Latest news with #Kyoto
Al Jazeera
8 hours ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Japan records highest temperature on record
Japan has recorded its hottest day on record, the latest example of extreme weather to focus attention on climate change. The mercury hit 41.2 degrees Celsius (106.16 degrees Fahrenheit) in Tamba city, about 560km (350 miles) southwest of Tokyo, on Wednesday, surpassing the previous high of 41.1 degrees Celsius (105.98 degrees Fahrenheit) set in 2018 and matched again in 2020. Temperatures of 40 degrees or higher were also recorded in Fukuchiyama city, Kyoto prefecture; Maniwa city, Okayama prefecture; and Nishiwaki city, Hyogo prefecture. Heatstroke alerts were issued for 33 of Japan's 47 prefectures on Wednesday, national broadcaster NKH reported. More than 10,800 people were sent to hospital with heatstroke last week, with 16 heat-related deaths, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Wednesday's record is the latest in a series of unprecedented temperature spikes in Japan. Last month, the East Asian country sweltered through its hottest June on record, with the average nationwide temperature rising 2.34 degrees Celsius (36.21 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal. Japan also experienced its hottest year ever in 2024, with the average temperature breaking records for a second straight year.
Japan Times
a day ago
- Health
- Japan Times
Japan startup transplants iPS cells for heart treatment in clinical trial
A Japanese startup has said it conducted a clinical trial to transplant a treatment sheet containing cardiac muscle cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into a patient with a heart muscle disease. The surgery to transplant the sheet into the patient, who was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, was performed at the end of May at the Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital. The patient has already been discharged from the hospital. The regenerative medicine startup, iHeart Japan, based in the city of Kyoto, said Monday that the patient will undergo monitoring so that the company can assess the treatment's safety and efficacy. The startup layered three types of cells, including those of heart muscles and blood vessels. Gelatin particles were added to the layers of the cells to create the round sheet measuring about 4 centimeters in diameter and 1 millimeter in thickness. When placed on the surface of the heart, the sheet is expected to improve the heart's contractions partly through the functions of exosomes, or vesicles, produced by cells. The startup plans to expand the clinical trial program gradually after confirming the safety of the sheet in the first three sheet recipients. Up to 10 people are expected to receive the treatment by the end of 2027. Based on the results of the trials, the company aims to obtain state approval to make and sell the sheet. Among efforts to treat heart failure using iPS cells, another startup, affiliated with Keio University, is conducting clinical trials to inject iPS-derived cardiac spheroids into patients. The company is monitoring 10 people injected with such spheroids. And in April this year, a company linked with the University of Osaka applied to the welfare ministry for approval of a treatment using iPS-derived myocardial cells.
News24
2 days ago
- Health
- News24
Matcha: The Japanese tea taking over the world
Matcha, the vibrant powdered green tea with deep cultural ties to Japanese tea ceremonies, has become a global sensation. It is heralded for its unique taste, health benefits, and photogenic appeal, rich antioxidant levels and calming properties which have captured the interest of wellness enthusiasts and social media influencers alike. However, as global demand soars beyond Japan's ability to keep pace, matcha remains synonymous with quality craftsmanship and Japanese tradition. Matcha is the new drink of choice at hip cafes worldwide, but Japanese producers are struggling to keep up with soaring demand for the powdered green tea. Here's what you need to know about the drink beloved of weekend treat-seekers and 'wellness' influencers: What is matcha? The word matcha means 'ground tea' in Japanese and comes in the form of a vivid green powder that is whisked with hot water and can be added to milk to make a matcha latte. Green tea was introduced to Japan from China in the early ninth century, and was first used for medicinal purposes. Matcha came much later, in 16th century Kyoto -- part of the tea ceremony tradition developed by tea master Sen no Rikyu. Today, there are different grades of matcha quality, from 'ceremonial' to 'culinary' types used in baking. How is it produced? Matcha is made from leaves called 'tencha', which are grown in the shade in the final weeks before their harvest to concentrate the flavour, colour and nutrients. This 'requires the construction of a complex structure with poles and a roof to filter the light', explained Masahiro Okutomi, a tea producer in Sayama, northwest of Tokyo. Tencha leaves, rich in chlorophyll and L-theanine, a compound known for its relaxing effects, are hand-picked and deveined, then steamed, dried and ground between two stone mills to produce an ultra-fine powder. AFP It can take up to an hour to produce just 40 grams (1.4 ounces) of matcha - making the powder on average twice as expensive to produce as standard green tea leaves. What are its benefits? Many drink matcha for its rich grass-like taste, but others are drawn to the drink's nutritional properties. It is rich in antioxidants, and can aid concentration because of its caffeine content: one cup contains on average 48 milligrams, slightly less than a drip coffee but nearly twice as much as a standardly brewed green tea. 