#promotion: yokohama 2024

[kokiafans]

KOKIA updates: February 2024

Below, I have summarized KOKIA’s recent announcements and messages. As explained here, this will remain the style of updates for now. I cannot make any promises about a quicker schedule for now. Unfortunately, that means a lot of this information is quite late. My sincere apologies and thank you for your continued patience.

Once-in-a-lifetime meetings tour

KOKIA had her first performance in her Once-in-a-lifetime meetings in Yokohama on February 4. In her blog entry of February 12, she looks back on it fondly, mentioning it lets her give back to her fans after 25 years of support. The red brick warehouse is also a place she'd hit her limit in a performance over a decade ago, when she wasn't feeling well. The memories are bittersweet, as the audience spontaneously started singing for her at the time. Thankfully, she felt much better this time, although she is a bit nervous for her upcoming performances, as there are so many still to come. She's determined to see them through and make them the once-in-a-lifetime meetings to fit the title of her tour.

In a quick news entry of February 2, KOKIA mentions how the members page has updated for fan club members only pre-sale tickets for the Sapporo and Nagoya performances.

General ticket sales for the special Tokyo performance started on February 10, as noted in the news entry for February 9. The performance is scheduled for May 25, opening at 15:15 and starting at 16:00, at the Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall.

The news entry for February 16 announces a pre-sale of tickets for the Nagoya performance on September 7 for Sunday Folk members. The pre-sale ran online from February 23 to the 26th, and through the newsletter from March 1 to 4. General ticket sales start via other ticket agencies on March 8. The links are in the entry above.

The second entry for February 16 is dedicated to the Sapporo performance on July 6, which will be held at the Sapporo City Clock Tower Hall. Tickets went on pre-sale on February 20/21, and general ticket sales start around march 4 (depending on the agency). All links are in the entry above.

Other performances

On February 7, KOKIA had a radio appearance at 15:00 (she announced it on the day itself in her news entry), at FM Setagaya's 'Afternoon Paradise'. She also quickly promotes this on her Instagram and shares behind the scenes photos later.

In her blog entry of February 22, KOKIA talks about her Harmony for Ukraine charity concert performance. The entry was written beforehand (with the actual performance on the 25th), with KOKIA writing about rehearsals a little. She posts several photos on Instagram later, thanking everyone for their support and hanging out backstage with artist Nataliya Gudziy.

On February 26, in both her news and her blog sections, KOKIA talks about an upcoming performance at her private studio 01073 house on June 22/30 (four performances total). It's another performance in an already busy year, but she wanted to do a different concept for this. She won't announce this concept, but she does tease she's currently working on a new album... Tickets are available February 29 onward, using the service TicketPay. The atmosphere will be homely, as she's performing in a small place.

Finally, in her news entry for February 26, KOKIA announces that a live registration of Yuki Kajiura's Kaji Fes 2023 will get a Blu-ray release, available on May 29. There will be multiple releases: one is a limited made-to-order box version, including the recordings for both days and exclusive merchandise. The other two releases are separate Blu-rays for each day. KOKIA performed on day 2.

[pix4japan]

Vending Machines: From Pokémon Collaborations to Disaster Preparedness

Location: Gumyoji, Minami Ward, Yokohama, Japan Timestamp: 17:45・2024/04/09

Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter ISO 400 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/2 Classic Negative film simulation

Japan boasts an impressive array of vending machines, numbering around 2.6 million as of December 2023. In the span of the last four decades, I've witnessed significant shifts in this vending landscape. Notably, there has been a decline in machines vending alcohol and cigarettes, paralleled by a rise in machines offering both hot and cold beverages from a single unit. Among these innovations, my personal favorite is the advent of machines equipped with QR code scanning capabilities, allowing seamless payment through an app on my smartphone.

In my photo, two distinct elements immediately captured my eye: the presence of a Pokémon character adorning the vending machine, and upon closer inspection, the machine's disaster response capabilities.

The Ito En beverage company has partnered with the popular Pokémon Go game for a joint promotion of the game and Ito En drinks. Beyond its promotional features, this vending machine also serves a crucial role in the local community as a disaster response vending machine. In the event of a severe earthquake and subsequent power outage, it can dispense drinks at no cost, providing essential relief to those affected by the crisis.

While I sincerely hope to never have to utilize the services of a disaster response vending machine, it's reassuring to know that some large corporations are stepping up to make their services and products accessible to society during times of crisis.

Check out my full write-up (a concise 2-minute read), which includes a glossary and references for further reading (https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20240409-vending).

[thenightpool]

rinharu wrapped 2023

We almost can't believe it's already time to bring out the kadomatsu again! 2023 just raced by, didn't it…?! Let's take a moment to look back on everything Rin & Haru (and their fans!) have achieved this year.

🌸 Archive of Our Own

The Matsuoka Rin/Nanase Haruka tag on AO3 now holds 3,674 works!

That means 173 new fics were posted this year. (There might've been more than that, but it's hard to keep track of creators privatising their older fics!)

And the Night Pool's AO3 collection is up to 90 works!

.

🌸 The Night Pool

Here at TNP, we revived @sakurathon, a cherry blossom-centric event! This year, the event received 40 works by 19 lovely participants.

