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According to the children's agency’s estimate, those with an annual income of ¥2 million will see an additional tax levy of ¥350 to support new child care provision, while those with incomes of ¥6 million will pay an extra ¥1,000.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 10, 2024

Japan to collect monthly average of ¥800 for child care boost

The exact amount for each individual will vary depending on income and public health insurance plans.
A man walks on a road in the Sugamo district of Tokyo. The recent death of a 112-year-old in Chiba Prefecture means no man who was born in the Meiji Era (1868-1912) is still alive in the nation.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 10, 2024

Kanagawa 110-year-old becomes Japan's oldest man

Tomisaburo Wakui was born in November 1913 during the Taisho Era (1912-1926).
Two astronauts from Japan are set to take part in the Artemis program, a NASA-led effort to return astronauts to the moon.
JAPAN
Apr 10, 2024

Japanese astronaut to be first non-American to set foot on moon

The offer to Japan came as part of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's state visit, and as Washington seeks to strengthen ties with a key ally.
A staff member attends to a dog at a day care center for pets operated by Peace Winds Japan in Suzu, Ishikawa Prefecture.
JAPAN
Apr 11, 2024

Nonprofit group provides vital pet care in quake-hit Ishikawa

Peace Winds Japan, based in Hiroshima, has been assisting with pet care in disaster-hit areas since the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake.
A portrait of the 13th Ryukyu King Sho Kei, which was returned to the Okinawa Prefectural Government from the United States
JAPAN / History / Regional Voices: Okinawa
Apr 22, 2024

Artifacts missing after Battle of Okinawa returned from U.S.

Items that include portraits of kings from the Ryukyu Kingdom have returned after going missing in 1945.
Yuko Kishida, wife of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and U.S. first lady Jill Biden listen to students read poetry during an event with local high school students at a White House library in Washington on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Apr 11, 2024

Kishida's wife meets with U.S. high school students

The Japanese first lady also participated in a tea ceremony with people promoting Japan-U.S. exchanges and a national cherry blossom festival event.
Emperor Naruhito at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo on Tuesday
JAPAN
Apr 11, 2024

Japan to launch full-scale talks over shrinking imperial family

Japan's ruling and opposition parties are set to start talks on measures to address the shrinking number of imperial family members.
There are cases in which families become so engrossed in caring for their children that they do not get adequate sleep and nutrition, according to a survey.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 12, 2024

Over 40% of Japan hospitals require family to stay with children, survey says

Some families become so engrossed in caring for their children that they jeopardize their own health, according to the survey.
Ayuko Kato, minister for children-related policies
JAPAN
Apr 12, 2024

Japan discloses more details of costs to fight low birthrate

The planned fees that will be added to public medical insurance premiums aims to help secure funds to combat the declining birthrate trend.
A survey of the 6,975 products with the functional food label was initiated by the government last month following the scandal over Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals’ beni kōji supplements.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 12, 2024

Probe finds 18 functional food products with past reports of health damage in Japan

The survey results come as the industry reels from deaths linked to Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's beni kōji supplements.
A special subgroup of the Central Council for Education, which advises the education minister, is examining boosting teachers' adjustment allowances, currently set at 4% of monthly salary, as part of measures to improve conditions at public schools.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 13, 2024

Japan considering first hike in teachers' overtime pay in 50 years

There has been a proposal for raising the allowances to 10% of monthly salary or even higher, sources have said.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrives for a tour of a new Toyota battery factory in Liberty, North Carolina, on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 13, 2024

Kishida touts U.S. visit success, saying snap election not on his mind

The prime minister, who is due to fly back on Saturday, will be hoping the diplomatic success can translate into a bump in his low approval ratings.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. salutes during a welcome ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington on Friday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 13, 2024

U.S.-Japan-Philippines trilateral deal to change dynamic in South China Sea, Marcos says

Still, the Philippine president sought to assure China it was not a target, saying the summit was "not against any country."
Noto Airport in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture
JAPAN
Apr 14, 2024

Japan to revise guidelines for airport operators in times of disaster

The BCP revisions come on the heels of the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that hit the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture on Jan. 1.
Results of three by-elections on April 28 will likely influence the fate of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's administration.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 14, 2024

