The tree is said to curse those who draw near, but thankfully divine protection is available nearby.
Chiba (Page 5)
The difference between this man’s appearance and the sound of his voice has everyone talking.
Senior police official quoted as saying, “I have never heard of this behavior, but it’s sick.”
CHIBA — JR East says it will re-educate its employees after its trains have been involved in a series of overruns at platforms.
If you loved the scenery in Chihiro’s train journey in Spirited Away, you’ll love this unique location just one hour away from Tokyo.
There are many well-known areas of beauty all around Japan, but sometimes you stumble upon something off the beaten path that simply takes your breath away.
That’s what happened to one person in Japan, who came across a waterfall in a tunnel of sunlight, filled with the same muted hues as a scene from a fantastical animated movie. Upon sharing the atmospheric photograph above on Instagram it received thousands of likes, with people all over the country eager to learn where the secret waterfall was hidden.
It might look like something from the foggy mists of a far-flung island many miles from Tokyo, but the beautiful scene is actually located just a short one-hour drive from the bustling metropolis. We decided to make our way there, and we’ve marked out the route so you can visit it too!
The ports around the Chiba-area city of Choshi were last year honored for the fourth year in a row for having the largest catch of mackerel pike (a very popular fish known as sanma in Japanese) in Japan.
But that’s of little comfort to local fishermen who have this year found their boats stranded in a literal sea of garbage and debris that has been carried into the ports from the Tonegawa River. The heavy flooding of the Kanto region brought about by last week’s relentless rain is believed to be the cause of the sudden influx of waste.
Chiba Prefecture‘s very own superhero, Chibatman, has been making headlines in Japan and abroad since he began his campaign to keep Chiba’s streets safe. Often spotted zooming around on his custom-built Chibatpod (aka Batcycle), he’s also been seen making speeches at official events, and he’s even received the Chiba Police Force’s official approval to continue his activities.
Today, we’re excited to bring you an exclusive interview with Chibatman himself! We visited him at his home in Chiba to get the lowdown on the man behind the mask!
Flying into Narita International Airport, many travelers are surprised to learn they are almost 60 km outside of Tokyo and need to take an hour train ride to get into the city. Its location in rural Chiba Prefecture was chosen in the 1960s when the government realized the smaller Haneda airport could not keep up with the booming postwar air traffic in and out of Tokyo. Many locals protested the new airport that bulldozed over their formerly quiet lives and the bitter fight left the area with some very odd landmarks, such as a heavily secured and monitored shrine that sits almost directly in front of one of the runways.
On 19 July the Noda City department of the Chiba Prefectural Police announced the arrest of 49-year-old elementary school teacher Masaki Yabusaki on charges of intimidation.
The suspect had allegedly sent around half a dozens emails to the Noda Board of Education with oddly-worded threatening remarks such as “I will blow up bad guys and their government buildings” if they didn’t rescind a decision to extend the school week to include Saturday classes introduced this year.
The Pokémon with YOU Train is a collaboration between JR East and Pokémon that’s been bringing smiles to the faces of kids affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, and this week it made a special appearance in Chiba!
We’re not kids any more, but having seen how awesome it is, we really wish we could take a ride on this thing!!
Stag beetles have a special place in Japan. Looking like little monsters, children love to collect, raise, and maybe even battle them with other bugs. An entire industry is built around these little critters in the country.
An incredibly rare stag beetle will be put on display in Chiba starting 6 October. This beetle has the head of a male and the body of a female and may be the first ever of its kind discovered.
According to teacher Toshio Shimizu who works on the exhibit, stag beetles that are sexually divided from left to right are common, but a cleanly separated head and body hermaphrodite is a once in a lifetime find.
















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Japanese government okays plan to create a backup capital city
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Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
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Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
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Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japanese Coo-Che becomes a viral sensation, and everyone wants a taste
Japanese Shinkansen welcomes overnight guests for one night during summer festival
Family Mart’s new Famima flagship in Tokyo has a hidden gem that most visitors miss
Studio Ghibli Laputa figure looks like it’s really flying thanks to cool visual trick
Why is Taco Bell failing in Japan, even as the country falls in love with tacos?
Starbucks Japan releases a miniature display rack so you can create your very own store at home
Studio Ghibli adds new Ponyo glassware to its anime lineup for summer
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Face lettuce appears in Japan, with the face of Death Note’s Light Yagami, but why?
61-year-old Kyoto man arrested for playing guitar and radio too loudly for seven years
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Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Giant Evangelion Spear of Longinus to be installed at Japanese train station with Eva art trains
Universal Studios Japan requiring consent form for adults-only horror attraction