A year in review of the top 2018 news headlines in Shiga Prefecture compiled from Shiga Headlines (Twitter).
Major construction continues in front of JR Nagahama Station (east side). They are building a pedestrian deck. pic.twitter.com/XiA6SeEgYy
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) January 18, 2018
For 5 years in a row in 2017, more people moved out of Shiga than those who moved in. Cities in southern Shiga, especially Kusatsu (+690), Moriyama (+369), and Otsu (+238) saw gains, while Higashi-Omi (-497), Nagahama (-427), Konan (-408), & Takashima (-361) saw losses.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) February 2, 2018
From fall 2018, Shiga will start issuing newly-designed car license plates showing Lake Biwa and Chikubushima island. The design was the overwhelming favorite among the four choices presented last fall for voting by Shiga residents. pic.twitter.com/erpJRTNMwk
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) February 6, 2018
Opened in July 2017, Ekimachi Terrace Nagahama in front of JR Nagahama Station is bleeding red ink. Nagahama’s deputy mayor has been promoted as its president. They will build a kids’ play area on the 2nd floor to attract more families to this customer-sparse commercial complex. pic.twitter.com/4JhrrxGQ8v
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) February 6, 2018
At Koka City Hall, a missing ballot box with uncounted ballots was found after ballot count managers had already stuffed invalid ballots to match the correct total. One manager then took home the uncounted ballots and burned them to coverup their illegal ballot stuffing.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) February 8, 2018
Too bad Shiga won’t have any athletes at PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. Our last hope was freestyle moguls skier Ito Miki (30) from Hino aiming for her 4th Winter Olympics but didn’t do well enough (22nd place) at the Freestyle Ski World Cup in Mont-Tremblant, Canada in Jan.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) February 6, 2018
NHK TV national news this morning spotlighted Shigaraki’s plight in trying to survive as its pottery production has dwindled to 1/4 or 1/5 of its peak. 信楽陶器工業協同組合、信楽町観光協会はまだ外国語版のホームページがありません。五輪はあと二年。 pic.twitter.com/QdLOiisscK
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) February 12, 2018
Too bad the tanuki and fox were not chosen as the official mascots for the Tokyo Olympics. They got only 35,291 votes. The futuristic superhero mascots (yet unnamed) won with 109,041 votes by Japanese elementary school kids. A tanuki mascot would’ve made Shigaraki very busy.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) February 28, 2018
After educating 530,000 5th graders about Lake Biwa for 35 years (since 1983), Shiga’s Uminoko “Floating School” completed its final voyage for 5th graders today. The aging ship’s replacement (also named “Uminoko”) will sail this May. Otsukaresama Uminoko (“Child of the Lake”)!! pic.twitter.com/PTHQi73jpK
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) March 1, 2018
Kenyan Macharia NDIRANGU won the 73rd Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon today in 2:07’53”. NAKAMURA Shogo #中村匠吾 was 7th at 2:10’51”. Photo: Macharia (left) glancing at 2nd place Albert KORIR (also Kenyan) at Lake Biwa Canal a few km before the finish. #2018びわ湖毎日マラソン pic.twitter.com/DpRFgxqowU
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) March 4, 2018
Beautiful weather in Omi-Hachiman last weekend for 13 beautiful Year of the Dog floats (plus three children’s floats) at the annual Sagicho Matsuri. About 70,000 spectators enjoyed the float procession on Sat. and float battles and float burning on Sun. #左義長まつり #近江八幡 pic.twitter.com/lk4F6ZEKQV
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) March 20, 2018
Saio Princess Procession today in Tsuchiyama, Koka. They arrived here at the National Historic Site of Tarumi Tongu, one of the palaces where the princess stayed on her way from Kyoto to Ise during the 9th–13th centuries. She wears a Juni-hitoe kimono. #あいの土山斎王群行 #甲賀市 pic.twitter.com/G7y7d9GlG1
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) March 25, 2018
