Latest news with #Omura
Asahi Shimbun
6 days ago
- General
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: Memories of 'senninbari' a warning against blind allegiance
Educator Hama Omura (1906-2005), who was known as 'Japan's best teacher of the Japanese language' for her unique teaching method, taught for 52 years from before, during and after World War II. Until her death at the age of 98, Omura often talked about her experiences of making 'senninbari' (literally, 1,000-people stitches). Senninbari is a strip of white cotton cloth that was stitched 1,000 times and given to a soldier going to war by his mother, wife or other well-wishers. Worn on his person, it was meant to protect him from bullets. One thousand people were needed to make 1,000 knots in red thread. On the streets, women would be asked to stop and add their knots, while schoolgirls contributed to the effort in the classroom. At the women's high school in Tokyo where Omura taught, regular classes were canceled for making senninbari. One thousand marks were made on each piece of cloth to indicate where the knots should go. All the 1,000 participants threaded their needles simultaneously with a uniform length of red thread. The entire procedure was perfectly synchronized. 'The first bell rang, and that was the signal for everyone to make one knot,' Omura recalled. 'Then the second bell rang, twice. When done (with making the knot), the cloth was passed on to the next person. This process was repeated.' It is frightening, even to just imagine, 1,000 young girls making knots in perfect unison—and not one stitch out of line, literally. Omura herself voiced her regret later as a teacher in 'Onna tachi no Hachigatsu Jugonichi' (literally, 'Women's Aug. 15'): 'We were in a daze. We'd forgotten to think or doubt.' The Asahi Shimbun's 'Koe' letters to the editor section ran a comment on Aug. 13 from a reader who said their twentysomething child did not know what the words 'fukuin' (demobilization) and 'shoi gunjin' (disabled veteran) meant. I was stunned anew by the magnitude of what the passage of 80 years has 'swallowed up,' so to speak. We must not let wartime expressions fall into oblivion, and that definitely also goes for the memories of what led to those wartime realities. I believe Omura's reason for recounting her senninbari experiences was to stress the importance of thinking, questioning and speaking out. What needs to be recounted for posterity also existed in the details of the lives of noncombatant citizens who didn't go to the front. --The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 14 * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Yomiuri Shimbun
17-07-2025
- Science
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Memorial Hall of Nobel Laureate Satoshi Omura Opens in Yamanashi Pref. 10 Years since He Won Prize
A memorial hall of Satoshi Omura, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 10 years ago, opened in his hometown of Nirasaki in Yamanashi Prefecture, on Saturday. The hall showcases the 90-year-old Nobel laureate's life, from his upbringing to the time after receiving the prize, along with personal materials. The hall is a 120-square-meter, single story, reinforced concrete building and is located south of the Nirasaki Omura Art Museum. Omura built the hall with his own funds, and he donated it to the Nirasaki municipal government to convey a side of him distinct from his achievements as a chemist. Approximately 100 items are on display, including his parents' diary in which they wrote about his birth, his junior and senior high school report cards, and skiing equipment that he used to compete in the National Athletic Meet. Also on display is a pocket watch given to Omura by Tetsuharu Kawakami, a former Yomiuri Giants manager. A ceremony was held to mark the hall's opening on Saturday. Around 70 people from various fields attended, including representatives from universities, the arts and religion. The opening day of the hall coincided with his 90th birthday. Omura personally guided the attendees and said, 'I want people to know that I have tried to be useful to the world while socializing with various people and enjoying my life.' The hall is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Wednesday. Admission is ¥500 for adults and university students.
Tokyo Weekender
29-05-2025
- Tokyo Weekender
Awaji Island: Where Stunning Nature Meets World-Class Architecture
This article appeared in Tokyo Weekender Vol. 2, 2025. To read the entire issue, click here . The mesmerizing, swirling curls of cerulean and ivory that form the Naruto whirlpools — the world's largest vortex — are just one facet of Awaji Island's prismatic beauty. Floating on the Seto Inland Sea, Hyogo Prefecture's Awaji Island is a picturesque escape in Kansai. It offers lush fields of seasonal flora, charming beaches, hot spring resorts and culinary gems. The island is also one of the country's top onion-producing regions, affectionately known as Onion Island for its sweet, fragrant bulbs. Beyond Awaji Island's allure as an Edenic vacation destination lies a rich cultural history and dynamic artistic landscape. Creation myths describe the seaside oasis as the first island of Japan — formed by the god Izanagi and goddess Izanami, who emerged from primordial chaos and stirred the ocean's depths with a heavenly spear. Today, the island's mythological sites coexist in fascinating juxtaposition with its modern architectural interventions. Defined by Tadao Ando's geometrical forms, Awaji Island's architectural collection is a dream for aesthetes and photographers alike. List of Contents: The Water Temple Awaji Yumebutai Hundred Step Garden The Circular Forum and Oval Forum Zenbo Seinei Related Posts The Water Temple The main hall of Honpukuji is unlike any other Buddhist sanctuary in Japan — topped not by a grand roof but rather by a vast, elliptical lotus pond that reflects the serene rhythms of the sky and surrounding greenery. The spiritual structure, also known as Mizumido (Water Temple), was reimagined by Tadao Ando in 1991. Instead of leading visitors upward toward the altar, Ando envisioned a dramatic descent: A shadowed staircase bisects the aquatic mirror, drawing you into the temple's interior. The temple's outer entrance is pure and minimalistic, composed of a white gravel path and gently curving concrete walls that signify a subtle transition from the mundane to the spiritual. Inside awaits a latticed corridor in rich vermilion hues, culminating in Honpukuji's main altar. As the special head sanctuary of the Shingon sect's Omura school, the temple enshrines Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of healing. Visit in the afternoon to experience the temple's core at its most surreal, as rays of sunlight shroud the chamber in a crimson glow. Awaji Yumebutai It's hard to imagine, but this lush, expansive complex was once a wasteland — stripped bare after a large-scale excavation in the process of building Kansai International Airport. Tadao Ando endeavored to transform the space entirely, enhancing Awaji Island's scenic splendor with modern architectural elements — designing tranquil gardens, a conference center, a chapel, an open-air theater and other sites where humans and nature could coexist. With a name that means 'dream stage,' Yumebutai embodies the distinct, graceful contours and evocative minimalism of its architect, standing in seamless harmony with the island's serene natural beauty. Smooth concrete planes and precise geometric forms cast ever-changing patterns of shadow and light, yielding limitless opportunities for photographers — or just for quiet moments of contemplation. Hundred Step Garden While one could spend a whole day wandering around Yumebutai, a must-visit gem is Hyakudanen, or the Hundred Step Garden, created in remembrance of the victims of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. Perched atop a sloping hill, the unique spectacle consists of one hundred square terraces, arranged in a curious cascading grid formation reminiscent of an M.C. Escher print. Each square contains a quadrant of symmetrical flower beds composed of seasonal flora. In his typical fashion, Ando fuses nature and artifice by framing the garden's vibrant organic forms with rigorous precision. As a living work of art, Hyakudanen evokes both awe and contemplation. The Circular Forum and Oval Forum Close by, the Circular Forum and Oval Forum stand at the center of Yumebutai. As their names suggest, the two structures are open-air spaces made of exposed concrete, resembling a stadium or amphitheater. From ground level, wanderers can observe disks of the sky above. The Circular Forum has several slopes within layered walls, which visitors can ascend and descend to experience the space from varying perspectives. At the top is an observation area that overlooks Yumebutai. The Oval Forum features taller, imposing curved walls, accented with an asymmetrical sundial. Zenbo Seinei Tadao Ando is not the only Pritzker Prize-winning architect to enhance Awaji Island's artistic and spiritual landscapes: Shigeru Ban is the visionary behind a breathtaking wellness facility named Zenbo Seinei in the heart of the island. Opening its doors in the spring of 2022, the retreat is an elongated treehouse-like building made of Japanese cedar and other wood, rising above a vibrant forest. Here, patrons can participate in zazen meditation and yoga on a 100-meter-long wooden deck, take in fresh air and enjoy original vegan cuisine. Overnight stays are also available and include activities like guided meditation, calligraphy and tea ceremony. More Info To learn more about Awaji Island, visit their website . Related Posts Defying Death: The Curious Architecture of the Site of Reversible Destiny Tokyo Architecture: 5 Famous Japanese Architects' Buildings to Visit 7 Places of Worship in Tokyo With Unique Architecture
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
DOE preps to minimize bus route disruptions
