On May 23, the first in-flight wedding was held in the business class of an ANA plane for Toru and Mami Murakami, a Tokyo couple. The wedding was attended by a pilot, some of the airline’s flight attendants and a few guests to witness the special moment. The pilot holds up the marriage certificate of Toru and Mami Murakami. Photo: ANA. During the wedding, the airline will provide a band, accompanied by a message from the crew to celebrate the happy day and special lighting system that projects the image of the galaxy on the ceiling of the passenger compartment. ANA said the price for the in-flight wedding service was 1.56 million yen ($14,200), combined with the party held in the airport lobby for 3 million yen ($27,338). The wedding ceremony is limited to a maximum of 30 people. Before knowing about the wedding service on the plane, this couple planned not to hold the wedding, just taking a few photos to celebrate the big day. “I signed up immediately, because it would be a wonderful memory and we both love flying. There was a time when I thought it would be impossible to get married during the escalating epidemic situation, but in the end I was very happy. satisfied with his wedding ceremony,” said groom Toru. Before that, the airline had unique campaigns to attract the attention of the soon-to-be-married couples. Although the months of May and June are considered “wedding season”, many people have to limit the organization of mass gatherings to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic. Most weddings are affected by the ban on serving alcohol at party venues. In an effort to reduce the damage caused by the pandemic, ANA used to offer domestic tours by Airbus A380 aircraft. Each flight lasts 3.5 hours, passengers are served meals.

People wear masks to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic in Osaka, Japan. Photo: Kyodo/VNA Accordingly, commercial centers are allowed to fully operate on weekdays, but the opening hours are shorter and still have to maintain restrictive measures on weekends, only opening restaurants or shops. areas selling daily necessities. In Tokyo and Osaka, all shopping centers of Isetan Mitsukoshi Company and H2O Retail Group fully reopened on June 1. The Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka has also reopened for the first time since it was closed on April 25. 2 hours before the park opened, a long line of people waited in front of the gate. As planned, the park is only open on weekdays and continues to be closed on weekends. Park officials estimate the number of visitors to the park can be up to 5,000 each day and have installed partitions between dining tables at the park’s restaurant. In addition, park staff will also suggest that visitors leave the park at different times to avoid crowding. On the same day, Japan also decided to cancel a football friendly match against Jamaica after 10 players of the Jamaican team could not board the plane due to problems related to testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to the Japan Football Association (JFA), only half of the players in the Jamaican football team were allowed to board the plane, while 10 players were unable to board the plane due to problems with testing measures for the SARS virus. -CoV-2. The JFA did not give details, but according to Jamaica’s Gleaner newspaper, the country’s players currently playing in England did not have PCR test results – which is one of the requirements for entry to Japan. Copy. Meanwhile, according to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Tel Aviv, on June 1, Israel lifted all social restriction measures after more than a year of application, because the COVID-19 epidemic situation had decreased to near the average level. often. Accordingly, Israelis no longer have to present a “green card” certifying that they have been vaccinated or have immunity when setting foot in crowded places in enclosed spaces such as restaurants and bars; agencies and offices are no longer limited to the number of employees present at the same time; Crowded events, both indoor and outdoor, are no longer limited to the number of participants. Currently, only a few regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control remain in effect, including the mandatory wearing of masks in enclosed spaces and mandatory isolation for those entering the country. However, Israeli authorities are considering lifting the mask wearing rule in the next few days. The regulation of wearing masks when outdoors has been lifted since mid-April. After the intensive vaccination campaign, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Israel has decreased rapidly, currently only 4-5 cases / day, compared to the peak of over 10,000 cases / day. The number of cases being treated also decreased to 350 cases. Israel has completed vaccination against COVID-19 for over 70% of eligible subjects and is planning to vaccinate children 12-15 years old.

People in Tokyo, Japan, May 7, 2021. Photo: THX/VNA Faced with the fact that many businesses operating in the above fields have complained about the serious effects of having to close partially or completely when the current state of emergency was imposed at the end of April, last week, The government of Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has issued new guidelines aimed at balancing controlling the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and reviving the already ravaged economy. Accordingly, commercial centers are allowed to fully operate on weekdays, but the opening hours are shorter and still have to maintain restrictive measures on weekends, only opening restaurants or shops. areas selling daily necessities. In Tokyo and Osaka, all shopping centers of Isetan Mitsukoshi Company and H2O Retail Group fully reopened on June 1. The Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka has also reopened for the first time since it was closed on April 25. 2 hours before the park opened, a long line of people waited in front of the gate. As planned, the park is only open on weekdays and continues to be closed on weekends. Park officials estimate the number of visitors to the park can be up to 5,000 each day and have installed partitions between dining tables at the park’s restaurant. In addition, park staff will also suggest that visitors leave the park at different times to avoid crowding. On the same day, Japan also decided to cancel a football friendly match against Jamaica after 10 players of the Jamaican team could not board the plane due to problems related to testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to the Japan Football Association (JFA), only half of the players in the Jamaican football team were allowed to board the plane, while 10 players were unable to board the plane due to problems with testing measures for the SARS virus. -CoV-2. The JFA did not give details, but according to Jamaica’s Gleaner newspaper, the country’s players currently playing in England did not have PCR test results – which is one of the requirements for entry to Japan. Copy./.

On June 15, the Department of Health of Ninh Binh province deployed the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination including 14,330 doses for priority subjects according to Resolution No. 21 of the Government; of which there are more than 8,000 doses for the 1st injection, the remaining more than 7,000 doses are for the 2nd injection cases when they are eligible for injection 8-12 weeks apart. The second phase of COVID-19 vaccination at the Children’s Hospital of Ninh Binh province. Photo: Hai Yen/VNA. Dong Thap province deployed Astra Zeneca vaccine for the 3rd phase of COVID-19 disease, with 30,000 doses allocated from the Ministry of Health, of which 27,000 doses are expected to be injected in the first dose and 3,000 doses in the second injection. prescribed in accordance with Resolution 21/NQ-CP of the Government, including: Subjects who are absent or delayed in injection in the 2nd round; frontline force for epidemic prevention and control; essential service providers; Teachers and administrative units often come into contact with many people. Master Tran Van Hai – Director of the Center for Disease Control of Dong Thap province said that this activity was carried out urgently and earlier than the original plan from July 5. Dong Nai province will use 17,450 doses to inject the second dose for more than 20,000 people. The remaining 11,450 doses will be administered to about 13,500 people in priority groups. The duration of the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination in the province is expected to last from June 12 to June 30. Vaccination sites at 170 health stations in communes, wards and towns… COVID-19 vaccine fund received VND 5,126 billion According to the Management Board of the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund, as of 5pm on June 15, the fund has received 5,126 billion VND (including foreign currency conversion) with a total of 306,791 organizations and individuals contributed. Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phuc said that the COVID-19 vaccine fund operates not for profit, uses capital for the right purposes and in accordance with the provisions of the law, ensuring publicity and transparency. Economical, efficient. The Fund is subject to the inspection, inspection and audit of financial activities by state management agencies in charge of finance and State Audit; supervision of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the community. According to the Ministry of Finance, to vaccinate 75 million people, about 25,200 billion VND is needed; in which the budget has already prepared more than 14,000 billion VND and needs about 11,000 billion VND more. Japan will provide 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam On June 15, Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi announced that the country would directly and freely provide 1 million doses of a domestically produced COVID-19 vaccine under license from AstraZeneca Plc. (UK) for Vietnam. Speaking at a regular press conference in Tokyo, Minister Motegi said that Japan has received requests for vaccine support from many countries and regions. According to Motegi, Japan made the decision to grant a COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam based on a comprehensive review of the epidemic situation in Vietnam, the shortage of vaccines and the relationship between Vietnam and Japan. Minister Motegi said the above batch of COVID-19 vaccine will be shipped from Japan to Vietnam on June 16. Earlier, on June 2, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide announced that Japan would provide 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to other countries. In addition to providing vaccines, Japan also plans to help developing countries build cold storage chains, allowing the transport and storage of vaccines at low temperatures. On the afternoon of June 15, Vietnam had 213 new cases of COVID-19 On June 15, Vietnam recorded 402 new cases. As of 6pm on June 15, Vietnam had a total of 9,566 domestic cases and 1,646 imported cases. Number of new cases from April 27 to now: 7,996 cases, of which 1,765 patients have been announced to be cured. Screening test for people with COVID-19. Photo: VNA. There are 23 provinces (Yen Bai, Quang Ngai, Dong Nai, Quang Ninh, Quang Nam, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Nam Dinh, Hoa Binh, Tuyen Quang, Son La, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Thai Nguyen, Hung Yen, Hai Phong, Tay Ninh, Gia Lai, Bac Lieu, Dien Bien, Dak Lak, Dong Thap, Tra Vinh) have not recorded new cases for 14 days. The number of tests from April 29, 2021 to now, has done 2,171,076 samples for 4,818,269 turns of people. Currently, the number of negative cases for SARS-CoV-2 is 497. To date, Vietnam has recorded 61 deaths related to COVID-19. The number of cured cases is 4,543 cases.

People wait to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Tokyo, Japan on May 24, 2021. Photo: AFP/VNA According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Tokyo, speaking at a press conference after announcing the extension of the state of emergency for nine provinces on May 28, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide emphasized his determination to deploy COVID-19 vaccine vaccination for people under 65 years of age, including those with underlying medical conditions, starting at the end of next month. Regarding vaccine supply, Prime Minister Suga affirmed that the government will ensure the necessary amount of vaccine for the vaccination campaign with 100 million doses expected to arrive in Japan by the end of June and another 100 million doses to be added. September. The specific vaccination time of each locality will be decided on the basis of the positive results of vaccination for people over 65 years old, and the location can also be expanded to implement in the workplace. jobs or universities. Prime Minister Suga said the Japanese government will do its best to soon return to normal life for the people with efforts to speed up the pace of COVID-19 vaccination. Currently, the vaccination rate is around 400,000-500,000 times/day, but from June it will be increased to 1 million times/day. Japan started the COVID-19 vaccine vaccination campaign in February, basically giving enough shots for medical staff who are the frontline force against the epidemic. With the operation of two large-scale vaccination centers in Tokyo and Osaka from May 24, as well as positive results from the negotiation to buy vaccines, the Japanese government is expected to be able to vaccinate the entire population. the entire population from the end of June, 1 month earlier than originally planned. In addition, children will also be included in vaccination after the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has licensed Pfizer’s vaccine to expand the vaccination age from 12-15 years old. . Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical company Modena has also submitted clinical data to the MHLW and may be approved for injections in subjects 12 years of age and older next month.

