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November 24, 2025
 

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

A brown bear gnaws at the cage it is trapped in, in Sunagawa, Hokkaido, in 2024. Small towns can face cost concerns when responding to bear sightings.
JAPAN / Society / FOCUS
Nov 20, 2025
How a small-town spat in Hokkaido nearly derailed its bear response measures
Tensions brewed after a local politician accused hunters of being money-hungry and inefficient, leading to a weekslong halt in bear-culling operations.
Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture. Niigata Gov. Hideyo Hanazumi is set to approve the plant’s restart as early as Friday.
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2025
Japanese governor set to approve restart of world’s biggest nuclear plant
The approval will clear one of the remaining milestones in Tepco’s quest to bring the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant back online.
The spent fuel pool at the No. 3 reactor of the Hokkaido Electric Power's Tomari nuclear power plant in Hokkaido
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2025
Mayor of Hokkaido village agrees to nuclear plant restart
The mayor cited the village assembly's approval of the restart and the fact that broad understanding has been gained from residents.
The Osaka Prefectural Government and several municipalities on Monday submitted a proposal to halt new special-zone minpaku applications, citing repeated complaints about some foreign guests.
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2025
Osaka proposes to halt applications for minpaku private lodgings
The proposal was made in response to resident complaints about the behavior of some foreign guests staying at minpaku facilities.
Niigata Gov. Hideyo Hanazumi (right) inspects a drill held inside the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant's No. 6 reactor building in Niigata Prefecture on Friday.
JAPAN
Nov 17, 2025
Niigata governor to visit Fukushima ahead of nuclear plant decision
Niigata Gov. Hideyo Hanazumi is expected to soon make a decision on the possible restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility in his prefecture.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings' Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture. Niigata Gov. Hideyo Hanazumi inspected the nuclear power station on Friday, before making a decision on whether to approve the restart of a reactor at the plant.
JAPAN
Nov 14, 2025
Niigata governor inspects Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant
Hideyo Hanazumi mainly checked safety measures for the plant's No. 6 reactor, which Tepco aims to put back to operation.
Former Ito Mayor Maki Takubo plans to run in the Dec. 14 mayoral election following her removal from office over an academic background scandal, sources said Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2025
Ousted mayor of Ito to seek return in December election
The city assembly passed no-confidence motions against Takubo in September and October.
Niigata Gov. Hideyo Hanazumi speaks at a meeting of a local organization over operations of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Nov 13, 2025
Niigata governor meets with local leaders over nuclear plant restart
In the meeting, the Kashiwazaki and Kariwa mayors expressed their willingness to accept the restart of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings’ nuclear power plant.
Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai (second from left) greets attendees while wearing a happi coat at a tasting event for sake from the prefecture, on Tuesday in Paris.
JAPAN
Nov 13, 2025
Tottori governor promotes local goods in Paris
The visit to the French capital was arranged based on Gov. Shinji Hirai's wish for his prefecture to deepen its relations with Europe.
At a joint meeting of Japan's National Governors' Association and the Governors Association of the Republic of Korea, officials discussed issues affecting both countries and the need for future cooperation, in Incheon, South Korea, on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 13, 2025
Japanese and South Korean governors discuss need for cooperation
Officials talked about measures to boost the economy and deal with population decline in the eighth joint meeting since 1999.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a session of the House of Councilors Budget Committee in parliament on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 12, 2025
Japan to use extra budget to address bear attacks
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Wednesday that a proposed supplementary budget would include spending to help local governments address attacks by bears.
Public hospitals in Japan are struggling to sustain regional health care systems, with more than 80% of them posting losses.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Nov 12, 2025
Public hospitals in Japan face severe financial strain
More than 80% of public hospitals are posting losses as medical service expenses rise faster than revenues.
Mika Yokota won Hiroshima Prefecture’s gubernatorial election on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 10, 2025
Hiroshima Prefecture elects its first female governor
