Amidst criticism that the vote is taking place far too soon, the new Japanese prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, dissolved the lower chamber of parliament on Wednesday in order to hold a snap election on October 27. Ishiba asked the public to have faith in the party's policies. Ishiba assumed office last week following the resignation of Fumio Kishida, who had led the ruling Liberal Democratic Party for three years during a period marred by corruption scandals.

Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba Dissolves Parliament To Conduct Snap Elections

Japan’s New PM Dissolves The Lower House Of Parliament To Set Up A Snap Election

Japan's incoming Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced his new cabinet lineup, including several experienced members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Known for his pragmatic approach and extensive political experience, Ishiba's decision to bring in party veterans signals his intention to ensure stability and continuity in governance. The new cabinet features seasoned politicians in key positions, reflecting a balance between established leadership and younger, reform-minded figures. By appointing long-serving LDP members to critical ministries such as finance, defense, and foreign affairs, Ishiba aims to navigate Japan through economic challenges and complex geopolitical issues while maintaining party unity.

Japan's Incoming PM Ishiba Includes Party Veterans In New Cabinet | World DNA | World News | WION

Shigeru Ishiba, former Japanese defense minister, has been elected as the new Prime Minister of the world's fourth-largest economy, succeeding Fumio Kishida. Ishiba secured victory in his party's leadership contest on Friday after a competitive race that concluded with a runoff vote.

Japan: Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba Elected As Japan's New Prime Minister | WION Breaking

Shigeru Ishiba has secured victory in the leadership election of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and is poised to become the next prime minister. The 67-year-old former defense minister triumphed in a closely fought race on Friday, defeating 63-year-old Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi in a run-off after none of the nine candidates achieved a majority in the initial round of voting earlier in the day.

Japan: Shigeru Ishiba Defeats Sanae Takaichi In Japan's Ruling Party Vote For Prime Minister | WION

Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama's new exhibition featuring colorful lights, mirrors, paintings is exhilarating the viewers in London. Watch to know more.

Infinity Mirrored Room, Flashing Lights & Spherical Heart At Yayoi Kusama's Exhibition

With just 10 days until Japan’s ruling party elects a new leader—and prime minister—the race remains too close to call. Frontrunners include Shigeru Ishiba, a security expert, Shinjiro Koizumi, the youthful son of a former prime minister, and Sanae Takaichi, an ultra-conservative minister recently favored in a new poll. Explore the key candidates and what this election could mean for Japan's future.

Japan's Tight Leadership Race: Who Will Become the Next Prime Minister?

Naomi Osaka picked up her first win on clay in two years on Wednesday (Apr 24) and while the former world number one is adapting to the slower surface ahead of the French Open she has no plans to abandon the power game that brought her four Grand Slam titles.

Naomi Osaka picked up her first win on clay in two years on Wednesday (Apr 24) and while the former world number one is adapting to the slower surface ahead of the French Open she has no plans to abandon the power game that brought her four Grand Slam titles. Osaka, who returned to action in January after a 15-month maternity break, has enjoyed huge success thanks to her powerful baseline game but the Japanese player has struggled on clay. Her first match of the season on the surface ended in an opening-round loss to Martina Trevisan at Rouen last week but she responded with a 6-4 6-1 win over Greet Minnen at the Madrid Open on Wednesday. "I slid a couple of times to my forehand pretty well, so I was excited about that," Osaka told reporters. "She was hitting really good drop shots, but I think I got to a couple quite well. Movement-wise I'm feeling a lot more comfortable. "I want to adapt and I'm trying to, but there are things that work for me and have gotten me to where I am, so I don't want to start slicing and dicing. Also read | Tennis: Jannik Sinner not heaping pressure on himself with top ranking in sight ahead of Madrid Open "There's a basis to my game and I want to stick to that, but also respect the court. It's a work in progress for me, but I'm watching a lot more matches on clay. I'm trying to do my homework as best as I can." Osaka, who is now ranked 197th in the world, has never made it to a final on clay and has failed to advance beyond the third round at Roland Garros. "I'd like to win a tournament on clay," said Osaka, who meets Liudmila Samsonova next in Madrid. "It would be very ironic but also hilarious if my first tournament (win of the comeback) would be on clay." The French Open begins on May 26.

Tennis: Naomi Osaka registers first win of season on clay in preparation of French Open

On days when you feel like punching someone, try grabbing a pen and paper instead. A new research shows that writing down all that wrath on a piece of paper and throwing it away, not only helps in reducing anger but can also eliminate it completely.&nbsp;

A study conducted at Nagoya University in Japan found that shredding the paper with words describing your frustration might be a good way to calm oneself down instantly. This is preferably a better option in a workplace setting, where expressing furious thoughts openly can have dire consequences.&nbsp;

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What researchers found from the study was something that even they didn’t expect. They found that this method not only suppressed the furious emotion but also eliminated the anger “almost completely,” said lead researcher Nobuyuki Kawai.

Kawai is a doctoral student at Nagoya University, who conducted the study along with another doctoral student Yuta Kanaya. Both asked the participants to write brief opinions on social problems like smoking in public.&nbsp;

Upon completing the assignment, they told the participants their responses would now be checked by a doctoral student at Nagoya University. Instead, there was no such “doctoral student” to evaluate the responses and all participants were sent the same feedback of poor intelligence and lack of logic and rationality.

Watch |&nbsp;Rudest workplace behaviour: Beware of the dreaded "hey" in digital chats

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Each participant was given the same insulting remark: "I cannot believe an educated person would think like this. I hope this person learns something while at the university."

Afterwards, the participants were asked to write their thoughts on the feedback, focussing on what triggered their emotions.

They were then split into two groups. The first group was told to either throw away the paper they wrote in the garbage or keep it in a file on their desk. A second group was told to destroy the document in a shredder or put it in a plastic box.

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The participants were then asked to rate their anger after disposing or keeping the paper.

The majority of the participants reported a higher level of anger after receiving insulting comments. However, individuals who discarded the paper in a trash can or shredded it returned to their initial state after throwing away the paper.

Meanwhile, the participants who held on to a hard copy of the insult experienced only a small decrease in their overall anger.

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"This technique could be applied at the moment by writing down the source of anger as if taking a memo and then throwing it away when one feels angry in a business situation," explained Kawai.

This method of anger management is somewhat similar to the Japanese cultural tradition of hakidashisara, an annual festival at Hiyoshi shrine near Nagoya where people smash small discs representing things that make them angry. Many anecdotes reported people feeling relieved after their participation in the festival.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

On days when you feel like punching someone, try grabbing a pen and paper instead. A new research shows that writing down all that wrath on a piece of paper and throwing it away, not only helps in reducing anger but can also eliminate it completely.

