Latest news with #TokyoWeekender
Metro
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Japan's 'Empress of Pop' addresses claims Elon Musk is father of her child
A huge Japanese pop star, Ayumi Hamasaki, has addressed the rumours that she secretly had Elon Musk's baby. The speculation started when another of the women Musk had a child with – MAGA author and influencer Ashley St. Clair – told The New York Times that he had a baby with a Japanese pop star. Hamasaki quickly became the primary suspect as fans discussed which J-Pop star St. Clair might have been referring to. 'I've been keeping an eye on this, and I guess it's time for me to speak up. Elon Musk is not the father of [either of] my children,' Hamasaki wrote on her Instagram Story, according to Tokyo Weekender. Hamasaki, 46, has two sons with two different men, born in 2019 and 2021. She has never revealed the identities of the fathers. According to text messages obtained by The Wall Street Journal, Musk texted St. Clair in 2023 about meeting with 'Japanese officials' about becoming a sperm donor for a high-profile Japanese woman. 'He made it seem like it was just his altruism and he generally believed these people should just have children,' St. Clair, who gave birth to his 13th child last year, said. 'They want me to be a sperm donor. No romance or anything, just sperm,' Musk texted St. Clair before telling her he had agreed to give his sperm to the woman. Musk has previously claimed that 'civilization is going to crumble' if people don't continue to have children, and views his paternal contributions as a way of combating this. Hamasaki laughed off the rumours, admitting its the kind of thing she might do: 'Even my mom laughed when she heard the rumours, saying, 'This seems kind of Ayu-like,' and if I were someone else, I'd probably be saying 'Ayu is the pop star [St Clair] was talking about, right?' But it's just not true,' she said on Instagram. She continued, in a more serious tone: 'Setting aside my personal image, when my kids are old enough to start Googling things, I don't want them to run into the rumors and think they're true, so I'm firmly denying them,' the singer added. Hamasaki is the best-selling solo artist in Japan, having sold over 50million albums and earning her the title 'Empress of Pop' across all of Asia. As of 2025, Musk has fathered at least 14 children with four different women. Musk's first known children were with his ex-wife Justine Wilson, a Canadian author. The couple had six children together: Their first son, Nevada Alexander, tragically died of SIDS at just 10 weeks old. They later welcomed twins, Griffin and Vivian, in 2004, followed by triplets, Kai, Saxon, and Damian, in 2006. In 2022, Vivian publicly distanced herself from Musk, coming out as transgender, legally changing her name, and adopting her mother's surname. Musk also shares three children with musician Grimes (Claire Boucher). Their first child, X Æ A-Xii, was born in 2020 and became a viral sensation thanks to his name. He was also spotted at the White House last week – without his mother's consent. 'He should not be in public like this,' Grimes wrote following the appearance. 'I did not see this, thank u for alerting me. But I'm glad he was polite. Sigh.' In 2021, the couple welcomed a daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl, via surrogate. Despite a publicly rocky relationship, they had a third child, Techno Mechanicus (nicknamed Tau), reportedly born in 2024. In 2021, Musk quietly had twins with Shivon Zilis, an executive at his brain-computer interface company Neuralink. The births weren't publicly known until court documents surfaced in 2022. More Trending Since then, Zilis and Musk have had two more children: one in early 2024 and another – a son named Seldon Lycurgus – in February 2025. His child with St. Clair was only revealed in February, after St Clair, who has over a million followers on X wrote: 'Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father.' She added: 'I have not previously disclosed this to protect our child's privacy and safety, but in recent days, it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause.' After the billionaire commented 'whoa' in response, St Clair wrote a now deleted comment: 'Elon, we have been trying to communicate for the past several days, and you have not responded. When are you going to reply to us instead of publicly responding to smears from an individual who just posted photos of me in underwear at 15 years old?' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: David Harbour explains his dating preference after Lily Allen split MORE: Elon Musk says he 'went too far' with posts about Donald Trump MORE: Elizabeth Hurley, 60, strips down to birthday suit as she confesses she's 'in love'
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
J-Pop Star Comes Clean on Claims She's Newest Musk Baby Mama
