Japan’s New Currency
For the first time in 20 years, Japan has new banknotes (paper currency). On July 3, 2024, the Bank of Japan introduced new 10,000-yen, 5,000-yen, and 1,000-yen bills. They showcase three important figures in Japan’s history. They also include new features to limit counterfeiting, or illegally making fake money. Another new feature of the banknotes […]
Japanese Town Removes Controversial Photo Barrier
Officials in the town of Fujikawaguchiko in Japan have taken down a giant black net that had blocked a popular view of Mount Fuji. This decision comes after months of controversy and backlash from both tourists and locals. This issue highlights the problem of “overtourism” in Japan. Photo Spot Proves Too Popular Mount Fuji is […]
Examining Japan’s Population Decline
After World War II (1939-1945), many countries experienced a “baby boom.” As peace and stability returned to many post-war nations, people returned to work and started families. Japan was no exception. In 1945, Japan’s population was just over 71 million people. By the early 2000s, the population had nearly doubled to around 125 million. However, […]
Warmer Weather Brings Cherry Blossoms
The flowering cherry tree grows throughout the world in mild climates. In Japan, the tree is called sakura. It is planted as an ornamental tree and has played an important role in the culture of Japan. In springtime, the flowering cherry tree produces pink and white flowers called cherry blossoms. The cherry blossoms do not […]
Stolen Art Returned to Japan
A surprising discovery was made in 2023 in the attic of a Massachusetts home. While sorting through their late father’s belongings, the children of a World War II veteran stumbled upon a collection of Japanese antiques. Astonishingly, there were 22 pieces hidden away. The oldest items dated back to the 1700s. The family reported their […]
Japanese Prime Minister Sympathizes over Korean Forced Labor
Japan occupied and governed Korea as a colony from 1910 through 1945, when World War II ended. As a result, Korean and Japanese leaders have had a tense relationship since this colonial history ended. On May 7, 2023, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida publicly expressed sympathy for Koreans forced to labor for Japan during these […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Archaeologists Discover Ancient Gold Coins On October 3, 2022, Israeli archeologists found forty-four pure gold coins hidden in a wall in the Golan Heights. The coins date back to the seventh century and weigh about six ounces each. They feature the faces of Byzantine emperors Phocas and Heraclius. Scientists believe that the coins were hidden […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Precious Plastic Refugee camps are places where many people live together in a very small area. These camps don’t have the systems for refuse and trash control that are common in cities and established areas of high population density. Refugee camps also receive donations of food, water, and other supplies from international aid organizations. The […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
The Teal Pumpkin Project One out of every thirteen American children lives with a food allergy. So, Halloween is not a simple night of free candy for them. That’s where the Teal Pumpkin Project comes in. This movement began in 2012 in Tennessee and has now expanded to all fifty states. It encourages households to […]
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More Border Issues for President Biden In the past few weeks, thousands of migrants have arrived at the border between the United States and Mexico. Many of these are Haitians who had been allowed to live in other countries several year ago. Many of these migrants crossed into Del Rio, Texas, and formed an encampment […]