Share with Business Insider , Saki (character name changed) accused Google of not resolving her complaint about being harassed by a male colleague from March to September 2020. This is the time when the Google office in Tokyo (Japan) switched to working from home due to the impact of the epidemic. In an email to Saki, a representative of Google’s human resources department said that the harassment took place outside of the workplace, not under the management of the company. However, Saki claimed to be harassed by colleagues while working remotely according to Google’s guidelines. “I’m completely disappointed… I don’t know what it would be like to work in an office,” admits Saki has difficulty reporting the inadequacies of working from home. Instigating texting when married Saki’s story was shared after 500 employees of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, simultaneously signed a request to stop covering up employees accused of harassing colleagues in April. Some documents shared by Saki for Business Insider including screenshots of messages between her and male co-workers, a copy of the complaint email sent to Google’s human resources department in Tokyo, and a statement from two friends of Saki. Saki joined Google in December 2019. Immediately after joining the job, she received a message from a colleague she had never met via LinkedIn. During the first week, the man offered Saki a drink. “I just want to talk about work,” he texted Saki. Google has faced many accusations of irresponsibility when it comes to dealing with employees who have been sexually harassed. Photo: The Guardian. A few weeks later, her colleague flirted with her by texting: “I find you very attractive… You are so beautiful in white. Come out for a drink with me.” Although Saki said that she was busy, this person still wanted to meet. By January 2020, Japan recorded the first case of infection. Both accepted to date in the context of the outbreak of the pandemic. However, only a month later, Saki discovered that the other colleague was married. Wanting to cut ties as soon as she knew the truth, Saki decided to video call Google’s human resources department to discuss. Through his lawyer, the male colleague confirmed that the “serious” relationship with Saki only started after he revealed he was married. However, records show that Saki called human resources on March 1, as soon as she learned that the man who flirted with her was married. Employees harassed for months, Google still “ignored” Recounting the meeting, Saki said the Google representative cited the policy of accepting relationships between two employees in the workplace, as long as one is not a senior of the other. According to Google, the incident described by Saki mainly took place at home, not the office, so it is not considered a workplace problem. “They said to me: ‘He’s not your boss. You also agreed to date so that’s your private matter'”, Saki said that Google considers this relationship a private matter, so it refuses to resolve it. . For the next several months, the male colleague continued to text Saki regularly even though she wanted to cut off the relationship. “I am very happy to meet you. I am always excited every time we meet. Hearing your voice makes me happy all day” is the content of the message he sent to Saki on April 4, 2020. Saki did not reply to the message. Google believes that employee harassment occurred at home, so it declined to investigate. Photo: Bloomberg. “I want to go for a walk with you,” a colleague texted Saki on May 8, 2020. 9 days later, another text message read: “You may be out of interest or not like me anymore, but I’ve been thinking about this relationship… I’d be happy if we could just go for a walk and talk about everything. “. For many months, the man repeatedly wanted to see Saki during working hours, although she repeatedly refused. “I don’t want to be the third person. I don’t want to see your face, we have nothing to say,” Saki replied to a colleague in June 2020. When Google announced that most of its employees would work from home through the end of 2020, the alleged harassing co-worker regularly visited Saki’s house without being invited. In the first time on July 10, 2020, Saki refused when he wanted to come to the house, but received the response “I’m in a taxi”. After being bothered many times, Saki decided to video call the HR department for the second time in September 2020. However, despite the “obsessive” harassment actions, the Google representative still insisted that it was a consensual relationship, a private matter, so he refused to investigate. “Neither of you have the right to impose others in the company. Therefore, we still maintain that this is a personal matter. I understand this is a difficult situation, but we ask for your understanding for the company. does not have the right to interfere in the personal affairs of employees”, the Google representative continued that it was an incident at Saki’s house, so there was no responsibility to solve it. Saki did not accept the above response because like millions of others, Saki’s home became a workplace for the whole of 2020. Not long after Saki’s second complaint, this man left Google to go to another technology company for unknown reasons. “I have to acknowledge his existence from time to time because our fields of work are similar… I still feel threatened on a regular basis,” Saki said, adding that she was still worried by the person continuing. continue to work in a technology company. Tired of the irresponsible handling of the human resources team at Google, Saki decided to leave the company in January 2021. According to research by Open Democracy, working from home has “provided an opportunity for bad guys to threaten, intimidate and abuse women”. Photo: AP. Does working from home facilitate harassment? Reply Business Insider A Google representative declined to comment on Saki’s allegations, but asserted that local policy “clearly prohibits harassment in the workplace”. “We investigate all allegations and will take decisive action if an employee is found to be in violation,” a Google spokesperson declined to answer a question when asked if the harassment policy was updated in the wake of the outbreak. not yet. The nature of sexual harassment in the workplace has changed after the epidemic. According to research by Open Democracy, working from home has “provided an opportunity for bad guys to threaten, intimidate and abuse women”. Although there is still very little research, experts around the world confirm that many companies have failed to adjust their policies. “In the world of remote work, harassment must be reconsidered. People can be harassed via text messages, comments and videos. That’s why it’s important to HR and public leaders. The company is about raising awareness, increasing training and opening up a safe psychological space for employees to speak up,” shared Josh Bersin, founder of HR consulting firm Bersin Academy. Inside Google’s $13 Billion Data Center In February 2019, Google announced that it would build more data centers in North America. This creates thousands of jobs and expands office space and data centers.

Illustration: Getty Images Speaking after the online meeting, WADA President Witold Banka stated that the new test method will complement existing anti-doping techniques. The dry blood test could mark a new era in anti-doping efforts, thereby helping to increase the number of tests for athletes. Witold Banka also said that the above testing measure has the potential to have a significant positive impact on athletes, anti-doping organizations and could be a turning point in efforts to prevent this form of abuse. this fraud. WADA announced that the new method will be tested at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which are about to take place in Japan this summer. Meanwhile, the testers hope the technique will be used regularly at the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing (China) in February 2022. According to WADA, dry blood testing allows for better analysis of unstable compounds and makes it easier to test athletes in remote areas of the world where traditional blood samples are often difficult to transport. should be easier. With logistical and cost advantages, the dry blood test will allow agencies to test more athletes and collect more samples. Olivier Rabin, WADA’s head of science, says the cost of taking a dry blood sample is also lower than with conventional methods.

Tokyo’s overlapping messages have drawn criticism, as the country lags behind countries like the US in vaccinations. Japan has recorded about 695,000 new coronavirus infections and 12,000 deaths. The country is facing a new wave of infections in the context of the Tokyo Olympics approaching. Many Japanese prefectures are still in a state of emergency to limit the spread. Tokyo has contracts with three suppliers, under which it will have 120 million doses of AstraZeneca, 50 million doses of Moderna (to be completed by the end of September) and is negotiating an additional 50 million doses, along with 194 doses of Pfizer calculated. until the end of this year. With this number, Japan will have enough vaccine to vaccinate the entire population of 126 million people, according to Japan Times . On May 21, the country approved the use of the Moderna vaccine for people 18 years of age and older, but AstraZeneca has not yet been approved for the public. The Japanese government’s vaccination program is using the Pfizer vaccine, while the Moderna vaccine will be rolled out from next week in Tokyo and Osaka. Many concerns when using vaccines The biggest barrier to new vaccine doses available in Japan is the screening process, which evaluates efficacy and safety based on clinical trial data. Like other covid-19 vaccines, doses of AstraZeneca are classified as an emergency measure in pandemic response in Japan, used only when the Health Ministry allows the city governments. The licensing action requires a separate approval process, which includes a subcommittee on vaccines from the Ministry of Health meeting to discuss the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Japan in a broader context based on: fruit; alternatives from Pfizer and Moderna; Japanese immunization schedule and potential side effects. Pfizer’s covid-19 vaccine is shipped in Tokyo, Japan, February 16. Photo: AP. However, the road to deploying vaccines in the real world is still fraught with thorns, due to growing concerns about potential side effects of vaccines. There have been reports of a small number of people receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine developing blood clots, including in some cases death. This condition usually occurs in younger age groups. The UK reported 79 cases of AstraZeneca vaccination at the end of March, out of 20.2 million doses administered. As a result, 19 people died, of which 11 were under the age of 50. This has led some countries to restrict vaccination of the elderly – a direction that seems unlikely for Japan. The plan is still open Japan has given the Pfizer vaccine to the elderly and will start providing the Moderna vaccine at mass vaccination sites on May 24. The country has guaranteed enough doses for more than 122 million people, of which more than 110 million people aged 16 and over are allowed to receive the vaccine. Vaccination site for people 65 and older in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan on April 12. Photo: Kyodo. Given that Japan already has sufficient supplies for the vaccination campaign for the elderly, with a goal of completing it by the end of July, the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for this age group in Japan is unlikely. On May 21, the vaccine subcommittee continued to discuss what should be done with the AstraZeneca vaccine. It is not yet clear when a decision will be made on the matter, the Health Ministry said. With so many people waiting to be vaccinated, one expert argues that the government should not ignore any vaccine. Otherwise, the Japanese public, with the exception of the elderly, will not receive any vaccines until the fall. “We may not even get there by the end of the year,” Gakushuin University economics professor Wataru Suzuki wrote in a commentary for Nikkei . “Certainly people who want to be protected from the virus as soon as possible have a need to be vaccinated, similar to those who want a vaccine passport to be able to travel abroad on business, and the Ministry of Health is going too far by how to eliminate options,” he argued. Where will 120 million doses go? The Japanese government has reached an agreement to purchase 120 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, all manufactured in Japan, using undiluted solutions from the United States. Of these, 30 million will be manufactured by Daiichi Sankyo and KM Biologics, and 90 million doses will be manufactured by JCR Pharmaceuticals. However, it is not clear how many of these vaccines have been produced Nikkei Asia. Imports and production begin this spring. Daiichi Sankyo and KM are both preparing to ship the vaccine once it is approved by the government. The mid-range drug maker has started production using equipment and technology from AstraZeneca. JCR has announced plans to build a new factory. The US and Japan will have to find a way to handle the 120 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine developed by the Universities of Oxford and AstraZeneca without any plans to use them. Photo: Reuters. AstraZeneca says its completed vaccine can be stored in the refrigerator for at least half a year at 2-8 degrees Celsius. It’s uncertain at this point how many vaccines are ready to be manufactured. If there is no decision on where to use the vaccine in the next six months, the stockpile could expire. The US has yet to start rolling out the AstraZeneca vaccine. However, the country has agreed to purchase 300 million doses and already has shipments ready to deliver. Currently, the US plans to ship the unused vaccine elsewhere.

Built before the announcement of the postponement of the Olympics, this public toilet was added to serve passengers at Sendagaya Station and those visiting the National Stadium designed by Kengo Kuma for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The architects aim to design a small project with a big impact: “ We want to use simplicity to create impact and the solution here is height. Normally they look very heavy, but this time the walls don’t touch the ground, they float, elegant, like a work of art “. The toilet block is 7.5m high, almost twice the height of the station entrance, combined with a monolithic concrete facade that makes the work quite massive. The concrete walls are attached to the central columns and are about 50cm above the ground, creating an opening, allowing natural light and air to enter. The architects design the space using contrasting relationships with each other, such as “the feeling of floating of heavy concrete” and “the presence of light in the dark”, which we seek to eliminate. boundaries between people and buildings, creating a resonance between nature and architecture. The building has an area of ​​75m2, the entrance is located opposite the station. In the position of the door, we feel more clearly the suspension of the concrete block. The central area is a wash basin and male and female toilets are arranged on both sides. To create the feeling of “being at a hotel”, the architects used Akoya wood (which is 3 times stronger than natural wood with exclusive technologies) to make the partitions and signage made of wood. transparent copper to create a luxurious feeling. A long skylight is arranged along the building to get light from the roof. “ Taking in the light from above and ensuring ventilation through the opening below, we aim to create an architecture that allows people to experience the space and not just go to the public toilet “, the architects explained, adding: “ We think this is a collective effort to help revive the city before the Olympics. The building is also similar in size to regular toilets, giving it a familiar feel. On the other hand, people tend to think of unclean images of public toilets, so we want to improve this and turn the building into a work of art.” Project information: Design: Suppose Design Office Structure: Ohno Japan Material: ZO Consulting Engineers Contractors: Tatsu (ZEN hol) Light design: ModuleX Translate: Hoang Anh

