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Traffic cones mark the site where a drunken driver plowed into a group of elementary school students two days earlier in Yachimata, Chiba Prefecture, on June 30, 2021.
JAPAN / Society
Jun 28, 2024

Alcoholism seen as factor in increase in drunken driving in Japan

There were approximately 2,300 drunken driving collisions reported last year, marking an increase from the previous year.
Cardboard beds at an evacuation shelter in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 31
JAPAN / Society
Jun 28, 2024

Japan calls for beds to be set up as soon as evacuation centers open

Some evacuation centers did not use temporary beds following the Noto Peninsula earthquake due to difficulties changing the facility layouts.
A bus stop where a Japanese mother and child appear to have been attacked in Suzhou in China's Jiangsu Province
JAPAN / Society
Jul 1, 2024

Chinese social media companies condemn hate speech against Japanese people after knife attack

Wechat owner Tencent said it had tackled 836 instances of content related to the attack that infringed its rules.
Japan's Universal Entertainment is dropping a plan to buy PH Resorts' gaming project in the central Philippines.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 2, 2024

Japan's Universal scraps plan to buy central Philippines casino

Shares in PH Resorts slumped as much as 29% to a nine-month intraday low following the disclosure.
The proportion of public pension benefit payments to disposable income of working generations in Japan is projected to drop to a little over 50% in 33 years.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 3, 2024

Japan public pension benefit rate seen falling to 50% in fiscal year 2057

The calculations are based on assumptions that the economy will maintain a certain level of growth and that the population will remain the same.
The survey found that most groping cases occurred on trains and that 80.4% of victims did not alert the police or train station staff after being groped, out of fears of causing a commotion.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 4, 2024

One in 10 young people in Japan a victim of molestation, survey finds

According to the findings, 10.5% of respondents said that they had experienced being molested, with women accounting for 88.0% of them.
A nursing home in Ishikawa Prefecture. Wage increases in other industries have made the nursing care sector less attractive.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 4, 2024

Over 80 nursing homes in Japan went bankrupt in first half

Rising costs and a severe manpower shortage are the main reasons driving care providers out of business.
Protesters rally in front of the Okinawa Prefectural Government building in Naha on Thursday following recent revelations of sexual abuse cases involving U.S. servicemen in Okinawa Prefecture.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 5, 2024

Info-sharing on U.S. soldiers' crimes to improve, Kamikawa says

The central government will also strengthen measures to prevent U.S. servicemen from committing sex crimes in Japan, the foreign minister said.
Pichamon Yeophantong from the U.N. Human Rights Council's Working Group on Business and Human Rights is interviewed in Tokyo last week.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 9, 2024

U.N. expert urges Japan to tackle structural discrimination

Structural discrimination that stems from harmful norms are "something that needs to be dismantled as soon as possible," Pichamon Yeophantong said.
A Japanese high court decision on Wednesday touched on the contentious issue of whether transgender people need to undergo surgery in order to have their gender changed in official records.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 10, 2024

Japan high court backs gender status change without surgery

The development is likely to put more pressure on the government to revise the contentious 2003 law on gender dysphoria.
The arowana fish gifted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako
JAPAN
Jul 11, 2024

Ueno Zoo welcomes Indonesian fish gifted to Japan Imperial couple

The zoo said that it will keep the luxury tropical fish in an area not open to visitors for the time being.
A woman is rescued by a helicopter on Wednesday off the coast of Chiba Prefecture after drifting at sea for 36 hours.
JAPAN
Jul 11, 2024

Woman rescued off Chiba 36 hours after going missing in Shizuoka

The woman, who is a Chinese national in her 20s, was dehydrated but conscious and did not require hospitalization.
A down jacket that uses recycled feathers. An Environment Ministry survey has shown that around 60% of newly supplied clothing in Japan is expected to be discarded without being reused.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 12, 2024

Japan aims to recycle 50,000 metric tons of discarded clothing

Large amounts of clothes are being thrown away as a result of massive production amid the spread of fast fashion.
While Tokyo has secured enough fuel to deal with expected surges in power demand as temperatures rise this summer, economy minister Ken Saito is urging people not to waste electricity.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 12, 2024

Japan on ‘high alert’ for summer power shortages, economy minister says

Thermal power facilities put on maintenance earlier this year are set to come online by end-July while earlier fixes are expected for other equipment failures.
Kenta Izumi, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, holds a news conference Friday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 14, 2024

Japan's CDP in dilemma over election cooperation with JCP

Both the DPP and the Japanese Trade Union Confederation have repeatedly called for the CDP-JCP cooperation to end.
The child care program under discussion is aimed at addressing the issue of isolation of parents raising young children and fostering their growth through interactions with other kids.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2024