Since it was such a big success, we're bringing the event back on April 27th & 28th 2024.

°•. ✿ .•°

We also held the aquatic-themed Unleashed Blue, during which 20 participants created 51 (!!) otherworldly works for us.

With permission of the creators, we lovingly collected them in a 400+ page commemorative zine. You can download it on linktree

°•. ✿ .•°

Writers filled an impressive 35 prompts during our prompt meme Make a Splash! that we held in honor of Haru's birthday.

Read the fills on AO3

°•. ✿ .•°

Rin & Haru's Big Warm-Up, our monthly prompt event, received 16 new works on AO3 across the year & more on socials.

Check out our collection on AO3

°•. ✿ .•°

We also kicked off rinharu fandom's very first bang: MEDLEY!, a mini + reverse hybrid bang that will start posting in March!

(Psst. Sign ups are still open for a few roles!)

°•. ✿ .•°

We held 3 training camps – super fun writing retreat weekends – over on our Discord. We have 4 more retreats planned for 2024!

If you'd like to join us for the next one(s), here's the info

°•. ✿ .•°

We posted 33 new fanart translations!

Here's the link to our masterlist

°•. ✿ .•°

And finally, The Night Pool beat out Harurinralia to win our Ultimate Rinharu Moments Tournament that we held back in April on both Twitter and Tumblr!

.

🌸 Other Fandom Events

It's been a busy year!

In July, @starstarfairy hosted Wave Of Memory (@rinharumemories) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Free! The event ran in two wave on tumblr and Twitter and combined polls, fan memories, and all types of fanworks.

@sweetheavenfics helped us run the RH-friendly @soumako-week in September!

@ryu-outsider hosted the month-long daily prompt event Free!cember here on Tumblr. It welcomed the entire fandom. The event was promoted by eleanorenchanted and run via hashtag.

And @rinharuweek ran for a full 10 days this year in celebration of the show's anniversary! They are just wrapping up.

.

🌸 Official News

Free! turned 10 in 2023. Omedetou gozaimasu!

Free! The Final Stroke Part 2 broke all of the series' previous records in the box office, bringing in over 1 billion yen

It also finally made it to Crunchyroll.com for the US & select others

Miyano Mamoru & Shimazaki Nobunaga fed us (+ fanartists' inspiration) well by shouting "HARU!!" and "RIIIN!!" at each other before hugging passionately during the 10th anniversary event at the Saitama Super Arena

We got tons of amazing new art; including a cover illustration for Free! The Band Live's Ever Blue performance in Yokohama, Animedia's July W-cover, Sweets Paradise's promotional art, and Kyoani's 10th anniversary event's illustration

Rin's ripped jeans (+ THE ANKLETS) in the Matsukiyo & Cocokara's Top Of Summer collaboration launched a thousand fanworks

Matsuoka-senshu, Nanase-senshu, Kirishima-senshu & Yamazaki-senshu represented Mizuno at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka

Spoon2Di recently restocked volume 78 & 85 on their webshop, and Akiba Pass Shop opened pre-orders for some gorgeous tapestries featuring said art

Karatz, Bikkuriman Choco, Iwami & DECOL all bumped Rin up to 2nd place in character listings (where he belongs!!)

Last but not least, KyoaniShop bankrupted us all by releasing amazing new merchandise (and also did not try to hide that Rin is the Free! series' 2nd protagonist, either…)

--

Thank you so much for being here with us in 2023. We hope it has been a wonderful & creative year for you. Here's wishing you an even more rinharu-filled 2024!

[nso-csi]

TAEMIN upcoming schedule

🗓️240308~09~10 TAEMIN SOLO CONCERT: METAMORPH Tokyo Nippon Budokan 🗓️240316 SWC VI Hong Kong 🗓️240330 Amazing BINH DINH Festival Vietnam 🗓️240406/240407 NEXT GENERATION LIVE ARENA 2024 Pia Arena JP 🗓️240410 ASEA Yokohama jp

(Currently SHINee acc is not promoting his solo events. Let's spread his schedule as much as we can.)

[jeanandthedreamofhorses]

‘Anime Japan’ March 2023: Attack On Titan Stage Event

Preamble

Every March in Tokyo, representatives of different anime studios and shops put up stalls at the Tokyo Big Site Exhibition Hall to advertise upcoming anime and related goods. ‘Anime Japan’ is also a locus for interviews with voice actors. This year, Kaji Yuki (Eren), Ishikawa Yui (Mikasa), and Inoue Marina (Armin) went to promote Part 3 of The Final Season.

I couldn’t pass up the chance to go. However, there is limited space at the Stage Events, and the success of an application is determined by lottery. I applied for five events and got rejected from four – but as fate would have it, I got the ticket for SNK! I was as excited as Armin at the ocean. I of course went in my Survey Corps cloak.

Two caveats: photographs were not permitted, so none are provided. Also, my Japanese isn’t perfect, but I’m confident I got the gist of what they were saying.

The Event

The three seiyuu expressed sadness at the series coming to an end, and at how this would be their last time at Anime Japan after ten years. They thanked the presenter for having been their ‘MC’ for all this time.

