Latest news with #TokyoUniversityofAgriculture
The Star
23-07-2025
- Science
- The Star
Is your cat ignoring you? That means it trusts you, or rather, your scent
Domestic cats respond differently to the odour of their owner than that of an unfamiliar human. — AFP It is often believed that cats deliberately ignore us. In reality, this apparent coldness hides a sophisticated form of olfactory recognition. Indeed, a Japanese study published in the journal PLOS One reports that domestic cats identify their owners mainly by their scent. As such, they know they these familiar humans are part of their inner circle. As part of this study, Yutaro Miyairi and colleagues at Tokyo University of Agriculture conducted a revealing smell test with 30 domestic cats (11 males and 19 females, with an average age of seven) in their owners' homes. Each animal had to identify three samples: the scent of its owner, that of a stranger, and a control tube with no scent. The samples were collected from behind the ears, under the armpits, and between the toes, after asking participants to avoid alcohol, tobacco, spices and perfumes. The researchers found that the cats spent significantly less time sniffing their owner's scent than that of a stranger. This difference suggests immediate recognition: familiar scents require only a brief check. According to the researchers, this shorter sniffing time suggests that cats quickly recognise their owner's scent before moving on to something else. When faced with an unfamiliar person, they investigate longer to gather information. The study also reveals that cats prefer to use their right nostril to analyse unfamiliar smells, then switch to the left once the information has been processed. This mechanism suggests that the right hemisphere of their brain processes new information, while the left hemisphere handles routine information. A social compass Another intriguing discovery was that many cats did not simply sniff the odours presented to them by the researchers. They frequently rubbed their faces against the sample tubes, favouring the side that had just been used for exploration. This behavior indicates a direct link between olfactory exploration and territorial marking. Personality also influences these olfactory behaviours. More anxious cats first examine the odorless tubes, while the more sociable ones head for their owner's males, this correlation is particularly marked: the most anxious cats make multiple trips back and forth, while the more serene creatures explore calmly. All these discoveries teach us a little more about our feline your cat sulks when you return from vacation, it may be because you smell unusual. Try taking a shower with your usual products and putting your old clothes back on to make it easier for your cat to warm to you again. Similarly, if your cat spends all its time sniffing a visitor, don't be jealous. This sign of attention simply means that the scent is new to them. Indeed, smell is king of the feline senses. Only 54% of cats recognise human faces, as Julia Henning, a PhD student in feline behaviour at the University of Adelaide, points out in an article in The Conversation. But a smell, they never forget. So "cat parents' can rest assured: your scent has earned you entry into the very exclusive club of "trusted smells' – those that can be safely ignored. With cats, being met with total indifference is the highest form of flattery. – AFP Relaxnews
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bear roaming golf course halts play at tournament again
A bear sighting on Wednesday prompted organizers of a golf tournament in Japan to cancel the opening day, marking the second time an ursine invader has halted play in the last two months. The bear was spotted in the morning near the first tee at the Meiji Yasuda Ladies tournament at Sendai Classic Golf Club in northern Japan on the professional JLPGA Tour. The pro-am competition scheduled for the same day was canceled, with organizers later deciding to scrap Thursday's opening day of the tournament. Organizers said they would decide later whether to play or cancel the rest of the competition, which has a total prize money of $670,000. "On Wednesday, a bear sighting on the course was reported and the pro-am tournament was cancelled to protect the safety of the participants, players and staff," said a statement on the tournament website. "To ensure safety and to consider future measures, we have decided to cancel Thursday's opening day," the statement continued. "We will announce details of the tournament from Friday onwards as soon as they have been decided." In May, the final round of the Twinfield Ladies on the women's second-tier Step Up tour in central Japan was cancelled after a bear was spotted on the course. The following month, a bear roaming the runway forced a Japanese airport to cancel flights and declare itself off-limits to passengers for the day. Human encounters with bears reached record levels in Japan last year, with 219 people attacked and six deaths in the 12 months to April 2024. Climate change affecting food sources and hibernation times is a key factor, but as Japan's aging population shrinks, humans are leaving rural areas, and that is also leaving room for bears to move in. "Then that area recovered to the forest, so bears have a chance to expand their range," biologist Koji Yamazaki, from Tokyo University of Agriculture, told CBS News' Elizabeth Palmer in 2023. Japan is one of the only places on the planet where a large mammal species has been reclaiming habitat — which is good news for the bears, but if, as biologists suspect, the bear population is growing, the country will have to figure out new ways to protect people, and vital infrastructure like airports, from the animals. Japan's government in February approved a bill allowing hunters to shoot bears in populated areas. In December, a bear that rampaged through a Japanese supermarket for two days was lured out with food coated in honey. Police said the animal was trapped and later killed. Son of man who was violently detained by ICE reacts after release Mike Johnson breaks from Trump, calls on DOJ to release Epstein files 7.3 magnitude earthquake hits southern Alaska Solve the daily Crossword
