Latest news with #TheKyotoShimbun
Kyodo News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Ex-baseball pro plants "Superman" rice to help Kyoto kids
The Kyoto Shimbun - 7 hours ago - 16:29 | All, Japan A former professional baseball player for the Hanshin Tigers and native of Yosano in Kyoto Prefecture recently returned to his roots -- this time in a rice field. Yoshio Itoi, whose physical prowess during his playing days earned him the nickname "Superman," took part in a rice-planting activity on May 2 in Yosano's Ishikawa area, as part of an ongoing initiative to support local children. Itoi, 43, has been working with the local agricultural corporation AGRIST to tackle a decline in both the farming population and youth participation in sports. Through this partnership, Itoi has spent the past two years helping produce and promote a premium brand of Koshihikari rice known as "Superman Rice." A portion of the rice's sales is used to purchase sports equipment that Itoi personally delivers to local elementary schools. During the activity in Ishikawa, Itoi skillfully operated a rice-planting machine under the guidance of AGRIST representative Keishi Ota, carefully planting seedlings across approximately 10 ares of land. He showed genuine commitment to the work, frequently looking back to inspect the field throughout the process. After completing the planting, Itoi shared his hopes for the future. "It would make me happy if children from our community grew up strong and became famous local athletes." The Kyoto Shimbun Related coverage: Japan's largest photography festival opens in Kyoto Foreign residents and locals unite for Kyoto Hina-matsuri Kyoto Abilympics showcase vocational skills of people with disabilities
Kyodo News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Ex-baseball pro plants "Superman" rice to help Kyoto kids
The Kyoto Shimbun - 17 minutes ago - 16:29 | All, Japan A former professional baseball player for the Hanshin Tigers and native of Yosano in Kyoto Prefecture recently returned to his roots -- this time in a rice field. Yoshio Itoi, whose physical prowess during his playing days earned him the nickname "Superman," took part in a rice-planting activity on May 2 in Yosano's Ishikawa area, as part of an ongoing initiative to support local children. Itoi, 43, has been working with the local agricultural corporation AGRIST to tackle a decline in both the farming population and youth participation in sports. Through this partnership, Itoi has spent the past two years helping produce and promote a premium brand of Koshihikari rice known as "Superman Rice." A portion of the rice's sales is used to purchase sports equipment that Itoi personally delivers to local elementary schools. During the activity in Ishikawa, Itoi skillfully operated a rice-planting machine under the guidance of AGRIST representative Keishi Ota, carefully planting seedlings across approximately 10 ares of land. He showed genuine commitment to the work, frequently looking back to inspect the field throughout the process. After completing the planting, Itoi shared his hopes for the future. "It would make me happy if children from our community grew up strong and became famous local athletes." The Kyoto Shimbun Related coverage: Japan's largest photography festival opens in Kyoto Foreign residents and locals unite for Kyoto Hina-matsuri Kyoto Abilympics showcase vocational skills of people with disabilities
Kyodo News
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Kyodo News
Japan's largest photography festival opens in Kyoto
The Kyoto Shimbun - 10 minutes ago - 09:35 | All, Japan KYOTOGRAPHIE, Japan's biggest photography festival, opened on April 12 with exhibitions across 15 venues throughout Kyoto. Among the highlights is the work of internationally renowned French artist JR, who photographed 505 Kyoto residents and transformed their portraits into stunning large-scale are on display in the north passage of the Kyoto Station Building and at the Kyoto Shimbun Building. JR is known for capturing the diverse faces of city dwellers around the world. He cuts out individual portraits and integrates them into cityscapes to form massive murals, which are then exhibited on city walls. At Kyoto Station Building, a panoramic photograph 22.55 meters wide and 5 meters tall, titled "The Chronicles of Kyoto, Close Up, Japan, 2024," was unveiled. The work invites people of all ages and backgrounds to come together and reflect on the contemporary spirit of Kyoto. In a former printing factory at the Kyoto Shimbun Building, 10 of the participants are featured as 3D "giants," standing 8 to 9 meters tall. Recordings of their voices accompany the installation, sharing stories about their work and lives, creating an immersive space to learn about the individuals behind the images. JR described Kyoto as having a distinct atmosphere, combining a sense of calm with a unique vitality. Now in its 13th edition since launching in 2013, this year's KYOTOGRAPHIE features works by both Japanese and international photographers, including Mao Ishikawa and Martin Parr. The festival runs through May 11. The Kyoto Shimbun More stories from Kyoto Shimbun: Foreign residents and locals unite for Kyoto Hina-matsuri Kyoto Abilympics showcase vocational skills of people with disabilities Kyoto New Year's revelers reach for pieces of luck at temple event
