Chronology of Shiga Prefecture’s news bits for January-December 2014 (according to the year, month, day, and time posted at Japan time).
Originally posted on Twitter under Shiga Headlines by Philbert Ono. Twitter posts are limited to 140 characters including spaces and links (shortened by Twitter).
Updated: April 27, 2025
| 2014/1/1 11:31 | Happy New Year 2014! Visited Taga Taisha today. Lot more crowded than before. Sacred dances were nice too. https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=138 |
| 2014/1/4 4:56 | During Jan. 1-3, 2014, Taga Taisha saw 490,000 worshippers (5,000 more than last year), Omi Jingu 150,000, and Nagahama Hachimangu 150,000. |
| 2014/1/7 15:33 | Hikone’s official mascot, Hiko-nyan, received 12,352 New Year’s postcards from all over Japan and even Taiwan during Jan. 1-6, 2014. |
| 2014/1/8 4:39 | Very pretty rendition of Biwako Shuko no Uta, Shiga’s most famous song. Sung by a choir called Harmonia Ensemble. http://t.co/QyfCXmhLR9 |
| 2014/1/12 11:44 | My comprehensive video about Lake Biwa’s endemic fish and microscopic life. 琵琶湖博物館 http://t.co/FOdugpiUkn |
| 2014/1/14 16:41 | Hikone Higashi High School newspaper aims to connect with Fukushima Pref. – The Japan News http://t.co/aHc4gFVZKv |
| 2014/1/15 14:08 | Kansai region’s first roundabout circular intersection opened today in Tatsuta, Moriyama for a trial until late Mar. http://t.co/CAaZH61wpL |
| 2014/1/16 14:01 | Construction of Niu Dam in Nagahama to be canceled as per the Kinki Regional Development Bureau’s decision to improve river systems instead. |
| 2014/1/16 14:12 | Himeno Kaoruko 姫野カオルコ, from Koka, has won the prestigious Naoki Prize for her novel, “Showa no Inu” 「昭和の犬」 (Dog of the Showa Era). |
| 2014/1/19 14:17 | The Kuroda Kanbee Expo opened today in Nagahama. Held in concert with this year’s NHK Taiga Drama called Gunshi Kanbee. 黒田官兵衛博覧会 軍師官兵衛 |
| 2014/1/20 17:22 | Moguls skier Miki Ito from Hino and halfpipe snowboarder Rana Okada from Otsu will represent Japan at the Sochi Winter Olympics. |
| 2014/1/24 14:26 | Led by fraud and auto theft, the number of crimes in Shiga in 2013 increased by 2% to 15,448 over 2012 amid an average crime rate of -4.4%. |
| 2014/1/28 12:12 | To curb the declining no. of visitors (360,000 in 2013), Lake Biwa Museum’s exhibits will have a major overhaul for its 20th anniv. in 2016. |
| 2014/1/28 12:23 | Pay cuts for most of the 17,000 Shiga Pref. employees (police, teachers, etc.) since 2003 will be abolished at the end of this fiscal year. |
| 2014/1/30 11:59 | Flu and viral gastroenteritis warnings issued in Shiga. Higashi-Omi, Koka, & Otsu have the most flu patients. Wash your hands, avoid crowds. |
| 2014/2/2 14:06 | Breakfast for ¥100 at Ritsumeikan University’s Kusatsu campus a hit among students. The day’s most important meal. http://t.co/aXumtIQHJ7 |
| 2014/2/6 13:35 | Visitors to Mt. Ibuki will start paying ¥300 on weekends and holidays this May-Nov. 2014. To help maintain hiking trails, toilets, & flora. |
| 2014/2/6 15:55 | Miki Ito had to skip the Women’s Moguls Qualifying Run 1 at Sochi today due to a flare-up of her injured right knee. http://t.co/pOTtYOT39v |
| 2014/2/7 13:29 | Sadly, Miki Ito is unable to compete at Sochi due to her injured right knee. She withdrew from the Women’s Moguls Qualifying Runs 1 and 2. |
| 2014/2/12 18:36 | Otsu native Rana Okada 岡田良菜 placed 5th in the ladies’ halfpipe at the Sochi Olympics. The highest ever for a Japanese in this event. |
| 2014/2/24 15:43 | Kumamoto’s Kumamon is Japan’s most popular mascot with 156,462 FB likes, overtaking Hiko-nyan’s 47,678 likes. https://t.co/qxHmhzilA0 |
| 2014/2/25 13:28 | Enryakuji’s main hall, Konpon Chudo (National Treasure), to be renovated from 2016. Last renovated in 1955. http://t.co/0l1TG3CMet |
| 2014/2/28 2:25 | Shigaraki Kogen Railway aims to reopen in Dec. 2014 after starting repairs in March. Buses currently ply between Kibukawa-Shigaraki. |
| 2014/2/28 8:46 | Feb. 26: Notogawa High School students in Higashi-Omi marked Pink Shirt Day by wearing pink “No Bullying” T-shirts at a nursery school. |
| 2014/3/1 10:40 | The hundreds of tons of radioactive wood chips abandoned along Kamo River in Takashima last April was finally removed on Feb. 26. |