A Japanese performed dubbed the 'Empress of J-Pop' broke her silence Monday on rumors that she is a secret Elon Musk's baby mama. Ayumi Hamasaki denied the theory that she was one of the multiple women with whom Musk had fathered a child after an another baby mama told The New York Times that he had a child with a Japanese pop star. 'I've been keeping an eye on this, and I guess it's time for me to speak up. Elon Musk is not the father of [either of] my children,' Hamasaki wrote on her Instagram Story, according to Tokyo Weekender. Hamasaki, 46, has two sons with two different men, born in 2019 and 2021. The fathers' identities have not been publicly revealed. The rumors around the singer began to spread when MAGA author and influencer Ashley St. Clair—who gave birth to his 13th child, a son, last year—claimed that the billionaire had also told her that he had a child with a J-pop star. Musk has previously claimed that 'civilization is going to crumble' if people did not have children, stating that 'I do have a lot of kids, and I encourage others to have lots of kids.' 'He made it seem like it was just his altruism and he generally believed these people should just have children,' St. Clair said. According to text messages reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Musk texted St. Clair in 2023 about a meeting he had with people he referred to as Japanese officials, saying that they wanted him to be a sperm donor for a high-profile woman. 'They want me to be a sperm donor. No romance or anything, just sperm,' Musk texted St. Clair, later telling her that he agreed to give his sperm to the unnamed woman. As social media users and J-Pop forums began speculating which Japanese star St. Clair could be referring to, Hamasaki quickly became the prime suspect. The singer admitted she could understand why this seemed like the 'sort of thing' she would do. 'Even my mom laughed when she heard the rumors, saying, 'This seems kind of Ayu-like,' and if I were someone else, I'd probably be saying 'Ayu is the pop star [St Clair] was talking about, right?' But it's just not true,' she said on Instagram. 'Setting aside my personal image, when my kids are old enough to start Googling things, I don't want them to run into the rumors and think they're true, so I'm firmly denying them,' the singer added. Hamasaki is the best-selling solo artist in Japan, having sold over 50 million albums. Her influence across Asia has earned her the title the 'Empress of Pop.' Musk's complicated family dynamics have long been in the spotlight. His first six children, the eldest of whom died as a baby, were with first wife Justine Wilson, and include transgender daughter Vivian Wilson, who has become a prominent public critic. He went on to have son X, now five, with Canadian musician Grimes, then two more children during an on-off relationship. But in July 2022, when the relationship with Grimes had apparently recently ended, he had twins with Neuralink executive Shivon Zillis. He then had two more children with Zillis, the latest born this year shortly after his son with St. Clair. On her end, St. Clair is currently in an ongoing custody battle with Musk over their son, Romulus, the MAGA influencer wanting full custody over their child. She officially announced the pair's secret child on X in February, asking for privacy from the media and to 'refrain from invasive reporting.' 'Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father,' she wrote in a statement on X with the caption 'Alea Iacta Est,' meaning 'the die is cast.' In March, Musk also took to his app to claim that he had given St. Clair enough money to take care of their child, despite not knowing whether Romulus was his or not. 'I don't know if the child is mine or not, but am not against finding out. No court order is needed,' he wrote. 'Despite not knowing for sure, I have given Ashley $2.5M and am sending her $500k/year.' According to the Journal, the paternity test results from Labcorp revealed that Musk's 'Probability of Paternity' was 99.9999%.
IOL News
04-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Artificial blood breakthrough: Japanese scientists develop universal solution for all blood types
Artificial blood isn't just theoretical anymore, it's real, and its potential is astonishing. Image: Imagine a world where blood shortages no longer cost lives. A world where emergencies in rural South African clinics or busy city hospitals aren't derailed by the lack of compatible blood for transfusions. Thanks to revolutionary research by Japanese scientists, this future may be closer than we think. A critical breakthrough in healthcare is unfolding: the development of artificial blood. This innovation, led by Hiromi Sakai and his team at Japan's Nara Medical University, has the potential to save millions of lives globally by addressing one of the most pressing challenges in healthcare, blood shortages. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading The blood supply crisis Blood transfusions are essential in healthcare, saving lives during surgeries, childbirth, trauma, and the treatment of severe illnesses. Yet, maintaining an adequate blood supply is a constant challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like South Africa. The demand for O-negative blood, the universal donor type, is particularly high. This blood type can be used in emergencies for patients of any blood group, but its supply is often insufficient. The short shelf life of donated red blood cells makes the situation even more difficult, as they can only be kept for 42 days under refrigeration. The introduction of artificial blood could be a game-changer in ensuring that no patient is turned away due to a lack of compatible blood. A team of scientists in Japan have created artificial blood Image: Pavel Danilyuk/pexels The science behind artificial blood Artificial blood isn't just theoretical anymore; it's real, and its potential is astonishing. According to "Tokyo Weekender", Sakai's team has developed artificial red blood cells by extracting haemoglobin (the