On the projector, a scene from the last episode relevant to each of their characters was played. First up was Armin and his love confession to Annie on the ship (no pun intended). Inoue expressed interest in the complex feelings between them, and is curious to see where it goes because, unlike the other two, she hasn’t read the ending yet.

Next was Mikasa, who was given the redux of her “See you later, Eren” scene from the start of the series. Ishikawa was really excited for everyone to understand the meaning of those words, but managed to hold herself back from spoiling us.

Finally we had Eren with his breakdown in front of Ramzi. Kaji referred to this scene as Eren expressing his honne. In Japanese culture it is often said that people have a public face, tatemae, and a private face, honne. This is very true of Eren. Kaji commented that, although Eren is acting like a scary titan, this scene shows us he is human at heart after all.

Kaji found it very difficult to talk about the scene further without spoiling anything, but what he did say was very interesting. He expressed his inner conflict over Eren’s actions: acknowledging their awfulness, but understanding the desire to protect the people close to you. Having been with the character for such a long time now, he told us that, ultimately, he wants to be his ally. This was immediately followed up with a pained expression and the rider that “it’s complicated”.

I was really impressed by how deeply Kaji understands Eren. It’s exactly what you’d want from a lead actor, to have such a connection with their character. Interestingly, the word he used for ‘ally’, 味方 (mikata), is the same one Historia uses when she rescues Eren.

After this, the presenter mentioned perhaps the biggest event from the last episode: Hange’s death. Kaji reflected that, although it’s tragic, Hange must be happy to be with their senpai again.

Then came various announcements of events for the SNK anime’s 10th anniversary. You can find all these on the anime’s Twitter page. The merchandise collab with the Gudetama ‘Lazy Egg’ character drew a laugh from everyone.

Another landmark was SNK Radio’s 100th episode. Kaji was fiercely proud of this. He gave a booming YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU and an inordinately deep bow when he asked us to tune in.

A video compiling key moments from across all four seasons was then played on the projector. Inoue was conflicted, wanting to go “Woah!” on the one hand, but also “Nooo” because it’s ending. Ishikawa agreed there was a certain painful feeling.

The actors will be giving their last interview for the series at K Arena, Yokohama in 2024. Like Inoue, Kaji said he can’t look forward to it because he doesn’t want everything to end – but that he is excited nevertheless. There was a cute moment when a baby started crying and Kaji joked around with a dad in the crowd.

For the finale, the audience were instructed to stand and give a Survey Corps salute on Kaji’s SHINZO WO SASAGEYO, which filled the hall without the aid of a microphone. Ishikawa smiled and waved in my general direction while she left, so I can die content.

The Red Stage, where this interview took place, had no room for ticketless bystanders, so I really was lucky to get in. At the Blue Stage, I was able to peek over the stanchions to watch the BokuYaba and Tokyo Revengers interviews. I didn’t take notes on these, but I can sum up what I remember if anyone’s interested.

[sakaimekanae]

Photos of the current art exhibition "Colors of Everyday Life" at Cafe Bar THE MASHO, Busan. My 2 artworks(10th pic) are now on display and on sale at the show. Check it out!

Exhibition details:

“Colors of Everyday Life” (in Japanese: 日々の彩り展 in 韓国) Period: 28 May-31 July, 2024 *According to the bar staff member the exhibition will be held until 30 August. Thank you! Opening hours: 6.00 pm-11.30 pm *Last order: 11.00 pm Venue: Deomasyeo(Cafe Bar THE MASHO), Busan

Note: please order at least one item per person. (the venue of this show is a cafe bar)

*This exhibition is promoted by AAA GALLERY in Yokohama, Japan.

[f1]

Pirelli yet to decide whether it wants to continue F1 tyre supply after 2024 | 2025 F1 season

Formula 1’s current tyre supplier Pirelli says it is undecided over whether it apply to continue in the role for the 2025 to 2027 seasons. Pirelli has been the exclusive tyre supplier for F1 since 2011, and also provides rubber for the Formula 2 and Formula 3 support series. The FIA launched the process for tyre manufacturers to lodge their interest in taking on the next three-year supply deal earlier this week. It gave extensive details of what is expected from any interested manufacturers in terms of the technical specifications of the tyres they would supply. Pirelli acknowledged the development in a statement on Wednesday and said it was considering its response. “The FIA has now published the invitation to participate in the next tender process for the supply of tyres to the top single-seater championships – FIA F1 world championship, F2 and F3 – for the three year period from 2025-2027 (with an option for 2028),” said the manufacturer. “The document outlines technical characteristics that are broadly in line with the tyres used today and their relevance to technology transfer from track to road, putting a particular emphasis on sustainability. “The framework described by the FIA is closely aligned to Pirelli’s motorsport strategy and so is of great interest, with the Italian company having been Global Tyre Partner to the sport for more than a decade, since 2011. A definitive decision about Pirelli’s participation in the selection process will naturally be taken after a detailed examination of the FIA’s document.” Multiple tyre manufacturers are currently active at the top level of single-seater racing. Hankook replaced Michelin as the new supplier for Formula E this season, while Firestone being a long-time partner of IndyCar and Yokohama supplying Super Formula. All manufacturers are increasingly focussed on promoting the sustainability of their products. Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Browse all 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix articles via RaceFans - Independent Motorsport Coverage https://www.racefans.net/

[mjohnso]

Quarterly Debut Review: Q3 2024

Quarterly Debut Reviews are a supplementary series to my biannual Periodic Rookie Group Reports, which are published quarterly. Each installment usually covers three rookie groups that debuted over the past three months, although this quarter is an exception. For this installment, I only covered Celest1a (July) and ARrC (August). This series will return to its regular format in next quarter's installment.

