wonderland

KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 (Bernama) — The two-day 2026 New Zealand National Dragon Boat Championships concluded recently at scenic Lake Karapiro, Cambridge, bringing together around 45 teams and approximately 1,200 athletes from across the country.

As one of the country’s largest dragon boat events, competitors raced in the 200-metre and 500-metre sprints, as well as the 2,000-metre turn race. The steady beat of drums echoed across the course as paddles flashed through the water, showcasing the speed and intensity of dragon boat racing.

During the championships, a commemorative flower ceremony was held, with members of the International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission (IBCPC) holding pink carnations to raise awareness of breast cancer prevention and honour life, adding a human touch to the event.

Organised by the New Zealand Dragon Boat Association, the event welcomed notable guests, including the International Ice Dragon Boat Federation President, Luo Zhongyi, and the IBCPC President, Meri Gabson.

Champion, an official partner of the championships, worked closely with the organisers to ensure a professional, fair, and efficient competition environment for all participants.

According to a statement, the championships highlighted the growing popularity of dragon boat racing in New Zealand, providing a platform for enthusiasts to experience the excitement of the sport and connect with one another.

New Zealand has a history of international participation in dragon boat racing. In 1995, the country sent a team to the World Dragon Boat Championship in Yueyang City, Hunan Province, China, becoming one of the early participants on the global stage.

With the sport continuing to gain momentum worldwide, more international events are expected to be held in New Zealand in the coming years.

— BERNAMA

TOKYO, Apr. 1, 2026 /Kyodo JBN/ —

TOBU TOWER SKYTREE Co., Ltd., operator of TOKYO SKYTREE, is holding “BLUE LOCK EPISODE SKY in TOKYO SKYTREE (R),” in the first collaboration between the tower and a popular TV anime featuring soccer, “BLUE LOCK,” written by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and illustrated by Yusuke Nomura. The event will be held from Thursday, April 9, to Monday, July 6, 2026.

Image of key visual:
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M108036/202603266385/_prw_PI2fl_BzC3TLKp.jpg

Special website:
https://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/event/special/bluelock/

The 450-meter-high Tembo Galleria has an exhibition featuring the event’s key visuals. Limited-edition goods that are only available at the event and special cafe menu items are offered on this floor. In addition, an event-exclusive photo shoot service is available to those who want a picture of themselves with “BLUE LOCK” characters. On the 350-meter-high Tembo Deck, exclusive videos are screened on the windows converted into a giant screen of SKYTREE ROUND THEATER. Also taking place during the evening, the exterior of the tower will have special “BLUE LOCK”-themed lighting inspired by various characters from the anime.

Moreover, special admission tickets to observation decks with a novelty card featuring an event-exclusive key visual are available. These limited tickets come with access to Tembo Deck and Tembo Galleria, as well as a novelty card with an illustration exclusive to the event.

TOBU TOWER SKYTREE hopes that those who come to Japan will visit and enjoy TOKYO SKYTREE on the occasion of the event.

About TOKYO SKYTREE
The 634-meter-high TOKYO SKYTREE is the world’s tallest free-standing broadcasting tower. It has two observation decks, the Tembo Deck, 350 meters high, and the Tembo Galleria, 450 meters high, commanding a spectacular panoramic view of Tokyo. At night, TOKYO SKYTREE is colorfully lit up in three lighting styles — “Iki,” characterized by a pale blue, “Miyabi,” featuring Edo purple, and the “Nobori” auspicious tangerine hue. Special lighting can be seen during seasonal and other events.

For more information, please visit the official website and social media accounts:
Website: https://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyoskytree_global/
X: https://twitter.com/skytreeofficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOKYOSKYTREE.official/

Copyright notice:
(C) Muneyuki Kaneshiro, Yusuke Nomura, KODANSHA/BLUE LOCK Production Committee
(C) TOKYO-SKYTREE

Source: TOBU TOWER SKYTREE Co., Ltd.

–BERNAMA

HIROSHIMA, Japan, Mar. 30, 2026 /Kyodo JBN/ —

-Overseas Development of Japan-grown Sprouts Rapidly Growing-

Murakami Farm Co., Ltd., announced on March 30 that the company’s sales of “Broccoli Super Sprouts,” produced by Taiwanese company “Greenvines” under license, recorded a twofold year-on-year increase in FY2025, demonstrating that its first overseas license business is rapidly gaining speed.

Boasting the top market share of sprouts in Japan, Murakami Farm entered into a license agreement for the production and sales of sprout products with Greenvines in the Taiwan region in 2021, with shipments starting in 2022.

Image1:
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M109018/202603165698/_prw_PI1fl_4VgQLye7.jpeg

Image2:
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M109018/202603165698/_prw_PI5fl_05Tfqc93.png

Murakami Farm has systematized its know-how in the selection of material seeds, production/quality management, and marketing cultivated over many years in the field of sprout products and has been providing its latest techniques to Greenvines. Behind the growth of the sprout business in the Taiwan region are increasing health awareness and high confidence in the Japanese brand among local people.

In the Taiwan region, the ratio of people eating out has rapidly risen due to the increasing number of double-income households, and inadequate intake of fresh vegetables is seen as a problem. In addition, the population in the Taiwan region is aging as in Japan, and they seem to be becoming more and more health-conscious. Under these circumstances, Broccoli Super Sprouts, containing high concentrations of the beneficial compound “sulforaphane,” is gaining increasing support mainly among highly health-conscious people. In addition, people’s sense of trust in the safety and production/quality management of the product as a licensed Japanese-branded product has supported its growing demand. As in Japan, the amount of sulforaphane contained in the product produced in the Taiwan region is also regularly measured at Murakami Farm’s Sulforaphane Laboratory to check whether the product contains an adequate amount. In this way, the company has realized a system for producing and shipping the products while also checking sulforaphane levels.

This project is one of the initiatives of Murakami Farm’s overseas license business in developing its knowledge and know-how concerning Japan-grown sprouts. In the global market, there is also increasing interest in sprout products focusing on functionality. The company has a future-based policy of further strengthening its business foundation in the Taiwan region and developing overseas license businesses mainly in Asia. By providing the latest plant factory techniques that can produce products of reliable quality throughout the year independent of environmental changes such as climate conditions, it will enhance local people’s health and promote its business growth in the expanding global market.

Image3:
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202603165698-O1-83P4gyFw.pdf

Message from President Kiyotaka Murakami & Jack Hsu, Co-founder & Chief Business Officer of Greenvines:
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202603165698-O2-pNsM5345.pdf

Broccoli Super Sprouts:
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M109018/202603165698/_prw_PA3fl_rqc69a44.pdf

Company profile:
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202603165698-O4-X2XTHq5J.pdf

Please visit: https://www.murakamifarm.com/

Source: Murakami Farm Co., Ltd.

–BERNAMA