Reuters: Oddly Enough: Japan school trains wannabe "Santa-sans"

Reuters: Oddly Enough Reuters.com is your source for breaking news, business, financial and investing news, including personal finance and stocks. Reuters is the leading global provider of news, financial information and technology solutions to the world's media, financial institutions, businesses and individuals. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Japan school trains wannabe "Santa-sans" Nov 27th 2012, 10:35 TOKYO | Tue Nov 27, 2012 5:35am EST TOKYO (Reuters) - Magic tricks and straight answers are all part of being Santa in Japan - at least according to Tokyo's Santa Claus Academy, which trains St. Nicks in a country with little Christian tradition and a Christmas that's far more retail than religion. On a recent weekend, 88 Santa wannabes packed the school in Tokyo's fashionable Roppongi district for a crash course in how to behave as "Santa-san," as the man in red is known in Japan. "There are many children who don't believe in Santa Claus anymore," said Masaki Azuma, head of the school. "So I said to myself, 'Let's bring Santa Claus back.'" The morning session began with Azuma training students in the mindset of being Santa Claus, such as not to reply to anything unless addressed as "Santa-san," along with teaching them magic tricks, which Azuma recommends as a good ice-breaker for often shy tots. The rest of the session was devoted to answering the difficult questions that children have a habit of posing, such as "My house doesn't have a chimney and we also have a security system, so how will you be able to come in and deliver my present?" The academy's answer is that Santa, whose job is to deliver presents no matter what, will find a way. Also, the home security system should recognize him and let him in. After this, the students dressed in their Santa outfits to stroll streets in the busy Omotesando district, exchanging high fives with shoppers and occasionally stopping to pose for pictures. "Not only were we able to attract attention, we also interacted and made each other's days," said Kazuko Iida, who visits local preschools and retirement homes during the Christmas season. Despite nearing 70, Azuma has vowed to press on with his school, believing it has a key role to fulfill. "Even as times change, Santa Claus is a figure that needs to live in the hearts of everyone," he said. (Reporting by Kimiteru Tsuruta, editing by Elaine Lies) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Read more »

Reuters: Oddly Enough: South Korean church to end car venture with North: source

Reuters: Oddly Enough Reuters.com is your source for breaking news, business, financial and investing news, including personal finance and stocks. Reuters is the leading global provider of news, financial information and technology solutions to the world's media, financial institutions, businesses and individuals. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

South Korean church to end car venture with North: source Nov 27th 2012, 09:47 Reverend Moon Sun-myung, head of South Korea's Unification Church, takes part in the awards ceremony after the 2007 Peace Cup Korea final soccer match at the World Cup Stadium in Seoul in this July 21, 2007 file photo. Credit: Reuters/Jo Yong-Hak/Files By Ju-min Park SEOUL | Tue Nov 27, 2012 4:47am EST SEOUL (Reuters) - One of the more bizarre joint ventures in car-making is set to come to an end following the death of the head of South Korea's Unification Church which it is to give its stake in the Pyeonghwa Motors operation to North Korea. Pyeonghwa, which produces models based on ageing Fiat SpA designs as well as those of Brilliance China Automotive Holdings, is the sole carmaker in isolated North Korea, although few of its impoverished citizens are able to afford its products. "Pyeonghwa Motors' South Korean side is planning to pull out from the joint automaker and donate its 70 percent stake to the North," said a source familiar with the transaction, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue. Spokesmen for the church were not immediately available for comment. Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the Unification Church and a sprawling business empire, died in September aged 92. He was born in what is now North Korea The church's joint venture with North Korea, set up in 2002, was one of the few to survive a freeze in relations between the North and South following the shooting of a South Korean tourist in 2008 by North Korean troops. "The Unification Church's Moon made a will to give back the auto business with the North before he passed away. It is not because its business wasn't doing well," said the source. Pyeonghwa produces about 2,000 vehicles a year, according to the source, in a country where most independent estimates say that gross domestic product per capita is less than $2,000. Other estimates put Pyeonghwa's output at 1,000 cars a year or less. While many North Koreans can only dream of owning a car, it appears that the country's top leadership prefers something a little more upmarket. When leader Kim Jong-il died in December last year, he took his final journey atop an aged Lincoln Continental, which was accompanied by a fleet of black Mercedes sedans. Pyeonghwa is based in the North Korean city of Nampho and the company says on its website (www.pyeonghwamotors.com/eng/) that its 10.76 million square foot factory has the capacity to produce 10,000 vehicles a year. It listed sales as 1,873 vehicles in 2011. North Korea has vowed to become a "strong and prosperous nation" by 2012, although initial expectations that its youthful new leader Kim Jong-un would open the country for more business appear to have been dashed. Investors from China, the North main diplomatic and economic backer, have complained that they have been shaken down while doing business there. (Writing by David Chance; Editing by Robert Birsel) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Read more »

