Latest news with #Musashi
Irish Post
6 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Post
Deliveroo launches drone delivery service in Dublin
DELIVEROO has launched a new drone delivery service in Dublin. The food delivery platform has teamed up with the global drone firm Manna, which was founded in Dublin, to provide the service in Blanchardstown. The trail initiative will cover a 3km radius in the Dublin 15 neighbourhoods, with food from leading local restaurants flown to customers in as little as three minutes. The Deliveroo drone service launched in Dublin today Currently customers can order from the likes of Musashi, WOWBurger, Boojum and Elephant & Castle, although Deliveroo is aiming to expand the service to more restaurants and also launch grocery and retail deliveries within the next six months. Bill Lang, owner of Musashi, said the firm was "delighted" to take part in the pilot. 'We have been serving up authentic sushi for years but never thought we'd see it in the sky, delivered to peoples' doorsteps by drone," he said. "Musashi is delighted to extend our partnership with Deliveroo to drone deliveries, helping us to reach even more customers in the Blanchardstown area." Deliveroo has confirmed it will use the initial trial weeks of the service to assess how drones can 'help serve suburban and harder to reach locations", with the ultimate aim of unlocking new customers through super-fast deliveries which "complement" its existing rider network. 'Our mission is to bring local neighbourhood favourites to as many people's doors as possible, and constantly raise the bar on the experience and service we provide - so I'm thrilled to launch drone deliveries in Dublin today,' Carlo Mocci, Chief Business Officer at Deliveroo, said this morning. Customers in Blanchardstown can now have deliveries flown to their door 'We're excited to explore how drones can help us reach new customers, complementing our existing rider model and if successful, the prospect of expanding drone deliveries across Ireland and into other markets,' he added. Dubliner Bobby Healy, who is CEO and Founder of Manna Air Delivery, said his firm was 'proud' to partner with Deliveroo on the project. 'Air delivery is fast, clean, and safe, offering a new avenue for local businesses to reach more consumers,' Mr Healy said. 'Manna Air Delivery is proud to partner with Deliveroo, a platform trusted by top local restaurants and eateries, to bring this innovative delivery experience to customers,' he added. The collaboration between Deliveroo and Manna will initially cover a 3km radius in Dublin Manna, which has already completed over 170,000 delivery flights in the Dublin 15 area, will operate the drones, which are continuously monitored by a dispatcher when in use. Under the new scheme Deliveroo's drones will be deployed from Manna's local delivery hub, flying at speeds of up to 80 km/h. Upon arrival, the drone hovers and gently lowers the food to the ground via a secure, biodegradable tether. Customers will need to pinpoint a safe drop off, typically a driveway, front or back garden, when making their order. See More: Deliveroo, Dublin, Ireland, Manna
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Final Tour Program Memorializing Japan's WWII Dead Sets Sail; 11 Day Cruise to Kyushu, Philippines, On-board Memorial Services Planned
The Yomiuri Shimbun Family members of those killed in World War II wave from the deck of the Nippon Maru to well-wishers seeing them off at Kobe Port in Kobe on Sunday. The final voyage of a program touring waters that became battlefields in World War II began Sunday. The large passenger ship Nippon Maru, carrying family members of the war dead, set sail from Kobe Port. The program commemorates the war dead. The voyage was part of a memorial and goodwill program launched in 1991 by the Nippon Izokukai (Japan War-Bereaved Families Association). Similar voyages were also held in 2011 and 2016. Since many participants are advanced in age, the association decided to end the program this fiscal year, making this the final voyage. Roughly 220 people — ranging in age from their teens to their 90s —joined from 42 prefectures. Over 11 days, the ship will sail around Kyushu and the waters off the Philippines, stopping at sites that include the locations where the battleships Yamato and Musashi sank. In addition to holding memorial ceremonies on board, the vessel will anchor in the Philippines so participants can interact with local children.