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) April 12, 2018
Last night (April 11) inside the police koban in front of JR Kawase Station in Hikone, a rookie policeman (19) shot & killed police sergeant Imoto Akira 井本光 (41), a co-worker. He was angered by Imoto’s disparagement. He fled the scene in a police car, but was soon caught.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) April 12, 2018
Cold, windy, and rainy morning at the Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri today. Rain stopped in the afternoon. Boat-shaped Shojo-maru float’s kabuki play titled “Kumagaya Jinya” ended with this “Titanic Moment” on the bow. #長浜曳山祭 #猩々丸 #熊谷陣屋の場 pic.twitter.com/r21qUqHY7M
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) April 15, 2018
Sad that this large willow tree at Lake Yogo was knocked over by the typhoon last Oct. Famous as the tree where the swan maiden hung her clothes when she went skinny dipping in the lake. Glad it looks like the tree is still alive. Future swan maidens have to choose another tree.. pic.twitter.com/NExu1Yg5Hq
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) April 18, 2018
Today, NHK World spotlighted Shiga Prefecture in a 30-min. news program. They covered a wide range of topics, but I thought the castle wall builder (AWATA Suminori) from Sakamoto building castle walls in the US was most interesting. Watch it online here: https://t.co/fM4TPzyuej
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) April 20, 2018
加藤登紀子プロデュースの「第2回びわ湖音楽祭」が2018年5月20日（日）に和邇に開催されます。入場料/6,000円。前日にも平和堂 和邇店に無料プレイベントが盛りたくさん。Singer Kato Tokiko and local artists will perform in Wani, Otsu on May 20. https://t.co/B7181FDE8b pic.twitter.com/iUTmLqYM7W
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) April 22, 2018
About 2,500 shoppers were on hand today for the reopening of the old Otsu PARCO shopping complex renamed “Oh! Me Otsu Terrace” with over 30 stores including Friend Mart (Heiwado), Yamada Denki, TSUTAYA bookstore, Can Do, United Cinemas, and Shiga Bank. https://t.co/5gMYxdB8Q2
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) April 27, 2018
On May 7, 2018, a 1st grade girl in Minakuchi, Koka playing in a roadside gutter apparently got caught in the gushing rainwater and sadly died tens of meters downstream.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) May 9, 2018
～Lefa～ ニューCDシングル「琵琶湖周航の歌」が英語版Lake Biwa Rowing Songも6番まで収録されました。本日より琵琶湖周航の歌資料館等で販売中。Nagahama-based duo ～Lefa～ has released a new CD single that includes Lake Biwa Rowing Song in English (6 verses). https://t.co/SHDCi28a7L pic.twitter.com/RX3ccdJWgx
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) May 11, 2018
2nd Biwako Music Festival pre-event on May 19 at Heiwado Wani Branch: Kada Yukiko sings to reed flutes played by Kondo Yumiko and the duo Hot Line. #近藤ゆみ子 #ヨシ笛 #ほっとらいん #第2回びわ湖音楽祭 pic.twitter.com/WN2sdi6MIp
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) May 19, 2018
At the 2nd Biwako Music Festival on May 20, 2018 at Otsu City Wani Culture Center, the Konan Dance Workshop had a large group of dancers with an intellectual disability give a truly moving performance. Utterly wonderful. #湖南ダンスワークショップ #第2回びわ湖音楽祭 pic.twitter.com/0BgXedTuc6
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) May 21, 2018
In Fukui city, Fukui Prefecture, the track and field stadium (福井県営陸上競技場) where Hikone-native KIRYU Yoshihide became the first Japanese to run 100 meters in less than 10 sec. at 9.98 sec. in Sept. 2017 has been renamed “9.98 STADIUM” as a nickname. #桐生祥秀
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) May 28, 2018
Costing ¥3 billion, the new Uminoko Biwako Floating School ship’s major improvements include 4 decks (plus basement), electric propulsion, & wireless LAN. Now at Otsu Port awaiting its maiden voyage with 5th graders on June 4, 2018. #びわ湖フローティングスクール #うみのこ pic.twitter.com/oyJf6VTL9I
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) May 30, 2018
Hikone Castle is repairing plaster walls on 2 sides. The side facing the lake was damaged by Typhoon No. 21 last Oct. The other side is having old plaster replaced. Plaster is applied in multiple layers, each layer has to dry before the next layer is applied. To be done by Nov. pic.twitter.com/A3jbnajK65
