Free Republic

Greenland police said they apprehended veteran environmental activist and anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson on an international arrest warrant issued by Japan. Watson, a 73-year-old Canadian-American citizen, is a former head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society whose direct action tactics, including high-seas confrontations with whaling vessels, have drawn support from A-list celebrities and featured in the reality television series “Whale Wars.” He was arrested Sunday when his ship docked in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, a police statement said. He later appeared before a district court to look into a request to detain him pending a decision on his possible extradition to...

Japan's biggest steelmaker, Nippon Steel Corp... has hired former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to help with its effort to acquire U.S. Steel ... "We look forward to working alongside him to further emphasize the ways in which Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel bolsters the country's economic and national security," Nippon Steel said ... Pompeo had not been given a specific job title within the company. ... Although both steelmakers have received all regulatory approvals outside of the United States for their proposed $14.9 billion merger, they face political opposition and regulatory scrutiny from within the United States....

The...wave is thought to form as the lower atmosphere flows over mountains on Venus' surface. ... Just after entering orbit around Venus in 2015, the Akatsuki orbiter observed a bow-shaped feature in the upper atmosphere over several days. Curiously, the bright structure - which stretched for 10,000km - remained stationary at the altitude of Venus' cloud tops. This is difficult to reconcile with what we know about Venus' thick upper atmosphere, in which clouds streak by at 100 metres per second (m/s). The clouds travel much faster than the slowly rotating planet below, where a Venusian day lasts longer than...

Interviewing people on the street.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reacted with outrage to the attempt on the life of Donald Trump in the United States where the former president was holding a rally. “We must stand firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy,” Kishida wrote in English and Japanese on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “I pray for former President Trump’s speedy recovery.” Trump was injured in the right ear after being shot while speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13. The suspected perpetrator was killed. One audience member was killed in the gunfire, and two others...

No matter its stated reasons, no matter how misguided its policy, the United States administration, advised by its historically anti-Israel Department of State, is putting severe pressure on Israel to stop fighting Hamas in Gaza, without permitting it first to achieve its war aim of complete destruction of this threat to its existence. They are doing it without regard for the consequences to Israel, its population, and to the Western world. Given the arrogance of the Biden administration’s dictating a suicidal wartime policy to an allied government which must answer to its own people, it is instructive to consider the...

In efforts to bolster foreign trade relations between Texas and East Asian countries, Governor Greg Abbott delivered remarks at the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Korea on Wednesday. His trip to South Korea marks the second day of his three-nation economic development mission to Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. Abbott met with Cho Tae-Yul, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Korea, to discuss strengthening economic and trade ties between Texas and South Korea. Abbott and Tae-Yul spoke on innovation in emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing. South Korea is a global leader in semiconductor...

The Chinese grab dredge that desecrated the wrecks of two famous WWII warships off Malaysia has run into trouble with the law once more. The notorious Chuan Hong 68 has been detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) again, this time over paperwork violations. Last year, Malaysian authorities detained Chuan Hong 68 off Johor for allegedly crushing and removing the wreckage of the Royal Navy battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse, which were sunk by Japanese forces during the invasion of the Malay .Peninsula in December 1941. Both are protected war graves. In May 2023, local...

On the occasion of his 100th birthday, United States Marine Corps and World War 2 veteran Carl Dekle reflected on his long life and the blessings he’s enjoyed in an interview with Tampa’s Fox 13. The Silver Star recipient recalled the Battle of Guadalcanal and his gratitude that the Lord brought him home and says that he would do it again if he had to — and if he were the right age. In full uniform for the interview, Dekle said: “Most important thing in my life was serving my country. I don’t think I could take away from that…It...

Zen, important school of East Asian Buddhism that constitutes the mainstream monastic form of Mahayana Buddhism in China, Korea, and Vietnam and accounts for approximately 20 percent of the Buddhist temples in Japan. The word derives from the Sanskrit dhyana, meaning “meditation.” Central to Zen teaching is the belief that awakening can be achieved by anyone but requires instruction in the proper forms of spiritual cultivation by a master. In modern times, Zen has been identified especially with the secular arts of medieval Japan (such as the tea ceremony, ink painting, and gardening) and with any spontaneous expression of artistic...

Tokyo — Japanese health supplement maker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said Friday it was probing 76 more deaths possibly linked to its tablets containing red yeast rice, meant to lower cholesterol. It deepens a scandal that erupted earlier this year when the company said it was looking into five deaths potentially linked to the over-the-counter products after dozens of customers reported kidney problems... Fermented with a mould culture, red yeast rice, or "benikoji," has been used in food, alcoholic drinks and folk medicines for centuries around East Asia. "Even if the direct cause of hospitalisation or death was not kidney-related disease,...

