Hot spring inns' proprietresses-to-be promote Japanese sake

Hot spring inns' proprietresses-to-be promote Japanese sake

YONAGO, Japan - Two young women undergoing training to become owners of Japanese inns in the Kaike hot spring area in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, pose with bottles of locally made Japanese sake on Feb. 27, 2014. Each 500-milliliter bottle of the "Kamidai" brand sake sells for 2,100 yen.

Japanese hot-spring area makes 'happi' coats for Obama family

Japanese hot-spring area makes 'happi' coats for Obama family

NAGASAKI, Japan - The proprietress of a Japanese-style inn Yumiko Kusano (2nd from L) and three members of a tourism association in the Obama hot-spring area of Unzen, Nagasaki Prefecture, pose Jan. 14 wearing and showing blue ''happi'' coats. They specially made them for U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and their two daughters to celebrate his upcoming inauguration. Kusano is secretary general of the group ''Change Obama no kai (Change Obama association)'' which consists of proprietresses and other local people. The group tailored the Japanese coats, with ''President Obama'' written on one of the collars and ''Nagasaki, Obama Hot Spring'' on the other in white for the couple, getting their measurements via the Internet.

Premier Abe meets with "ryokan" inn proprietresses

Premier Abe meets with "ryokan" inn proprietresses

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (4th from L) meets with Kayoko Yoshimoto (3rd from L), "okami" or proprietress of a Japanese-style "ryokan" inn in the hot spring resort of Yamanaka in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, and other ryokan chief hostesses at the premier's office in Tokyo on July 9, 2015. Abe expressed his hope that they will work to promote tourism toward the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japanese hot-spring area makes 'happi' coats for Obama family

Japanese hot-spring area makes 'happi' coats for Obama family

NAGASAKI, Japan - The proprietress of a Japanese-style inn Yumiko Kusano (2nd from L) and three members of a tourism association in the Obama hot-spring area of Unzen, Nagasaki Prefecture, pose Jan. 14 wearing and showing blue ''happi'' coats. They specially made them for U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and their two daughters to celebrate his upcoming inauguration. Kusano is secretary general of the group ''Change Obama no kai (Change Obama association)'' which consists of proprietresses and other local people. The group tailored the Japanese coats, with ''President Obama'' written on one of the collars and ''Nagasaki, Obama Hot Spring'' on the other in white for the couple, getting their measurements via the Internet. (Kyodo)