Archive for October, 2010

Baby Pandas Get Names

On October 8th, Wakayama’s Adventure World zoo held a naming ceremony for its two panda cubs:

The pandas will be named “Kaihin”(海浜) and “Youhin”(陽浜).

You can see photos of their progression from infants to panda-like fur-balls here.

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When Wild Boars Attack

Here are two wild boar attack stories from a Japanese TV news broadcast. The first shows a wild boar tearing up a convenience store in South Korea, and the second shows the capture of a wild boar that attacked a girl in Ehime prefecture:

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China Releases Detained Fujita Employee

Good news, everyone. The Chinese government has apparently decided to release the Fujita employee it has arrested for filming in a “restricted area”:

The last of four Japanese nationals who allegedly intruded into a Chinese military zone without authorization was released on bail Saturday, the State Security Bureau of Shijiazhuang City in northern Hebei Province said.

The Bureau has instructed Sadamu Takahashi to write a statement of repentance and removed residential surveillance of him.

So far, I haven’t seen any articles that explain exactly what it means to be “released on bail” in China. If it’s like bail in other countries, it could mean that he might still have to face a trial. Maybe the release is meant to give Takahashi the chance to leave China (and never come back)?

China has also called an end to the provocative deployment of “fisheries patrol boats” to the area around the Senkakus. It looks like Sino-Japanese relations will at last be returning to their previous state of relative friendliness.

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Freddie Eto & Queeness – Japanese Queen Tribute Band

Behold, Freddie Eto & Queeness, the greatest Queen tribute band ever:

Tokyoites who want to see Freddie and his band perform live should check out this blog post for concert info.

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H.P. Lovecraft + Shakespeare (in Tokyo) – Free Ticket Giveaway

The Tokyo International Players theatre group are putting on a new production that combines the works of William Shakespeare and H.P. Lovecraft:

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

by William Shakespeare

directed by Jonah Hagans

Follow the adventures of four young lovers and a group of amateur actors as they interact with dukes, queens, and fairies of the forest. Based on the works of H. P. Lovecraft, this dark interpretation of the classic Shakespeare play is sure to be unlike any production you have ever seen.

Check out this page for show time and ticket information.

If you are going to be in Tokyo on October 22nd and would like to attend their first performance, they are offering free tickets to a lucky reader of this site. Here is how to enter the contest:

Tokyo International Players is giving away a free pair of tickets to Japan Probe readers to see William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” set in the world of H.P. Lovecraft. To enter, send an e-mail to midsummertip@gmail.com with “Japan Probe”in the “subject” line, before 6:00pm on Monday October 18. Include your name and telephone number in the body of the message. Entrants must be over 16 yrs of age. The tickets are for opening night, Friday October 22. Winners will be notified by e-mail.

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Singing Ventriloquist

A Japanese ventriloquist pulls off a pretty impressive performance of “sen no kaze ni natte“:

You can view the original song here.

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