Reuters: Oddly Enough: World's first toilet park flush with success in Korea

Reuters: Oddly Enough Reuters.com is your source for breaking news, business, financial and investing news, including personal finance and stocks. Reuters is the leading global provider of news, financial information and technology solutions to the world's media, financial institutions, businesses and individuals. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

World's first toilet park flush with success in Korea Nov 27th 2012, 03:28 By Jane Chung SUWON, South Korea | Mon Nov 26, 2012 10:28pm EST SUWON, South Korea (Reuters) - Rodin's Thinker is pondering even harder than usual as he sits astride a toilet at what has been dubbed the world's first theme park dedicated to the humble restroom - a monument to one South Korean man's vision. The park, located about an hour outside of Seoul in the city of Suwon - otherwise known as the home of Samsung Electronics - centers around a toilet-shaped museum building that was once the home of Sim Jae-duck, founder and first president of the World Toilet Association. Legend has it that Sim, a former Suwon mayor who made his fortune with a metal products business and was dubbed "Mr Toilet," was born in his impoverished grandmother's outhouse. "He is a man whose life literally began in a toilet and ended at a commode-shaped house," said Lee Yeun-sook, manager of planning at the "Mr Toilet Sim Jae-duck Foundation". Sim, who died in 2009 at the age of 70, shot to fame in South Korea when he provided loos for soccer fans when the country hosted the 2002 World Cup. The organization he founded has as its mission spreading the benefits of hygienic toilets around the world, joining the like-minded World Toilet Organization based in Singapore. Before Mr.Toilet's house was donated to Suwon city, visitors could book it for an overnight stay, but at the cost of $50,000 a night - the charge to raise money for a toilet building charity. There were no takers. Other exhibits at the park include Korean traditional squat toilets, European bedpans, and Marcel Duchamp's sculpture "Fountain," a porcelain urinal. Suwon has since dubbed itself the mecca of toilet culture and has pushed to get toilets recognized as a central part of everyday life. It has funded toilet building programs in developing countries such as the Philippines. At home, toilet conditions have rapidly improved as South Korean living standards shot from poverty to riches in a generation. "For our generation, a toilet was a very dirty and smelly place where you never wanted to go," said Kim Gye-soon, a 52-year-old tourist at the theme park. "But now it is totally different." Suwon will continue the life-work of one of its most famous sons by constructing a toilet culture center in 2014 near the current park, which has attracted about 40,000 visitors since it opened in July. Like many of the best things in life, the toilet museum is free. "Going to the restroom is as vital as eating. In a sense, nations and governments should work to make sure everyone has an equal access to toilets and feels happiness in there," said Lee. (Reporting By Jane Chung, editing by Elaine Lies) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Read more »

Reuters: Oddly Enough: Three from California family drown in ocean trying to save dog

Reuters: Oddly Enough Reuters.com is your source for breaking news, business, financial and investing news, including personal finance and stocks. Reuters is the leading global provider of news, financial information and technology solutions to the world's media, financial institutions, businesses and individuals. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Three from California family drown in ocean trying to save dog Nov 26th 2012, 22:56 By Ronnie Cohen SAN FRANCISCO | Mon Nov 26, 2012 5:56pm EST SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A California mother and father and their 16-year-old son were swept out to sea over the weekend after a deadly chain of events set off when the teenager jumped into frigid waters to save the family dog from turbulent Pacific Ocean waves. The dog escaped on his own from the water off the Northern California coast. But Howard Kuljian, 50, and Mary Scott, 54, of Eureka died while their 16-year-old son, Gregory Kuljian, remained lost at sea, said Deputy Ariel Gruenthal of the Humboldt County Coroner's office. "The dog was able to get out somehow," said Dana Jones, a state parks and recreation district superintendent. "It's very sad, and we just always have to be aware when we're around the ocean that nature is sometimes out of control." The tragedy began on Saturday afternoon while the family, including an 18-year-old daughter who was unharmed, was walking with Gregory's girlfriend along a steep beach at Big Lagoon, about 270 miles north of San Francisco, Jones said. Howard Kuljian threw the dog a stick, she said, and a wave, possibly as high as 10 feet, pulled the animal into the water. The son went in first to try to rescue his dog, Jones said. "Then the father went in to save the son. The mother was swept in at that point," she said. "The waves are big and powerful, and that's a very steep beach. The waves pound the beach. When the waves are pounding like that, you don't have a chance to breathe." A bystander summoned help while Olivia Kuljian, 18, and Gregory's girlfriend, Lily Loncar, 16, watched in horror, Gruenthal said. Rescuers found the bodies of Howard Kuljian and Scott close to the shore, Jones said. The U.S. Coast Guard searched by air and sea for Gregory, but fog, darkness and the impossibility of survival prompted them to quit on Saturday evening, said Lieutenant Bernie Carrigan of the Coast Guard. He estimated the water temperature at between 55 and 57 degrees, so cold that hypothermia would rapidly set in, though a dog's coat would protect against it. "It's kind of a reminder to never turn your back on the ocean," Carrigan said. "It's neat to see that kind of power. It's also dangerous." (Editing By Cynthia Johnston and Andrew Hay) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Read more »