The Manor Central Park creates successive modern Hang streets, promising to create one of the busiest commercial destinations in the capital when it comes into operation. (Photo: The Manor Central Park). In addition to the income level many times higher than the average income of the majority, the elite community is also people with a respectable cultural background, knowledge and living capital. With their own taste, they are especially picky in their life experiences. A recent Wealth-X statistic shows that 30% of billionaires live in 15 cities. The place with the highest concentration of super-rich people is the largest city in the United States – New York, while the Japanese capital Tokyo ranks at 15. The strong attraction of these cities to the elite is partly proven. in famous neighborhoods like Ginza and Manhattan. GINZA: TOKYO’s LUXURY METHOD In Tokyo – the thriving urban center of Japan, Ginza is one of the most unique shopping streets, attracting the elite to trade and trade. From the 1870s, Ginza began to urbanize, learning Western planning methods and architecture. Ginza is one of the most unique shopping streets, attracting the upper class to trade and trade. (Image: Pixabay.com). The harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, reflected in the old shops and the trendy shops, is what describes the current Ginza. The most attractive areas such as: Ginza Six, a huge shopping center with more than 200 famous brands of cosmetics, furniture, and fashion; Ginza Wako sells luxury jewelry or Itoya sells popular stationery. Attraction with the elite pushed up land prices in Ginza sharply. According to The Japan Times, in 2017, the price of Ginza land was the most expensive in Tokyo when it reached 50.5 million yen/m2 (equivalent to 11.2 billion VND), one third of the peak period due to the real estate bubble in 1990. Despite the expensive prices, the owners of the world’s leading brands, from fashion such as Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Prada… to electronics Apple, Samsung, Sony… all have stores here. MANHATTAN: HEART OF NEW YORK CITY Not only is New York’s famous financial center, Manhattan is also considered the cultural, financial, media and entertainment “capital” of the whole world. In particular, Downtown Manhattan is imbued with New York history with centuries-old churches or magnificent European-style neighborhoods. Expressions of Manhattan’s innovative spirit are skyscrapers, architectural marvels that “draw a new horizon” for New York. Regardless of day and night, Manhattan is always vibrant and bustling, attracting those who love dynamism. The main intersection of the district is Times Square, which is packed with shops, boutiques and giant billboards. Right in the heart of the excitement and bustle is Central Park – Central Park with an area of ​​3.4km2, always attracting millions of visitors each year with a series of special events and festivals. Those are the factors that make Manhattan real estate always in the top of New York and the whole of America. The median home price for sale is nearly $1.5 million, five times the average in the United States, according to Zillow – a popular real estate website in the US. INTERNATIONAL CITY INSPIRATION IN HANOI Attracting global elites and tourists from all over the world, it is not surprising that Ginza or Manhattan have become the inspiration for high-end projects. In Vietnam, one of the investors in this direction is Bitexco with The Manor Central Park urban area. Not only inspired by the hustle and bustle of major cities in the world such as Ginza or Manhattan, The Manor Central Park also inherits the trading culture of 36 Hanoi streets by creating modern streets. great. Rows of commercial townhouses run one after another throughout the entire urban area, promising to turn this place into a bustling and attractive destination not only for neighboring people, but also anyone who has the opportunity to visit Hanoi. Noi, turning The Manor Central Park into a leading “destination real estate” in the capital. The urban area is located at the southwest gateway of Hanoi, adjacent to the large Chu Van An park. With a total planning area of ​​up to 89.7 hectares, The Manor Central Park is impressed by its smart open plan, diverse utility system, “measurement and tailoring” for the elite community of residents. The urban area is also “breathed” by the architectural consultancy EE&K; Kume Sekkei and American architect Carlos Zapata – the leading names in real estate planning and design in the world. Carlos Zapata used to accompany Bitexco to create iconic works such as Bitexco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh City and JW Marriott Hanoi Hotel.

The Sagano Bamboo Forest located in Arashiyama is the second most popular tourist attraction in Kyoto. Walking in this bamboo forest makes you feel like you are lost in another world. Although quite crowded during the peak tourist season, it is undeniable that Sagano bamboo forest is a place to visit when coming to this place. Autumn is the best time to visit Hitachi Seaside Park, a popular park on the east coast of Honshu – Japan’s largest island. This is the ideal place for you to have a short break away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Hitachi Seaside Park, located northeast of Tokyo, welcomes visitors at any time of the year thanks to its flowers blooming like a colorful picture. September is the ideal time to visit because the flowers are in full bloom but if you like to see Baby Blue Eyes flowers, you should come in April or May. Have you ever wanted to visit the Wisteria tunnel? If so, the Kawachi garden located in the southern part of Kyushu is the destination for you. The Japanese love Wisteria and flowers are the hallmark of Japanese Waka poetry. The best time to visit the garden is at the end of April when the flowers are at their brightest. If you have time to Tokyo, you should spend a day visiting Kawagoe. Kawagoe is famous for its rivers and is often called “little Edo” because the main road here still retains the old atmosphere of towns from the Edo period (1603-1867). Kawagoe Festival is held for 3 days on the third Saturday and Sunday of October. The Fuji Shibazakura Festival is an annual event held in the area of ​​5 lakes around Mount Fuji. Visitors to the festival will be treated to a breathtaking view. That is the beauty of more than 800,000 alternating pink, white and purple flowers covering the field. This festival is usually held between April and June and the best time is every morning. Fushimi Inari Shine is one of the most important Shinto shrines in southern Kyoto that remembers the merits of Inari – the god of rice. The foxes here are said to be messengers of the god Inari so there are many fox statues around the temple. The main attraction for tourists is the thousands of gates of the Shinto Shinto shrine arranged consecutively around the main houses. The Nakasendo Path is a walking path that begins in Kyoto and ends in Edo. Nakasendo means “road through the mountains” and was an important route of the 17th century. To go all the way, it takes you 10 days, walking 3-4 hours each day. It has impressive scenes that contain features of Japan’s long history. Natadera Temple is beautiful at all times, especially in winter. This temple is 1300 years old, founded in 717 by a Buddhist monk. Both the nearby Mount Hakusan and the shrine are popular sacred destinations to this day. If you want a place that has both ancient historical sites and scenic spots, don’t miss Seigantoji Temple. Located in the Wakayama district, Higashimuro, the temple is 3 stories high and next to it is a beautiful waterfall 133 meters high. The Japanese want to preserve their traditions of bamboo and rice cultivation by holding a bamboo light festival in Taketa, Ōita. This event started in 2000 attracting visitors from all over the world who come here to see 20,000 lanterns light up for 3 nights. This festival starts from the third Friday of November. You can always do interesting things in Osaka whether on a warm sunny day or a rainy day. This is the second largest city in Japan after Tokyo with unique architecture, bustling nightlife, delicious street food and of course the famous Osaka castle. Hokkaido is Japan’s second largest island located in the north. This place is a vast and wild land with an area 40 times the size of Tokyo but the population is only 1/3 of that. If visiting this fascinating land, be sure to visit the Blue Pond (Aoiike) with its beautiful clear blue water made from natural minerals. Cherry blossoms are one of the most characteristic features of Japan. Every spring, Japan is covered with tender cherry blossom petals. However, if you want to enjoy the beauty of this flower, you need to choose the right time because cherry blossoms only bloom for a few weeks. If you plan to visit Japan, it would be a mistake not to visit one of the country’s most famous natural wonders. Those are Chureito Pagoda and Mount Fuji. From Chureito Pagoda, visitors can admire the breathtaking view of Mount Fuji. This is a temple built in 1963 as a symbol of peace.

To date, Japan has vaccinated only 2.8% of the population, the lowest level among developed countries. (Source: aa.com.tr) On May 12, the online system supports scheduling vaccination COVID-19 prevention in Japan was interrupted due to technical problems, raising concerns about responding to the country’s outbreak. NHK television reported that the vaccination scheduling crash occurred in many localities, including many areas in the capital Tokyo and the western city of Minoh, due to a global system failure involving the supplier. cloud computing Salesforce of America. In a statement on Twitter, Salesforce Chief Technology Officer Parker Harris said the company’s network was suffering from “ serious interruption . “Subsequent update notice indicated that Salesforce’s services were almost completely restored. Japanese Ministry of Health officials have not yet commented on the above information. Japan aims to be vaccinated by July COVID-19 for 36 million elderly people. However, so far, the country has only vaccinated for 2.8% of the population, the lowest level among developed countries in the world.

On April 23, Japan declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and three western provinces, in the context of the country facing a wave of epidemics. COVID-19 when only 3 months from the Olympics Olympic will take place. Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said that an emergency will be in place in Tokyo and Kyoto, Osaka and Hyogo prefectures. According to Economic Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, the state of emergency will last from April 25 to May 11. In particular, restaurants, bars, karaoke bars serving alcoholic beverages will have to close, while sporting events will take place without audience. Violations will be sanctioned according to the new rules. Department stores, movie theaters and other businesses over 1,000 square meters will also close, while offices and businesses have to make it easier for employees to work from home. Even so, schools continued to open. According to Minister Nishimura, Japanese officials want people to limit travel as much as possible, so it needs strong, concentrated and short-term restrictions. Execution wave state of emergency this time affects nearly a quarter of the Japanese population and will last through “Golden Week” (29 / 4-5 / 5). Therefore, the tourism industry and the service business are expected to suffer a lot. Meanwhile, the Mayor Tokyo Yuriko Koike said authorities would recommend that shops and buildings turn off signs and advertising lights at night to let the city “fall into the dark”, thereby making residents less likely to go out into the street . Besides, Ms. Koike also suggested people who do not live in Tokyo should not come to this city if possible./. People in the Japanese capital Tokyo. (Photo: AFP / VNA)

The exterior of the car is finished with Silver Haze silver paint which represents the core structural materials of the building and under direct sunlight the car will have copper reflections, similar to the color of the car. shielding on the outside and details on the interior of the building. “The Kita” is handcrafted in Goodwood, UK. Inside the cabin, Dawn receives a special decorative motif on the dashboard, next to a clock with a unique design. The accents change from Piano Selby Gray to Piano Black on the dashboard and in Selby Gray leather with white and black trim on the seats. Behind the car, the Rolls-Royce design team used Royal Walnut walnut panels with natural air vents to decorate the upper body. Architect Kengo Kumac said: “This is the first time I have commented on a project like this and I am proud that I was able to do it for Rolls-Royce, which is a company that shares a common sense. respect for traditional craftsmanship with me and I want to bring the best out of them. The special Rolls-Royce Dawn above will only be available to owners of the penthouse of The Kita Tea House building and it is a pity that the price of this version has not been announced in detail. Some other pictures of Rolls-Royce Dawn “The Kita”:

Lately, young people tend to live in surprisingly small apartments in Tokyo, according to Nippon. Real estate developer Spilytus offers a flat called Ququri. Each unit has its own bathroom, toilet, and kitchenette with a living area the size of three tatami mats – the standard way to measure room size in Japan, which is less than 5 square meters. Even with the addition of a loft about 6.5 square meters, these apartments offer just over 11 square meters of living space. The young people of Phu Tang tend to live in very small apartments in Tokyo because of the cheap price and convenient location. Photo: Japan Times. Over the past two years, demand for Ququri has shown no sign of slowing down. Spilytus has around 1,200 mini-apartments in Ebisu, Nakameguro, Shinjuku, Shibuya and other trendy areas of Tokyo. The rooms are always fully occupied and the company is building many new buildings every year. Breaking tradition, this unit does not require a deposit, commission for the landlord or lease renewal fees. Along with free internet access, the micro apartments become attractive to young people. New lifestyle trends The idea of ​​Ququri arose from the experience of company president Nakama Keisuke when renting a house in Tokyo. All he wants is a modern, cheap and close to work apartment, no matter the size. Ququri units currently attract more male tenants than women, at a ratio of 6: 4. Most of them are in their 20s and 30s, with about 60% being employees, and students accounting for more than 30%. Only 10% of residents are over 40 years old, some renting mini apartments right next to their homes. Rents vary by location, ranging from 50,000 to 80,000 yen / month. Today, with all types of entertainment packed into smartphones, many tenants prefer convenient locations over floor space. Tokyo micro-tenants are mostly men. Photo: Japan Times, Soranews24. A resident who has lived in the Ququri apartment for four years said that having less furniture means not having to worry about small floor space. Although very satisfied, this person also complained about some restrictions such as occasional noise from neighbors and a lack of a balcony. Another longtime resident said that when he moved in three years ago, he was surprised by the cramped living area. But because he was so busy, the apartment was basically just for sleeping, it didn’t really matter to him. Spilytus installed fiberglass for sound and heat insulation, sandwiched between two-layer walls. They are also building concrete apartment buildings, alongside the wooden buildings that have been the norm so far. The recent movement of minimalism and frugality is also the reason behind some people’s decision to live in Ququri. Many residents do not even have a television, but use smartphones or laptops for entertainment. Someone did not use the refrigerator with the statement: “The convenience store is my refrigerator.” Another said she lost 15 kg after moving in, because saving time going to work allows more time for jogging each morning. Consistent with a minimalist lifestyle Aiko (not real name) has lived in the Ququri apartment for 2 years, since moving from the Kansai region to Tokyo. She chose this place because it completely suited her own requirements of having a separate attic, bathroom and toilet, no matter the floor area. However, Aiko’s first impression upon moving in was that the apartment was indeed very small. The girl working in the tourism industry frankly talks about the pros and cons of living in such cramped conditions. She does not buy much furniture and cleverly arranges it to create a relaxing living space. However, having a fondness for collecting classic sneakers, Aiko complains about preserving them. Despite the limited kitchen space, Aiko realizes that she can use the dining table for a variety of preparation stages. The girl’s daily life is concentrated at the dining table while reading, studying, as well as eating or preparing to cook. She only uses the attic to sleep. Aiko has no television and has no intention of buying. “I want to cherish this space and my time,” she said. People living in micro-apartments often do not buy many things. Photo: Soranews 24. Aiko has no regrets about living in a micro apartment. Once in a more spacious place than before, she said she only spent money buying a lot of things. Aiko also found that large houses often have dead spaces and are difficult to properly heat in winter. “Since I moved here, I have never thought that I would like to live in a larger place,” she said. “Living conditions perfectly suited to my needs,” added Aiko. I also like white walls and floors because it is easy to choose furniture. I am very pleased to live in a place with smart design ”. According to Aiko, with a little ingenuity, anyone can create a comfortable life in a super small apartment. They are suitable for those looking for a minimalist lifestyle, she said. The current Aiko’s room is very little and tidy because it doesn’t accumulate unnecessary things. The spread of minimalism and the tendency to detach from materialism have fueled the popularity of micro apartments. According to the Nippon, This trend will continue to develop.

Collaborating with the famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, Rolls-Royce has released a special Dawn version inspired by The Kita Tea House, a residence with unique architecture in Japan. The exterior of the car is finished in Silver Haze silver which can exhibit different shades depending on the viewing angle. Under direct sunlight, the car has a light copper color, similar to the color of the copper shields arranged outside The Kita building. Behind the car, the Rolls-Royce design team used Royal Walnut walnut panels with natural air vents to decorate the upper body. The interior of the car features luxurious leather, and the Selby Gray dashboard can change to Piano Black. Besides the changes in design as well as the use of materials to become more unique, the car has no upgrade in strength. Under the hood of the car is still a 6.6L twin-turbocharged V12 engine, with a maximum capacity of 563 horsepower, 820 Nm of torque. The special Rolls-Royce Dawn above will only be available to owners of the attic apartment of The Kita Tea House building. The price of this version has not been announced in detail. This super luxury convertible has a starting price of 356,500 USD in the US market.

Data map: On April 14, local time, Tokyo, Japan, the unveiling ceremony of Miraitowa and Someity, the mascots of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, was held.

Japanese media reported that Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will decide on the 23rd to issue an emergency declaration based on the revised Special Measures Act to respond to the new crown epidemic to the four prefectures of Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hyogo. This will be the third release since January this year, and the duration is expected to be from April 25th to May 11th. According to reports, this will surely cast a shadow over the preparations for the Olympic Games again.

At present, the Tokyo Olympics has given up accepting overseas audiences. The Japanese government, the Olympic Organizing Committee, and IOC will hold a five-party consultation at the end of April to discuss the upper limit of the audience, but the final decision may be postponed to June. Some analysts say that the plan with a 50% occupancy rate and a plan that allows all ticket buyers who sell tickets in the country to enter the venue are not ruled out. It is reported that empty venues are also one of the options that may be explored.

The Tokyo Olympics test competition will be implemented from late April to May. Even if the Olympic Organizing Committee and other plans issue emergency declarations, they will implement test matches in accordance with the policy of restricting activities. However, the track and field competition to be held at the National Arena on May 9th will change from accommodating around 20,000 spectators to an empty competition. The water polo and BMX freestyle BMX test competitions will be held in May or June, and the operation test of synchronized swimming will be postponed to July near the opening of the Olympics.

The torch relay that started from Fukushima Prefecture on March 25 has been cancelled on public roads in some areas, and the impact of the spread of the epidemic has appeared.

Inside public bathhouse Kogane-yu in Tokyo, Japan. (Source: Nikkei Asia) Yoga or vinyl is not a typical feature of sento – the typical public bathhouse in the country of cherry blossoms. But now, this new breeze is necessary for Shimbo Takuya, the owner of two bathrooms in Tokyo. Shimbo, 41, is the third owner of Daikoku-yu, a 71-year public bathhouse north of Tokyo. Three years ago, he and his wife, Tomoko, took over Kogane-yu, the old bathhouse five minutes’ walk away. Now, as 95% of Japanese build bathrooms at home, the number of customers using public bath services is shrinking and many sento are closed. Even so, Shimbo’s boss still believes that sento will not be completely eliminated from the Japanese life. New ideas like selling groceries or opening the door of Mr. Shimbo’s Daikoku-yu bathroom all night before the Covid-19 pandemic attracted 800 customers a day. So he decided to completely change the Kogane-yu facility. Although built with new concrete, golden wood and tiled, Kogane-yu retains the core elements of the classic sento, such as the changing room, the noren cloth dividing each room, the rows of low showers. and separate large bathrooms, of course, the brilliant picture of Mt.Fuji is indispensable. “I use vinyl music for my sento, which is the start of a great conversation between young and old guests,” said Shimbo. I really feel that sento can play an important role in connecting clients. People in Tokyo in particular and Japan in general always love bath culture ”. In Japan, sento is not just for bathing, it is a place for the community, a place for people to relax, chat. With the work pressure on the young Phu Tang, sento will become the ideal place to relieve stress and build more relationships. Glory (According to Nikkei Asia)

Selected data on April 23 Tesla announced the accident vehicle data again late at night Tesla re-issued a document on the 22nd night, saying that it fully accepts the decisions of the State Administration of Market Supervision and the Zhengzhou City Market Supervision Administration, and does its best to actively cooperate with all relevant investigations, and earnestly fulfill its main responsibility for quality and safety, and provide consumers with High-quality and safe products and services. Tesla said that as of April 21 so far, it has provided complete driving data half an hour before the accident, and has proactively contacted relevant parties to communicate and report the relevant situation on many occasions. (China News Service) The torch relay of the Tokyo Olympics is now the first person infected with the new crown, a male police officer NHK reported on April 22 that the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee announced that a male police officer who had participated in the traffic control work of the Olympic torch in Xiangshan County on April 17 tested positive for the new crown. This is the first time a new crown-infected person has appeared among the staff of the Tokyo Olympic torch relay. The infected person is a male police officer in his 30s from the Transportation Department of the Takamatsu Kita Police Station. According to reports, during the course of his duty, the police officer did not have any contact with people along the torch relay. (Overseas Network) In the first quarter, Shanghai’s per capita income exceeded 20,000 yuan, and the per capita income of eight provinces exceeded the national level From the data point of view, in the first quarter of this year, the top ten provinces with per capita disposable income of residents were Shanghai, Beijing, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Tianjin, Guangdong, Fujian, Shandong, Chongqing and Liaoning. Among them, the per capita disposable income of residents in the first eight provinces exceeds the national average, and these eight provinces all come from the eastern coastal areas. The per capita disposable income of Shanghai residents reached 21,548 yuan in the first quarter, making it the only province with more than 20,000 yuan. As Shanghai has a large number of multinational companies and financial institutions such as the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the headquarters economy, R&D and innovation are very prominent, which attracts a large number of talents, and these groups have higher incomes. (China Business News) The British government cuts 95% of aid to China, leaving 900,000 pounds Recently, British Foreign Minister Raab announced that in this fiscal year’s official development assistance funds, aid to China will be cut by 95%, leaving less than 1 million pounds. The Conservative Government has boldly stated that it will allocate 0.7% of the country’s income every year for international aid. According to the British “Mirror” report, due to the impact of the new crown natural disaster, the anti-epidemic “man-made disaster” and the economic shock of Brexit last year, this expenditure will be reduced to 0.5% this fiscal year. The US “Politician” News Network added that one-third of the UK’s official development assistance funds are still invested in the “Indo-Pacific” and South Asia. The aid funds to China will be cut by 95%, leaving 900,000 pounds (approximately 8.13 million yuan) to fund open society and human rights projects. Some netizens on Weibo ridiculed that the British aid is not as good as the one-year revenue of some Internet celebrity shops in Changsha. In July last year, the British Department of International Development announced that the British government directly and indirectly provided assistance to China of 71.6 million pounds in 2018. (Observer Network) South Korea imported kimchi in the first quarter from China Yonhap News Agency recently reported that the export value of kimchi in the first quarter of this year was 46.57 million U.S. dollars, breaking a single-season export record. Imports amounted to 38.5 million U.S. dollars, and the trade balance achieved a surplus of 8.068 million U.S. dollars, the highest since April 2009. According to reports, the export value of kimchi in the first quarter of this year increased by 54.3% year-on-year, and the import value increased by 7.4%. From the perspective of import and export volume, the export volume was 11,181 tons and the import volume was 67,940 tons. Exported kimchi was US$4,165 per ton, much higher than the US$567 of imported kimchi. All imported kimchi originates from China. From the perspective of the kimchi export market, exports to Japan were US$24.72 million, an increase of 67.9% year-on-year, exports to the US were US$8.46 million, an increase of 80.6%, and exports to Hong Kong were US$2.34 million, an increase of 50.3%. (Forbes Chinese website)