Three Japan by-elections set to start amid fund scandal

The official campaign period is set to start Tuesday for the April 28 by-elections for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet.
A woman in the Tokai region posts her meals on social media and gives advice to young people suffering from eating disorders.
JAPAN / Science & Health / Regional voices: Chubu
Apr 22, 2024

Woman with eating disorder looks to help young sufferers via social media

The woman is letting people know that a person’s value is not determined by their body shape.
On average between 1991 and 2020, the highest temperature in Sapporo on April 15 was 11.5 degrees Celsius, but the temperature rose above 25 degrees on Monday.
JAPAN
Apr 15, 2024

Japan's Sapporo sees earliest 25C day since records began

A city known for the 1972 Winter Olympics and hosting one of the country's biggest snow festivals saw summer-like temperatures.
Ian Foster, then-New Zealand head coach, during training in Paris on Oct. 13
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Apr 16, 2024

Former All Blacks coach Foster makes Japan move

Ian Foster has not coached since leading the All Blacks to last year's World Cup final, where they lost 12-11 to South Africa.
Japan and other countries are holding annual talks on saury catch quota.
JAPAN
Apr 16, 2024

Japan and eight other countries discuss saury catch rules

Slated to run until Thursday, the talks will focus on setting calculation rules to allocate catch quotas.
Black bears have been added to the list of "designated wildlife species for control" by the Environment Ministry.
JAPAN
Apr 16, 2024

Japan adds black and brown bears to subsidized hunting list

The government is stepping up the control measures as bear attacks on humans hit a record high in fiscal 2023 that ended in March.
Japan's Fair Trade Commission may take administrative action against Google over its digital advertising business.
BUSINESS
Apr 16, 2024

Japan FTC may take administrative action against Google

The FTC suspects that Google is unfairly restricting transactions on Yahoo Japan and messaging app Line, in violation of Japan's antimonopoly law.
A bill on joint custody passes during a Lower House plenary session in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 16, 2024

Bill allowing joint custody after divorce clears Japan's Lower House

The move would bring Japan closer to adopting a practice seen in other countries.
Lung cancer causes about 76,000 deaths in Japan each year, and about 1.8 million deaths worldwide.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 16, 2024

Japan study shows link between passive smoking and lung cancer

The study shows how passive smoking causes genetic mutations, providing further evidence of the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
Japan's parliament has enacted a bill to ease restrictions on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, including lifting a ban on being able to appoint non-Japanese directors.
JAPAN
Apr 17, 2024

Japan enacts revised NTT law

NTT will be allowed to allocate less than one-third of the seats in its board of directors to foreign nationals.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Wednesday evening.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 17, 2024

Kishida agrees to further deepen ties with South Korea's Yoon

The prime minister informed the South Korean leader about his summit earlier this month with U.S. President Joe Biden.
A bill on expanding legal support for crime victims clears the Lower House on Thursday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Apr 18, 2024

Japan enacts bill to help crime victims

The bill to revise the comprehensive legal support law was approved unanimously at a plenary session of the House of Representatives.
One of the lawyers representing a group of doctors suing Google told a news conference that the main purpose of the lawsuit is not to seek compensation but instead to raise awareness over various problems with the Google Maps system.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Apr 18, 2024

In a first, Japan doctors sue Google over negative reviews on firm's map app

The suit is the first in Japan — and possibly the world — to target a platform rather than the individuals who posted the reviews, lawyers said.
Members of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission have agreed to cut the 2024 catch quota for saury in the high seas in the northern Pacific in response to declining resources.
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2024

Japan and others agree to cut northern Pacific saury catch quota

Nine economies agreed to introduce the rule to calculate catch quotas based on scientific evidence.
Former Prime Minister Taro Aso speaks during a forum in Taiwan in 2023.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 19, 2024

Former PM Aso seeks Trump meeting during New York visit: report

Aso had attempted to meet Trump in January during a trip to the U.S. but was not able to see him.
Delfin Lorenzana
BUSINESS
Apr 20, 2024

Philippines wants U.S. and Japan to take over rail deal eyed by China

The $868 million Subic-Clark railway will link former U.S. military bases turned commercial hubs and form part of the planned Luzon Economic Corridor.

Longform

Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.
Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell