Latest news with #KansaiUniversity
Yomiuri Shimbun
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Sumo Scene / Rising Ukrainian Wrestler Aonishiki Looks to Make Waves in Summer Tourney
The Yomiuri Shimbun Aonishiki, right, launches an attack against Meisei on March 20 during one of his 11 wins in his makuuchi division debut at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka. The Summer Grand Sumo Tournament is fast approaching. If ozeki Onosato, fresh off winning a third career title in the Spring tourney, can achieve a similar result, it will heat up talk of his promotion to yokozuna. There is no dearth of topics for discussion regarding the tournament starting on May 11, but personally, I am most intrigued to see how Ukrainian wrestler Aonishiki fares in just his second tourney in the uppermost makuuchi division. Back in Ukraine, which has a rich history in combat sports, Aonishiki participated in amateur sumo and wrestling, and even competed internationally. However, following the Russian invasion into his homeland, he left his country in 2022 in search of a stable environment to continue practicing sumo. He made his way to Japan and joined the sumo club at Kansai University, where he immersed himself in his training. Through an introduction to stablemaster Ajigawa (former sekiwake Aminishiki) through a university connection, he turned pro and made his debut at the 2023 Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament. From there, he rapidly shot up the rankings, remarkably reaching the makuuchi division in just nine tournaments. Having just turned 21 in March, he has lofty ambitions. 'My goal is even higher,' he declared upon his promotion to the top tier. At the Spring tournament, early jitters led to a slow start. But as the competition progressed, he found his footing against the top competition. His style is particularly striking — despite standing a robust 1.82 meters, he consistently lowers his stance, rounds his back and drives forward relentlessly. His makuuchi debut notwithstanding, he found himself in contention for the championship until the closing days. On the final day, he defeated sekiwake Oho with a tenacious and well-executed attack to finish with an impressive 11-4 record that earned him the Fighting Spirit Prize. That drew high praise from Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hakkaku (former yokozuna Hokutoumi), who said: 'His core appears exceptionally strong. I look forward to seeing how he does in the future. 'Most importantly, his earnest commitment to sumo is noteworthy,' he added, a nod to the hardships Aonishiki has overcome. With a higher ranking — he is now a No. 9 maegashira — there is no doubt that the other wrestlers will be studying him, aiming to exploit any weaknesses. I am eager to see if he can create a Ukrainian sensation in the early summer ring, where his true potential will be tested. — Kamimura is a sumo expert.
Japan Times
26-03-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Hanami season to have record ¥1.39 trillion economic impact on Japan
This year's cherry blossom season, which began in Tokyo on Monday, is expected to have an economic impact of around ¥1.39 trillion ($9 billion) on Japan — the highest in the country's history. The estimated impact is a 22.2% increase from last year's ¥1.14 trillion, according to an annual report compiled by economist Katsuhiro Miyamoto, a professor emeritus at Kansai University. The weak yen continues to beckon record numbers of tourists to the country, especially during hanami (cherry blossom viewing) season. Last year, Japan saw a record of nearly 37 million visitors , according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. Miyamoto expects more than a quarter of hanami-goers to be foreign tourists, which would be the highest percentage of such visitors for the seasonal event in the nation's history. Domestic interest in hanami this year is expected to be high as well, following the trend from last year. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic impact of hanami stood at ¥181.5 billion, with 97.5% of the hanami-goers being locals. The combined increase in both foreign and domestic hanami-goers this year would significantly drive up the money generated through activities such as purchasing food, drinks and souvenirs, as well as transportation costs. Residents in Japan spend an average of ¥7,119 per person on hanami. To put things into perspective, the nationwide economic impact of this year's hanami season would be 10 times that of baseball star Shohei Ohtani's ¥132.8 billion economic impact from last season. This year's cherry blossom season began five days earlier than last year, with sakura trees projected to be in full bloom in Tokyo on Saturday and last until mid-April.