The Mainichi
27-05-2025
- General
- The Mainichi
Japan program honoring war dead via sea voyage to end as families age
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A Japanese project to honor the war dead by taking bereaved families to former battle sites by sea will wind down due to the aging of participants, with this year marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. Offshore memorial ceremonies that have been held onboard the ship as part of the program, organized by a nationwide association of war-bereaved families, will also come to an end with the last ones to take place during a voyage in next month. Their ship will depart from the Port of Kobe, western Japan, on June 1, taking families on an 11-day journey through former battle zones such as the Taiwan Strait and waters off the Philippines to offer prayers for their parents who died at sea. According to the Japan War-Bereaved Families Association, around 220 participants from 42 of Japan's 47 prefectures, with the oldest in their 90s, will join in the voyage. The memorial services will be held daily in each battle zone at sea. The trip will also include training sessions for future storytellers who will pass down memories of the war. The ship will sail through waters where the Imperial Japanese Navy battleships Yamato and Musashi sank, while there will be an onboard exchange with locals during a port call in Manila, before returning to Kobe on June 11. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, out of the approximately 2.4 million Japanese soldiers who died abroad, around 300,000 were lost at sea. "As we bring this project to a close, we want to offer a proper final tribute to those who died at sea," said the association's head Toshiei Mizuochi, 82. The program, which began in fiscal 1991 with government support, had conducted around 450 trips for roughly 16,000 participants by fiscal 2024. The voyages took participants to numerous countries and regions including China, the Philippines and the Solomon Islands to engage in memorial and exchange activities. Offshore memorial ceremonies were held in 2011 and 2016. While participation peaked in fiscal 2005 at 911 people, it has since declined, with only 171 participants in fiscal 2024, prompting the association to decide to end the program. In addition to the offshore memorial ceremony, two visits to the Philippines are also planned for fiscal 2025 through next March.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Musashi of Japan bets big on India's electric two-wheeler story
HighlightsMusashi Auto Parts is betting big on India's electric two-wheeler market, driven by local demand and cost advantages. The company is expanding its EV portfolio through partnerships and investments, including e-axle manufacturing with Delta Electronics and Toyota Tsusho. India is emerging as a strategic global hub for Musashi, with plans for increased capacity, possible greenfield expansion, and broader EV component exports. Mumbai: It is just a little over a year since Naoya Nishimura took over as CEO of Musashi Auto Parts (India) but he is already convinced that there are tremendous opportunities ahead in the country's electric two-wheeler segment. A wholly-owned arm of Japan's Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co, the company has its operations in Bengaluru and Bawal, Haryana. Honda Motor has a stake of over 20per cent in the parent company which by itself translates into a deep bonding between the two entities. Domestic demand is high in India and we will look at targeting supplies here first. My personal view is that the future can see India take a bigger role for MusashiNaoya Nishimura Quite naturally, HMSI ( Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India ) is a major customer for Musashi while Royal Enfield, Suzuki and Yamaha also feature in its list for supply of ICE (internal combustion engine) parts like transmission gears, shafts and camshafts. 