| 2014/3/3 2:25 | Mar. 2: Ethiopian Bazu Worku won the 69th Lake Biwa Marathon in 2 hr 9 min 10 sec. Satoru Sasaki 佐々木悟 was 2nd, and Yuki Kawauchi 川内優輝 3rd. |
| 2014/3/3 2:41 | Mar. 1: Amphibious bus tours start in Nagahama. 45-min. tour from Otabisho for ¥2,800. Tours held daily 9 am-5 pm. http://t.co/w0U1VMOWgM |
| 2014/3/6 9:47 | The movie, 偉大なる、しゅららぼん (Idai na Shurara Bon), filmed in Shiga, will open on Mar. 8. Buy advance tickets by the 7th. |
| 2014/3/6 13:07 | The Shozu-no-Sato Committee 針江生水の郷委員会 in Harie has won the top Ecotourism Grand Prize エコツーリズム大賞 sponsored by the Japan Ecotourism Society. |
| 2014/3/8 6:34 | The movie, 偉大なる、しゅららぼん (Idai na Shurara Bon), filmed in Shiga, opened today. Main stars appeared at Marunouchi Toei theater at 2 pm in Tokyo. |
| 2014/3/14 11:39 | Cultural Affairs Agency recommending Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri as one of 30 float festivals for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. 無形文化遺産 |
| 2014/3/19 11:11 | My movie review of Idai Naru, Shurarabon filmed in Shiga. しゅららぼん http://t.co/ZrgF46sNR8 |
| 2014/3/27 9:14 | Gov. Yukiko Kada still has not announced whether she would seek reelection on July 13, 2014, election day. |
| 2014/3/27 9:22 | Kusatsu, having Shiga’s highest rate of bicycle thefts, is Japan’s 2nd city to have a law requiring bicyclists to lock their bicycles. |
| 2014/3/28 12:34 | 2.06 mil tourists visited Hikone in 2013, 30,000 more than in 2012. One-third of them gave Hiko-nyan as the main reason for visiting. |
| 2014/3/30 14:20 | Mitsui Outlet Park in Ryuo and other shopping malls were busy this weekend as shoppers try to beat the 8% tax hike starting on April 1. |
| 2014/04/02 13:56 | Cherry blossoms along Lake Biwa Canal (Biwako Sosui) in Otsu lit up daily from tonight until April 13 (6:30 pm-9:30 pm). |
| 2014/04/02 14:00 | Cherry blossoms have started to bloom in Hikone today, 3 days later than last year. Full bloom expected a week later. http://t.co/Lh4UFNJapf |
| 2014/04/06 2:36 | Article about Shigaraki in today’s The Japan News: http://t.co/O1fRITow9i |
| 2014/04/07 12:57 | Overseas exports of Omi beef have been increasing since 2010. Fiscal 2013 saw a record high of 304 heads of Omi cattle exported. |
| 2014/04/09 5:43 | Hikone Castle cherry blossoms now in full bloom. http://t.co/dPcnfptowm |
| 2014/04/10 3:55 | As support for Windows XP ceased on April 9, Shiga Prefectural Government still uses 363 PCs (out of 6,400) running XP. They are kept offline. |
| 2014/04/11 14:21 | Large crowds at “Life and Prayer, Kannon Sculptures from Nagahama” (観音の里の祈りとくらし展) exhibition, Tokyo University of the Arts till April 13. |
| 2014/04/14 22:02 | In March, a male H.S. student in Moriyama used a teacher’s password to download students’ test results and more from the school’s server. |
| 2014/04/16 9:42 | A giant balloon in the shape of Minakuchi-Okayama Castle will be atop Mt. Okayama in Koka for 4 days from Apr. 17. http://t.co/DPE6g2e2ER |
| 2014/04/22 1:18 | Okada Rana, halfpipe snowboard Olympian from Otsu placing 5th at Sochi, announced yesterday her retirement and March marriage. |
| 2014/04/22 5:23 | Hikone native sprinter Kiryu Yoshihide, now in college, is gunning for a new record in running 100 meters. http://t.co/GoVjf1VhOb |
| 2014/04/24 16:33 | USB flash drives storing private info of 540 students/teachers at Nagahama Special Needs School stolen from teachers’ unlocked desk drawers. |
| 2014/04/25 15:04 | From April 15, Cathay Pacific serves “Mizukagami” Omi rice on Japan-Hong Kong flights in first/business classes. The chef is from Nagahama. |
| 2014/04/27 19:55 | Governor Kada will announce on May 7, 2014 whether or not she will seek reelection for a third term in July. |
| 2014/05/05 14:29 | From May 1, 2014 on weekends and holidays, a ¥300 donation to enter Mt. Ibuki is being requested at the summit and foot of the mountain. |
| 2014/05/07 9:11 | Gov. Yukiko Kada announced this afternoon that she won’t run for a 3rd term. She will instead support Mikazuki Taizo (三日月 大造 ). More details… |
| 2014/05/08 10:40 | A new ship will start construction in 2017 to replace the 30-year-old Uminoko “floating school” for 5th graders learning about the lake. |
| 2014/05/12 13:13 | Seeking to stamp out seemingly rampant corruption at Otsu City Hall, Mayor Naomi Koshi will set up a committee to enact countermeasures. |
| 2014/05/12 13:20 | Otsu Mayor Naomi Koshi stated today that she will very much miss Gov. Kada and currently has no plans to support a gubernatorial candidate. |
| 2014/05/15 15:29 | New edition of Japan Post’s die-cut postcards are out. Shiga’s latest one shows Ishiyama-dera and Murasaki Shikibu. http://t.co/xiIpajwpMD |
| 2014/05/16 7:54 | Japanese manga about William Merrell Vories titled Ｗ・メレル・ヴォーリズ伝 now in bookstores for ¥800. http://t.co/6fLT0youTA |
| 2014/05/20 10:53 | Shiga’s foreigner population has decreased from 32,292 in 2008 to 23,823 in 2013. Brazilians saw the biggest drop (-50%) to 7,535 in 2013. |
| 2014/05/20 11:28 | Japan Policy Council forecasts the population of young women in Kora, Taga, & Ryuo to decrease by over 50% by 2040 at the current rate. |
| 2014/05/21 22:06 | Fukui District Court ruled yesterday that KEPCO is not to restart the No. 3 and 4 reactors at its Oi nuclear plant, citing safety concerns. |
| 2014/05/22 14:00 | A 55-year-old Shiga policeman was fired today for drunken motorcycle driving in Otsu. Got hurt hitting a guardrail, but he didn’t call the police. |
| 2014/05/22 14:12 | Otsu City Hall personnel advisor Genda Michihiro (46) 源田学弘 fired today after a conviction by Otsu District Court for groping a woman worker. |
| 2014/05/24 23:38 | Jr. high school headteacher (56) in Otsu was fired on May 23 for embezzling a total of ¥643,000 over 2 years from the PTA membership fund. |
| 2014/05/25 21:22 | English guide book for Shiga museums titled, “Discover the Museums in Shiga” available for free at museums/colleges. http://t.co/AoCDXOpvAG |
| 2014/05/26 14:19 | May 22-26, 2014 saw 75 car break-ins in eastern Shiga and Otsu. Car windows smashed and stuff stolen. Don’t leave things in your car. |
| 2014/05/27 19:59 | Chinese resident of Hikone, Son Yushu 孫 ゆう周 (31) arrested for selling counterfeit luxury brand goods online. He has admitted to the charges. |
| 2014/05/27 20:08 | Three Brazilians and one Peruvian arrested for a car break-in in Ritto. Suspects for the rash of recent car break-ins. One Brazilian was from Aichi. |
| 2014/05/27 20:20 | For the 1st time in 35 years, 19 Shinto priests from Shiga gave prayers in loincloths in Chikubushima waters for lake safety this summer. |
| 2014/05/29 20:58 | Repair work on the Shigaraki Kogen Railway’s collapsed bridge has started. Steel pillars are being placed in the river. They hope to reopen the railway within this year. |
| 2014/05/29 21:08 | NHK Otsu & Ritsumeikan Univ. will start joint research with an underwater robotic camera to photograph & study Lake Biwa’s underwater life. |
| 2014/05/29 21:11 | Otsu, Kyoto, & Nara hotels can now use telephone interpreting service in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese for foreigners. |
| 2014/05/30 22:32 | Yellow-sand haze observed in Hikone on May 30, 2014 for the first time this year. Particulate level is minor, but avoid hanging laundry outside. |
| 2014/06/04 12:25 | Rainy season in the Kinki Region (includes Shiga) started today, three days earlier than usual. |
| 2014/06/10 8:11 | Hikone-native Yoshihide Kiryu won the men’s 100 meters at the Japan Championships in Fukushima on June 8. http://t.co/LODzkD6ciW |
| 2014/06/16 3:15 | Uploaded a Pharrell Williams HAPPY video for Shiga Prefecture: http://t.co/8YKRkawDcK #happyday |
| 2014/06/17 16:16 | For the past 7 years, Takashima city has been concealing excessive dioxin levels in their incinerated refuse taken to a Kobe garbage dump. |
| 2014/06/22 3:39 | Nakanishi Makoto (39), assistant chief at Shiga Prefectural Board of Education, arrested for shooting upskirt video of a college coed at Seta Station. He was caught by a passerby who witnessed the crime. |
| 2014/06/22 3:51 | Yokozuna Hakuho and Miyagino Stable are lodging in Nagahama for 4 days from June 21. Their sumo practice at 滋賀近交運輸倉庫 is open to the public. |
| 2014/06/22 4:08 | Scenic lakeside Sugaura in northern Nagahama is to be designated as an Important Cultural Landscape 重要文化的景観. http://t.co/jmMVO1S76Q |
| 2014/06/28 11:53 | Alien waterweed rampant in Lake Biwa – The Japan News http://t.co/va0UJab5TF |
| 2014/06/29 12:10 | Gov. Kada apologized to Kansai governors for Takashima’s 7-year coverup of excessive dioxin levels in incinerated waste taken to Kobe. |
