News from Japan
Nonfiction writer Kazutoshi Hando dies at 90
Born in Tokyo, Hando experienced massive U.S. air raids on the Japanese capital in March 1945 during World War II.
Osaka police program encourages older drivers to try carless life
Participants are encouraged to take public transportation or ride bicycles instead of driving a car and are asked to note down records of their trips ...
Tokyo Games organizers play down poll showing plunging support
Toshiro Muto dismissed as "fake news" a media report claiming the IOC and Tokyo 2020 organizers would debate the fate of the games in February.
Suga’s deference to LDP heavyweight blamed for COVID-19 policy delays
Stance of Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai believed to have delayed suspension of Go To Travel tourism campaign and played key role in move toward declaration of ...
Social media ‘cash giveaway’ scams increasing in Japan
Twitter verification badges and accounts with several hundred thousand followers are sold online for tens of thousands of yen, helping scammers deceive users.
Japan says it’s working to isolate and analyze new virus variant
The health ministry is working to isolate the new strain to determine its virulence in a process could take weeks or even months.
Ex-farm minister Takamori Yoshikawa to be charged over money scandal
The planned charge against the 70-year-old, who served under Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's predecessor Shinzo Abe, is expected to deal a blow to Suga's Cabinet.
Aichi city aims to give ‘dropout’ service dogs a second life
The city of Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, is utilizing Japan's furusato nōzei hometown donation system to support a second life for dogs that fail to become ...
Daniel Inouye, first Japanese-American member of Congress, to be remembered in ancestral home
The decorated World War II veteran, a towering figure in the U.S. legislative branch, was known for his efforts toward deepening Japan-U.S. relations.
Osaka expo plans quietly move forward despite cost and virus worries
There are concerns expo-related costs could greatly increase, like those for the Tokyo Olympics, and also over whether there will be adequate time to prepare.
Suga and Gates say vaccines for developing countries key for Olympics
The Microsoft founder called on the PM to host a successful Summer Games in order to send a strong message to the rest of the ...
Tokyo reports 970 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday as serious patients surge to 144
The figure in the capital came in the wake of a run of three straight days over 2,000 cases last week.
Japan vows to support Senegal’s response to pandemic
Senegal's foreign minister thanked Japan for its support and requested its cooperation in securing coronavirus vaccines for the country.
Avoid nonessential outings in afternoon, Japan virus response chief says
Economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura made the request after the three-day weekend saw no change in the number of people venturing out.
Rakuten worker arrested for alleged SoftBank 5G secrets leak
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on Tuesday arrested Kuniaki Aiba, 45, on suspicion of leaking secret information in breach of unfair competition prevention law.
Japan considers vehicle-mounted laser to ward off drone attacks
The Defense Ministry is also continuing with research on the use of microwave to knock out drones.
Chiba confirms second outbreak of highly pathogenic bird flu
Earlier infections 3 kilometers away within the prefecture made it the first in eastern Japan to report incidence of the viral infection this winter, after ...
Japan preparing to expand virus state of emergency to Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo
Aichi Prefecture's governor said Monday that he also plans to work with Gifu Prefecture and ask that the emergency declaration cover them, as well.
Virus wave casts shadow over once-in-a-lifetime coming-of-age ceremonies
Annual rite of passage for Japan's 20-year-olds would have been celebrated in style, with decadent kimonos, childhood reunions and all-night after-parties, were it not for ...
South Korean court puts off ruling on suit by ‘comfort women’
The plaintiffs filed the suit in December 2016, claiming that Japan committed systematic sexual violence during its colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 ...