The Independent
24-03-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Tokyo cherry blossoms bloom earlier than other Japan regions
Cherry trees in Tokyo have begun to bloom in stunning shades of pink, marking the onset of spring in Japan. Tokyo cherry blossoms were forecast to come into bloom earlier than any other region of the country for the second consecutive year. At least six cherry blossom buds opened up on the specimen tree in Sannomaru at the Kochi Castle in the southwest of the country, Japan Meteorological Agency said. This Somei-Yoshino cherry blossom tree is the official marker for declaring the start of the sakura or the cherry blossom season each year, which draws thousands of tourists from across the world. Kumamoto city declared the blooming of cherry blossoms three days earlier than last year but a day later than average, according to reports. Japan usually sees the peak cherry blossom season in March and April when the streets of its major cities are adorned by beautiful pink and white flowers. But temperatures on Sunday reached levels for late April to mid-June in many parts of Japan, with a high-pressure system covering most parts of the country, the weather agency said. Many areas of Japan recorded temperatures of more than 25C or higher, which the agency defines as a summer day. The daytime temperature soared to 26.8C in Tsuyama City in Okayama Prefecture, making it the highest temperature for March since the weather agency began record-taking in 1943. This year's cherry blossom season began five days earlier than 2024, and the trees are expected to be in full bloom by the end of the week. Climate crisis and urban warming have been impacting the flowering dates of cherry blossoms in Japan. Last year, the cherry blossoms bloomed early in February with streets in Kawazu already been covered with pink flowers. In 2023, the iconic blossoms appeared ten days earlier than usual and tied with an early record set in 2020 and 2021 for the earliest bloom date since the records began in 1950s. In Japan, forecasts for cherry blossom bloom are an integral part of the country's spring celebrations. The government has set a standard for observing cherry blossom trees and has been forecasting the annual bloom since 1955. According to the rules, once five or six flowers have opened on the branches of the tree, it's considered to be blossoming. Once 80 per cent of the tree has flowered, it's deemed to be in full bloom. Why is the sakura season important? The sakura or cherry blossom season does not just hold cultural significance, but it's also a major tourist attraction. An estimated 63 million people travel to Japan to see the cherry blossoms, spending around $2.7bn in the process, according to a 2019 estimate from Kansai University. In March 2024, a record 3.1 million tourists visited Japan during the spring season, a 70 per cent increase from the previous year. The flowers are loved by people in Japan as much as the tourists, who flock to parks to hold picnics to view and photograph the blossoms. Stores in Japan stock their shelves with flower-themed or favoured items such as pink sakura drinks, cakes and even lunch boxes. The Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit will be held in the first week of April, when the fast-corner track will be adorned with blooming cherry blossoms. The race last year drew about 222,000 fans from Japan and across the world. View this post on Instagram A post shared by F1 Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka Circuit) (@f1japanesegp) When will the blossoms completely bloom this year? The timing of the sakura season varies in Japan by region, beginning from late March and extending till the end of April. This year, blooms are expected to appear in Hiroshima and Kochi in western Japan and Miyazaki in southwestern Japan this week. It will be followed by Yokohama and in the southwestern Japanese cities of Fukuoka, Saga and Nagasaki. In northeastern Japan, the flowers are forecast to bloom by mid-April and Hokkaido will be the last to witness the pink in late April. How to enjoy the blossoms Grab some drinks, food and a blue tarpaulin picnic sheet, and do a spot of hanami. Literally meaning 'flower viewing', hanami are the picnics and parties held in cherry blossom spots, which can range from a mellow afternoon with family in the local park to sake-fuelled parties with colleagues. Ueno Park in Tokyo is in the latter category, a sea of picnic sheets under an expanse of billowing blossom. By nightfall, the park will be littered with passed-out hanami casualties. Tokyo's Shinjuku Gyoen Park is far calmer, as there's an admission fee and no-alcohol policy for anyone who wants to relax amid the 1,300 multi-varied blossoms spread across its lawns and gardens. The Imperial Palace's Edo-era Chidiorgafuchi moat, however, can stake a strong claim as the most attractive blossom spot in the capital, its banks bursting with pink. A top hanami spot at night is the hip Nakameguro neighbourhood, where blossoms, paper lanterns and food and drink trucks line the concrete banks of the Meguro River.
Japan Times
29-01-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Junglia Okinawa theme park to open July 25
Junglia Okinawa, a new theme park in northern Okinawa Prefecture, is set to open July 25, marketing company Katana and others said Tuesday. The roughly 60-hectare park, themed around nature and luxury, will be built on a former golf course straddling the village of Nakijin and the city of Nago. Admission fees for domestic residents are set at ¥6,930 ($44.5), including tax, for a one-day adult ticket and ¥4,950 for a child ticket. Katana is headed by Tsuyoshi Morioka, known as the mastermind behind the turnaround of the Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka Prefecture. According to estimates by experts including Katsuhiro Miyamoto, professor emeritus at Kansai University, the park is seen generating an economic impact of ¥6.8 trillion over its first 15 years and creating some 880,000 jobs. "Developing the northern part of Okinawa is very important for the Japanese government, and the opening of Junglia is of great significance," Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said at a Junglia-linked event in Tokyo. Junglia will have 22 attractions including "Dinosaur Safari," in which visitors can enjoy the thrill of being chased by a dinosaur. It will also feature restaurants that use Okinawa ingredients and a spa surrounded by tropical plants.
