Japan has seen a disturbing rise in nationwide child abuse cases over the past three decades and the problem is getting worse each year. Now, one woman who was abused as a child is working to open a shelter for girls and young women.

Kogetsu Otagaki, 24, was taken into custody at a children's shelter at age 18, but says staff were not serious about caring for their wards. She knows from experience that kids seeking safety from violence need not only protection but comprehensive support for all aspects of life.

"Half-hearted intervention doesn't heal wounds but instead inflicts new pain. Real support is crucial," Otagaki, director of nonprofit Child Oasis Kogetsu Villa, told Kyodo News in a recent interview.

There were 2,649 cases of child abuse in Japan in 2024, a record high, the National Police Agency announced in June. The figure includes 52 children who died, up 24 from 2023.

Government data shows that child welfare centers responded to a record-high 225,500 reports of child abuse in fiscal 2023, with psychological abuse making up more than half. Physical abuse made up 22.9 percent, or 51,623 cases, followed by 36,465 cases of neglect and 2,473 sexual abuse cases.

Under Japanese law, psychological abuse includes witnessing domestic violence, which some experts say is one factor in the long-term increase in child abuse cases.

The total rose 5.0 percent, or 10,666 cases, from fiscal 2022, marking the 33rd consecutive year of increase since records began, according to the revised figures compiled by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Children and Families Agency.

The percentage of physical abuse among all cases tends to increase with age.
The increase in the number of reported cases is believed to be attributed to the fact that some parents feel trapped raising their kids without being able to consult with anyone, as well as to the establishment of a nationwide hotline which can be used to immediately report abuse once it is suspected.

Otagaki, who currently lives in Chiba, near Tokyo, says her father was verbally abusive when he would get drunk. When she was in elementary school, he became violent, shoving her into a trash bin and saying he was throwing her away.

In high school, her father would keep her up at night, berating her.
"'You have nowhere to run,' he told me," she said. Otagaki would cry so hard she would often hyperventilate and breathe into a bag to calm herself.

Stressed, Otagaki gained weight. She cut off her hair, which she had carefully grown out over the years. She was a far cry from how she had imagined herself as a high school girl.

The daily scoldings began to take their toll on her sleep, and she started to have trouble staying awake in class. At the age of 15, she was temporarily taken into protective custody at a child welfare facility at the urging of a teacher.

When she returned home a few months later, her father blamed her mother, saying, the reason Otagaki was "abducted by the child welfare center" was because her mother had raised her wrong. The family environment deteriorated. The abuse intensified.

She had believed her mother was basically kind, even though she would sometimes encourage her father's outbursts. But when she was 16, her mother threatened her with a knife and Otagaki realized she was also an abuser.

At the age of 18, Otagaki feared for her life and called a local government hotline. She found a private children's shelter where she was taken into protective custody. The family-like, peaceful environment allowed her to gradually recover.

But she questioned the shelter's strict rules. Internet and telephone access were prohibited in order to shield the location of youths from their parents.

Residents could not readily go to school or find work to their satisfaction. Otagaki felt that while the center was protecting the children, it was not preparing them for their future lives.

As her physical strength declined due to lack of exercise, the only jobs arranged for her were a live-in caretaker and farmhand.

Otagaki was unable to handle the grueling work and was bullied. She quit both jobs after three months. She had lost her home, employment and had grown distrustful of the shelter.

In August 2024, Otagaki established her nonprofit in Chiba because she wants to provide services offering a "child's perspective." She aims to open the facility next spring for girls and women ages 15 to 20 to live, commute to school and find employment.

Some of the renovation and operating costs of the facility are expected to come from the government and Chiba City. A municipal official pointed out that it's rare for a person who has been an abuse victim to create such a facility.

Otagaki says she understands that her father was "immature" and taking out his frustrations on a daughter who was unable to fight back. They now live apart.

"I hope he will someday reflect on the scars he left on my life," she said.
Otagaki abandoned her original given name, which her parents had constantly yelled at her in anger, changing it last year to Kogetsu, using kanji characters for "bright moon."

"When I called the hotline office from the park for help, I looked up crying and saw the moon shining in the night sky. I want to be like the full moon that shines on children," she said.
 
 

Japan is preparing for a possible “megaquake” with a feared death toll of up to 300,000 people.

The Japanese government said that much more needs to be done to prepare for a possible “megaquake” to reduce the feared death toll of up to 300,000 people.

Quakes are extremely hard to predict, but in January a government panel marginally increased the probability of a major jolt in the Nankai Trough off Japan in the next 30 years to 75-82 per cent.

The government then released a new estimate in March saying that such a megaquake and subsequent tsunami could cause as many as 298,000 deaths and damages of up to $US2 trillion ($A3 trillion).

In 2014 the Central Disaster Management Council issued a preparedness plan recommending a series of measures that, it was hoped, would reduce deaths by 80 per cent.

But the government has said that so far the steps taken would only cut the toll by 20 per cent, Kyodo news agency reported, and an updated preparedness plan was issued on Tuesday.

This recommended accelerated efforts including constructing embankments and evacuation buildings as well as more regular drills to improve public readiness.

“It is necessary for the nation, municipalities, companies and non-profits to come together and take measures in order to save as many lives as possible,” Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told a government meeting, local media reported.

The Nankai Trough is an 800-kilometre undersea gully running parallel to Japan’s Pacific coast where one tectonic plate is “subducting” – slowly slipping – underneath another.

Over the past 1400 years, megaquakes in the Nankai Trough have occurred every 100 to 200 years. The last one was in 1946.
 
 

Japan experienced its hottest June on record, the weather agency said on Tuesday (Jul 1), as climate change prompts sweltering heat waves across the globe.

"Japan's monthly average temperature in June was the highest for the month since statistics began in 1898," said the Japan Meteorological Agency.

With strong high-pressure systems in June staying in the region, the average monthly temperature was 2.34 degrees Celsius higher than the standard value, the agency said.

The coastal water temperature near Japan also measured 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than usual, tying with June 2024 for the highest since data collection began in 1982, the agency said.

The body also had a further warning that is becoming routine for Japanese residents: "The next month is expected to continue to bring severe heat throughout the country."

The announcement came as scientists say human-induced climate change is making heatwave events more intense, frequent and widespread.

Brutal heat waves are currently sweeping Europe from France to Greece, while global footballers' union FIFPro has called for longer half-time breaks at next year's World Cup to mitigate the effects of extreme heat.

Japanese meteorologists have warned against drawing a direct link between specific weather conditions, like higher temperatures in a specific time, with climate change.

But they have observed a changing climate over many years that is causing unpredictable weather phenomena.

Japan remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels and has the dirtiest energy mix in the G7, campaigners say.

The government has pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2035 and by 73 per cent by 2040, against the 2013 standard, with the ultimate aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Japan's summer last year was the joint hottest on record, equalling the level seen in 2023, followed by the warmest autumn since records began 126 years ago.

Experts even warn that Japan's beloved cherry trees are blooming earlier due to warmer climate or sometimes even not fully blossoming because autumns and winters are not cold enough to trigger flowering.

The famous snowcap of Mount Fuji was also absent for the longest recorded period last year, not appearing until early November, compared with the average of early October.

Last week, the rainy season ended in the western region of Japan, the earliest date on record and around three weeks earlier than usual.
Raging typhoons in summers routinely have caused violent floods in Japan while brutal heat waves have resulted in deadly heat strokes among the elderly.

Increasingly dry winters have raised the risk of wildfires, with a northern area of Ofunato earlier this year seeing the nation's biggest forest fire in three decades.

At the same time, other areas have seen record snow falls that resulted in fatal accidents, traffic disruption, and higher avalanche risk.
 
 

Amid heightened concerns over child safety, the government is expanding the scope of its planned background check system designed to protect children from sexual offenders.
 
A new system, commonly referred to as the “Japanese version of the U.K.’s Disclosure and Barring Service,” is set to go into effect in December 2026. It aims to ensure a safe learning environment for minors by facilitating background checks on individuals seeking work that involves interacting with children.
 
