BionicBong

BionicBong http://bionicbong.com Japan is closer than you think. Tue, 15 May 2012 23:20:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Residents ponder significance of Okinawa’s reversion on 40th anniversary http://bionicbong.com/japan/only-in-japan/residents-ponder-significance-okinawas-reversion-40th-anniversary/ http://bionicbong.com/japan/only-in-japan/residents-ponder-significance-okinawas-reversion-40th-anniversary/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 23:15:22 +0000 Jonathan Green http://bionicbong.com/?p=22722 okinawa

Many Okinawa and mainland Japan residents pondered the significance of the return of Okinawa to Japanese sovereignty on May 15, the 40th anniversary of the reversion. Many tourists visited Cape Hedo in Kunigami, which is located at the northern tip of Okinawa’s main island and where a monument for the struggle to secure reversion stands. From the cape they turned their gaze across the ocean toward Kagoshima Prefecture’s Yoron Island, which had been separated from Okinawa by a national border until the reversion in 1972. Related Posts Boat crashes into ‘whale’ in Japan ...

]]> http://bionicbong.com/japan/only-in-japan/residents-ponder-significance-okinawas-reversion-40th-anniversary/feed/ 0 Japan Not Whaling Watson Despite Arrest in Germany http://bionicbong.com/featured/japan-whaling-watson-arrest-germany/ http://bionicbong.com/featured/japan-whaling-watson-arrest-germany/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 23:09:54 +0000 Jonathan Green http://bionicbong.com/?p=22717 Paul Watson arrested in Germany

The arrest of Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson in Frankfurt on Sunday is unlikely to lead to his arrest by Japan for a combination of reasons, one being that Tokyo does not have an extradition treaty with Berlin, according to Toru Chochi, a Japan Coast Guard official. Also, the type of notice Interpol issued does not guarantee Watsons extradition but only means that member countries, including Japan, are to share information on him, Chochi said. German police arrested Watson and he is likely to be extradited to Costa Rica at a ...

]]> http://bionicbong.com/featured/japan-whaling-watson-arrest-germany/feed/ 0 Japan: Police Cat Rats Out Criminals http://bionicbong.com/japan/only-in-japan/japan-police-cat-rats-criminals/ http://bionicbong.com/japan/only-in-japan/japan-police-cat-rats-criminals/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 05:15:51 +0000 Jonathan Green http://bionicbong.com/?p=22713 police-cats

In Kyoto, Japan, the long arm of the law ends in a paw! Meet Iemon Ee-eh-mon, Japans first police cat, an abandoned stray who unofficially joined the force at the tender age of two weeks. He now spends much of his time atop the service counter at Yoro Station, adding a kinder, gentler, dare we say “human” touch to the local cop shop. Police work is serious business, of course, and Iemon wont be riding shotgun on any neighborhood curfew sweeps or sensitive stakeouts. Not that theres much call for such things: ...

]]> http://bionicbong.com/japan/only-in-japan/japan-police-cat-rats-criminals/feed/ 0 Is Lady Gaga Engaged? Shows Off Ring in Tokyo http://bionicbong.com/entertainment/music/lady-gaga-engaged-shows-ring-tokyo/ http://bionicbong.com/entertainment/music/lady-gaga-engaged-shows-ring-tokyo/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 02:51:49 +0000 Jonathan Green http://bionicbong.com/?p=22708 lady-gaga-ring

While backstage during her performance in Tokyo, Japan, Lady Gaga took some time to show off a new rock adorning her left ring finger. Spending some quality time with celebrity photographer Terry Richardson, the mother monster sparked engagement rumors after the photo of her showing off the new bling was released on his site. While in the Japanese town, the 26-year-old performer tweeted, “Yes Tokyo! Tonight was the first BTWBall that I didnt puke during show. yes its that hard xoxoxxxo Love, gaga+terry,” and shared a revealing photo of herself with Richardson. Read ...

]]> http://bionicbong.com/entertainment/music/lady-gaga-engaged-shows-ring-tokyo/feed/ 0 Noda says Japan to speed trade pact with Korea and China http://bionicbong.com/featured/noda-japan-speed-trade-pact-korea-china/ http://bionicbong.com/featured/noda-japan-speed-trade-pact-korea-china/#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 01:07:35 +0000 Jonathan Green http://bionicbong.com/?p=22703 japan-china-korea-starting-an-FTA

Japan is promising to speed up efforts to forge a trade agreement with South Korea and China, opening the prospect of a formidable union rivaling the largest regional pacts in the world, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday. In an interview with the Journal, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Japan wants to start negotiations on an agreement “as soon as possible.” The agreement would be called the FTA and rival the North American Free Trade Agreement and the European Union in size. “We are pursuing high-level economic cooperation as part of our ...

