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Local Norway
a day ago
- Politics
- Local Norway
Oslo to get memorial for 2022 Pride terror attack
In a press release issued on June 25th, the anniversary attack, Norway's culture minister Lubna Jaffery said that the government would allocate 5 million kroner and instruct Koro, Norway's public art body, to commission the memorial. "The memorial site to June 25th should be a place of collective grief, reflection and resistance," Jaffery said. "Through a living memorial, we will ensure that the conversations about June 25th continue into the future." The announcement, made in the middle of Oslo Pride week, was welcomed by the leader of Oslo Pride, Dan Bjørke. "I hope it can be a place that reminds us of the struggle and the debate we must have about the living conditions of queer people," he said. "The fact that we can then have a memorial that can show and remind us of the terrible attack is very important." In an interview with NRK, Jaffery said that though a site for the memorial had yet to be decided it would be natural for it to be placed on Rosenkrantz gate, the pub-packed street where much of the shooting took place. Advertisement Matapour mounted his attack on June 25th, the eve of the Oslo Pride march, targeting the London Pub, a popular gay hangout. Matapour was found guilty of serious terror offences in July 2024, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison, the harshest sentence possible under Norwegian law.
Japan Forward
18-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Forward
SAKE HUNDRED: Luxury Brand Seeks to Boost Entire Supply Chain
このページを 日本語 で読む Clear, a sake company based in Shibuya, Tokyo, is gaining attention for its luxury sake brand SAKE HUNDRED, crafted with international enthusiasts in mind. As consumer interest in sake continues to decline in Japan, the company is working to reignite its appeal, focusing on digital storytelling and global outreach. SAKE HUNDRED offers premium sake ranging from tens of thousands to several hundred thousand yen per bottle. The brand places a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and visual presentation. Some bottles, such as a 720ml edition priced over ¥30,000 JPY (around $210 USD), are sold by lottery due to high demand. The brand's popularity is growing rapidly. Select bottles are even being served to VIPs at the international pavilions of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. With its departure from traditional sake branding, SAKE HUNDRED has attracted strong investor interest, securing a total of ¥2.44 billion (around $16.9 million) in funding. Founder and CEO Ryuji Ikoma, who launched Clear in 2013, defines the brand's mission as "filling hearts and coloring lives." As global interest in health-conscious dining increases, Japanese cuisine — and the sake that complements it — is gaining traction overseas. Ikoma says, "We want our brand to become the go-to luxury sake on restaurant menus around the world." Ryuji Ikoma, who has visited breweries nationwide, interviewed the honorary master brewer at Kiku-Masamune. Ikoma entered the sake industry in 2011, at around 25 years old. He was captivated by the flavor of Koro, a sake produced by the Kumamoto Prefecture Sake Institute. Curious, he researched its background and discovered that the institute's first director, active from the Meiji era through the mid-Showa period, had been a pioneer in scientific, data-driven brewing. This modern approach helped transform sake production and advance brewing technology in Japan. Koro's ginjo sake, in particular, stood out for its refined rice-polishing method that reduced impurities and enhanced aroma. It is often regarded as a benchmark for ginjo sake. Inspired by the innovation behind it, Ikoma set out to pursue change in the sake industry himself. He went on to launch SAKETIMES, a dedicated web media platform focused on sake and breweries. Committed to first-hand reporting, he personally visited breweries across the country. "There was a time when I spent half of each month in rural areas," he recalls. At the time, curated media that aggregated online information was trending. However, Ikoma believed in the value of uncovering insights that couldn't be found through search alone. "That kind of original reporting becomes our unique asset," he says. With this belief, he continued building a foundation of trusted, in-depth content. Ikoma says he was greatly influenced by Jiro Nagumo (left), president of Hakkaisan. (Courtesy of Clear) During a reporting trip to Hong Kong, Ikoma was shocked to see bottles of sake selling for around ¥400,000 ($2,800). "It was a major revelation to learn that people around the world are willing to spend tens of thousands of yen on great sake," he recalls. It made him realize how deeply sake is appreciated by affluent consumers abroad. At the same time, domestic sake shipments had fallen to less than a quarter of their 1973 peak of 1.77 million kiloliters. This contrast sparked a new ambition. "We wanted to create a globally oriented brand and explore a sustainable future for sake," Ikoma explains. That vision led to the creation of SAKE HUNDRED. Today, SAKE HUNDRED partners with eight sake breweries to produce its lineup. Ikoma draws on his experience running a sake-focused media platform and the strong relationships he has built with brewery owners nationwide. Their flagship product, Byakko, priced at ¥38,500 (around $270), is currently accepting entries for its summer lottery sale. In 2024, it became a major hit, receiving 70,000 applications for just 10,000 bottles. Ikoma is determined to revitalize Japan's stagnant sake market through SAKE HUNDRED. "We want the benefits to extend across the entire supply chain, from breweries to sake rice farmers," he says with passion. "There's clear demand overseas. If we can follow in the footsteps of wine and champagne, the potential for growth is enormous." Author: Naomi Yasuda, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
NZ Herald
24-04-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Whanganui rugby: Marist eye playoff comeback with seasoned players and new talent
Marist must solve the puzzle of how to regularly defeat one or more of the Top 4 sides, and it appeared they nearly had the answer in their 22-15 loss to Whanganui Rugby Challenge Shield holders Byfords Readi-Mix Taihape on opening day. 'We forced our hand a bit too much, and the bounce of the ball didn't go our way,' said Koro. 'But we put our best foot forward, and just a bit of patience brought us back into it, and a bit more accuracy in a few areas.' Much of the improvement could come down to their well-rounded loose forwards, as standout veteran Bradley Graham steps back to a reserve role for the likes of talented Whanganui Under 20's rep Jayden Garland-Lower, 63-game Steelform Whanganui player Samu Kubunavanua and multi-club veteran Brett Joyes. 'They're our senior veteran players now, and they've never shied away from physical work,' said Koro of Joyes and Kubunavanua. 'Having [Samu] around the team has been a boost, the boys see him around and it gives them that confidence that we've got some big bodies here that can help. '[Brett's] your typical, old-school style of play - 'I'm here, I know my role and that's what I'll do'. 'Jayden done his [injury] rehab on the offseason well enough, now it's just trying to get him to stay on the field this year, and that's just about us managing his minutes, because he's a handy No7 coming through.' Another addition is Tim Goodwin, adding great utility value to a backline with talent like Akiwa Koro, Daniel Kauika, Jamie Robertson, and CJ Stowers. Marist will observe with interest Taihape's next Shield defence against Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau at Memorial Park, while Rātana host Waverley Harvesting Border in the Pa. Draw April 26, 2.35pm kickoffs