Rolls-Royce Dawn ‘The Kita’ is inspired by the design of ‘The Kita Tea House’ building in central Toykyo, Japan. The Rolls-Royce Dawn ‘The Kita’ was born in collaboration with architect Kengo Kuma, who designed the unique ‘The Kita Tea House’ building in central Toykyo, Japan. The car, commissioned by the owner of the multi-level penthouse with its sporty color choices and interior materials, reflects the spirit of “The Kita”. The Silver Haze color exterior represents the core structural materials of the building and under direct sunlight it has a copper reflection, similar to the shading on the outside and the details inside. building. Handcrafted in Goodwood, UK, the ordered Rolls-Royce Dawn ‘The Kita’ features a distinctive building motif adorning the dashboard, alongside a unique clock. The accents change from Piano Selby gray to Piano black on the luxury cabin seats upholstered in Selby gray leather with arctic black and white trim. This detail is similar to the cladding of the entrance hall to the attic apartment, the Royal Walnut panel on the rear deck is said to “pull together the interior and exterior”. “This is the first time I’ve consulted on a project like this and I’m proud that I was able to do it for Rolls-Royce, a company that I have a common respect for with traditional craftsmanship. and wants to bring out the best. Rolls-Royce has incorporated the essence of ‘The Kita’ into the car’s aesthetic, allowing owners of ‘The Kita Tea House’ to soak up their surroundings. It is a great honor to see the last car in Tokyo, ”said architect Kengo Kuma. See more photos of Rolls-Royce Dawn ‘The Kita’:

“Sea of ​​pink clouds” on the streets of Tokyo In Tokyo, the cherry blossoms bloom from March 22, the second earliest time in Japanese history, just after Kyoto. Cherry blossoms bloom in full bloom, making visitors feel lost in the fairy tale “sea of ​​pink clouds”. With the imprint of a modern, bustling city, Tokyo in the sakura season is different, the pace of life is slow and surprisingly relaxed. On the street, visitors can easily see families and groups of friends spreading canvas under the cherry blossoms, leisurely admiring the scenery, chattering, drinking sake and enjoying flowers. This activity is called “hanami”, a cultural characteristic of the spring of Phu Tang. Tokyo owns more than 10 cherry blossom viewing spots. Located right in the city, the Shinjuku Gyoen Garden is the perfect place to walk and enjoy the beauty of sakura. The 800 colorful cherry trees spreading along the banks of the Meguro River also hold the pedestrian’s feet. In addition, Inokashira Park, Chidorigafuchi … are also suggestions for sakura viewing. The cherry blossom season comes early for more than 1,200 years This year, the cherry blossom season comes “record” sooner than ever. Researcher Yasuyuki Aono from Osaka Prefecture University gathered historical data in the city of Kyoto. According to Aono, this year’s flower season in Kyoto begins on March 26, the earliest in more than 1,200 years. He said the seasons this year have a special effect on the day when the flowers bloom. The last winter was cold, spring came again earlier and was unusually warm. However, early blooming is only the “tip of the iceberg”. Associate Professor Amos Tai from the University of Hong Kong warns about the global climate crisis that can destabilize the ecosystem and threaten the life of all species. Japan welcomes the earliest cherry blossoms in more than 1,200 years The cherry blossom trees begin to bloom early and most are on March 26 in Tokyo, Japan. According to records, this phenomenon dates back to 812 AD.

In Kyoto this year, cherry blossoms bloom from March 26, the earliest in over 1,200 years. Many centuries ago, the flowering time in this area usually took place in mid-April, then gradually shifted to early April in the 19th century. (Photo: CNN) Flowers bloom at Daigoji Temple, Kyoto. (Photo: Twitter) This is the earliest cherry blossom season in the past 1,200 years in Japan. (Photo: CNN) The peak full bloom of cherry blossoms only lasted a few days. (Photo: Twitter) Scientists warn, unusually early blooms could be a sign of a major climate change (Image: Twitter) Cherry blossoms bloom at Kitanomaru Park in Tokyo, Japan, March 23. (Photo: CNN) Maruyama Sakura Park, one of the famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto. (Photo: Twitter) Cherry blossoms bloom on both sides of Tokyo’s streets, on March 29. (Photo: AP) The unusual weather fluctuations caused the cherry trees to bloom earlier. (Photo: AP) Scenery on Meguro River, Tokyo, Japan, March 28. (Photo: AP) People going to see the cherry blossoms are conscious of wearing masks to prevent epidemics. (Photo: AP) Cherry blossom viewing is a tradition dating back more than 1,000 years in Japan. (Photo: AP) Japan’s capital Tokyo has many ideal flower viewing spots. (Photo: EPA) Cherry blossoms are temperature sensitive, so their blooming cycles are susceptible to climate change. (Photo: The Washington Post)

Ice cream cone covered with green tea powder in Japan Did you know the challenge of eating cinnamon powder about a decade ago? The challenge is well known across social media and most popular ever, even the Wikipedia page has its own article on this issue. Challenge participants will eat a teaspoon of ground cinnamon in less than 60 seconds without drinking more water or anything else. And recently, an equally interesting challenge spread in Japan associated with green tea powder cream. A shop selling sweets in Tokyo became more famous when it introduced to the market soft ice cream covered with large amounts of green tea powder. It is known that with the large amount of green tea powder on the outside of the ice cream, the eater will be more prone to choking than ever, but this adds to the challenge for those who want to enjoy it. ‘Eat is choke’, but Japanese diners compete to try this unique ice cream The Nagamine store in Tagata, Tokyo, has been serving the famous matcha green tea ice cream for at least the past four years but is now becoming more popular as more people race to take on the challenge of eating ice cream covered with green tea powder. The dish was featured on the national television variety show, Monday Late Show. This segment is not focused on the quality or taste of the ice cream, but on the effectiveness of its experience on challenge participants. Because there is too much green tea powder, when eating large pieces, diners can easily dry mouth, cough, choke The thick green tea powder covered the surface of the cold, fuming cone is ready to cause coughing, choking for anyone trying to taste. Of course, there is still a way to prevent diners from coughing, choking is to bite small pieces or use a spoon. While many comments on social media believe that the challenge is interesting, willing and eager to try ice cream, there are also comments about the dangers of health. There is an opinion that this challenge can cause the eater to choke, choke, if too much green tea powder is inhaled in addition to being sick of the respiratory tract will make the condition worse. Some netizens even criticized the store for selling products with many associated risks.

Japanese cherry blossoms in full bloom, setting the record for the earliest blooming time of 1,200 years Cherry blossoms, also known as ‘sakura’, the symbol of Japan in bloom, the country is experiencing one of the best times of the year. White and pink flowers bloom throughout the cities and mountainous regions, and thousands of petals cover the ground. For more than a thousand years, Japanese people who have maintained the tradition of seeing cherry blossoms often experience a period of ‘peak full bloom’ only a few days. People often flock to popular places to take photos, camping right below the beautiful blooming trees. But this year, the cherry blossom season comes early and fades quickly. In downtown Kyoto, cherry blossoms are recorded in full bloom for the first time in the history of 1,200 years. Besides the joy of seeing cherry blossoms early, scientists also warn it is a sign of the ‘climate crisis’ that is threatening ecosystems everywhere. Yasuyuki Aono, a researcher at Osaka Prefecture University, collected records from Kyoto city, from historical documents, diaries that the cherry blossom season in downtown Kyoto this year is the year. as early as 1,200 years. In Tokyo, this is the second recorded early blooming time. The last time cherry blossoms peaked at this time of year was 1953, almost 70 years ago. Dr. Lewis Ziska, from Columbia University’s environmental health science, said: “As global temperatures warm, the last frosts of spring appear earlier and flowering occurs early. than”. The timing of peak blooms varies from year to year depending on many factors including weather and precipitation but the recent trend has been ‘earlier and earlier’. “Cherry blossoms are very sensitive to temperature,” said Yasuyuki Aono. Flowering and blooming may be earlier or later depending on the temperature. The winter is very cold, but spring comes surprisingly fast and warm. Young shoots wake up after a period of full rest. ” However, early blooming cherry blossoms are just the tip of the iceberg, a worldwide phenomenon that can destabilize the natural systems and economies of nations. There are two sources of increased heat that are the main drivers of earlier blooms, urbanization and climate change. With increasing urbanization, cities tend to become warmer than surrounding rural areas, known as the heat island effect. But there’s a bigger reason why climate change is causing temperatures in the region and around the world to soar. The day when cherry blossoms bloom early not only appear in Japan, but also occur in some other areas such as Washington, USA. And these earlier blooming days are not only a matter of tourists scrambling to see the flowers in full bloom before their petals fall, but they also have a long-term impact on the entire ecosystem and threaten the existence of many species. The effects of climate change are not limited to cherry blossoms. Many other plant species also experience changes in their lifecycle, which can even drastically affect the stability of their ecosystems. In some areas, farmers may have to change the type of crop. Some climates become too hot for what the tree can tolerate to thrive. Meanwhile, other climates experience more floods, more snow, and increased humidity in the air, which limits the plants that can be planted.

Sheet South China Morning Post Taiwan announced on April 22 that it would protect its own security, after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said that Tokyo would not engage in the military if Taiwan was attacked. Ms. Au Giang An (Joanne Ou) – spokesperson for Taiwan External Relations – said on April 22: “Self-protection of security is an unshakeable task for us and Taiwan will take on your own responsibility to protect people’s homes and protect this island ”. Ms. Au Giang An (Joanne Ou) – the spokesperson of the Taiwan External Relations Agency. Photo: TAIWAN NEWS Earlier, speaking at the National Assembly on April 20, Prime Minister Suga emphasized that although the US-Japan Joint Declaration, issued after the summit between Mr. Suga and US President Joe Biden, mentioned the issue. But Japanese forces will not engage in any military situation around the island. In response to a question from an opposition politician in the National Assembly on April 20 about the details of Japan’s commitment to Taiwan, Mr. Suga stated “no military participation is expected”. According to the SCMP Analysts say Japan’s constitution will not allow the military to enter the war in the event that China tries to capture Taiwan by force, but Tokyo can provide the United States with logistical and rear-end support. In the statement, Mr. Biden and Mr. Suga called for “peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”. This is the first time the US and Japan have mentioned the Taiwan issue in a joint statement in more than 50 years. The two sides also said they would counter China’s “threat” in the Asia-Pacific region. The US-Japan statement has aroused strong protests from China, when it warned that Tokyo and Washington should stay away from “internal affairs” related to Taiwan. Over the weekend, the Chinese military’s Eastern Zone, which oversees the Taiwan Strait, deployed dozens of H-6K strategic bombers to participate in a nine-hour live-fire drill. , according to the China Central Television (CCTV) . Previously, the Taiwan External Relations Agency on April 22 said the US-Japan defense alliance is the foundation of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. The agency also said the reference in the joint statement reflects the two countries’ strong consensus on security in the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific. “We welcome the international community’s concern about trans-strait peace and stability … and it is our responsibility to protect our security,” the statement said. “Taiwan will continue to liaise and cooperate closely with the US, Japan and other like-minded countries in maintaining stability across the strait as well as maintaining security and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region. – Pacific “- stated clearly. China always considers Taiwan its territory and does not rule out the possibility of using force to unify. The Taiwan-strait relations have been strained since Thai Anh Van, who opposed the “one China” policy, became the island’s leader in 2016.

