriculture and tourism. With the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar being born and bred in Mizusawa, a city that is now a part of Oshu, the massive rice paddy art is a fitting tribute to the hometown hero, and that's not the only honour he's getting, as there's also a commemorative manhole cover dedicated to him. With so much love on display for the baseball star, there's never been a better time for Ohtani fans to visit Oshu, and the adventure begins as soon as you arrive at Mizusawa-Esashi Station. Inside the station, everything is blue, in honour of Ohtani's Dodgers team colour. You'll also see Ohtani's name, '大谷翔平', on a number of tanzaku , paper strips attached to furin windchimes that blow gently in the breeze to make them ring. These particular windchimes are made with Nanbu ironware, a specialty product of Oshu that experienced a boost in sales due to the so-called 'Ohtani effect', with demand for iron kettles becoming so popular that there's now a year-long wait for them. ▼ These summertime windchimes ring with the sound of Ohtani's influence on the economy. Before stepping out of the station you'll want to pick up a 'Shohei Ohtani Hometown Map'. Distributed at tourist centres and local stores in the area, this map has been created by local supporters to help visitors explore key spots related to the baseball star, including his elementary and junior high schools, the grounds where he practiced, stores selling Ohtani-themed goods, and the manhole cover site and rice paddy art vantage point. ▼ The map invites you to 'experience the story behind the legend'. Some public sites may ask visitors to refrain from entering the premises, and if that's the case there's a note on the map reflecting this, but you can visit the junior high school if you contact the school office beforehand, and they'll even give you a commemorative gift. The manhole cover is probably the easiest site to visit first, though, as it's located at the west entrance of the station, and it's one of 12 that feature Japanese MLB players, all set up in each of their hometowns. Image: PR Times Although you can see what Ohtani's manhole cover looks like in the image below, we decided to keep its appearance in-situ under wraps, so as not to spoil the mystery for manhole cover hunters. Image: PR Times After viewing the manhole cover outside the station, the next site you'll want to head to is 'Aterui no Sato', where the rice paddy is located. ▼ You'll be able to spot the site by the watchtower vantage point that stands above the rice field. 'Aterui' was the chieftan and great hero of the Emishi people, an indigenous group who lived in the Tohoku region of Japan where Iwate is located, and this is said to be the site of an ancient battle with the imperial court forces. ▼ Today, it's home to rice fields and a wooden viewing tower. The tower has been giving visitors a bird's eye view of the rice paddy artworks that have been grown here for over a decade. While local characters and historical figures featured in previous years, Ohtani has been the star here in 2019, 2023 and 2024, and there's a photo spot at the base of the tower featuring Ohtani, with the message, 'Let's play baseball!' to help commemorate this year's appearance. The photo panel is a clever way to keep visitors entertained as the viewing tower isn't large so people have to wait to climb the stairs. Climbing to the top, we began to sweat as we felt the heat of the day intensify, but there were butterflies of excitement too as we couldn't wait to see what the Ohtani rice field art looked like. ▼ One more step, and then… ▼ … we were met by the powerful depiction of Ohtani, swinging his bat in his number 17 uniform. Ohtani's batter's stance was incredibly dynamic, with the gentle sway of the rice plants making it seem like he might actually take a swing at an incoming ball. It was awesome to see in person, and heartwarming to see other details included, with the 50-50 referring to Ohtani being the first-ever player in Major League Baseball to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, and the pup by his side being his beloved dog Dekopin, who goes by the English name Decoy. ▼ The fluffy texture of the rice plants look just like the pup's fur, adding to his cuteness. The strong bond between pup and owner is emphasised by their dual look to their left, and zooming in on the details reveals the awesome skills involved in creating the artwork. Rice paddy art is made by placing stakes in the rice field to determine the outlines before planting differently coloured seedlings within them, all individually done by hand. As it's uncertain whether the art will succeed or fail until the rice grows, the process involves months of waiting to see the end result, and it requires great technique as the artists/growers have to consider the issue of diagonal perspective from the viewing spot. ▼ Taking a look at last year's design (pictured below), we reckon the technique is improving every year. The art stretches 100 metres (328 feet) across and changes over time as the rice matures, revealing even deeper contrast between the colours. Peak viewing season is from now until around mid-August, and by September, the whole field turns brown, with the rice harvest taking place at the end of October. After leaving the rice field, there are other Ohtani-related spots to visit in the area. Since it was a school holiday when we visited, we skipped the schools and instead made our way to the Hotel Plaza Inn Mizusawa, where the press conference for Ohtani's debut with the Nippon-Ham Fighters was held. One other important site is the Maesawa Batting Center, where Ohtani used to practice with his Little League mates during his elementary and junior high school days. The batting centre is still operating, and the facility also has karaoke, rental rooms, and a go-kart track, making it a popular place for local children to hang out. Although Ohtani was born into a sports family, he wasn't reared as a sports prodigy so it's amazing to think that the talented, world-famous sportsman honed his techniques at this humble public facility. ▼ Ohtani represents hope for children in rural communities that dreams really can come true when you make the most of what you're given. If you pick up a map at the station you can receive a sticker from the 'Hometown Supporters Group' who says it 'supports the star in good times and bad.' With Ohtani being an active star player who sets records almost daily, people around the world are now showing an increasing interest in the town that helped to shape him. It's a quiet rural area that seems a world away from where the star is now, but the place is filled with heart and a lot of passion for supporting one of their own, and the rice paddy art is just one wow point that makes the area definitely worth seeing. Photos © SoraNews24 unless otherwise stated ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