JAMM AQUINO / 2022 The state Department of Education is expanding its free bus pass program beginning Aug. 1 and also considering options that include a carpool pilot program. A school bus picks up students outside Kaimuki High School. JAMM AQUINO / 2022 The state Department of Education is expanding its free bus pass program beginning Aug. 1 and also considering options that include a carpool pilot program. A school bus picks up students outside Kaimuki High School. In response to ongoing transportation challenges, the state Department of Education is implementing proactive measures to minimize disruptions and expand options for the upcoming 2025-26 school year—an early move, compared with last school year. Less than a week into the 2024-25 school year, the DOE announced the suspension of 108 school bus routes, affecting nearly 2, 900 students statewide due to a severe shortage of school bus drivers. DOE officials said Tuesday during a media briefing that its EXPRESS program, which provides free county bus passes to qualifying students, will be expanded to include middle and intermediate school students beginning Aug. 1. High school students will remain eligible. Student Transportation Services Administrator Megan Omura emphasized that the program is optional. 'It's always an option, so it's up to their parents to have the discussion with their students, ' she said. 'If they feel that they're responsible enough to sign up for this and self-manage themselves on the city or county bus, they should absolutely sign up.' Students must meet existing distance requirements to qualify—at least 1 mile from school for elementary students and 1.5 miles for secondary students. Applications will open July 14. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. To further expand options, a new carpool pilot program will launch in two school complexes—Mililani in Central Oahu and Kekaulike in Upcountry Maui—and is expected to begin in August with the start of classes. More information on the carpool program will be available to families in the upcoming months. The program will provide support and resources to help families connect with others in their area to share school drop-off and pickup responsibilities. 'This carpool pilot is actually something brand new, ' Omura said, explaining that the department is funding the digital platform that will help families coordinate carpooling, walking groups or bike-sharing routines. Unlike EXPRESS, this program doesn't involve public transit, but focuses on peer-to-peer coordination among registered guardians. Safety is a key focus. Omura said the Attorney General's Office conducted an 'extensive agreement review, ' and parents must sign liability waivers before participating. 'These are not just random people, either, ' she said. 'They're only contacting parents that are registered, and guardians of the students that are attending these schools.' While the program won't offer gas reimbursements, Omura said the department is covering the cost of the platform itself as part of its broader goal to assist families who don't currently use DOE transportation services. 'There's a big community of families that opt to drive their students or walk with their students to school every day, ' she said. State schools Superintendent Keith Hayashi highlighted progress made since the fall, noting that service has been restored for nearly 3, 500 students following widespread suspensions at the start of the current school year. 'We're taking early, proactive steps to try to minimize disruptions and expand options, ' he said. As of this spring semester, 125 of the 138 suspended routes have been reinstated. Contractors are continuing targeted hiring efforts—including sign-on bonuses, wage increases and enhanced benefits—to restore the remaining 13 routes. Ground Transportation Inc.—DOE's school bus contractor for routes on Oahu, Maui and East Hawaii island—had put up job listings with a starting pay of $35 an hour on top of a $3, 000 hiring incentive for CDL school bus drivers. Roberts Hawaii School Bus, which services routes on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and West Hawaii island, has school bus driver postings that list starting pay of $34 to $36 an hour and a $1, 000 sign-on bonus. 'This school year, our contractors have hired 125 drivers for the first time, ' Hayashi said, calling it a collaborative effort with bus companies, county officials and the governor's office. 'While driver shortages continue to be a challenge across the country, we're committed to doing everything we can to ensure a smooth start to the school year.' The department will also continue prioritizing service for elementary students and students receiving curb-to-curb special-education transportation. 'We don't foresee any changes there, ' Omura said, though she acknowledged the situation could shift if drivers leave their positions. 'We just want to remind families that if your student is receiving curb-to-curb serv ices or is at elementary (school ), those student serv ices will be prioritized.' Omura described the current school year as particularly challenging due to the start of a new transportation contract cycle—the first in nearly a decade. 'It's pretty much like opening up a brand new business in a brand new area, ' she said. 'And I don't think any of us foresaw just how difficult it was going to be.' With those contracts now established for the next eight to nine years, Omura said the department expects greater stability going forward. Still, gaps remain. Omura noted that while services have nearly returned to pre-suspension levels, restoring full pre-COVID-19 coverage would require about 100 more drivers. The most acute shortages are in Maui and East Hawaii island, where long distances and limited route flexibility pose unique obstacles. To accelerate hiring, the state continues to leverage an emergency proclamation from Gov. Josh Green that temporarily allows certain commercial drivers to bypass normal requirements. The proclamation is set to expire May 20 but could be extended or replaced by pending legislation. Families are encouraged to stay informed through their schools and the HIDOE website as summer planning and hiring efforts continue. Applications for school bus service for school year 2025-26 open July 14. More information is available at