iron-rich protein that transports oxygen in the bloodstream) from expired donor blood. Here's how it works: Haemoglobin extraction: Haemoglobin is isolated from expired blood donations, ensuring no waste. Encapsulation: The haemoglobin is encased in a protective shell, creating stable, virus-free artificial red blood cells. Universal compatibility: Because these synthetic cells lack blood type markers, they're compatible with all blood groups; no cross-matching is required. The benefits don't stop there. Unlike donated blood, which requires refrigeration and has a short lifespan, artificial blood can reportedly be stored for up to two years at room temperature and five years when refrigerated. This could transform emergency response systems in remote areas where accessing fresh blood supplies is a logistical nightmare. Early trials have already demonstrated the potential of artificial blood. In 2022, Sakai's team conducted small-scale studies with 12 healthy male volunteers aged 20 to 50. The participants received intravenous injections of haemoglobin vesicles, which mimic the oxygen-carrying function of natural red blood cells. Mild side effects: A few participants reported mild symptoms, but no serious adverse effects were observed. Stable vital signs: There were no significant changes in blood pressure or other vital signs, indicating promising safety levels. Building on this success, the trials have entered a second phase as of March this year, with larger doses (100 to 400 millilitres) being administered to volunteers. If no significant side effects are observed, the research will shift to evaluating the efficacy and safety of artificial blood for practical use. The goal is to make this life-saving innovation widely available by 2030. Early trials have already demonstrated the potential of artificial blood. Image: Ivan Samkov/pexels
Tokyo Weekender
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
The Beauty of Broken Things: The Artist Using Kintsugi To Heal Emotional Wounds
This article appeared in Tokyo Weekender Vol. 2, 2025. To read the entire issue, click here . On a quiet side street in Tokyo's Ogikubo neighborhood, sunlight streams through the windows of a small antique studio filled with ceramic fragments, brushes, powdered gold and bowls in various stages of repair. The air carries the earthy scent of lacquer while the yellow and silver trains of the Chuo-Sobu Line occasionally rumble by. This is the workplace and studio of kintsugi artist and teacher Yuki Otani. If you're even slightly interested in Japanese culture, you're likely familiar with the concept of kintsugi: the practice of repairing broken pottery with lacquer and gold, highlighting cracks rather than hiding them. Despite being a centuries-old practice, it resonates strongly with many people today, both within and outside Japan. It's easy to understand why; kintsugi offers a potent visual metaphor, an acknowledgment and honoring of fractures, an understanding that healing has its own unique beauty. Otani, who goes by the name 'Kintsugi Lady' online, uses ceramic repair as a conduit for emotional renewal. Her students, she notes, are often not just mending broken pottery, but healing parts of themselves. List of Contents: Golden Scars Fixing More Than Objects A Reverence for Imperfection A Future Melded Together Related Posts Golden Scars The word 'kintsugi' came into Otani's life during a period of recovery and reflection. Amid the stillness that followed a major surgery, she came across a simple phrase that resonated deeply: 'All my scars are golden.' The phrase is from 'Kintsugi,' a song by British singer-songwriter Gabrielle Aplin. The words gave shape to feelings she hadn't yet been able to fully face — the quiet ache of a body changed and the sense that the future she had once imagined was beginning to slip away. Her physical scars were healing little by little, but she didn't yet know how to tend to the wounds in her heart. The words worked like a quiet remedy — something she hadn't known she needed. That realization drew her to try kintsugi for herself. In learning to mend ceramics with gold, she began to see how care and beauty can emerge from change. For Otani, it became its own remedy — reminding her not to strive to erase her pain, but rather to live alongside it with grace. 'To me,' she says, 'kintsugi is a way of letting time become part of the beauty.' As her understanding of kintsugi deepened, Otani — who splits her time between Japan and the United Kingdom — began to notice its quiet echoes in her own cross-cultural life. 'My life itself feels like kintsugi,' she says. 'Not fully one thing or another, but a space in-between where different values meet and something new is created.' Otani's works often blend materials from both Japan and the UK. One notable piece is a Japanese teacup fused with a shard of British ceramic she found at a London flea market. It fit perfectly, as if by fate. This form of kintsugi is called yobitsugi, or 'call-and-join,' where a missing piece is replaced not by the original but by something wholly different. 'It's about finding harmony through what's been carried forward,' she says. 