The expanded guidelines will apply not only to schools and kindergartens, but also to community spaces such as children’s cafeterias and talent agencies.
 
The move comes as scrutiny grows over how institutions handle allegations of abuse, particularly in the entertainment industry and informal education settings.
 
At a meeting on Monday, the Children and Families Agency presented a draft outlining the new guidelines, revealing that community-based organizations, such as children’s cafeterias, talent agencies, cram schools, and sports clubs will be subjected to the checks under certain conditions, in addition to schools and licensed child care facilities.
 
The draft also subjects secret filming, which would violate local ordinance, to the new system, the agency said. Last week, two teachers were accused of secretly taking indecent pictures of young schoolgirls and sharing them in a 10-member group chat.
 
“If it is true, they exploited their positions as teachers to collectively disregard the rights of children, which we recognize as something absolutely unforgivable,” Tomoko Fujiwara, the head of child development bureau at the Children and Families Agency, said during Monday’s meeting.
 
Under the expanded system, background checks will be mandatory for professions including teaching, child care, licensed day care, and child welfare.

Relevant institutions must verify prospective employees do not have a history of sexual offense by making an inquiry with the children’s agency, which will check with the Justice Ministry for criminal records.
 
If an applicant falsely claims to have no criminal record and is later found to have one, employers will be permitted to revoke their offer on the grounds of "serious misrepresentation."
 
Unlisted organizations that offer children-related services for a six-month period or longer may also volunteer to conduct background checks in return for an official government safety certification mark.
 
To qualify, entities must meet four conditions:
 
    Provide education to children
    Hold in-person sessions
    Operate in a location other than the child’s home
    Employ at least three staff members or instructors
 
Solo operators such as freelance tutors or babysitters are excluded from the background checks. However, the system will bring them under regulation indirectly by certifying the platforms they use to connect to clients. In those cases, it will be the platform’s responsibility to ensure background checks are conducted.
 
In the expanded guidelines, the child agency recommends that bus drivers and volunteers who regularly interact with children be screened, but the final determination is left to the employer.
 
The agency plans to finalize the guidelines by the end of the year based on discussions with relevant stakeholders.
 
Although certification for nonmandatory institutions will be optional, the government is encouraging wide adoption as part of a broader push to create safer environments for children across public and private sectors.
 

 

 

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.1 struck off the Tokara Islands in southwestern Japan, with no tsunami alert issued, the weather agency said Monday.

The 6:33 p.m. temblor measured a lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 on Akuseki Island, which is part of the island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture. There have been no reports of damage so far, according to the prefectural government and police.

The quake occurred west of Akuseki Island at a depth of 30 kilometers, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The agency has been urging residents to stay alert, as the Tokara island chain and its vicinity have experienced over 670 earthquakes with a seismic intensity scale of 1 or higher between June 21 and 7:00 p.m. Monday.

The district meteorological observatory monitoring the area said the frequency of quakes has fluctuated and activity has continued, adding that several strong quakes have struck Akuseki Island throughout Monday afternoon.

Junichi Nakajima, professor at Institute of Science Tokyo, said, "There is a possibility of an earthquake similar to the magnitude 6.1 that hit in 2021, or an even larger one." He warned of a tsunami if a temblor nears magnitude 7.

Yoshiro Tobo, principal of an elementary and junior high school with 14 students on the island, said he had confirmed everyone was safe but added he felt "fearful" about the possibility of quakes occurring at night.

About 90 people live on Akuseki Island, according to the local government.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin have affirmed their commitment to strengthening relations between the two countries following the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.

At his meeting with Parolin in Tokyo on Monday, Ishiba expressed his congratulations on the inauguration of the new pope in May. Referring to more than 80 years of Japan-Vatican diplomatic ties, the prime minister also voiced his hope to boost cooperation between the two sides.

Parolin said he wants to further enhance the long-standing friendship between Japan and the Vatican.

The two exchanged views on global challenges, including Middle East tensions, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the East Asian situation, including North Korea's nuclear and missile development and its abduction of Japanese citizens.

Parolin is visiting Japan to attend the Holy See's "national day" event at the ongoing World Exposition in the city of Osaka, western Japan.
 
 

The average income of Japanese lawmakers in 2024 stood at 25.13 million yen, almost unchanged from the previous year, both chambers of the Diet, Japan's parliament, said Monday.

The top earner among Diet members was Kenji Nakanishi of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party with 662.45 million yen, mostly from capital gains and dividends from his shareholdings.

Four lawmakers earned over 100 million yen, and all of them were LDP members.

The highest income among opposition party lawmakers was 87.54 million yen, earned by Kenko Matsuki of the leading opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

By party, the LDP had the highest average income, at 28.22 million yen, followed by the Democratic Party for the People, at 24.64 million yen, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), at 23.08 million yen, and the CDP, at 21.88 million yen.
 
 

The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition held a commemorative ceremony Sunday as the total number of visitors, including staff, reached 10 million at the Expo in Osaka.

"The number of customers is increasing more and more, at a faster pace than we thought," Secretary-General Hiroyuki Ishige said during the event in the Expo venue.

Kazuhiro Asano, a certified public accountant from Yamagata, became the 10 millionth visitor. Asano, who was visiting with his family, received commemorative gifts including special passes allowing unlimited entries during the summer period.

According to the association, the number of general visitors by Saturday was 8.49 million. In addition, 1.37 million people, including pavilion staff and press personnel, entered the venue, bringing the total to about 9.86 million.
The Expo started on April 13 for a six-month run.
 
 

Japan successfully launched its 50th and final H2A liquid-fuel rocket from a southwestern Japan island on Sunday, drawing the curtain on the series' 24-year career in support of the country's space development program.

The H2A rocket, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, has been replaced as the country's mainstay space vehicle by the H3 rocket, which offers a lower launch service price.

The final H2A rocket, which blasted off from Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture at 1:33 a.m., placed in orbit a government satellite for observing greenhouse gas levels and monitoring climate change.

The satellite separated from the rocket at an altitude of around 670 kilometers near the equator and deployed its solar panels, with its operation confirmed by JAXA.

"I was more nervous than ever about the launch and feel like I'm still dreaming. We achieved our long-cherished goal of a 98 percent success rate," said Keiji Suzuki, a Mitsubishi Heavy official in charge of the rocket launch.

At a park near the Tanegashima Space Center, around 1,300 people gathered early Sunday to watch the launch, cheering as the rocket ascended in the darkness.

"I was impressed by the loud sound and light. I'm excited to see the next H3 rocket," said 7-year-old Hikari Nagoe.

Since 2001, the H2A series has supported the country's aerospace exploration by sending satellites and probes into space, raising its reliability over time.

Its long career was rocky at times. The No. 6 rocket failed in 2003 when a booster did not separate and the ground crew ordered its destruction. It was discovered later that a damaged jet nozzle was the cause of the breakdown.
It took one year and three months until the succeeding No. 7 flew successfully after alterations were made.

Sunday's launch was postponed by Mitsubishi Heavy from June 24 due to an equipment abnormality.

The H3 rocket, also developed by Mitsubishi Heavy and JAXA, is expected to help the country gain a foothold in the satellite-launch business that has become increasingly competitive with the rise of SpaceX of the United States.

The H3 rocket debuted in March 2023 but its maiden flight ended with a self-destruct order minutes after liftoff due to the failure of the second-stage engine to ignite. The succeeding launches, including the latest No. 5 in February, have been successful.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Sunday sounded cautious about expanding the ruling coalition between his Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito.

"A coalition should be formed after a certain level of agreement is reached on diplomacy, security and public finances," Ishiba said in a speech ahead of Thursday's start of the official campaign period for the July 20 election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament.

 

At a conference hosted by a private policy proposal group, Ishiba also expressed support for the idea of establishing a nonpartisan consultative body on social security reform.

On measures against persisting inflation, he stated, "What is needed now is immediate effects," reiterating the need to provide a cash benefit of 20,000 to 40,000 yen per citizen, included in his party's election pledges.

