Latest news with #Fukui
Japan Times
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Japanese student in India reflects on her grandfather while filming World War II movie
Mika Sasaki, a 32-year-old Japanese filmmaker studying in India, is creating a World War II-themed short film in the South Asian country, where her late grandfather is believed to have survived one of the fiercest battles during the war. The movie "Bougainvillea no Yume" ("Bougainvillea Dream") tells the story of a married couple who communicate through letters while separated by war and reunite in a dream. Sasaki — a native of Sabae, Fukui Prefecture — was inspired by a book by Mayumi Inagaki about "115 love letters" a Fukui woman sent to her husband while he was away at war. Sasaki decided to make the film to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, as India, then part of the British Empire, was also a battleground. The first Japanese student at a national film institute in Kolkata raised the money to cover production costs via crowdfunding, gathered actors from Japan and India, shot the film in February, and is currently doing editing. She hopes to showcase it at film festivals in Japan and other countries in June or later. "I wonder how many young people died without seeing their families or loved ones (again)," says Sasaki. "As a new generation, it's meaningful to think about the Japanese who died here and what Japan did to other countries." Filmmaker Mika Sasaki poses with items left by her late grandfather during an interview in Kolkata, India, on May 18. | Jiji Her grandfather, Hisashi, was a member of an infantry regiment of the now-defunct Imperial Japanese Army that engaged in the Battle of Imphal in northeastern India, considered one of the most reckless campaigns during the war. Although he sent letters to relatives while in Manchuria, now northeastern China, he did not leave behind any wartime correspondence. He also never talked about the Imphal operation, and he died in 1995 at age 74. Still, a notebook he kept revealed that many of his fellow soldiers were killed in the battle, suggesting the possibility of Hisashi, himself, having advanced close to a city experiencing hell-like conditions. "It must have created serious trauma for him," Sasaki said. Sasaki also said the military conflict between India and Pakistan earlier this month "has changed the weight of the film." "I don't want to see war," she said. "It's really enough."
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EssilorLuxottica Marks 35 Years in Japan With Strategic Investments and Craftsmanship Exchange
MILAN — Japan is getting an additional dose of attention with Expo 2025, inaugurated in Osaka on April 13 and running until Oct. 13. The event coincides with EssilorLuxottica marking 35 years of its presence and partnerships in Japan. Davide Schinetti, chief operating officer of EssilorLuxottica, said the company has long recognized the value of 'the meticulous attention to detail, quality and service of Made in Japan' and has made a series of strategic investments in the country. More from WWD Stephon Marbury's Chamelo Eyewear Signs Former Shortstop Jose Reyes EXCLUSIVE: Paul Bettany Brings Cinematic Flair to Eyewear With Codesigned L.G.R Capsule Collection How Fashion Brand Mizen Is Raising the Profile of Japan's Kimono Textile Makers These include the acquisition of a key eyewear manufacturer in the Prefecture of Fukui, a district that specializes in eyewear production, first collaborating with its supplier Fukui Megane in 2010, then starting to buy shares in the company in 2018, and finally acquiring 100 percent of it in 2023. Today the facility counts 320 employees, which has doubled since 2021. 'This has an important strategic value as it establishes the group's entry into the production heart of made in Japan,' said Schinetti, noting that the plant was entirely renovated starting in 2020 'with a new concept that combining traditional Japanese style and innovation.' The plant works mainly with titanium and acetate, he explained. Production and development are local with a strong collaborative exchange with Italy and Schinetti characterized the exchange with EssilorLuxottica's artisans in Agordo as 'very fruitful. New prototypes in Fukui are made by the design center by artisans that have an experience spanning more than three decades, who are training new young talents, working on chiselling titanium and other precious materials. Artisans from Japan also travel to Agordo and Cadore, in northeast Italy, for an exchange of cultural experiences. We understand that the true spirit of Made in Japan cannot be replicated or bought; it lies in the history and traditions that have shaped Japanese artistry over the centuries. The company's immersion in Japan is a recognition of the value of its human capital, expertise, patents and unique technologies that drive the creation of eyewear.' Last year EssilorLuxottica also bought the Washin retail chain, which has 70 points of sale and was key in further cementing the company's presence in Japan and expanding its network of banners. Schinetti enthused about Japan's growing cultural influence and 'stimulating trends that can be also exported outside that country.' He said that some Oakley collections of apparel, footwear and accessories were designed in Japan over the past few years. Japan, like Italy, he continued, 'is renowned for its rich heritage of craftsmanship, where technology, culture and artistry come together, and the two countries share the same values and love for beauty in a long-term commitment for excellence and product quality.' In 2020, EssilorLuxottica also launched the Nami brand that is made in Japan and aimed at that market. Over the years, certain models and collections have specifically been manufactured in Japan for a global audience, under various brands such as Oliver Peoples and Prada. 'Oliver Peoples is one of the brands in our portfolio with a deep and enduring connection to the Japanese art of eyewear — a partnership that began with the brand's founding in 1987,' said Francesco Arcuri, EssilorLuxottica's general manager for Japan. 'Today, our Japan-made styles are meticulously crafted at the renowned Fukui Megane factory, where precision, tradition and innovation converge. This center of excellence produces exceptional frames not only for Oliver Peoples, but also for prestigious brands such as Prada and Giorgio Armani. Made in Japan eyewear represents the pinnacle of craftsmanship, with every titanium and acetate design reflecting unmatched artistry and attention to detail. Fukui is where Japanese mastery meets global design sophistication.' Schinetti said that another 'fundamental experience on the lenses side' in the history of the group was Essilor's joint venture with Nikon, established in the 1990s. EssilorLuxottica's revenues in 2024 were up 4.4 percent to 26.5 billion euros, compared with 25.4 billion euros in 2023. While Asia-Pacific sales amounted to 3.24 billion euros, the group does not break down revenues for Japan alone. Sources estimate the country accounted for around 2 percent of total sales last year. Best of WWD Lexxola Launches New Style: The Neo Chrome Hearts Debuts High-performance Ski Goggles Marchon and Lacoste Extend Eyewear Licensing Agreement Sign in to access your portfolio
Japan Times
11-05-2025
- Science
- Japan Times
Japan's first dinosaur department opens at university in Fukui
Japan's first university department dedicated to dinosaur research opened last month in a prefecture in a prefecture known for major dinosaur fossil discoveries. The Faculty of Dinosaur Paleontology at Fukui Prefectural University allows students to engage in cutting-edge research by participating in fossil excavations in cooperation with museum staff. It welcomed 34 students in April at the campus in the Fukui town of Eiheiji near mountains where fossils of many new dinosaur species — including the Fukuiraptor — were found. During their four-year degree course, students will study techniques required for dinosaur research, including geological exploration, fossil replica creation, CT scanning and 3D modeling. Teachers include five world-renowned dinosaur researchers. In their second year, students will move to the campus located in Katsuyama, which is being built adjacent to the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, to acquire practical skills in cooperation with museum staff. In mid-April, students participated in practical training to draw the topography of a university courtyard. They were divided into groups and recorded the topography on graph paper. "It was difficult, but I want to get used to it gradually," said Amane Sato, an 18-year-old student from neighboring Gifu Prefecture. "I want to become a researcher." Ayuka Okamoto, another student who was a high school geography teacher until March, said, "I want to learn about ancient creatures and think about modern environmental problems and disaster mitigation." The establishment of the new faculty is partly designed to revitalize local communities. About 80% of the new students are from outside Fukui. "We'd be grateful if graduates would live in Fukui or take jobs related to dinosaurs," said Hiroshi Nishi, dean of the dinosaur faculty.
