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July 05, 2025
 

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UTILITIES

A Jera thermal power plant
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 6, 2023
Japan climate group calls for ban on top power firm's emission claims
The group says the ads may mislead consumers as Jera fails to mention that the ammonia the utility plans to use would emit CO2 during production.
BUSINESS
Sep 27, 2023
Industry ministry sees LNG stocks recovering toward winter
LNG stocks have been declining since May as a long, hot summer boosted the use of air-conditioners, lifting demand for power and fuels.
A liquefied natural gas tanker is tugged toward a thermal power station in Futtsu, Chiba Prefecture, in November 2017
BUSINESS
Sep 20, 2023
Japan’s dwindling LNG inventories could prompt new purchases
Storage held by Japan’s power suppliers fell to 1.62 million tons as of Sept. 17, according to data compiled by the trade ministry.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 15, 2023
Japan moves to make more effective use of solar power
Efforts are being made to use surplus electricity generated during the daytime by solar power and to shift power demand according to supply.
JAPAN
Sep 11, 2023
Chugoku Electric plans to restart Shimane reactor next August
The move comes as Japan aims to reboot more reactors to help diversify its electricity mix.
Kansai Electric Power's Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 3, 2023
Japan's nuclear restarts this year to hasten LNG import decline
Kansai Electric Power's plan next month to relaunch the last idle reactor at its flagship nuclear plant will mark an energy shift in Japan.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Jun 27, 2023
Competition growing over sales of energy-saving goods in Japan
Many consumers are buying new air conditioners to replace old ones as the hot and humid season gets underway.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
May 16, 2023
Japan approves up to 42% increase in household electricity prices
Seven of Japan’s major energy providers will raise household their prices from June, in a move likely to add to inflation.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 13, 2023
Kansai Electric and four others submit business improvement plans
Kansai Electric Power Co. and four other Japanese power companies have submitted to the industry ministry plans to improve their business operations after unauthorized accesses to customer information managed by subsidiaries.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Fukushima
May 8, 2023
Crows’ nests on utility poles in Fukushima raise risk of power outages
Data shows that the number of crow-nest removals in Fukushima Prefecture totaled 1,903 in 2022, roughly tripling from 662 in 2013.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 30, 2023
Momentum grows over a 'just' climate transition in Japan, but more action needed
The government and NGOs have begun to engage with the climate issue, but more work needs to be done to ensure workers in high-emitting industries and regions don’t get left behind.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 28, 2023
Kyushu Electric to raise ¥200 billion to fund green transition
Japanese utilities were hit by high fuel costs last year as a post-pandemic energy crisis was exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
BUSINESS
Apr 27, 2023
Three Japanese utilities report combined ¥134 billion loss on high fuel prices
Having nuclear power among its energy sources helped Kansai Electric Power to manage a net profit of ¥17.7 billion but it was still 79% lower than in the 2021 fiscal year.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Apr 4, 2023
How solar roofs are being used to power electric cars
The future of solar-powered vehicles is becoming clear: smaller, lighter, cheaper and a subtle augmentation electric driving, rather than power it in full.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 2, 2023
Biden’s landmark climate bill lures China’s clean energy giants
China’s leading renewables firms are joining the rush to open factories in the U.S. after Washington passed a landmark climate bill that supports local clean energy manufacturing.
BUSINESS
Mar 28, 2023
Missed rate hikes to stick Japanese utilities with revenue shortfall
Japan's government is taking time to approve the requests from utilities such as Tepco to ease the historically high inflation burden on consumers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 4, 2023
Japanese government to curb household power rate hikes
The economy industry plans to reduce hikes in household electricity bills given a recent decline in fuel import prices.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 25, 2023
Some Japanese utilities may see price hikes delayed until after April
At a meeting Friday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura to conduct 'strict and careful screenings' of the applications for price hikes.
JAPAN / Explainer
Jan 26, 2023
As Japan's energy firms raise prices, here is how to cut electricity use
Seven major electric companies have applied to the industry ministry to boost its energy prices, causing further concern to households worried about rising costs.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 24, 2023
Tepco seeks to raise household power prices by 30% from June
The move follows five other Japanese electric utilities that have already applied to raise prices by between 28% and 46% from April due to soaring fuel procurement costs.
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jars Tokara Islands amid flurry of seismic activity
A strong quake struck off the Tokara Islands on Thursday afternoon, with the island chain having recorded around 1,000 earthquakes since a burst of seismic activity first began on June 21.
Onosato's yokozuna promotion causes rare quirk in new sumo rankings
Newly promoted yokozuna Onosato holds a copy of the latest banzuke ranking in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, on Monday.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Over 900 earthquakes strike Tokara islands in space of two weeks
A screenshot shows many quakes occurring in the Tokara islands over the past 30 days, in this image taken from the U.S. Geological Survey website.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

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

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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