Today in Japan

On October 25th, 1951, Japan Airlines started the first regular domestic flights since World War II, linking Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka. In the first year, the flights were actually run by the American airline Northwest, with its planes and pilots. JAL began flying on its own in 1952. Today, flying between Tokyo and Fukuoka is one of the busiest air routes in Japan.

This day was set up by JA Zen-Noh Niigata, the farmers' cooperative group in Niigata Prefecture. The date comes from a word game: 10-25 is read as "ii okome, Niigata Koshihikari," or "good rice, Niigata Koshihikari." Niigata grows more rice than any other prefecture, and Koshihikari is its best-known variety. Late October is also when new-crop rice fills the shops.

Industrial tourism means visiting places where things are made or were made, like factories, old mines and museums about industry. This day is said to come from an industrial tourism summit held in Nagoya in 2001. The Nagoya area is a good place for it, because it has long been a center of car and machine making. Factory tours are popular with school groups and families in Japan.