Chronology of Shiga Prefecture’s major news headlines for September–December 2020.

Originally posted on Twitter under Shiga Headlines by Philbert Ono. Twitter posts are limited to 280 English characters including spaces and links (shortened by Twitter). Dates are based on Japan time.

Sep 5, 2020: In Maibara, near the Takaban intersection, this summer’s rice paddy art featured Olympic field hockey players & Olympic rings. Maibara will be the host town for New Zealand’s Olympic field hockey team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021. See photo at link.

Sep 5, 2020: Age 42 man from Nagoya, Aichi drowned in Lake Biwa while swimming 30 meters off Okinoshima island in Omi-Hachiman on Aug. 30. His body submerged in the water was retrieved by a friend, but later pronounced dead. Pray for his soul and family. 🙏

Sep 5, 2020: In Nagahama, unemployed Brazilian man, Nagata Renato (35), arrested on Aug. 31 for leaking propane gas tanks to set fire to the exterior of his apt. building and 4 cars parked nearby on Aug. 4. He also suffered burns to his face.

Sep 5, 2020: On Sept. 2 at 2:30 pm, a bomb or gun shooting threat sent by email in Aug. caused the evacuation and closure of seven city halls in Hikone, Kusatsu, Omi-Hachiman, Koka, Takashima, Hino, and Ryuo. No explosives & no injuries.

Sep 5, 2020: In June, Shiga conducted an aerial topographical survey of Azuchi Castle site with 3D laser scanning. The survey found 4 more castle compounds previously unknown due to thick brush. Two were found on ridges and two in valleys. The mountain was clearly carved for the compounds.

Sep 5, 2020: Miho Museum has reopened on Sept. 1, 2020 after being closed since March. Advance reservations are now required to visit the museum. Too bad there’s no English info on how to make advance reservations. https://www.miho.jp/en/

Sep 5, 2020: As of Sept. 5, 2020, Shiga has 462 COVID-19 cases, 59 active cases, 7 deaths, and 396 recoveries. 😷

Sep 5, 2020: After 44 years, Seibu Otsu closed for good on Aug. 31, 2020. It was Otsu’s first dept. store in 1976. New shopping malls in Shiga/Kyoto in recent years had eroded its sales. About 25,000 customers showed up on the last day. The building will be torn down & replaced by a condo.

Sep 5, 2020: From Sept. 4 to Nov. 3, 2020, people riding Ohmi Railways on Fri., Sat., Sun., & nat’l holidays can buy an all-day train pass called “One-Coin Smile Kippu” for only ¥500 (¥100 for kids). Ride all you want on Ohmi Railways on weekends. Buy it at any manned Ohmi Railways station.

Oct 9, 2020: Not much interesting news in Shiga these past weeks. COVID-19 cases in Shiga have slowed to a trickle per day. As of Oct 8, 2020, 510 cumulative cases, 15 active cases, and 8 deaths.

Oct 9, 2020: Otsu Alex Cinemas in Otsu closed on Oct. 1 for an indefinite period due to a lack of customers since they reopened in June. Meanwhile, the five other cinema complexes in Shiga remain operating.

Oct 9, 2020: On Sept. 29, Shiga Prefecture experimentally flew a cargo-carrying, winged drone across Lake Biwa from Hikone to Takashima, flying 16 km in 15 min. at 80 kph. It carried Club Harie’s baumkuchen. However, communication problems prevented the drone from flying back to Hikone.

Oct 9, 2020: At Shiga Lakestars, major changes & cost-cutting in Sept. 2020 with Chairman Sakai Nobusuke & President Nishimura Daisuke resigning & main team members traded to other teams. New president is Kamabuchi Toshihiko. The team has been struggling financially due to COVID-19.

Oct 9, 2020: Due to the pandemic, public elementary & jr. high schools in Hikone, Omi-Hachiman, Moriyama, Nagahama, Ritto, Takashima, Ryuo, & Aisho, are shortening school trips to a day trip. Most schools in Higashi-Omi, Hino, & Toyosato are canceling school trips. High schools not affected.

Oct 9, 2020: At Niigata Denka Big Swan Stadium on Oct. 2 for the Japan Championships in Athletics, Olympic sprinter and Hikone native Kiryu Yoshihide won the final 100m race in 10.27 sec. beating Asuka Cambridge by a hair.

Oct 9, 2020: Based in Maibara, BlueSticks Shiga is Shiga’s men’s field hockey team joining the Hockey Japan League for the 1st time this season that started on Oct. 3. They won their 1st two matches. Follow them at https://bluesticks.jp/

Oct 9, 2020: Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay will come through Shiga on May 27–28, 2021. The original route, schedule, and torch bearers planned for 2020 will be retained in 2021. Yes, the Olympics/Paralympics will be held in 2021. Keep your tickets. https://youtu.be/7yPK8JElFeM

Oct 9, 2020: As of Sept. 1, 2020, Shiga had 864 elders age 100 or older (106 men, 758 women), the most ever. This number has been increasing annually since 1997. Shiga’s oldest woman is Kitagawa Mina in Hikone, age 114! Oldest man is Ueno Kazumasa, age 106 in Yasu. Live in Shiga & live long!

Oct 9, 2020: After completing major renovations taking 6 years, Lake Biwa Museum will have a grand reopening on Oct. 10, 2020. Exhibits have been updated based on the latest research and discoveries. Advance reservations and face masks required. https://www.biwahaku.jp/english/

Oct 9, 2020: World Masters Games 2021 Kansai scheduled for May 2021 will be postponed by 1 year to 2022. Official announcement to come on Oct. 28, 2020. Shiga was to host rowing, hockey, & softball. #ワールドマスターズゲームズ２０２１関西延期

Dec 2, 2020: This season’s first snow capped Mt. Ibuki on Nov. 4, 2020 when Maibara recorded a temperature of 5.5˚C. Sixteen days earlier than last year, 12 days earlier than usual.

Dec 2, 2020: COVID-19 cases in Shiga are steadily increasing again. As of Dec. 1, 2020, 793 cumulative cases, 705 recoveries, 79 active cases, and 9 deaths. Otsu leads with 265 cases, followed by Kusatsu with 135.

Dec 2, 2020: In Kinomoto-juku in Nagahama, the former Honjin and seven other Edo Period buildings will be registered as National Tangible Cultural Properties.

Dec 2, 2020: In Nagahama, Kurokabe Square glass shop building is closed for earthquake-resistance renovations until March 20, 2021. The glass shop is operating across the road in a temporary shop.

Dec 2, 2020: On Nov. 24, a seaplane test flight was conducted on Lake Biwa off Nagisa Park in Otsu. The plane flew for 30 min. above the lake and Kyoto with 10 passengers. Otsu might resurrect seaplane flights as a tourist attraction. Seaplanes flew in Otsu 1961–1972.

Dec 23, 2020: On Dec. 22, 2020, Mayor of Konan, Ikuta Kunio (生田邦夫) was driving his car in Konan and hit a jr. high school girl going to school on her bicycle at a rural intersection. She was slightly injured. He’s very sorry it happened and awaits official punishment.

Dec 23, 2020: Skiers are happy now. See the live cameras at Oku-Ibuki ski slopes at Gran-Snow Oku-Ibuki in Maibara.

Dec 23, 2020: Looks like we’ll have a White Christmas in Shiga. Still lots of snow on and around Mt. Ibuki in Maibara. See the live cameras showing views of snow-covered Mt. Ibuki. Happy and safe holidays! https://www.city.maibara.lg.jp/ibuki_camera/

Shiga History May–Aug. 2020 | Chronological History of Shiga | Shiga History Jan.–June 2021