 

"We must secure financial resources for medical care, elderly care and pensions," he said, indicating a negative view about opposition proposals for lowering the consumption tax.
 


 

A newly opened giant slide in southwestern Japan has been closed after four people sustained broken bones while using it, the local government said Friday.

The 30-meter slide at the top of Mt. Sarakura in Kitakyushu, a popular nightscape spot, opened to the public on April 25, but a tourist from Taiwan in her 30s broke her shin on May 28 while using it.

The local government subsequently uncovered the three other cases, involving a municipal employee who tried the slide before it opened to the public, a 2-year-old held by her older sister, and a man in his 70s.
The slide has been closed since June 3.

According to the city in Fukuoka Prefecture, some injuries are believed to be attributable to users not falling within the recommended age range of 6 to 12, as stated on a nearby sign that also warned users against sliding while holding someone.

Kitakyushu is planning on increasing the number of languages on signs, with the hope of reopening the equipment in July.
 
 

The Tohoku Shinkansen line was suspended after a bullet train collided with a bear while traveling in Miyagi Prefecture on Saturday afternoon.

According to East Japan Railway Co., the train that collided with the bear was Hayabusa No. 25, which was bound for Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto from Tokyo. It was coupled with Komachi No. 25, which was bound for Akita.

The train was traveling between Sendai and Furukawa stations when it detected an abnormal noise at 4:02 p.m., and an inspection of the cars was conducted. As a result, Tohoku Shinkansen services were suspended for 37 minutes between Sendai and Morioka.

The company said it was a very unusual accident and that it is unclear how the bear got onto the tracks.

A train crew member spotted the bear in the direction of travel before the collision and found the carcass near the tracks after the train stopped.
 

 

 
 
Much of Japan was gripped by sweltering heat on Saturday, with temperatures soaring to 35 degrees Celsius or higher especially in western parts of the country.
 
The hot weather is expected to continue on Sunday, prompting warnings of heatstroke.
 
The Meteorological Agency says a high pressure system prevailed over wide regions from western to northern Japan.
 
A daytime high of 36.4 degrees was recorded in the town of Akiota in Hiroshima Prefecture. The mercury reached 33.8 degrees in central Tokyo and 33.5 degrees in Osaka City.
 
Tokyo Fire Department officials say that as of 9 p.m. on Saturday, 43 people in the capital between the ages of 10 and 99 had been taken to hospital with symptoms of heatstroke.
 
Temperatures are likely to remain high mainly from the Kinki to Kyushu regions in the west. Overnight lows are not expected to fall below 25 degrees in some areas.
 
Another scorching day is forecast for Sunday.
 
A daytime high of 37 degrees is expected in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture. Highs of 36 degrees are likely in the cities of Saga, Yamaguchi, Okayama, Kyoto and Kumagaya, while Kumamoto, Takamatsu, Osaka and Fukushima cities can expect a high of 35 degrees.
 
Heatstroke alerts have been issued for the prefectures of Shimane, Tokushima, Kochi, Fukuoka, Oita, Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Kagoshima excluding the Amami region, as well as Okinawa's main island and Yaeyama regions.
 
Temperatures are expected to remain high for the coming month.

People are advised to use air conditioners, take liquids and salt and rest frequently during outdoor activities.
 

This strategic move is in response to Japan's increasing reliance on LNG as a critical energy source.

apan’s gas distributor, Tokyo Gas, is currently in discussions with several US liquefied natural gas (LNG) suppliers to finalise a long-term purchase agreement, reported Bloomberg.

This strategic move is in response to Japan’s increasing reliance on LNG as a critical energy source.

The company is engaging with at least four suppliers along the US Gulf Coast, with names such as Energy Transfer and Commonwealth being mentioned by sources familiar with the negotiations.

The details of the talks remain confidential as the involved parties have either declined to comment or have not responded to inquiries.

This initiative is part of Japan’s broader preparation for an anticipated surge in power demand, driven by the growth of data centres and semiconductor manufacturing.

The Japanese Government views LNG as an essential component of the nation’s energy security and is seeking to secure supplies that could extend beyond 2050.

US-sourced LNG is particularly appealing due to its contractual flexibility, which allows Japanese buyers to redirect shipments based on fluctuating domestic needs or more favourable global prices.

In addition to securing LNG supplies, Tokyo Gas is also bolstering its presence in the US gas market.

The company acquired shale drilling company Rockcliff Energy in late 2023 and has reorganised its US portfolio, including purchasing assets from Chevron in east Texas and divesting its Eagle Ford stake to Shizuoka Gas.

In February, Tokyo Gas acquired a 20% stake in FGEN LNG, the owner and operator of an offshore floating LNG terminal in Batangas City in the Philippines.
 
 

Japan has executed a man who murdered nine people in 2017, the first time since 2022 that the country has enacted capital punishment.

The serial killings by Takahiro Shiraishi, dubbed the "Twitter killer", had shocked the country and triggered debate over how suicide was discussed online.

Shiraishi, then 30, lured his victims - most of them young women between the ages of 15 and 26 - to his apartment, before strangling and dismembering them.

The killings came to light in October 2017, when police found body parts in the Japanese city of Zama, near Tokyo, when they were searching for one of the victims.

Shiraishi later admitted to murdering nine suicidal victims and revealed that he got acquainted with them on Twitter, the social media platform now known as X.

He then told them he could help them die, and in some cases claimed he would kill himself alongside them.

His Twitter profile contained the words: "I want to help people who are really in pain. Please DM [direct message] me anytime."

Nine dismembered bodies were found in coolers and tool boxes when officers visited his flat, which was dubbed by media outlets as a "house of horrors".

While prosecutors sought the death penalty for Shiraishi, his lawyers argued for the lesser charge of "murder with consent", claiming his victims had given their permission to be killed.

They also called for an assessment of his mental state.
Shiraishi later disputed his own defence team's version of events and said he killed without the victims' consent.

Hundreds of people showed up at his verdict hearing in December 2020, when he was sentenced to death.

The murders also prompted a change by Twitter, which amended its rules to state users should not "promote or encourage suicide or self-harm".

Japan's justice minister Keisuke Suzuki, who said he ordered Shiraishi's execution, said the killer acted "for the genuinely selfish reason of satisfying his own sexual and financial desires", according to an AFP report.
The case "caused great shock and anxiety to society", Suzuki said.
 
 

SoftBank Corp. has announced a plan to launch high-altitude platform station-based pre-commercial telecommunications services in Japan in 2026.

Service areas and the number of users will be limited in the operations, the major Japanese mobile phone carrier said Thursday. SoftBank aims to offer the HAPS-based services to general users from 2027 at the earliest.

A HAPS, an unmanned aerial vehicle and also referred to as "a base station in the sky," features lower latency because it operates in the stratosphere at an altitude of approximately 20 kilometers, lower than that of communications satellites. In addition, it can cover wider areas than ground base stations.

The services are expected to support communications infrastructure recovery in the event of major earthquakes and other large-scale disasters, and deliver connectivity to hard-to-reach areas, including mountainous regions and remote islands, SoftBank said.

To launch the services, SoftBank will invest about 2.2 billion yen in U.S. HAPS developer Sceye Inc. and introduce airship-shaped HAPS vehicles from the partner.
 
 

The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) has decided to field former House of Councilors lawmaker Renho as a proportional representation candidate in the July 20 Upper House election.

The decision was made at a meeting of CDP executives on Tuesday, in hopes that the well-known politician will help the party attract votes under the proportional representation system, although some in the party objected to endorsing her.

Renho, 57, won her first election to the Upper House in 2004 and served as administrative reform minister under the Democratic Party of Japan-led government and as leader of the Democratic Party, a successor of the DPJ and the CDP's predecessor.

During her fourth term, Renho left the CDP and ran as an independent in last year's Tokyo gubernatorial election. After being defeated in the election, she said on social media that she was "no longer thinking of running in a national election."

