“Emmanuel Gbevegnon met his wife, Eriko Hidaka, in 1995 in Niger. Eriko, a native of Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, was there to help with vaccination activities, using her experience as a nurse. Emmanuel, a native of the city of Cotonou in Benin, a country next to Niger with a population of about 9.3 million, was there on business.

Emmanuel met Eriko at a community event to introduce Japanese culture in Niamey, Niger’s capital. About three years on from that encounter, the couple married in Benin and moved to Japan in 1999.
Eriko, …

Hey BTers! This in from CNN Go Asia. There will probably be some good deals for shoppers!

“Uniqlo’s parent corporation Fast Retailing turns 60 this year, and in celebration, Uniqlo is opening 36 stores in Tokyo early for a special sale on Saturday November 21. How early? Very early. 6am early.
Also, 100,000 people spending ¥5,000 or more will receive ¥10,000 gift cards from November 21 until December 31.
For more on the sale, see the official Uniqlo webpage. A list of the 21 stores open at 6am for the Uniqlo sale can …

Asiajin has discovered a new website, Manga no Shimbun (Manga Newspaper) by KaBa Net, which offers news in Japanese comic style. He reports that Manga no Shimbun covers four categories, Politics/Economy, International,Society and Entertainment/Sports. Asiajin also reports that IT lovers can get their fix via Nihon IT Manga Shimbun (Japan IT Manga Newspaper). Click here to read more!

This is not Japan-related but I felt the need to post the story. Media, you must do better!
“Sgt. Kimberly D. Munley has been applauded as a hero across the nation for shooting down Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan during the bloody rampage at Fort Hood last week. The account of heroism, given by the authorities, attracted the attention of newspapers, the networks and television talk shows.
But the initial story of how she and the accused gunman went down in an exchange of gunfire now appears to be inaccurate.
Another officer, Senior Sgt. Mark Todd, 42, …

[Via Japan Times] “Skynet Asia Airways Co. said Thursday it will start offering a discount one-way fare for foreign tourists from Dec. 1, enabling them to fly on all its eight domestic routes each at a flat rate of ¥10,000.
The Visit Japan fare is up to 65 percent lower than regular fares. It is the first time a Japanese airline has offered a discount fare aimed only at tourists from abroad, according to the Miyazaki-based budget airline.
Advance booking is not available for the discount fare, and tickets can be purchased …

After 2 1/2 years on the lamb authorities in Japan have caught their man. 30-year-old Tatsuya Ichihashi was taken into custody by police in the Suminoe Ward of Osaka. Bill Hawker (Lindsay’s father) stated that it is a relief that this part of their life has come to an end and that he will go visit his daughter at her grave and give her the news.

Feeling overwhelmed, suicidal, have medical questions? Call the Tokyo English Life Line. The call is free and anonymous. Hours are 9AM-11PM (0900-2300 HR)
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