Japan has become another piece of fodder for the West’s culture wars. After a recent visit with his family, talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel praised the country for its clean toilets and lack of litter, only to be lambasted by right-wing pundits such as Ben Shapiro, who accused the comedian of having leftist beliefs that are completely at odds with what makes Japanese society so safe and orderly. Namely, Shapiro argued, Japan is a closed-off nation, unpersuaded by arguments to allow mass migration, and its homogeneity and “unique culture,” along with a strict legal system, help…Japan has become another piece of...

On this date in 1579, the treacherous execution of a rebellious Japanese lord set events in motion that would shape the nation’s destiny. For two centuries, Japan had been shaken with civil strife in the Sengoku, or “Warring States”, period. Hatano Hideharu, chief of the minor Hatano clan, got himself on the outs with powerful daimyo Oda Nobunaga. Nobunaga’s samurai general Akechi Mitsuhide forced Hideharu’s capitulation, convincing him to lay down his arms by offering his own mother as a hostage.* And here’s where the bodies start piling up. Nobunaga overruled Mitsuhide’s promise of safe conduct and had Hatano Hideharu...

A new study has found evidence linking the intake of small fish, eaten whole, with a reduced risk of all-cause and cancer mortality in Japanese women. The study highlights the potential life-extending benefits of habitually eating small fish. Japanese people habitually eat small fish, such as whitebait, Atlantic capelin, Japanese smelt, and small dried sardines. Importantly, it is common practice to consume small fish whole, including the head, bones, and organs, which are rich in micronutrients, such as calcium and vitamin A. The research team investigated the association between the intake of small fish and mortality risk among Japanese people....

Sworn to secrecy by the Japanese Imperial Army, Hideo Shimizu carried the horrors he saw at the notorious Unit 731 facility with him for more than 70 years. The 93-year-old was just 14 when he was drafted as a cadet to the city of Harbin, in what was then Japanese-occupied Manchuria, during World WaR 2. There, he was groomed to take part in some of history's worst atrocities - human experiments carried out on prisoners of war including pregnant women and small children. More than 3,000 people - mostly Chinese civilians, but also Russian, British and American POWs - were...

In Japan, “Johatsu” refers to people who disappear due to pressures like failed marriages, debt, and job loss. They abandon their lives and live anonymously off the grid. Specialized companies, called “night movers,” assist them in vanishing completely Behind the scenes, specialized businesses known as “yonige-ya” facilitate these disappearances. These “fly-by-night shops” provide services to Johatsu, helping them erase their existence. From creating new identities to arranging housing and employment, these discreet agencies operate in the shadows, ensuring their clients vanish without a trace.

Yoshiharu Watanabe earned a Guinness World Record by growing a 63-leaf clover. Photo courtesy of Guinness World Records ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ June 20 (UPI) -- A Japanese man borrowed some of the luck of the Irish and broke a Guinness World Record by growing a 63-leaf clover. Yoshiharu Watanabe, 45, started cross-pollinating clovers at his Nasushiobara home in 2012 with an aim toward breaking the world record. "Since the number of leaves has increased year by year, I have been aiming for the Guinness World Records title ever since," he told Guinness World Records. Watanabe said he used a combination of letting...

(Credit: KyotoU/Gakuji Tobiyama) In May 2023, researchers at Kyoto University and the Japanese-based wood manufacturing company Sumitomo Forestry unveiled the world’s first wooden satellite, breaking new ground in space technology. Called the LignoSat, this small cube (around 10 centimeters, or 3 inches) contains solar panels and circuit boards built into its wooden sides. These panels contain special fittings that don’t require adhesive but allow the sides to interlock into place using traditional Japanese wood-carving techniques. The project began slowly in 2020. Since its unveiling, the satellite has been transferred from its research facility to JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), where...

A high profile Japanese government official has issued a public apology to his people over the mass deaths and vaccine injuries caused by Coved mRNA shots. The apology was made by Kazuhiro Haraguchi, a former Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications in Japan who currently serves as a member of the House Representatives.

I remember being a kid and seeing my grandmother without her dentures for the first time. It was a harrowing experience. Now my dad has dentures so, genetically speaking, I’m several decades out from needing some myself. However, it’s possible that modern medicine will solve the issue of lost teeth by then, thanks to a new drug that's about to enter human trials. The medicine quite literally regrows teeth and was developed by a team of Japanese researchers, as reported by New Atlas. The research has been led by Katsu Takahashi, head of dentistry and oral surgery at Kitano Hospital....