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Tokyo led the country's 47 prefectures with 146 traffic-related fatalities in 2024, followed by Aichi with 141 and Chiba with 131.
JAPAN
Jan 8, 2025

Japan's traffic death toll falls to third-lowest in 2024

There were 2,663 traffic-related deaths in 2024. The government has a goal of lowering the annual toll below 2,000 by 2025.
Masahiro Nakai in Tokyo in October 2017
JAPAN
Jan 8, 2025

TV networks drop Japan boy band star over sex allegations

Reports say that Masahiro Nakai, a former member of SMAP, paid a woman a lump sum of ¥90 million.
Copper cables stolen from a solar power facility and cable cutters used for the theft
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jan 9, 2025

Japan eyeing mandatory ID check for scrap metal trading

Stolen copper wires are often brought to buyers as scrap metal, but there is no law requiring identity verification, making it easier to cash in stolen items.
People remove snow in the city of Aomori on Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 9, 2025

Caution urged as heavy snow forecast for Sea of Japan coast

Authorities have warned individuals to consider vehicle safety as well as the risks of traffic disruptions, snow falling from roofs and damage to buildings.
After meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama (center left) and his Komeito counterpart, Makoto Nishida (center right) answer questions from the media on Thursday at the Prime Minister's Office.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 9, 2025

Ishiba expresses eagerness to visit China soon

A delegation from the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito is set to visit China from Monday through Wednesday
A busy street in Tokyo on Dec. 30. The number of influenza patients per clinic, on average, in the final week of December was the highest since health ministry records began in 1999.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jan 10, 2025

Japan's health ministry reports record-high flu cases

In the week through Dec. 29, the total number of reported flu cases was nearly three times the number from the same period in 2023.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba
JAPAN
Jan 9, 2025

Japan to convene parliament for ordinary session starting Jan. 24

The government is expected to submit 59 bills during the ordinary session.
"This is a year of elections," Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (center) told peer LDP executives at a party meeting held Tuesday to mark party members' start of work for this year, at LDP headquarters in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 10, 2025

Talk of summer double election persists in Japan

The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito have agreed to begin preparations for the next Lower House election.
A meteorite from Mars found in Antarctica will be shown to the public for the first time at the Japan Pavilion during this year's World Exposition in the city of Osaka.
JAPAN
Jan 10, 2025

Japan pavilion to exhibit Mars meteorite at Osaka Expo

The meteorite, collected by an Antarctic research expedition in 2000, will be shown to the public for the first time at the expo.
The additional sanctions against Russia "are to contribute to international efforts for peace," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Friday at the Prime Minister's Office.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 10, 2025

Japan expands its sanctions against Russia

Japan will also ban the export of 335 more goods, including small motorcycles, to Russia starting on Jan. 23.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (left) and Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a joint news conference at the Malaysian prime minister's office in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on Friday
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 10, 2025

In Kuala Lumpur, Ishiba vows to promote security cooperation with Malaysia

Leaders also agreed to deepen cooperation in the maritime field, cybersecurity and the economy.
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya visits the Saint Michael's Cathedral, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv in November.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 11, 2025

Top Japanese diplomat to visit Seoul to shore up ties amid political chaos

Iwaya, who will be the first Japanese foreign minister to visit Seoul in seven years, will meet with his South Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yul and Acting President Choi Sang-mok.
To counter the impact of aging rural demographics, the agriculture ministry is introducing a new initiative to dispatch corporate personnel to rural areas to increase the number of people engaged with farming communities.
JAPAN / Society
Jan 13, 2025

Japan farm ministry aims to dispatch corporate workers to rural areas

The initiative aims to promote rural revitalization through corporate-sponsored training programs and employee side jobs connecting businesses with farming villages.
The Japan Tourism Agency will launch a model project to support accommodation operators working to turn around their businesses.
BUSINESS
Jan 13, 2025

Japan to launch model project helping struggling accommodation owners

Know-how gained from the project will be compiled into guidelines by the Japan Tourism Agency as a reference for other operators.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba hopes to visit the United States in early February, at the earliest, or in the middle of the month, at the latest, to have talks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 15, 2025