On days when you feel like punching someone, try grabbing a pen and paper instead. A new research shows that writing down all that wrath on a piece of paper and throwing it away, not only helps in reducing anger but can also eliminate it completely. A study conducted at Nagoya University in Japan found that shredding the paper with words describing your frustration might be a good way to calm oneself down instantly. This is preferably a better option in a workplace setting, where expressing furious thoughts openly can have dire consequences. Also Read | Doctors in China successfully transplant pig kidney into brain-dead human patient What researchers found from the study was something that even they didn’t expect. They found that this method not only suppressed the furious emotion but also eliminated the anger “almost completely,” said lead researcher Nobuyuki Kawai. Kawai is a doctoral student at Nagoya University, who conducted the study along with another doctoral student Yuta Kanaya. Both asked the participants to write brief opinions on social problems like smoking in public. Upon completing the assignment, they told the participants their responses would now be checked by a doctoral student at Nagoya University. Instead, there was no such “doctoral student” to evaluate the responses and all participants were sent the same feedback of poor intelligence and lack of logic and rationality. Watch | Rudest workplace behaviour: Beware of the dreaded "hey" in digital chats × Each participant was given the same insulting remark: "I cannot believe an educated person would think like this. I hope this person learns something while at the university." Afterwards, the participants were asked to write their thoughts on the feedback, focussing on what triggered their emotions. They were then split into two groups. The first group was told to either throw away the paper they wrote in the garbage or keep it in a file on their desk. A second group was told to destroy the document in a shredder or put it in a plastic box. Also Read | Aliens have likely travelled to Earth via 'curled dimensions', claims Harvard professor The participants were then asked to rate their anger after disposing or keeping the paper. The majority of the participants reported a higher level of anger after receiving insulting comments. However, individuals who discarded the paper in a trash can or shredded it returned to their initial state after throwing away the paper. Meanwhile, the participants who held on to a hard copy of the insult experienced only a small decrease in their overall anger. Also Read | People using cannabis vapes in UK at risk from 'zombie' drug, warn experts "This technique could be applied at the moment by writing down the source of anger as if taking a memo and then throwing it away when one feels angry in a business situation," explained Kawai. This method of anger management is somewhat similar to the Japanese cultural tradition of hakidashisara, an annual festival at Hiyoshi shrine near Nagoya where people smash small discs representing things that make them angry. Many anecdotes reported people feeling relieved after their participation in the festival. (With inputs from agencies)

Feeling furious? Write it down and throw away the paper, a Japanese way of ‘eliminating’ anger

There's a bit of panic in Japan's Fukuyama city whose residents were warned not to approach or touch a cat that&nbsp;has gone missing after falling into a vat filled with cancer-causing chemicals.

On Monday morning (Mar 11), an employee working at a metal plating plant in Fukuyama reached the plant to find the paw prints of the cat from the container to the way out, said the firm.&nbsp;

In the security camera footage shared by the company, the cat was seen running from the factory and appeared unharmed.

However, no footage appeared which showed how the cat fell into the chemical-filled vat.

The vat, which had a depth of three metres (10 feet) and was filled with hexavalent chromium, is carcinogenic and can lead to skin inflammation.

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"We immediately alerted police, the Fukuyama city and neighbours near our factory," said a representative from the company, while speaking to AFP news agency.

"The incident woke us up to the need to take measures to prevent small animals like cats from sneaking in, which is something we had never anticipated before," he added.

The locals were informed by the city authorities to not touch the animal and to immediately inform police if they came across it.

<h2>No sightings of a cat so far as officials speculate on its death</h2>

As of Tuesday afternoon (Mar 12), no sightings of the cat were reported.&nbsp;

Coming in contact with the chemical can lead to skin inflammation and inhaling it can cause respiratory issues,&nbsp;the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported.

Watch:&nbsp;Indian government approves formation of alliance aimed at conserving big cats around

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-government-approves-formation-of-alliance-aimed-at-conserving-big-cats-around-695495/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It added that the factory employees wear rubber gloves and masks while handling the substance.&nbsp;

&nbsp;According to the Fukuyama environmental officials, the cat may have died by coming into contact with the poisonous chemical.

(With inputs from agencies)

There's a bit of panic in Japan's Fukuyama city whose residents were warned not to approach or touch a cat that has gone missing after falling into a vat filled with cancer-causing chemicals.

There's a bit of panic in Japan's Fukuyama city whose residents were warned not to approach or touch a cat that has gone missing after falling into a vat filled with cancer-causing chemicals. On Monday morning (Mar 11), an employee working at a metal plating plant in Fukuyama reached the plant to find the paw prints of the cat from the container to the way out, said the firm. In the security camera footage shared by the company, the cat was seen running from the factory and appeared unharmed. However, no footage appeared which showed how the cat fell into the chemical-filled vat. The vat, which had a depth of three metres (10 feet) and was filled with hexavalent chromium, is carcinogenic and can lead to skin inflammation. Also Read: Is bubonic plague back? US state reports rare death caused by ancient disease "We immediately alerted police, the Fukuyama city and neighbours near our factory," said a representative from the company, while speaking to AFP news agency. "The incident woke us up to the need to take measures to prevent small animals like cats from sneaking in, which is something we had never anticipated before," he added. The locals were informed by the city authorities to not touch the animal and to immediately inform police if they came across it. No sightings of a cat so far as officials speculate on its death As of Tuesday afternoon (Mar 12), no sightings of the cat were reported. Coming in contact with the chemical can lead to skin inflammation and inhaling it can cause respiratory issues, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported. Watch: Indian government approves formation of alliance aimed at conserving big cats around It added that the factory employees wear rubber gloves and masks while handling the substance. According to the Fukuyama environmental officials, the cat may have died by coming into contact with the poisonous chemical. (With inputs from agencies)

Japanese city warns residents against touching cat which fell in toxic chemical tank

The nuclear materials came from Myanmar, with defendant Takeshi Ebisawa accused of selling them to a US undercover agent. US authorities have charged the leader of a Japanese crime syndicate with conspiring to traffic nuclear materials from Myanmar for expected use in Iranian nuclear weapons.

US charges Japanese crime syndicate leader

Toyota is hitting the gas on profits! The Japanese automaker has raised its full-year forecast, thanks to soaring sales of hybrid vehicles and a boost from the weaker yen.