'Our headquarters is aggressively focusing on India for its expansion plans. New product development is currently not happening so much in the world while India is growing rapidly in both ICE and electric vehicles,' Nishimura, who is also CEO of Musashi Africa, told ET Auto in a recent interview. Bullish on startups The company recently made an investment in the Coimbatore-based startup, BNC Motors , for electric scooters. Emobi, another startup based in Bengaluru, has a partnership with Musashi Seimitsu, the Japanese parent, and Honda Power Pack Energy India for electric scooters. Going forward, Musashi Auto Parts will explore more opportunities in the electric space with companies such as Ather, TVS Motor etc. New product development is currently not happening so much in the world while India is growing rapidly in both ICE and EVsNaoya Nishimura Musashi Seimitsu, Delta Electronics and Toyota Tsusho have also invested in Musashi Delta e-Axle India, a separate entity, which will cater to supplies of e-axles for two-wheelers. The e-axle consists of a gearbox and motor and the company (to quote its press release at the time of entering the market) will strive to provide high added value by way of compact, light and quiet characteristics required for EVs. 'Going forward, we will aim to supply e-axles to a wide range of customers, with the main target being the 125cc class, which is the volume zone for motorcycles in the Indian market,' added the press statement. Musashi Seimistu holds 51per cent in this entity with Delta and Toyota Tsusho taking up 34per cent and 15per cent each. 'While Delta is considering how to reduce costs, Toyota Tsushosa has a great network in the supply chain and we are developing the entire e-axle. So combined, these three companies are developing the next generation e-axle with more competitiveness,' said Nishimura. Also Read: Musashi appoints Naoya Nishimura as CEO for India, Africa region India vs China Musashi also has operations in China where it largely meets the needs of BYD and other local automakers. Japanese brands like Honda, Nissan and Toyota are not doing as well in this market where electric has made deep inroads and local Chinese car brands are literally firing on all cylinders. Despite this, Musashi is more upbeat about India where the two-wheeler transition to electric is growing by leaps and bunds. 'I hear that the economic environment in China is not so good right now while India is seeing greater expansion,' said Nishimura. According to him, electric two-wheeler growth in this part of the world is 'quite fast' with additional support coming in from the Government by way of fiscal sops. Three-wheelers are also catching up quickly and Musashi Auto Parts has decided to keep its eyes open on the pace of growth in electric four-wheelers too. The company, incidentally, supplies bevel gears, transmission gears and shafts to ICE-powered four-wheelers as well as EV parts. When demand for four-wheeler EVs increase, we will look at further expansionNaoya Nishimura Nishimura said India has an edge over other countries in cost-competitiveness which will come in handy from the viewpoint of global sourcing. 'Of course, domestic demand is high in India and we will look at targeting supplies here first. My personal view is that the future can see India take a bigger role for Musashi when it comes to global supplies of auto parts,' he said. Advantage India Whether this means taking over more responsibilities from some existing operations in the ASEAN region remains to be seen but the company realises that there are inherent advantages to be availed of in India's cost and quality paradigm. Going forward, free trade agreements may also help the cause especially when it comes to despatching shipments across ASEAN, encompassing countries like Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines etc. Nishimura said plant capacity in India would be increased keeping in mind the growing demand for electric as well as the ICE business where its 'No 1 customer is making a lot of products', the reference being to HMSI in all likelihood. The company may even look at a greenfield facility as the automotive market grows in the coming years. 'When demand for four-wheeler EVs increase, we will look at further expansion,' he said. It is also too early to say if another separate entity, similar to the e-axle business, will be set up unless there is a need for a specific partnership in the EV arena like batteries for instance. Also Read: Musashi commences production of e2w e-axles in India According to Nishimura, the company is flexible enough to adapt to fuel changes in the future. Electric is still making the news but automakers are also looking at hybrid and flex fuel options as interim solutions. More recently, Honda announced that it was now going to focus on hybrids instead of electric keeping in line with global trends. For Musashi, the key lies in 'utilising current assets' optimally by way of catering to different markets with their own specific fuel requirements be it ICE, electric or hybrid. 'We are very flexible and this is one of the strong points in our group with its varied competencies,' said Nishimura.
