The head of scandal-hit Osaka school operator Moritomo Gakuen insisted Thursday there were no serious inconsistencies in documents pertaining to an elementary school under construction on land acquired through a murky deal with the central government. But the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education said the documents contained inconsistencies in figures concerning construction costs, which Gov. Ichiro Matsui indicated meant the prefecture is now unlikely to give its permission for the school to open next month.

But as Japan ages and rural towns face depopulation, many unique cultural traditions are being lost. This year Kanegasaki will have to forego the centuries-old “deer dance,” a prayer for a bountiful harvest and an homage to the townspeople’s ancestors.

OSAKA: Japanese developer Shinwa Group plans to expand into Thailand’s construction industry next year after the development of its first condo this year in Bangkok. “Next year we will start the construction business, focusing on residential buildings, which we are experts at in Japan,” he said yesterday.