A: Hey there! Check out this cool news! B: What's up? A: Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away characters are now fashion trends! You can wear different Spirited Away hats every day of the week! B: Really? Which ones? A: No Face is a big one! He's even got his own 59Fifty cap, where he seems to be eating New Era logo like food! B: Wow, that's funny! A: There's also a 9Twnety-style cap where No Face looks like a sports mascot and another one with Haku in his dragon form. B: Cool! I like Haku! A: There are more caps too, some with No Face causing chaos at the back, others with Soot Sprites enjoying candy... B: This is awesome! How much do they cost? A: Prices start at 4,400 yen for the Soot Sprite cap and go up to 6,600 yen for the one with No Face posing like a bodybuilder. B: Not bad! I'll have to check them out! A: They're available at Studio Ghibli specialty store Donguri Kyowakoku after a recent restock. You can order online too! B: Thanks for telling me about this, I'm excited to see them!

These Spirited Away characters may not be able to talk, but they’ve still got seven ways to help you make a fashion statement. When Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away received the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003, you could say it marked a turning point for anime. While the medium had long been popular in Japan and enjoyed support from pockets of enthusiasts outside its home country, Spirited Away’s Oscar win made a tremendous difference in legitimizing Japanese animation as a cinematic art among mainstream critics and audiences, ushering a new age of global respect for, and interest in, anime. However, what we’re taking a look at today is Spirited Away and the similar capitalized New Age, as the American headwear maker has enough Spirited Away hats that you could wear a different one every day of the week. When looking for muses to draw inspiration from within the Spirited Away cast, you can’t leave out No Face, and even if you tried to, the guy would probably just let himself into the party anyway. Embroidered at the front of the 59Fifty structured cap, No Face also looks to be helping himself to the New Era logo, having seemingly tossed it towards his mouth like yet another morsel plucked from the dinner spread laid out by the attendants in the bathhouse of the gods. ▼ Spirited Away’s Japanese-language title, Sen to Chihiro to Kamikakushi, is written in Japanese on the side of the closed back cap. This is far from the last we’ll see of No Face in this collection, though. He takes on a bit of a sporty persona with this 9Twnety-style cap, with a patch making him look a little like a baseball team mascot. Once again, the design features Japanese text, with abura, the first kanji in the name of the of the Aburaya bathhouse where written at the back right of the cap and “Studio Ghibli” above its opening. If you prefer your Ghibli heroes to be a bit more dashing than an amorphous blob with a mouth in his stomach, this 9Thirty cap has Haku, in his dragon form. The asymmetrical artwork includes a flock of with Yubaba’s sentient shikigami paper talismans giving chase. A pair of 9Fifty caps, with structured crowns and flat brims, have No Face at the front and a collection of symbols that appear in the anime rendered in a neon sign-like motif. No Face is looking quite a bit less docile at the back, though, where he’s seen rampaging and giving Boh and Yu-Bird a fright. Rounding out the baseball cap collection is a 9Forty A-Frame with a structured crown, curved brim, and, most importantly, a whole bunch of Soot Sprites, or susuwatari, as the version of the creatures seen in Spirited Away are also called. ▼ The industrious little guys can be seen enjoying some konpeito candy after a hard day’s work. And last, the final piece of headwear mixes things up with a bucket hat design that makes it look like No Face it circling around your noggin. Prices start at 4,400 yen (US$29) for the Soot Sprite cap, with the round-emblem No Face and Haku designs 4,620 yen, the bucket hat 5,500, the black and white rampaging No Face versions 6,050, and the 59Fifty with No Face posing with his arms thrown out wide 6,600 yen. The entire lineup is available through Studio Ghibli specialty store Donguri Kyowakoku after a recent restock, and can be ordered through the chain’s online shop here. Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Posted: SoftBank Group and Nvidia are in talks to lead an investment of over $1 billion at a $14 billion valuation in Skild AI, a software company building a foundational robotics model, Reuters reported. The nearly three-year-old startup was last valued at $4.7 billion in May when it raised $500 million in a round led by SoftBank along with the participation of LG Technology Ventures, Samsung, Nvidia, and others, according to PitchBook data. Skild didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. SoftBank and Nvidia declined to comment. Unlike other heavily funded startups, Skild AI is not building proprietary hardware. Instead, it’s developing a robot-agnostic foundation model that can be customized for various types of robots and use cases. The company unveiled its general-purpose robot model Skild Brain in July with videos showing robots picking up dishes and climbing up and down the stairs. The company has secured strategic partnerships with LG CNS and Hewlett Packard Enterprise to develop its ecosystem. Investor interest in AI robotics has been steadily growing. Physical Intelligence, another company developing “brains” for a broad range of robots, has reportedly recently raised $600 million at a $5.6 billion valuation led by CapitalG. One investor who evaluated but declined to fund Physical Intelligence told TechCrunch that its model is still in the early stages of development. In September, Figure, a company developing a humanoid robot, raised more than $1 billion at a massive $39 billion valuation. Meanwhile, 1X, another humanoid robot developer, was in talks to secure as much as $1 billion at a $10 billion valuation, The Information reported several months ago. Topics © 2025 TechCrunch Media LLC. Quiz 1: Question text: As of the latest funding round in May 2022, Skild AI was valued at what amount? A. $1 billion B. $4.7 billion C. $500 million D. $39 billion Quiz 2: Question text: Which of the following companies did not participate in Skild AI's funding round in May 2022? A. SoftBank Group B. LG Technology Ventures C. Samsung D. Nvidia Quiz 3: Question text: What is the primary focus of Skild AI's work, according to the article? A. Building proprietary hardware B. Developing a robot-agnostic foundation model C. Creating humanoid robots D. Developing "brains" for a broad range of robots [Answer block] Answers: Quiz 1: B Quiz 2: A Quiz 3: B