The statement came days after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stressed that the Japanese military would not engage in any military situation around Taiwan. The Japanese leader asserted that the mention of Taiwan in his joint statement with the United States did not make assumptions about Japanese military involvement. Taiwan claims to defend itself after Japan’s declaration of non-interference. (Photo: EPA-EFE) After meeting at the White House last week, Mr. Suga and President Biden issued a joint statement, which outlined “the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”. Both leaders encouraged the peaceful settlement of cross-strait Taiwan issues. In a statement released on April 22, Taiwan’s diplomatic mission said the US-Japan defense alliance is the foundation for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and is referenced in a joint statement. reflecting the two countries’ strong consensus on security in the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific. The statement also noted Mr. Suga’s earlier assertion that the dispute in the Taiwan Strait should be settled by peaceful means. “We welcome the international community’s concern for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait… and it is our responsibility to protect the security of the island. Taiwan will continue to liaise and cooperate closely with the US, Japan and like-minded countries in maintaining stability in the strait as well as maintaining security and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region – Pacific”, the statement clearly stated. China has always asserted that Taiwan is an inseparable territory and does not rule out the possibility of using force to unify the island. The Chinese military’s time increased military operations near Taiwan as tensions between Washington and Beijing escalated.

Hundreds of tanks contain radioactive wastewater outside the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. Photo: AP Since then, the authorities have used millions of tons of water to cool the reactors, and store waste water in giant tanks on site. 10 years have passed, the operator of the nuclear plant Tokyo Electric Power Co (TepCo) is now alerting the danger of running out of water storage space from the cooling process, estimated to reach a threshold of about 1.3 million tons of water. year 2022.
Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, have recommended the Tokyo government to build more tanks to keep water outside the plant, rather than opting for an ocean discharge option. Japan has considered several other options, such as evaporation or underground storage of contaminated water from factories. In the end, however, the Tokyo government decided to dilute the huge mass of polluted water and release it into the sea, when it found this option more technically feasible and cost-effective. The process is expected to begin in the next 2 years. Currently, all wastewater is filtered to remove most of the radioactive elements, but some dangerous substances remain, including Tritium, which has been identified as harmful to humans.
Evaluation of Tokyo’s solution, expert Ken Buesseler at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Falmouth, Massachusetts, noted: “Tritium is light and can float as far as the west coast of the United States within 2 years”. More serious problems are thought to lie in potentially dangerous radioactive isotopes in water, including strontium-90 and iodine-129. In theory, filtration can reduce their concentration, to about 70% for water that has not undergone secondary filtration. But scientists are not sure whether the actual filtration results are according to plan.
A poll conducted by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper in January 2021 found that 55% of Japanese respondents opposed the Tokyo government’s plan to discharge radioactive wastewater from Fukushima into the sea, while 32% said that they support. At the Tokyo government’s earlier hearing on the release of nuclear radioactive water into the sea, some industry and local representatives continued to oppose the decision believed to undermine efforts to revive the affected areas. disaster, blowing past efforts to restore the reputation for local products. “We will die from releasing polluted water into the oceans, as it could have a catastrophic impact on the future of the Japanese fishing industry” – Hiroshi Kishi, head of the Federation of Water Cooperatives National real estate said. Mr. Kishi emphasized that the discharge of radioactive water into the ocean may cause other countries to tighten restrictions on imports of Japanese seafood products, reversing the recent trend of loosening policies.
Japan’s April 13 announcement also immediately drew concerns in neighboring countries, including China and South Korea, about the possible impact on human health as well as seafood businesses. . Beijing calls for Tokyo’s “responsible” attitude, along with “prudent” disposal of nuclear waste, arguing that it involves “the interests of the international community and the vital interests of neighboring countries ”. Meanwhile, Seoul said that “it will be unacceptable if the Japanese side decides to discharge polluted water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant without full consultation”.

Taking a sauna while enjoying the artwork has become one of the new relaxing experiences in Japan. (Photo: Ken Kobayashi) The above exhibition will last until August 31st at Roppongi – one of the famous entertainment destinations in the country of cherry blossoms. The TeamLab team describes it as a “breathtaking experiment” that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the artwork after experiencing a hot sauna. This activity will help the participants relax and improve their mental well-being. Admission is 4,800 yen (44 USD) on weekdays and 5,800 yen (54 USD) on weekends. After changing into the free swimwear provided by the organizers and taking a warm bath, guests can choose the sauna according to their preference, temperature, humidity and aroma. The teamLab team encourages visitors to relax in the sauna five to ten minutes before participating in the exhibition, then bathe for up to two minutes to cool off. According to teamLab, the way to perceive the beauty of a work of art is to repeat the process three times. Mr. Yasutaka Kato, a lecturer at Keio Medical University, supported the idea of ​​enhancing the senses while relaxing, and indicated significant brain function changes before and after the sauna. Kudo, a member of teamLab said, he “felt the color and light of the artwork more vivid than usual, even though I saw the exhibition many times at different locations”. The keyword “Reconnect” in the exhibition title means a lot to Kudo and the other teamLab members. “Covid-19 created a division, both physically and mentally. Many people now feel isolated when they cannot mix with others. Therefore, I hope that reconnecting with works of art and with the world can reduce the fear in us, ”said Kudo. Lan Phuong (According to Nikkei Asia)

Text ︱ Ge Zhaoguang

2 For the first eight months of 020, I was in Tokyo. I have been to Japan many times before, and I always want to hurry up to find research materials, so I am busy reading and writing, and I have no time to visit. This time it took eight months, and I was unavoidable to have the idea of ​​”going through Japan”. I planned to go south to Satsuma and north to Hakodate. I also planned to go to Nakajima in the Seto Inland Sea and Koyasan, the shrine of Shingon sect. Okinawa. But people are not as good as the heavens. I didn’t expect a pandemic that swept the world to make these plans go in vain. So I had to stay in Tokyo (not in China) and settle down to read some Japanese historical treatises.

Shun Let me just say that reading Japanese historical treatises in Japan was a plan made at the beginning of this time. However, even though I concentrate on reading Japanese history works, what I have in my mind is still the issue of Chinese history. Therefore, those Japanese historical treatises became the background for me to re-understand Chinese history in Asia. The selection here is a number of excerpts and notes from my books on Japanese history reading in Tokyo. I randomly picked a title and called it “Tokyo Reading Notes.”

Japan’s “Weekly Reading Man” launched a special topic entitled “The Perspective of the World” in 2020, and used more than a dozen full pages to focus on the various new changes that have occurred in the world. Compared with the Chinese reading community and the press, Japan It seems more “world-conscious”. When I was reading the newspaper, I paid particular attention to a dialogue about “patriotism”. This is the “True Patriotic” which was just published on the first and second editions of “Weekly Reader” on January 10th. produce? “. The two parties in the conversation are Kimen Takami (Professor of Otago University, New Zealand) and Uno Shigeki (Professor of Tokyo University).

In 2019, the two books of Ji Mian caused quite a stir in Japan. Iwanami Bookstore published his “Patriotic Structure”, and Million Years Book published his “Japanese National ための爱国の Textbook”. As he teaches in the English-speaking world, he has noticed the recent resurrection of “patriotism” as a political concept in Western academic circles. As a Japanese scholar, he is also concerned about whether the concept of “patriotism” can really be understood correctly in Japan? In other words, is “patriotism” a natural sentiment that Japan takes for granted?

Despite the Heisei era in the past thirty years, Japan once had Saeki Keise’s “Japan’s Patriotism” and Jiang Shangzhong’s “Patriotic Practice” two works representing the “patriotism” of the Heisei era. So, how can the correct “patriotism” be rebuilt in the Reiwa era? And what exactly is “patriotism” that Professor Jiang Jimian wants to say? In the conversation, Professor Uno of the University of Tokyo once asked whether the “Patriotic Textbook” written for the Japanese people criticized even moderate nationalism? Uno cited numerous reactions from all over Japan to the new emperor’s accession to the throne in 2019. It is said that at that time, there were a lot of praises to the emperor in Japan. For example, Japan with the royal tradition is a special country; even this is a thread of the tradition of the kingdom of Japan. This kind of Japanese praise is not necessarily an analysis of the status quo based on facts, but merely a repetition of the meaning of “Japan is Japan”. Uno believes that if he is caught in this mood and talks about “patriotism,” will he be hostile to words other than the patriot as “anti-Japanese”. The question asked by Uno is: Is this really “patriotic”?

It is mentioned in the response of the base to this that the national identity of post-war Japan may not be in the sense of race or region, but mainly stems from the economic success of the post-war period. However, the “lost thirty years” of the economy after the 1990s has gradually eliminated this foundation of national identity. He quoted the British academic community, saying that the identity of the United Kingdom is related to the economic status and education level, and there is a polarization between the “どこでも school” and the “どこか school”. But what’s interesting is that although Japan’s rich and poor are very different, they unanimously say some unfounded patriotic remarks. What Japanese are great, Japan is special. He admits that the kind-hearted and gentle nationalism is of course because he feels that he is not one, but in the group, which makes him feel more secure. Such patriotic sentiment must have its truth.

However, Professor Ji, who is familiar with Western political thought, specifically distinguished “Nationalism” and “Patriotism” theoretically based on the British political thought pedigree (Note: Uno is a little skeptical, in Japanese language The meaning of “patriotism” in China is often mixed. Is it really possible to distinguish clearly?). In terms of fundamentals, Patriotism and Nationalism are different in etymology. The former is a necessary condition for building a good political community. He quoted Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero, BC 106-43) as saying that there is a citizen’s motherland, and there is a natural motherland, and the citizen’s motherland is more important than the natural motherland. . He explained that the so-called citizen’s motherland is the motherland that forms a community in accordance with the law. It must have republican political value and a political system to realize this value; and the natural motherland is only the birthplace of us, the ancestors live in for generations, where our parents are. Yes, that place with homesickness. Obviously, what he meant was that the citizen’s motherland is a national identity based on political systems and political values, and it corresponds to patriotism; while the natural motherland is based on blood and geography, which corresponds to Nationalism. Because the former is related to the universal political value and system, it is easy to move towards a moderate orientation. But at the same time he also admitted that this kind of patriotism does not necessarily occupy the mainstream in modern society, so he deliberately studied and elaborated on it in “The Structure of Patriotic”.

In the long conversation that followed, they discussed “patriotism” and “loyalty”, discussed the “critical” and “desperate” in patriotism, and discussed how to understand “patriotism” in their hearts. The basics agree that the so-called “patriotism” must ask why it is loyal and what is it loyal to? If it is based on understanding and value, then, just like Christianity’s dedication to God, it also has the meaning of dying for the country. After all, human beings do not exist as individuals but as groups. This conversation is very long and very long, occupying two full pages. I haven’t finished reading the two books by Professor Jiang Ji Mian. However, I vaguely feel that the publication of these two books is precisely related to the “reverse globalization” in the current world, that is, the re-emergence of “national interests”. In recent years, people have increasingly noticed that after the 1990s, the originally imagined globalization, the Internet, market trade, and universal values ​​did not really dilute the existence of the country, and “there is no end to history.” On the contrary, under the protection of a special political consciousness and political system, it has contributed to the rise of the country and made it more difficult to “transcend national borders”. There is no doubt that all countries in the world today are faced with universal values ​​and national values, whether global priority or national priority, whether culture is special or common, and issues related to “identification”. Whether it is the “Brexit” of the United Kingdom, the “refugees” in Europe, the “America First” and the establishment of a high wall in the Trump era of the United States, and the changes in Erdogan, Turkey, the unity of Islam and the political freedom of the world Conflicts will eventually prompt the academic and ideological circles to start to understand the “country” and “identity” again. Fukuyama’s recent works, which I read some time ago, actually show this trend.