At a news conference on Tuesday, CDP Secretary-General Junya Ogawa admitted that there were concerns that the party could be criticized if it endorses Renho.

However, Ogawa added, "We believe she will be a more mature Renho, and we would like to fully support her."
 
 

The move is part of measures to boost the content industry and better protect intellectual property.

The government is planning to deepen cooperation with foreign authorities in cracking down on counterfeit anime goods to better protect intellectual property.

To combat the sale of counterfeit goods, the government will cooperate with the Content Overseas Distribution Association, an organization that tackles the issue of pirated publications. With China in mind, the government will join hands with foreign authorities to investigate and identify distributors of such fake goods and take legal action.

The government’s policy is part of its Entertainment and Creative Industries National Strategy, which was formulated for the first time to promote the Japanese content industry, which includes fields such as anime and video games. It aims to support the global expansion of the Japanese content industry as it expects the global content market to grow.

The government has set a goal of increasing annual overseas sales of the Japanese content industry to ¥20 trillion by 2033, more than three times the current level. It has outlined 100 measures covering 10 priority areas in the strategy, which was revealed by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry on Tuesday.

The overseas advancement of video games will be supported by the government through the creation of a database that lists the legal regulations, cultural norms and customs of various countries. For manga, the government will support the development of translation tools utilizing generative artificial intelligence.

The government will also work on the revitalization of bookstores in Japan, whose numbers have been decreasing rapidly in recent years, as they serve as important sales base of manga. It also considers support to manga to be important on the grounds that many manga titles receive anime adaptations.

To address the shortage of anime creators, the government will improve working conditions at production studios. It will also establish a certification mark that will be awarded to anime produced under appropriate working conditions.
 
 

The Makassar city government is partnering with Maniwa City, Japan, and Yachiyo Engineering Co., Ltd. to develop renewable energy through sustainable waste management practices.

Makassar Mayor Munafri Arifuddin welcomed the initiative as a major step in transforming the city’s waste handling systems into an environmentally friendly model.

"Makassar is one of 12 cities selected for the construction of a waste-to-energy plant. We've prepared a waste management roadmap aiming for zero waste within five years, starting with government offices and educational institutions," Arifuddin said after a meeting here on Tuesday.

The meeting focused on collaboration plans to achieve a decarbonized society through a modern and sustainable waste management system.

Several programs are already in place, including early education on waste sorting in schools, integration with community waste banks, and organic waste processing initiatives led by hotels and business associations.

The city is also exploring advanced technologies to convert accumulated waste at the Antang landfill into refuse-derived fuel (RDF). Arifuddin reaffirmed his commitment to making Makassar a green and waste-free city within five years.​​​​​​​
Maniwa City representative Hitoho Maki emphasized his government’s strong support for sharing best practices in waste-to-energy innovation.

The small Japanese city of Maniwa has become a pioneer in turning waste into energy, moving steadily toward zero carbon emissions.

"We bring technology already proven in Maniwa to convert waste into fuel and gas, with an annual output of 10,000 tons. We hope this collaboration with Makassar will have a significant environmental impact," said Hitoko.​​​​​​​

He added that the initiative is part of the Japanese Ministry of Environment’s effort to foster international cooperation between local governments and the private sector, supported through funding assistance in the form of loans or subsidies.
 

The government said Tuesday that an election for the House of Councilors, the upper chamber of parliament, will take place on July 20.

The official campaign period will start on July 3 in the election for the 248-seat Upper House, in which 125 seats — 75 in constituencies and 50 under proportional representation — will be contested.

The campaign will focus on ways to address rising prices and political fund issues.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Monday that his ruling coalition aims to secure a majority in the Upper House. The bloc needs to win at least 50 seats to achieve the goal.

Opposition parties want to block his goal after the ruling coalition lost a majority in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, in an election last year.
 
 

Japan's Financial Services Agency will promote Yutaka Ito, director-general of the Supervision Bureau, to commissioner of the agency, effective on July 1, the government said Tuesday.

Ito, 61, will face challenges including promoting the reorganization of regional banks and expanding the NISA tax-exempt program for small-lot investors.

He will replace Hideki Ito, 60.

 

Yutaka Ito was an expert while previously working at the Finance Ministry. He once worked at the Tokyo Stock Exchange on loan. He assumed the current post in June 2022.
 
 

A laser navigating tool doomed a Japanese company's lunar lander earlier this month, causing it to crash into the moon.

Officials for ispace announced the news from Tokyo on Tuesday. The crash landing was the second for ispace in two years.

This time, the company’s lander named Resilience was aiming for the moon’s far north in Mare Frigoris, or Sea of Cold. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter relayed pictures of the crash site last week where Resilience and its mini rover ended up as wreckage.

Company officials blamed the accident on the lander's laser range finder, saying it was slow to kick in and properly measure the spacecraft's distance to the lunar surface. Resilience was descending at a rapid rate of 138 feet (42 meters) per second when contact was lost, and crashed five seconds later, they said.

Bad software caused ispace's first lunar lander to slam into the moon in 2023. Like the latest try, the problem occurred during the final phase of descent.

Of seven moon landing attempts by private outfits in recent years, only one can claim total success: Firefly Aerospace's touchdown of its Blue Ghost lander in March. Blue Ghost launched with Resilience in January, sharing a SpaceX rocket ride from Florida.

 

Aside from Texas-based Firefly, only five countries have pulled off a successful lunar landing: the Soviet Union, the U.S., China, India and Japan. And only the U.S. has put astronauts on the moon, back during NASA's Apollo program more than a half-century ago.

Despite back-to-back losses, ispace is pressing ahead with its third moon landing attempt in 2027, with NASA cooperation, as well as a fourth planned mission. Extra tests and improvements will add as much as 1.5 billion yen (more than $10 million) to the development costs, officials said.

CEO and founder Takeshi Hakamada stressed that his company “has not stepped down in the face of setbacks" and is looking to regain customers' trust.

Outside experts will join the accident review, and ispace will collaborate more closely with the Japanese Space Agency on technical matters.

“We’re firmly taking the next step toward our future missions,” he said in Japanese.
 
 

"Long ago, rock was a symbol of the anti-establishment...Using words, not guitars, as our weapons today, politics is what rocks!"

That's the marketing message of Sanseito, a new right-wing populist party in Japan known for its stance against immigrants and coronavirus measures as well as calls for rewriting the postwar Constitution, often seen as taboo.

Some supporters want to revive wartime slogans of the Japanese Empire.
Sanseito, known in English as the Party of Do it Yourself, was established as the pandemic began in 2020 and quickly exploited the fears and frustrations of people in Japan.

It picked up three seats in last October's lower house election. The party leader Sohei Kamiya, who won re-election in May, has set a target of six seats in voting for the upper house this summer.

Amid growing discontent with economic malaise and record-breaking numbers of inbound tourists, Sanseito supporters complain that foreigners receive better treatment than Japanese and the country's culture is changing rapidly.

A movement with roots in social media, supporters blend nationalism with a sense of crisis and frustration over their daily lives.

At a party gathering in Hashimoto, Wakayama Prefecture in February, about 25 attendees split into groups to discuss rewriting the 1947 Constitution. One group suggested a new supreme law should state that "Japan belongs to the Japanese people, and foreign ownership of Japanese land is not permitted."

"First, (foreigners) have to fulfill their obligations as human beings and then we can teach them their rights," said one woman.

"That's right. Japan's a paradise for foreigners," chimed in another.

Others said everyone living in Japan should follow its traditional culture and customs. One proposal called for a return to the spirit of "Hakko Ichiu" as a national ideal. The Japanese Empire's wartime slogan means "unify the eight corners of the world" and it was used to justify its domination of Asia.

Many supporters of populist right-wing political parties claim Japan spends more money on foreigners' livelihoods while Japanese are struggling to make ends meet.

An 18-year-old male university student from Nara Prefecture supports Sanseito because he's angry at the administration of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

The teen, who requested anonymity, was introduced to the party by his father around the time of the 2022 upper house election, when Kamiya won his first parliamentary seat.

