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Salt Flats - China

An aerial drone photo taken on April 27, 2025 shows salt flats of Tianjin Changlu Haijing Group Co., Ltd. in Tianjin, north China. In recent days, workers of Tianjin Changlu Haijing Group Co., Ltd. have been busy harvesting salt in its 250,000 mu (about 16,700 hectares) of salt flats. The spring harvest of salt usually starts from mid-to-late March to June, depending on the weather condition. Photo by Du Penghui/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Salt Flats - China

An aerial drone photo taken on April 27, 2025 shows a worker driving a machine in a salt flat of Tianjin Changlu Haijing Group Co., Ltd. in Tianjin, north China. In recent days, workers of Tianjin Changlu Haijing Group Co., Ltd. have been busy harvesting salt in its 250,000 mu (about 16,700 hectares) of salt flats. The spring harvest of salt usually starts from mid-to-late March to June, depending on the weather condition. Photo by Du Penghui/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Salt Flats - China

An aerial drone photo taken on April 27, 2025 shows salt flats of Tianjin Changlu Haijing Group Co., Ltd. in Tianjin, north China. In recent days, workers of Tianjin Changlu Haijing Group Co., Ltd. have been busy harvesting salt in its 250,000 mu (about 16,700 hectares) of salt flats. The spring harvest of salt usually starts from mid-to-late March to June, depending on the weather condition. Photo by Du Penghui/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Egypt expects 2 bln USD in revenue from expat customs-free car import initiative

STORY: Egypt expects 2 bln USD in revenue from expat customs-free car import initiative SHOOTING TIME: June 20, 2024 DATELINE: June 21, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:58 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Egyptian Finance Minister Mohamed Maait 2. various of an Egyptian port 3. various of new cars STORYLINE: Egyptian Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said on Thursday that the applications registered by expats, with an aim of benefiting from the zero-customs car import initiative, push expectations to about 2 billion U.S. dollars in revenue. The minister said that more than 250,000 "import approvals" have been issued, and over 35,000 imported cars have been released so far. The initiative allows expatriates to bring one personal-use vehicle to Egypt without incurring customs duties or taxes, including the value-added tax (VAT). Egyptians living abroad should make a five-year bank deposit in foreign currency. After five years, expatriates can withdraw their money in Egyptian pounds accor

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Cobalt blue Biwa trout

MAIBARA, Japan, May 4 Kyodo - Video taken on May 4, 2024, shows cobalt blue Biwa trout at a fish-raising farm in Maibara in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan. Only this trout, one of about 250,000 trout fry hatched in the fall of 2022, is cobalt blue-colored. (Kyodo)

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Cobalt blue Biwa trout

Photo taken on May 4, 2024, shows cobalt blue Biwa trout at a fish-raising farm in Maibara in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan. Only this trout, one of about 250,000 trout fry hatched in the fall of 2022, is cobalt blue-colored.

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Cobalt blue Biwa trout

Photo taken on May 4, 2024, shows cobalt blue Biwa trout at a fish-raising farm in Maibara in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan. Only this trout, one of about 250,000 trout fry hatched in the fall of 2022, is cobalt blue-colored.

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Chinese ductile iron pipes firm to establish new factory in Egypt

STORY: Chinese ductile iron pipes firm to establish new factory in Egypt SHOOTING TIME: March 27, 2024 DATELINE: March 30, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:32 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of signing ceremony (Courtesy of the Egyptian Cabinet) STORYLINE: China's Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipes Co., Ltd. has signed a land lease contract with Egypt-TEDA SEZone Development Company to build a new factory in the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone. The signing ceremony held on Wednesday was attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Suez Canal Economic Zone Chairman Waleid Gamaleldien, and other senior Egyptian officials. The project is planned to cover an area of about 270,000 square meters and produce 250,000 tons of ductile iron pipes per year, said Ma Ye, head of the Egypt project of Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipes Co., Ltd. With an investment of approximately 145 million U.S. dollars, the project is expected to generate nearly 200 million dollars in foreign exc

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Ice, snow business in NE China adds steam to China's winter economy

