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August 09, 2025
 

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Oita Prefectural Kusu Miyama High School in the town of Kusu, Oita Prefecture
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Kyushu
Aug 4, 2025
Two Oita towns to launch program to nurture aspiring local teachers
As the towns are facing population decline, there are few young aspiring teachers there.
Incumbent Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka won a second term on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 4, 2025
Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka wins second term
Takeharu Yamanaka, an independent who had the backing of three parties, pledged to enhance child-rearing support for households and strengthen disaster reduction measures.
Maki Takubo, mayor of Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, speaks during a news conference in the city on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 1, 2025
Scandal-hit mayor withdraws resignation in Shizuoka Prefecture
The Ito city assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution urging Mami Takubo to step down.
A fireworks display in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, on Aug. 4 last year. The show has been one of the return gifts for hometown tax donations to the city.
JAPAN
Aug 1, 2025
Furusato nо̄zei hometown tax donations hit record ¥1.3 trillion in 2024
Of Japan's 47 prefectures, only Fukuoka, Saga and Kagoshima received lower donations than in fiscal 2023.
Shizuoka Gov. Yasutomo Suzuki (left) hands a proposal to promote a multicultural society to Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiko Aoki on Wednesday in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2025
Japan prefectural chiefs seek to promote multicultural society
The project team of the National Governors' Association asked the central government to help the country accept more foreigners to address labor shortages in regional areas.
The city of Kumamoto. The number of local governments that are able to operate their finances without state tax allocations has increased for the fourth consecutive year, the internal affairs ministry announced on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 29, 2025
Local governments not allocated state tax revenue increase for fourth year
In fiscal 2025, such local governments totaled 85, up by two from the previous year, reflecting the growth of local tax revenues backed by robust corporate performance.
Among elderly people age 65 and over, the share of single-person households jumped from 5.0% to 12.1% between 1995 to 2020.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 27, 2025
Use of deceased's person's savings for cremation allowed without heirs' consent
The move is aimed at reducing the financial burden on municipalities, which have often shouldered burial or cremation costs.
A "no swimming" sign and flag are displayed on the beach at Shonan Bellmare Hiratsuka Beach Park in the city of Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Aug. 10 last year, following the issuance of emergency information on the increased risk of a huge Nankai Trough earthquake.
JAPAN
Jul 25, 2025
Japan holds first meeting on Nankai quake information guidelines review
Japan issued its first Nankai Trough emergency information in August last year following a major quake off Miyazaki Prefecture.
Miyazaki Gov. Shunji Kono speaks at a meeting of the National Governors' Association in the city of Aomori on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 24, 2025
Governors urge central government to address Japan's shrinking population
During a two-day meeting in Aomori Prefecture, governors called for the establishment of a government agency-level control tower to coordinate related policies.
The government is trying to make it easier for companies to develop services in the fields of nursing care and elderly support services by promoting cooperation with local governments.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 23, 2025
As Japan grays, government looks to aid public-private cooperation in nursing care
The initiative is aimed at making it easier for companies to develop services in the fields by helping them understand demand in each region.
A municipal library in Fujikawa, Yamanashi Prefecture, that opened in July 2023, has become a community hub.
JAPAN
Jul 16, 2025
Work to consolidate public facilities gains traction across Japan
Municipal facilities such as libraries are increasingly being constructed within government office complexes in a bid to streamline public services.
Shuhei Nakata, president of Nakata Kogei — a wooden-hanger maker in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture — says a revised work evaluation system and a strict policy against workplace harassment has helped to attract women to the company.
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Fukushima
Jul 14, 2025
Fukushima looks to local initiatives to combat population decline
The measures will bring the area in line with other parts of Japan that are proactively trying to retain residents.
People check out Mie Prefecture's exhibit inside the Kansai Pavilion at the Osaka Expo in May.
JAPAN
Jul 12, 2025
Local governments leverage Osaka Expo to attract tourists
Officials of local governments are feeling confident about their promotion activities, with some events to introduce local food and culture at the expo proving popular.