Toyota surges past expectations

Former liberal democratic party lawmaker Mito Kakizawa has been arrested over allegations of vote-buying in a Tokyo ward mayoral election in April.

Japanese lawmaker Kakizawa arrested over vote-buying allegations

Retired Japanese figure skating star Yuzuru Hanyu has announced his divorce from his wife, three months after he publicized the union, blaming it on media "stalking" and harassing the ex-couple. Hanyu, a national icon in Japan and two-time Olympic figure skating champion, said on X, formerly Twitter, late Friday that "suspicious" people had visited his home and reporters had invaded his privacy since he announced his marriage in early August.

"Currently, various media outlets are slandering, stalking, and conducting unauthorised interviews and reports about my partner, who is not a celebrity, as well as members of their families," he said in a statement.

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Hanyu, who is known as Japan's "Ice Prince", said his partner had supported him, "even though she couldn't take one step out of the house". "It was extremely difficult to protect my partner and myself in these circumstances and I found it unbearable," he added.

Ultimately, he said he had decided to divorce so that his partner could "be happy with no restrictions". He has not revealed his ex-wife's identity.

Hanyu retired from competition in July last year and now performs at professional skating shows. The soft-spoken 28-year-old&nbsp;became the first man to win back-to-back Olympic champions in 66 years at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

He was followed throughout his career by a legion of "Fanyu" supporters, who showered the ice with Winnie the Pooh toys after his routines in tribute to the Pooh tissue box cover he carried to the rink with him.

Retired Japanese figure skating star Yuzuru Hanyu has announced his divorce from his wife, three months after he publicized the union, blaming it on media "stalking" and harassing the ex-couple.

Retired Japanese figure skating star Yuzuru Hanyu has announced his divorce from his wife, three months after he publicized the union, blaming it on media "stalking" and harassing the ex-couple. Hanyu, a national icon in Japan and two-time Olympic figure skating champion, said on X, formerly Twitter, late Friday that "suspicious" people had visited his home and reporters had invaded his privacy since he announced his marriage in early August. "Currently, various media outlets are slandering, stalking, and conducting unauthorised interviews and reports about my partner, who is not a celebrity, as well as members of their families," he said in a statement. Also Read: Premier League: Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag vows full support to struggling Rashford Hanyu, who is known as Japan's "Ice Prince", said his partner had supported him, "even though she couldn't take one step out of the house". "It was extremely difficult to protect my partner and myself in these circumstances and I found it unbearable," he added. Ultimately, he said he had decided to divorce so that his partner could "be happy with no restrictions". He has not revealed his ex-wife's identity. Hanyu retired from competition in July last year and now performs at professional skating shows. The soft-spoken 28-year-old became the first man to win back-to-back Olympic champions in 66 years at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. He was followed throughout his career by a legion of "Fanyu" supporters, who showered the ice with Winnie the Pooh toys after his routines in tribute to the Pooh tissue box cover he carried to the rink with him.

Retired Japanese figure skating star Yuzuru Hanyu blames media for his divorce

In a still fuelled by cedar from nearby forests, Shizuoka Distillery, a leader in Japan's new wave of independent whisky makers, crafts its spirits to tap into surging global demand.

This year marks the 100 year anniversary of whisky making in Japan since the founding of market leader Suntory's first distillery in Yamazaki in 1923.

And at the century mark, there are now more than 100 licensed distilleries in the country - twice as much as 10 years ago - with each one vying to make its mark in a rapidly expanding market.

The cedar fire - which Shizuoka claims is the world's only wood fuelled blaze beneath a whisky still - is one of several novelties these distilleries are using to set themselves apart.

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And even though their businesses are small compared to drinks giants like Suntory, their ambitions are world-class.

Taiko Nakamura, 54, was inspired to set up Shizuoka Distillery in 2016 by a trip to Scotland.

"I saw this distillery, and I was amazed that this tiny place in the mountainous countryside was selling whisky across the globe," he said. "So I thought it would be fun to make my own whisky and then have people from all over the world enjoy it."

The explosion of craft whisky in Japan follows a boom and bust in the industry.

<h2>QUALITY OVER QUANTITY</h2>

Long viewed as an inferior copycat of Scotch, Japanese single malts and blended whiskies started racking up international awards around 2008, sparking intense global demand that effectively drank the supply dry by around 2015.

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The shortage sent prices into the stratosphere. A set of 54 bottles from Ichiro's Malt, a trailblazer in Japanese craft whisky, sold for $1.5 million in 2020 at a Hong Kong auction. Last week, Sotheby's offered what it claimed was the most valuable collection of Japanese whisky at auction, headlined by a 52-year old bottle that sold for 300,000 pounds ($373,830).

Major makers Suntory and Nikka, a unit of beer maker Asahi Group, have spent the past decade ramping up capacity and stock of the spirit, which must age for at least three years to qualify as "Japanese whisky," under 2021 standards.

Suntory, Japan's biggest and best-known whisky maker, recently invested 10 billion yen ($67 million) to upgrade its distilleries, including its Yamazaki site.

Chief blender Shinji Fukuyo said he welcomes the new breed of Japanese distillers, and Suntory is willing to give advice to the startups "as long as it contributes to maintaining and improving the quality of Japanese whisky as a whole".

Foreign money is flowing into the market too. In 2021, global drinks giant Diageo bought an undisclosed stake in Komasa Kanosuke Distillery, established in 2017 by a maker of traditional shochu liquor.

IJW Whiskey Company, a Kentucky-based company, set up a Japanese subsidiary known as Cedarfield that is building a distillery on the northern island of Hokkaido that would be Japan's biggest, the Nikkei newspaper reported in March.

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A Cedarfield representative declined to comment on the company's plans.

But with new supply hitting the market and from so many new players, some in the industry have voiced concerns that poor quality product could spoil Japan's reputation.

"That's a real fear in the industry," said Casey Wahl, an American expatriate who founded Kamui Whisky on the remote island of Rishiri in Japan's extreme northern boundary.

Shizuoka's Nakamura says makers like him can only respect the process and wait for the results.

"I believe we need to put all our effort into making Japanese whisky that lives up to the quality of the Japanese whiskies made by our predecessors," he said.

In a still fuelled by cedar from nearby forests, Shizuoka Distillery, a leader in Japan's new wave of independent whisky makers, crafts its spirits to tap into surging global demand.

In a still fuelled by cedar from nearby forests, Shizuoka Distillery, a leader in Japan's new wave of independent whisky makers, crafts its spirits to tap into surging global demand. This year marks the 100 year anniversary of whisky making in Japan since the founding of market leader Suntory's first distillery in Yamazaki in 1923. And at the century mark, there are now more than 100 licensed distilleries in the country - twice as much as 10 years ago - with each one vying to make its mark in a rapidly expanding market. The cedar fire - which Shizuoka claims is the world's only wood fuelled blaze beneath a whisky still - is one of several novelties these distilleries are using to set themselves apart. ALSO READ | Macallan 1926: Rare whisky becomes world’s most expensive as bottle goes for record $2.7mn at auction And even though their businesses are small compared to drinks giants like Suntory, their ambitions are world-class. Taiko Nakamura, 54, was inspired to set up Shizuoka Distillery in 2016 by a trip to Scotland. "I saw this distillery, and I was amazed that this tiny place in the mountainous countryside was selling whisky across the globe," he said. "So I thought it would be fun to make my own whisky and then have people from all over the world enjoy it." The explosion of craft whisky in Japan follows a boom and bust in the industry. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY Long viewed as an inferior copycat of Scotch, Japanese single malts and blended whiskies started racking up international awards around 2008, sparking intense global demand that effectively drank the supply dry by around 2015. ALSO READ | Most cosmic surfaces are named after men and one researcher is not happy with the bias The shortage sent prices into the stratosphere. A set of 54 bottles from Ichiro's Malt, a trailblazer in Japanese craft whisky, sold for $1.5 million in 2020 at a Hong Kong auction. Last week, Sotheby's offered what it claimed was the most valuable collection of Japanese whisky at auction, headlined by a 52-year old bottle that sold for 300,000 pounds ($373,830). Major makers Suntory and Nikka, a unit of beer maker Asahi Group, have spent the past decade ramping up capacity and stock of the spirit, which must age for at least three years to qualify as "Japanese whisky," under 2021 standards. Suntory, Japan's biggest and best-known whisky maker, recently invested 10 billion yen ($67 million) to upgrade its distilleries, including its Yamazaki site. Chief blender Shinji Fukuyo said he welcomes the new breed of Japanese distillers, and Suntory is willing to give advice to the startups "as long as it contributes to maintaining and improving the quality of Japanese whisky as a whole". Foreign money is flowing into the market too. In 2021, global drinks giant Diageo bought an undisclosed stake in Komasa Kanosuke Distillery, established in 2017 by a maker of traditional shochu liquor. IJW Whiskey Company, a Kentucky-based company, set up a Japanese subsidiary known as Cedarfield that is building a distillery on the northern island of Hokkaido that would be Japan's biggest, the Nikkei newspaper reported in March. ALSO READ | Sex ritual of this bat isn't quite how mammals copulate, video recorded in Netherlands shows A Cedarfield representative declined to comment on the company's plans. But with new supply hitting the market and from so many new players, some in the industry have voiced concerns that poor quality product could spoil Japan's reputation. "That's a real fear in the industry," said Casey Wahl, an American expatriate who founded Kamui Whisky on the remote island of Rishiri in Japan's extreme northern boundary. Shizuoka's Nakamura says makers like him can only respect the process and wait for the results. "I believe we need to put all our effort into making Japanese whisky that lives up to the quality of the Japanese whiskies made by our predecessors," he said.

Japanese whisky turns 100 as craft distilleries transform industry

A Japanese man has admitted to starting a fire at the popular Kyoto Animation studio in 2019 that killed 36 people. While prosecutors seek the death penalty for the man, saying it was a 'revenge crime', the defence's lawyers are seeking an acquittal, citing mental incompetence.

A Japanese man has admitted to starting a fire at the popular Kyoto Animation studio in 2019 that killed 36 people. While prosecutors seek the death penalty for the man, saying it was a 'revenge crime', the defence's lawyers are seeking an acquittal, citing mental incompetence. The blaze that ripped through the building was dubbed one of Japan's worst-ever murder cases. The accused, identified as Shinji Aoba, reportedly broke into the studio, sprayed petrol around the ground floor and alighted it before shouting "Drop dead". "I felt I had no other option but to do what I did. I didn't think so many people would die and now I think I went too far," said Aoba. While Aoba admitted to the crime, his defence team entered a not-guilty plea in the trial that started on Tuesday (September 5). Aoba's team argued that even if he were convicted, he should be given a reduced sentence on account of his "state of diminished capacity", adding that he was delusional at the time of the attack. Watch | Kyoto Animation studio: Suspected arson attack in Japan leaves at least 36 dead Video Embed Code: × According to a BBC report, the motive for Aoba's actions remains unclear at the moment. The trial will focus on finding it and if he can be held criminally liable for the arson and murder. With over 500 people standing in queues, vying for a dozen-odd seats in the courtroom, prosecutors informed that Aoba wrongly believed that Kyoto Animation had plagiarised a novel he had entered into a contest, run by the company. Also read | Kyoto Animation fire suspect has criminal record, was treated for mental health issues: Report Aoba suffered injuries in arson attack Notably, Aoba nearly died in the attack as well, suffering severe burns on 90 per cent of his body, including on the face, torso and limbs. Consequently, he remained unconscious for weeks and was treated for 10 months at a hospital, specialising in burns where he underwent several skin transplant operations, according to Japanese media reports. As for the beloved studio, also known as KyoAni, famous for producing graphic novels and films with high production value, the road to justice remains long as the verdict in the trial is expected to be announced in January next year. Some of the popular animation works by the studio include K-On! and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Man admits to starting fire at Japanese anime studio that killed 36 in 2019

Toyota motors have hit top gear, enjoying a smooth ride during its first quarter under the leadership of CEO Koji Sato. The Japanese vehicle manufacturer reported a staggering 75% increase in net income, reaching an impressive 9.1 billion dollars. Operating margins soared past 10%, propelling Toyota's shares to an all-time high in the market.

Toyota’s net income surges by 75%

A Japanese university student attended his graduation ceremony dressed as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “express solidarity” with the country.

Wearing an olive coloured shirt and khaki pants—a symbolic attire that has become synonymous with the Ukrainian leader— the student, identified as Amiki Yomiuri, entered the campus, drawing attention from others.

Traditionally, university graduation ceremonies in Japan feature students wearing formal attire. But at Kyoto University, the students are allowed to wear whatever they want.

Notably, this was the first in-person graduation ceremony of the varsity in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Since December, when I was growing out my beard, I was told I look like President Zelensky," Yomiuri was quoted as saying by the Japanese media.

He was also seen carrying signboards with messages of support and quotes from Zelensky's speech to US Congress in December 2022.

