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First Japanese “onsen,” bath house where many patrons relax naked together in mineral-rich water, opening in U.S.
One of Japan’s top luxury hotel firms will open an “onsen” hot spring resort in upstate New York that it says will be the first Japanese-run venture of its kind in the United States.
Japanese onsens — bath houses where patrons relax naked together in mineral-rich water of various temperatures — are a major domestic industry beloved by both locals and tourists.
Hoshino Resorts said it will open its new inn in the small town of Sharon Springs in 2028, marking its second foray into the world’s largest economy after failing to win over North Americans during Japan’s 1980s boom years.
“The biggest lesson we learned in the 80s is that if a Japanese hotel operator wishes to enter the U.S. market, it must meet strong expectations for its concept to reflect Japanese culture,” the firm said Thursday in a statement.
“The move will mark the first opening of an onsen inn in the United States by a Japanese hotel firm,” it said.
Sharon Springs was once a vibrant hot spring and tourist hub but need revitalization after losing its glory over the past 100 years — making it the perfect location for a new hotel, Hoshino Resorts said.
The “ryokan” inn will have up to 70 guest rooms, according to Japanese media.
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Swedish hip-hop star reportedly gunned down in parking garage in shooting captured on camera
Swedish police said Friday a man had been shot dead in a parking garage in the city of Norrkoping, with media identifying the victim as the rapper Gaboro, who reportedly had links to criminal gangs.
A video purporting to show the killing quickly spread on social networks. In the video, seemingly filmed with a camera worn by the shooter, a person carrying a handgun can be seen firing multiple shots in a car garage.
Police said they were aware of the video and that it was part of their investigation.
They said a man in his 20s, who had been found injured at the scene on Thursday morning, was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Police said in a statement that they were seeking information about a silver station wagon that may be connected to the case.
“The police are still working very intensively on the case, which is classified as murder,” the statement said.
Multiple media outlets reported that the man was the rapper Gaboro, whose songs have been streamed millions of times on Swedish music streaming giant Spotify.
Sweden has seen a rise in gang shootings and bombings linked to score-settling between rival groups, with police struggling to control the illicit drug market.
Several high-profile artists have previously been victims of the violence.
In June, 26-year-old rapper C.Gambino — whose real name is Karar Ramadan and is not to be confused with American rapper Childish Gambino — was killed in a shooting. He had been named the country’s hip-hop artist of the year the month before.
Another award-winning Swedish rapper, Einar, was shot and killed in Stockholm in a gang conflict in October 2021.
Nevertheless, police told Reuters this week that they were making headway in their effort to curb. deadly gang violence, resulting in fewer shootings and shooting deaths.
“This is the first time we have seen the trend pointing clearly downwards over an extended period of time,” Police National Operations Department head Johan Olsson told Reuters.
Last year, 53 people died in 363 shootings, which often took place in public and sometimes claimed the lives of innocent victims and passers-by.
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Government shutdown looms as plan backed by President-elect Trump fails in Congress
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How TSA and holiday travel could be affected by looming government shutdown
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