Latest news with #Sakai
Yomiuri Shimbun
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Revised Law Speeds Up Push to Stamp Out Online Casino Use; Raising Public Awareness a Key Issue
The Yomiuri Shimbun Flyers bearing the message, 'Online gambling is a crime,' are seen on the counter at a pizza delivery business in Suginami Ward, Tokyo, on Monday. A bill that prohibits advertising leading to online casino websites has been passed into law, but the public and private sectors will need to work together to craft a range of measures to stamp out illegal gambling from Japanese society. Following Wednesday's passage of the revised basic law on countermeasures against gambling addiction, the government will proactively initiate demands to remove social media posts and internet videos that encourage people to use online casinos based offshore. National Public Safety Commission Chairperson Manabu Sakai has insisted the revised law marked a significant step forward in tackling online gambling. 'We will forge ahead with efforts to eliminate information that entices people to casino websites,' Sakai said at a regular press conference Thursday. Connecting to an online casino from Japan and using the website to gamble is a violation of the nation's Penal Code provisions on gambling. However, there were no restrictions on the use of social media and blogs to post messages, such as a list of '10 recommended online casinos,' intended to stir up interest in them. The National Police Agency launched a survey in 2024 to gauge the extent of online casino use. The survey results, released in March, revealed that about 3.37 million people are using or have used online casinos from Japan, with total annual wagers reaching an estimated ¥1.2 trillion. About 60% of these online casino users were aware they had a gambling addiction. This was the first time the government had made public the results of a survey on online casinos. Posts by celebrities and influencers that spark interest in gambling websites among young people and others have become a factor in some people getting involved in illegal gambling. The revised law clearly defines advertisements and social media posts that guide users to casino sites as illegal. Penalty provisions were not included in the bill because priority was given to swiftly passing it into law. However, under the revised law, advertisements leading to casino sites that previously were considered 'harmful information' are now deemed to be 'illegal information.' Consequently, the Internet Hotline Center Japan, which has been commissioned by the NPA, is now able to demand internet providers and social media platform operators remove such content. According to the survey, about 75% of people who had viewed casino sites said they had actually remitted money for gambling. It is hoped that measures blocking the 'entrance' to these websites will have a major impact on preventing online gambling. Raising public awareness The revised law also requires the central and local governments to conduct awareness campaigns to inform the public that using online casinos is prohibited. A male employee at a Pizza-La pizza delivery shop in the Koenji area of Suginami Ward, Tokyo, was preparing delivery bags at around noon on Monday. Inside each one, he placed a flyer explaining that using online casinos violates gambling laws and that 'not knowing' online gambling is illegal is not a sufficient excuse. This was part of an initiative launched by the NPA with the Tokyo-based Safety Driving Association. The association's 48 members will cooperate with the campaign. 'We feel a social responsibility to do this,' said a director at the association. Ensuring that young people are fully aware that online gambling is illegal remains a pressing issue to be addressed. To help this message get through, the NPA will work with the operators of large-screen displays at Tokyo Dome and elsewhere to broadcast awareness videos and press entertainment agencies to prevent their talent from becoming the face of an online casino. Blocking remittances The Financial Services Agency and the NPA in May pressed entities including the Japanese Bankers Association and the Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association to tell their members to halt any transaction that is found to be a remittance to an online casino operator. Cutting off the sending of money to such operators is called a 'payment block.' However, 'tokuryu' anonymous and fluid crime groups are among the domestic operators that function as payment service agents that collude with the casino website operators. 'We'll crack down on operators that popularize online casinos and also step up our activities to raise awareness of the issue,' a senior police official told The Yomiuri Shimbun.
Japan Times
13 hours ago
- General
- Japan Times
Japan team finds possible grave goods for largest ancient tumulus in the nation
A Japanese research team has discovered what appears to be grave goods at Daisen Kofun, the country's biggest ancient tumulus purportedly for Emperor Nintoku, in the city of Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. The kondosotosu iron knife and pieces of armor have been confirmed to be from the keyhole-shaped grave mound, a World Cultural Heritage site, the team said Thursday. The group comprises members of the city government, Kokugakuin University and Nippon Steel Technology. "It's significant that objects directly linked to (the tumulus) have appeared," Kokugakuin University professor Takashi Uchikawa said. According to the group, armor and other items were found at the tumulus early in the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Most of them are believed to have been buried again, but some were owned by antiquarian Kaichiro Kashiwagi when he was alive during the Meiji Period. The university bought the collection last year. A drawing by Kashiwagi suggests that armor was among the burial goods in the tumulus, but no physical evidence had been confirmed. The discovered knife has features, including the use of gold-plated copper sheets and silver rivets, that had not been seen before in grave goods from the fifth century, when the tumulus was created. Given the quality of the materials, the knife is very likely to have belonged to someone close to an early king of Japan, according to the team. Pieces of paper dated September 1872 that are believed to have been wrapped around the knife and the armor pieces have also been found, featuring descriptions saying that the tumulus is Emperor Nintoku's tomb.
