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The Mainichi
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
'Expo lady' completes full circuit of Osaka pavilions on 46th consecutive visit
OSAKA -- A woman known for being a fan of Expo events has completed a full circuit of all pavilions at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, after visiting the venue for 46 consecutive days since its opening. Tomiyo Yamada, 76, also known by the nickname "Banpaku obaachan," or "Expo lady," completed the feat on May 28. Twenty years ago, Yamada visited the Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan, which was held in her home prefecture, every day it was open. From then on, she became famous for visiting Expo events on every opening day, including those in Shanghai and Yeosu, South Korea. Yamada smiled as she visited the Netherlands Pavilion, which was, by her count, the 219th place she had been to at the Expo. She commented, "I feel it is important to keep going. I'm so happy to have made it to today." There, she met Dutch Consul-General at the Osaka Consulate-General Marc Kuipers and others. During a commemorative ceremony held after the tour, a pinatalike "kusudama" exploded in celebration, and she was given a specially made plushie of the character "Miffy." As she aims to visit the Expo on all 184 days until the final day on Oct. 13, Yamada, her husband and son moved to an apartment block in nearby Suminoe Ward from their home in the Aichi Prefecture city of Seto last December. Yamada shared her aspirations as she completes a second go-around of the pavilions, saying, "From now on, I want to convey the splendor of Japanese culture to visitors from overseas." (Japanese original by Makiko Nagao, Student Newspapers Editorial Department)
7 days ago
- Entertainment
Expo Grandma Completes Tour of All Osaka Expo Pavilions
News from Japan May 28, 2025 18:09 (JST) Osaka, May 28 (Jiji Press)--A Japanese woman known as "Expo grandma" for visiting World Expositions around the globe has completed her visits to all open pavilions at the ongoing 2025 Expo in the western Japan city of Osaka. On Wednesday, the 46th day of the Osaka Expo, Tomiyo Yamada, 76, visited the last remaining pavilion, the Netherlands pavilion, where a celebration ceremony was held in her honor. "I finished with the Netherlands, which has had friendly relations with Japan for a long time," Yamada said with a smile. "It's important not only to enter pavilions, but also to thoroughly digest (the exhibits) until the end," she noted. The Netherlands pavilion presented her with commemorative gifts including a stuffed doll of the Dutch character Miffy. Yamada aims to visit the Osaka Expo every day until it closes. "I want to communicate with the staff (of pavilions) and feel the current situations of (exhibiting countries)," she said. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Tokyo Weekender
26-05-2025
- Health
- Tokyo Weekender
The Central Japan International Medical Center Is Revolutionizing Cancer Care
Nestled in the heart of Japan , the brand-new Central Japan International Medical Center (CJIMC) stands as a beacon of excellence in global health care. With state-of-the-art facilities and highly advanced technology, coupled with an intense focus on quality of care, CJIMC is emerging as a premier destination for international patients seeking top-tier medical services in Asia. 'Having seen medical care from all over the world, I designed this medical center with a global approach, equipped to treat patients from all backgrounds. The facility is supposed to feel more like a hotel than a hospital,' explains Dr. Jitsuhiro Yamada, the chairperson of Central Japan International Medical Center and a past international president of Lions Clubs International. CJIMC caters to patients of all backgrounds and nationalities — among them, medical tourists who come to Japan specifically to access cutting-edge care at a comparatively low cost. The facility offers a wide variety of services, including comprehensive health screenings and checkups, but what perhaps stands out most is its Proton Therapy Center, which is home to one of the world's most advanced and innovative radiation oncology treatment systems. Varian ProBeam 360° Revolutionizing Cancer Care At the heart of CJIMC's Proton Therapy Center lies the Varian ProBeam 360°, a highly advanced proton therapy system made in the US . Unlike traditional radiation therapy (which uses X-ray and gamma ray particles), the ProBeam 360° uses a proton particle beam, which is able to accurately zero in on tumors; this allows for unparalleled precision in targeting cancerous cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues, proving particularly effective for treating cancers in delicate locations. 'Cancer is the scariest diagnosis a patient can receive,' Dr. Yamada says. 'We've integrated the ProBeam 360°, a highly effective, third-generation proton therapy equipment.' This cutting-edge treatment is offered in very few locations worldwide. 