July / Celest1a Debut: July 31, 2024 Debut Song: “Panda"

Celest1a did not mark their debut on July 31st as other rookie groups do with a press showcase or Korean music show performance. Instead, that day they were in Japan serving as the opening act at UTO Fest 2024 in Yokohama, a choice not so much helped by context as made all the more curious. That appearance matched a pattern predicted by their pre-debut promotions at the KCON Japan 2024 “zone” at Tokyo Girls Collection, in which the group, as of writing, only promotes in Japan.

This idiosyncrasy is not enough for me to disqualify them from inclusion on my 2024 Rookie K-pop Group Debuts list—a power I have never wanted. After all, their focus on the Japanese market is not all that unusual for k-pop groups. As I wrote when I covered Antares, since the k-pop boom of the early ‘10s, a cottage industry has emerged in tandem with the development k-pop specific “infrastructure.” In turn, this has upended previous practices, whereby agencies treated Japan as a satellite market where a group debuted after promoting in Korea. Now, groups will sometimes follow their debut in Korea not with a comeback but with a debut or pre-debut promotions in Japan. In the future, this may evolve to resemble Celest1a's approach, with groups bypassing Korea entirely and promoting only in Japan. If that does happen, expect to see it among lesser-known groups, who despite lacking major labels, have been at the forefront of change to k-pop's place in the Japanese market.

August / ARrC Debut: August 19, 2024 Debut Song: “S&S (Sour And Sweet)"

This past August may make history, although we will not know until the end of the year. It all depends on how many rookie groups do—or do not—debut each month. If more than one group debuts in each of the next four months, then August 2024, which only clocked one debut with MYSTIC STORY’s ARrC, would rank as the month with the lowest number of debuts for the first time since I began tracking rookie groups. Furthermore, it would be the first time since I began tracking rookie groups that December does not rank as the month that saw the fewest debuts.

If this comes to pass, this may be less a harbinger of trouble for rookie groups and instead a quirk of distribution. Historically, compared to the first half of the year, the second half often sees a dip in the number of new groups debuting, and 2024 has been no different. The first six months of this year were particularly front-loaded, with two months seeing a double-digit number of debuts. Meanwhile, the remaining four months saw at least five new groups debuting.

Those numbers were all buoyed (or you could say skewed) by debuts from the Future Idol Asia project groups, one to two of which debuted every month. Notably though, since July, the project has fallen into a lull with no new debuts or recruiting advertisements. They did not even follow their June showcase with their customary flurry of Instagram posts trumpeting which entertainment agencies had invited the members of certain groups for additional private auditions.

This could mean that none of the agencies were interested in any of the participants. It is just as likely that this was a sign that the project was temporarily hitting pause, pivoting, or ending, a not inconceivable option considering the cracks that were showing at their June showcase. If, however, that was the case, it would only mean the end of the project. The trainee 'incubator' systems that the project modeled itself on would not only still exist but would continue to increase. After all, the project lasted so long in the first place, not only because people were interested in becoming idols but because the landscape had changed. As I noted in my Q2 blurb on their June showcase, not only has the number of trainees signed to agencies decreased, but those seeking to sign trainees have struggled to find talent. Incubators like Future Idol Asia solve both of those issues. Whether you are an agency that cannot afford to have a roster of trainees or one struggling to find talent, they can offer sourcing, training, and organizing of aspiring trainees—although not always in already debuted groups. That was Future Idol Asia's thing.

[yokosuka-rainy-johnny]

#99 Mike Ford promoted to the first-string roster　 and...

NPB Yokohama DeNA BayStarsNPB Central League Yokohama BayStars (sponsored by DeNA) .Mike Ford promoted to the first-string roster on Oct. 12th, 2024. Mike Ford who joined the team mid-season, appeared as a pinch hitter in the 7th inning with a score of 4-1 and smashed a solo home run into the right field stands. With a decisive home run by DeNA BayStars’ Mike Ford, they scored a crucial run…

[creativeera]

Electric Vehicle Tire Market Poised to grow at a Robust Pace Due to Rising Electric Vehicle Adoption

The electric vehicle tire market is witnessing significant growth owing to advancements in battery technology and rising concerns regarding vehicular emissions. Electric vehicle tires have low rolling resistance to improve vehicle range and efficiency. Electric vehicles require tires that can handle higher torque levels produced by electric motors.

The Global Electric Vehicle Tire Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 3.42 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 13.71 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.9% from 2024 to 2031.