Reuters: Oddly Enough: Grandfather takes China by storm - as women's fashion model

Reuters: Oddly Enough Reuters.com is your source for breaking news, business, financial and investing news, including personal finance and stocks. Reuters is the leading global provider of news, financial information and technology solutions to the world's media, financial institutions, businesses and individuals. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Grandfather takes China by storm - as women's fashion model Nov 26th 2012, 20:39 1 of 12. 72-year-old Liu Qianping, also known as ''MaDiGaGa'', poses during a modelling shoot in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou November 24, 2012. Liu was visiting his 24-year-old granddaughter, Lu Ting in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou one day when the women's clothes Lu was packing into boxes caught his eye. His visit came as the model that his granddaughter and four friends had booked for a photo shoot to promote their online fashion business suddenly cancelled, so, Liu, a 72-year-old former farmer visiting to escape the chilly winter of central Hunan province, stepped in to help. Picture taken November 24, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Tyrone Siu By Stefanie McIntyre GUANGZHOU, China | Mon Nov 26, 2012 3:39pm EST GUANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - Liu Qianping was visiting his 24-year-old granddaughter in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou recently when the women's clothes the aspiring fashion entrepreneur was packing into boxes caught his eye. His visit came as the model that granddaughter Lu Ting and four friends had booked for a photo shoot to promote their online fashion business suddenly canceled, dealing a setback to their new venture. But Liu, a 72-year-old former farmer visiting to escape the chilly winter of central Hunan province, stepped in to help. "I walked into the room and saw them packing up some clothes and I thought they looked quite interesting and quite cute," Liu told Reuters. "So I tried on a jacket and they found it really funny, and I thought it was quite funny. So they asked if they could take pictures of me and post them on the Internet to sell the clothes. And I said, 'why not?'" It was at that time two weeks ago that a star was born. Liu, known affectionately as "MaDiGaGa" - funny elderly - is now one of China's most recognized models. Delighted with his new fame, Liu says he now sometimes looks at fashion program on television for ideas on how to pose but generally relies on Ting's team for direction. He does, however, have his own opinions on styling. "He will tell us which items should be stronger and what should be improved," Ting said. "He really likes bright, contrasting colors while I prefer more tone-on-tone combinations. So he gives lots of advice when we try different combinations, so we have some very different styles." Since her grandfather became involved, visits to their online site have increased four-fold and continue to rise. Liu, who traveled to Shanghai with his daughter for the first time last week after they were invited to appear on television, said he had been approached by other companies to model for them but had turned them down. "I never dreamed of lucky things like these happening to me. Now, my name has spread to everywhere in the country," he said. Ting has been criticized on the Internet and accused of using her grandfather, but he insists the experience has put a spring in his step and she says they are now closer than ever. "We have no firm plans on how long we will continue, it depends on my grandfather," Ting said. "If he is happy and his health is fine, we will keep using him as our model." To see our TV version of this story please click on: http://here . (This story has been refiled to fix link to TV item) (Reporting by Stefanie McIntyre, editing by Elaine Lies and Anne Marie Roantree) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Read more »

Reuters: Oddly Enough: Grandfather takes China by storm - as women's fashion model

