Latest news with #Hattori
The Mainichi
06-08-2025
- General
- The Mainichi
Editorial: Japan must lead global push for nuclear abolition on 80th anniv. of A-bombings
At a time when the world is once again shrouded in nuclear fear, it is more important than ever to reaffirm a simple truth: Weapons capable of destroying humanity must never be used again. Eighty years have passed since the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the final days of World War II. On Aug. 6 in Hiroshima and Aug. 9 in Nagasaki, prayers for the victims will be offered once more. At ground zero in both cities, intense heat incinerated people and the blast flattened buildings. By the end of 1945, about 210,000 lives had been lost to the attacks. Radiation continued to ravage survivors' bodies. The death toll has since surpassed 500,000 as more victims succumbed over the years. Even today, some who fell ill are still not officially recognized as atomic bomb survivors. The suffering is far from a thing of the past. Rising risk of nuclear use "Everyone's lives were taken like insects. It was worse than hell," said Michiko Hattori, now 96. Hattori was a 16-year-old nurse apprentice in Hiroshima when she witnessed the horror of the A-bomb firsthand. She worked at a military medical unit near the blast center, tending to the wounded. She recalls people with swollen faces from severe burns, others with skin hanging from their hands. Medical supplies were scarce, and many died in agony. Determined to pass on her experience, Hattori has spent nearly half a century as a storyteller. "I hope for true peace where there is no need to talk about the atomic bomb experience," she says. Hattori feels more people are listening intently now. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum has set new attendance records for two consecutive years, with many foreign visitors. Interest is clearly growing. Russia's nuclear threats since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine have been a turning point. For the first time since the end of the Cold War, the risk of nuclear war has become real again, and people driven by anxiety are perhaps seeking to learn about the realities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Since the Ukraine war began, nuclear-armed states have repeatedly engaged in provocative military actions. Tensions are escalating. Russia has deployed nuclear weapons to neighboring Belarus and signaled its willingness to use them. The United States has strongly condemned this and warned of possible retaliation. An Israeli Cabinet minister has threatened a nuclear attack against Hamas. India fired a missile near Pakistan's nuclear command center. North Korea, developing new nuclear weapons, has declared a policy of "preemptive nuclear use." The U.S. bombed Iran, which possesses weapons-grade enriched uranium. A growing concern is that worsening security environments are fueling a "nuclear for nuclear" approach. In Europe, discussion has begun on establishing a new "nuclear sharing" system for joint management and operation of nuclear weapons led by France. In the Middle East, there are warnings that Arab states hostile to Iran may pursue nuclear development. In East Asia, more South Koreans are supporting nuclear armament. Even Japan, which holds to its Three Non-Nuclear Principles, is not immune. After Russia's invasion, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe raised the idea of nuclear sharing with the U.S., sparking controversy. In the upper house election this past July, some candidates openly advocated for nuclear armament. If more countries come to rely on nuclear weapons, the current nonproliferation regime will collapse. International order will become even more chaotic, and it is inevitable that the world will be a far more dangerous place. Passing on memories, building peace The lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are not to preserve nuclear weapons by relying on their mighty power, but to imagine the devastation they cause and work for their abolition. The number of nuclear warheads has fallen from some 70,000 at the height of the Cold War to about 12,000 today. Fear of nuclear war drove disarmament. How can we break the cycle of unchecked arms races driven by nuclear deterrence and change the course of history once again? Nuclear weapons have become morally unusable. This is the "nuclear taboo" advanced by American political scientist Nina Tannenwald. She argues that leaders' fear of catastrophic humanitarian consequences has led them to refrain from using nuclear weapons, and that this restraint has helped avert nuclear war. The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, reportedly receives requests from around the world to send atomic bomb storytellers. We must continue to pass on the memory of the tragedy and uphold the "nuclear taboo." Next year will be a milestone for nuclear disarmament. The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between the U.S. and Russia will expire, and meetings on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons are scheduled. How can humanity chart a path to a world without nuclear weapons? Japan must take the lead in global discussions to pull the world back from the brink of nuclear war.
Economic Times
01-08-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
She experimented on her pet cat at 6 for homework, now she's a PhD scholar with 39 papers on felines. Internet applauds in awe
iStock Madoka Hattori, a Japanese researcher, gained social media attention for her childhood research paper on her cat's paw preference. At age six, she meticulously tested her kitten, Cedric, determining he was right-pawed. This early experiment foreshadowed her future career in feline studies. (Images: iStock, X/@ madokahattori ) It's not every day that a childhood homework assignment makes it to the headlines—and certainly not for its scientific method. But Madoka Hattori, a 43-year-old Japanese researcher, has done just that by sharing the first-ever 'research paper' she wrote… on her pet cat. The story, reported by the South China Morning Post, has taken social media by surpeise for its wholesome reminder that childhood passions can, quite literally, shape one's destiny. On July 16, Hattori posted a photograph of her primary school assignment—complete with handwritten notes and a meticulous experiment—titled 'Is the cat right-pawed or left-pawed?' She was only six at the time, but her scientific curiosity was already at play. In the study, Hattori conducted a rudimentary yet strikingly methodical test on her four-month-old male kitten, Cedric Hanzo Hattori. With help from two other people—one holding the kitten and another teasing it with a toy—Hattori presented the teaser 200 times in the exact same way and recorded which paw Cedric used to swipe at it. The results? Cedric used his right paw 110 times, his left 56 times, and both paws 34 times. With this, little Hattori concluded that Cedric was right-pawed—just like everyone else in her family. The experiment, which won her a city-level award, became the earliest marker of what would eventually become a decorated academic career in feline studies. — madokahattori (@madokahattori) Despite the early signs, Hattori didn't immediately pursue science. She first studied scenography and design at Musashino Art University and worked as a magazine editor for over a decade. But the pull of her childhood love proved stronger. Years later, she returned to academia, earning a PhD in bioscience from Kyoto University in March. Her recently published book contains 39 cat-related papers—including her doctoral dissertation. One of her most intriguing areas of study? Feline facial expressions. By examining over 2,000 cat photos, she explores whether cats evolved to look cuter in order to manipulate human attention—an idea that sits at the intersection of biology, behavior, and charm. When Hattori posted the old school paper, she wasn't expecting internet fame. 'I did a great job, and so did the cat,' she wrote. But the response was overwhelming—garnering over 330,000 likes and thousands of shares. Netizens were quick to recognise the early signs of genius. 'She was a genius kid writing such a well-structured paper, with proper research methods and solid evidence,' one user commented. Another added, 'I can already see a researcher in that childhood paper.' Hattori now works as a freelance editor at the web magazine Culture and Biology, while continuing her research on all things feline.
Asahi Shimbun
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: Miscarriages of justice leave a stain that can never be erased
Shoji Maekawa appears in Kanazawa on July 18, holding a hat belonging to Iwao Hakamata and wearing a tie given to him by Keiko Aoki, who were both acquitted of murder in retrials. (Shinnosuke Ito) Why do wrongful convictions occur? Why don't they ever go away? A petition written in the early Meiji Era (1868-1912) is preserved at the National Archives. Its author, Yoshinobu Hattori, was a former retainer of the feudal Matsuyama-han clan in Iyo Province, present-day Ehime Prefecture. In the document, Hattori analyzed the causes of wrongful convictions and appealed to the government to prevent them. He asserted that the miscarriages of justice were 'due to evil bureaucratic practices,' and harshly denounced the systemic nature of corruption among government officials. And pointing out how some bureaucrats who, out of self-preservation or greed for promotion, deliberately 'framed' innocent individuals in the absence of sufficient evidence for conviction, Hattori concluded, 'This is the root cause of rampant wrongful convictions.' Shoji Maekawa, 60, who was convicted of murdering a junior high school girl in the city of Fukui 39 years ago, was acquitted in a retrial on July 18. 'Finally, my innocence has been proven,' he said to his supporters. 'To be frank, my heart feels sort of empty.' His guilt was based on the testimony of an acquaintance. But the TV program, which this 'witness' said was being shown on the night of the murder, did not air that particular evening. This discrepancy was more than serious enough to blow the prosecution's case out of the water. And yet, the prosecutors chose to keep it under wraps. What if I had happened to be in Maekawa's shoes? The very thought horrifies me. How could such a grossly incompetent investigation ever be allowed, not to mention the guilty verdict it led to? How long must we keep seeing the same injustice being repeated ad nauseum? And how many more victims must gnash their teeth in despair? Hattori, the author of the above-mentioned plea, had experienced being convicted falsely of murder and imprisonment, and then being exonerated when evidence of his innocence miraculously came to light. Written with a brush and ink, his heartfelt plea--that the agony of being falsely accused be eliminated forever from the world--transcends time and speaks to us as we look to the future. --The Asahi Shimbun, July 19 * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
The Mainichi
