Matsumoto - City of Music Lovers

The old castle town of Matsumoto has a long history of serious music making and appreciation. Highlight of the city's musical year is the Saito Kinen Festival, held in memory of the late classical conductor Hideo Saito, which attracts over 100,000 music lovers to listen to performance by 300 world class performances. This year, a 1,000-strong chorus selected by audition from Matsumoto and around Japan sings Beethoven's Ninth.

Breeding the Blue fin

Worldwide demand for blue fin tuna is rapidly depleting wild stocks of this fish. Delicate and elusive despite its huge size, the blue fin has been one of the most difficult species to breed in captivity. After 32 years of research, Kinki University scientists have finally succeeded with full-cycle artificial cultivation of the blue fin tuna in what is hoped will be a major contribution to world fishing resources.

Living Together

Seniors living alone, young couples both at work, singles, people with disabilities, one-child nuclear families - the traditional extended family is all but disappearing, especially in huge cities like Tokyo. One answer to the loneliness of divided generations may be a new style of condominium, where tenants rent their own apartments but share family-style dining, bathing, recreation and childcare facilities.