| 2014/06/29 12:15 | Shiga Prefecture is considering criminal prosecution of Takashima for the coverup of excessive dioxin levels in their incinerated refuse. |
| 2014/7/2 10:34 | Takashima’s incineration plant workers didn’t wear protective clothing despite excessive dioxin levels in incinerated waste for 7 years. |
| 2014/7/6 7:29 | So you think you know ninja? – The Japan News |
| 2014/7/6 9:10 | On the Minami-Kusatsu Station platform this morning, a local 28-year-old pregnant woman died after collapsing and hitting an oncoming train. |
| 2014/7/9 10:16 | Typhoon is expected to hit Shiga by this Friday. Avoid mountains and rivers for the next week. |
| 2014/7/10 3:22 | Shiga is currently under the fringe of the typhoon. Peak is expected to pass over tonight. |
| 2014/7/10 7:21 | Southern Shiga is getting more winds and rain than northern Shiga. As we saw last Sept., central Otsu can be very susceptible to flooding. |
| 2014/7/11 3:39 | No serious typhoon damage or flooding in Shiga have been reported. The typhoon did bring much needed rain this rainy season. |
| 2014/7/11 3:43 | Kudos to Kansai Art Beat for including exhibition schedules in English for major museums in Shiga. http://t.co/1m7zEOVEBS |
| 2014/7/13 13:07 | Shiga’s gubernatorial election results so far is showing a very close race between Taizo Mikazuki and Takashi Koyari. http://t.co/ifA75sbnzM |
| 2014/7/13 13:30 | With 31% of votes counted, Taizo Mikazuki (43), backed by Gov. Yukiko Kada, is declared Shiga’s Governor-elect. |
| 2014/7/13 14:51 | Shiga Governor-elect Taizo Mikazuki got a total of 253,728 votes, Takashi Koyari 240,652, and Ikuo Tsubota 53,280. http://t.co/wSXwaTQviS |
| 2014/7/15 10:44 | A new Heiwado store is rising right next to Nagahama Station. Supposed to open later this year. http://t.co/dtpZ3d2Cuh |
| 2014/7/16 23:04 | Today’s the 1st anniversary of Shiga Headlines. After 203 tweets, I find Twitter quite useful. Thanks for reading! http://t.co/5X0M89XIFw |
| 2014/7/18 9:35 | In her farewell speech today, Gov. Kada said that these 8 yrs were the most satisfying of her life. She has now left the building. #嘉田知事お疲れ様 |
| 2014/7/21 23:39 | The rainy season ended in the Kinki Region yesterday according to the weatherman in Osaka. |
| 2014/7/22 5:18 | Built in 1939, the Shiga Prefectural Government Building will be designated as a National Tangible Cultural Property (登録有形文化財). |
| 2014/7/22 13:50 | Taizo Mikazuki reported to the Kencho today on his first day as the new Shiga Governor. He later went around and met with 10 local mayors. |
| 2014/7/25 23:31 | Yesterday was the hottest day of the year, with Nagahama reaching 36.2˚C, a new July record for the city. Even hotter than Otsu’s 34.9˚C. |
| 2014/7/29 5:29 | Ohmi High School beat Kita Ohtsu 4-0 today to represent Shiga at the national high school baseball tournament at Koshien this summer. |
| 2014/8/4 7:55 | Enjoyed Yanmar Museum in Nagahama. Even kids can operate a small excavator. Everything is in English too. http://t.co/j7v2M88efB |
| 2014/8/5 15:25 | On July 20, 2014, the JR Kosei Line celebrated its 40th anniversary at Omi-Imazu Station and aboard a special train. http://t.co/Bzq64waMly |
| 2014/8/8 13:35 | Famous for funazushi, nigorobuna carp in Lake Biwa has been increasing. Young nigorobuna increased from 280,000 in 1998 to 5.18 mil in 2012. |
| 2014/8/9 0:30 | Typhoon No. 11 (Halong) is expected to reach Shiga on the 10th around noon. Already raining in Shiga since yesterday. |
| 2014/8/9 1:31 | If you’re planning to attend any events this weekend, make sure it’s still on. Ibuki no Tenmado in Maibara has been canceled today. |
| 2014/8/9 1:48 | The Ishiyama-dera Sennichikai Seta River fireworks in Otsu scheduled for Aug. 9 has been canceled due to the expected typhoon. #石山寺花火大会中止 |
| 2014/8/9 9:52 | JR Kusatsu Line is not running between Kibukawa and Tsuge Stations since 2:50 pm today due to heavy rain. |
| 2014/8/9 9:59 | Shin-Meishin Expressway between Koka-Tsuchiyama Interchange and Kameyama Junction in Mie is closed to traffic since 2:45 pm today. |
| 2014/8/9 10:15 | Landslide and/or flood warnings have been issued this afternoon for Ryuo, Hino, Otsu, Taga, Koka, Konan, Higashi-Omi, and Ritto. |
| 2014/8/9 23:18 | JR Kusatsu Line is not running between Kibukawa and Tsuge Stations all day today. |
