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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2017)
ASIA / PACIFIC May 15, 2017 THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 3 MILLION-DOLLAR MASK. Momoko Marutani, an employee at Tokyo gold jeweller Ginza Tanaka, looks at a gold mask of Darth Vader at the jewelry shop in Tokyo. The life-size mask of Star Wars villain Darth Vader is available for sale for the hefty price of 154 million yen ($1.4 million). The 24-karat gold mask was created by the jeweller to mark the 40th anniversary of the release of the first Star Wars film. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) Tokyo jeweller offers gold Darth Vader masks for $1.4 million By Emily Wang The Associated Press OKYO — Star Wars fans with deep pockets might consider it a golden opportunity. A Tokyo jewelry store is offering life-size Darth Vader masks made of 24-karat gold at the hefty price of 154 million yen ($1.4 million) to mark the 40th anniversary of the release of the first Star Wars movie. The creation measures 10.4 inches wide and 11.8 inches high. The Ginza Tanaka store says the masks are not designed for wearing — at about 33 pounds, they would be too heavy, and they have no opening for a head. While the masks are its most expensive Star Wars memorabilia, the jeweller has made pricier products. In 2013, a gold Disney-themed Christmas tree was priced at 500 million yen ($4.5 million). T Marketing manager Hirotsugu Tsuchiya said it took 10 goldsmiths three months to mold and assemble the prototype. “The most difficult aspect was that each section of the mask was created by a different gold craftsman and then assembled to make one Darth Vader mask,” Tsuchiya said. Orders for the mask can be made at its main store in the glitzy Ginza shopping area where the prototype is on display. Customers will have to wait three months after ordering. For those looking for less expensive options, gold coins engraved with Yoda or Luke Skywalker are also available starting at 132,300 yen ($1,200). They went on sale May 4, celebrated by some fans as Star Wars day because “May the fourth” evokes the film’s iconic line, “May the force be with you.” China compiles its own Wikipedia, but public can’t edit it By Louise Watt The Associated Press B EIJING — China is compiling a free online encyclopedia to rival Wikipedia, but it will likely only give Beijing’s official version of sensitive historical events, and the public won’t be able to write or edit it. Instead, scholars and experts handpicked by Beijing say only they will be able to make entries — the latest example of the Chinese government’s efforts to control information available on the internet. The effort to compile 300,000 entries is being led by the ruling Communist Party’s central propaganda department. Senior editor Jiang Lijun said the online Chinese Encyclopedia will focus primarily on entries that are less likely to change rather than recent events, and subjects that have academic value. Currently, the Chinese Wikipedia is inaccessible on the mainland. Court says Facebook must delete hate postings worldwide VIENNA (AP) — An Austrian court has ruled that Facebook must delete hate speech postings worldwide and that Austrian law can be applied to lawsuits against the social-media website. Maria Windhager, a lawyer for an Austrian politician, said the ruling is a rebuff to the social-media giant’s claims that any court actions against it can be heard only in California or Ireland, where Facebook’s world and European head- quarters are located. Windhager represents Greens politician Eva Glawischnig, who went to court over comments about her posted on a fake pro- file. The Austria Press Agency said the decision arose from Facebook’s appeal of a court ruling ordering posts be deleted. Department of Consumer & Business Services Office Helps Injured Workers: What we do State law entitles Oregon workers to certain benefits if they are injured while working. The Oregon Office of the Ombudsman for Injured Workers is an advocate for injured workers, providing information about workers’ rights and helping resolve workers’ compensation-related complaints. Services are free. Call 1-800-927-1271 (toll-free) or write to: Office of the Ombudsman for Injured Workers P.O. Box 14480 Salem, Oregon 97309 www.oregon.gov/DCBS/OIW :e·re a doctor·s oIÀce in schools Services include: • • • • • • Re g ula r c he c k-up s Sp o rts p hysic a ls Ca re fo r illne ss a nd injurie s Pre sc riptio n me d ic a tio ns Immuniza tio ns Me nta l he a lth se rvic e s, inc lud ing c o unse ling • Ag e -a p p ro p ria te re p ro d uc tive he a lth • Ro utine la b te sts There is no cost to you If yo u d o n’ t ha ve insura nc e , we will he lp yo u g e t it. If yo u ha ve insura nc e , we will use it. Learn more at: www.multco.us/SBHC 13 Health Center Locations