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Japanese diplomat creates art using sand from Israel, Palestinian region to pray for peace
TOKYO -- A Japanese diplomat is creating abstract art using sand from Israel and the Palestinian territories as symbols of prayers for peace, and his works have been praised in both regions. Amid ongoing conflict between Israel and the Islamic organization Hamas in the Palestinian autonomous territory of the Gaza Strip, Takashi Hattori, 51, continues to work on his art. His works have been exhibited in Tokyo and New York. What is he trying to convey? After sticking sand on one canvas, Hattori painted a "maze" over it. As one progresses through the maze, they encounter a large black void. The artwork is titled "Labyrinth." Its motif is inspired by the labyrinth in Greek mythology where the Minotaur, a creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man, was imprisoned. "The maze symbolizes 'problems' created by humans. As you navigate it, you inevitably reach hatred (the Minotaur). This represents Israel and Palestine being trapped by the monster of hatred," Hattori said. The gritty texture of the sand gives the maze an eroded appearance, apparently symbolizing "the hope that human-made problems will eventually disappear." From 2019 to 2023, Hattori, specializing in the Middle East, served as a counselor at the Representative Office of Japan to Palestine. Painting was his hobby, and his encounter with the rough and uneven sand of the Palestinian territories inspired him to incorporate it into his abstract art. In a piece titled "Network," he put brown sand from the Palestinian region and white sand from southern Israel on the canvas, with multiple black lines running across it. Hattori explained that this illustrates that the divided cultures and regions are, in fact, interconnected and inseparable. Amid the longstanding territorial conflict, Hattori has encapsulated the "life activities" embedded in the land within his artworks. Hattori was surprised by the positive response from Jewish viewers. At an exhibition in West Jerusalem, many attendees understood and purchased his works. The proceeds were donated to a school where Jews learn about coexistence with Palestinians. Meanwhile, in a group exhibition in Jerusalem's Old City, Palestinians praised his works saying that Hattori has expressed their feelings. He believes that the deep understanding of abstract art in both Judaism and Islam, which prohibit idolatry, may be a factor in the appreciation of his art. Currently, Hattori is stationed at the Embassy of Japan in the Marshall Islands. While working on new pieces, conflict erupted between Hamas and Israel. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he witnessed some level of cooperation between the two groups. He felt that mutual understanding was slowly but steadily expanding, making the resumption and prolongation of the conflict all the more painful. In mid-June, Hattori held an exhibition in Tokyo's Minato Ward. He hopes to continue showcasing his works in various locations to raise awareness of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Japanese original by Koji Miki, Digital Organization Group)
Scotsman
28-06-2025
- Science
- Scotsman
St Margaret's Academy top of the class
St Margaret's Academy in Livingston is celebrating after being crowned champions in this year's Mitsubishi Electric 'Pump It Up!' Challenge. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... More than 850 third-year pupils from nine West Lothian's secondary schools were tasked with devising innovative methods of using heat pumps to combat environmental issues, while showing an understanding of sustainable energy. The competition is a joint venture between Livingston-based Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Systems Europe and West Lothian Chamber of Commerce to bring industry and schools closer together. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Engineers from Mitsubishi Electric visited the participating schools to select one team per school to take part in the final. Winners: St Margaret's Academy. St Margaret's came out on top in the final at Howden Park Centre with a vibrant and detailed presentation 'Warm Workplace, Cold Computers', demonstrating how a heat pump turned wasted heat from a computer server into energy which was converted into electricity. Second place went to Broxburn Academy for showing how green energy can be used to create a habitable environment in the desert. Pupils explained a heat pump could cool down the air allowing water in the air to condense and be reused to create a suitable environment for plants to thrive. Winchburgh Academy came third, judges liking their idea of wind power helping people dry off after a wet funfair ride thanks to a combination of piezoelectric plates, solar panels, and a heat pump to power a fan generator. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The finalists presented their ideas to invited guests from the local authority, education and business, family members and teachers. Also attending was Mr Hattori, President of Mitsubishi Electric Livingston and Mr Takeda, Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh. The aim of the challenge, now in its eighth year, is to spark an interest in engineering as well as supporting young people in developing skills beneficial to their future career choice. Dr Elaine Cook, West Lothian Council's deputy chief executive said: 'The Pump It Up challenge gives the students a platform to showcase their skills, innovation and enthusiasm in collaboration with our business community.' Mr Takeda, Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh added: 'I was honoured to attend the event which for many years has helped promote engineering and ingenuity amongst the young people of West Lothian. It also contributes to Scotland and Japan's co-operation in moving forward to a more green energy world.'