1. Researchers at Chiba University, Japan, have developed a nasal vaccine for cervical cancer using a substance derived from the human papillomavirus. 2. The vaccine induces immune cells to attack cervical cancer cells, and it was successful in destroying cancer cells in mice tests and inducing immune cells at the cervix in monkey tests. 3. The researchers aim to test the vaccine's effectiveness on humans, hoping to provide a new method of treatment that doesn't require surgery or radiation therapy.

Researchers at Japan's Chiba University have successfully removed cervical cancer cells from mice by administering a vaccine designed to induce immune cells. About 10,000 women in Japan develop cervical cancer per year. Patients undergo treatments, such as surgery and radiation therapy, but they suffer aftereffects and are said to face higher risks of infertility or miscarriage. A group led by Nakahashi Rika, Specially Appointed Associate Professor at Chiba University Hospital, developed a vaccine from a substance derived from the human papillomavirus, the main cause of cervical cancer. This vaccine, which is administered nasally, induces immune cells that attack cervical cancer cells. In tests using mice, the vaccine destroyed cancer cells. It was also confirmed to have induced immune cells to the cervix in tests using monkeys. The group announced its findings in a US science journal. It hopes this will lead to a new method of treatment that does not involve surgery or radiation therapy. Nakahashi says they confirmed the vaccine's effectiveness in mice and other subjects, so they will now test whether it works in humans and aim to put it to practical use. Quiz 1: Which university is leading the research on removing cervical cancer cells from mice? A. Kyoto University B. Chiba University C. Osaka University D. Hokkaido University Quiz 2: What is the main cause of cervical cancer, as mentioned in the article? A. Human papillomavirus (HPV) B. Breast cancer virus C. Liver disease bacteria D. Lung cancer fungus Quiz 3: What type of therapy could be replaced by this new method, as suggested in the article? A. Chemotherapy B. Surgery C. Radiation therapy D. Hormone therapy

