Beautiful Brutalism: 3 Concrete Havens in Saga Prefecture

BRutalist architecture in Japan preceded the more well-known Metabolism movement, of which Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower was one of the most recognizable examples. Both styles heavily favor concrete as the main material and geometric styles to create a strikingly unnatural design.

It’s hard to pinpoint Japan’s initial massive shift toward concrete — and, accordingly, its move away from wood — to a specific time in history, though one theory suggests this significant change started in the mid-1920s. One primary factor was likely the devasting Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, as a considerable percentage of the death toll was attributed to fires fueled by the debris of wooden houses.

While notable Brutalist institutions worldwide are being dismantled, demolished or renovated, some of Saga’s most prominent municipal facilities remain examples of Japan’s past Brutalist. Three structures in particular stand out and make a great stop for any solo traveler through Kyushu.

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Direxion Daily Travel & Vacation Bull 2X Shares (NYSEARCA:OOTO) Shares Sold by IFP Advisors Inc

IFP Advisors Inc decreased its position in shares of Direxion Daily Travel & Vacation Bull 2X Shares (NYSEARCA:OOTO – Get Rating) by 76.9% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 4,350 shares of the company’s stock after selling 14,520 shares during the quarter. IFP Advisors Inc’s holdings in Direxion Daily Travel & Vacation Bull 2X Shares were worth $109,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Separately, Jane Street Group LLC increased its stake in Director Daily Travel & Vacation Bull 2X Shares by 95.1% during the second quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 61,004 shares of the company’s stock worth $543,000 after purchasing an additional 29,730 shares during the period.

Direction Daily Travel & Vacation Bull 2X Shares Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:OOTO opened at $11.65 on Monday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $12.06 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.94. Direxion Daily

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What Travelers Need To Know About Spain’s New Rules For Visitors

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Spain is one of Europe’s most popular vacation destinations and the second-most visited country in the world. More than 49 million foreign tourists visited Spain in 2022.

Flamenco dancers dancing on the street in Seville, Spain.

It’s easy to see why. Spain boasts year-round sunshine, a rich cultural heritage, and some of the world’s best beaches. But with so many people visiting Spain each year, locals often feel frustrated by the noise and mess they generate.

In a bid to combat this, many of the 17 autonomous communities in charge of governing Spain have introduced new rules and regulations aimed specifically at tourists.

A view overlooking a beach in La Granadella, Spain

From bans on smoking in public to strict dress codes and noise control limits, here’s everything visitors to Spain need to know:

Carry Enough Cash

Visitors to Spain from outside of the EU must be able to demonstrate that they have enough money to support themselves for the whole duration of their trip

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Don’t Tip in These Foreign Countries

Not sure of whether to leave a tip? Read on.

Tipping is a hot topic among travelers, primarily because tipping practices vary so widely from country to country. But in most destinations, the differences are small—many service workers accept and appreciate tips for various services ranging from waiting tables to cleaning hotel rooms.

There are some places around the world where tipping isn’t a standard practice, but there are a few others where tipping actually goes against the grain of a country’s culture. Whether collective societies are uncomfortable with individual recognition at the expense of a group effort, or they simply view hospitality as unconditional, these destinations should be approached with care among travelers accustomed to North American tipping practices.

While these countries generally have an adverse view of gratuities, it should be noted that there are also some exceptions.

French Polynesia

Tahitian welcomes are legendary. In this country, spanning

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Ginza Heist Highlights ‘Dark Part-Time Work” Trend

It was a robbery so brazen, some passersby thought it was a film shoot. On Monday, three masked assassins stole around 70 watches from a Rolex specialty store in Ginza as stunned onlookers filmed them on their phones. The suspects, all in their teens, told the police they didn’t know each other. It seems certain, therefore, that they were recruited for “yami baito,” which literally translated means “dark part-time work.” The phrase made headlines earlier this year due to the so-called “Luffy” robberies.

In other crime news, a 13-year-old boy was stabbed in front of his home in Tokyo, while in Osaka, a 22-year-old man was arrested following the death of his teenage girlfriend. Also this week, we report on the magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck the greater Tokyo region, the downgrading of COVID-19 and calls for the amendment of Article 16 of the Status of Forces Agreement. In

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