In the video from TV Osaka, Yomuiri said he respects Zelensky as “the real man among men.”

“We stand for Ukraine! Justice will prevail in the end, I hope so. Glory to Ukraine,” he tweeted.

He was also spotted holding a wooden rice serving spoon, called shamoji, similar to the one presented to Zelensky by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during his visit to Kyiv last week, according to DailyMail.com.

The rice paddle is a speciality of Hiroshima, where Kishida is from. and bears a prayer for victory. However, the gift was severely criticised by the opposition lawmakers who termed it as “nonsense.”

The student also agreed with the criticism that the giving a rice serving spoon to the leader of a country at war “wasn’t appropriate”.

“Nonetheless, I´m happy if the Ukrainian people were pleased and the traditional prayer behind it was conveyed,” he was quoted as saying.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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A Japanese university student attended his graduation ceremony dressed as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “express solidarity” with the country. Wearing an olive coloured shirt and khaki pants—a symbolic attire that has become synonymous with the Ukrainian leader— the student, identified as Amiki Yomiuri, entered the campus, drawing attention from others.

A Japanese university student attended his graduation ceremony dressed as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “express solidarity” with the country. Wearing an olive coloured shirt and khaki pants—a symbolic attire that has become synonymous with the Ukrainian leader— the student, identified as Amiki Yomiuri, entered the campus, drawing attention from others. Traditionally, university graduation ceremonies in Japan feature students wearing formal attire. But at Kyoto University, the students are allowed to wear whatever they want. Notably, this was the first in-person graduation ceremony of the varsity in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Since December, when I was growing out my beard, I was told I look like President Zelensky," Yomiuri was quoted as saying by the Japanese media. He was also seen carrying signboards with messages of support and quotes from Zelensky's speech to US Congress in December 2022. In the video from TV Osaka, Yomuiri said he respects Zelensky as “the real man among men.” “We stand for Ukraine! Justice will prevail in the end, I hope so. Glory to Ukraine,” he tweeted. He was also spotted holding a wooden rice serving spoon, called shamoji, similar to the one presented to Zelensky by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during his visit to Kyiv last week, according to DailyMail.com. The rice paddle is a speciality of Hiroshima, where Kishida is from. and bears a prayer for victory. However, the gift was severely criticised by the opposition lawmakers who termed it as “nonsense.” The student also agreed with the criticism that the giving a rice serving spoon to the leader of a country at war “wasn’t appropriate”. “Nonetheless, I´m happy if the Ukrainian people were pleased and the traditional prayer behind it was conveyed,” he was quoted as saying. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Japanese student attends graduation ceremony dressed as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

Once again, three men are set to lead the Bank of Japan (BOJ), underscoring the hurdles women face in reaching leadership positions in a country that ranks the lowest among advanced economies for gender equality.

Bank of Japan continues to woo men?

Sixteen men were arrested in Japan for allegedly filming thousands of women bathing in hot springs across the country for over 30 years, even as police uncovered a massive voyeurism ring.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The arrest was made on February 1 in Shizuoka prefecture, a year after the arrest of the alleged ringleader, 50-year-old Karin Saito, reported&nbsp;The Asahi Shimbun&nbsp;newspaper.&nbsp;

Saito was&nbsp;caught in&nbsp;December 2021&nbsp;in Hyogo prefecture. He was charged with violating a nuisance prevention ordinance, a local law against illicit photography.&nbsp;

He had admitted of secretly filming more than 10,000 women for over 30 years in 46 different prefectures, and revealed about dozen others in his group.&nbsp;

Among those arrested include senior company executives, local government officials, and a doctor from Tokyo.&nbsp;

The gang mainly targeted women in open-air baths. They would hide in the mountains and secretly film and photograph the bathing women with a camera through a telephoto lens—a high-end camera gear.&nbsp;

According to reports, the men would get tips from Saito on how best to photograph the women, and hold gatherings to view the footage together.&nbsp;

Moreover, these men also filmed their female acquaintances after drugging them with sleeping pills and held parties where they committed perverted acts.&nbsp;

Speaking to South China Morning Post, Yutaka Seki, an executive director at the Japan Hot Springs Association, admitted that it was difficult to fully prevent illicit and unauthorised photography even with the advancement of technology.&nbsp;

“This is shocking and I have to say that voyeurism for the purpose of obtaining naked images of someone of the opposite sex simply has to be severely punished. Illicit and unauthorised photography and filming is, of course, prohibited in all onsen and similar establishments. But new technology, such as miniaturization of cameras, makes it quite difficult to eradicate entirely,” he was quoted as saying.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Sixteen men were arrested in Japan for allegedly filming thousands of women bathing in hot springs across the country for over 30 years, even as police uncovered a massive voyeurism ring.

Sixteen men were arrested in Japan for allegedly filming thousands of women bathing in hot springs across the country for over 30 years, even as police uncovered a massive voyeurism ring. The arrest was made on February 1 in Shizuoka prefecture, a year after the arrest of the alleged ringleader, 50-year-old Karin Saito, reported The Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Saito was caught in December 2021 in Hyogo prefecture. He was charged with violating a nuisance prevention ordinance, a local law against illicit photography. He had admitted of secretly filming more than 10,000 women for over 30 years in 46 different prefectures, and revealed about dozen others in his group. Among those arrested include senior company executives, local government officials, and a doctor from Tokyo. The gang mainly targeted women in open-air baths. They would hide in the mountains and secretly film and photograph the bathing women with a camera through a telephoto lens—a high-end camera gear. According to reports, the men would get tips from Saito on how best to photograph the women, and hold gatherings to view the footage together. Moreover, these men also filmed their female acquaintances after drugging them with sleeping pills and held parties where they committed perverted acts. Speaking to South China Morning Post, Yutaka Seki, an executive director at the Japan Hot Springs Association, admitted that it was difficult to fully prevent illicit and unauthorised photography even with the advancement of technology. “This is shocking and I have to say that voyeurism for the purpose of obtaining naked images of someone of the opposite sex simply has to be severely punished. Illicit and unauthorised photography and filming is, of course, prohibited in all onsen and similar establishments. But new technology, such as miniaturization of cameras, makes it quite difficult to eradicate entirely,” he was quoted as saying. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Japanese police bust voyeurism ring, arrest 16 men for filming women bathing in hot springs for over 30 years

From April, revised traffic laws will allow self-driving delivery robots to navigate streets across Japan. Proponents hope the machines could eventually help elderly people in depopulated rural areas get access to goods, while also addressing a shortage of delivery workers in a country with chronic labour shortages.