Electric vehicles are equipped with advanced lithium-ion batteries and efficient electric motors. They offer superior torque and acceleration compared to conventional vehicles. Rapid infrastructure development including installation of charging stations is boosting electric vehicle sales. Tires optimized for electric vehicles have optimized tread patterns and silica-reinforced rubber compounds for low friction. This improves EV range while providing excellent traction and braking performance. The growing electric fleet globally is driving the demand for specialized EV tires. Key Takeaways Key players operating in the electric vehicle tire market are Apollo Tyres, Bridgestone Corporation, Continental AG, Falken Tire, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Hankook Tire and Technology Co., Ltd., Michelin, Nokian Tyres plc, Pirelli & C. S.p.A., Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., The Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, Toyo Tire Corporation, Trelleborg AB, Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., and Zhongce Rubber Group Company Limited. These companies are focusing on developing tires specifically engineered for EVs to leverage opportunities in the growing market. The rising global Electric Vehicles Tire Market Demand adoption is opening new avenues for tire manufacturers. Countries worldwide are offering subsidies and tax rebates on electric vehicles to boost green mobility. This is encouraging more auto manufacturers to add electric vehicles to their portfolio. Tire makers can expand into new markets by supplying tires for global EV brands. Partnerships with leading EV and battery players can help capture untapped growth opportunities. Rapid establishment of charging infrastructure will drive greater EV acceptance. As more charging stations come up, range anxiety issues will reduce, boosting electric car sales. This will translate into increased demand for EV tires. Tire companies planning global expansion can invest in developing production facilities in top EV markets like China, Europe and North America to access the large customer base. Market Drivers Growing EV sales globally is a major market driver. Stringent emission norms are propelling automakers to shift to electric mobility. Countries worldwide are offering subsidies to promote greener vehicles. This is fueling EV demand, thereby boosting electric vehicle tire market. Market Restraints High cost of EVs along with limited driving range restricts mass adoption. Evolving Electric Vehicle Tire Market Size and Trends technologies also increase uncertainty and risks for tire manufacturers. Standardization of fitting parameters and size limits market expansion. Lack of charging infrastructure in many regions hinders EV sales growth.

Segment Analysis The electric vehicle tire market can be segmented based on vehicle type, tire type, season type, distribution channel and geography. Based on vehicle type, the passenger car segment dominated the market in 2024 as passenger electric vehicles dominated EV sales globally. However, the commercial vehicle segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period owing to rapid adoption of electric buses and trucks for last mile delivery.

Global Analysis The Asia Pacific region dominated the global electric vehicle tire market in 2024 with a share of over 45%, led by China. China has emerged as the global leader in EV production and sales, driven by supportive government policies and investments in charging infrastructure. Europe and North America are other major regions for electric vehicles. European countries like Norway, Germany and Netherlands have announced plans to phase out combustion engine vehicles by 2030. With strong EV policies and investments in charging infrastructure, Europe's electric vehicle tire market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period.

Get more insights on Electric Vehicle Tire Market

Priya Pandey is a dynamic and passionate editor with over three years of expertise in content editing and proofreading. Holding a bachelor's degree in biotechnology, Priya has a knack for making the content engaging. Her diverse portfolio includes editing documents across different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. Priya's meticulous attention to detail and commitment to excellence make her an invaluable asset in the world of content creation and refinement.

(LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/priya-pandey-8417a8173/)

[digitalwibe]

Japan Connected Ship Market Value Research By Forecast 2024-2032 | MRFR

The Japanese connected ship market is set to experience significant value growth and technological advancement from 2024 to 2032. This period represents a critical phase driven by Japan's maritime expertise, technological innovation, and commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Technological Advancements Driving Market Value

Japan Connected Ship Market  encompass advanced solutions designed to optimize vessel performance, improve safety standards, and reduce environmental impact. These technologies include IoT sensors for real-time monitoring, AI-driven analytics for predictive maintenance, and satellite communication systems for seamless connectivity.

Japanese maritime companies are at the forefront of developing autonomous shipping capabilities and digital twin technologies. These innovations enable virtual simulations of vessel operations, enhancing decision-making processes and operational reliability in maritime logistics.

Market Value Research and Strategic Initiatives

In Japan, major maritime clusters such as Tokyo Bay and Yokohama serve as key hubs for maritime innovation and technology adoption. Leading shipyards, technology providers, and research institutions collaborate to develop next-generation connected ship solutions that meet stringent regulatory requirements and operational demands.

Government initiatives promoting digitalization and sustainable shipping practices further accelerate market growth. Investments in eco-friendly propulsion systems, energy-efficient technologies, and cybersecurity measures ensure the resilience and reliability of connected ship systems in Japanese waters.

Request Free Sample Report - Receive a free sample report to preview the valuable insights and data we offer.

Forecasting Market Evolution

Looking ahead to 2032, the Japanese connected ship market is poised for substantial growth. Factors such as the expansion of international trade routes, advancements in maritime technology, and the deployment of 5G networks will drive market expansion.

The integration of blockchain for secure data transactions and digital supply chain management will enhance operational transparency and efficiency. Investments in regulatory compliance and environmental stewardship will reinforce Japan's position as a global leader in maritime innovation and sustainability.

In conclusion, the connected ship market in Japan presents strategic opportunities for stakeholders from 2024 to 2032. By leveraging technological advancements, fostering collaboration, and embracing sustainable practices, stakeholders can contribute to shaping the future of maritime transportation and environmental stewardship.

