'The Rebirth' wins grand prix at film festival

'The Rebirth' wins grand prix at film festival

LOCARNO, Switzerland - ''Ai no Yokan'' (The Rebirth) by Japanese director Masahiro Kobayashi (file photo) won the Golden Leopard at the 60th Locarno International Film Festival on Aug. 11. The work by Kobayashi, 53, a mostly silent film which offers a gripping account of unspoken love, pain and survival, was awarded the prize from among 19 films in the main competition.

Mitsukoshi marks centenary of lion statues with jelly cakes

Mitsukoshi marks centenary of lion statues with jelly cakes

TOKYO, Japan - An employee at Mitsukoshi Department Store's main outlet in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, holds sweet "yokan" bean jellies produced to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the erection in 1914 of two lion statues in front of its entrance. The flagship store of the Mitsukoshi chain will put the cakes on sale on April 1.

Saga stresses unknown attractions as it tackles low tourist appeal

Saga stresses unknown attractions as it tackles low tourist appeal

Photo taken Feb. 21, 2016, shows Yoko Ueda holding a board explaining how to eat Japanese sweet yokan at her shop in Kashiwa city, Saga Prefecture. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

'The Rebirth' wins grand prix at film festival

'The Rebirth' wins grand prix at film festival

LOCARNO, Switzerland - ''Ai no Yokan'' (The Rebirth) by Japanese director Masahiro Kobayashi (file photo) won the Golden Leopard at the 60th Locarno International Film Festival on Aug. 11. The work by Kobayashi, 53, a mostly silent film which offers a gripping account of unspoken love, pain and survival, was awarded the prize from among 19 films in the main competition. (Kyodo)

New "wagashi" Japanese confectionery

New "wagashi" Japanese confectionery

Undated file photo shows three pieces of "yokan au lait," or coffee and milk agar jelly, developed by long-standing Japanese confectionery maker Tsuchiya in Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo