Latest news with #Yuko
Cision Canada
02-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Ramen Arashi Langford Announces Official Grand Opening: July 9th
LANGFORD, BC, July 2, 2025 /CNW/ - After months of anticipation, Ramen Arashi Langford will officially open its doors on Tuesday, July 9th, bringing authentic Japanese ramen to the West Shore for the very first time. As the only dedicated ramen shop in Langford, this marks a major milestone for the fast-growing community and the sixth location for the beloved Ramen Arashi brand. Ramen Arashi Langford is owned and operated by Yuko and Allan Nichols, the same team behind the popular Victoria location. "We've had so many guests from Langford making the trip to Victoria just to eat our ramen," says Allan. "It was clear to us that the West Shore was hungry for its own Ramen Arashi." Located next to the YMCA and just minutes from local landmarks like the mountain bike park, BoulderHouse climbing gym, the rugby fields, Pacific FC's stadium, and more, the Langford location is designed to serve not just foodies, but the broader community of athletes, families, and everyday folks looking for warm, fast, soul-satisfying meals. Comfort Food for the Soul—Now in the West Shore Ramen Arashi stands apart from trend-focused ramen spots by staying true to its roots. "In Japan, ramen is a blue-collar meal—a quick, affordable comfort food loved by everyone from kids to grandparents," says Yuko. "That's the spirit we're bringing to Langford." The new location offers the same menu as the Victoria store —including its famous Tonkotsu, TanTan Men, and Rice Bowls—but with more than double the seating capacity, including plenty of bar seating and large bench tables for families and groups. The warm wood interiors and welcoming vibe make it the perfect place to recharge after a game, a ride, or a long day. From Banff to Langford: A Growing Canadian Ramen Brand The Ramen Arashi journey began in Banff eight years ago, founded by Kentaro and Yuji—two Japanese chefs who wanted to bring authentic ramen to Canada. Through a long-standing friendship with them, Yuko and Allan launched the Victoria location, which quickly became a local favourite. The Langford expansion is a direct response to demand from West Shore residents—and it won't be the last. "We've had people from all over Vancouver Island and even the mainland asking when Ramen Arashi will come to their town," says Allan. "We're listening." While restaurants across British Columbia have faced challenging times, Ramen Arashi is bucking the trend—growing steadily thanks to loyal customers, authentic food, and a commitment to quality service. Opening July 9th – Join Us! Location: 109-1331 Westhills Drive, Langford, BC Ramen Arashi Langford will officially open to the public on Tuesday, July 9th, with dine-in service only to start. While delivery options will not be available immediately, the team encourages guests to come experience the atmosphere, energy, and comfort that define the Ramen Arashi brand. The Langford location will also create over 40 new jobs, with staff trained in both kitchen operations and the spirit of Japanese hospitality. For opening updates and behind-the-scenes previews, follow @RamenArashiVictoria on Instagram. About Ramen Arashi Ramen Arashi is a growing Canadian ramen brand with locations in Banff, Victoria, and now Langford. Known for its authentic, blue-collar approach to ramen, the brand stays true to Japanese traditions while providing a warm and welcoming dining experience. SOURCE Arashi Dining Group Ltd.
Tokyo Reported
15-06-2025
- Tokyo Reported
Yuko Kitayama: Search continues nearly three decades after disappearance
Yuko Kitayama: Search continues nearly three decades after disappearance MIE (TR) – On the evening of June 13, 1997, Yuko Kitayama, then 17, finished her part-time job and headed to a friend's house to study. She was never heard from again. The case remains unsolved, with police continuing to seek the help of the public. On the morning of June 13 this year — the 28th anniversary of Kitayama's disappearance — police officers handed out leaflets in front of Matsusaka Station and once again called for information in the case. 'We are continuing our investigation with the firm belief that she will be returned to his parents,' said Kazuto Saijo, the chief of the Matsusaka Police Station. 'Please contact Matsusaka Police Station with any information you may have.' But there was a time when they did have such information. What happened next was a chronicle of missed opportunities that no mainstream news outlets mentioned this past week. Hello Kitty pager Yuko, a third-year student at Matsusaka Technical High School, worked at a local juku cram school in Meiwacho. On the day of her disappearance, she was planning to study with the aforementioned friend after finishing work. Her younger brother, three years younger than her, attended the same cram school, located near Saiku Station. Her mother would usually take her brother to the cram school in a light truck. She would then take Yuko's bicycle back to the house. Later, she would pick up both of them in a passenger car at around 8 p.m., and the three of them would return home together. However, on the day of her disappearance, there was not enough gas in the light truck. As a result, Yuko was to return home alone by bicycle that day. As well, her family was aware of her plans to study for a test with the friend rather than returning home immediately. After finishing her part-time job, she called the friend from a public phone near the town hall, about 200 meters from