About US

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. To stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.

Contact us:

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[kokiafans]

KOKIA updates: January 2024

Below, I have summarized KOKIA’s recent announcements and messages. As explained here, this will remain the style of updates for now, though I hope to be back to old style full translations sometime this year. It is my hope, but I cannot make any promises. My apologies and thank you for your patience.

KOKIA has made multiple updates for her Once-in-a-lifetime meeting 2024 concert tour. At the tail end of 2023, KOKIA announced pre-sales for fan club members opened up for the performances in Kyoto, Saga and Oita, with the fan club pre-sales for the special performance in Tokyo (which will be held in lieu of her usual spring concerts) opening in January as she mentioned on January 10.

Normal pre-sales for Kyoto, Saga and Oita ran via the ticket offices on January 1-21, while pre-sales for Tokyo are open January 30 to February 4. The links for the offices are in the respective news entries.

Finally, KOKIA announced on January 26 that additional tickets (about 20 seats) are being sold for the first performance on February 4 in Yokohama. This sale started January 27 via Ticket Pia, with by the looks of it still some tickets left right now.

In her recent Instagram post, KOKIA also added Hokkaido and Nagoya to the list, on July 6 and September 7 respectively.

Of course, KOKIA mentions her upcoming tour in her blog entries too.

In her last post of 2023, she looks back on her 25th anniversary year and returning to Japan. 2024 is the year of the dragon, which is also KOKIA's zodiac sign, which makes her extra excited for what the new year will bring.

On January 8, her first entry of 2024, she explains how her upcoming concert tour will be her way of saying thanks to people all across Japan for supporting her. She has mostly been performing in Tokyo or overseas in the last years, so this will be a nice chance to travel Japan and meet her fans in their regions again.

In her next post, January 16, she mentions how Yokohama and Kyoto have already sold out, and she talks about places she'd like to visit in the prefectures she'll be traveling to for her tour. This year also marks the first time she'll be performing solo at the Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall, although she has been there as a guest before at Mario Tashiro's concert back in 2018.

She updated again on January 21 to announce she's bringing back autograph sessions at the performance in Yokohama on February 4. She hasn't been able to hold these in several years, so she's excited to come face to face with her fans again and exchange some words, even if it's quick. She'll also have several of the items for sale at the venue that are currently unavailable at her official web shop. She assumes you'll receive a ticket for the autograph session if you make a purchase.

In her conclusion, she's already counting down to her 30th anniversary, so she's definitely not slowing down any time soon!

Finally, her most recent entry of January 26 mentions the extra tickets for sale for the Yokohama performance, as mentioned above.

[pix4japan]

Healthy and Delicious: Ashina Bento Shop

Location: Gumyoji, Minami Ward, Yokohama, Japan Timestamp: 17:55・2024/04/09

Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter ISO 320 for 1/350 sec. at ƒ/2.5 Classic Negative film simulation

The Ashina bento shop has been selling homemade Japanese boxed meals, called obento, here at the Gumyoji Shotengai shopping arcade since 1978!

Although many bento boxes sold at convenience stores are mass-produced in large factories, where they might be more likely to use some artificial coloring and preservatives, this shop takes pride in producing every meal onsite. Their meals are free of any artificial coloring and preservatives, ensuring freshness, full flavor, and a healthy meal.

This shop promotes their meals for elderly folks living alone, busy mothers and housewives, workers at local offices and factories, and more. They also sell side dishes that can supplement the family’s main dishes at the dinner table.

Check out my full write-up (a concise 1-minute read), which includes a glossary and references for further reading (https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20240409-bento).

[adityarana1687-blog]

Rubber Processing Chemicals Market Expected To Achieve Lucrative Growth By 2030

The global rubber processing chemicals market size is anticipated to reach USD 8.52 billion by 2030 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2024 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. This growth is attributed to the growing demand for rubber products worldwide. The increasing production of vehicles and the rising trend of electric and autonomous vehicles is driving the demand for innovative components with improved performance. In addition, the construction industry's demand for rubber-based materials for roofing membranes and sealants is also contributing to market growth.

Technological advancements have significantly influenced the market, improving efficiency, product quality, and sustainability. The development of advanced mixing and extrusion technology has enabled manufacturers to produce compounds with improved properties and reduced processing times. Another technological trend in the market is adoption of sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. Environmental concerns and regulatory policies have pushed the industry to develop and implement greener solutions. For example, usage of bio-based compounds from renewable sources has gained ground. These compounds provide similar performance characteristics to traditional compounds while reducing dependence on petroleum-based raw materials.

Rubber processing generates large amounts of wastewater, which leads to serious health problems if left untreated. In addition, manufacturing processes, such as extrusion and die casting, lead to excess fatalities from hematopoietic, stomach, bladder, lung, and other cancers. As a result, some regulatory agencies, such as the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), have strict regulations for using and handling chemicals and wastewater treatment from processing factories. Growing health and environmental concerns have led to the use of alternatives such as reinforced natural fibers made from processed vegetable oil plants and cellulose. For example, Japan's Yokohama Tire Corporation uses oil derived from modified natural rubber and orange peel to produce tires. These eco tires also have better grip when braking and cornering.