'We're working hard to make it easier for international patients to receive cutting-edge cancer treatment here.' Dr. Jitsuhiro Yamada The Proton Therapy Center is led by Dr. Nobukazu Fuwa, one of Japan's most respected radiation oncology experts, and treatments are delivered on an outpatient basis. Each treatment session usually takes 10 to 15 minutes, meaning that patients spend just a fraction of their day in the hospital. Though it varies based on cancer type and severity, Dr. Yamada says that proton therapy can sometimes conclude in around 21 sessions — for example, in the case of prostate cancer — allowing patients to receive a full course of treatment in a single month. It's an especially appealing option given the high costs of healthcare in America. 'With proton therapy that uses the American-made Varian system, even after purchasing round-trip airfare to Japan and getting gifts for your family here, the total cost would still be lower than just receiving treatment in the US,' notes Dr. Yamada. Elmammo PET scanner A Leading Force in Preventive Medicine Beyond specialized treatment, CJIMC is also a hub for preventive care and comprehensive health screening. The hospital offers full-body checkup packages designed to detect health issues at their earliest, most treatable stages — including full-body cancer screenings, cardiovascular system screenings and brain screenings. As such, it's an ideal destination for health-conscious travelers seeking peace of mind. The full-body cancer screening course includes an MRI, blood testing and a PET/CT scan, a combined imaging test that shows both the metabolic activity and detailed anatomy of one's body. In America, PET scans can cost several thousand dollars, and insurance can refuse to cover the examination if it's deemed not medically necessary. CJIMC is also equipped with an Elmammo PET scanner, a PET imaging system dedicated exclusively to breast cancer detection. This groundbreaking technology delivers highly accurate results without the discomfort of traditional mammography, making it an extremely popular option for female patients. International Support and Accessibility Recognizing the increasing demand from international patients, CJIMC works with English-speaking coordinators to assist with every step, from scheduling and payment to medical interpretation and aftercare support. Patient privacy and comfort are a top priority, and the facility's staff work hard to ensure that every international visitor experiences seamless, compassionate and culturally sensitive care. Although some overseas visitors may not be familiar with Gifu, it's centrally located and easy to reach from any of Japan's major cities. Situated just over an hour from Chubu Centrair International Airport and within easy reach of Nagoya, the hospital is easily accessible by high-speed rail, expressway or plane. Moreover, Gifu's beautiful nature and rich cultural heritage offer a peaceful and restorative environment — ideal for recovery and rehabilitation. Patients can experience the tranquility of Japan's heartland while receiving world-class medical care. Inuyama Inuyama Culture, History and Natural Beauty The medical center is located in close proximity to a number of scenic and culturally rich locations, which patients can explore once their treatment has concluded. Among them is the picturesque mountain village of Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its traditional gassho-zukuri thatched-roof farmhouses — an enchanting, fairy tale-esque view. Nearby, the Okuhida region beckons with its dramatic 3,000-meter-class peaks and a wealth of natural hot springs, perfect for relaxation and recovery. Access is convenient: It takes just about 1 hour and 40 minutes by express train from the medical center to Takayama Station, which serves as the gateway to all these areas. The town of Inuyama, which neighbors CJIMC, is also full of things to do. It's home to Inuyama Castle, one of the five national treasure castles in Japan alongside Himeji and Matsumoto castles. Its main keep offers panoramic views of the Kiso River. The area surrounding the castle retains its Edo-period charm, with narrow lanes lined with traditional merchant houses, quaint shops and local eateries. The castle town is domestically known for the Inuyama Festival in early April, where intricately decorated floats are paraded through the streets, illuminated by hundreds of lanterns. Museum Meiji-Mura Museum Meiji-Mura Just a short distance from the castle, Museum Meiji-Mura is an open-air museum showcasing over 60 culturally significant buildings from the Meiji era. Among its treasures is the reconstructed main entrance of Tokyo's old Imperial Hotel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Visitors can explore historic structures, ride a steam locomotive and wander through all 100 hectares of the whimsical park-museum steeped in nostalgia and historical significance. Elevating Global Health Standards As the world becomes more interconnected, the need for trusted, globally accessible health care providers continues to grow. With its fusion of cutting-edge technology, medical expertise and patient-centered care, Central Japan International Medical Center is poised to become a global leader in modern medicine. Whether it's the quiet dignity of individualized care or the seamless integration of some of the world's most advanced medical innovations, CJIMC embodies the values that have long placed Japan at the forefront of health care globally. 'I always teach new doctors that the center of medicine is not the doctor, but the patient. Patients come to us troubled by illness, and it is our job as doctors to use our knowledge to support them,' says Dr. Yamada. More Info Central Japan International Medical Center 1-1 Kenkonomachi, Minokamo, Gifu 505-8510 T: +81 574-66-1100
The Mainichi
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Buried history of sexual torture under now-defunct law in Japan recalled a century on
OSAKA -- A century has passed since the promulgation in April 1925 of the Peace Preservation Law, which stripped away freedom of speech and thought in Japan. Before its abolition in 1945, over 100,000 people were apprehended under the law, and over 1,000 are believed to have died due to torture or illness. It was a dark period, during which many women were also oppressed and subjected to unimaginable sexual torture. Kan Harada, 74, a former Kyoto Prefectural Assembly member from Kyoto's Nakagyo Ward, recalls the day when his mother, Toshiko Yamada, shared her painful past with a writer visiting their home. "They stripped her naked and pressed a cigarette against her lower body," Harada said with a detached tone. "What terrible humiliation it was." Harada was in high school at the time and hearing his mother's account for the first time, he was shocked. He was unable to ask her the details of what happened before she passed away in 1998 at the age of 87. Yamada was born in 1911 in the western Japan city of Tottori. After graduating from a local girls' high school, she moved to Tokyo, where she worked for a doctor. Her experiences there changed her life. Discrimination and a labor movement The doctor Yamada worked for would shun poor patients, refusing even to issue death certificates necessary for burial to laborers without money. Witnessing such discrimination based on people's financial status, even after death, Yamada quit her job and began working for the Musansha Shimbun, a newspaper affiliated with the Japanese Communist Party. She also worked in small factories, and became involved in movements to support laborers. The Peace Preservation Law broadly targeted communists and those involved in labor movements. In 1928, an amendment upgraded the maximum sentence under the law to death. Senji Yamamoto, a House of Representatives member from the Labor-Farmer Party who opposed this amendment was assassinated by a right-wing extremist. Many laborers attended his funeral, and police apprehended participants en masse. Yamada was among those taken in by police, and she was apprehended repeatedly after this on the grounds of violating the same law, and tortured. According to her autobiography "Nagai Tabiji" (A long journey), she was detained for over a month at a police station in Yokohama. Yamada refused to give her name or the names of her friends, and the Special Higher Police responded by striking her with bamboo swords and hitting her legs with an iron ball in a bag. She was stripped naked with her hands handcuffed behind her back, and a cigarette was pressed into her lower body. She was eventually sentenced to prison for five years. Focusing on women's and antinuclear movements After her release in 1937, Yamada married a man who had supported her through letters during her imprisonment, and the couple moved to Manchuria (now northeast China). After escaping attacks by Soviet soldiers and facing hardship, they returned to Japan, and settled in Gunma Prefecture after World War II. Yamada went on to dedicate herself to local women's movements and the antinuclear movement. "I think my mother was great for continuing to stand with vulnerable workers and never wavering in her beliefs, despite enduring terrible sexual violence and torture," says Harada. He followed in her footsteps, joining a textile company in Kyoto and eventually taking part in a labor dispute. After effectively being dismissed from the company, he engaged in activities with a local shopping district association. Following his tenure as a prefectural assembly member, he became the chairperson of the Kyoto prefectural headquarters of an alliance seeking state redress for victims of the Peace Preservation Law. He has continued to call for the government to apologize to victims of oppression and compensate them. In recent years, Harada has been concerned about the introduction of legal system changes that could potentially lead to thought control, like the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets and the establishment of the crime of conspiracy (officially the preparation of acts of terrorism and other organized crimes). "Depending on how those in power think, there is a risk it could lead to the kind of oppression we saw in the past. If we remain silent, we might once again face a dangerous era," he said. 