Japan conducts emergency drills in preparation for the huge quake predicted to hit Tokyo area
The government conducted full-scale drills on Sunday — the official Disaster Prevention Day — in preparation for a powerful earthquake that is predicted to occur directly under the Tokyo metropolitan area. The drills were carried out under a scenario of a 7.3 magnitude temblor occurring ...
In Hokkaido, Japan's youngest governor seen as 'safe driver,' but critics want him to go off script
When 38-year-old Naomichi Suzuki was elected governor of Hokkaido in April, he simultaneously achieved another feat: becoming the youngest serving prefectural leader in the nation. Although some initially counted on the young Suzuki to be communicative, or even outspoken, he has so far trodden carefully, ...
Donations to Japan's hometown tax donation program topped record ¥512 billion in 2018
The annual total surged 40 percent, the steepest increase on record, as governments drew interest from around the nation with generous return gifts.
In pursuit of a sustainable society, Nagano turns to AI to help craft policy
When times are good, there is less political pressure at the local level anywhere to be economically efficient or carefully scrutinize predictions that a new public works project or expensive industrial or tourism promotion scheme will lead to prosperity in 20 or 30 years. But ...
An increasing number of prefectural governments and ordinance-designated major cities are expanding the scope of disabled people eligible to take exams for regular jobs at public-sector offices to include those with mental or intellectual disabilities. Previously, the job exams had been available to people with ...
New law holds government responsible for teaching Japanese to all foreign residents
The legislation places the onus for providing learning opportunities on the state but does not contain any concrete measures to fund.
Toilet manners and traffic jams are top concerns amid Japan tourism boom, say local governments
Traffic jams and tourists' manners are recognized by many of Japan's tourist destinations as major issues that need to be addressed amid the sharp increase in foreign visitors in recent years, a government survey showed Wednesday. The Japan Tourism Agency survey, conducted in October and ...
Osaka Ishin no Kai candidate Hideki Nagafuji wins Sakai mayoral election
A candidate from regional party Osaka Ishin no Kai (One Osaka) won Sunday's mayoral election in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, likely giving a boost to the party's push for local administrative reorganization. Hideki Nagafuji, a 42-year-old former Osaka Prefectural Assembly member, defeated two other contenders. Voter ...
Sakai voters poised to decide key mayoral race for Osaka Ishin and LDP ahead of Upper House poll
Voters in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, will head to the polls Sunday to elect a new mayor in a key local race ahead of next month's Upper House election, with an Osaka Ishin no Kai (One Osaka) candidate reportedly the frontrunner in a closely contested ...
To help simplify complex tasks, Diet passes legislation allowing online administrative procedures
The Diet on Friday enacted legislation that enables online administrative procedures in order to enhance residents' convenience by simplifying complex procedures related to events such as changes of address, death and property inheritance. The bill was approved at a plenary meeting of the House of ...
Japan's Finance Ministry proposes cuts to local government workforce as population drops
The Finance Ministry on Wednesday issued a set of proposals on the reform of local finances, including a call for cuts to the number of local government employees in line with the country's shrinking population. According to the package, local governments should streamline clerical duties ...
Journalist sues city of Nagasaki over alleged sexual violence by senior official
A journalist Thursday filed a damages lawsuit against the city of Nagasaki over alleged sexual violence during her newsgathering activities by a senior municipal official, who has since taken his own life. The suit was filed with Nagasaki District Court. She is seeking some ¥35 ...
