National Aug 24, 2019
The transport ministry will provide subsidies to help municipalities take safety measures to reduce the amount of vehicular traffic in areas close to nursery schools and other facilities where children are present.
National May 9, 2019
Driver of car in Shiga crash that left two toddlers dead says she wasn't paying enough attention
The driver of a car involved in a crash in Otsu that left two pedestrians dead, a boy and girl, both 2, has told investigators she was not paying enough attention when she made a right turn and hit a minivehicle that was traveling ...
National May 8, 2019
Vehicle in crash hits group of toddlers in Shiga Prefecture, killing 2 and injuring 13 others
Two children died and 13 people were injured Wednesday after one of two vehicles that collided hit a group of nursery school students and teachers in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture.
National Feb 8, 2019
City of Otsu to use AI to analyze past school bullying cases with an eye on future prevention
A city in Shiga Prefecture said Friday it plans to use artificial intelligence to predict the potential consequences of suspected cases of bullying at schools, in what would be the first such analysis by a municipality in the country. "Through an AI theoretical analysis of ...
National | Regional voices: Chubu Nov 5, 2018
Superrealistic face masks by Japan firm attract attention from facial-recognition system developers
Superrealistic plastic face masks produced by a firm in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, have recently attracted attention at home and abroad, from facial-recognition system developers to a Saudi Arabian royal family member. "Look, it makes your heart pound, doesn't it?" says Osamu Kitagawa, 60, president of ...
National / Crime & Legal Jul 12, 2018
Japan court orders retrial of deceased man convicted in 1984 Shiga Prefecture murder
A court ordered Wednesday a retrial for a deceased man who was convicted of murdering a 69-year-old woman in 1984 in Shiga Prefecture, endorsing new evidence and acknowledging suspicions that he was forced into a confession after being beaten by police officers. The decision by ...
National May 26, 2016
Otsu city manager disciplined over 'harassed' worker's death
The city of Otsu in Shiga Prefecture has taken disciplinary action against a 53-year-old male manager for harassing a male subordinate in his 40s who subsequently overdosed on tranquilizer pills and died three days later. The city cut the pay of the official, who works ...
National / Social Issues May 26, 2016
Otsu disciplines official for alleged power harassment that led to subordinate's fatal overdose
The city of Otsu in Shiga Prefecture took disciplinary action Wednesday against a 53-year-old male manager for harassing a male subordinate in his 40s who subsequently overdosed on tranquilizer pills and died three days later in March 2015. The city cut the pay of the official, who works ...
National Mar 9, 2016
Court issues surprise injunction to halt Takahama nuclear reactors
by Eric Johnston
The Otsu District Court issues a provisional injunction ordering Kansai Electric Power Co. to shut down two reactors at its Takahama facility.
National / Crime & Legal Mar 17, 2015
The city of Otsu agreed Tuesday to settle a damages suit filed by the relatives of a 13-year-old boy who killed himself in 2011 after being bullied, agreeing to pay compensation and apologize for the way the school and the local board of education ...
National Nov 27, 2014
The Otsu District Court rejects a demand by Shiga residents to halt reactor restarts at the Takahama and Oi plants, clashing with another district court.
National / Social Issues Feb 5, 2013
Officials in the city of Otsu admit there was a causal link between a student's suicide and the bullying he was subjected to by his classmates.