Rubber Processing Chemicals Market Report Highlights

Anti-degradants dominated the product segment with a 50.03% revenue share in 2023 owing to their increasing use in improving performance, heat resistance, and tensile strength of products across end-user industries

The non-tire application segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period due to the diversification of applications around the globe

Asia Pacific dominated the market owing to factors such as the presence of abundant raw materials as well as growth of end-user industries such as construction and automobiles in the region

In January 2022, Sumitomo Rubber Industries announced a USD 128 million expansion of its tire manufacturing facility in Sheridan Drive from its current expanse of 55,000 square feet

Rubber Processing Chemicals Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global rubber processing chemicals market based on product, application, and region:

Rubber Processing Chemicals Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Anti-degradants

Accelerators

Flame Retardants

Processing Aid/ Promoters

Others

Rubber Processing Chemicals Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Tire

Non-Tire

Rubber Processing Chemicals Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

North America

U.S.

Canada

Mexico

Europe

UK

Germany

France

Italy

Spain

Asia Pacific

Japan

China

India

South Korea

Central & South America

Brazil

Argentina

Middle East & Africa

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

List of Key Players in the Rubber Processing Chemicals Market

Lanxess

Solvay

Akzo Nobel N.V.

BASF SE

Arkema

Eastman chemical company

R.T. Vanderbilt Holding Company, Inc.

Behn Meyer

KUMHO PETROCHEMICAL

Paul & Company

China Petrochemical Corporation

Merchem Limited

[somewheric]

240429 THE BOYZ Interview for Newsen: “We don’t take the fans’ love for granted… The driving force behind 7 years of growth = TheBs” [Full Translation]

“With TheBs in mind, we will make even cooler music and stages for a long time.”

(T/N: Condensed for clarity. May contain inaccuracies!)

Group THE BOYZ (Younghoon, Juyeon, Hyunjae, Sunwoo, Q, Ju Haknyeon, Sangyeon, Kevin, Jacob, Eric, New) took part in the 2024 ASIA ENTERTAINER AWARDS (ASEA 2024) on April 10th at Yokohama’s K-Arena in Japan. For this ceremony, THE BOYZ took home 3 trophies, from THE BEST STAGE to THE BEST STAR to THE BEST CONCEPTUAL ARTIST. The 3 wins showed once again that these are global artists that receive love both at home and abroad.

About the awards:

Younghoon: We won 3 awards and I am so grateful to be given such amazing awards. Moving forward, we will show an even further developed image. I think of these awards as a reason to work even harder, and we will put in the effort to show many cooler sides of us in the future. Conversely, THE BOYZ will gift TheBs the “Smile Award” so they can continue to smile moving forward.

Kevin: It’s an honor to win 3 awards. We will put in the effort and work hard to continue to be TheBs' pride in the future as well. More than anything, I think of this as an award given to THE BOYZ by TheBs. To our TheBs who are always by our side cheering us on, thank you and I love you. 

New: We very thankfully won 3 awards at ASEA 2024. I want to convey my biggest thanks to our TheBs who are always cheering us on and cherishing us. In the future too, we will work hard to meet your expectations by giving you more, cooler versions of THE BOYZ’s unique performances and music. 

About the performance at ASEA 2024:

Juyeon: Since we were going on stage with two powerful songs, WATCH IT and Breaking Dawn, we prepared with a focus on the performance. In particular, we tried to blend in krump [steps] into the performance. We practiced powerful dances and acrobatics extensively. We gave special attention and practiced a lot of natural expressions, gestures etc that would fit the mood of the songs.

Eric: We really immersed ourselves in the performance while preparing. Since it was a space where we would meet much of the K-Pop public, we paid attention to the energy and live [stage] that would be able to bring the heat up during the concert.

About their remarkable sales records, PHANTASY trilogy, and the good results from Nectar:

Sangyeon: I’m really happy and grateful that TheBs showed sincere support and positive reactions to the album as soon as it came out. Moreover, I’m also glad that we can achieve good results. We worked hard on promotions for PHANTASY pt.3 “Love Letter” and were able to finish it well, so we will repay with the concerts this coming July. Thank you always and I love you.

Hyunjae: Firstly, I’m so immensely grateful to our TheBs for giving us good results as soon as the album came out. I think TheBs' hearts are so beautiful and they’re so admirable for always putting in the effort to give us good results. We will work even harder moving forward to be able to repay all the love TheBs give us.

Ju Haknyeon: Pt.3 “Love Letter”, that finishes our 2nd full album [trilogy], was released to repay the love we receive from fans. I’m just happy and really grateful that [TheBs] gave us so much love and good results. When I see the results TheBs give us, it makes me want to work harder and do even better. Please keep looking after us, TheB.

About the past 7 years of different concepts and constant growth and what drives them forward:

(T/N: In Korean you don't necessarily need to make the distinction between "I" and "we" so in some cases here you could switch it and make it so they're talking as a group, but I've chosen to use "I" since they seem to be talking specifically about their own driving forces.)