Japan discussing details of day care for all infants

Under the program, set to launch by fiscal 2025, day care services will be available for all children aged 6 months to 2 years.
Participants in a "cross-mentoring" training session held by sports club operator Renaissance share their concerns with female executives from other companies who serve as role models.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jul 16, 2024

Japan intensifies efforts to address gender pay gaps

According to the labor ministry, the average monthly wage for full-time female workers last year was ¥262,600, about 75% of the ¥350,900 earned by men.
A passerby holding a parasol wipes her face as she walks on the street amid a heatstroke alert in Tokyo and other prefectures, in Tokyo on July 9.
JAPAN / Science & Health / Boiling Point
Jul 19, 2024

How to prevent and respond to heatstroke in Japan this summer

Staying hydrated and controlling the rise in one's body temperature are the fundamental ways for preventing and alleviating heat-related illnesses.
Fireworks during Irumagawa Tanabata Festival in Sayama, Saitama Prefecture in July 2023
JAPAN / Society
Jul 22, 2024

Many summer fireworks festivals in Japan canceled due to complaints

Property damage caused by debris, and littering and trespassing by those looking for a better view are among the reasons for the cancellations.
Japanese badminton players participate in one of Ajinomoto's Kachimeshi Kai gatherings.
JAPAN
Jul 23, 2024

Ajinomoto offering food-related support to Japan athletes in Paris

Ajinomoto has been offering athletes light traditional Japanese meals at an on-site nutrition support base set up for every Summer and Winter Olympics.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters in Tokyo Monday following news of U.S. President Joe Biden's exit from the presidential race.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 23, 2024

Kishida aides wary of impact from Biden's withdrawal

Many expect Kishida to make a decision on his approach to the LDP's leadership race after the summer holiday period in mid-August.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks during a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 24, 2024

Toyota chairman and 12 other Japanese executives banned from entering Russia

Others include Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani and Japan International Cooperation Agency President Akihiko Tanaka.
Tsuyoshi Ode, specially appointed professor at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, poses with a certificate for the school's hydrogen dueled ship during news conference on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 25, 2024

Japan certifies hydrogen-fueled ship for the first time

The ship requires three tanks of high-pressure hydrogen gas at room temperature and can sail some 75 kilometers in five hours at a speed of 8 knots per hour.
People who made hometown tax donations to the city of Narita in Chiba Prefecture take part in a tour on Sunday at Narita Airport in the city, which was offered as a return gift.
JAPAN
Jul 26, 2024

Japan's hometown tax donations top ¥1 trillion for first time

The number of people who received residence tax breaks through the system is also believed to have hit a record 10 million.
This year's rice harvest is also feared to be impacted by the scorching heat, spurring concerns among producers and consumers.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 2024

Heat waves impact Japan's rice quality, leading to shortage

Despite 2023's harvest volume being on par with previous years, high temperatures have caused rice grains to develop a cloudy look or break into pieces.
Hifumi Abe reacts after defending his Olympic title in the judo men's under-66 kg division at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris on Sunday.
OLYMPICS / Judo
Jul 28, 2024

Japan's Hifumi Abe defends Olympic title after sister falls early

The Abe siblings famously both won gold at their home Olympics in Tokyo in 2021 just 30 minutes apart.
Koki Kano celebrates after winning the gold-medal match over France's Yannick Borel in the men's epee event at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.
OLYMPICS / Fencing
Jul 29, 2024

Japan's Kano breaks French hearts in Olympic fencing final

Yannick Borel of France took silver and Mohamed Elsayed of Egypt was awarded bronze.
President Shinji Kaneko (left) and other executives of Keikyu Department Store bow in apology during a news conference in Yokohama on Monday.
JAPAN
Jul 30, 2024

Grilled eel leaves one dead and 140 sick in Japan

The products included eel cooked in the traditional kabayaki style
Takanori Nagase celebrates after winning gold in the men's under-81 kg judo event at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.
OLYMPICS / Judo
Jul 31, 2024

Japan's Takanori Nagase defends Olympic judo title

Before Paris, Nagase's form was uncertain as the 2015 world champion competed just eight times between his two Olympic titles.
Georgia's Lasha Bekauri (top) and Japan's Sanshiro Murao battle in the men's gold medal bout in the under-90 kg judo event at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
OLYMPICS / Judo
Aug 1, 2024

Georgian Bekauri retains judo title over Japan's Murao

Bekauri won a controversial bout over Murao in the gold-medal match to secure the victory.

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.