Latest news with #Ishikawa
Japan Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Today
Japan beats Turkey to reach Nations League women's semis
Japan captain Mayu Ishikawa (2nd from R) celebrates with teammates after winning a point against Turkey during their Nations League women's volleyball quarterfinal match in Lodz, Poland, on July 24, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Volleyball World)(Photo not for sale)(Kyodo) ==Kyodo volleyball Japan advanced to the Nations League women's volleyball semifinals by defeating Turkey three sets to two on Thursday in Lodz, Poland. The Japanese, who finished runner-up to Italy at last year's Nations League, won 25-21, 16-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-9, with captain Mayu Ishikawa leading the way with a team-high 19 points. "We were able to attack aggressively as our head coach always tells us," Ishikawa said. "We often found ourselves in tough situations because of poor serve-receptions. But we helped each other with clutch spikes and good defense." Melissa Teresa Vargas scored a match-high 22 points for Turkey. Japan will next play Brazil on Saturday for a spot in the final. © KYODO
NHK
6 days ago
- Climate
- NHK
Japan begins using new tsunami warning label when equipment fails
The Japan Meteorological Agency has begun using the label "data not available" when tsunami observation systems are damaged and unable to function. The agency aims to help the public understand when a large tsunami may be approaching so they can take action to protect their lives. The JMA implemented the new system at noon on Thursday. The agency says it will report a "data not available" status for locations where information on tsunami cannot be obtained. The move is based on lessons learned from the earthquake in the Noto Peninsula. When an earthquake with a risk of tsunami occurs, the agency typically issues a major tsunami warning, tsunami warning, or tsunami advisory within about three minutes. It also provides updates on the observed time and height of tsunamis at different locations, using data from observation systems installed along the coast. But during last year's Noto Peninsula earthquake, the tsunami gauges set up at a fishing port in Ishikawa Prefecture's Suzu City became inoperable after the land in the area was uplifted. As a result, the agency was unable to publish tsunami height or other data, even though waves were approaching the city. The JMA was also unable to capture data when a major earthquake struck off the coast of the Tohoku region. Observation facilities were damaged by debris swept in by the massive tsunami. The agency says that if people see or hear the "data not available" label while tsunami warnings are in place, they should assume a large tsunami might be approaching and evacuate immediately.
21-07-2025
- Business
Japan Briefs Australia on Frigate for Export
Canberra, July 21 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government Monday held a briefing for Australian political and business leaders on an upgraded version of a Mogami-class frigate that Tokyo aims to export to Australia. In the session, held in Canberra, Japanese participants highlighted that the upgraded version can be mounted with equipment compatible with that of the U.S. military and will thus improve the interoperability among Australia, the United States and Japan. Australia plans to build 11 frigates at an estimated cost of 10 billion Australian dollars. For the type of frigate, the country is expected to choose between the upgraded Mogami and a German frigate by year-end. Takeshi Ishikawa, commissioner of the Japanese Defense Ministry's Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency, said in the briefing that missile and other systems used by the U.S. military can be installed on the upgraded Mogami. Strengthening trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States and Australia will contribute to maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region, Ishikawa also said. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Kyodo News
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Kyodo News
"The Rising of the Shield Hero" First Live Event: Voice Actors and Theme Song Artists Gather!
The anime series "The Rising of the Shield Hero" began its fourth season on July 9, 2025, airing on Crunchyroll, and other channels. Recently, on Sunday, June 15, the series' first live event, "Shield Fest ~The Rising Excitement of Shield Hero: The LIVE of the Shield Hero~," was held at the Sakura Hall in Shibuya Ward's Cultural Center Owada. The event featured voice actors Kaito Ishikawa (Naofumi Iwatani), Asami Seto (Raphtalia), Rina Hidaka (Filo), Natsuko Hara (Rishia), Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Ren Amaki), and Makoto Takahashi (Motoyasu Kitamura). Additionally, theme song performers MADKID and Chiai Fujikawa were in attendance. As this was the anime series' first live event, the voice cast and artists took the audience on a journey through seasons 1-3, reminiscing about key moments through talks and musical performances. The event also featured a dramatic reading of an original story written by the light novel's author, Aneko Yusagi, making it a truly special experience for long-time fans of the series. The event provided a delightful opportunity for supporters who have been following the series to come together and celebrate their beloved show. Through a combination of engaging discussions and captivating musical performances, attendees were able to relive the most memorable aspects of "The Rising of the Shield Hero" in a unique and interactive way. This article presents a report on this event. Additional Animation for Ishikawa's Performance During Recording As the start time approached, Filo appeared in costume, adorably greeting the audience. Before the show began, fans enjoyed taking photos of Filo dancing to the music. With the venue buzzing with excitement, Ishikawa led the cast onto the stage. The opening talk touched on this being the first live event for the series and explained that the show would revisit seasons 1-3 through music and discussion. Seto and Hidaka mentioned they had been talking about doing an event like this on their radio show for a while, and even contributed ideas for the event merchandise sold at the venue. Matsuoka, Takahashi, and Hara were asked to reflect on their experiences. They revealed that the Four Cardinal Heroes cast had done a live broadcast before, but this was their first time meeting fans face-to-face. With Ishikawa hyping up the crowd even more, the musical performances began. MADKID performed "RISE" and "FAITH," the opening themes from the first and second cours of Season 1, respectively. Chiai Fujikawa sang "Kimi no Namae" (Your Name), which served as the ending theme for the first cour and episode 25, as well as "Atashi ga Tonari ni Iru Uchi ni" (While I'm By Your Side), the ending theme for the second cour. After the live performance segment, the voice actors reappeared on stage. The members of MADKID, who had just finished singing, shared their thoughts. They commented that both "RISE" and "FAITH" feature upbeat melodies and sharp dance performances that really get the audience excited. The members expressed their joy at seeing fans singing along and cheering them on. Each member was then asked by Ishikawa to share their favorite scene from Season 1, which they discussed in detail. The talk segment continued with a look back at memorable scenes from Season 1, based on a survey conducted with the cast members. Seto, who went first, chose a scene from Episode 8, "The Curse Shield," where Raphtalia embraces Naofumi and brings him back to his senses. Seto noted that this scene left a strong impression, showing Raphtalia's devotion and marking the moment when Naofumi, who had become distrustful of people, finally looked Raphtalia in the eye. It felt like they had become each other's safe haven. Hidaka selected a scene from Episode 17, "A Promise Made," featuring Filo's one-on-one battle with Fitoria. She explained that she liked seeing Filo, who is usually cute and comforting, working hard to become stronger for her companions. Hidaka also mentioned enjoying Filo's frustrated expression and her dislike of the ahoge (cowlick) that appeared after gaining the right of succession. Lastly, Ishikawa chose a scene from Episode 21, "Naofumi's Triumphant Return." This iconic moment features the brilliant voice acting of Bridcutt Sarah Emi as Malty S Melromarc, and the scene where Naofumi interrupts just before Malty and Aultcray Melromarc XXXII are about to be beheaded. Naofumi then renames Malty as "Bitch" and Aultcray as "Trash." Ishikawa shared a behind-the-scenes story about this scene. During a pre-recording test, he delivered the line "It's Bitch!" in a more casual tone. The staff liked it and asked him to keep that style, which led to additional animation being added for the final broadcast. Myne's Overwhelming Presence Leaves Matsuoka Speechless After concluding the Season 1 segment, the event transitioned back to the live performance section. This time, they revisited Seasons 2 and 3. MADKID performed "Bring Back" and "SIN," while Fujikawa sang "Yuzurenai" and "Suki ni Natte wa Ikenai Riyuu." Following the performances, Fujikawa shared her thoughts on the live event. During her comments, Fujikawa expressed her deep love for music, dogs, and Filo. It was also revealed that Seto and Hidaka had attended Fujikawa's live performances after she appeared as a guest on their radio show. Hidaka, in particular, was so enthusiastic that he even attended concerts alone, passionately praising the appeal of Fujikawa's songs. When discussing singing the show's songs in front of fans for the first time since the Season 1 screening event, Fujikawa shared how comforting and reassuring the audience's warm applause was. The talk segment highlighted memorable scenes from Seasons 2 and 3. Hara chose Rishia's confrontation with Kyo=Ethnina from Season 2, Episode 6, "Pursuit." He noted how Rishia's journey with Naofumi and the others had strengthened her, allowing her to perceive Kyo's weaknesses. Matsuoka