Just today, I saw that the topic of intense discussion on the Japanese Internet is the so-called “anti-Japanese forces”, perhaps, it happened to involve this thorny problem. Today the University of Tokyo announced the dismissal of an Associate Professor Osawa Nobuhira. It is said that he was originally the youngest associate professor of East University. The original appointment period was six years, and the reason for the early dismissal was his extreme remarks. He declared that he “will never hire Chinese people”, attacking that the Institute of Oriental Culture we are familiar with is under the domination of certain countries, and also attacked other professors for no reason. I am not very clear about the reasons for this, but seeing the official news released by the University of Tokyo, it is obvious that the University of Tokyo feels that a university must never touch the bottom line of “political correctness.” The dismissal of Daze is also based on social responsibility and is also to stop it. This kind of thing happened again, prompting all faculty members to completely abide by the ethical code.

But what is interesting is that I have seen that Japanese people on the Internet have criticized the University of Tokyo a lot. So, is this extreme regional “nationalism” or what Professor Ji Mian called “patriotism”?

Ge Zhaoguang

Institute of Literature and History of Fudan University

·END·

Treated contaminated wastewater tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Photo: AFP / VNA Mr. Aso ensures that wastewater discharged into the sea will be treated according to the plan announced by the Government, whereby the concentration of radioactive tritium in wastewater will be diluted to 1,500 becquerel / liter, equivalent to 1/40 of the permitted concentrations are according to Japanese safety standards and 1/7 of the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for drinking water, before being released into the sea. The discharge of this wastewater into the sea will be implemented in about 2 years. After the 2011 disaster, water pumped into the damaged reactors at the No. 1 Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant to cool the fuel rods. Along with contaminated rainwater and groundwater, the reactor’s cooling wastewater is treated with an Advanced Liquid Treatment System (ALPS). ALPS removes most radioactive substances, including strontium and cesium, but cannot remove tritium. At the present time, there are more than 1.25 million tons of wastewater that has been treated but still contains radioactive substances being stored in storage tanks at the plant. On April 13, more than 10 years after the factory incident, the Japanese government decided to discharge this wastewater into the sea. The IAEA expressed support for Japan’s decision to discharge treated wastewater into the sea, and affirmed its readiness to provide technical assistance in monitoring this discharge. Before the Japanese decision, the Russian Foreign Ministry on April 15 expressed concern about this issue, at the same time urged Japan to approach the issue of wastewater treatment from the Fukushima nuclear power plant with all responsibility. responsibility. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed her expectation that the Japanese government would show transparency and inform all countries concerned about Tokyo’s actions. In addition, Ms. Zakharova added that Russia is waiting for Japan to have more detailed explanations, while calling on Tokyo not to make economic activities of other countries difficult, including in the fishing industry. fish. On the same day, Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Jiang Hao (Wu Jianghao) summoned the Japanese Ambassador to the country Tarumi Hideo to present a note protesting the decision to discharge treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. Stored at the No. 1 Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Waste water storage tank inside the Fukushima nuclear power plant No. 1 The purpose of the move is to allay concerns about Tokyo’s plan to release the treated water of the damaged Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. The wastewater generated from the aforementioned damaged nuclear power plant is stored in tanks located on the plant’s premises, and is expected to have no storage space next year. According to Japan’s NHK Radio, wastewater has been treated with the Advanced Liquid Treatment System (ALPS) to remove most of the radioactive material, but radioactive tritium remains. Before being discharged into the sea, water will be diluted so that the concentration of tritium is much lower than the national standard and will be about one-seventh of the World Health Organization’s drinking water standard. However, this plan of the Japanese government has met with fierce opposition from the local fishing community, anti-nuclear activists as well as neighboring China and South Korea. In an interview with NHK Radio, Mr. Grossi said that the Japanese Government has officially requested the IAEA to cooperate in relation to this plan. The agency may send a team of experts from various countries to help alleviate concerns by verifying that the treated water discharge is safe, said the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency. full. “We may be receiving experts from different fields from different countries and regions. Any serious concerns will have the opportunity to be discussed and analyzed technically, ”said Grossi, emphasizing, cannot ignore the concerns of some local residents and neighboring countries such as Korea and China. “Regarding these concerns, we can either agree or disagree, but all must be taken seriously. We have a shared responsibility, ”added Grossi.

Japanese people flock to the viewing spots for flowers. Photo: Getty. Each year, cherry blossoms only reach “peak in full bloom” for a few days. This is the law of nature that has existed for more than a thousand years. When it comes to cherry blossom season, Japanese people often flock to flower viewing spots for picnics or commemorative photos. But this year, the cherry blossom season comes and goes quickly. Scientists call this the earliest blooming season in history, and point out the cause: a climate crisis is threatening the ecosystem. The flowers bloom early The timing of cherry blossoms in full bloom can vary from year to year, depending on factors such as weather or rainfall. But in general, the cherry blossom season tends to come sooner. Researcher Yasuyuki Aono from Osaka Prefecture University gathered historical data in the city of Kyoto. According to Aono, this year’s flower season in Kyoto starts on March 26, the earliest in more than 1,200 years. Aono expert data shows that the city of Kyoto welcomes the cherry blossom season around mid-April for many centuries. From the 1800s, the flowering season shifts to around early April, during which a few years the flowering season takes place at the end of March. “Sakura flowers are very sensitive to temperature”, Mr. Aono analyzed. “The temperature can determine when the flowers bloom. Compared with the 1820s, the current temperature in Japan has increased by about 3.5 degrees C “. He also said that this year’s flower season clearly reflects the change in temperature. Specifically, this year’s winter in Japan is very cold while spring comes incredibly fast and warm. Therefore, cherry blossoms have “awakened with enough rest”. Cherry blossoms in Washington, USA, also bloom early. Photo: Getty. In Tokyo, the cherry blossoms bloom from March 22, the second earliest time in history. “As global temperatures warm, spring frosts occur early, leading to early blooming of cherry blossoms,” said Dr. Lewis Ziska of Columbia University of Environmental Health Sciences. Not only in Japan, the cherry blossoms in Washington, USA, also bloom early. According to the management of the National Park, this year’s cherry blossom season lasts only nearly a week, from March 31 to April 5. Ecosystem randomization However, early blooming is only the “tip of the iceberg”. Associate Professor Amos Tai from the University of Hong Kong warned of the global climate crisis that could destabilize the ecosystem and threaten the life of all species. In fact, plants and insects depend on each other. Both groups need to interact, influence each other, and at the same time need signals from the environment to “adjust their own life cycle”, according to Mr. Tai. Plants, for example, sense the temperature around them. If the temperature is warm enough for a certain amount of time, they will start to leaf, shoot and flower. Likewise, insects and many other animals are temperature dependent throughout their life cycle. Rising temperatures can accelerate growth in animals. “The relationship between plants and insects and other organisms has evolved over the years, that is, thousands to millions of years,” said Mr. Tai. But in recent centuries, climate change is destroying everything and disturbing these relationships ”. Plants and insects can react to increases in temperature at different rates, leaving their lifecycle out of sync. This means plants and insects may not grow together in the spring. Now, flowers can bloom before the insect is ready, or vice versa. “Insects will not find nutrients from plants and plants do not have enough nutrients to pollinate,” Mr. Tai concluded. In Tokyo, the cherry blossoms bloom from March 22. Photo: Getty. According to a 2009 study in the journal Biological Conservation , over the past few decades, a number of flora and fauna have transformed themselves to escape the effects of climate change. But the ecosystem is increasingly difficult to adapt, as the climate becomes unpredictable. “Ecosystems are not used to such large fluctuations,” said Tai. “The productivity of ecosystems can be degraded, even collapsed in the future.” The effects of climate change are not limited to cherry blossom season. Mr. Tai said that life cycle changes occurred in many crops of economic value, posing challenges to food security and farmers’ livelihoods. At the same time, food supplies in some vulnerable areas are also directly affected by drought and grasshoppers. “Farmers will find it difficult to predict crop yields,” said Mr. Tai. “Farming is now like gambling. Climate change is randomizing every factor in our ecosystems ”.

Hype Beast Japan reported that Seiko cooperated with Evisen Skateboards skateboard brand to launch 3 new watch models. The designs are inspired by samurai sushi, skateboards and hats. Photo: Seiko.

Seiko 5 Sports Evisen Skateboards Limited Editions comes in 3 limited release editions for a total of 2,200 models. Meanwhile, SBSA105 product recreates the tuna sushi. The white-toned strap looks like rice. Besides, the red tone dial represents the tuna piece and the mustard back cover. Photo: Seiko.

Limited production watch with 700 pieces. The device is powered by an automatic movement. Besides, Seiko’s products are 100 meters water resistant. Photo: Hypebeast.

The watch models cost about 474 USD. Skateboard-inspired designs were launched with 1,500 units. Photo: Watch i love.

Water resistant, the movements of the 3 models are the same. The dial sizes are 42.5 mm and 13.4 mm. Photo: Hypebeast.

Different from dynamic designs, the samurai hat-inspired watch is a harmonious combination of classy and classy style. Three watch models will be available on the market on April 23. Photo: Watch i love.

To commemorate the collaboration and product release between the two brands, a pop-up store designed by Evisen Skateboards will open for a limited time in Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan. The store will open from April 16. Photo: Hypebeast.

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Nikkei Asia newspaper quoted sources as saying that this employee was called “Mr. Y” in the Japanese intelligence community. He once told contacts in Tokyo that he was ill. Some government sources say Japan and North Korea have lost a “behind-the-scenes negotiation channel”.

Japan and North Korea have no diplomatic relations, and efforts to normalize relations have become strained because of the past abductions of Japanese citizens and Pyongyang’s nuclear program.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a meeting with key officials in Pyongyang. Photo: KCNA

According to sources, “Mr. Y” is known to be a subordinate of “Mr. X” – a senior North Korean security official who paved the way for a first-ever bilateral summit. was held in 2002 between the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Along with “Mr. X”, this liaison officer took part in negotiations regarding Mr. Koizumi’s 2002 visit to North Korea. He is also in charge of negotiating a 2014 bilateral agreement signed in Stockholm on negotiating principles aimed at addressing kidnapping in the past.

In 2014, he informed Japan that two men missing in the late 1970s were still living in North Korea. These two, Minoru Tanaka, went missing at the age of 28 after boarding a plane to Vienna at Narita Airport, and Tatsumitsu Kaneda working at the same ramen shop as Tanaka. Meanwhile, Pyongyang has repeatedly stated that Tanaka has never entered North Korea.

Japan officially lists 17 people kidnapped by North Korea, of which five were repatriated after the landmark 2002 summit in which leader Kim Jong-il admitted North Korea kidnapped. Japanese citizenship.

“Mr. Y” also acts as the mediator for a secret meeting in Mongolia in 2014 between Mr. Shigeru Yokota and Ms. Sakie Yokota, 85, the parents of the kidnapping victim Megumi Yokota and her niece. Megumi Kim Eun-gyong.

Megumi Yokota, who was kidnapped in 1977 at the age of 13, was on her way home from school. She has become the symbol of Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea.

Along with the families of the other kidnapped people, Sakie Yokota met with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga last week to call for the early repatriation of their loved ones ahead of scheduled talks between the prime minister and US President Joe Biden. took place on April 16 in Washington.

The unidentified employee, the sources said, succeeded “Mr. X” about 10 years ago, and entered into negotiations with Japan in a third country such as China and Mongolia.

Fluent in Japanese, he communicated with Japanese officials on his anti-eavesdropping cell phone. He is believed to have had a disease related to the brain or circulatory system, but may have been fired amid negotiations between Japan and North Korea stalled.

