Latest news with #Sasaki
Japan Forward
24-07-2025
- Japan Forward
How Tokyo Station Became One Photographer's Muse
このページを 日本語 で読む Tokyo Station in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, was designed by architect Tatsuno Kingo and opened in 1914. Since then, it has played a central role in Japan's railway network. One man, Naoki Sasaki, 64, has a deep passion for the station. He proudly calls himself Japan's only "Tokyo Station researcher." While working full-time at a logistics company, he also publishes photo books and organizes events. With interest from foreign tourists on the rise, he says he wants to "create a place where people can discover the station's appeal." A rare snowy view of the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station. (Courtesy of Naoki Sasaki) Sasaki's fascination with trains began in upper elementary school during a family trip to Kyushu. He remembers riding the Blue Train sleeper from Shin-Osaka and enjoying beef stew in the dining car. "I still remember the taste," he says. Later, he joined a railway club with friends and began photographing stations and train yards around Tokyo. "That's where it all started for me," he says. In sixth grade, he planned a trip around the Tohoku region via the Joetsu and Uetsu lines. His parents, who also loved to travel, joined him. Even after his father passed away when Sasaki was in junior high, his mother accompanied him on a trip to Kyushu aboard the Sakurajima–Takachiho express. "She trusted me and supported what I loved," he says with gratitude. After junior high, Sasaki enrolled in the National Institute of Technology, Tokyo College, hoping to become a conductor for Japan National Railways. But the company was struggling at the time, and talk of privatization made the future seem uncertain. Hiring for conductor positions was limited, so after graduation, he joined a camera company — his second passion after trains. Naoki Sasaki, the 'Tokyo Station researcher,' at the Marunouchi Station Plaza in front of Tokyo Station, June. (©Sankei by Shuta Miyazaki, cropped) Even after starting his career, Sasaki continued photographing trains. But a turning point came in the early 2000s, when JR East and others decided to restore Tokyo Station to its original design. This included rebuilding the third floor and the domed roofs that had been lost in wartime air raids. At the same time, the "octagonal roof," a postwar icon for 60 years, was slated for removal. "I wanted to photograph what was about to disappear," Sasaki says. His passion for railway photography was reignited. He experimented with different angles and lighting, and in 2020, as the project ramped up, he published a photo book documenting the changes. When the restoration was completed in October 2024, he was struck by the sight of the new domes. "I thought, 'Is this really Tokyo Station?' It looked completely different," he recalls. But the restoration also sparked new inspiration. "The more I photographed it, the more I found I wanted to express and share." He began to feel a strong sense of responsibility to pass down the station's history. According to JR East, more than one million people use Tokyo Station each day. Foreign visitors have increased in recent years, but most people still pass through the station without really looking at it. Now in his sixties, Sasaki continues to hold regular exhibitions and events to raise awareness of the station's history and charm. "Tokyo Station is a part of the Japanese spirit. It brings together elements that speak to our hearts," he says. "We want to create a space where people can learn its history, appreciate its beauty, and ask questions." On August 3, he plans to host an event near the station titled "Why This Tokyo Station Researcher Is So Deeply Obsessed with Tokyo Station." Sasaki says he will keep exploring and sharing the meaning of Tokyo Station. His goal is to help it remain one of Japan's most beloved destinations. Author: Shuta Miyazaki, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
Axios
11-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Photos: Lincoln Beach redevelopment inches forward
New Orleans officials have selected a construction manager to lead the long-awaited redevelopment of Lincoln Beach, marking a key milestone in the project. Why it matters: The timeline to reopen the city's historic Black beach is behind schedule but still moving forward, with an estimated grand opening in early 2027. The big picture: Metairie-based RNGD (pronounced " renegade") was selected as the construction manager at risk, a city spokesperson confirmed this week. This type of contractor is hired during the design phase so it can be more involved early on during complicated projects, according to the American Institute of Constructors. RNGD, founded by Wesley Palmisano, has previously worked on NOMA's sculpture garden, the New Orleans Lakefront Airport and several hotels in town, according to its website. Between the lines: Axios New Orleans filed a public records request for RNGD's winning bid, which the mayor's office declined to release. The administration responded but didn't answer other questions related to the project. Behind the scenes: We toured the beach in May during the city's open house for prospective contractors. Access was difficult, with the main tunnel partially flooded and mud covering the sidewalk. But once we got through the trees, the space opened up to a wide waterfront with several historic structures still standing. The beach remains closed to the public, with on-site security. Zoom in: Construction is expected to start in December and take 12 to 18 months to finish the first phase, according to Sasaki, the firm hired to do the master plan. The first phase includes replenishing the sand on the beach, building a parking lot and creating safe pedestrian access via an elevated walkway, elevator and tunnel. The master plan, which was unveiled in May, has a wide, sandy shoreline with bathrooms, a restaurant and eventually a welcome center/history museum. More renderings. By the numbers: The first phase is expected to cost $17 million to $23 million and is fully funded through local, state and federal sources, Sasaki says. Lincoln Beach will be free to access, in contrast to the now-stalled plan for Pontchartrain Beach. Additional phases will require more grants and fundraising. State of play: Lincoln Beach closed in the Little Woods area of New Orleans East shortly after Pontchartrain Beach, the white-only beach, was integrated in 1964. Pontchartrain Beach closed in 1983. Lincoln Beach is about 15 acres along the lakefront near Hayne Boulevard and Vincent Road. It's on the National Register of Historic Places. The beach was marketed as "The Coney Island of the South" and was a major recreational spot for Black residents during segregation. What's next: Project leaders are applying for permits now and still hope to reopen Lincoln Beach in early 2027 — a timeline they call " very conservative."