Japan rolls out 'humble and lovable' delivery robots

A Japanese documentary filmmaker has been jailed by a military junta-controlled in Myanmar for 10 years for allegedly breaking an immigration law and encouraging dissent against the ruling military, the Japan Times newspaper reported.

The 26-year-old filmmaker, Toru Kubota, was arrested in Myanmar's main city of Yangon in July last year during a protest.

On Wednesday, Kubota was handed three years for sedition, and seven years for electronic communications-related violations, the newspaper reported citing a source.

The Japanese citizen is currently detained in Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison, where political prisoners are kept. Proceedings are still underway over his alleged violation of immigration law.

In the court that was set up inside the jail, it was argued that Kubota entered the Southeast Asian country from neighbouring Thailand using a tourist visa.

The military also claimed that he entered the country for the sole purpose of participating in the protest and communicating with protesters while filming.

He has been further accused of reporting on the Rohingya Muslim minority group and disseminating false information.

The Rohingya have been among the most persecuted group under Myanmar's military regime and in the world, according to the UN. The ill-treatment meted out by the regime has forced hundreds and thousands of them to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh in recent years.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government has urged the Myanmar authorities to facilitate his release, but there has been confirmation from the military officials so far, the newspaper reported.

The next hearing is scheduled to take place next Wednesday when the court will hear about his immigration case.

This is the second time a Japanese citizen has been arrested and convicted in Myanmar.

Last April, a Japanese freelance journalist, Yuki Kitazumi, was arrested and convicted for spreading false news reports. But he was released a month after and returned to Japan.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: 

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A Japanese documentary filmmaker has been jailed by a military junta-controlled in Myanmar for 10 years for allegedly breaking an immigration law and encouraging dissent against the ruling military, the Japan Times newspaper reported.

A Japanese documentary filmmaker has been jailed by a military junta-controlled in Myanmar for 10 years for allegedly breaking an immigration law and encouraging dissent against the ruling military, the Japan Times newspaper reported. The 26-year-old filmmaker, Toru Kubota, was arrested in Myanmar's main city of Yangon in July last year during a protest. On Wednesday, Kubota was handed three years for sedition, and seven years for electronic communications-related violations, the newspaper reported citing a source. The Japanese citizen is currently detained in Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison, where political prisoners are kept. Proceedings are still underway over his alleged violation of immigration law. In the court that was set up inside the jail, it was argued that Kubota entered the Southeast Asian country from neighbouring Thailand using a tourist visa. The military also claimed that he entered the country for the sole purpose of participating in the protest and communicating with protesters while filming. He has been further accused of reporting on the Rohingya Muslim minority group and disseminating false information. The Rohingya have been among the most persecuted group under Myanmar's military regime and in the world, according to the UN. The ill-treatment meted out by the regime has forced hundreds and thousands of them to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh in recent years. Meanwhile, the Japanese government has urged the Myanmar authorities to facilitate his release, but there has been confirmation from the military officials so far, the newspaper reported. The next hearing is scheduled to take place next Wednesday when the court will hear about his immigration case. This is the second time a Japanese citizen has been arrested and convicted in Myanmar. Last April, a Japanese freelance journalist, Yuki Kitazumi, was arrested and convicted for spreading false news reports. But he was released a month after and returned to Japan. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Myanmar court jails Japanese filmmaker for 10 years over sedition charge

A hoverbike made by Japanese manufacturers is set to launch in the US next year. World's first flying bike made its US debut at the Detroit auto show, take a look.

World's first flying bike: 'Xturismo hoverbike' is capable of flying for 40 minutes

General Charles Flynn, commander of the US Army in the Pacific, stated that even after the joint training they were employed in, he is not in a hurry to remove rocket launchers and other equipment from a Japanese army camp on the edge of the East China Sea.&nbsp;

He told Reuters during a visit to the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force facility on Amami Oshima, a group of islands extending toward Taiwan, on Thursday that "some of the equipment we are just going to leave here" until the following joint exercises. It's a chance for us to continue improving our capabilities, he continued.

The equipment might stay in Amami for a few more months because there are two more joint training exercises planned for this year. It contains two High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), which Washington has also handed to Ukraine to aid it in its conflict with Russia and are capable of firing projectiles as far as 500 km (310 miles).&nbsp;

As tensions with China over Taiwan rise, using training exercises like the recently concluded Orient Shield drill could be a simple and rapid option for Washington to redeploy some forces in East Asia, even if only briefly.

Camp Amami, which was inaugurated in 2019, is one of a number of military camps Japan is constructing on its southwest islands for anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile units in an effort to fend off any attack from China.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/infographic-climate-crisis-has-driven-world-on-brink-of-five-disastrous-tipping-points-514540">Infographic: Climate crisis has driven world on brink of five ‘disastrous’ tipping points</a>

General Yoshihide Yoshida, the head of staff of the Japanese army, accompanied Flynn to Amami. His visit coincides with Tokyo's plans to strengthen its armed forces in response to what it perceives as an increasing threat from China and Russia following Moscow's attack on Ukraine.&nbsp;

It disclosed a plan to equip longer-range missiles last month as part of a significant increase in defence spending that will also raise funding for joint exercises with American soldiers.

(with inputs from agencies)

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General Charles Flynn, commander of the US Army in the Pacific, stated that even after the joint training they were employed in, he is not in a hurry to remove rocket launchers and other equipment from a Japanese army camp on the edge of the East China Sea.

General Charles Flynn, commander of the US Army in the Pacific, stated that even after the joint training they were employed in, he is not in a hurry to remove rocket launchers and other equipment from a Japanese army camp on the edge of the East China Sea. He told Reuters during a visit to the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force facility on Amami Oshima, a group of islands extending toward Taiwan, on Thursday that "some of the equipment we are just going to leave here" until the following joint exercises. It's a chance for us to continue improving our capabilities, he continued. The equipment might stay in Amami for a few more months because there are two more joint training exercises planned for this year. It contains two High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), which Washington has also handed to Ukraine to aid it in its conflict with Russia and are capable of firing projectiles as far as 500 km (310 miles). As tensions with China over Taiwan rise, using training exercises like the recently concluded Orient Shield drill could be a simple and rapid option for Washington to redeploy some forces in East Asia, even if only briefly. Camp Amami, which was inaugurated in 2019, is one of a number of military camps Japan is constructing on its southwest islands for anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile units in an effort to fend off any attack from China. Also Read: Infographic: Climate crisis has driven world on brink of five ‘disastrous’ tipping points General Yoshihide Yoshida, the head of staff of the Japanese army, accompanied Flynn to Amami. His visit coincides with Tokyo's plans to strengthen its armed forces in response to what it perceives as an increasing threat from China and Russia following Moscow's attack on Ukraine. It disclosed a plan to equip longer-range missiles last month as part of a significant increase in defence spending that will also raise funding for joint exercises with American soldiers. (with inputs from agencies)

US wants to keep rocket launchers at frontline Japanese base at edge of East China Sea

The brutal killing of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the western city of Nara, an uncommon act of political violence that horrified the country, attracted a continuous stream of mourners.