| 2014/8/9 23:22 | Shin-Meishin Expressway between Kusatsu-Takami Interchange and Kameyama Junction in Mie is closed to traffic today. |
| 2014/8/9 23:25 | JR Biwako Line is running only 60% of normal train runs today. All Ohmi Railway Lines are not running. |
| 2014/8/9 23:30 | JR Kosei Line Shin-kaisoku (Special Rapid Service) trains are running only between Omi-Imazu and Tsuruga Stations. |
| 2014/8/9 23:31 | Typhoon No. 11 (Halong) is expected to come closest to Shiga this morning within the next few hours, especially on the west side. |
| 2014/8/10 0:19 | Shinkansen trains are not running between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara Stations. |
| 2014/8/10 0:31 | Shinkansen trains are running again between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara Stations. |
| 2014/8/10 1:42 | As of 10 am today, power outages are affecting 1,160 homes in Nagahama and 10 homes in Otsu. |
| 2014/8/10 1:45 | Trains are not running on the JR Tokaido Line between Kusatsu and Nagahama Stations since 9:49 am this morning. |
| 2014/8/10 1:47 | Trains are not running on the Hokuriku Line between Nagahama and Omi-Shiotsu Stations since 9:04 am this morning. |
| 2014/8/10 1:54 | 滋賀の最新の台風11号情報はNHK大津放送局がよい。 http://t.co/2KK2aYroqs |
| 2014/8/10 2:42 | Power outage in Nagahama has been fixed, but some households in Higashi-Omi, Omi-Hachiman, and Otsu are without power as of 11 am. |
| 2014/8/10 9:06 | The worst part of the typhoon has left Shiga, but avoid mountains, hillsides, and rivers for possible landslides or flooding. |
| 2014/8/10 9:16 | On the JR Kosei Line, trains are not running between Omi-Maiko and Omi-Shiotsu Stations. Kyoto to Omi-Maiko trains are few and running slow. |
| 2014/8/10 9:24 | JR Hokuriku Line trains are still not running between Nagahama and Omi-Shiotsu Stations. Where trains are running, they are few and slow. |
| 2014/8/10 9:29 | Ohmi Railways is running only between Yokaichi and Omi-Hachiman Stations since 4:10 pm today. |
| 2014/8/11 0:56 | All flood/landslide warnings and evacuation advisories in Shiga were canceled last night. All JR & Omi Railways trains in Shiga are running. |
| 2014/8/11 12:08 | In Shiga, Typhoon No. 11 Halong injured 5, flooded 1 home (Koka), damaged crops like peaches (Ryuo), 30 ha of rice plants, grapes, soybeans. |
| 2014/8/11 12:16 | Ohmi High School is scheduled to play their first Koshien game against Naruto (Tokushima) on Aug. 16. |
| 2014/8/15 14:50 | Lake Biwa Museum now has three Little Grebe chicks on display. They hatched in captivity in late July. Watch the mother feed her chicks. |
| 2014/8/15 14:50 | To mark the 69th anniversary of the end of World War II today, about 300 temples and churches in Otsu rang their bells at noon for peace. |
| 2014/8/16 9:11 | Ohmi High School beat Naruto today 8-0 at their 1st Koshien game. Their 2nd game is on Aug. 21. Video digest: http://t.co/0GMsc4DYc0 |
| 2014/8/20 0:58 | A small section of Hikone Castle’s lower-level stone wall in the uchibori moat has collapsed. Likely due to the typhoon and heavy rains. |
| 2014/8/20 1:07 | Shiga police wants 10% of its 2,000-member police force to be women by 2020. They will deal with female victims of stalkers, DV, etc. |
| 2014/8/20 1:19 | Shizu Elementary School students in Kusatsu will use tablets from the 2nd term to interact with the interactive whiteboard in the classroom. |
| 2014/8/20 11:32 | Shigaraki Kogen Railway is aiming to restore rail service on Nov. 29, 2014 as repairs have been progressing well. |
| 2014/8/20 11:39 | Beware of the venomous redback spider spotted in Kusatsu’s Yabase-cho island. Kill it if you see one. セアカゴケグモ http://t.co/ouComjdR3L |
| 2014/8/21 7:38 | Ohmi High School lost to Seiko Gakuin (Fukushima) 1-2 today despite a longtime lead of 1-0. Great game! Video digest: http://t.co/Ix4WZFtKWY |
| 2014/8/22 12:40 | Prompted by the Hiroshima mudslide tragedies, Otsu is inspecting areas vulnerable to mudslides. Don’t sleep in a room facing the mountain. |
| 2014/8/23 13:58 | Yesterday, a woman found a needle in her mouth while eating an onigiri she bought at a convenience store in Hikone. Police are on it. |
| 2014/8/23 14:06 | Lightning this afternoon set fire to 2 buildings in Higashi-Omi & Aisho and caused an hour-long power outage to 1,600 homes in Hikone. |