Ishiba may visit U.S. early next month for his first summit with Trump

The Japan-U.S. summit could take place in early February, at the earliest, or in the middle of the month, at the latest.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (right center) meets his Philippine counterpart, Enrique Manalo, during bilateral talks in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 15, 2025

Trump concerns top agenda as Japanese and Philippine foreign ministers meet

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, who is set to attend Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, also stressed the necessity of being on the same wavelength as the incoming president’s team.
Australia's Michael Hooper during the 2019 World Cup in Oita.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Jan 15, 2025

Wallabies great Michael Hooper set for comeback with Japan move

The 33-year-old played the last of his 125 test matches in 2023 before being unceremoniously axed by then-coach Eddie Jones.
A NATO Star logo flag flies at NATO headquarters in Brussels in 2018.
JAPAN
Jan 16, 2025

Mission of Japan to NATO separates from the Japanese Embassy in Brussels

The move is intended to boost security cooperation between Japan and NATO.
The bill calls for mandatory prior approval by an independent organization to break into the server of an attack source and render it harmless.
JAPAN
Jan 17, 2025

Japan to penalize the illicit use of cyber defense information

The penalties are part of a broader government plan to introduce active cyber defense, or preemptive action to prevent cyberattacks.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of state, reacts as he testifies during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 18, 2025

'Quad' top diplomats expected to meet the day after Trump inauguration

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio appears on track for confirmation as Trump's secretary of state on Monday, clearing the way for the meeting the following day.
Participants gather for unified university entrance examinations Saturday in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward. Exams were being held at 651 venues across the country, with the number of applicants increasing by about 3,200 from the previous year to some 495,100.
JAPAN / Society
Jan 18, 2025

Unified university entrance exams begin in Japan

The number of applicants increased by about 3,200 from the previous year to some 495,100.
A Chinese district court is set to sentence a man next week over a knife attack in June last year, in which a Japanese woman and her child, and a Chinese woman were attacked in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jan 18, 2025

China court to sentence man over Japanese school bus stabbings

In the sentencing hearing, attention will likely be paid to how the court will mention the attacker's motive as well as the severity of the sentence.
Yanaha Island in Okinawa Prefecture as seen from a ferry.
JAPAN
Jan 18, 2025

Chinese buyer of Okinawa island to make visit in summer

The woman is reportedly preparing a trip to the island for employees of a company she runs in July or August.
Applicants gather for unified university entrance examinations Saturday at the University of Tokyo.
JAPAN
Jan 19, 2025

Second-day tests held for Japan's unified university entrance exams

The exams were held at 651 venues across the country, with the number of applicants increasing by about 3,200 from the previous year to some 495,100.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba entering the Prime Minister's Office on Monday
JAPAN
Jan 21, 2025

Japan to disclose names of malicious AI businesses

The planned legislation on dealing with the risks of AI and boosting Japan's international competitiveness on the technology is not expected to include penalties.
Experts in Japan emphasize the importance of supplementing a new legal framework with expanded opportunities for drug education targeted at young people.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jan 21, 2025

Many in Japan advocate for drug education to combat cannabis abuse

More than 80% of cannabis-related cases detected in Osaka in 2023 involved people in their 20s or younger, according to the Osaka prefectural police department.
Currently, companies with 51 or more employees must have their part-time workers join the kosei nenkin program. The government plans to lower that threshold to 21 employees in October 2027 and scrap it two years later.
JAPAN
Jan 21, 2025

Japan to have more part-timers join employee pension program

The government plans to lower the corporate size threshold for part-timers joining the pension program from 51 or more employees to 21 in October 2027.
Items produced under agriculture-welfare partnerships are displayed at an event in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward on Dec. 2.
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2025

Farm-welfare links for disabled employment expand in Japan

Such partnership initiatives, launched by agricultural corporations and employment facilities, reached about 7,100 by fiscal 2023.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone shake hands in the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 22, 2025

Japan and Laos agree to arrange vice ministerial security talks

The two countries also issued a joint statement calling for upgrading their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Sakie Yokota speaks to reporters at the Prime Minister's Office on Jan. 10 after meeting with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2025

Abductee families seek pressure on North Korea as Trump returns

A leader of a group of North Korean abductee families called on the government to deepen the bond between their leaders.

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