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Dec 26, 2024 | 
mdpi.com | Yuki Fujita
1. IntroductionSpinal cord injury (SCI) affects millions of individuals worldwide, often resulting in permanent neurological deficits and substantial socio-economic burdens. SCI is a complex and debilitating condition primarily mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, which drive the secondary injury cascade [1,2,3,4,5].
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Oct 5, 2024 | 
asia.nikkei.com | Yuki Fujita
MANILA -- Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's new prime minister, is often referred to as an otaku -- a person fanatical about various aspects of popular culture. In this realm of great fascinations, the former defense minister ranks high as a military otaku who once made public comments on "Godzilla Resurgence," a seminal 2016 movie in the genre. He is also a big fan of 1970s Japanese pop idol groups.
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Oct 3, 2024 | 
asia.nikkei.com | Yuki Fujita
MANILA -- Major Philippine companies like Alliance Global Group (AGI) are planning large-scale integrated resorts with casinos amid a crackdown on online gaming led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., anticipating a rise in demand for brick-and-mortar establishments. AGI, a major conglomerate, plans to invest $700 million to build integrated resorts in Cebu and the resort island Boracay.
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Oct 2, 2024 | 
asia.nikkei.com | Yuki Fujita
MANILA -- The arrest of an influential preacher in the Philippines is widening the cracks in the relationship between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte ahead of midterm elections next year. The Philippine National Police on Sept. 8 arrested Apollo Quiboloy, founder and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church, on charges including child abuse and human trafficking.
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Sep 30, 2024 | 
asia.nikkei.com | Yuki Fujita
MANILA -- Japan Airlines has begun recruiting dozens of flight attendants in the Philippines with the help of a local staffing agency, rebooting a program that was postponed during the coronavirus pandemic as it responds to growing demand for travel to Japan. Through JAL's partnership with TDG Human Resource Management, a group of new flight attendants hired in the country is scheduled to join the company in January 2025.
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Sep 20, 2024 | 
asia.nikkei.com | Kosuke Inoue |Ryosuke Hanada |Yuki Fujita
BANGKOK/MUMBAI/MANILA -- South and Southeast Asian countries are opening their doors wider to "digital nomads," offering long-stay visas to a group they hope will in turn strengthen their own economies. The number of digital nomads -- workers not tied to a specific location, often in the technology sector or self-employed -- has soared with the rise in remote work since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. They often opt to operate out of popular tourist destinations.
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Sep 7, 2024 | 
asia.nikkei.com | Yuki Fujita
MANILA -- Purveyors of halo-halo, the iconic frosty dessert in the Philippines, are growing creative and designing their offerings with Instagram in mind. Halo-halo, which means "mix-mix" in Tagalog, is a hodgepodge packed with various flavors and textures from shaved ice and tropical fruits to jellies and sweetened beans. The treat, whose origin is said to trace to Japanese shaved ice kakigori, is found all over Manila from fast-food chains and restaurants to dedicated shops.
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Sep 6, 2024 | 
asia.nikkei.com | Yuki Fujita |Itsuro Fujino
MANILA/GUANGZHOU -- Chinese smartphone vendors have been putting longtime leader Samsung Electronics on the defensive in Southeast Asia as budget-friendly phones priced at around the equivalent of $200 proliferate. Mark Manga, a 25-year-old from the Philippines' Cavite province, bought an Infinix brand phone made by Chinese manufacturer Transsion Holdings for 9,999 pesos ($178).
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Aug 27, 2024 | 
asia.nikkei.com | Yuki Fujita
MANILA -- The operator of Philippine budget airline Cebu Pacific is spending heavily to tap into a post-pandemic rebound in travel demand, likely to be boosted by the prospect of an overhaul to an airport that had been considered one of the world's worst. Travelers are keen to visit destinations like the white sand beaches of El Nido in Palawan province, consistently ranked among the world's most beautiful.
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Jul 28, 2024 | 
asia.nikkei.com | Yuki Fujita
MANILA -- First there was J-pop. Then South Korea stole the spotlight with K-pop. Now, breakout Philippine idol group Bini are on the verge of elevating "P-pop" to a worldwide commercial and cultural sensation. The girl group is riding high after their first solo concert billed as Biniverse, which was held over three days through June 30. The concert was initially supposed to be a one-day affair, but after tickets sold out in less than two hours, more days were added.