Reuters: Oddly Enough Reuters.com is your source for breaking news, business, financial and investing news, including personal finance and stocks. Reuters is the leading global provider of news, financial information and technology solutions to the world's media, financial institutions, businesses and individuals. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Grandfather takes China by storm - as women's fashion model Nov 26th 2012, 08:03 GUANGZHOU, China | Mon Nov 26, 2012 3:03am EST GUANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - Liu Qianping was visiting his 24-year-old granddaughter in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou recently when the women's clothes the aspiring fashion entrepreneur was packing into boxes caught his eye. His visit came as the model that granddaughter Lv Ting and four friends had booked for a photo shoot to promote their online fashion business suddenly canceled, dealing a setback to their new venture. But Liu, a 72-year-old former farmer visiting to escape the chilly winter of central Hunan province, stepped in to help. "I walked into the room and saw them packing up some clothes and I thought they looked quite interesting and quite cute," Liu told Reuters. "So I tried on a jacket and they found it really funny, and I thought it was quite funny. So they asked if they could take pictures of me and post them on the Internet to sell the clothes. And I said, 'why not?'" It was at that time two weeks ago that a star was born. Liu, known affectionately as "MaDiGaGa" - funny elderly - is now one of China's most recognized models. Delighted with his new fame, Liu says he now sometimes looks at fashion programs on television for ideas on how to pose but generally relies on Ting's team for direction. He does, however, have his own opinions on styling. "He will tell us which items should be stronger and what should be improved," Ting said. "He really likes bright, contrasting colors while I prefer more tone-on-tone combinations. So he gives lots of advice when we try different combinations, so we have some very different styles." Since her grandfather became involved, visits to their online site have increased four-fold and continue to rise. Liu, who traveled to Shanghai with his daughter for the first time last week after they were invited to appear on television, said he had been approached by other companies to model for them but had turned them down. "I never dreamed of lucky things like these happening to me. Now, my name has spread to everywhere in the country," he said. Ting has been criticized on the Internet and accused of using her grandfather, but he insists the experience has put a spring in his step and she says they are now closer than ever. "We have no firm plans on how long we will continue, it depends on my grandfather," Ting said. "If he is happy and his health is fine, we will keep using him as our model." (Reporting by Stefanie McIntyre, editing by Elaine Lies and Anne Marie Roantree) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Read more »

Reuters: Oddly Enough: UK circus owner found guilty of elephant cruelty

Reuters: Oddly Enough Reuters.com is your source for breaking news, business, financial and investing news, including personal finance and stocks. Reuters is the leading global provider of news, financial information and technology solutions to the world's media, financial institutions, businesses and individuals. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

UK circus owner found guilty of elephant cruelty Nov 23rd 2012, 17:29 LONDON | Fri Nov 23, 2012 12:29pm EST LONDON (Reuters) - A British circus owner was given a conditional discharge on Friday for causing unnecessary suffering to an Asian elephant by keeping her chained up and allowing a handler to beat her. Bobby Roberts, 69, was convicted of three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Northampton Crown Court heard that Anne, an arthritic, 58-year-old elephant was kept tethered to the ground by one front leg and one back leg at all times. Roberts failed to give Anne her arthritis medicine and to prevent a handler from repeatedly beating the animal. Roberts told the court he would never have condoned the beatings. Secret film of the beatings taken by rights group Animal Defenders International (ADI) formed a key part of the prosecution case. Roberts's wife Moira, 75, was cleared of the same three charges following a five-day trial. Both she and her husband had denied the charges. The Press Association reported that District Judge David Chinnery told Bobby Roberts he recognized that he had not directly inflicted the suffering, adding that he had cared for animals "for the greater part of your 70 years without criticism from any quarter. "No cruelty was administered by your own hand. The chaining I regard as serious but the real cruelty it seems to me was inflicted by your groom, a man whom you had entrusted with the care of Anne, behind your back and without your knowledge." The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) issued a statement after the verdict. "Today should serve as a warning that those who mistreat animals can expect to face prosecution," it said. But ADI was disappointed with the sentence. "Despite the considerable suffering caused to Anne the elephant, the sentencing meted out to Mr Roberts is derisory and provides no faith that the Animal Welfare Act can protect animals in circuses," ADI Chief Executive Jan Creamer said in a statement. In April 2011, as a result of the secret filming, Anne was taken away from the Super Circus in Polebrook, Northamptonshire owned by Roberts, and re-homed at a safari park. She was born in the wild in Sri Lanka in 1954, the ADI website said. In 2001 her offspring Janie and Beverly died suddenly, leaving Anne alone, the website added. (Reporting By Dasha Afanasieva, editing by Paul Casciato) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Read more »