Prime Minister Suga, who served as a kidnapping minister under his predecessor Shinzo Abe, said after taking office last September that he was ready to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Kim Jong Il’s son without prerequisites.

But now, Mr. Suga is struggling to find a new negotiating channel when Pyongyang closes its border to the COVID-19 pandemic prevention.

What appears to be the only door of opportunity now closed after North Korea decided not to participate in the Tokyo Olympics this summer, also citing the need to prevent viral infections.

President Suga’s office declined to comment.

Mr. Song Il-ho is the Korean Ambassador in charge of negotiating the normalization of relations with Japan. However, the Japanese government source said he was not one of the secret negotiators with more decision-making power.

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Now, more than anyone, Americans feel very clearly that the lion has awakened and with his endless claws and ambitions, gradually from partner to rival of America. Mr. Joe Biden has chosen a different method from his predecessor: re-establishing alliances to control this ferocious “lion” has just awakened.

That’s exactly what President Biden’s administration is doing. Rotate the shaft to Europe; promoting the actual formation of the US – Japan – Australia – India “Diamond Four” mechanism. And strengthening 3-way relations with 2 partners, 2 top US allies in Northeast Asia: Japan, South Korea.

An offer cannot be refused

That is a relationship with many ups and downs spanning many decades in history.

In the early 1960s, when China had just acquired nuclear weapons and the Vietnam War was on the rise, President Johnson’s administration sought to promote relations with Japan. and Korea aimed to counter the communist movement in Asia. But, in order to reinforce this triangular relationship, it was the Johnson administration’s job at the time to “repair” the bilateral relationship between Japan and Korea, which had continued to tense after grievances in the past. World War 2.

Mr. Joe Biden has different methods from his predecessor. Photo: LG

The US had in hand a “trump card” to solve this dilemma: the superior military and economic strength at that time. Who pays, he or she has the right to order music! While Japan and South Korea continued negotiations that lasted more than 13 years, since 1951, aimed at normalizing bilateral relations, American diplomats have delivered a fairly simple message: what if Japan Japan and South Korea have established a friendly relationship, the US will continue to provide both military and economic support for both partners.

Simply put, it is an irrefutable offer! On June 22, 1965, at the Prime Minister’s Palace in Tokyo, the representatives of Japan and Korea signed the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and Korea, often referred to as the Japan-Korea Treaty. This treaty provided the basic foundation for restoring diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, which had been interrupted since 1945.

By the 1980s, the administration of US President Ronald Reagan continued the policy direction of promoting relations between Japan and South Korea. With the encouragement of the United States, South Korean President Choon Do-hwan and Japanese Prime Minister Nakasone Yasuhiro held the first summit in 1983 and 1984. The United States also pledged to ensure security for Korea. , reassessed strong support for Japan, while calling on Tokyo to play a greater role in ensuring security in Asia.

By the late 1990s, the US began a new step in its relationship with two allies in Northeast Asia: the US – Japan – Korea triangle relationship. To foster this relationship, a Tripartite Monitoring and Cooperation Group (TCOG) has been formed as well as the implementation of the “Perry Process” (named US Secretary of Defense William Perry), which is the to the expert level to help policymakers of the three sides have conditions to discuss and exchange to strengthen cooperation between the US and Japan and South Korea …

“Thorn” in a 3-way game

However, the US will have to make a lot more effort if Biden’s policy of strengthening relations with Northeast Asian allies will be effective, because the Japan-Korea relationship has recently shown signs of developing. Fierce disputes, no signs of cooling down.

For more than three decades after the signing of the Japan-Korea Treaty, the two sides continued to argue over different interpretations of the treaty, which exempted Japan from any compensation for the period of its occupation. during World War 2.

In 2018, the Supreme Court of Korea suddenly ruled that Japanese companies must compensate victims of forced labor during the war. After this controversial ruling, the relationship between the two sides quickly turned in a bad way. Both Seoul and Tokyo are excluded from the list of most favored nation states in trade relations. While Tokyo imposed restrictions on the export of key raw materials on Korea’s large-scale semiconductor industry and many other items, a nationwide boycott campaign took place. items made in Japan. Japanese businesses are also the subject of anti-countermeasure campaigns in Korea …

The dispute between the two sides culminated when in August 2019, Seoul announced that it was likely to withdraw from the Treaty on Important Information Sharing with Tokyo, which was signed in 2016; South Korea will only continue to cooperate with Japan in military information, through a trilateral information-sharing agreement, in which the US plays an intermediary role.

This action threatened the US-Japan-Korea alliance structure in the context of Northeast Asia geopolitics frequently “red alert” due to tensions on the Korean Peninsula. However, just a few hours before the Japan Intelligence Sharing Treaty expires, Seoul decided to extend the treaty, a move that made the United States relieved, relieved of its thousands of pounds that threatened to destroy it. broken US – Japan – Korea triangular relations.

Throughout 2020, the bilateral relationship between Korea and Japan did not improve significantly. Most recently, the Korean Defense White Paper announced in February 2021 no longer calls Japan “partner”, a worrying signal for the relationship between the two sides. In the context of the COVID-19 epidemic raging around the world, travel restrictions have further reduced opportunities for exchanges between people of the two countries, making the ability to restore Japan-Korea relations very difficult. towel.

Japan remains an economic powerhouse. Photo: LG

The currency is the currency ahead of Wisdom

During his four years in the White House, Mr. Trump has repeatedly questioned the value of allies in Northeast Asia, repeatedly debating the costs of maintaining US troops in both Korea and Japan. Copy. Those moves have undermined the US’s ability to assume the unwritten role of being a (key) party building a bridge between Seoul and Tokyo. This leads to the fact that the US – Japan – Korea triangular relationship has fallen into the bleakest situation in the last months of the Trump term.

Aware of the damage caused by his predecessor, the Biden administration seeks to reorganize the trilateral alliance relationship. It is important not to let either partner feel the US is biased towards the other.

However, it is obvious that due to the different geographical location, history, political regime as well as the size of the economies of each party, the value of each Northeast Asian ally to the United States is also. different.

Outperformed by China (to become the second largest economy in the world), Japan remains an economic powerhouse. But, this economy is increasingly dependent on Chinese markets, capital sources and production chains. Therefore, Japan is careful when choosing its position, ensuring to gain the greatest benefits in the context of the fierce Sino-US confrontation.

Tokyo’s optimal choice is to build a relationship just enough with the US to avoid falling into a passive position in the Sino-Japanese relationship, as a bargaining chip with China; while maintaining its role as a trusted US ally to deal with the security challenges that have recently emerged on the Korean Peninsula.

Compared to Japan, South Korea is more dependent on the US for the military but more on China economically. The US is the only ally, and China is Seoul’s biggest trading partner. Korea cannot and does not want to have to choose between either party. Maintaining a relatively neutral position between the US and China is also a sensible choice for Seoul.

In order to serve the strategy of rebuilding allied relations in Northeast Asia, not only actively mediating the difficult relationship between Japan and South Korea, the US must also actively involve Japan. and South Korea is back in a trajectory that is allied with America itself. At the end of February, the US and Japan signed a cost-sharing agreement for the US military stationed in Japan. By early March, the US reached an agreement with South Korea to sign the XI Special Bilateral Military Cost-Sharing Agreement (SMA) for a period of six years.

These are the economic levers that were used decades ago and they are still in effect today.

The money (of the US) is the smart money!

To be sure, the two leaders will also discuss how to deal with a rising China, North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs, climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Narrow a large cognitive gap

For now, the Biden administration will put an emphasis on promoting cooperation with allies, including Japan, and this is warmly welcomed by America’s allies. .

However, as China continues to rise and the US is urging its allies to assume greater responsibility in international affairs, there is a danger of a large gap between the US and Japan. awareness.

Although Japan is very concerned about China’s behavior, in recent years Tokyo has maintained a cooperative rather than an adversarial approach.

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide (left) and US President Joe Biden (right) will discuss many ‘hot’ issues. (Source: AP)

In October 2018, former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo visited Beijing, and Japan signed memoranda of understanding with China on more than 50 joint projects related to infrastructure construction in third countries. .

Chinese President Xi Jinping was scheduled to make a state visit to Japan in April 2020, but the tour was subsequently postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under Prime Minister Suga, figures of “doves” and “hawks” toward China in Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) often fought for influence.

The hawks have sought ways to postpone Xi Jinping’s state visit when it comes to Xinjiang and Hong Kong issues. LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai, a supporter of Prime Minister Suga, opposed the delay, but the visit is not expected to take place in 2021.

Although Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi urged China to resolve the Xinjiang issue, Tokyo still shied away from imposing economic sanctions on its neighbor because of its lack of legal frameworks. like that.

Therefore, the US should prepare mentally that Japan will adopt a more moderate approach towards China. Japan will certainly continue to strengthen the role and mission of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) within the framework of the Peace Constitution and the US-Japan alliance.

At the same time, Japan will also seek a clear commitment from the United States to avert Chinese military provocations, especially around the Senkaku Islands (which China also claims and calls for). Diaoyu) after China passed a new Customs Law last month, granting China’s coast guard the right to use weapons.

Analysts say the US will certainly be disappointed if it wants Japan to take significantly more aggressive military action against China. Although Japan passed a security law in 2015 that allowed the SDF to engage in limited collective defense activities, constitutional restrictions essentially forbid Japan from using force for purposes of does not involve defense.

Furthermore, the Japanese public still supports Article 9 – the peace clause – in the Rape and has little desire for the SDF to engage in combat missions that pose a risk of casualties.

Get cooperation back on track

About North Korea, both leaders advocated adopting a tough approach. Unlike his predecessor, Donald Trump, Mr. Biden is not too close to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Mr. Suga will be anxious to express his tough stance towards North Korea in the face of domestic public opinion when asking for US assistance to repatriate Japanese citizens previously kidnapped by North Korea.

President Biden had to find a way to reassure the US-Japan-Korea trilateral partnership that Trump has ignored. The key bottleneck here, however, remains tensions between Japan and South Korea over forced labor – issues that have engulfed the enthusiasm of cooperation between the two countries even though they share a common desire to curb the chapter. North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

Addressing climate change and fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic will be a “fertile ground” for the US-Japan to promote cooperation.

Regarding climate change, President Biden quickly brought the US back to the Paris Agreement and is scheduled to hold a climate summit with 40 world leaders from April 22-23.

Prime Minister Suga pledged that Japan will reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2050.

Since the financial institutions of the US and Japan lead the world in supporting the use of coal, under the leadership of these two countries, it is likely that the world will be promoted to transform energy, without using fuel. fossils that turn to renewable energy could eventually forge clean energy partnerships.

With regard to Covid-19, Since Japan and the US have a long history of cooperation in international health, the lack of cooperation between the two countries in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic is surprising. A lot of people fear that the Tokyo Olympics will turn into a super infectious event this pandemic.

More communication against Covid-19 did not yield much results. This includes Japan’s use of a supercomputer in an AI-based Covid-19 study, American doctors’ experience in treating Covid-19 patients, and the logistics of government vaccination. Mr. Biden.

Japan and the US could also support more multilateral efforts, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the EU-operated Covid Tool Access Accelerator, to help stop the spread of spread globally and vaccinate people around the world before the emergence of resistant mutations.

The US-Japan summit provides an important opportunity to get bilateral cooperation back on track. However, to best strengthen cooperation and close the perception gap, these two allies should not shy away from discussions regarding thorny issues.

(according to EastAsia Forum)