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) June 4, 2018
Private Lodging Business Law (minpaku law) taking effect on June 15, 2018 requires private lodge operators to register with the local government & comply with regulations. As of June 14, 12 private lodges have been registered in Shiga. Certified lodges display this sign. #airbnb pic.twitter.com/HIBX79gK0C
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) June 16, 2018
A strong earthquake has hit northern Osaka today at 7:58 am, magnitiude Lower 6. Also felt in Shiga with lower 5 in Otsu and M3 or M4 in northern Shiga. Train services in Shiga and Kansai have been suspended. https://t.co/YQaYSVC4hq pic.twitter.com/RL9rvEUcnf
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) June 18, 2018
Native of Omi-Hachiman and Yasu High School graduate, Takashi Inui #乾貴士 helped Japan (ranked 61st) win its first FIFA World Cup soccer game against Colombia (ranked 16th) 2-1 today. The first time an Asian team has beaten a S. Amreican team (CONMEBOL). https://t.co/kwZGzp6F80 pic.twitter.com/O8hZkyrsNn
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) June 19, 2018
Yesterday, Shiga Governor Taizo Mikazuki won reelection as governor for another 4 years. He defeated his sole opponent Kondo Manabu 近藤学, former vice-president of Shiga University. Voter turnout was the second lowest in Shiga’s history at 40.62%.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) June 24, 2018
Omi-Hachiman-native Inui Takashi once again played a key role for Japan at FIFA World Cup soccer on June 24, 2018. He scored Japan’s 1st goal against Senegal. He almost scored again when the ball hit the crossbar. The match ended in a draw at 2-2. https://t.co/emyaTzSH3C pic.twitter.com/LoIFswrqvY
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) June 24, 2018
June 29 at around 2 pm, a tornado hit Maibara & damaged 85 buildings & injured 6 people in the Asahi, Buma, & Kitagata districts. At least one home lost its roof. Ohara, Santo, & Daito Elementary Schools were damaged, but all students returned home safely. https://t.co/ZAJRKsqSgl
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) June 29, 2018
FIFA World Cup soccer: Heartbreaking defeat for Japan after taking the lead over Belgium 2-0, but Belgium made a stunning comeback with 3 goals. Omi-Hachiman-native Takashi Inui even scored a goal, but it wasn’t enough. Lots of tears, but stand tall Japan! https://t.co/heCJmgcHqF pic.twitter.com/iYUKmTQ9As
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) July 2, 2018
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay #聖火リレー is scheduled to start in Fukushima on March 26, 2020 and pass through Shiga Prefecture on May 28–29, 2020. It will arrive from Kyoto and go on to Fukui. The specific route will be decided by summer 2019. https://t.co/l1dMOgATrM pic.twitter.com/JFSCb3pjLs
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) July 12, 2018
July 12 at Nango Jr High in Otsu (南郷中学校), a teacher (31) coaching the soft tennis club punished a boy for bad serves by having him run around campus 80 times (=18 km). After running for 30 min. (2 km), the boy collapsed from the heat & was taken by ambulance. Now recovering.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) July 17, 2018
Japan Sumo Association did not invite Otsu Mayor Naomi Koshi to speak at the Otsu Basho sumo exhibition tournament today at Ukaruchan Arena. They apparently declined to allow her to speak on the sumo ring because she’s female. How ridiculous & insulting. Glad I didn’t go. #越直美
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) July 30, 2018
For 5 years in a row, Shiga’s 6th graders & 3rd-year jr high kids scored lower than the nat’l average on all scholastic achievement tests in April 2018. 6th graders had Japan’s lowest score (60%) for math. Jr high kids’ Japanese language score was among Japan’s worse. #学力テスト
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) August 2, 2018
Shiga Labor Bureau last fiscal year handled 3,276 cases of worker complaints, 5.6% more than the preceding year. Power harassment and bullying cases were the most common at 936 cases, followed by a desire to quit (375), and lower pay/benefits (275). #滋賀労働局 #労働相談
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) August 5, 2018
In July 2018, 706 people in Shiga were taken by ambulance due to heat illness. The most ever for July since 10 years ago & 2.61 times more than July 2017. Over 42% were age 65 or older & 2 of them died. Last month, Otsu had a record 14 days with temperatures soaring 35˚C or more.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) August 11, 2018
Hikone’s Ohmi High School defeated Gunma’s Maebashi Ikuei 4-3 today, their 2nd game at the 100th Summer Koshien national high school baseball tournament. Great game. How do they play in this heat?? Love their Biwako-blue uniforms. #近江高等学校 #前橋育英高校 #夏の甲子園
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) August 13, 2018
On Aug. 11 at Sakura Cemetery さくら墓園 in Yasu, about 300 highly venomous redback spiders and their eggs were found. They were promptly killed. The female with the red stripe is the nasty one. Kill on sight, but do not touch with bare skin. #セアカゴケグモ pic.twitter.com/nk8kAZVpJx
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) August 18, 2018
Four basketball players representing Japan at the current Asian Games in Jakarta were kicked out for “inappropriate” behavior with a local woman taken to a hotel. One of the players, Takuma Sato #佐藤卓磨, is from Shiga Lakestars. Pure disgrace & disgust. https://t.co/WVVh6wkxB4
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) August 21, 2018
Typhoon No. 20 damaged white plaster walls on Hikone Castle’s Tenbin Yagura & Sawaguchi Tamon Yagura, both National Important Cultural Properties. Three people in Shiga got minor injuries due to the winds, no deaths. Roofs blew off a home in Konan & waste-disposal plant in Kora.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) August 24, 2018
Okura Yohei (31, 大藏陽平) male jr. high teacher in Hikone arrested for indecent acts with age 14 jr. high girl at a Hikone hotel in June. Okura, who lives in Higashi-Omi, has admitted to the charges.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) August 28, 2018
Synchronized swimming duo Yukiko Inui (from Omi-Hachiman 乾友紀子) and partner Megumu Yoshida 吉田萌 won the silver medal for women’s duet artistic swimming at the current Asian Games in Jakarta on Aug. 28. China won the gold.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) August 28, 2018
In Shiga, the number of people injured by Typhoon No. 21 (Jebi) has risen to 40. A preschool in Koka had its roof blown off. Wall of Hikone Castle’s main tenshu tower was damaged. Windows shattered at Nishi-Azai Jr. High in Nagahama. No injuries. Lots of fallen trees in Shiga.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) September 5, 2018
In Shiga, Typhoon No. 24 (Trami) caused one death in Koka (age 46 security guard fell into a river) and two people injured (age 88 man in Higashi-Omi & age 50 man in Takashima). Fallen trees, but no major damage to buildings. Greenhouses damaged over a wide area in eastern Shiga.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) October 1, 2018
At the Asian Para Games being held in Jakarta, Ritto native and visually-impaired swimmer KIMURA Keiichi won the gold in the men’s 200m Individual Medley with a time of 2 min. 29.79 sec. #木村敬一
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) October 10, 2018
Nagahama Kimono Garden Party #長浜きもの大園遊会 will be held tomorrow on Oct. 13. About 1,000 ladies in kimono will converge at Daitsuji Temple by 2 pm. Photographers need to register at Ekimachi Terrace (from 10 am) before photographing the ladies. https://t.co/wDxKPf1KQj pic.twitter.com/iZdBF1JsdR
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) October 11, 2018
Higashi-Omi resident Okura Yohei (31, 大藏陽平) male jr. high teacher in Hikone who was arrested for indecent acts with age 14 jr. high girl at a Hikone hotel in June 2018 was fired on Oct. 19 by Shiga BOE. He also did it with the same girl in May and July. Fined ¥700,000 in Sep.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) October 27, 2018
The jr. high school soft tennis coach (31) in Otsu who ordered a boy player to run 80 laps around the school in the summer heat has been punished with 1/10 pay for one month. He resigned on Oct. 19. (The boy collapsed from the heat and was taken by ambulance. He recovered.)