Mika Yokota, a former deputy governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, defeated two contenders to win Sunday’s gubernatorial election.
A test launch of an upgraded Type 12 ground-launched antiship guided missile
JAPAN
Nov 5, 2025
Japan to deploy ground-based long-range missiles at four sites
The Defense Ministry plans to field ground-launched missiles in Hokkaido, as well as Shizuoka, Kumamoto and Miyazaki prefectures.
Maki Takubo, mayor of Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, after the city assembly passed a second no-confidence motion against her, in the city on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 31, 2025
Scandal-hit mayor of Ito in Shizuoka finally ousted
Maki Takubo had claimed to have graduated from Toyo University but admitted in July that she had actually been expelled.
Two robots automating tasks at Arikawa Seisakusho in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture.
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Oct 31, 2025
Government to help rural businesses adopt robots amid labor shortage
Aimed at boosting productivity despite labor shortages, a new group will train advisers to help companies introduce and use robotics effectively.
A bear roams around a field in the town of Kuzumaki, Iwate Prefecture, on Oct. 12.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 30, 2025
Japan’s government ramps up bear control efforts amid rise in attacks
With the move, which pulls together more agencies than have previously been involved, authorities hope to cull bears that enter residential areas more quickly and accurately.
Haruo Kataoka (center) applauds after being reelected as mayor of Suttsu in Hokkaido, in the town on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 29, 2025
Hokkaido town mayor backing nuclear waste survey reelected
The 76-year-old independent incumbent, Haruo Kataoka, defeated former town council member Shingo Ogushi.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks at a news conference at the ministry on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Oct 28, 2025
Akita governor asks for SDF help amid 'dire' bear attacks
Bears have killed a record 10 people in Japan so far this year, a government official confirmed.
Yoshihiro Murai, 65, celebrates his victory in the Miyagi gubernatorial election on Sunday night.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 27, 2025
Yoshihiro Murai clinches sixth term as Miyagi governor
Murai had the backing of prefectural assembly members of the Liberal Democratic Party, Japan Innovation Party and Komeito.
Two men suspected of smuggling 1 ton of gold into Japan from South Korea
U.K. gold bullion bars and coins are displayed at Baird & Co. in Hatton Garden in London.
Americans with four-year degrees now comprise a record 25% of unemployed workers
A job fair in Fletcher, North Carolina. The unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree-holders in the U.S. rose to 2.8% in September, up a half-percentage point from a year earlier.
War refugee Aonishiki becomes first Ukrainian to win sumo tournament
Ukrainian sumo wrestler Aonishiki receives the Prime Minister's Cup from Takahiro Inoue, an adviser to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, on Sunday in Fukuoka after becoming the first from his nation to win a tournament in the traditional Japanese sport.
Japan plans higher visa fees for foreign residents
Along with planned higher fees for foreign residents to stay, Japan is looking to raise the ¥3,000 single-entry visa fee for inbound tourists to Western standards in the next fiscal year.
Top Chinese diplomat weighs in on Takaichi’s ‘shocking’ Taiwan remarks
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Lanting Forum in Beijing on Oct. 27.
TV icon Tetsuko Kuroyanagi's memoir paints a life of both war and glamour
“Totto” in “Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window: The Sequel” was the nickname young Tetsuko Kuroyanagi gave herself as a child, mispronouncing her first name.
The secret to 'Last Samurai Standing'? Treating live action like anime.
“Last Samurai Standing” centers on a mysterious fighting event in which participants must hack and slash their opponents apart to collect enough wooden tags to win a big-money prize.
‘Tampopo’ lives on in bowls of ramen around the world
Juzo Itami's 1985 movie "Tampopo" has inspired many restaurateurs around the world to open their own ramen shop with the same name, such as this establishment in Auckland, New Zealand.
All systems Go for upstart Machida Zelvia after landmark Emperor’s Cup triumph
Machida manager Go Kuroda lifts the trophy as the club celebrates its victory over Vissel Kobe in the Emperor’s Cup final at National Stadium on Saturday.
Japan plans higher visa fees for foreign residents
Along with planned higher fees for foreign residents to stay, Japan is looking to raise the ¥3,000 single-entry visa fee for inbound tourists to Western standards in the next fiscal year.

Podcast

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

Longform

Juzo Itami’s “Tampopo” was released Nov. 23, 1985, and though it wasn’t a hit at the time, it has gained a cult following in the years since.
Eat, slurp, love: 'Tampopo' turns 40
By Weiwen Lin

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