Sangyeon: Firstly, I want to say to our THE BOYZ members who have been running together for 7 years a sincere thank you and you’ve worked hard. Whenever things were hard the members leaned on each other, and seeing TheBs’ smile in front of us on stage made me forget those [hard] moments. I would say the members and the fans are my biggest source of strength and drive. I think that above everything, that was possible because the members know each other well.

Jacob: I think for me [the driving force] are TheBs and the members. We give and receive good energy from each other, and we have been able to be together for 7 years by telling each other ‘fighting’. I want to say thank you to TheBs who are always cheering us on, and to our members too, thank you always, let’s continue to run and have fun together in the future.

Younghoon: I think my biggest driving force are of course TheBs. I believe we were able to enjoy these 7 years because TheBs were always there in all of THE BOYZ’s moments. I also want to thank our company staff who have been running together with us so far. Members! It’s been 7 years now. Let’s go until 70 years, I love you. And to TheBs, thank you so much, it’s thanks to TheBs being here with us that THE BOYZ can laugh and be so happy, and have been able to grow this much, thank you so much. It’s so meaningful to have someone to want to show new sides of ourselves to, I will work harder and do even better to make sure TheBs are always happy.

Hyunjae: To me of course that my biggest driving force is TheBs. I believe it’s thanks to them always being by THE BOYZ’s side, cheering us on and giving us love, that we have been able to run this far. I don’t take TheBs’ love for granted, I'm always grateful and will do my best to repay that love. And I want to say thank you to our members for running hard together for the past 7 years.

Juyeon: Releasing albums with different concepts and challenging new things was very meaningful, and I think we were able to grow thanks to it. I believe it’s thanks to the fans’ love and interest that we have been able to promote continuously until now. I want to say thank you always. Also, I want to say to our members let’s not get complacent and let’s go even farther.

Kevin: I think the synergy between the members is really good. I believe that is why we have been able to promote happily for the past 7 years. Our members, you’ve worked hard for all that time, let’s continue to make cool memories. And to our TheBs who are always by our side cheering us on, we will work hard to continue showing you cool music and performances in the future, so please watch over us in the future too.

New: I think my driving force are TheBs. I want to say thank you to TheBs who are always by our side, cheering us on and giving us love, and to our company family for their reliable support. To the members, I really want to say thank you for being together for these 7 years.

Q: I believe we have been able to run for these 7 years thanks to TheBs' love. If TheB hadn’t been cheering us on, I think I wouldn’t have been able to gather courage and strength. These 7 years have been very eventful, but to our members who did their best together while promoting, I want to say you’ve worked hard, let’s take good care of each other moving forward too and be considerate while enjoying our promotions.

Ju Haknyeon: My top priority, and my driving force, are the fans. Believing in us and waiting for us no matter the situation can’t be easy at all, so to the TheBs who are always by our side cheering us on I want to say thank you sincerely and I love you. I can always feel TheBs’ love with my whole body. Thank you so much and I love you, TheB! And to our THE BOYZ members I want to say thank you for being together for these long 7 years, please watch over me in the future too.

Sunwoo: There were many happy moments and many hard moments in these 7 years, and I believe it’s because the members were there relying on each other that we were able to overcome it. Also, I want to say thank you so much to our TheBs for always caring for us whenever. Let’s continue to create many fun memories in the future as well.

Eric: The driving force that made it possible for me to run this hard for 7 years is of course our TheBs and our THE BOYZ members. Even in the moments when I wanted to give up, in the moments when I was exhausted, the TheBs who are always by our side cheering us on and giving us love and the members who are always there looking after me were what made it possible for me to get here. To our THE BOYZ members who are my biggest friends and my family, you’ve worked hard and thank you so much, I love you a lot. Please watch over me in the future as well and, while thinking of our TheBs who are always cheering us on, let’s make even cooler music and stages for a long time.

About the ZENERATION II world tour:

Jacob: TheB! Thank you for always being by our side cheering us on and becoming THE BOYZ’s strength. Let’s see each other a lot and make many good memories this year too. With this world tour in July, I want to see, greet, and make many more TheBs happy.

Q: I was happy that we could spend the last 7 years together with TheBs, let’s continue to give strength to each other by cherishing and cheering for each other moving forward too. Also I want to meet many more TheBs this year. We will become a THE BOYZ who can repay [your love] with better music and stages and cooler images so please continue to give your endless love to our future activities too.

Sunwoo: We will continue to work hard to show you good sides of us in the future too. We are planning to meet TheBs all over the world in the second half of the year. This year, we will put in the effort to be able to greet you not only through group activities but through individual activities as well, so TheBs, please show us much interest and love.

(source)

[sakaimekanae]

✨Upcoming Exhibition✨

I'd like to let you know about the upcoming exhibition I participate in, which will be held at Gallery Kang Wat in Chiang Mai. These 5 paintings will be on display and on sale.

"Animal World in Thailand 2024" Period: 26 January - 11 February, 2024 *Opening: 26 January 2024 at 4.00 pm Time: 10.00 am - 6.00 pm Venue: Baan Kang Wat, Chiang Mai (Map)

(This exhibition is promoted by AAA GALLERY in Yokohama, Japan)

I'm happy to join the art event held in Gallery Kang Wat again.(for the 3rd time!) Feel free to drop in at the gallery and find my works there!