]]> http://bionicbong.com/featured/noda-japan-speed-trade-pact-korea-china/feed/ 0 Japans Mount Fuji Sits Atop Massive Active Fault http://bionicbong.com/featured/japans-mount-fuji-sits-atop-massive-active-fault/ http://bionicbong.com/featured/japans-mount-fuji-sits-atop-massive-active-fault/#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 00:18:06 +0000 Jonathan Green http://bionicbong.com/?p=22699 Mt-Fuji

Japans Mount Fuji may be sitting on a large, active fault that could trigger a magnitude-7 earthquake, changing the shape of the mountain and devastating nearby communities, the education ministry said on Thursday. A survey commissioned by the ministry found a 30-km fault beneath Japans highest mountain, believed by many to be sacred, and research results indicate it was likely to be active, a ministry official said. If the fault sets off an earthquake, it could lead to a major landslide and hit communities at the foot of the 3,776-metre-high mountain. Further ...

]]> http://bionicbong.com/featured/japans-mount-fuji-sits-atop-massive-active-fault/feed/ 0 Wizarding World of Harry Potter to open at Universal Studios Japan in 2014 http://bionicbong.com/travel/places-in-japan/wizarding-world-harry-potter-open-universal-studios-japan-2014/ http://bionicbong.com/travel/places-in-japan/wizarding-world-harry-potter-open-universal-studios-japan-2014/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 16:11:53 +0000 Jonathan Green http://bionicbong.com/?p=22693

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme-park attraction is to open at Universal Studios Japan in late 2014, it was announced Thursday. The plans were revealed by Universal Studios Japan, Warner Bros. and Universal Parks & Resorts. Actors James and Oliver Phelps, who played Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter film franchise, were also on hand for the announcement. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter rides and shops opened at Floridas Universal Orlando Resort nearly two years ago and have been a huge hit. Read the rest of the story: Harry ...

]]> http://bionicbong.com/travel/places-in-japan/wizarding-world-harry-potter-open-universal-studios-japan-2014/feed/ 0 Japan’s game developers scraping gambling games http://bionicbong.com/tech/japans-game-developers-scraping-gambling-games/ http://bionicbong.com/tech/japans-game-developers-scraping-gambling-games/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 01:46:34 +0000 Jonathan Green http://bionicbong.com/?p=22685 gree-dena

Japan’s leading social gaming companies Gree Inc and DeNA Co Ltd said on Wednesday they would gradually phase out games that contain aspects of gambling as they face increased pressure from regulators. The game under investigation by Japans Consumer Affairs Agency is called “complete gacha”, which charges users around $3 to $4 to turn over virtual cards. Completing a predetermined set of up to seven cards allows subscribers to claim rare cards or other valuable online rewards. Read the rest of the story: Japans social media heavyweights scrap gambling games. Related Posts DoCoMo users ...

]]> http://bionicbong.com/tech/japans-game-developers-scraping-gambling-games/feed/ 0 Japanese Government to Take Over Tepco – Japan’s Largest Utility Company http://bionicbong.com/featured/japanese-government-tepco-japans-largest-utility-company/ http://bionicbong.com/featured/japanese-government-tepco-japans-largest-utility-company/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 16:22:35 +0000 Jonathan Green http://bionicbong.com/?p=22675 tepco

Tokyo Electric Power Co, Japan’s biggest utility and the owner of the devastated Fukushima nuclear plant, will be taken over by the government after the country’s trade minister on Wednesday approved a $12.5 billion capital injection. The takeover, the details of which have widely reported in recent months, will avert the collapse of Tepco, the supplier of power to almost 45 million people in and around Tokyo. The injection of 1 trillion yen ($12.5 billion) into Tepco brings the total government support for the company to at least 3.5 trillion yen since ...

]]> http://bionicbong.com/featured/japanese-government-tepco-japans-largest-utility-company/feed/ 0 Triumph Japan unveils Super Cool Bra – An iced bra that aims to keep the biz cool http://bionicbong.com/japan/only-in-japan/triumph-japan-unveils-super-cool-bra-iced-bra-aims-biz-cool/ http://bionicbong.com/japan/only-in-japan/triumph-japan-unveils-super-cool-bra-iced-bra-aims-biz-cool/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 16:19:44 +0000 Jonathan Green http://bionicbong.com/?p=22673

A bra with built-in ice packs, a wind chime and a sprig of mint that was unveiled in Japan on Wednesday is promising to keep women cool this summer. In a nearly-naked publicity stunt, underwear firm Triumph Japan had models parading around showing off its “Super Cool Bra”, featuring what appears to be a pair of small fish tanks encompassing the breasts. These cups are filled with a gel that remains soft and supple even when frozen, giving the wearer “a cool sensation against her skin”, the company said in a statement. Read ...

]]> http://bionicbong.com/japan/only-in-japan/triumph-japan-unveils-super-cool-bra-iced-bra-aims-biz-cool/feed/ 0