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Kabuki actor Nakamura Kichiemon designated as national treasure

by Kyodo

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The Cultural Affairs Council recommended Friday that the government designate veteran Kabuki actor Nakamura Kichiemon, 67, as a so-called living national treasure. The panel of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry also recommended Kishun Nishie, a 70-year-old singer and player of the sanshin musical instrument for the Okinawan traditional arts, as a living national treasure. Their designations brought the total number of living national treasures to 116. (Kyodo)

Hopeful aquarium reopens after quake

by Yomiuri

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Mai Hibino, an animal keeper at an aquarium in Fukushima, used a hose to pour water over Go, an 11-year-old male walrus. "You've been very, very patient," Hibino said softly. Go galumphed his 720-kilogram body toward Hibino to snuggle up to her, then let out a roar. A long, hard journey was nearly over for both Hibino and Go when this scene took place July 9. After being closed for four months due to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the Fukushima Marine Science Museum aquarium in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, reopened Friday, thanks to the support of aquariums across the country. Most of the about 200,000 marine creatures previously kept at the aquarium died due to blackouts following the disaster, but about 200 fish and sea mammals, including walruses and harbor seals, are now back after being moved to "evacuation shelters" at other aquariums. (Yomiuri)