Japanese mourn ex-PM Abe day after the horrific shooting

Scientists at the Japan's University of Yamanashi have successfully produced cloned mice using freeze-dried cells in a technique they believe could one day help conserve species and overcome challenges with current biobanking methods. The United Nations has warned that extinctions are accelerating worldwide and at least a million species could disappear because of human-induced impacts like climate change. 
&nbsp; 
As reported by AFP, facilities have sprung up globally to preserve samples from endangered species with the goal of preventing their extinction by future cloning. These samples are generally cryopreserved using liquid nitrogen or kept at extremely low temperatures, which can be costly and vulnerable to power outages. They also usually involve sperm and egg cells, which can be difficult or impossible to harvest from old or infertile animals. 
&nbsp; 
Scientists wanted to see whether they could solve those problems by freeze-drying somatic cells, any cell that isn't a sperm or egg cell and attempting to produce clones. They experimented with two types of mice cells and found that, while freeze-drying killed them and caused significant DNA damage, they could still produce cloned blastocysts -- a ball of cells that develops into an embryo.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/udaipur-terror-attack-how-my-hometown-turned-into-a-curfew-zone-494414">Udaipur terror attack: How my hometown turned into a curfew zone&nbsp;</a>

From these, the scientists extracted stem cell lines that they used to create 75 cloned mice. One of the mice survived a year and nine months, and the team also successfully mated female and male cloned mice with natural-born partners and produced normal pups. The cloned mice produced fewer offspring than would have been expected from natural-born mice, and one of the stem cell lines developed from male cells produced only female mice clones. 
&nbsp; 
Teruhiko Wakayama, a professor at the University of Yamanashi's Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, who helped lead the study published in the journal Nature Communications this month told AFP, "Improvement should not be difficult. We believe that in the future we will be able to reduce abnormalities and increase the birth rate by searching for freeze-drying protectant agents and improving drying methods."&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Scientists at the Japan's University of Yamanashi have successfully produced cloned mice using freeze-dried cells in a technique they believe could one day help conserve species and overcome challenges with current biobanking methods.

Scientists at the Japan's University of Yamanashi have successfully produced cloned mice using freeze-dried cells in a technique they believe could one day help conserve species and overcome challenges with current biobanking methods. The United Nations has warned that extinctions are accelerating worldwide and at least a million species could disappear because of human-induced impacts like climate change. As reported by AFP, facilities have sprung up globally to preserve samples from endangered species with the goal of preventing their extinction by future cloning. These samples are generally cryopreserved using liquid nitrogen or kept at extremely low temperatures, which can be costly and vulnerable to power outages. They also usually involve sperm and egg cells, which can be difficult or impossible to harvest from old or infertile animals. Scientists wanted to see whether they could solve those problems by freeze-drying somatic cells, any cell that isn't a sperm or egg cell and attempting to produce clones. They experimented with two types of mice cells and found that, while freeze-drying killed them and caused significant DNA damage, they could still produce cloned blastocysts -- a ball of cells that develops into an embryo. Also Read: Udaipur terror attack: How my hometown turned into a curfew zone From these, the scientists extracted stem cell lines that they used to create 75 cloned mice. One of the mice survived a year and nine months, and the team also successfully mated female and male cloned mice with natural-born partners and produced normal pups. The cloned mice produced fewer offspring than would have been expected from natural-born mice, and one of the stem cell lines developed from male cells produced only female mice clones. Teruhiko Wakayama, a professor at the University of Yamanashi's Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, who helped lead the study published in the journal Nature Communications this month told AFP, "Improvement should not be difficult. We believe that in the future we will be able to reduce abnormalities and increase the birth rate by searching for freeze-drying protectant agents and improving drying methods." (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japanese scientists clone mice using freeze-dried cells to prevent future extinction

In pics: Japanese asked to save power as country's east sizzles

In pics: Japanese superfood weed Okinawa mozuko moving towards climate resilience

Indonesian police have arrested Mitsuhiro Taniguchi (47) a fugitive accused of masterminding a lucrative scheme in his native Japan to defraud a government fund offering Covid relief subsidies in Lampung province in the south of Sumatra island late Tuesday.

He was flown to the capital Jakarta, said national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo.

The Japanese national and several associates are accused of submitting false applications to claim 960 million yen ($7.2 million) in Covid-19 relief funds meant for small businesses, according to Japanese media reports.

He was caught in a joint operation by immigration officers and local police, Prasetyo said, without giving details about the case. It came after the Japanese embassy alerted Indonesian authorities to the whereabouts of a

Japanese national whose passport had been revoked.&nbsp;

Indonesian police in a statement Wednesday said their Japanese counterparts had been "investigating an alleged fraud of subsidies for small businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic", but they did not confirm the amount accrued by Taniguchi's brazen scheme.

Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department had placed Taniguchi on an international wanted list after arresting his ex-wife and two sons on May 30 on suspicion of fraud, Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported.

Taniguchi will be deported in coordination with the embassy, Lampung immigration official Is Edy Eko Putranto told a press conference where the Japanese suspect was paraded before the media.

Police attache at the Japanese embassy Takayuki Miyagawa told the press conference the fugitive was arrested for "deceiving the Japan government for subsidies regarding Covid-19".

Taniguchi reportedly entered Indonesia in October 2020, several months after the scheme was uncovered by Japanese police. He was living in Jakarta and frequently travelled to do business in Lampung, where he had been staying for a week when he was arrested.&nbsp;

The fugitive was using a limited-stay visa and was working in the country as a foreign investor helping locals to run fish farms, reportedly to raise money to appease his alleged collaborators.

[with inputs from agencies]

Indonesian police have arrested Mitsuhiro Taniguchi (47) a fugitive accused of masterminding a lucrative scheme in his native Japan to defraud a government fund offering Covid relief subsidies in Lampung province in the south of Sumatra island late Tuesday.

