Buddhist temples in Japan that have run out of graveyard space for tombs are turning to high-tech storage solutions for ashes of the deceased. In Japan, cremation is the norm and remains of the dead are kept in urns stored in a stone tomb on a family plot in a graveyard. The outdoor tombs have
Freddie Mercury, who was the lead vocalist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen, and who died in 1991, stars in a TV commercial in Japan for Nissin’s Cup Noodle instant ramen noodles. The commercial features Mercury’s performance of Queen’s "I Was Born to Love You" and a dubbed Japanese voice sings the lyrics.
Funeral-services providers are offering photography services so you’ll have a decent photo to display at your funeral ceremony. Photography studios are also targeting the new funeral-photo market. A headshot of the deceased is usually on display at the start of funeral ceremonies in Japan. A different photo of the deceased – often a wedding photo
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
A soft, chewy candy that was linked to choking deaths and pulled from the market in October will be available again in early December in a new formula and with larger warnings on the packaging. Mannan Life Co., stopped production of its Konnyaku Batake brand konnyaku jelly Mini Cup after receiving reports of children and
Discount Monks Comforting The traditional all-inclusive Buddhist funeral service held at temples is being challenged by lower-cost freelance monks. Obohsan.com is one of these independent-monk providers. It has 45 monks on it’s roster, enlightened in seven disciplines of Buddhism. Having a monk dispatched to a designated funeral service location cuts out the payment to a
"Sports Injuries Around the World" MAD Magazine #490, June 2008 MAD magazine Toonopedia; Wikipedia. A Veteran Mad Man Remains in the Fold (NYT) Poll: Nearly 20 percent of Japanese adults have considered suicide (AFP) Japanese-views-on-suicide-part-1-of-3 (WJT) One Japanese suicide every 15 minutes (Guardian) Japan detergent suicide sparks panic (AP) Bloomberg publishes suicide gas recipe Antidote