STORY: Ice, snow business in NE China adds steam to China's winter economy SHOOTING DATE: Earlier footage DATELINE: Jan. 10, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:05 LOCATION: HARBIN/CHANGCHUN, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Harbin Ice-Snow World 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): BIAN YUAN, Tourist 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHENG SAN, Tourist 4. various of Chagan Lake 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): WEI LAI, Staff member of Chagan Lake Tourism and Economic Development Zone 6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): ZHANG JIANMEI, Tourist STORYLINE: The International Ice and Snow Festival, which kicked off Friday evening in Harbin, capital city of China's northernmost Heilongjiang Province, is adding steam to the country's burgeoning ice-and-snow economy. At Harbin Ice-Snow World, built on the northern bank of the Songhua River which flows through the city, about 250,000 cubic meters of ice and snow have been transformed into appealing landscapes and sculptures. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): BIAN YUAN, Tourist "The ice sculptures here are amaz

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XINHUA PHOTOS OF THE DAY

(231211) -- BEIJING, Dec. 11, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This aerial photo taken on Dec. 10, 2023 shows judges performing comprehensive evaluation during a kumquat competition in Rong'an County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The kumquat planting has become a cash-cow business for local farmers in Rong'an. A total of 221,000 mu (about 14,733 hectares) of kumquat trees planted in the county this year are expected to yield 250,000 tonnes of kumquats. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

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CHINA-GUANGXI-RONG'AN-KUMQUAT COMPETITION (CN)

(231210) -- RONG'AN, Dec. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This aerial photo taken on Dec. 10, 2023 shows judges performing comprehensive evaluation during a kumquat competition in Rong'an County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The kumquat planting has become a cash-cow business for local farmers in Rong'an. A total of 221,000 mu (about 14,733 hectares) of kumquat trees planted in the county this year are expected to yield 250,000 tonnes of kumquats. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

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CHINA-GUANGXI-RONG'AN-KUMQUAT COMPETITION (CN)

(231210) -- RONG'AN, Dec. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A judge measures the sugar content of a kumquat sample during a kumquat competition in Rong'an County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 10, 2023. The kumquat planting has become a cash-cow business for local farmers in Rong'an. A total of 221,000 mu (about 14,733 hectares) of kumquat trees planted in the county this year are expected to yield 250,000 tonnes of kumquats. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

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CHINA-GUANGXI-RONG'AN-KUMQUAT COMPETITION (CN)

(231210) -- RONG'AN, Dec. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Judges perform comprehensive evaluation during a kumquat competition in Rong'an County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 10, 2023. The kumquat planting has become a cash-cow business for local farmers in Rong'an. A total of 221,000 mu (about 14,733 hectares) of kumquat trees planted in the county this year are expected to yield 250,000 tonnes of kumquats. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

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CHINA-GUANGXI-RONG'AN-KUMQUAT COMPETITION (CN)

(231210) -- RONG'AN, Dec. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Judges perform comprehensive evaluation during a kumquat competition in Rong'an County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 10, 2023. The kumquat planting has become a cash-cow business for local farmers in Rong'an. A total of 221,000 mu (about 14,733 hectares) of kumquat trees planted in the county this year are expected to yield 250,000 tonnes of kumquats. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

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CHINA-GUANGXI-RONG'AN-KUMQUAT COMPETITION (CN)

(231210) -- RONG'AN, Dec. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This aerial photo taken on Dec. 10, 2023 shows judges performing comprehensive evaluation during a kumquat competition in Rong'an County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The kumquat planting has become a cash-cow business for local farmers in Rong'an. A total of 221,000 mu (about 14,733 hectares) of kumquat trees planted in the county this year are expected to yield 250,000 tonnes of kumquats. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

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CHINA-GUANGXI-RONG'AN-KUMQUAT COMPETITION (CN)

(231210) -- RONG'AN, Dec. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Judges perform comprehensive evaluation during a kumquat competition in Rong'an County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 10, 2023. The kumquat planting has become a cash-cow business for local farmers in Rong'an. A total of 221,000 mu (about 14,733 hectares) of kumquat trees planted in the county this year are expected to yield 250,000 tonnes of kumquats. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

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CHINA-GUANGXI-RONG'AN-KUMQUAT COMPETITION (CN)

(231210) -- RONG'AN, Dec. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This aerial photo taken on Dec. 10, 2023 shows judges performing comprehensive evaluation during a kumquat competition in Rong'an County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The kumquat planting has become a cash-cow business for local farmers in Rong'an. A total of 221,000 mu (about 14,733 hectares) of kumquat trees planted in the county this year are expected to yield 250,000 tonnes of kumquats. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

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CHINA-GUANGXI-RONG'AN-KUMQUAT COMPETITION (CN)