Tokyo Weekender
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
Sasaki Rui: The Cross-Dressing Female Swordmaster of Feudal Japan
Japanese history has no shortage of badass female warriors, including the 12th century vanguard leader Tomoe Gozen , said to be 'a warrior worth a thousand,' and Nakano Takeko, leader of the Joshitai (Women's Army) at the Battle of Aizu, part of the Boshin War. Somewhere between those two, there was Sasaki Rui. Not much is known about her, not even her date of birth and death. What we do know, though, is that she was a swordmaster active during the early Edo period and that her life is easily worth a minimum of two big-budget historical action dramas. List of Contents: Sasaki Rui's Background The Strangely Dressed Female Swordmaster Sasaki Rui vs. Cross-dressing Delinquents Related Posts Sasaki Rui's Background She was born in what is today Ibaraki Prefecture to Sasaki Budayu, a renowned martial artist in the service of Doi Toshikatsu, chief advisor of shogun Tokugawa Hidetada. An only child, Sasaki was trained from an early age in all manner of fighting, from traditional swordsmanship to sekiguchi-ryu , an eclectic art combining hand-to-hand combat with quick draws and other sword techniques. At the same time, though, she reportedly also excelled in etiquette, household administration and other arts of feudal Japan. That, plus her position as the daughter of a notable samurai household, made her a very attractive marriage prospect, and she apparently had many suitors. However, she rejected them all because she and her father wanted her to marry a warrior worthy of the Sasaki legacy. Sadly, her father died before naming an heir, and she didn't count. During the Sengoku period of civil war, it was technically possible for a woman to lead a family in the absence of any male relatives, like what happened with Ii Naotora in the mid-16th century. However, by the Edo Period, this would no longer fly; the Sasaki bloodline would end with Rui unless she found a husband. And that's what she claimed to be doing by going to Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and dressing like a man. 'Ishi-jo wielding a naginata' by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (c. 1800s) The Strangely Dressed Female Swordmaster After the death of her father, Sasaki opened her own dojo in Asakusa. She apparently decorated the entrance with spears, naginata glaives and armor storage chests, but that wasn't what made the biggest impression on her neighbors. While out and about, she wore a black silk haori jacket and carried two samurai swords, very much in a style reserved at the time for men. Some sources say she also wore a samurai hairstyle, but that may be a misunderstanding because she used a kogai — a long, dagger-like hairdressing tool that was used by the samurai to style hair ( or mark cut-off heads ) — that became a popular ornament among Edo women in the 17th century. Nonetheless, Sasaki's cross-dressing actually got her summoned before both of Edo's magistrates ( machi-bugyo ). When asked about her appearance, Sasaki simply explained that she hoped her bold attire would help her attract a powerful man worthy of restoring the proud Sasaki clan. By that point, Sasaki's dojo was already quite popular, and she had established herself as a great swordmaster, so her explanation was accepted. Later, her father's former patron, Doi, allegedly helped her find a husband, restoring her family name and lands. And that's more or less where Sasaki's legend ends. Except for one tiny detail. Sasaki Rui vs. Cross-dressing Delinquents Sasaki didn't just practice fighting in her dojo. Stories go that she often clashed with a new breed of street gangs that started plaguing Edo ever since the country entered an era of peace. These kabukimono or hatamoto-yakko were made up of young samurai from the entire spectrum of Japan's warrior class, from low-ranking ronin to members of houses in the direct service of the shogun. Without a real war to occupy them, they banded together to terrorize, extort and even kill the people of Edo. They also often did it in incredibly gaudy clothing or even female kimono. Kabukimono engaged in un-samurai-like behavior. Their name comes from the verb kabuku, meaning 'to act or dress strangely,' and is also the origin of 'kabuki' since the theater was originally a female-only affair , where women played all the roles, which included dressing up as men. The kanji characters for 'kabuki' were later changed to 'sing, dance and skill.' Sasaki, a woman dressed as a man, would reportedly fight these criminal cross-dressers, but also won the respect of other street gangs like the Shiratsuka-gumi, who dressed entirely in white, from their clothes to their scabbards. Far be it from us to romanticize the feudal era, but when street crime happened during the Edo period, it at least looked super fun. Related Posts Mori Motonari: The Beggar Prince Who Conquered the Island of God The Lesbian Romance That Inspired a String of Volcano Suicides Oda Ujiharu: Why the 'Weakest Samurai Warlord' Is Admired to This Day
Malaysia Sun
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Malaysia Sun
Adolis Garcia hits walk-off blast as Rangers stun Dodgers