the cram school. She told her she would be there in about 10 minutes. However, when Yuko had not shown up by 11:00 p.m., her friend called her home. Her family was surprised, as they had assumed she would be at the friend's house. A search commenced. After they could not find her, they reported her missing with the Mie Prefectural Police at around 2:00 a.m. on June 14. Yuko usually kept a Hello Kitty-themed pager in the inside pocket of her vest. Her family and friends, who had been informed of her disappearance, sent a message to her pager and waited for a response, but there was no reply. Clothes, bicycle and bag never found At the time of her disappearance, Yuko had short hair, a medium build and stood about 150 centimeters tall. She was wearing a white short-sleeved blouse, a black uniform vest, a black pleated skirt, loose white socks and black cloth shoes, size 23.5. The navy blue bicycle she was riding had a Bridgestone T-shaped handlebar and was registered for theft prevention. Her contact information and name were written under the saddle. Her black shoulder bag for commuting to school contained a light blue wallet, a commuter pass case, a yellow lunch box, a comb, scissors and a mirror. The search for the surrounding area continued, but her clothes, bicycle and bag were never found. 'Why do you have Yuko's pager?' On the night of June 14, the day after her disappearance, Yuko's home received two suspicious phone calls at around 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. In both cases, the caller hung up as soon as the calls were answered. Her family later consulted with police. Shortly after Yuko's disappearance, her friends sent messages to her pager with their home phone numbers so that she could contact them. However, there were no signs of an accident in the area. Therefore, it was decided not to give out contact information as there was a possibility that Yuko had been involved in an incident. Sometime after June 16, a friend's house also received a series of mysterious silent calls. The friend thought that the caller had seen the messages addressed to Yuko and was making silent calls. She tried to talk to him, but at first there was no response. But one day, she asked, 'Where is Yuko?' A man's voice replied, 'I don't know her.' She then asked, 'Why do you have Yuko's pager?' He said, 'I picked it up.' 'Why do you have Yuko's pager?' However, in subsequent phone calls, the man's attitude changed, and he began to make different claims. 'I took her to the station,' he said. He added, 'She said she didn't have any money, so I lent her 50,000 yen. I took her pager as collateral.' The man then called her to Matsusaka Shopping Center MARM in Matsuzaka City. The friend accepted the invitation and told the police the situation. On June 20, while police were secretly deployed, the friend and Yuko's mother headed to the designated location. However, the man did not show up. Five days later, he called the house of her friend again. He said, 'I'll give you Yuko's pager back so come and get it.' She immediately rushed to the bus station to meet him, but only Yuko's grey pager was there. Notably, the gold bell and Hello Kitty keychain were not attached. Former offender On June 27, the man called the friend's house again. 'Did you receive the pager?' he asked. He then hung up quickly. Police traced the call to a public telephone in Ureshinocho, Mie Prefecture. They then took a man, age 46 at the time, in for voluntary questioning. He worked as a street vendor and lived nearby in Chayocho, Matsusaka City. An analysis of the man's voice and the calls made over the phone proved to be a match. As well, a white handkerchief with a blue pattern found in the man's pocket was confirmed by Yuko's family to be similar to one belonging to her. He was arrested the next day. During the course of the investigation, it became clear that the man did not have a clear alibi for the time when the incident took place. As well, he also a former offender, who served 12 years in prison for sexual assault and robbery. His modus operandi was to hit women on bicycles with his car, committing indecent acts and stealing their belongings. When the man's station wagon was examined, part of the left turn signal was broken. Further, there was a dent in the bumper that appeared to have been caused by a collision. A Japanese-Chinese dictionary believed to be Yuko's was found in the car. The dictionary had her friend's pager number written inside. Police increasingly suspected his vehicle used in a crime. They found more than 100 hairs and pieces of fiber inside. Police also found receipts for using the Ise Futami Toba Line toll road in the car, which raised suspicions that he had been traveling long distances to destroy evidence. The man regularly used a gas station in Matsusaka City once a week. Around the time of Yuko's disappearance, he filled up there on June 12, 15 and 17. Insufficient evidence Yuko had previously told a friend that she was scared because a suspicious man was following her. There was also a report of a white station wagon parked next to the public phone that she had used before her disappearance, which led police to increasingly believe likely that the man was involved. However, the man said during questioning that the pager was lost property. He also said that he had called the pager several times after learning that the owner was a high school girl. He continued to deny and remained silent about the charges regarding Yuko, including kidnapping. The man's detention expired on July 18. He was released due to insufficient evidence.
