Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai), which is building the high-speed rail line, confirmed falling water levels at 14 locations in the Okute district of Mizunami city in Gifu Prefecture.

And that is all due to Hironori Aoki, the fifth-generation head of Okute Yamamotoya. Aoki, 34, faced strong opposition from his family and others when he announced plans set up branches outside Japan.