In this week’s news roundup we report on the Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival, which is being canceled due to unruly tourists. We also have the latest on the Lower House election and the lineup for Summer Sonic 2026. A Pokemon event due to be staged at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine is canceled. And Yuki Kawamura, the shortest player in the NBA, shines on his debut for the Chicago Bulls.
Fujiyoshida Cherry Blossom Festival ‘Unmanageable for Locals’ Due to Surge in Tourists
On Tuesday, officials in Fujiyoshida announced that the city will not be hosting the Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival in 2026. According to Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi, a surge in tourists in recent years has made it unmanageable for locals. “Behind [Mount Fuji’s] beautiful landscape is the reality that the quiet lives of citizens are threatened,” he said. “We have a strong sense of crisis. To protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens, we have decided to bring the curtain down on the 10-year-old festival.”
Launched in 2016 to promote tourism, the Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival reportedly receives more than 10,000 visitors a day during hanami season. Authorities feel this has exceeded the city’s capacity, “resulting in overtourism, which is having a serious impact on the living environment of local residents.” They specified recurrent incidents of disruptive behavior from tourists. These include “opening private home doors without permission to use the restroom,” as well as “trespassing, littering and defecating in private yards and raising a fuss when residents pointed this out.”
Image by Victoria Bennett | Image source: Wikimedia
Trump Endorses Takaichi in Upcoming Election
The Lower House election takes place this weekend with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) expected to score a landslide victory. According to a weekend poll conducted by the Asahi Shimbun, the LDP is on track to secure a majority (233 seats) on its own. Together with its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), the ruling bloc is forecast to win more than 300 seats. The situation is certainly looking good for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has the backing of US President Donald Trump.
In a social media post on Thursday, Trump said, “The Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, has already proven to be a strong, powerful, and wise Leader, and one that truly loves her Country… In my visit to Japan I, and all of my Representatives, were extremely impressed with her.” He added that it was his “Honor to give a Complete and Total Endorsement of her, and what her highly respected Coalition is representing.” Trump also said he is looking forward to welcoming Takaichi to the White House on March 19.
Takaichi Cancels NHK Debate Due to Hand Injury
While Takaichi can be pleased with how the election campaign is going so far, she has been on the receiving end of heavy criticism this week due to her non-appearance at a NHK debate on Sunday. She reported that her hand was injured during campaign activities, and she was, therefore, unable to attend. “When I shook hands with a person who supports me enthusiastically, my hand was pulled hard, and I hurt it,” she said, adding, “I have chronic rheumatoid arthritis, so my hand became swollen.”
Despite being absence from the debate, Takaichi was able to make campaign stops in Gifu and Aichi prefectures as planned later that day. Akiko Oishi, the co-president of the Reiwa Shinsengumi party, described her as a “debate-dodging mother.” Oishi was planning to grill Takaichi about her alleged ties to the controversial religious group, the Unification Church. An article in the weekly tabloid, the Shukan Bunshun, claimed that organizations and people linked to the church purchased ¥100,000 in fund-raising tickets for an LDP branch headed by Takaichi in 2012 and 2019.
Pokemon Cancels Card Event at Controversial Yasukuni Shrine After Backlash
Pokemon issued an apology this week in both Japanese and Chinese after a planned card game event sparked a backlash in China. Due to be held at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday, the event was eventually canceled. The site honors Japan’s 2.4 million war dead, including convicted war criminals. Chinese media denounced the choice of location. “Brands that disregard history and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will ultimately be abandoned,” commented the People’s Daily, the Chinese Communist Party’s official news site.
The state-run Global Times said, “Any entertainment or leisure activities held at such a site constitute an open affront to historical truth, and staging events aimed at children there is even more egregious.” It also commended “China’s young netizens” for criticizing the event. In a statement last Friday, Pokemon said that the event had been “mistakenly posted due to a lack of due diligence.” It added, “After the incident was discovered, the event was promptly canceled.” It was organized by a certified third party through the company’s official website.
©︎SUMMER SONIC
The Strokes and L’Arc-en-Ciel To Headline Summer Sonic 2026
The Strokes, who are this year celebrating the 25th anniversary of their seminal debut album, Is This It, will be headlining Summer Sonic in 2026 alongside Japanese visual kei group L’Arc-en-Ciel. The first round of artists were announced on Monday. Other big names to look out for include the groovy British acid jazz and funk band Jamiroquai, led by charismatic singer Jay Kay, South Korean pop idol Jennie from the hugely successful K-pop group Blackpink and David Byrne, the former frontman of the Talking Heads.
Britpop legends Suede are on the list along with Leicester’s most famous rock band, Kasabian. Vietnamese-American multi-instrumentalist Keshi will be bringing his lo-fi hip-hop sound to the event besides visionary British artist FKA Twigs, American a cappella group Pentatonix and the Irish rock band Florence Road. There will also be several high-profile Japanese acts performing in Chiba and Osaka. L’Arc-en-Ciel aside, the biggest name on the list is arguably the critically acclaimed rock band Sakanaction. Starting on August 14, the event runs for three days this year.
Image © Chicago Bulls
Yuki Kawamura Shines on His Debut for the Chicago Bulls
It was a night that Yuki Kawamura will never forget. With two minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Japanese point guard stepped on the court to make his regular season debut for the Chicago Bulls, a side he has supported since he was a child. Playing against the Miami Heat on Saturday, he immediately gave his team more impetus. Despite only being on the court for 11 minutes, he finished the game with six points, two assists and two steals as the Bulls won 125-118.
One of the most memorable moments in the game came when Kawamura, the shortest active player in the NBA at 170 centimeters, won the tip against 196-centimeter opponent Kasparas Jakučionis after forcing a jump ball. He also impressed in his second game on Sunday. Playing another 27 minutes, he finished with six points, six assists and six rebounds in his side’s 134-91 defeat to Miami. Joshua Miranda, writing for the Bleacher Nation, described Kawamura as “the only bright spot for Chicago in the first half.”