(231210) -- RONG'AN, Dec. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Judges perform comprehensive evaluation during a kumquat competition in Rong'an County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 10, 2023. The kumquat planting has become a cash-cow business for local farmers in Rong'an. A total of 221,000 mu (about 14,733 hectares) of kumquat trees planted in the county this year are expected to yield 250,000 tonnes of kumquats. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

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Titan The Submersible That Vanished On Expedition To The Titanic Wreckage

Undated handout photo shows Titan, the submersible that vanished on expedition to the Titanic wreckage. A massive search and rescue operation is under way in the mid Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic's wreck on Sunday. Contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard said. Tour firm OceanGate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people onboard. Tickets cost $ 250,000 for an eight-day trip including dives to the wreck at a depth of 3,800m (12,500ft). Photo via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Titan The Submersible That Vanished On Expedition To The Titanic Wreckage

Undated handout photo shows Titan, the submersible that vanished on expedition to the Titanic wreckage. A massive search and rescue operation is under way in the mid Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic's wreck on Sunday. Contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard said. Tour firm OceanGate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people onboard. Tickets cost $ 250,000 for an eight-day trip including dives to the wreck at a depth of 3,800m (12,500ft). Photo via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Titan The Submersible That Vanished On Expedition To The Titanic Wreckage

Undated handout photo shows Titan, the submersible that vanished on expedition to the Titanic wreckage. A massive search and rescue operation is under way in the mid Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic's wreck on Sunday. Contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard said. Tour firm OceanGate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people onboard. Tickets cost $ 250,000 for an eight-day trip including dives to the wreck at a depth of 3,800m (12,500ft). Photo via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Titan The Submersible That Vanished On Expedition To The Titanic Wreckage

Undated handout photo shows Titan, the submersible that vanished on expedition to the Titanic wreckage. A massive search and rescue operation is under way in the mid Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic's wreck on Sunday. Contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard said. Tour firm OceanGate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people onboard. Tickets cost $ 250,000 for an eight-day trip including dives to the wreck at a depth of 3,800m (12,500ft). Photo via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Titan The Submersible That Vanished On Expedition To The Titanic Wreckage

Undated handout photo shows Titan, the submersible that vanished on expedition to the Titanic wreckage. A massive search and rescue operation is under way in the mid Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic's wreck on Sunday. Contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard said. Tour firm OceanGate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people onboard. Tickets cost $ 250,000 for an eight-day trip including dives to the wreck at a depth of 3,800m (12,500ft). Photo via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Titan The Submersible That Vanished On Expedition To The Titanic Wreckage

Undated handout photo shows Titan, the submersible that vanished on expedition to the Titanic wreckage. A massive search and rescue operation is under way in the mid Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic's wreck on Sunday. Contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard said. Tour firm OceanGate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people onboard. Tickets cost $ 250,000 for an eight-day trip including dives to the wreck at a depth of 3,800m (12,500ft). Photo via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Titan The Submersible That Vanished On Expedition To The Titanic Wreckage

Undated handout photo shows Titan, the submersible that vanished on expedition to the Titanic wreckage. A massive search and rescue operation is under way in the mid Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic's wreck on Sunday. Contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard said. Tour firm OceanGate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people onboard. Tickets cost $ 250,000 for an eight-day trip including dives to the wreck at a depth of 3,800m (12,500ft). Photo via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Titan The Submersible That Vanished On Expedition To The Titanic Wreckage

Undated handout photo shows Titan, the submersible that vanished on expedition to the Titanic wreckage. A massive search and rescue operation is under way in the mid Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic's wreck on Sunday. Contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard said. Tour firm OceanGate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people onboard. Tickets cost $ 250,000 for an eight-day trip including dives to the wreck at a depth of 3,800m (12,500ft). Photo via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Titan The Submersible That Vanished On Expedition To The Titanic Wreckage

Undated handout photo shows Titan, the submersible that vanished on expedition to the Titanic wreckage. A massive search and rescue operation is under way in the mid Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic's wreck on Sunday. Contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard said. Tour firm OceanGate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people onboard. Tickets cost $ 250,000 for an eight-day trip including dives to the wreck at a depth of 3,800m (12,500ft). Photo via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Titan The Submersible That Vanished On Expedition To The Titanic Wreckage

Undated handout photo shows Titan, the submersible that vanished on expedition to the Titanic wreckage. A massive search and rescue operation is under way in the mid Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic's wreck on Sunday. Contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard said. Tour firm OceanGate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people onboard. Tickets cost $ 250,000 for an eight-day trip including dives to the wreck at a depth of 3,800m (12,500ft). Photo via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Titan The Submersible That Vanished On Expedition To The Titanic Wreckage