Asahi Shimbun
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Asahi Shimbun
Entomologist flying high with insect-themed bar in Shinjuku
An original cocktail inspired by the blue morpho butterfly, left, in Konchukan (insectarium) Bar Species in Tokyo's Shinjuku district (Rieko Oki) Tucked away in the vibrant heart of Tokyo's Shinjuku entertainment district, a curious speakeasy has emerged, where the bar flies actually have wings and a typical icebreaker between patrons might be: 'Nice thorax!' This is Konchukan (insectarium) Bar Species, a place where conversations over drinks about the wonders of the insect world take flight. Bar Species, located in a neighborhood teeming with bars, restaurants and izakaya pubs, features walls and counters adorned with insect specimens, some carefully mounted under glass, others very much alive. On a recent day at the bar, a Tsuda's giant stick insect (Megacrania tsudai) peeked bashfully from between the leaves, as if quietly observing the customers. The visionary behind this museum-bar establishment is 32-year-old Kazuyuki Oshima, a lifelong mantis researcher with an unusual dream: to create a space where people could raise a glass and speak freely—even romantically—about bugs. The drink menu features around 15 original cocktails, each inspired by the insect world. A luminous blue concoction, for example, evokes the iridescent wings of the blue morpho butterfly, while a protein-packed potable is made with powdered cricket. Guests often arrive with ideas of their own: 'Could you make something that feels like this bug?' Oshima, a self-taught cocktail craftsman, welcomes the challenge with enthusiasm and a smile. Even the bar snacks embody Oshima's whimsical vision. A bowl of mixed nuts arrives with mantis-shaped tweezers, inviting guests to nibble with entomological finesse. At the counter, patrons cradle their drinks in one hand and hold glass-encased specimens in the other, as bug talk fills the air. 'Did you know the elytra of the Hercules beetle can sometimes appear black instead of their usual amber? Why does that happen?' one excited guest asks. Another leans in, smartphone in hand, and says: 'I think this is a horsefly. I snapped it recently. Can you tell what species it might be?' Oshima, ever eager to share, responds with quiet delight and deep knowledge. 'Newspaper is perfect for storing collected insects as it absorbs both moisture and oils,' he explains. 'And here's a fun fact: The bright red color in Campari once came from cochineal scale insects.' LIFELONG FASCINATION Oshima's fascination with six-legged creatures began in early childhood and never wavered. He enrolled in an agricultural high school and later advanced to Tokyo University of Agriculture, intent on pursuing insect research. He immersed himself in exploring the taxonomy and morphology of praying mantises. The findings from his studies on how often they molt before reaching adulthood and how to identify species in their juvenile stages became the foundation of his doctoral thesis. In spring 2021, he earned a Ph.D. Since his student days, Oshima had nurtured a quiet yet vivid dream: to admire, discuss and appreciate insects—ideally with a drink in hand. Yet, no such place existed. So, he decided to 'build it myself.' Oshima found inspiration in a science-themed bar where he had once worked part-time as a student. It was a lively space where guests sipped cocktails while discussing the wonders of science. When he proposed his idea for an insect-themed bar, the owner responded with enthusiasm: 'Why not try it here?' In October 2021, about six months after completing his graduate studies, Oshima opened Konchukan Bar Species during a lull in COVID-19 cases. The pop-up operates on Sundays, Mondays, and holidays within the science bar space. On days when Bar Species is closed, Oshima continues working at the science bar while holding insect-themed workshops for children and writing academic papers. He regularly embarks on field expeditions overseas. Many of the specimens on display at the bar were collected by Oshima in the lush rainforests of the Guiana region in South America. Word of the bar gradually spread on social media, attracting a modest but devoted following. Bar Species now boasts around 20 regulars, with guests traveling from as far north as Hokkaido and as far south as Kumamoto. Children are welcome, too. To cater to families and out-of-town visitors, the bar opens at 3 p.m., earlier than most. BRINGING JOY Among the regulars is 58-year-old Sachiko Idei from Kanagawa Prefecture, who has been frequenting the bar for about two years. Captivated by the beauty and strangeness of insects since childhood, she had long resigned herself to enjoying them alone. No one around her truly shared her passion. 'People often say bugs are disgusting,' she says. 'But here, I can talk about them as much as I like. It brings me so much joy.' As for Oshima, he hasn't ruled out opening a full-time insect bar one day. 'Insects make up the vast majority of all animal species on Earth,' he notes. 'I've learned so much from the people who come here. Every conversation lights up the room. It's exactly what I always dreamed of.'
