Caps made from tsunami-hit fishermen's flags

Caps made from tsunami-hit fishermen's flags

MINAMISANRIKU, Japan - Hunting caps are displayed at cap and hat manufacturer Suzuki Kikaku's office in the town of Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, on Oct. 5, 2011. The company has begun selling the caps made from ''tairyobata'' flags, which are hoisted on fishing boats on their way back to port to signal a large catch. The flags have been provided by local fishermen who lost their boats due to the March tsunami, and part of the revenues from the caps' sales will be used to reinvigorate the local fishing industry.

Eating utensils donated to Niigata quake victims

Eating utensils donated to Niigata quake victims

NIIGATA, Japan - Students of the Kashiwazaki Comprehensive High School in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture use their school gymnasium to sort out eating utensils donated by people around Japan to victims of the July 16 earthquake in Niigata. The donation campaign was launched by a Kobe-based non-profit organization after the city was destroyed by the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. Isao Arai, head of the NPO Himawari-no-Yume Kikaku (Project Sunflower Dream), says the utensils would be distributed to the quake victims from mid-August after they move into temporary housing being built by the government. Phone number for inquiries on the donation campaign: 078-787-7387.

Door-to-door live fish delivery business to begin soon

Door-to-door live fish delivery business to begin soon

OITA, Japan - Osakana Kikaku Co., a fishery consultant company in Oita Prefecture, and Yamato Transport Co., Japan's largest door-to-door delivery service, will jointly start a service to deliver live fish to consumers this month, company officials say Oct. 2 in the southeastern Japan city of Oita. After a stainless steel needle is stuck in the fish's head to paralyze it, the fish will be packed in a specially designed container along with a coolant and a small amount of sea water, and delivered at room temperature, the officials explained, adding that the fish will stay calm and remain alive for about 12 hours.

Eating utensils donated to Niigata quake victims

Eating utensils donated to Niigata quake victims

NIIGATA, Japan - Students of the Kashiwazaki Comprehensive High School in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture use their school gymnasium to sort out eating utensils donated by people around Japan to victims of the July 16 earthquake in Niigata. The donation campaign was launched by a Kobe-based non-profit organization after the city was destroyed by the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. Isao Arai, head of the NPO Himawari-no-Yume Kikaku (Project Sunflower Dream), says the utensils would be distributed to the quake victims from mid-August after they move into temporary housing being built by the government. Phone number for inquiries on the donation campaign: 078-787-7387. (Kyodo)

Door-to-door live fish delivery business to begin soon

Door-to-door live fish delivery business to begin soon

OITA, Japan - Osakana Kikaku Co., a fishery consultant company in Oita Prefecture, and Yamato Transport Co., Japan's largest door-to-door delivery service, will jointly start a service to deliver live fish to consumers this month, company officials say Oct. 2 in the southeastern Japan city of Oita. After a stainless steel needle is stuck in the fish's head to paralyze it, the fish will be packed in a specially designed container along with a coolant and a small amount of sea water, and delivered at room temperature, the officials explained, adding that the fish will stay calm and remain alive for about 12 hours.