The National
01-05-2025
- The National
Island-hopping in Japan's remote Okinawa
With a roll of his shoulders and a flick of his tail, Musashi starts his plodding journey across the sand flats. My journey in the trailer that this powerful water buffalo is pulling is surprisingly smooth, even as he starts wading into the sea, heading for the tiny island of Yubu. Along the coast in both directions there is little more than deep green jungle that descends from sharp mountains and ends at the waterline in impenetrable mangrove forest. Out across a postcard-blue sea, a line of white surf marks the outer coral reef. As the water sloshes around Musashi's knees, it is increasingly hard to believe this is Japan. In some ways, it is not. The island of Iriomote is the largest in the Yaeyama archipelago, at the south-westernmost tip of Japan's Okinawa prefecture. It is nearly 2,000km from the bustle and neon of Tokyo, but further south than Taipei and just 200km from the coast of Taiwan. The Yaeyama Islands are arguably the remotest part of Japan, and the people here revel in that. Okinawa's location at the ancient crossroads of north-east and south-east Asia has given these islands a unique culture and cuisine that blends the colours and tastes of their neighbours. The differences are even more pronounced in the Yaeyamas, made up of 10 inhabited islands and countless uninhabited islets and atolls. Festivals celebrate the bounty of the sea, with islanders dressed in the airy Yaeyama minsa cotton, dyed with indigo and other native plants. Bougainvillea and hibiscus bloom in gardens and grow across the single-storey traditional homes, not quite obscuring the red roof tiles and Shisa statues, the lion guardians that are believed to ward off evil. As Musashi keeps up his steady transit of the narrow stretch of water that separates Yubu from Iriomote, his wizened driver pulls out a sanshin, a type of three-stringed lute with a long neck and a body covered with snakeskin, and launches into a traditional song in a dialect that even the Japanese visitors who are sharing the trailer admit they cannot understand. Yubu is tiny – it would take a little over an hour to circumnavigate on foot and has sand paths instead of roads – and has been preserved as a microcosm of the islands. The beaches are stunning in the summer, with visitors also able to walk through mangrove swamps, an orchard of tropical fruit trees, a butterfly garden and an aviary. For many, however, the buffalo are the stars of the island. Originally imported from Taiwan more than a century ago, they spend time between hauling trailers wallowing in a series of muddy pools and locking horns when they are feeling feisty. Back across the waterway, Iriomote is the second-largest island in Okinawa but remains remarkably untouched by the development that has blighted other tropical islands in the Pacific. Protected as Japan's most southerly national park, it has no airport and the only way to reach it is by ferry. Visitors are able to hike in the rugged interior and try canyoning in its fast-flowing streams and rivers. Paddle boards and canoes are also available to explore the beaches and the broad tidal rivers that wind inland and are fringed by mangroves that stand proud of the water at low tide. Diving and snorkelling opens up the colourful coral reefs. For the slightly less energetic, those same mangroves can be visited in boats with local guides. An electric-blue kingfisher bides its time on a branch out over the creek and an endangered black-faced spoonbill digs in the shallows in search of a meal. There are occasional sightings in these waters of dugong. I have to once again remind myself that I am in Japan. Perhaps the most famous – and elusive – inhabitant of this wilderness is the Iriomote cat, a smaller relative of the leopard that is only found here. It is listed as critically endangered, with only around 100 believed to remain. The modern world has not been kind to these creatures and along every road are signs exhorting motorists to drive slowly. A short ferry ride to the east is Taketomi, where the heart of the island's community has been preserved as a network of traditional homes of red tiles and fierce-looking Shisa behind thick outer walls of jagged coral. Some of the properties have been turned into cosy minshuku where overnight visitors can sample the local hospitality and cuisine. The school is the most modern building and there are no cars in the heart of the village, where residents sweep the sand alleyways after the last buffalo cart of the day has passed by. Ishigaki is not the largest of the Yaeyama Islands, but it is the busiest and, thanks to its airport, is where most visitors arrive. Ishigaki City is small but has some excellent restaurants serving local cuisine. Goya champuru, Okinawa's signature dish, combines pork, tofu, eggs and goya, a greed gourd with a distinctively bitter aftertaste. On the north coast of Ishigaki is the peaceful town of Kabira and its famous bay. Black pearls are cultivated in the waters of the bay and glass-bottom boats set out from its impossibly white sand beaches. The boatman keeps up a running commentary as we head out over the coral that covers the seabed. Clown fish dart in and out of the anemones as other tropical species swim between the 250 species of coral. But it is the more elusive turtles that everyone hopes to catch sight of. Just as it seems today will not be our lucky day, we pass over a green turtle rocking gently in the current. The youngest on board squeal as their holidays are made unforgettable. With a lazy sideways glance, the turtle waggles a fin, turns and begins to ascend. The creature surfaces just a couple of metres from the boat before descending in search of a more peaceful patch of the reef.