Undated handout photo shows Titan, the submersible that vanished on expedition to the Titanic wreckage. A massive search and rescue operation is under way in the mid Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic's wreck on Sunday. Contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard said. Tour firm OceanGate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people onboard. Tickets cost $ 250,000 for an eight-day trip including dives to the wreck at a depth of 3,800m (12,500ft). Photo via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Titan The Submersible That Vanished On Expedition To The Titanic Wreckage

Undated handout photo shows Titan, the submersible that vanished on expedition to the Titanic wreckage. A massive search and rescue operation is under way in the mid Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic's wreck on Sunday. Contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard said. Tour firm OceanGate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people onboard. Tickets cost $ 250,000 for an eight-day trip including dives to the wreck at a depth of 3,800m (12,500ft). Photo via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Titan The Submersible That Vanished On Expedition To The Titanic Wreckage

Undated handout photo shows Titan, the submersible that vanished on expedition to the Titanic wreckage. A massive search and rescue operation is under way in the mid Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic's wreck on Sunday. Contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard said. Tour firm OceanGate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people onboard. Tickets cost $ 250,000 for an eight-day trip including dives to the wreck at a depth of 3,800m (12,500ft). Photo via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Event celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year held at New Zealand parliament

STORY: Event celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year held at New Zealand parliament DATELINE: Feb. 14, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:51 LOCATION: Wellington CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of an event celebrating the Chinese New Year 2. various of speeches 3. various of performance STORYLINE: An event celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year was held at the New Zealand parliament on Monday. "The Lunar New Year is an important celebration for many of our communities here in New Zealand and there are events being held throughout the country to recognize this important cultural occasion," said Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan, who hosted the event. Radhakrishnan said a 2018 census showed that the population for Chinese ethnic groups in New Zealand has reached nearly 250,000, about 5 percent of the country's total population, acknowledging "the significant contributions the Chinese communities have made -- and continue to make to the economic, social and cultural progress

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Fukushima city launches solar power plant

SOMA, Japan - Hidekiyo Tachiya (R), mayor of the city of Soma in Fukushima Prefecture, and U.S. entrepreneur Elon Musk shake hands in front of a solar power panel in Soma on July 29, 2011. The city began work on a solar power plant the same day using a $250,000 donation from a U.S. foundation led by Musk, the founder of the online settlement service PayPal. The city is about 40 kilometers north of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

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Int'l athletic chief on Japan quake

TOKYO, Japan - Lamine Diack, president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, speaks during an interview in Japan on March 14, 2011. Diack said the IAAF had prepared about $250,000 for Japan's track and field facilities which were damaged by the historic earthquake and tsunami disasters.

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250,000 people visit U.S. Iwakuni base on friendship day

YAMAGUCHI, Japan - Visitors to the U.S. marine base in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture watch as a U.S. fighter takes off as part of Japan-U.S. Friendship Day events at the base on May 5. About 250,000 people visited the base on the day, according to U.S. military officials.

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Matsushita to launch digital single-lens reflex camera in July

TOKYO, Japan - Held by a publicity assistant at a press conference in Tokyo on June 21 is the Lumix L1 digital single-lens reflex camera which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. will launch in Japan on July 22. The product, which Matsushita has developed in cooperation with camera maker Olympus Corp., is expected to sell for about 250,000 yen.

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AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-GRAPE-HARVEST

(220702) -- KANDAHAR, July 2, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A farmer works at a vineyard in Zhari district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, July 2, 2022. According to local officials, about 250,000 tonnes of grapes would be harvested from orchards on 20,500 hectares of land in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua)

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AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-GRAPE-HARVEST

(220702) -- KANDAHAR, July 2, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A farmer displays grapes at a vineyard in Zhari district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, July 2, 2022. According to local officials, about 250,000 tonnes of grapes would be harvested from orchards on 20,500 hectares of land in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua)

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AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-GRAPE-HARVEST

(220702) -- KANDAHAR, July 2, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Farmers work at a vineyard in Zhari district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, July 2, 2022. According to local officials, about 250,000 tonnes of grapes would be harvested from orchards on 20,500 hectares of land in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua)

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AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-GRAPE-HARVEST

(220702) -- KANDAHAR, July 2, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Farmers work at a vineyard in Zhari district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, July 2, 2022. According to local officials, about 250,000 tonnes of grapes would be harvested from orchards on 20,500 hectares of land in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua)

