Latest news with #firsttimers
NHK
30-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- NHK
Rice-planting festival held at Shirakawa-go UNESCO World Heritage site
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go in central Japan has held a rice-planting festival against the backdrop of traditional houses with steep thatched roofs. The 40th annual event was organized by the tourist association of Shirakawa Village in Gifu Prefecture. On Thursday, about 20 women wearing traditional clothes stood in line in a rice paddy and planted rice seedlings, as elderly villagers sang a traditional tune. A visitor from the United States said it was a good experience to learn about different traditions. A woman who took part for the first time said she is thinking about moving to the village. She added that planting rice is difficult but it is also fun, and she is looking forward to joining in again. The head of the organizing committee said he is happy to learn that the first-timers enjoyed the experience. He said he hopes the event will be held for many more years to come.
Times
08-05-2025
- Business
- Times
How interest rate cuts will help revive our flagging housing market
The spring housing market is traditionally a hive of activity, with homes flanked by gardens of tulips and daffodils flying off estate agents' shelves like hotcakes. However, this spring has been a season of two drastically contrasting halves. After a frenetic start in March, where buyers set new records for deals done and mortgages taken out, it all went very quiet in April and sellers have been left pleading for attention ever since. In early spring, before the cheaper rate of stamp duty expired on March 31, there was a flurry of activity, as buyers — particularly first-timers — desperately struggled to get over the line with their purchases to make tax savings averaging £6,000 in London and the southeast. As a result of this
