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Japan Today
02-06-2025
- General
- Japan Today
A-bomb trees carrying on aging survivors' legacy as silent witnesses
Chikara Horiguchi, the master gardener of atomic-bombed trees in Hiroshima, is pictured with an eucalyptus at Hiroshima Castle that survived the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing. By Donican Lam Looking at the leafy weeping willow standing on the banks of a serene river in Hiroshima, one would never guess it endured the blast of the U.S. atomic attack on the city almost 80 years ago in the closing days of World War II. At around 370 meters from the explosion on Aug. 6, 1945, the willow is recognized by the city government as the closest surviving tree to the hypocenter. Like many other trees, it was reduced to little more than a charred stump or bare roots at the time but demonstrated a remarkable will for life by regrowing. As atomic bomb survivors age and fewer are able to share their experiences, increasing attention has turned to these surviving trees as silent witnesses. For some, the trees may also offer a more approachable way to engage with Hiroshima's painful past. "When people talk about the atomic bombing, it often comes across as very harsh and raw -- it's a powerful and direct subject. Sometimes those stories are necessary, too. But when we use trees as a kind of buffer in the conversation, the message comes across more gently and softly," said Chikara Horiguchi, the 80-year-old master gardener of so-called atomic-bombed trees in Hiroshima. Horiguchi, a native of Miyazaki Prefecture in southwestern Japan, became Hiroshima Prefecture's first certified arborist in 1992. While he initially hoped to work with private gardens, he realized that overseeing greenery in the city is itself an act of advocating for peace. Currently, around 160 trees standing within 2 kilometers of ground zero are registered by the Hiroshima city government as remaining "survivors" of the blast, based on the testimonies of residents and on-site investigations. Demonstrating the impact of the weapons of mass destruction, a study conducted more than a decade ago found that the vast majority of single-trunk trees leant toward the hypocenter due to slower growth on the more exposed side. In some cases, the trees have served as a beacon of hope for people who experienced the tragedy. Chinese parasol trees, now taking root in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, became symbolic of survival following the testimony of Suzuko Numata, who lost her left leg in the wake of the blast and her fiance in the war. Numata, who died in 2011 at the age of 87, had devoted herself to telling visitors of how the tree had given her the will to continue living after seeing it bud again following the bombing. At that time, it was located in the courtyard of the Hiroshima post and telecommunications bureau where she worked. The "aogiri" tree, as the species is named in Japanese, was transplanted to the memorial park in 1973 from its original location 1.3 km away from the hypocenter, and became the catalyst for distributing seeds and saplings throughout the city and abroad. Efforts to spread the trees' message of peace beyond Japan have continued for over a decade under a global volunteer initiative called Green Legacy Hiroshima, which is backed by entities including a U.N. training arm in support of sustainable development goals. "I think no other living thing can convey some of the spirit of the hibaku-jumoku," said Nassrine Azimi, a co-founder of the initiative who formerly served as the first director of the Hiroshima office of U.N. Institute for Training and Research, referring to the Japanese word meaning "atomic-bombed trees." "You send a seed, you put it in a package, off it goes, and then six months later we get photos from the world," she said during a recent interview in Hiroshima. Green Legacy Hiroshima has delivered seeds of such trees to around 140 locations in over 40 countries while working with partners around the world, including an anti-nuclear weapons group in Oregon launched by Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor Hideko Tamura-Snider. The 91-year-old recalled the challenges when trying to get the seed-planting project started in the northwestern U.S. state of Oregon, where she lives, noting during an online interview that "nobody was interested" at first. Thanks to her perseverance, however, there are now over 55 second-generation atomic-bombed trees planted in Oregon -- reportedly the densest population outside Japan. Tamura-Snider was just 11 years old on the day of the atomic bombing, which took the life of her mother. She moved to the United States after high school where she earned various degrees and served as a clinical social worker. Drawn into advocating peace and nuclear non-proliferation, she founded One Sunny Day Initiatives in 2007 as part of efforts to serve as a bridge between Japanese and Americans, who fought a bitter war after Japan's surprise assault on Pearl Harbor in 1941, resulting in the world's first nuclear attack. "Americans carry wounds from Pearl Harbor, and Japanese carry wounds from everything, from the war...I wanted the Americans and the Japanese to get to know each other in such a way, not as a visitor from a foreign country, but a human being," said Tamura-Snider, who has also spoken at universities and events in the United States about her wartime experience. Collaborating with Green Legacy Hiroshima since 2017 to plant seeds of peace, she said her love for trees goes back to childhood, when her grandfather, who headed a multinational corporation, had a "huge, huge garden that was like a paradise in spring." To mark the 80th