SoraNews24
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime hug pillow from Whisper of the Heart
From Shizuku's lap in the anime world straight to your lap in the real world. Studio Ghibli characters tend to take centre stage in its stable of movies, and its related merchandise lines as well. However, sometimes the studio throws us a curveball by shining a spotlight on items that aren't really characters at all, and that's what it's done with its latest release, which brings a humble cushion from Whisper of the Heart to life. The cushion only appears in the film for around two minutes, during a scene where main character Shizuku visits the house of her best friend, Yuko. As they chat in Yuko's room about their boy troubles, Shizuku wraps herself around the log-shaped pillow, wallowing as she hugs it until she comes upon a realisation for a new goal to try her hand at writing. This lightens her mood and makes her spring to her feet with a newfound sense of energy and excitement. ▼ The cushion doesn't appear for long but its colourful stripes and sleepy-eyed lion face makes it memorable. Image: Studio Ghibli The scene captures a cosy moment between friends that changes the course of the character's storyline, and now we can seek similar solace from the sleepy-eyed lion too, with the Whisper of the Heart Yuko's Room Hug Pillow. The hug pillow looks exactly like the one from the movie, with the face on the end bearing the exact same expression, complete with lion's mane. The chunky size of the pillow has also been faithfully replicated so you can wrap yourself around it, just as Shizuku does in the film. The item measures 25 centimetres wide, 60 centimetres long and 25 centimetres deep (9.8 × 23.6 × 9.8 inches). Made from polyester, the pillow is said to have an irresistibly soft texture so you won't be able to resist hugging it. It's the perfect product to help you get through a bad day, and like the plush toys from Howl's room in Howl's Moving Castle, it'll serve as a soft companion whenever you need it. Priced at 8,800 yen (US$61.38), the hug pillow can be preodered now through the Donguri Kyowakoku online store, with shipping scheduled for mid-to-late May. Source, images: Donguri Kyowakoku unless otherwise stated ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Arab News
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Saudi National Museum celebrates Founding Day with a cultural journey
RIYADH: The Saudi National Museum in Riyadh celebrated Founding Day with a three-day cultural extravaganza that offered visitors a journey through the Kingdom's rich history and identity. The event, taking place from Feb. 21-23, featured immersive programs including shadow theater performances chronicling the story of the legendary Prince Mani Al-Muraydi, founder of Diriyah, whose vision laid the groundwork for the first Saudi state under Imam Muhammad bin Saud. One of the key attractions traced the evolution of Saudi currency, from using foreign coins to introducing a national currency embodying sovereignty and economic unity. Interactive displays allowed guests to handle replicas of historic coins and learn about the Saudi riyal's role in shaping the nation's identity. Artisans showed off traditional crafts, bridging past and present by demonstrating skills passed down through generations. Al-Ahsa, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was prominently featured for its centuries-old mastery of bisht-making, a craft synonymous with Saudi identity. Habib Bukheder, a third-generation bisht tailor from Al-Ahsa, told Arab News: 'We inherit this craft from our fathers and pass it to our sons. The bisht is not just a garment — it is our identity.' This traditional cloak worn by men in the Arabian Peninsula symbolizes prestige, elegance and heritage. It is often worn for special occasions such as weddings, religious celebrations and official ceremonies. 'During National Day and Founding Day, you will see Saudis wearing bishts in the streets out of love for their country. We even crafted a green bisht to reflect the national flag's colors,' said Bukheder, who preserves historical pieces. He also shared his royal connections: 'The Daggat Al-Tabooq — a bisht with golden frond embroidery — was first worn by Prince Faisal bin Fahd in 1986. I was honored to design it for him and later for his son, Prince Nawaf.' In the Ornate Heritage exhibit, visitors explore the symbolism of the founding emblem, reflecting the Kingdom's cultural legacy and modern ambitions. Meanwhile, the Weaving Story program delves into the history of textile craftsmanship, illustrating how intertwined threads symbolize societal unity and resilience. For international visitors like Yuko, a tourist from Japan, the event serves as a gateway to Saudi culture. 'We wanted to see Saudi Arabia, especially Riyadh, and we learned a lot about the culture here,' she told Arab News. Yuko, visiting with her family, said they had not realized their trip would coincide with Founding Day. 'The city is amazing and beautiful, and the people are so friendly and hardworking — it makes me want to live here too,' she said. Another visitor, Oguz from Turkiye, who visited Diriyah before heading to the Saudi National Museum, said: 'This is my first time in Riyadh, and we are experiencing the new developments. People here are very energetic, so it is a really good experience.'