"Japanese people are struggling, but they are giving money away to foreign countries and giving excessive preferential treatment to foreigners," the teen said. He supports Sanseito's calls for tighter regulation of land acquisition by foreign capital and curbs on foreign workers.

He was impressed by speeches by the firebrand Kamiya and others on YouTube. "I thought these people are really Japanese," he said.

In January, the student helped hand out Sanseito leaflets in front of a venue for a Coming-of-Age ceremony in Yamatotakada, Nara Prefecture, western Japan.

Young people smartly attired in their suits and kimono did not readily accept them, but the teen was satisfied nonetheless, remarking, "I'm glad that people know about the party now."

Sanseito's early support, especially among younger Japanese, can be attributed in part to pandemic fatigue, specifically the obligation to wear masks.

A 19-year-old woman who attends a vocational school in Wakayama Prefecture became a supporter because of the party's proposal for the "liberalization of mask wearing" in the 2022 House of Councillors election as official COVID-19 policy.

Feeling masks were ineffective and uncomfortable, she began removing hers at school even though she was warned not to do so.

The woman, who also requested anonymity, joined Sanseito's political activities with her mother. When Kamiya was elected for the first time, she said she felt his voice united voters across the country.

Kamiya has been likened to a Japanese male idol because of his charismatic stage presence. "When I see Mr. Kamiya's speeches, it makes me cry. I'm a huge fan," the woman said.

Her parents often say that Japan's history was changed by the U.S.-led Allied Occupation. "The Constitution was not written by the Japanese people," she said. "I want people to be taught the correct history."

She also agrees with Sanseito policies on food safety and the importance of organic produce. Fast food is not part of her diet.

"It's the additives," she said. "And the food is not from Japan. It's all imported. Because I'm Japanese, shouldn't I want to eat Japanese food? It's like local production for local consumption. Our food self-sufficiency rate is low."
 
 

Japan has canceled a regular high-level meeting with its key ally the United States after the Trump administration demanded it spend more on defense, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had been expected to meet Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Defense Minister Gen Nakatani in Washington on July 1 for the annual 2+2 security talks.

But Tokyo scrapped the meeting after the U.S. asked Japan to boost defense spending to 3.5% of gross domestic product, higher than an earlier request of 3%, the newspaper said, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Saturday that President Donald Trump's government was demanding that its Asian allies, including Japan, spend 5% of GDP on defense.

A U.S. official who asked not to be identified told Reuters that Japan had "postponed" the talks in a decision made several weeks ago. The official did not cite a reason. A non-government source familiar with the issue said he had also heard Japan had pulled out of the meeting but not the reason for it doing so.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said she had no comment on the FT report when asked about it at regular briefing. The Pentagon also had no immediate comment.

Japan's embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment. The nation's foreign and defense ministries and the Prime Minister's Office did not answer phone calls seeking comment outside business hours on Saturday.

The FT said the higher spending demand was made in recent weeks by Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior Pentagon official, who has also recently upset another key U.S. ally in the Indo-Pacific by launching a review of a project to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.

In March, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that other nations do not decide Japan's defense budget after Colby, in his nomination hearing to be under secretary of defense for policy, called for Tokyo to spend more to counter China.

Japan and other U.S. allies have been engaged in difficult trade talks with the United States over President Donald Trump's worldwide tariff offensive.

The FT said the decision to cancel the July 1 meeting was also related to Japan's July 20 upper house elections, expected to be a major test for Ishiba's minority coalition government.

Japan's move on the 2+2 comes ahead of a meeting of the U.S.-led NATO alliance in Europe next week, at which Trump is expected to press his demand that European allies boost their defense spending to 5% of GDP.
 
 

A total of 87 Japanese nationals and their family members have evacuated from Iran and Israel amid conflict in the Middle East, the Japanese government said Friday.

The evacuees arrived in Azerbaijan's capital Baku and Jordan's capital Amman by bus as local airports remained closed and none of them had health issues, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said.

Of the 87, including six foreign nationals, 66 left Tehran and arrived in Baku early Friday, while 21 departed from Tel Aviv and reached Amman on Thursday afternoon, the Foreign Ministry said.

The government is arranging additional bus transportation to evacuate more people from Iran as early as Saturday, Iwaya said.

"As the situation remains very tense, the government will protect Japanese citizens with a high sense of urgency," he said.

Around 220 Japanese nationals remained in Iran and around 1,000 in Israel after the evacuations, according to the ministry.

Japan also plans to dispatch two Self-Defense Forces planes to a base in Djibouti in eastern Africa to evacuate its nationals if airports in Iran and Israel reopen, according to Iwaya.

Israel and Iran have continued to exchange strikes since the former attacked Iranian nuclear facilities and military targets last week, alleging the Islamic Republic was close to obtaining a nuclear weapon, a claim it denies.

With possible U.S. military intervention in the conflict attracting global attention, President Donald Trump has upped pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear program by setting a deadline for negotiations.

"I will make my decision of whether or not to go within the next two weeks," Trump said in a statement, which was read by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt at a press briefing on Thursday.
 

 

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has called for expanding exchanges between Japan and South Korea as this year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries.

"We want to pass on the baton of exchanges we have nurtured to the next generation while further broadening the scope of Japan-South Korea cooperation," Ishiba said in a speech at a reception hosted by the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo on Thursday to commemorate the anniversary.

Ishiba said that he had very good discussions with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung when they met in Canada on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit.

"As the strategic environment surrounding Japan and South Korea is becoming increasingly severe, let's take a new step toward a better future hand in hand," the prime minister stressed.

Meanwhile, South Korean Ambassador to Japan Park Cheol-hee said that the bilateral relations have continuously deepened despite twists and turns in the past.

Park called for further developing the friendly relations and continuing the efforts to make them sustainable.

The reception was also attended by Fumio Kishida and Yoshihide Suga, both former prime ministers. Suga currently serves as head of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union.
 
 

Japanese ruling and opposition parties are gearing up for a House of Councillors election, expected to take place on July 20, as the current parliamentary session ends without an extension on Sunday.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is striving to lead his ruling Liberal Democratic Party to a victory in the Upper House election to keep himself in power after the LDP lost last year's election for the House of Representatives.

Opposition parties, which together control the Lower House, aim to win a majority also in the Upper House.

The Upper House election will focus on proposals to address rising inflation, including a consumption tax cut and a cash handout. Campaign issues also include political funds and a proposed dual surname system for married couples.

In the election for the 248-seat Upper House, 125 seats--75 in constituencies and 50 under proportional representation--will be contested.
 
 

The Japanese government will survey rice farmers about their production intentions for the next year as well as in five and 10 years, agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Thursday.

By understanding farmers' medium- and long-term plans on planting areas and others, the government aims to promote the drastic review of its rice policy.

It will ask farmers to respond via an online questionnaire until the end of July.

"It's essential to realize policies to create an environment in which farmers can produce (rice) with peace of mind in the future," Koizumi said.

Currently, subsidies support crop conversion to limit rice production and stabilize prices of the Japanese staple food. The government hopes to study to what extent farmers can increase production ahead of the possible review in the current scheme.
 
 

 
The portfolio of projects will come online progressively over 2026-2028 and be combined with battery storage to maximize climate impact and cost savings for customers.

Singapore and Tokyo (ANTARA/PRNewswire)- Peak Energy, one of the fastest-growing renewable energy developers in Asia, has completed the acquisition of a unique portfolio of ready-to-build (RTB) high-voltage solar sites in Japan.

Located across different regions of Japan, including Tokyo and Tohoku, the projects have a combined capacity of 48 MW, sufficient to produce nearly 60 GWh of zero-carbon electricity per year, equivalent to the power consumption of around 15,000 households.

In the process, the solar systems will help avoid nearly 27,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, equivalent to removing around 9,000 cars from the road.