'It's also about gently honoring what something has been while listening closely to what it might become.' Fixing More Than Objects Kintsugi Lady's workshops, held in Tokyo, London and occasionally elsewhere, are about far more than technique. Participants come from all over the world, bringing with them not only broken bowls and cups but sometimes also fractured pieces of themselves. A woman attending her first workshop in Japan remained quiet through the session, silently concentrating. She returned a few days later and began to share her story, telling Otani that her home country was in the midst of war. Something about the process of kintsugi had spoken to her — not in words, but in the quiet, attentive rhythm of repair. 'My country is now in the middle of conflict, but one day, when things are stable, I want you to come teach kintsugi there,' she told Otani. That parting promise — 'Let's meet again' — felt like kintsugi itself. 'It felt like we were both trying to tend to our hibi — a Japanese word that means both 'daily life' and 'cracks' — with care, and carry them toward a better future,' Otani says. In another session, a British woman painstakingly repaired a vase that belonged to a shop she once ran with her late husband; a honeymooning couple mended a mug full of memories; a mother and daughter from Taiwan laughed about the plate their cat had broken, now transformed into a 'collaborative art piece.' Even an office worker in a business suit, emotionally drained from her work, left a workshop saying, 'Kintsugi blew all my stress away.' These moments, Otani says, are proof that kintsugi isn't just about objects — it's a way of being. 'It's a lens for how we see the beauty in the world, and how we choose to live in it.' A Reverence for Imperfection In a world driven by disposability and constant consumption, kintsugi asks us not only to consider what we throw away but to reflect on why we do so. 'People often think it makes sense to replace what's broken,' Otani says. 'But kintsugi invites us to pause, to touch the flaw and to listen to the story it carries.' Often, she adds, the pieces that undergo kintsugi aren't antiques or art objects but rather everyday things like bowls, plates and cups — items with quiet histories and personal significance. In this way, kintsugi becomes not only a sustainable practice but a form of emotional ecology — a way of reimagining how we define care, worth and connection. Otani has also begun incorporating materials that reflect this way of thinking into her artistic practice. Through a kintsugi volunteer initiative in the earthquake-affected Noto Peninsula, she met people who harvest and refine urushi — the natural lacquer essential to the craft. 'Many of the people I've met there, who harvest and refine urushi, are not only the foundation of this tradition, but also survivors. Despite the hardship, they continue working to protect what's been passed down.' She now uses some of that lacquer in her workshops, allowing participants to connect with Noto not just through stories but through the material itself — letting their hands encounter a place and its people through the act of mending. This experience also led her to begin planting her own lacquer trees, nurturing a future in which people, craft and nature grow together. A Future Melded Together Otani is currently developing workshops in collaboration with overseas museums and educational institutions, and she hopes to publish a book that captures her reflections and experiences through the lens of kintsugi. Her approach is not about instruction, but about creating open spaces where people can explore and respond to the practice in their own way — through the textures of their personal stories and cultural backgrounds. 'Kintsugi is about fixing — but it's never fixed,' she says. 'It takes many forms. It's simply a quiet way to care for something loved. For some, it's art. For others, a path to healing. What matters is that each person can find their own way into it.' More Info At Gallery Rokujigen in Ogikubo, Otani offers a simplified, one-day version of her kintsugi sessions. To book, DM her on Instagram . Related Posts Yuri Horie's Glittering, Technicolor, Maximalist World An Experiment in Dye: Buiasou's Ingenious, Modern Indigo Creations Daisuke Shimura: One Of Japan's Most Inventive Plant Artists
Tokyo Weekender
29-05-2025
- Tokyo Weekender
Koyasan Pilgrimage: Exploring Japan's Holiest Buddhist Sanctuary
This article appeared in Tokyo Weekender Vol. 2, 2025. To read the entire issue, click here . Almost 1,200 years ago, one of the most famous Japanese monks, Kukai, entered his eternal meditation on the eastern peak of Mount Koya. The monk, known posthumously as Kobo Daishi, slipped into death mid-prayer. Shingon belief states that though his physical body perished, his spirit still remains on Mount Koya, awaiting Miroku Nyorai, Buddha of the Future, and watching over one of Japan's holiest mountains. To this day, two shojin ryori (traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) meals are brought to Kobo Daishi's mausoleum every day to sustain the monk's spirit. In the late summer of 2023, along with my mother and grandmother, I visited Mount Koya — or Koyasan in Japanese, which is how I prefer to refer to it. My grandmother had walked the Shikoku pilgrimage, a route connecting 88 temples said to have been visited by Kobo Daishi in the ninth century. Although not officially part of the circuit, Koyasan is considered its spiritual beginning and end, as it's the revered monk's final resting place. She wanted to complete the journey while her legs were still strong enough to make the trek. Holy Pilgrimage Koyasan refers to a mountain basin and its surrounding peaks, as well as the temple complex that spans the area. Found in Kansai's Wakayama Prefecture, it's a tremendously important site in Japanese Buddhism. The birthplace and spiritual center of Shingon Buddhism, the mountainous area was home to over 2,000 temples in the Edo period, 117 of which remain. These 117 temples are still open to visitors today. It's possible to take a cable car or bus to the top, but the spiritually or athletically inclined can ascend to the peak using ancient pilgrimage trails. Among these is Choishi Michi, the original main trail, a 23.5-kilometer hike that winds through the forest. 