Just when you thought there was no more commercial land left on which to build in Downtown Tokyo, here comes Japan Prime Realty Investment Corp. with an announcement of a planned 47 story, 2.13 million square-foot office complex on a little more than 2.5 acres.
The planned project is the most ambitious of its kind in Tokyo over the last five years, according to recent economic announcements from private and government sources. Tokyo's depressed economy has not lent itself to large commercial, residential or luxury resort development.
For the 118,777-square-foot pad itself, Japan Prime will pay $445 million or about $3,746 per square foot. (worldpropertychannel.com)
Just when you thought there was no more commercial land left on which to build in Downtown Tokyo, here comes Japan Prime Realty Investment Corp. with an announcement of a planned 47 story, 2.13 million square-foot office complex on a little more than 2.5 acres.
The planned project is the most ambitious of its kind in Tokyo over the last five years, according to recent economic announcements from private and government sources. Tokyo's depressed economy has not lent itself to large commercial, residential or luxury resort development.
For the 118,777-square-foot pad itself, Japan Prime will pay $445 million or about $3,746 per square foot. (worldpropertychannel.com)
It was a simple ceremony on the northern bank of Washington's Tidal Basin, attended by only a few people.
First lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador to the United States, planted two Yoshino cherry trees, part of a gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Japan to the United States.
One hundred years later, those two trees -- still standing -- and thousands more will be at the center of Washington's annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, starting March 20 and continuing through April 27.
Diplomats still honor the friendship symbolized by the gift of the cherry trees. At press conference Thursday, Kazuhide Ishikawa, the charge d'affaires of the Embassy of Japan, emphasized his country's commitment to "deepening our bond and friendship for another 100 years." (CNN)
Japanese families have traditionally used dolls to decorate their homes ahead of March 3 Girls' Day celebrations.
Known as the hina matsuri (doll festival) it's a time to pray for the health and welfare of the nation's daughters. If you don't have hina dolls in your home, don't worry. You can still take part in the tradition if you head out to Konosu, Saitama Prefecture.
Konosu, which has a history as a doll-making center that dates back to the Edo Period (1603-1867), vows to impress visitors with its gigantic set made up of a 31-step, red-carpeted staircase decked with 1,807 traditional ornamental dolls. (Japan Times)
Meet the SpeechJammer, a disturbing piece of gadgetry that can remotely stop a person from talking.
A pair of Japanese researchers have create a solution to a problem we didn't even know existed: People talking too loudly, for too long, or out of turn. Their answer - a "gun" that silences the person speaking.
Dubbed the "SpeechJammer," this unique device, created by Kazutaka Kurihara of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and Koji Tsukada of Ochanomizu University, uses a directional microphone to record the person speaking. (digitaltrends.com)
Japan and China may face a serious conflict in the East China Sea. A Chinese ship came close to a Japanese research vessel in a disputable zone and demanded to stop studying the sea bottom in the Chinese territorial waters. Japan responded to Beijing with a strong protest.
Sharp exchange of diplomatic notes was not the end of the story. Another Beijing's demand to Tokyo to stop marine research was met by the Japan Cabinet's order broadening powers of the coast guard. Presently Japanese ships are entitled to make arrests of suspicious foreign ships in their territorial waters and investigate property damage at remote islands.
Within the last year Chinese ships came dangerously close to Japanese research vessels four times, threatening collision in the East China Sea. (ruvr.ru)