Maki Takubo, mayor of Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, holds a news conference Monday evening to announcer her intention to resign and seek re-election.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 8, 2025
Scandal-hit mayor in Shizuoka to resign and seek reelection
Maki Takubo, who has admitted that she did not graduate from Toyo University but was actually expelled, was elected as mayor in May.
Wakako Yata, former special adviser to the prime minister, leads a consortium to help promote women as digital experts, in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 8, 2025
Japan launches group to help more women become digital experts
The public-private consortium will work to help women acquire digital skills to raise their wages, among other actions.
The government is considering a program that would allow local governments to lease food trucks used following disasters to business operators during normal times and receive maintenance fees in return.
JAPAN
Jul 1, 2025
Cabinet Office may lease government-owned disaster food trucks to businesses
The plan aims to offer local governments assistance from the private sector in preparing for natural disasters as the authorities confront severe financial conditions.
The average income of the prefectural governors rose by over 4 million yen from the previous year owing to an increase in revenue from real estate rentals, as well as stock disposals and increased bonuses.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 1, 2025
Japanese prefectural governors earned average of ¥24.13 million in 2024
Okayama Gov. Ryuta Ibaragi recorded the highest total income, at ¥122.22 million.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant's No. 6 and No. 7 reactors have already passed safety screenings by the Nuclear Regulation Authority and are fully loaded with nuclear fuel.
JAPAN
Jun 30, 2025
Niigata holds first public hearing on nuclear reactor restart plan
Only the consent of local communities is now required for the reactor restart.
A resident carries his belongings from his damaged house in Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 2, 2024 — the day after a major earthquake devastated parts of the area.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 29, 2025
Japan eyes body for local government disaster waste management
The institution will help local governments quickly collect and dispose of large amounts of disaster waste, a type of work in which many local governments have no experience.
The city of Nanto in Toyama Prefecture hosts an event for local residents to experience a ride-hailing service in March.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jun 22, 2025
Public ride-hailing services gain ground in Japan
In a first for the nation, the city government has partnered with local taxi companies to offer ride-hailing services exclusively during times when taxis are in short supply.
Japan's inheritance tax is high, unforgiving and sometimes avoidable
The National Tax Agency at the Ministry of Finance, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo. Japanese tax authorities can bill foreign residents in Japan for assets inherited globally.
The United States imposes 15% 'reciprocal' tariff on most Japanese goods
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the White House on Wednesday.
U.S. backtracks on Japan tariff calculation, taking effective rate lower
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator, said the U.S. made a clerical error in not including a “reciprocal” tariff rate ceiling for Japan in the trade deal.
How Pakistan shot down India's cutting-edge fighter using Chinese gear
An Indian Air Force pilot gets out of a Rafale fighter jet during its induction ceremony at an air force station in Ambala, India, September 2020.
Biggest drop in Japanese nationals seen alongside record high in foreign residents
A street in Tokyo's Shinjuku district on Wednesday
Cheer with caution: Expert advises sports fans have game plan for extreme heat
A Cardinals fan fans himself during the seventh inning of a game against the Pirates in St. Louis, Missouri, in June 2022.
Australia's warship selection signals Japanese defense industry's arrival
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's Mogami-class frigate. Australia's selection of an upgraded version of the Mogami-class warship for its next frigate class could prove to be a watershed moment for Japan’s defense industry.
Japan's inheritance tax is high, unforgiving and sometimes avoidable
The National Tax Agency at the Ministry of Finance, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo. Japanese tax authorities can bill foreign residents in Japan for assets inherited globally.
Will the movement seeking Ishiba’s resignation succeed?
Liberal Democratic Party youth division head Yasutaka Nakasone (center) and other members speak to reporters in Tokyo on July 25.
Photographer Bleg Bayraktar is winning social media with politeness
A video on Bayraktar's Instagram account of the Belgian photographer approaching an elderly worker in Tokyo's Shibuya has gone viral, garnering almost 9 million views.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Koichi Tagawa’s diary entry from Aug. 9, 1945, describes the day of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
The horrors of Nagasaki, in first person
By Naoko Abe

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