selected the scene from Season 3, Episode 6, "The Direction of Strength," where Ren falls into darkness after being deceived by Myne. Matsuoka expressed sympathy for Ren and pondered how many lives Myne had ruined. Takahashi chose the scene from Season 3, Episode 4, "Spear Hero Capture Operation," where Motoyasu finds guidance through Filo's song. Before screening this scene, the voice actors were given light sticks to cheer along with the audience. The crowd was incredibly enthusiastic, with "Filo!" chants echoing throughout the venue. Takahashi described this scene as a new beginning, suggesting that everything up to this point was merely a prologue. It leaves fans wondering about Motoyasu's future role. Matsuoka added that he had watched this scene in real-time at home and found it moving and inspiring. After the talk segment concluded, a dramatic reading featuring all six cast members' characters was presented. This reading was based on an original story outline written by the series' creator, Aneko Yusagi. The story was set in a timeline just before the Bow Hero, Itsuki Kawasumi, joined the group towards the end of Season 3. The reading showcased a slice of everyday life, both comical and peaceful. In one scene, Motoyasu chased after Filo, only to be kicked into the stars. Another highlighted Naofumi's culinary skills as he prepared a stew using a rare ingredient called Golden Usapil, which he had acquired by chance. Just when it seemed the event was coming to a close, an encore began. MADKID performed "Resolution" and Chiai Fujikawa sang "Eien ni Ikkai no" - the opening and ending themes for the upcoming Season 4, set to air in July. The audience's excitement reached its peak! Amidst this enthusiasm, the voice actors returned to the stage to reveal the latest information about the series. This included a preview video featuring Fujikawa's newly performed song, the latest key visual, broadcast details, and information about the anime "Isekai Quartet" Season 3, in which characters from "The Rising of the Shield Hero" also appear. To conclude the event, Kaito Ishikawa, speaking on behalf of the cast, expressed gratitude to the fans. He hinted at new bonds and storylines with fresh characters in the upcoming Season 4, building anticipation for what lies ahead in the series. The event wrapped up with a commemorative photo session, including Filo who had greeted fans before the show. In a surprise twist, a cake was brought out to celebrate the birthdays of Asami Hidaka and YOU-TA, MADKID's leader, which coincided with the event date. The entire venue joined in the celebration. About the Anime Synopsis As the Shield Hero, Naofumi Iwatani, prepares for the impending battle against the soon-to-be-revived "Phoenix" of the Four Guardian Beasts, he confronts and reconciles with the other three Cardinal Heroes, aiming to unite their powers despite their previous conflicts. However, Raphtalia is mistakenly perceived as having intentions to inherit the throne, leading to assassination attempts by agents from the nation of Q'ten Lo. To resolve this misunderstanding, Naofumi decides to visit Siltvelt, the demi-human country that maintains the only active ferry service to Q'ten Lo. While warmly welcomed by the demi-humans who revere the Shield Hero, Naofumi's group discovers that Siltvelt is not entirely unified, with some factions opposing their presence. Meanwhile, Q'ten Lo faces its own political instability, with Raphtalia being unwittingly elevated as a symbol of revolution. Amidst this complex and turbulent situation, can Naofumi become the guiding light for his companions? Cast Naofumi Iwatani: Kaito Ishikawa Raphtalia: Asami Seto Filo: Rina Hidaka Fohl: Kouhei Amasaki Atla: Konomi Kohara Sadeena: Ami Koshimizu Ren Amaki: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Itsuki Kawasumi: Yoshio Yamaya Motoyasu Kitamura: Makoto Takahashi Melty: Maaya Uchida Lecia: Natsuko Hara Éclair: Ruriko Aoki Sein: Maria Naganawa Mirellia: Kikuko Inoue Aultcray: Yutaka Nakano Welner: Takeo Otsuka Jaralis: Jiro Saito (C)AnekoYusagi_Seira Minami/KADOKAWA/Shield Hero S4 Project ※Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
NHK
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NHK
Stringed instrument made to support rebuilding of Shuri Castle, Noto Peninsula
A special version of a traditional stringed Japanese musical instrument has been created to support reconstruction efforts in two separate regions. The version of the three-stringed sanshin bears hopes for the reconstruction of the main hall of Shuri Castle in Okinawa Prefecture and municipalities in the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture. A fire hit the castle in 2019, while the peninsula suffered a major earthquake and heavy rains and flooding in 2024. The special sanshin was unveiled during a ceremony in Okinawa's Naha City on Saturday. Work to create the instrument began last December. It was made from timber used to rebuild the castle's main hall. A craftsman in Okinawa applied lacquer to the instrument. Another in Ishikawa used a metal powder-sprinkling decoration technique to paint on its neck a mountain range, the sea and snowflakes, symbolizing the landscape of the Noto Peninsula. The body of the instrument is wrapped with decorative textiles, made from traditional fabrics woven in the two prefectures. An Okinawa-based sanshin maker, Nakamine Miki, helped produce the instrument. He said during the ceremony that it represents the integration of techniques from Okinawa and Ishikawa, adding that he hopes its sounds will reach many people. The instrument was used to perform a piece of music normally played in celebratory events in Okinawa. The chairperson of an Ishikawa-based group of Wajima-nuri lacquerware artisans, Sakaguchi Akio, said he is very happy because he felt support from many people when craft workers in both prefectures teamed up to complete the instrument.