| 2014/8/25 13:16 | Shiga’s 6th graders and 3rd-year jr high students scored lower than the national average on scholastic achievement tests in April. #全国学力テスト |
| 2014/8/25 13:36 | Shiga Pref. Board of Education is calling it “a crisis situation” over the poor scholastic achievement test scores of 26,600 students. #全国学力テスト |
| 2014/8/25 13:46 | Although local boards of education now have the option to make scholastic achievement test results public, only Otsu and Ritto will do so. |
| 2014/8/28 12:25 | Southern Biwako is seeing abundant waterweeds this summer. It washes up on shore in Otsu & Kusatsu & smells bad. Action will be taken soon. |
| 2014/9/1 15:39 | New species of Gammaridea shrimp called Morino-yokoebi (モリノ ヨコエビ) has been discovered in household wells & riverbeds in Higashi-Omi & Taga. |
| 2014/9/1 15:51 | Hotel Biwa Dog in Hikone opened on Aug. 28 as Shiga’s first hotel allowing pet dogs to stay with guests. Dog amenities provided. #ホテルビワドッグ |
| 2014/9/2 3:20 | Today at 10:30 am, a JR Hokuriku Line Tokkyu train collided with a truck in Kinomoto and partially derailed. Train passengers uninjured. |
| 2014/9/2 3:24 | Due to the train accident this morning, the Hokuriku Line is currently not operating between Nagahama and Omi-Shiotsu Stations. |
| 2014/9/2 9:21 | The JR Hokuriku Line between Nagahama and Omi-Shiotsu Stations should be back in service tomorrow on Sept. 3. Will be closed all day today. |
| 2014/9/3 13:05 | The Half Marathon held in Moriyama every Dec. will be canceled this year due to a senior director embezzling ¥1.55 million from the event. |
| 2014/9/4 5:04 | 祭りの二日前でもまだ案内情報がほとんど掲載されてない長浜あざいあっぱれ祭りのHP。長浜駅からのシャトルバスが運行されないことも知らせたらいいな。 http://www.appare-matsuri.com/ |
| 2014/9/5 10:34 | Reconstruction work started today on the Shigaraki Kogen Railway bridge that collapsed last Sept. due to Typhoon Man-Yi (No. 18). |
| 2014/9/6 11:16 | Heavy rain will continue to fall late tonight especially in southern Shiga and Koka. Beware of rivers, mudslides, gusts, and lightning. |
| 2014/9/9 11:43 | Shiga’s population is expected to peak at 1,420,000 in 2015 before declining. By 2040, only Kusatsu, Moriyama, & Ritto will see an increase. |
| 2014/9/10 9:43 | 国際観光振興に携わる役所の職員が受講して欲しい研修です: http://t.co/fzZfiFOplg |
| 2014/9/10 13:05 | In the Kansai Region of six prefectures, Shiga has the highest suicide rate per 100,000 people per year (334 suicides in 2013). So sad. |
| 2014/9/12 5:30 | Japan has a record 58,820 centenarians, mostly women. Shiga has 549 of them. Oldest woman in the world is Okawa Misao, 116, in Osaka. |
| 2014/9/17 23:51 | A wind barrier will be built by Jan. 2016 between JR Kosei Line’s Shiga and Hira Stations to reduce train delays due to Hira mountain winds. |
| 2014/9/22 1:17 | A tourist couple fell ill on Sep. 21 after eating poisonous mushrooms (tsukiyotake) sold at Kutsuki Shin Honjin (michi-no-eki) in Takashima. |
| 2014/9/22 10:59 | Tonight at 8 pm, NHK TV Sogo will broadcast Part 1 of Tsurubei no Kazoku ni Kanpai program filmed in Otsu. |
| 2014/9/22 14:38 | They found 12 more people who fell ill from eating poisonous mushrooms sold at Kutsuki Shin Honjin (michi-no-eki) in Takashima. |
| 2014/9/22 14:47 | Mt. Mikami in Yasu has the same type of fragile-when-wet soil (masado) that caused Hiroshima’s fatal mudslides. |
| 2014/9/22 14:54 | Hikone Castle’s Horse Stable is being reroofed and the public can observe it on a special platform until next March. |
| 2014/9/29 11:01 | Tonight at 8 pm, NHK TV Sogo will broadcast Part 2 of Tsurubei no Kazoku ni Kanpai program filmed in Otsu. Should be very interesting. |
| 2014/9/29 12:00 | Enjoyed watching Tsurubei in Otsu on NHK TV. Nice PR for Otsu Matsuri & Enryakuji. 鶴瓶さん、また滋賀へおいでね！ http://t.co/dAq2E8gn0M #鶴瓶の家族に乾杯 |
| 2014/9/29 12:28 | Otsu and Kyoto are preparing to launch tourist boat rides on Lake Biwa Canal from spring 2015 on a trial basis. Not for the claustrophobic. |
| 2014/10/1 | Tokaido Shinkansen celebrates its 50th anniversary of commercial service between Tokyo and Osaka. Details here… |
| 2014/10/4 15:20 | Due to Typhoon No. 18 (Phanfone), heavy rain is expected in Shiga from the evening of Oct. 5 to the 6th. |
| 2014/10/5 11:16 | On Oct. 6, JR Kusatsu Line will not be running from the morning. Fewer trains will run on the JR Tokaido/Biwako and Kosei Lines. |