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) October 27, 2018
On Oct. 26, pleasure-seeking Shiga police captain (50) has been punished with reduced pay for meeting his intimate girlfriends while on duty. Since 2014, he had met over 10 women in their 30s and 40s via online dating sites. He even met them seven times in 2018 in a police car.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) October 27, 2018
Record number of 5,635 bullying cases in Shiga’s 395 public schools has been reported for the last school year. Exceeded 5,000 for the 1st time. The 912 cases of violence (especially in primary schools) is also the most ever, increasing by 30% over the preceding school year.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) October 27, 2018
Beijing-based company ofo will pull out of Japan and terminate its bicycle-sharing operation in Otsu at the end of Oct. 2018 after only 6 months in operation. Otsu is now stuck with 400 bright yellow bicycles at 66 locations in the city. They hope to somehow continue the service.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) October 28, 2018
The Oct. 23 hit-and-run victim Maniwa Hayato (15) 馬庭颯士 in Mikumo, Konan died of his injuries on Oct. 30. Age 19 construction worker in Koka has been arrested, although he denies the charges saying he hit a deer.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) November 2, 2018
The new Moriyama City Library opened on Nov. 1, 2018. Designed by Kuma Kengo, the beautiful, wood-themed building replaces the old public library with more floor space & books & a cafe. Kuma, who designed the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Stadium, attended the opening. 守山市立図書館 隈研吾
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) November 2, 2018
Hashimoto Takashi (44, 橋本隆志), a dentist with his own dental clinic in Kusatsu, has been arrested for raping a female acquaintance in Sept. He has admitted to the charges.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) November 7, 2018
Yunoki Shuichiro (68, 柚木俊一郎), the operator of Koka-no-Sato Ninja Village 甲賀の里 忍術村 amusement park, hit a car in Koka on Nov. 14 & injured a woman. He abandoned his car & fled the scene. He had been driving without a license for 10 years. Arrested on both counts.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) November 18, 2018
During mortar shell firing practice at the Aibano Training Area in Takashima, Ground Self-Defense Forces shot a 81mm mortar that fell & exploded on a national road in a civilian area, damaging a nearby occupied car on Nov. 14. No injuries. Live-fire exercises have been suspended.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) November 18, 2018
Front wall of Tokugen-in Temple in Maibara fell over from the Sept. typhoon. Even by late Oct, they still had no plans to remove the debris due to the lack of manpower and funds. So two friends & I volunteered to clear it away in 3 days last week. Temple paid the truck. #徳源院 pic.twitter.com/RTMFqlhQR7
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) November 18, 2018
In Koka, disappointed with Rakuyaji Temple’s hidden Kannon on display until Dec. 9 for the 1st time in 33 years. You can only see the head through a small window far in the back. Photos not allowed. Pay ¥800. Buses run from Koka Station. 櫟野寺大開帳 https://t.co/qFbkDX3BOJ pic.twitter.com/fsZCwayDPo
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) November 24, 2018
Poor Hikone Castle. It has suffered typhoon damage one after another with the wall plaster peeling off. It will take a while to repair the main tower as they await funding. #彦根城台風被害 pic.twitter.com/fJVH13Mvog
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) December 7, 2018
Efforts and experiments to replant and revive the huge lotus field that died in 2016 at Karasuma Peninsula in Kusatsu have failed. The city will rethink its strategy and methods to regenerate the lotus colony.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) December 26, 2018
Last year’s numbers of bluegill (519.5 tons) & black bass (202.4 tons) invasive fish in Lake Biwa were the lowest ever recorded in the past 11 years. Baby boom of bluegill born 6 years ago were nearing their lifespan, and gillnetting & electric shocks have been effective.
— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) December 26, 2018