'Erotic terror' buried in history The kind of sexual torture Yamada endured was not an exception. "Prejudices against the Communist Party and labor unions, combined with misogyny, led to many women being humiliated," says 78-year-old Kimie Oishi of the Osaka Prefecture city of Sakai, who serves as vice chairperson of the central headquarters of the alliance seeking state compensation. "The sexual torture of women under the Peace Preservation Law was absolutely vile, and was described as 'Erotic Terror.' People could not even speak of it to their families, and it has long been buried in history," she said. According to the alliance, there are women who have conveyed accounts of the torture to succeeding generations. One victim, Chiyoko Ito, a social activist from Nagano Prefecture, was subjected severe torture and died at 24 from causes related to mental illness. Her life has been depicted in numerous biographies and films. Takako Nakamoto, a proletarian writer from Yamaguchi Prefecture, wrote about being stripped naked, having a broom thrust into her, and being choked. Another woman from the Tokyo island of Hajijojima left a testimony saying she was stripped naked and molested, and tortured until she lost hearing in her left ear. Oishi notes that many women refused to turn from communism even when they were tortured in prison. "They probably were able to endure the torture because they believed that militarism would eventually end and a democratic society would certainly come. I want people to learn more about the history of such women's suffering," she says.
Free Malaysia Today
05-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Malaysia missing better rules, green energy to attract investment
Asia Zero Emission Community ambassador Takio Yamada said Malaysia needs to adopt a joint carbon credit system to accelerate green investments. KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia must improve in several areas to attract more high-value investments, according to Takio Yamada, ambassador of the Asia Zero Emission Community (Azec). Azec, comprising 11 member countries across the Asia-Pacific, including Japan, is dedicated to enhancing regional cooperation to achieve carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions. In an interview with FMT, Yamada said while Malaysia's strong physical infrastructure was a key attraction for investors, the slow pace of its green reforms remains a concern for many. 'New measures have to be introduced to accelerate investment. A joint carbon credit system is one of them,' he said. In 2011, Japan established the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) to promote decarbonising technologies through investments by Japanese entities, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emission while supporting sustainable development in partner countries. As of 2025, JCM has partnerships with 29 countries. Although Malaysia is not currently a signatory, reports indicate that it is actively exploring a bilateral partnership agreement with Japan. Given the rapid expansion in high-tech industry investments in Malaysia, Yamada said there was a need to enhance the country's infrastructure to support sufficient green energy supply. While Malaysia aims to achieve 70% renewable energy capacity by 2050, as of 2023, renewables made up only 23% of its total power generation mix. 'Ensuring there is sufficient infrastructure to support green energy supply will definitely help Malaysia invite new technology-oriented and high-value investment from abroad. 'Japan wishes to cooperate with Malaysia in improving these areas,' he said. Malaysia, a longstanding energy partner of Japan Yamada also highlighted the longstanding energy partnership between Malaysia and Japan, particularly on liquefied natural gas (LNG). 'But that's not the only thing that we can do together. There are many opportunities we can explore to develop green energy supply capacity in Malaysia,' he said. Malaysia is one of Japan's key suppliers of LNG, providing 10.2 million tonnes or 15.8% of Japan's total LNG imports in 2023. Much of this supply comes from Sabah and Sarawak, with the latter playing an increasingly strategic role in supporting Japan's energy needs. Sarawak has launched the Sarawak Gas Roadmap to transform the state into a regional energy powerhouse, leveraging its natural gas reserves to foster low-carbon industrialisation and meet global energy transition demands. Additionally, SEDC Energy Sdn Bhd, in collaboration with Japan's Sumitomo Corp and Eneos Corp, is spearheading the H2ornbill Project, which aims to produce 90,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually.