| 2014/10/5 11:22 | Powerful Typhoon No. 18 (Phanfone) is expected to be closest to Shiga from daybreak on Oct. 6. Avoid mountains and rivers. |
| 2014/10/6 2:36 | Tokaido Shinkansen is still not running between Tokyo and Nagoya. JR Tokaido Line is also blocked by a landslide in Shizuoka. |
| 2014/10/6 2:45 | Tokaido Shinkansen has just started running between Tokyo and Shizuoka. |
| 2014/10/7 12:40 | Scenic Sugaura in Nagahama was officially designated as Japan’s 44th Important Cultural Landscape on Oct. 6. http://t.co/jmMVO1zXSI #重要文化的景観 |
| 2014/10/8 7:15 | Uploaded my new Otsu Matsuri video shot in Oct 2013. Good to watch if you plan to see the festival this weekend. http://t.co/6hAKaXPXQC #大津祭 |
| 2014/10/9 13:04 | Shiga food & crafts fair “Ee-mon Umai-mon Matsuri” being held until Oct. 14 at Seibu Otsu. Funazushi, Omi beef, etc. |
| 2014/10/9 13:54 | The approaching Typhoon No. 19 (Vongfong) might or might not affect Shiga this weekend. Still too early to tell. http://t.co/KHUoAek9dZ |
| 2014/10/10 8:36 | Otsu Matsuri will go on as planned this weekend, but if there are typhoon winds, they may cancel it even after the parade starts. |
| 2014/10/12 12:08 | Typhoon No. 19 (Vongfong) expected to rain on Shiga on Oct.13, peaking late at night. Great that it didn’t ruin this weekend (Otsu Matsuri). |
| 2014/10/12 14:33 | A mama bear and two cubs were spotted in Maibara on the road near the Ibuki Kumin Grounds on Oct. 10 at 11:40 am. クマは殺さないでください！！ |
| 2014/10/12 14:34 | All Ohmi Railway trains will stop running on Oct. 13 from 4 pm due to expected typhoon winds. |
| 2014/10/12 15:06 | JR and other train lines will likely stop running all trains from around 3 pm or 4 pm on Oct. 13 in the Kansai and Kinki areas. |
| 2014/10/13 4:18 | You can check the JR train lines’ current status in English here: http://t.co/utFBhq3kOw |
| 2014/10/13 12:30 | The typhoon is now covering all of Shiga. Higashi-Omi, Koka, and Konan are getting much rain. Typhoon winds expected to last until daybreak. |
| 2014/10/16 12:55 | Number of bullying cases in Shiga’s 397 public schools reached a record high of 1,288 cases last school year. BOE says 95% were resolved. |
| 2014/10/16 13:01 | Shigaraki Kogen Railway’s 14.7 km railroad was completely reconnected today after the collapsed bridge’s reconstruction. Wait till Nov. 29. |
| 2014/10/16 13:12 | The unique sumo ring (built in 1988) near JR Azuchi Station will be dismantled due to redevelopment of the area. http://t.co/OvvGewz67C |
| 2014/10/16 13:22 | Hikone’s Josei Elementary School and Rose Park Primary School in Adelaide, Australia became sister schools at a ceremony on Oct. 8. #城西小学校 |
| 2014/10/17 12:23 | Rare yellow catfish on display at Lake Biwa Museum until Nov. 9. Caught last Sept. Medium size, not the big Lake Biwa Catfish. #イワトコナマズ |
| 2014/10/28 3:22 | This season’s first cold winter winds (kogarashi) blew on Oct. 27 in Kinki, 8 days sooner than last year. Kosei Line trains were delayed. |
| 2014/10/29 14:05 | A folder of papers showing the contact/personal info of all 716 students of Maibara High School vanished from the teacher’s room in Sept. |
| 2014/10/29 14:09 | Shiga BOE found that besides Maibara H.S.,10 other Shiga high schools did not keep personal info docs under lock and key. Now they do. |
| 2014/10/30 15:49 | Multiple sightings of bears in past few days in Nagahama & Maibara. Spotted on backyard persimmon trees in Nose, Yashima, & Minami-ike. |
| 2014/10/30 15:55 | 48 bear sightings in Nagahama/Maibara in Oct. Beware of bears in mountains and forests at dawn and sunset. Hikers should carry noisemakers. |
| 2014/10/30 15:59 | Bears are not finding enough food in the mountains so they are invading populated areas. Don’t keep fruits on trees or any edibles outside. |
| 2014/11/1 2:49 | A 47-year-old in the Shiga Prefectural Gov’t Statistics Section got fired for drunk driving in Aug. The car overturned in a paddy in Yasu. |
| 2014/11/1 2:51 | Omi Jingu Yabusame horseback archery will be on Nov. 3 at 1 pm. Just uploaded my video of last year’s event. http://t.co/K81m39jwTQ |
| 2014/11/2 3:41 | Kusatsu’s 6th graders and 3rd-year jr high students scored higher than the national average in 6 subjects on scholastic achievement tests. |