NDTV
06-06-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Universal Artificial Blood For All Types In Clinical Trials, Could Save Millions
In a medical breakthrough that could save millions of lives, Japanese researchers have started clinical trials to explore the effectiveness and safety of universal artificial blood. Led by Professor Hiromi Sakai at Nara Medical University, the artificial blood, usable for all blood types, could have a shelf life of up to two years. If successful, it could transform the emergency medicare system across the globe. Their approach involves extracting haemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule in red blood cells, from expired donor blood. It is then encased in a protective shell to create stable, virus-free artificial red blood cells, according to a report in Newsweek. Unlike donated blood, these artificial cells have no blood type, eliminating the need for compatibility testing and making them invaluable in emergencies. Notably, donated blood has a shelf life of just 42 days, and even then, there is not enough of it, and requires compatibility amongst different blood groups. For the trial, the researchers administered 100 to 400 millilitres of the artificial blood to 16 healthy adult volunteers in March. If the test safety and efficacy are achieved, the researchers are hoping for practical use by 2030, making Japan the first country in the world to deploy artificial blood for real-world medical care. "The need for artificial blood cells is significant as there is currently no safe substitute for red cells," said Professor Sakai. Social media reacts Reacting to the start of the clinical trials, social media users marvelled at the potential implications with some claiming it was a Nobel Prize-winning endeavour, if it was a success. "If true, and not inordinately expensive, this is going to be completely transformational," said one user, while another added: "If it is safe, this is worth a Nobel Prize." A third commented: "Japanese scientists are really doing the most between this, regrowing teeth, and the shots that make cats live longer. Really hope this stuff makes it worldwide." Notably, the US has been developing ErythroMer (made from 'recycled' haemoglobin) for the past few years, and has already started pre-clinical testing. Last year, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced a Rs 394 crore ($46 million) grant to a University of Maryland-led consortium to develop a shelf-stable, field-deployable whole blood substitute with ErythroMer as its core.
Reuters
05-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Japan's Eneos says unplanned shutdown begins at 77,000-bpd unit at Kawasaki
TOKYO, June 5 (Reuters) - Japan's biggest refiner, Eneos Corp, experienced an unplanned shutdown of the 77,000 barrels-per-day No.3 crude distillation unit at its Kawasaki refinery near Tokyo, starting June 4, a company spokesperson said on Thursday. The company declined to provide a reason for the shutdown or an expected timeline for resuming operation. The refiner, part of Eneos Holdings (5020.T), opens new tab, restarted another crude distillation unit, the 105,000-bpd No.3 CDU at its Mizushima-B refinery in western Japan on June 3, following a scheduled turnaround that began on February 26, the spokesperson said. At the same refinery, the company had resumed operations at the 95,200-bpd No.2 CDU on May 16 after an unplanned shutdown that started on April 24. Also on May 16, Eneos shut the 141,000-bpd CDU at its Sakai refinery in western Japan for scheduled maintenance, with plans to restart it in early July, the spokesperson added.
Tokyo Weekender
02-06-2025
- Health
- Tokyo Weekender
Japanese Scientists Develop Artificial Blood Compatible With All Blood Types
A critical component of healthcare, blood transfusions play a vital role in saving lives around the globe every day. Maintaining an adequate blood supply, though, is no easy task, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The demand for O – negative blood — the universal donor type — often exceeds supply and donations have a limited shelf life. Looking to address the issue are a group of Japanese scientists led by Hiromi Sakai at Nara Medical University . They've developed a new type of artificial blood that can be used in patients of any blood type. The artificial blood is created by extracting hemoglobin — a protein containing iron that facilitates the transportation of oxygen in red blood cells — from expired donor blood. It is then encased in a protective shell to create stable, virus-free artificial red blood cells. As these artificial cells have no blood type, there is no need for compatibility testing. The synthetic blood can reportedly be stored for up to two years at room temperature and five years under refrigeration. That is a significant improvement over donated red blood cells, which can only be stored under refrigeration for a maximum of 42 days . Artificial Blood Trials Small-scale studies began in 2022. Three groups of four healthy male volunteers aged 20 to 50 received a single intravenous injection of hemoglobin vesicles — artificial oxygen carriers that mimic the structure of red blood cells — in increasing amounts, up to 100 milliliters. While some participants experienced mild side effects, there were no significant changes in vital signs, including blood pressure. Building on that success, Sakai announced that his team was accelerating the process last July. In March, it started administering between 100 and 400 milliliters of the artificial blood cell solution to volunteers. If no side effects are confirmed, the trial will shift to examin ing the treatment's efficacy and safety. It aims to put the artificial red blood cells into practical use by around 2030. While these studies are taking place, Professor Teruyuki Komatsu of Chuo University's Faculty of Science and Engineering is also working on the development of artificial oxygen carriers, using albumin-encased hemoglobin to stabilize blood pressure and treat conditions like hemorrhage and stroke. So far, animal studies have shown promising results. As a result, researchers are now eager to move to human trials. Related Posts Japanese Researchers Develop Peptide To Counter COVID-19 Viruses 'Flesh Eating' STSS Infections Reach Record Numbers in Japan Eating Disorders on the Rise in Japan