The solar plants are scheduled to come on stream over 2026-2027, with the electricity output sold to corporates through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Prices will be fixed from day one until the end of the 20+ year PPAs, allowing customers to make immediate savings on their electricity bills and to shield themselves from fluctuations in electricity tariffs over the long term.

Selected sites will also see battery energy storage systems (BESS) collocated with the solar PV installations, allowing customers to make additional savings and expand their use of renewable power into the night.

This transaction further highlights Peak Energy's rapid growth in Japan, following the acquisition earlier in 2025 of another set of ready-to-build high-voltage solar sites, of 11 MW.

Peak Energy since 2022 also co-owns a 28 MW solar plant in Kyushu and actively offers corporate power users in the country a range of energy services, such as cheap onsite solar PPAs, offsite solar PPAs and collocated solar+BESS PPAs.

"This acquisition further cements our position in Japan, where we are now uniquely positioned to serve large power consumers with cheap, clean energy at the scale the require and within the timeframe they need to meet their climate objectives," said Gavin Adda, CEO of Peak Energy.

"I am particularly excited about Peak now also adding storage to some of our sites, to offer time-shifted PPAs, and helping some of our most ambitious consumers get closer to their 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy ambitions."



About Peak Energy


Headquartered in Singapore, Peak Energy develops, owns, and operates renewable energy assets across Asia.

Peak Energy delivers clean, affordable, and reliable power solutions to corporate customers through a diverse range of business models, including utility-scale solar, off-site and on-site corporate PPAs, and battery storage.

Across the Asia-Pacific region, Peak owns over 200 MW of solar projects in operation or under construction, along with 298 MWh of battery energy storage capacity in operation or under construction.

Peak Energy is wholly owned by Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets, with approximately USD 73 billion in assets under management. Peak is a member of the 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) Compact.
 

 

A Chinese naval drill near Japan has sparked concern from Tokyo, which in recent days lodged a protest with Beijing and made the rare decision to publicly disclose Chinese military movements.

In the last few weeks China's two aircraft carriers, the Shandong and the Liaoning, have been conducting simultaneous drills in the Pacific, in an unprecedented move.

Chinese fighter jets have done hundreds of landings and take-offs from the carriers. A few came close to Japanese surveillance planes, prompting Tokyo to convey its "serious concerns" to Beijing.

China has said its activities are consistent with international law and accused Japan of conducting "dangerous moves".

On Tuesday, the Japanese defence ministry released a map tracing the Chinese aircraft carriers' daily positions since 25 May. Japan does not usually disclose details of foreign militaries' movements.

It shows both carriers coming close to Japanese islands, and at times sailing through Japan's exclusive economic zone.

The exclusive economic zone is an area beyond a country's territorial waters where that country has exclusive rights to explore and exploit marine resources, but other countries are allowed freedom of navigation through it.

The map also shows the Liaoning sailing past the "second island chain", a line of defence outlined in US foreign policy doctrine that connects Japan to Guam. This makes it the first Chinese aircraft carrier to do so , according to Japanese news outlets.

Japan's defence ministry also said they had observed more than 500 landings and take-offs of Chinese fighter jets and helicopters during the drills.

On 7 June, a Chinese fighter jet took off from the Shandong and followed a Japanese surveillance aircraft for about 40 minutes, according to Tokyo. The next day, a Chinese fighter jet flew close to a Japanese plane for twice that duration, and crossed in front of it.

Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said last week that they relayed to Beijing their concern about these "abnormal approaches" which could have caused accidental collisions.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that their "activities in relevant waters and air space are consistent with international law and international practices", and that the two countries were communicating through existing channels.

"Let me point out that it is the close-in reconnaissance of Japan's vessels and airplanes on China's normal military activities that has caused maritime and air security risks. China urges Japan to stop those dangerous moves," he said.

As its two carriers continue to sail through the Pacific, China's military gave an update on Tuesday on its newest carrier, the Fujian. It said sea trials were on track and the carrier is expected to enter service later this year.

The Fujian will be their first carrier that will employ electromagnetic catapults to launch their planes - a technology that currently only American aircraft carriers possess.

The technology allows a carrier to launch a wider range of aircraft, and launch fighter jets much faster.

China's fighter jets will also be able to take off with their full fuel and weapon loads from the Fujian, noted a Global Times report, and the carrier would enable a "significantly higher" number of sorties compared to its predecessors.

This month's drill follows February's much-scrutinised naval exercise in the Tasman Sea that prompted concern from Australia and New Zealand.
Canberra and Wellington had complained Beijing had given insufficient notice of the drill, and some commercial planes had to be diverted last minute.

Australia's defence minister Richard Marles later acknowledged that the naval exercise was in accordance with international law, while at the same time urging China to be more transparent about the reasons for what he called an "extraordinary military build-up".

China's latest moves come as the US promises to maintain its presence in the Indo-Pacific while balancing other commitments.

Last month US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasised the US's solidarity with the region, saying the US would not be pushed out of Asia nor allow its allies to be intimidated. China in response accused the US of being the "biggest troublemaker" in Asia.

But on Monday the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz left the South China Sea. Multiple outlets have reported it is moving to the Middle East, as the war between Israel and Iran deepens and the US contemplates entering the conflict.

Kazuto Suzuki, a professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo, said China's latest naval exercise was Beijing "testing the waters" of the US-Japan military alliance at a moment when the US is shifting its attention to the Middle East.

"With US assets concentrating in the Middle East, China sees this as an opportunity to escalate... so it's a sort of cunning way for China to raise the level of attention," he said.

This, he added, was "not an exponential, but step-by-step, gradual escalation" as it "seeks any holes in Japan's coastal and maritime defence... they are testing the patience of Japan."
 
 

A high pressure system remained in place over Japan on Wednesday, causing a third consecutive day of severe heat, with temperatures in some areas peaking above 35 C.

The highest temperatures were recorded mainly in the Tokai region, with Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture, topping Wednesday’s list, reaching 37.6 C by 3:40 p.m., according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

As of 3 p.m., temperatures had soared to 35 C or higher in 71 locations nationwide, while 571 places saw temperatures exceeding 30 C. Both numbers were up from the day before.

The temperature in central Tokyo was recorded at 34.4 C at 12:49 p.m. on Wednesday, slightly lower than the previous day, when it hit 34.8 C, the city’s highest temperature so far this year.
 
 

A Defense Ministry panel is set to propose that the government consider raising defense spending beyond the current goal of 2 percent of gross domestic product, sources close to the matter said.

In a draft proposal to be presented to the government soon, the panel, set up in February 2024, also calls for discussions on deploying submarines equipped with long-range missiles, including nuclear-powered ones, to strengthen the country's deterrence capability, the sources said.

It remains unclear how the proposal will be reflected in Japan's defense policy, as questions remain over how to fund a larger budget and whether using nuclear power for defense purposes would conflict with the country's policy of peaceful atomic energy use.

The government "should not hesitate to pursue the further strengthening of defense capabilities after the achievement" of the current target to have defense-related spending account for 2 percent of GDP, the panel says in the draft proposal, according to the sources.

The panel says submarines that enable Japan to strike from beyond an enemy's missile range would significantly enhance the country's deterrence capability.

The government should discuss all possible options for propulsion systems, including nuclear power for the submarines, "without taboos," the panel says.

The panel, chaired by Sadayuki Sakakibara, the former chairman of the Japan Business Federation, was set up to discuss how the country's defense capabilities should be bolstered in line with its current defense buildup plan.

The plan, known as the Defense Buildup Program, allocates 43 trillion yen over five years through March 2028, aiming for defense spending to reach 2 percent of GDP in fiscal 2027.

Japan's annual defense budget had long been capped at around 1 percent of GDP.

The program was adopted in December 2022 as part of three key security documents that marked a major shift in defense policy for a country with a pacifist Constitution, including a plan to acquire strike capabilities that could reach an adversary's territory.

"It is necessary to make efforts to achieve the 2 percent target ahead of schedule and compile the next defense strategy and the buildup plan," the panel says in the draft proposal.