Indonesian police have arrested Mitsuhiro Taniguchi (47) a fugitive accused of masterminding a lucrative scheme in his native Japan to defraud a government fund offering Covid relief subsidies in Lampung province in the south of Sumatra island late Tuesday. He was flown to the capital Jakarta, said national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo. The Japanese national and several associates are accused of submitting false applications to claim 960 million yen ($7.2 million) in Covid-19 relief funds meant for small businesses, according to Japanese media reports. He was caught in a joint operation by immigration officers and local police, Prasetyo said, without giving details about the case. It came after the Japanese embassy alerted Indonesian authorities to the whereabouts of a Japanese national whose passport had been revoked. Indonesian police in a statement Wednesday said their Japanese counterparts had been "investigating an alleged fraud of subsidies for small businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic", but they did not confirm the amount accrued by Taniguchi's brazen scheme. Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department had placed Taniguchi on an international wanted list after arresting his ex-wife and two sons on May 30 on suspicion of fraud, Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported. Taniguchi will be deported in coordination with the embassy, Lampung immigration official Is Edy Eko Putranto told a press conference where the Japanese suspect was paraded before the media. Police attache at the Japanese embassy Takayuki Miyagawa told the press conference the fugitive was arrested for "deceiving the Japan government for subsidies regarding Covid-19". Taniguchi reportedly entered Indonesia in October 2020, several months after the scheme was uncovered by Japanese police. He was living in Jakarta and frequently travelled to do business in Lampung, where he had been staying for a week when he was arrested. The fugitive was using a limited-stay visa and was working in the country as a foreign investor helping locals to run fish farms, reportedly to raise money to appease his alleged collaborators. [with inputs from agencies]

Japanese fugitive accused of defrauding Covid relief fund in Indonesia arrested

In Pics | Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa completes 12 days at ISS

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has returned to Earth after spending&nbsp;12 days on the International Space Station. The 46-year-old fashion magnate and his assistant Yozo Hirano came down on Kazakhstan's steppe at the expected time.&nbsp;

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The three members aboard the Soyuz MS-20 crew ship landed back on Earth today around 10:13 pm ET completing an 11-day station mission. <a href="https://t.co/cHxruGmEfx">https://t.co/cHxruGmEfx</a>
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1472777403168604160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Before Maezawa's spacecraft blasted, he said “I would like to look at the Earth from space. I would like to experience the opportunity to feel weightlessness.”&nbsp;

“And I also have a personal expectation: I’m curious how the space will change me, how I will change after this space flight.”

He blasted off in a Soyuz spacecraft from the Russia-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.&nbsp;

During his time in space, he made many videos including performing daily tasks like brushing teeth and going to the bathroom.&nbsp; 
After landing back on earth, he explained how to brush teeth and go to the bathroom in space. "Peeing is very easy," he said.

He also showed his followers how to properly drink tea and sleep in zero gravity.

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【MZ METHOD】How Do You Sleep in Zero Gravity?<a href="https://t.co/I3JwLtF8Ke">https://t.co/I3JwLtF8Ke</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTube?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTube</a> <a href="https://t.co/HrcEQOKdad">pic.twitter.com/HrcEQOKdad</a>
— Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yousuckMZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/yousuckMZ/status/1472548104180170754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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【GREAT VIEW】MZ Directed Work ’Time Lapse of the Earth's Orbit’<a href="https://t.co/YwwFmqIKtp">https://t.co/YwwFmqIKtp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTube?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTube</a> <a href="https://t.co/zE7DPL1oeg">pic.twitter.com/zE7DPL1oeg</a>
— Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yousuckMZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/yousuckMZ/status/1472410588584325121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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【MUSICAL EXPERIMENT】Playing Drums in Space<a href="https://t.co/s46qXUS1bO">https://t.co/s46qXUS1bO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTube?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTube</a> <a href="https://t.co/fPrJdEZHqW">pic.twitter.com/fPrJdEZHqW</a>
— Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yousuckMZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/yousuckMZ/status/1472070949629755395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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With this, he has become the first private passenger on the SpaceX moon trip.

US-based company Space Adventures had earlier said that the cost of tickets to space for tourists ranges from $50-60 million. 
Moscow had stopped sending tourists to space after NASA retired the Space Shuttle in 2011. However, NASA bought up all Soyuz launch seats for a reported $90 million per spot.

(With inputs from agencies)

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has returned to Earth after spending 12 days on the International Space Station. The 46-year-old fashion magnate and his assistant Yozo Hirano came down on Kazakhstan's steppe at the expected time.

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has returned to Earth after spending 12 days on the International Space Station. The 46-year-old fashion magnate and his assistant Yozo Hirano came down on Kazakhstan's steppe at the expected time. The three members aboard the Soyuz MS-20 crew ship landed back on Earth today around 10:13 pm ET completing an 11-day station mission. https://t.co/cHxruGmEfx — International Space Station (@Space_Station) December 20, 2021 × Before Maezawa's spacecraft blasted, he said “I would like to look at the Earth from space. I would like to experience the opportunity to feel weightlessness.” “And I also have a personal expectation: I’m curious how the space will change me, how I will change after this space flight.” He blasted off in a Soyuz spacecraft from the Russia-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. During his time in space, he made many videos including performing daily tasks like brushing teeth and going to the bathroom. After landing back on earth, he explained how to brush teeth and go to the bathroom in space. "Peeing is very easy," he said. He also showed his followers how to properly drink tea and sleep in zero gravity. 【MZ METHOD】How Do You Sleep in Zero Gravity?https://t.co/I3JwLtF8Ke @YouTube pic.twitter.com/HrcEQOKdad — Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yousuckMZ) December 19, 2021 × 【GREAT VIEW】MZ Directed Work ’Time Lapse of the Earth's Orbit’https://t.co/YwwFmqIKtp @YouTube pic.twitter.com/zE7DPL1oeg — Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yousuckMZ) December 19, 2021 × 【MUSICAL EXPERIMENT】Playing Drums in Spacehttps://t.co/s46qXUS1bO @YouTube pic.twitter.com/fPrJdEZHqW — Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yousuckMZ) December 18, 2021 × With this, he has become the first private passenger on the SpaceX moon trip. US-based company Space Adventures had earlier said that the cost of tickets to space for tourists ranges from $50-60 million. Moscow had stopped sending tourists to space after NASA retired the Space Shuttle in 2011. However, NASA bought up all Soyuz launch seats for a reported $90 million per spot. (With inputs from agencies)

Japanese space tourists return to earth after recording life on ISS

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