anniversary of the bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki this year, Green Legacy Hiroshima spearheaded a planting of two saplings from Hiroshima at the U.N. headquarters in New York in May, with plans to also conduct a similar planting at the former Japanese internment camp in Manzanar in California in September. "Until recently, most of Hiroshima's efforts have been verbal or human-centered, and I think it's very nice to bring a new dimension," said Azimi. Drawing renewed attention to the surviving greenery, the Hiroshima city government has launched a new project this year to use pruned branches of atomic-bombed trees to make products that convey peace, accepting proposals from interested individuals and organizations. Beyond caring for atomic-bombed trees in Hiroshima and educating visitors to the city through tours, Horiguchi has traveled across the world, including the U.N. office at Geneva, to advocate for peace through their enduring legacy. "Every country has its own unique relationship between trees and people, but I get the sense that there's always some emotional closeness. I believe that connection is universal," said Horiguchi. "I hope people can feel, through trees, that peace is important, and that nuclear weapons are wrong." © KYODO
Japan Today
12-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Japan's unstaffed train stations getting rural revival on track
Photo taken April 1 shows the interior of Inn My Life, a one-room hotel connected to the unstaffed Futamata-Honmachi Station in Shizuoka Prefecture. By Donican Lam With rural Japan experiencing severe depopulation, some unstaffed train stations and vacant homes are being transformed into places for tourists to stay -- and it is proving a success. Transport operators are working with local communities to repurpose quiet outposts into hubs of activity, injecting new life into surrounding areas with their creativity. In the tranquil countryside of Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, a disused part of the unstaffed Futamata-Honmachi Station has been converted into a one-room hotel, giving travelers a unique perspective on rural Japanese life. Inn My Life was opened by Akihito Nakatani in May 2019 to encourage people to explore his hometown of Tenryu, whose once-thriving forestry industry has faded. "For a place to become a tourist destination, it needs attention-catching accommodations and attractions. If we can create successful examples, local people might be encouraged to do the same, eventually turning the area into a viable tourist spot," the 34-year-old said. Nakatani, who used to run a real estate business renovating buildings in Tokyo, decided to return to Tenryu around 10 years ago to do something similar in his hometown. When he learned through discussions with Tenryu Hamanako Railroad Co. that one of its station buildings would become available, he leaped at the opportunity to create something special. "As far as I'm aware, no other accommodation facility in Japan allows just one group per night to stay in an unstaffed local station building. This uniqueness is what I believed would attract visitors from urban areas to this region," said Nakatani. Up to two adults and two children can stay at Inn My Life, which comes equipped with all the modern comforts of a hotel without the staff. Breakfast highlights locally sourced ingredients, including homemade ham and bacon from Tenryu Ham, a beloved store run by second-generation owner Kazuya Kikuchi, 80, and his wife Masumi, 76. Nakatani's efforts to involve local businesses as much as possible, including rental bicycles for guests provided by nearby bike shop Happy & Slappy, have paid off. "More people now see this town as a place where they can enjoy both rural life and tourism. There's also a positive cycle where visitors try local food, then go buy it as souvenirs," said Nakatani, adding that the increased flow of people has prompted the opening of cafes and stores in the area. As of March 2020, 48.2 percent of 9,465 railway stations in Japan were completely unstaffed, marking an increase of about 10 percent over the past two decades, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Among the 4,368 stations operated by the six Japan Railways Group companies, nearly 60 percent have run without staff since August 2023, with the trend likely only to accelerate amid Japan's aging population and shrinking workforce. In the mountainous Okutama region in western Tokyo, a project has been under way to turn an entire railway section into a hotel. Renovating abandoned houses in the area to be used as guest rooms and unstaffed train stations as the "front desks" of each of the hotel's "floors," the Marugoto Hotel encompasses 13 stations between Ome and Okutama on the JR Ome Line, 11 of which are unmanned. Locals become part of the experience by greeting or escorting travelers around the area. Mai Watanabe, coordinator at Ensen Marugoto Co., the company spearheading the project, said the concept came about as events held around the stations were often one-off. The company is pursuing an approach that will draw repeat customers. Surrounded by nature in an environment that feels nothing like Tokyo's urban jungle, this section of the Ome line -- part of a tourism initiative called "Tokyo Adventure Line" -- faces the same challenges of aging and population decline as other parts of the country. "Even though there are many attractive spots and facilities in the area, preserving and maintaining them has become difficult," Watanabe said. The first facility under the project, "Satologue," opened between Hatonosu and Kori stations in May 2024 as a restaurant and sauna. Foreign visitors have steadily increased in