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Yahoo
Bear on runway halts flights at airport: "We're in a stalemate"
A bear roaming the runway forced a Japanese airport to cancel flights on Thursday and declare itself off-limits to passengers for the day. The black bear appeared at northern Japan's Yamagata Airport, immediately prompting the closure of its runway. The bear, which was about four feet tall, was first spotted near the runway at around 7 a.m. on Thursday, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported. This first sighting resulted in a delay of up to an hour of four flights, before the animal reemerged around noon, this time "running" on the runway. Airport staff used a car to chase it away and closed the runway again, with the bear still at large somewhere in the facility. "Given the situation there is no way we can host plane arrivals now," Yamagata Airport official Akira Nagai told AFP Thursday evening, adding the second closure led to 12 flight cancellations. With hunters brought in to set up a trap and police officers surrounding the airport to prevent the bear from escaping, "we're in a stalemate now," Nagai said. The facility plans to keep the runway closed till around 8:00 pm, the official said. Human encounters with bears have reached record levels in Japan, with 219 people attacked and six deaths in the 12 months to April 2024. Last month, a bear sighting brought a premature end to a golf tournament in central Japan, with organizers citing safety precautions. Climate change affecting food sources and hibernation times is a key factor, but as Japan's aging population shrinks, humans are leaving rural areas, and that is also leaving room for bears to move in. "Then that area recovered to the forest, so bears have a chance to expand their range," biologist Koji Yamazaki, from Tokyo University of Agriculture, told CBS News' Elizabeth Palmer in 2023. Japan is one of the only places on the planet where a large mammal species has been reclaiming habitat — which is good news for the bears, but if, as biologists suspect, the bear population is growing, the country will have to figure out new ways to protect people, and vital infrastructure like airports, from the animals. Japan's government in February approved a bill allowing hunters to shoot bears in populated areas. In December, a bear that rampaged through a Japanese supermarket for two days was lured out with food coated in honey. Police said the animal was trapped and later killed. Young Cuban girl asks Trump to lift travel ban stopping her from joining mom in U.S. Why are U.S. adults eating less fast food? Closing arguments set to begin in Sean "Diddy" Combs trial
CBS News
26-06-2025
- CBS News
Bear on runway forces airport in Japan to cancel flights: "We're in a stalemate"
Bear attacks in Japan at record high as the animals struggle to find food A bear roaming the runway forced a Japanese airport to cancel flights on Thursday and declare itself off-limits to passengers for the day. The black bear appeared at northern Japan's Yamagata Airport, immediately prompting the closure of its runway. The bear, which was about four feet tall, was first spotted near the runway at around 7 a.m. on Thursday, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported. This first sighting resulted in a delay of up to an hour of four flights, before the animal reemerged around noon, this time "running" on the runway. Airport staff used a car to chase it away and closed the runway again, with the bear still at large somewhere in the facility. "Given the situation there is no way we can host plane arrivals now," Yamagata Airport official Akira Nagai told AFP Thursday evening, adding the second closure led to 12 flight cancellations. With hunters brought in to set up a trap and police officers surrounding the airport to prevent the bear from escaping, "we're in a stalemate now," Nagai said. The facility plans to keep the runway closed till around 8:00 pm, the official said. Human encounters with bears have reached record levels in Japan, with 219 people attacked and six deaths in the 12 months to April 2024. Last month, a bear sighting brought a premature end to a golf tournament in central Japan, with organizers citing safety precautions. Climate change affecting food sources and hibernation times is a key factor, but as Japan's aging population shrinks, humans are leaving rural areas, and that is also leaving room for bears to move in. "Then that area recovered to the forest, so bears have a chance to expand their range," biologist Koji Yamazaki, from Tokyo University of Agriculture, told CBS News' Elizabeth Palmer in 2023. Japan is one of the only places on the planet where a large mammal species has been reclaiming habitat — which is good news for the bears, but if, as biologists suspect, the bear population is growing, the country will have to figure out new ways to protect people, and vital infrastructure like airports, from the animals. Japan's government in February approved a bill allowing hunters to shoot bears in populated areas. In December, a bear that rampaged through a Japanese supermarket for two days was lured out with food coated in honey. Police said the animal was trapped and later killed.