A: Hey there! Did you hear about the news? B: Nah, what's up? A: Well, looks like our government's thinking about increasing the departure tax! B: Really now? How much are they planning to raise it? A: They want to triple it! So, it would be around 3,000 yen. B: That's quite a bit! But why are they doing this? A: Seems like they wanna use the extra money to deal with the issues caused by too many tourists, you know, overtourism problems. B: Oh, I see. The current tax is already more than 6 dollars. It's included in ticket prices for everyone leaving Japan, even Japanese citizens. A: Yeah! And last year they made around 52 billion yen from the international tourist tax alone. B: Wow, that's a lot of money! They're also considering reducing the cost of getting a passport for Japanese nationals to help lower the impact on citizens who travel abroad. A: Exactly! The plan is to include this in next year's tax reform guidelines. Sounds like we might be paying more when we go overseas!

1. The Japanese government and ruling coalition are considering increasing the departure tax from 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen (approximately $6 to $20). 2. The increased revenue is intended to address issues caused by overtourism in Japan. 3. To help offset this higher charge for Japanese citizens, there are discussions about lowering the cost of obtaining a passport for Japanese nationals.

NHK has learned that Japan's government and the ruling coalition are discussing plans to triple the country's departure tax. Lawmakers say the additional revenue could be used to tackle problems caused by overtourism. The current tax of 1,000 yen, or more than 6 dollars, is incorporated into the price of air and other tickets. All travelers leaving the country pay the charge, including Japanese citizens. The international tourist tax generated 52 billion yen, or 330 million dollars for government coffers in fiscal 2024 that ended in March. Policymakers aim to raise the levy to 3,000 yen. The discussions include lowering the cost of obtaining a passport for Japanese nationals to help offset the higher charge on citizens making overseas trips. A proposal to raise the levy is expected to be included in tax reform guidelines for fiscal 2026, which begins in April next year. Quiz 1: What is the current departure tax per traveler in Japan? A. 500 yen B. 1,000 yen (approximately 6 dollars) C. 2,000 yen D. 3,000 yen Quiz 2: How much did the international tourist tax generate for the government in fiscal year 2024? A. 11 billion yen (approximately 70 million dollars) B. 33 billion yen (approximately 330 million dollars) C. 52 billion yen D. 88 billion yen (approximately 600 million dollars) Quiz 3: In which fiscal year is the proposal to raise the departure tax expected to be included in tax reform guidelines? A. Fiscal 2025, beginning in April 2025 B. Fiscal 2026, beginning in April 2026 C. Fiscal 2027, beginning in April 2027 D. Fiscal 2024, beginning in April 2024 [Answer block] Answers: Quiz 1: B Quiz 2: C Quiz 3: B

A: Hey, have you been to KidZania Tokyo lately? B: Nah, what's new there? A: They opened a new work zone in partnership with construction giant Haseko Corporation! It's all about building and maintaining multi-story residential buildings. B: Wait, really? Can kids learn about that and earn money too? A: Yup! The new Mansion Construction Site is like an actual construction site with real equipment. They even wear Haseko uniforms! There are three activities for different ages, including constructing the entrance as a construction engineer or inspecting and repairing things as a maintenance engineer. B: That sounds pretty cool! What do they actually get to do in each activity? A: Well, as a construction engineer, kids install floor panels and build exterior walls with "bricks" and mortar. As a maintenance engineer, they check safety equipment, repair the exterior wall panels, or inspect drainpipes for blockages using RFID technology. B: Wow, that's some real-world stuff! Seems like a great learning experience for kids. A: Definitely! They even learn about teamwork and safety. And if you need a break from all the fun, there's a Starbucks nearby with kid-friendly menu items. B: Cool, I'll have to check it out someday! Thanks for telling me about this. :)

