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Shinji Mizushima, a famed baseball-themed manga artist known for such works as “Dokaben” and “Abu-san,” died of pneumonia on Jan. 10, his management office said Monday. He was 82.
A native of the city of Niigata on the Sea of Japan coast, Mizushima debuted as a cartoonist in 1958 when he was 18. He gained popularity after he published a baseball series in 1970.
One of his most popular works, “Dokaben,” depicting high school baseball players competing in national tournaments, ran for 46 years, and “Abu-san,” a story about a heavy-drinking slugger in a professional baseball league, also ran over four decades.
Sadaharu Oh, Hall of Fame slugger and chairman of Japanese professional baseball team Softbank Hawks, issued a memorial message, expressing appreciation to Mizushima for featuring his team’s predecessor clubs Nankai Hawks and Daiei Hawks as well as their players in the Abu-san series.
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Famed baseball manga artist Mizushima dies at 82
Nikkei – Jan 18
Shinji Mizushima, a famed baseball-themed manga artist known for such works as “Dokaben” and “Abu-san,” died of pneumonia on Jan. 10, his management office said Monday. He was 82.
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Japan’s Pet Otter Obsession
aljazeera.com – Jan 14
Pet cafes are popular tourist destinations in Japan where visitors pay to play with otters and other exotic creatures.
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Japan firefighter punished for YouTube side hustle
gulf-times.com – Jan 12
A Japanese firefighter moonlighting as a gaming YouTuber had cold water poured on his career by public officials, who uncovered the secret side hustle by identifying his voice in the lucrative videos.
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Lower age of majority won’t affect ceremonies
NHK – Jan 11
An NHK survey has found that most major municipalities across Japan will stick with the tradition of allowing people around 20 years old to take part in coming-of-age ceremonies even after the national legal age of adulthood is lowered later this year.
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Man arrested after holding “yakiniku” restaurant manager hostage
Kyodo – Jan 10
Police on Sunday arrested a 28-year-old man who held the manager of a “yakiniku” grilled meat restaurant in Tokyo hostage and claimed he had planted a bomb in the establishment, later telling police he wanted to eat grilled meat before being nabbed, investigative sources said.
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Meet Japan’s very busy “Do Nothing Rent-a-Man”
CBS – Jan 08
Throughout his 38 years, Shoji Morimoto had become accustomed to being told by family, classmates and co-workers that he was a “do-nothing” — the kind of guy who stood back and let others take the initiative.
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Transgender woman referred to prosecutors for using Osaka ladies room
Kyodo – Jan 07
A transgender woman was referred to prosecutors Thursday for suspected trespassing after using the ladies room in a commercial facility in Osaka, in a case an expert on LGBT issues fears might lead to more prejudice and discrimination against sexual minorities.
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