'Matcha is often seen as being good for your health,' said Shigehito Nishikida, manager of Tokyo tea shop Jugetsudo. Why is it so popular? Japan produced 4 176 tonnes of matcha in 2023 - a huge increase from the 1 430 tonnes in 2012. More than half of the powder is exported, according to the agriculture ministry, mostly to the United States, Southeast Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. Millions of videos on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube demonstrate how to make photogenic matcha drinks or choose a traditional 'chasen' bamboo whisk. READ | 'I feel like Gen Z really drove this enthusiasm for matcha, and they heavily relied on social media to do so,' Stevie Youssef, a 31-year-old marketing professional, told AFP at a matcha bar in Los Angeles. Matcha can also be used in cooking, extending its appeal to others aside from tea lovers. 'Some customers simply enjoy drinking it, others like preparing it themselves. And of course, many buy it as a gift - Japanese matcha is always appreciated,' said Jugetsudo's Nishikida.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Matcha latte prices set to soar as global craze and record-breaking heatwave fuel supply chain crisis
Record temperatures and an increasing global demand has stretched Japan 's supply of matcha this year, leading prices to rocket. Farmers and industry officials have spoken out as they struggle to meet the ever-increasing demand for the bright green tea drink from Japan, which has peaked in popularity this year. Matcha's popularity has been growing over recent years, with sales soaring by 202 percent in the UK in 2023 alone according to Orion Market Research. The antioxidant rich beverage has reached its apex this year, driven by social media and Japan's post-pandemic tourism boom. The Kyoto region, which accounts for a quarter of Japan's production of tencha - the stemmed leaves dried and ground into matcha - was hit by severe heatwaves last summer during Japan's hottest year on record, which led to weak yields in the recent April-May harvest. US-based tea importer Lauren Purvis told the BBC her customers were seeing what was once a month's supply run out in days: "Some cafes are even asking for a kilo a day. They're desperate to keep up," the Mizuba Tea Co. owner said. Masahiro Yoshida, a sixth-generation farmer, was only able to harvest 1.5 tons of tencha this year, down a quarter from his typical harvest of two tons. 'Last year's summer was so hot that it damaged the bushes, so we couldn't pluck as many tea leaves,' he told Reuters from his storefront in Uji, south of Kyoto. Traditionally, the tencha leaves are kept under shade for weeks while growing in order to develop the tea's 'umami' taste. The leaves are then harvested, dried and ground into powder using stone mills. Tealife founder Yuki Ishii told Reuters that it saw a ten-fold increase in demand for matcha from customers, despite the amount available from Japan declining. 'I'm basically always out of stock," he said. Japan produced 5,336 tons of tencha in 2024, nearly three times more than a decade before as more farmer's switch to the crop, according the Japanese Tea production Association. Despite this, the association expects lower matcha output this year. As well as surging demand and lesser tea crops this year, US tariffs on Japan have pushed up matcha prices. On Tuesday, Washington and Tokyo announced a trade deal which means there will be a 15 per cent import tax on Japanese products going into the US. The move has led matcha distributors to brace for the impact, with Ms Purvis saying orders surged by more than 70 per cent in early July ahead of a deadline for the two countries to reach a trade agreement. 'As Japanese tea is not grown in the US, there is no American industry under threat that tariffs need to protect,' she told the BBC. 'We hope there will be a realisation that specialty tea should be exempt.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Why your matcha latte is about to get a lot more expensive
Matcha prices are soaring due to record temperatures in Japan and a significant increase in global demand. Japan's Kyoto region, a key producer of tencha (the base for matcha), experienced severe heatwaves last summer, resulting in weak yields during the recent April-May harvest. The popularity of matcha has surged, with sales in the UK rising by 202 per cent in 2023, driven by social media trends and Japan's post-pandemic tourism boom. Farmers are reporting reduced harvests, and importers are struggling to meet demand, with some cafes experiencing rapid stock depletion. New US tariffs of 15 per cent on Japanese imports are anticipated to further increase matcha prices, despite concerns from distributors who argue the product should be exempt.