recent times, now accounting for around 20 percent of all guests, with the majority coming from Europe and North America, according to Watanabe. Originally used for fish farming, the roughly 130-year-old building retains many of its traditional architectural features. Starting May 25, visitors will also be able to stay overnight in a neighboring structure, offering a deeper connection to the area's history and natural beauty in a homely setting. "One distinctive aspect of this project is that local residents actively participate in welcoming guests," said Watanabe. "This approach not only fosters deeper connections between visitors and the community but also creates employment opportunities for locals." Reiko Yamamiya, a 79-year-old Okutama local, said she decided to offer her vacant property for use in the project to reinvigorate a struggling community, with the presence of more young people making the area feel safer. "Joining the project felt like a way to brighten the future. It's better than seeing things slowly decline. People are walking around more, and if they settle here, I'd feel a bit more at ease," said Yamamiya, who lives in a nearby house with her husband. Watanabe said more accommodations are planned between other unstaffed train stations along the Ome line, with the project expected to expand to 30 railway lines nationwide by 2040. And it is not just train operators jumping on the bandwagon -- bus companies are exploring creative ways to repurpose their dormant facilities as well. In its heyday, the Ugusu information center in Shizuoka Prefecture once bustled with customers purchasing tickets for train connections or awaiting buses. After falling into disuse, it was closed on March 31, 2022. There were talks of scrapping it entirely, but Tokai Jidosha Co. began to consider other uses for it, given its over 70-year history. At Bustay, guests can stay the night on board a decommissioned bus, furnished with three beds and a table. Buttons and switches on the driver's seat remain in working order, meaning bus fans can listen to real announcements from Japanese buses. "For most people, buses are just a means of transportation, with rides typically lasting only 20 to 30 minutes. But for bus enthusiasts, we wanted to offer a place where they could fully immerse themselves in their passion," said Saki Tsuchiya, a project coordinator in the company's development division. The Ugusu information center itself has also been converted into an accommodation space, with two additional beds, a kitchen, bathroom and toilet. Guests can cook their own meals or opt to order a platter of seafood or a barbeque set provided by nearby ryokan Makiba. While Bustay does not bring in large crowds given it only accommodates one group per night, Tsuchiya said that its presence has encouraged more visitors to explore the surrounding areas, helping to boost tourism and support local businesses. Hiroto Iyama, manager of Makiba, said locals have responded positively to a familiar place being given new life. "With more guests staying in the area, there are more opportunities for interactions, such as greeting each other in the morning. Seeing these interactions reinforces the feeling that repurposing the space in this way was the right choice," said Iyama. © KYODO
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Kyodo News
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Kyodo News
Podcast [English World] Episode 95: New cycling fines in 2026
KYODO NEWS - 6 hours ago - 08:28 | All, Podcast Japan to get tougher on minor rule-breaking cyclists Three Kyodo News reporters -- Ellessa Yamada, Donican Lam and Peter Masheter -- talk about plans to implement new fines from April 2026 on cyclists who break minor rules such as using a phone while riding. Listen as they discuss how cycling in Japan has changed since the coronavirus pandemic, how the rules differ abroad, and whether rent-a-cycle services are a good idea. Article mentioned in the podcast: Japan police to fine minor rule-breaking cyclists from next April Kyodo News presents a bilingual podcast for English learners about the ins and outs of news writing and how to translate tricky Japanese phrases into English. Have fun listening to journalists discuss recent articles as they occasionally go off on unrelated tangents. More podcast episodes: Podcast [English World] Episode 94: Osaka Expo opens despite some hiccups Podcast [English World] Episode 93: Nintendo Switch 2 unveiled Podcast Episode 92: Kurdish community in Japan and online hate
Kyodo News
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Kyodo News
Podcast [English World] Episode 95: New cycling fines in 2026
KYODO NEWS - 6 minutes ago - 08:28 | All, Podcast Japan to get tougher on minor rule-breaking cyclists Three Kyodo News reporters -- Ellessa Yamada, Donican Lam and Peter Masheter -- talk about plans to implement new fines from April 2026 on cyclists who break minor rules such as using a phone while riding. Listen as they discuss how cycling in Japan has changed since the coronavirus pandemic, how the rules differ abroad, and whether rent-a-cycle services are a good idea. Article mentioned in the podcast: Japan police to fine minor rule-breaking cyclists from next April Kyodo News presents a bilingual podcast for English learners about the ins and outs of news writing and how to translate tricky Japanese phrases into English. Have fun listening to journalists discuss recent articles as they occasionally go off on unrelated tangents. More podcast episodes: Podcast [English World] Episode 94: Osaka Expo opens despite some hiccups Podcast [English World] Episode 93: Nintendo Switch 2 unveiled Podcast Episode 92: Kurdish community in Japan and online hate