(Photo credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images) Adolis Garcia hit a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Texas Rangers to a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday afternoon in the middle game of a three-game interleague series in Arlington, Texas. Garcia's blast over the left field wall came off the Dodgers' Kirby Yates -- who was the Rangers' closer in 2024 -- and followed a leadoff double by Josh Smith. The home run was Garcia's fourth of the season, and it made a winner out of Jacob Webb (2-0), the third pitcher for Texas. Yates (1-1) had his first blown save of the year. Six players had one hit each for Los Angeles, which had a four-game winning streak snapped. Texas managed just five hits but evened the series while winning for the fourth time in five games. Shohei Ohtani missed his second straight game while on the paternity list. His wife gave birth to a daughter, it was announced Saturday. Both starters -- Roki Sasaki for Los Angeles and Nathan Eovaldi for Texas -- pitched well enough to win, but an error by Eovaldi made the difference in handing the Dodgers the lead. Sasaki allowed two runs on two hits over a career-high six innings while striking out four and walking three. Eovaldi gave up three runs (two earned) while scattering five hits and striking out seven without a walk. The Rangers struck first, going up 2-0 on Kyle Higashioka's two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning. The blast that also plated Dustin Harris, who had walked to start the inning, was just out of the reach of leaping Los Angeles left fielder Michael Conforto and was the first hit off Sasaki. The Dodgers wasted little time in answering, tying the game in the fourth when Freddie Freeman ripped a two-run homer down the right-field line that also scored Mookie Betts, who had singled in front of him. After a groundout, Conforto singled and went to second when Eovaldi's pickoff throw to first base hit him in the back and rolled away. Max Muncy followed with a double to the right-center field gap that allowed Conforto to trot home and give Los Angeles a 3-2 lead. Neither team threatened as they got into their respective bullpens. Sasaki was followed to the mound by Jack Dreyer (one inning), Evan Phillips (two-thirds of an inning, two strikeouts and one single) and Alex Vesia (one-third of an inning) before Yates. Robert Garcia pitched the seventh for Texas and Webb retired all six batters he faced over the final two innings. The series between the past two World Series champions will conclude Sunday afternoon. --Field Level Media
Hans India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Boston Consulting Group Names Yasushi Sasaki as Next Asia Pacific Chair
Boston Consulting Group (BCG), one of the world's leading management consulting firms, today announced that Yasushi Sasaki has been appointed the firm's next Asia Pacific Chair, effective July 1, 2025. Sasaki is currently BCG's Northeast Asia System Leader, overseeing the firm's operations in Japan and Korea. He joined BCG in 2002 and is based in Tokyo. 'Thanks to Neeraj's leadership, BCG's business in Asia Pacific is now stronger, more connected, and more future-ready than ever,' said Sasaki. 'We have faced volatility, and we know more uncertainty lies ahead—but even as the winds shift, our direction remains clear. With a strong crew and a shared compass, I have no doubt we'll continue reaching new horizons—together.' Since joining BCG, Sasaki has focused primarily on the financial services sector, with deep expertise in banking, insurance, investment banking, and asset management. He has advised clients on a wide range of strategic and organizational topics, including mid- to long-term strategy, reorganization, sales reform, IT, and digital strategy. Prior to his current role, he served as Regional Practice Area Leader for Financial Institutions in Asia Pacific and has contributed to several firmwide initiatives. With this appointment, he joins BCG's Executive Committee, Operating Committee, and People and Purpose Committee. Sasaki will succeed Neeraj Aggarwal, who has led the Asia Pacific region since 2018. 'I'm especially excited for the region as Sasaki-San steps into the role,' said Neeraj. 'Having worked closely with him over the years, I've seen his thoughtful, inclusive, and bold leadership in action. He has played a central role in strengthening the Northeast Asia system—expanding our presence in Japan and Korea and deepening collaboration across the region.' During Neeraj's tenure, BCG's business in Asia Pacific has doubled in size and established itself clearly as the top consulting firm in the region. He helped scale the firm's capabilities in Digital & AI, Climate & Sustainability and significantly advanced BCG's diversity agenda, while guiding the region through COVID-19 and broader global volatility. Looking Ahead 'Asia-Pacific is entering a pivotal decade—AI-fueled productivity, net-zero growth plays, and smarter supply chains are rewriting the growth playbook,' Yasushi said. 'I'm grateful for this opportunity to lead BCG Asia-Pacific and continue to help our clients create stronger, more resilient businesses.' BCG's Longstanding Presence in Asia-Pacific BCG has been a trusted advisor to leading companies in the Asia-Pacific region for over five decades. Its first office opened in Tokyo in 1966, and since then, the organization has rapidly expanded its presence to 27 offices in the region. With a team of experts dedicated to the region, BCG continues to partner with clients to navigate the complex dynamics of global trade and drive transformation across industries. About Boston Consulting Group Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact. Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.