| 2014/11/2 4:07 | Besides scholastic achievement test results, Kusatsu BOE released other stats like kids’ cell phone and study habits. http://t.co/fufpfSFY46 |
| 2014/11/4 11:09 | On Yasu’s 10th anniversary, official mascot Dotaku-kun got a complete makeover with a wider body & light green color. http://t.co/sI0xFjjlKi |
| 2014/11/4 12:21 | As of Oct. 1, 2014, Shiga’s population declined year-on-year for the first time in 48 years with 452 fewer people. This trend will continue. |
| 2014/11/10 11:17 | Funazushi ice cream (with raspberry sauce) & other new local food now at Aeon supermarket, Nagahama Branch. http://t.co/lVKch8LkYL #ふなずしアイス |
| 2014/11/13 10:11 | At Minakuchi-Okayama Castle site in Koka, they found remains of not one, but two tenshu-type towers on the east and west of the Honmaru. |
| 2014/11/14 11:54 | RT @japantimes: 1922 Einstein-autographed postcard turns up at Shiga museum. |
| 2014/11/16 3:19 | NHK Nodo Jiman TV program now airing from Omi-Hachiman. With Godai Natsuko and Satomi Kotaro. http://t.co/XhXccFhaCd |
| 2014/11/20 15:24 | Shiga Prefecture and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam signed pact of economic cooperation on Nov. 13 to make it mutually easier to do business. |
| 2014/11/28 12:02 | Fall foliage at Zensuiji temple (National Treasure) in Konan is at its peak now. http://t.co/doerMD6HCL #善水寺 |
| 2014/11/29 3:16 | After 14 months of repairs, Shigaraki Kogen Railway started running again today from 9:30 am at Shigaraki Station amid much fanfare. #信楽高原鐵道 |
| 2014/12/1 17:28 | Shiga Bank and Canadia Bank, one of Cambodia’s largest banks, have agreed to form a business partnership later his month. |
| 2014/12/2 10:05 | Inspired by the Lake Biwa Rowing Song in English, Linda Birmingham in the UK created and performed her own version: http://t.co/Y12FEMIjI0 |
| 2014/12/2 10:09 | Overhead monitors on the JR Biwako/Tokaido Line tracking the train stations are great. Displays train delay info too. http://t.co/ASImDed2Ae |
| 2014/12/2 10:11 | Christmas lights at JR Moriyama Station’s west side. http://t.co/GBSXoHtVzq |
| 2014/12/4 16:38 | Heavy snowfall is expected in northern Takashima/Nagahama on Dec. 5-6. |
| 2014/12/5 17:26 | Toray’s new factory completed in Maibara will double the production of carbon fiber auto parts. The lighter carbon fiber is replacing metal. |
| 2014/12/6 5:17 | This morning, Hikone saw its first snowfall this season, a week earlier than usual. And Yogo in Nagahama got dumped with 25.5 cm of snow. |
| 2014/12/8 13:17 | Shigaraki Kogen Railway’s “Santa Train” is making 2 roundtrips daily until Dec 24. (Tanuki photo by Jamie Thompson.) http://t.co/J3CRqpS15i |
| 2014/12/10 9:40 | In Ryuo, since this afternoon, a man has been hanging from power lines after his motorized paraglider got caught. Rescuers are on the scene. |
| 2014/12/11 6:25 | Everyone in Japan has now heard of Ryuo thanks to a local 59-year-old male paraglider who got stuck 3 hr yesterday. Made national headlines. |
| 2014/12/17 16:40 | Under new ownership, Pieri Moriyama shopping mall reopened on Dec. 17 with many new shops attracting a large crowd. http://t.co/WVTzAjEMOP |
| 2014/12/18 14:43 | I welcome any English sites/blogs dedicated to Shiga if they are serious about it. They can understand how much passion+work is required. |
| 2014/12/18 14:48 | Here’s a photo blog in English about hiking. Dave has hiked on most of Shiga’s trails. A good photographer to boot. http://davegeographic.blogspot.jp/ |
| 2014/12/18 14:58 | If you’re into small aquatic animals, see Dr. Robin Smith’s page about ostracods (seed shrimps) in Lake Biwa: http://www.lbm.go.jp/smith/index.html |
| 2014/12/18 15:08 | More snow is expected tonight especially in northern Shiga. Also beware of the flu going around. What a dump of snow Nagoya got today. |
| 2014/12/19 11:08 | Otsu Mayor Naomi Koshi stated that the Lower House elections on Dec. 14 were unnecessary, and they should instead focus on the economy. |
| 2014/12/19 11:16 | Shiga Prefectural police worker in his 30s nabbed using his cellphone to snap upskirt photos of a woman in a Higashi-Omi bookstore in Sept. |
| 2014/12/19 11:28 | Takashima’s incinerated refuse is still stuck in the city as their old dump in Kobe continues to reject their waste even with lower dioxins. |