Kids can learn about the construction and maintenance processes of multi-story residential buildings while earning their own currency. KidZania is a Mexican chain of “edutainment” amusement parks that combine educational experiences with entertainment by allowing kids to role play different professions within a constructed city. Furthermore, they earn kidZos currency for completing jobs, which they can then use to buy goods or services throughout the city. There are currently three locations in Japan: KidZania Tokyo, KidZania Koshien, and KidZania Fukuoka. KidZania Tokyo has previously made it onto a list of the top 20 places to go in Tokyo as chosen by travelers. A new work zone in partnership with construction giant Haseko Corporation opened at KidZania Tokyo on December 3, and we were invited to tag along with some kids trying out the new space to see what it was like. The official opening ceremony of the new zone was presided over by Haseko Corporation President Satoshi Kumano and KidZania Tokyo President Michinari Tsumuraya. In addition, special guest and former professional boxer Daisuke Naito was also in attendance. He was previously an employee of Haseko Corporation while pursuing his boxing career. The new Mansion Construction Site (“mansion” in Japanese refers to a multi-story apartment building) is a faithful representation of an actual construction site complete with full-scale scaffolding and equipment. It’s also three stories tall, making it unusually high for most buildings at KidZania. There are three activities for kids to try in this zone: constructing the entrance as a construction engineer (recommended for ages three and up), and inspecting the drainpipes and replacing the exterior wall panels as a maintenance engineer (recommended for ages six and up). As the latter two activities require kids to be hoisted on a harness to the second and third stories, there’s also a 120-centimeter (47.2-inch) minimum height requirement. Each task takes approximately 35 minutes to complete and pays 10 kidZos. Kids don actual uniforms and helmets from Haseko Corporation, which makes the experience feel even more authentic. The outfits vary slightly depending on which activity the child chooses to complete. Let’s take a peek at each of the three activities in more depth. In the construction engineer role, kids install floor panels at the entryway of the apartment building. It also involves construction of an exterior wall using “bricks” (made from a soft material for safety purposes) as well as gray parts designed to resemble mortar. The little workers have to carefully add the bricks and mortar in alternating layers. They even have to check their work using a level tool! Next, let’s take a look at the two activities kids can perform as maintenance engineers. Just as in the real world, these jobs begin with a safety inspection of their equipment. The outfit includes an authentic Fujii Denko safety harness designed specially for kids. As they begin to climb the stairs to the second-story scaffolding, they’re instructed to hold onto the handrails with both hands. In fact, special attention to safety has been built into the scaffolding itself, with shock absorbers lining the corners. The first task is to repair the exterior wall panels. When they reach the worksite, they must clip their harnesses onto a ceiling rod for safety purposes. Let the work commence! The kids use an electric screwdriver to begin removing parts of the outer wall. The wall is realistically constructed, consisting of several layers including insulation. It’s a great opportunity to learn about what makes up a building’s structure. The final test comes when they use a light to confirm whether there are any deficiencies before replacing the panels. The second task is to inspect the drainpipes. The little workers first receive an explanation from their supervisor about the different types of pipes. It’s then time to inspect the pipes from top to bottom to make sure that there are no blockages–and if there are, they must fix the issue. They also get to use cool technology by dropping a ball equipped with an RFID tag into the pipes to check for blockages. We watched as the kids tracked the balls on an electronic device and identified any clogs that needed to be fixed. This method is an example of Haseko Corporation’s “Drain Trace” pipe testing system. The process was complete when they confirmed that the ball had successfully reached the first floor with no obstructions. It was pretty cool stuff to watch on the sidelines! That’s a wrap on KidZania Tokyo’s new Mansion Construction Site. It was clear that the kids we watched all had a blast and learned the importance of teamwork in the field of construction. Plus, even the grown-ups learned a lot from the supervisors’ instructions about what goes into this kind of work. If you need an adult pick-me-up at the end of your KidZania Tokyo experience, you might want to end your outing at the Starbucks location just north of Tokyo that’s also kids-friendly with special menu items to boot. Attraction information KidZania Tokyo / キッザニア東京 Address: Tokyo-to, Koto-ku, Toyosu 2-4-9 Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu, North Port 3rd floor 東京都江東区豊洲 2−4−9 アーバンドック ららぽーと豊洲１ ノースポート３階 Website All images © SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!