'After climbing a steep mountain path, a religious city suddenly appears, lined with temples and monastic lodgings. The air is clear, and a solemn atmosphere filled with tradition surrounds you,' Nobuhiro Tamura, the former chief administrator of a temple on Koyasan and current head operator of a Koyasan tour company, explains. 'It is a place where you can get a glimpse into the original landscape of Japan, where many people with deep faith in Kobo Daishi still live.' It might have simply been the temperature drop and the misty weather, but Koyasan's ambience left me feeling chilled and mystified on my journey there. Visitors enter the complex through Daimon, a 25-meter-tall gate flanked by guardian statues, marking the symbolic threshold between the secular world and the sacred mountain temple town. As we passed through, our guide pointed out the route that would lead to Fudozaka-guchi Nyonin-do, the only surviving women's hall of the seven that once stood on the perimeter of the temple complex. Women weren't allowed to enter the holy grounds until 1872, and even then, they faced strict restrictions and resistance. It wasn't until the early 20th century that they received full and equal access. Instead, female pilgrims would hike the perimeter of Koyasan and go to surrounding sanctuaries with direct ties to Kobo Daishi in order to experience a fraction of the area's holy energy. The difficult and even dangerous route became known as Nyonin Michi, now a symbol of devout, resilient female worship. I looked to my grandmother and mother, the three of us comprising three generations of women, casually visiting a mountain we would have once been barred from. I suddenly felt a rush of pride and appreciation. I stood a little taller and tilted my head up, beckoning the energy around me. Kobo Daishi's Resting Place Some of Koyasan's main highlights include the Danjo Garan, the central temple complex; the Tokugawa mausoleum enshrining Ieyasu and his son Hidetada; and, of course, Okunoin, the site of the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi and the largest cemetery in Japan. The cemetery is home to over 200,000 tombstones, including a rocket-shaped tombstone modeled after Apollo 11 and a Yakult-shaped tombstone. To enter the site of Kobo Daishi's mausoleum, visitors must cross Gobyobashi Bridge, beyond which food and photography are not allowed and talking must be kept to a minimum. The tour guide asked us to bow to Kobo Daishi and meditatively cross the bridge, one wooden plank at a time. My gaze zeroed in on the planks as if one misstep would reveal me to be careless or disrespectful. On the other side of the bridge awaits Torodo Hall, a sanctuary illuminated by 20,000 lanterns. Guests aren't permitted to enter the mausoleum itself, but may instead pay respect from outside of the monk's eternal meditative place. As soon as I crossed the bridge, a whole-body shudder coursed through me. I held my breath instinctively and felt an all-encompassing presence around me, understanding me, protecting me. I looked over to my mother, and she returned a quick, wide-eyed nod. 'Iru ne,' she said. He's here . Temple Lodgings at Koysasan For those looking to deepen their spiritual experience even further, Koyasan also presents guests with the opportunity to stay at a temple lodging, called shukubo. 'There are around 50 shukubo, and many of them can be booked easily online,' Tamura notes. For visitors coming between March and November, he advises booking far in advance. 'On the other hand, if you prefer a quieter experience, winter is a peaceful season with crisp, clear air — just make sure to come prepared for the cold.' Staying at a temple makes for a wholly new level of immersion in the culture of Koyasan. Shukubo experiences offer spiritual understanding through lived experience and actual religious practice, allowing guests to eat, pray and sleep like a monk on temple grounds. A shukubo experience provides the chance to slow down and find profound meaning in quiet, everyday moments: walking through the temple's impeccably polished wooden corridors, trying thoughtfully prepared shojin ryori meals, engaging in rituals such as gongyo (daily sutra chanting) and goma (a fire ritual prayer) and admiring carefully maintained gardens. Staying at a shukubo also allows guests to explore Koyasan at night; the red temple buildings of Danjo Garan have a completely different ambience when illuminated in the evening. There's something to be said for experiencing the entire 24-hour cycle in Koyasan, watching the sun dip in the evening and welcoming the sunrise the next day, practicing gratitude and reflection for the things we take for granted, guided by the spirit of Kobo Daishi. More Info Book your own trip to Koyasan here . Related Posts Nachi Falls: Where Nature Meets Spirituality in Wakayama Staying Overnight in a Japanese Temple: A Day at Tokei-in Temple The World of Japanese Buddhism: The Major Schools and Sects
