Bicycle helmets with removable, stylish hats have been created to entice elderly Japanese to wear a helmet when riding a bike. The hats are designed so they can also be worn without the helmet. Bicycle helmets are rarely worn by the elderly in Japan. Seniors say they’d like to wear safety helmets, but the helmets
source Man masquerading as target woman asks to be fondled In April a man fondled a 23-year-old woman on the JR Wakayama Line in Osaka prefecture. The victim protested and when the train stopped the woman grabbed the guy and turned him into the station police. The 49-year-old suspect claimed that the woman had
People are being asked to not use mobile phones while walking in train stations in Tokyo. The transport ministry and railway companies began the effort after a 5th grade elementary school boy who was walking and looking at his smartphone accidentally stepped off the platform and onto the train tracks at Tokyo’s Yotsuya Station on
Security cameras for a safe Japan above (left) Security camera in hot springs changing room at a hotel at Madarao Kogen hot springs, Nagano Prefecture Japan. (center) On a vending machine. (right) Surveillance camera in a bus. above (left) 2009 – No surveillance camera in Kokugikan sumo hall. (right) 2012 – Surveillance camera in
Shoppers in Tokyo, March 25, 2011 We’ve been having some troubles here in Japan. Maybe you’ve heard. I’ve written some articles about the earthquake and the coverage of the tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear reactors. You can read my reports here: March 25, 2011 Op-Ed: Tokyo OK, foreign media’s sensational coverage shameful March 16,
Appliance and electronics retail chain Yamada Denki has begun selling an electric car at some of its retail stores. Yamada has partnered with Mitsubishi Motors to sell the Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric vehicle. Yamada is the first household appliances store in Japan to sell an electric car. The i-MiEV electric vehicle is on sale at
All Nippon Airways says it is the first airline in the world to offer in-flight draft beer from a keg. A traditional beer keg uses a high-pressure carbon dioxide bottle which is prohibited by law on flights. ANA sponsored development of a special beer keg dispenser that does not use a high-pressure gas cylinder. The
Seventy-seven gropers (chikan) were arrested on Tokyo commuter trains during a crackdown by the Japan National Police Agency. During the April 15 – 21 effort, 120 officers from the NPA and the Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectural police rode train routes known to attract molesters. Six people were caught on the Keio Line and JR
All Nippon Airways has designated one lavatory for exclusive use by women on most international flights. Men may use the women-only toilet only when there are few female passengers and in an emergency. Men can also use the ladies-only rest room before taking off and landing before the fasten-seatbelt sign is displayed, and when there
Station cat promoted Tama-chan, the cat stationmaster of a rural Japan train station, has attained the position of Operating Officer. The stray cat was found in front of Kishi Station on the Wakayama Electric Railway Co. Kishikawa Line in 2007. Named Tama-chan, the kitty was offered the position of Stationmaster and held that post from
January Canon Japan employees leave early to make babies Canon lets workers leave early twice a week to encourage them to have more babies. The 5:30 p.m. lights-out program at Canon addresses the declining birthrate problem while also reducing employee overtime costs. February ‘Doorplate mania’ man arrested. A 42-year-old Tokyo man is arrested for stealing
Community bicycles intended for short distance travel are now available in downtown Tokyo. The Community Cycle program trial is sponsored by Japan Travel Bureau and the Japan Ministry of the Environment. Five Eco-Port community bicycle lots will be set up about 300 meters apart in the experiment area that covers small parts of the
Train stations on a major route in Tokyo are the most recent in the country to have blue lighting installed on platforms. The blue LED ceiling lights at the ends of platforms are intended to prevent people from jumping into oncoming trains. The blue lights will operate with the existing standard fluorescent lights. "Blue lighting was selected
Monkey celebrates year of freedom Where is the monkey? That is the question Tokyo residents are asking today on the one year anniversary of the appearance of the lone roamer monkey of Shibuya station. On August 20, 2008, a macaque monkey dashed into Shibuya train station in Tokyo. Morning rush hour commuters watched as dozens
A monkey scampered through a residential neighborhood in Ibaraki City, Osaka prefecture, and ate a dried persimmon. A passerby called police around 2:30 p.m. Feb. 13. "There is a big ape in the East Ota neighborhood," the woman told police. The Japanese macaque monkey snacked while police kept watch. The police pursued the monkey as