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AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-GRAPE-HARVEST

(220702) -- KANDAHAR, July 2, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A farmer works at a vineyard in Zhari district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, July 2, 2022. According to local officials, about 250,000 tonnes of grapes would be harvested from orchards on 20,500 hectares of land in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua)

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AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-GRAPE-HARVEST

(220702) -- KANDAHAR, July 2, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A farmer works at a vineyard in Zhari district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, July 2, 2022. According to local officials, about 250,000 tonnes of grapes would be harvested from orchards on 20,500 hectares of land in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua)

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AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR-GRAPE-HARVEST

(220702) -- KANDAHAR, July 2, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A farmer works at a vineyard in Zhari district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, July 2, 2022. According to local officials, about 250,000 tonnes of grapes would be harvested from orchards on 20,500 hectares of land in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua)

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Nihon Vital's "Kaisei".

Taking a hint from the fact that insects find flowers by the wavelength and light intensity of sunlight, the company has developed an "insect eye sensor" that tracks sunlight. It efficiently collects sunlight. The six optical fibers can be extended up to one kilometer and can illuminate 500 square meters. It is about 2 meters long, 2 meters wide and 2.5 meters high. The price starts at 5 million yen (excluding consumption tax). It has been used in buildings and train stations in Kumamoto Prefecture, and its sales have been about 100 million yen. It can also be used to cut infrared rays and ultraviolet rays. The company is currently producing them overseas, but will switch to domestic production within this year. The price will start at 250,000 yen (same as above). "The market for solar concentrators is worth about 20 billion yen. President Yokozawa hopes to capture a 20% share of this market. (Photo taken on December 19, 2019, location unknown, credit: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun / Kyodo News Images)

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Mechanical watches made in Japan by Mirco

In May, Mirco launched its first product, TYPE-02, a mechanical wristwatch with a chronograph function inspired by the 1970s, priced at 250,000 yen, excluding consumption tax. About 100 units were produced and sold out immediately. The customer base was split 50/50 between Japan and overseas. President Hiraoka and Tatsuya Watanabe, director of the company, were close friends who worked hard together in their high school American football team. When they were students, they talked about the appeal of watches, and President Hiraoka went to work for Orient Watch (now Seiko Epson) and Director Watanabe went to work for a watch specialty store. Nowadays, the number of Japanese craftsmen who have the skills to manufacture mechanical watches is decreasing, pushed by quartz watches. Feeling a sense of crisis that Japanese technology was being lost, he accumulated funds and know-how to establish the company. Photo taken on February 18, 2019, location unknown, credit: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun / Kyodo News Images

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Japan lures British visitors with tourism blitz in London

Dancers from Gifu Prefecture perform the central Japanese region's popular "jikabuki" (local kabuki) at a tourism promotion event at the Japanese Embassy in London on Nov. 2, 2015. The number of Britons visiting Japan is expected to reach a record high of over 250,000 people in 2015, about 20 percent more than the previous year, according to the embassy. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan lures British visitors with tourism blitz in London

Tourism promotion representatives from Kyushu, southwestern Japan, greet visitors at an event hosted by the Japanese Embassy in London on Nov. 2, 2015. The number of tourists visiting Japan from Britain is expected to reach a record high of over 250,000 people in 2015, about 20 percent more than the previous year, according to the embassy. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Fukushima city launches solar power plant

SOMA, Japan - Hidekiyo Tachiya (R), mayor of the city of Soma in Fukushima Prefecture, and U.S. entrepreneur Elon Musk shake hands in front of a solar power panel in Soma on July 29, 2011. The city began work on a solar power plant the same day using a $250,000 donation from a U.S. foundation led by Musk, the founder of the online settlement service PayPal. The city is about 40 kilometers north of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. (Kyodo)

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Matsushita to launch digital single-lens reflex camera in July

TOKYO, Japan - Held by a publicity assistant at a press conference in Tokyo on June 21 is the Lumix L1 digital single-lens reflex camera which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. will launch in Japan on July 22. The product, which Matsushita has developed in cooperation with camera maker Olympus Corp., is expected to sell for about 250,000 yen. (Kyodo)

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250,000 people visit U.S. Iwakuni base on friendship day

YAMAGUCHI, Japan - Visitors to the U.S. marine base in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture watch as a U.S. fighter takes off as part of Japan-U.S. Friendship Day events at the base on May 5. About 250,000 people visited the base on the day, according to U.S. military officials. (Kyodo)