The panel, made up of experts in security, the economy, and science and technology, also calls for the full-fledged introduction of unmanned defense equipment using cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies, the sources said.

The government should consider using unmanned aircraft for continuous day-and-night aerial monitoring, the panel says, following a May incident in which a Chinese military helicopter entered Japanese airspace near the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which are claimed by Beijing.
 
 

Extremely hot weather hit wide areas in Japan from the Kyushu to Hokuriku regions on Monday. Weather officials say people should continue to stay alert for heatstroke on Tuesday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said temperatures rose across the nation on Monday as warm air moved in under the influence of a high pressure system.

Daytime highs reached 35 degrees Celsius or higher at 22 locations across Japan. They include 36.5 degrees in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, 36.2 in Tokushima City, 36.1 in Kumano City, Mie Prefecture and 36 in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture. The figure at Tokushima City marked its highest temperature for June since the agency began record-taking in 1891.

Many other locations registered temperatures of 30 degrees or higher, including 33.6 in Osaka City, 33.5 in Nagoya City and 31.6 in central Tokyo.
The officials say the flow of warm air is expected to continue on Tuesday, pushing up temperatures again from the Chugoku through Kanto-Koshin regions.

Daytime highs are expected to reach 36 degrees in Kumagaya and Maebashi cities, north of Tokyo, 35 in Nagoya City, and 34 in central Tokyo. Osaka and Fukuoka cities are forecast to hit 33.

The agency also says the passage of a front will cause unstable atmospheric conditions. This may bring localized heavy rain with thunder on Tuesday morning in western Japan, and through the afternoon to late night in eastern Japan.

The officials are calling on people to be alert for lightning strikes and violent gusts such as tornados, as well as localized heavy rain.
 
 

The Japanese agriculture ministry on Monday announced the abolition of the rice crop yield index, effective with this year's harvest.

The step comes as rice farmers have complained that the country's current statistics do not match their firsthand experience of growing the staple. Some have claimed that the data are a factor behind the recent spike in rice prices.

The government plans to continue to collect data on rice harvests while improving accuracy through the use of satellite data and artificial intelligence.

"(Continuing to release the index) could perpetuate the discrepancy with producers," agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters. In order to lower rice prices, he vowed to accurately grasp harvests and monitor the entire distribution structure.

"We will boost accuracy by utilizing the latest technology, and establish a new foundation for our country's agricultural policy," Koizumi said.
 
 

The effects are becoming apparent as some hospitals are reducing medical services or not replacing aging medical equipment.

Rising prices and labor costs are causing hospitals nationwide to suffer financial difficulties. The effects are becoming apparent as some hospitals are reducing medical services or not replacing aging medical equipment.

While medical organizations are calling for the government to review medical fees in accordance with rising prices and labor costs, experts have pointed out the need for improving hospital management by making medical service systems more efficient.

Ojiya General Hospital in Ojiya, Niigata Prefecture, posted a deficit of over ¥500 million in fiscal 2023. In order to reduce the deficit, the hospital discontinued its neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery and respiratory surgery departments in April. Patients who had been treated there now must go to a hospital in a neighboring town, about 30 minutes by car from the central part of the city.

“We made a tough decision in order to keep the hospital going, despite the inconvenience it will cause our patients,” said Masahiko Yanagi, director of the hospital.

JA Niigata Kouseiren, a welfare federation which operates the hospital and 10 others, announced last summer it expected a record-high deficit of ¥6 billion to ¥9 billion in fiscal 2024, which could lead to a situation where it will be unable to continue the hospital business due to excessive debt.

The federation fell into the red in fiscal 2023 due to such circumstances as rising prices and a decrease in patients caused by the declining population.

Additionally, some patients have still been reluctant to go to hospitals since the pandemic, and the government’s COVID-19 related subsidies were discontinued in fiscal 2024. These contributed to putting the business in critical condition.

By cutting down on bonuses for employees and receiving subsidies from local governments, the federation expects the deficit to have been reduced to about ¥3 billion in fiscal 2024. In fiscal 2025, it plans to discontinue a total of seven medical departments in three hospitals to nearly halve the deficit to ¥1.4 billion.

The Association of Japanese Healthcare Corporations (AJHC), along with five other organizations, conducted an emergency survey on hospitals’ business conditions. The survey found nearly 60% of about 1,800 hospitals nationwide that responded to it had posted an ordinary loss for the second half of 2024.

Yoshihiro Ota, vice chairman of the AJHC, said, “Local hospitals could be closed suddenly, leaving patients with nowhere to go.”

University hospitals are also in financial distress. The Institute of Science Tokyo is unable to replace its aging MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) equipment. Nagasaki University is also facing difficulty in getting new medical equipment.

“University hospitals provide advanced medical care. If we don’t have the latest equipment, the standards of local medical care will stagnate,” said Makoto Osaki, director of Nagasaki University Hospital.


Prices cannot be raised

The reason behind the deficits is unique to medical institutions, which are not allowed to increase prices in accordance with conditions such as rising costs like other industries.

According to the AJHC and others, material and utility costs for medical services increased 14% in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2018. While labor costs account for about 50% of hospital expenditures, it is difficult to reduce salaries because it could lead to employees leaving their jobs.

Some hospitals are forced to increase salaries in line with other industries.
The main source of income for medical institutions is medical fees.

However, these fees are determined by the government and revised once every two years in principle. No matter how much prices rise, medical institutions are not allowed to increase fees on their own.

In the fiscal 2024 revision of medical fees, the “main” portion allocated to cover personnel costs and other expenses was raised only by 0.88% under a policy meant to curb medical bills. While the government set a target of a 2.5% base pay raise for medical workers, the target was lower than that of private companies at 3.56%.

“Such a small increase in medical fees would have been enough in times of deflation, but it is not enough to cover the increased expenditures today,” a hospital official said.


Management efforts

In April, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry began providing emergency assistance to hospitals, offering loans up to ¥720 million for up to five years that are free of collateral and interest.

“The government should consider not only emergency support but also a system for determining medical fees that responds to inflation and other situations,” said Kenji Shimazaki, professor of medical policy at the International University of Health and Welfare.

The Japan Medical Association and others are also calling for the introduction of a new system that responds to rising prices and labor costs in the next revision of medical fees scheduled for fiscal 2026.

However, some are cautious about unconditionally increasing medical fees for all hospitals.

“There are hospitals that remain profitable through management efforts,” said Masashi Nozawa, head of the Development Bank of Japan’s healthcare department who is familiar with hospital management.

According to Nozawa, some hospitals are actively accepting emergency patients and patients from other medical institutions. Other measures include multiple hospitals joining together to purchase supplies in bulk.

“The situation has become polarized. Deficit-ridden hospitals need to try to improve their financial conditions,” he said.
 
 

KOBAYASHI Kazunori, Chairperson, Indonesia Japan Friendship Association

It’s been 43 years since KOBAYASHI Kazunori was first assigned to work in Indonesia as a trading company employee. For nearly half of his life, he’s poured his energy into promoting exchange with Japan from his base of activity in Indonesia.

A Kobe U alum and chairperson of the Indonesia Japan Friendship Association, Kobayashi also currently works as senior counsellor at Sinarmas in Indonesia.

He received Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays in 2023 for his contributions to strengthening the relations between the two nations.

Active on the world stage, how did Kobayashi build relationships of trust with individuals overseas, and how does he view Japan’s current position in the world? He told us about his experiences and viewpoints and has a message to the next generation.


Looking out from the university across the ocean, he felt connections with the world

It was mid-May when Kobayashi visited his alma mater Kobe University. Pulling on his coat, he said with a gentle smile, “It’s a bit cold coming from Indonesia.”

Born and raised in Hyogo Prefecture, Kobayashi graduated from Hyogo Prefectural Ashiya High School and entered Kobe University’s Faculty of Economics.

The choice to enter Kobe University came from a suggestion by his high school teacher. “I wanted to enter a national university, and I could commute to Kobe University from home. I didn’t even need to do my own laundry. Typical high school student logic, of course, but that’s sort of endearing in a way.”

Upon entering Kobe University, he was moved by its lush greenery and expansive campus. Looking down on Kobe from the main gate at Rokkodai, he could see a wide ocean sprawling in front of him beyond the urban districts.

“I had a strong impression that this place was connected to the world. I’m at ease when I’m on the university’s wide, open campus. There is an air of freedom here, and I felt that I could make the most of my individuality.”

Kobayashi still clearly remembers the lyrics to “Shoshin,” Kobe University’s former school song that’s still beloved by members of the Kobe University community.

He used to sing it all the time with his teammates on the tennis club. The lyrics of the song contained something like “Kobe is a place chosen by the god of commerce, a place to soar out into the world.” These lyrics overlap with Kobayashi’s path following graduation.
 

 

Attracted by the dynamic development of Indonesia

From the time he was at Kobe University, Kobayashi had always felt that he wanted to work on the international stage. In 1965, after graduating from the Faculty of Economics, he entered the general trading company Marubeni Corporation.

A big reason for choosing Marubeni was a former senior member of the tennis club   who had already joined the company, who said, “If you’re going to get a job at a trading company, it had better be Marubeni.”

After acquiring some experience in the Cotton Department, he was sent on an overseas assignment for the first time since joining the company seven years prior. He was headed to Texas in the southern USA. Of the six years he was there on the assignment, he also spent one year working in Mexico.

The experience he gained as a cotton specialist in the USA and Mexico became the impetus for getting involved in the textile industry in Indonesia, an area that had begun to grow. He was assigned to Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, in 1982, and was tasked with managing the Foods & Textile Department.

There he had a fateful encounter with Franky Widjaja, son of the founder of Sinarmas, a major conglomerate corporation. Franky was over 15 years younger than Kobayashi, but he was well-versed in Japan and had experience studying abroad at Aoyama Gakuin University, so the two had a strong, trusting relationship, and worked together on various projects.

“When I think about why my connection with Indonesia has lasted so long, I think it may be partly because I was attracted by Indonesia’s economic potential and how dynamic it is, but really it was mostly because I met Franky. On the journey of life, it’s our encounters with people that are what’s important.”

When he was 52, he finally made the decision to make a career move from Marubeni to Sinarmas. Kobayashi says, “I felt that just by being in the middle of the dynamic goings-on of this country would make me better and lift me higher.”

After his career change, he engaged in joint ventures with a variety of Japanese corporations, even strengthening his business relationship with Marubeni.
 

 

Taking the bond between the two nations into the future through interactions between citizens

These past ten or so years haven’t just been spent in the business world; Kobayashi has poured his energy into interactions between the citizens of the two nations.

2008 marked the 50th year since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Indonesia, and the very next year saw the start of the Jakarta Japan matsuri, an event held in collaboration between the public and private sectors, in which Kobayashi had been involved since its initial planning stages.

He has served as the chairman of the executive committee for the event since 2012, and now the Indonesia Japan Friendship Association (founded in 2020), where Kobayashi also serves as chairperson, is the executive body for the event.

Attended by tens of thousands of people each year, JJM is one of Jakarta’s most popular events and features a traditional Japanese bon odori dance , introductions to the cultures of both countries, live music, stalls offering Japanese food, and all sorts of other attractions for attendees to enjoy.

In 2023, JJM was held as part of celebrations for the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations and featured a number of musical artists from both countries, including fan favorite Da-iCE from Japan.

Though the two nations have a complex history, which includes the events of World War II, Kobayashi says, “The people of Indonesia are very pro-Japanese and have a strong sense of trust for Japan.

Following the war, economic exchange between the two nations underwent significant development, primarily in the manufacturing industry, which led to an exceptionally strong relationship. The young people of Indonesia love Japanese animation and popular culture.”

However, now that China has shown phenomenal growth, Japan isn’t the only country Indonesia holds in high regard. Not only that, but from the 2040s, Indonesia is forecast to become a major power, with a gross domestic product exceeding even Japan’s. With that state of affairs in mind, Kobayashi calmly looks ahead to the future path that Japan must follow.

“The relationship between Japan and Indonesia should not be some kind of passing trend, but rather, it’s important that we continue to foster the longstanding relationship of trust we’ve cultivated throughout our histories.”

Kobayashi keeps a Chinese teaching loved by the late Eka Tjipta Widjaja, founder of Sinarmas, close to his heart: “When you drink water, think of its source.”

Put simply, this expression means to be grateful for your blessings. It also connects him to the countless people who have worked to build up the relationship between Japan and Indonesia.

Now, that feeling is being passed down to the next generation. “I think it’s necessary for Japan to continue to express the values it holds dear, those of trust, responsibility, and safety, to the world. I hope that my juniors at Kobe University will interact with the people of the world and learn what’s going on in it while adhering to those values.”

This message lines up with Kobayashi’s own life journey, one in which he has continually made efforts to expand his horizons and build bonds with individuals overseas. 


Resume

Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1942. In 1965, graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Kobe University and entered Marubeni Corporation. At Marubeni, worked at locations including Tokyo, the USA and Indonesia.

In 1995, joined Sinarmas, a major corporation in Indonesia.
After serving as executive director and managing director, in 2018, became senior counsellor.

In 2019, became chairman of Small & Medium Enterprises Japan.

In 2017, received the Commendation Award from the Foreign Minister of Japan for his contribution of friendship and mutual understanding between Japan and Indonesia. Currently lives in Jakarta.
 
 

China has officially extended its 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy to travelers from 55 countries, including Indonesia, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Japan.

Effective June 12, 2025, this expansion aims to promote tourism and business exchanges by allowing eligible visitors to stay in China without a visa for up to 10 days when transiting to a third country.


Eligible Countries

The 55 countries now eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy are:

• Europe (40 countries): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Monaco, and Norway.
• Americas (6 countries): United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
• Oceania (2 countries): Australia and New Zealand.
• Asia (7 countries): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Indonesia.

Policy Details and Eligibility

Under the new policy, travelers from the 55 eligible countries can enter China through any of 60 designated ports across 24 provinces and municipalities. To qualify, travelers must:

• Hold a valid passport from one of the 55 eligible countries.
• Possess a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region within 240 hours.
• Complete an Arrival/Departure Card upon arrival in China.
• Not have a history of visa refusals or illegal activities within the last five years.

During their stay, travelers can engage in tourism, business, family visits, or cultural exchanges. However, activities such as employment, study, or journalism require appropriate visas.


Enhanced Travel Flexibility

One significant improvement in the updated policy is the removal of regional restrictions. Previously, travelers were limited to staying within a single transit area.

Now, they can freely move between different regions within the 240-hour period. For example, a traveler arriving in Beijing can visit Xi’an to see the Terracotta Army, then proceed to Chengdu to visit the Giant Panda Base, and conclude their trip in Hangzhou to enjoy the scenic West Lake.


Tourism Highlights in China

China offers a wealth of attractions for travelers taking advantage of the visa-free transit policy:

• Beijing: Home to the iconic Great Wall and the Forbidden City, Beijing is a must-visit for history enthusiasts.
• Shanghai: A bustling metropolis known for its modern skyline, including the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Bund.
• Xi’an: The ancient capital is famous for the Terracotta Army and its rich cultural heritage.
• Chengdu: Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to see China’s beloved pandas.
• Hangzhou: Renowned for the picturesque West Lake and its tranquil surroundings.

These destinations offer a glimpse into China’s diverse culture, history, and natural beauty.


Economic and Diplomatic Implications

The expansion of the visa-free transit policy aligns with China’s broader efforts to enhance international cooperation and promote cultural exchange. By facilitating easier travel, China aims to strengthen ties with countries around the world, boost tourism, and stimulate economic growth.


Travel Tips for Visa-Free Transit

Travelers planning to utilize the 240-hour visa-free transit policy should keep the following tips in mind:

• Documentation: Ensure your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date from China.
• Onward Ticket: Have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region within 240 hours.
• Arrival/Departure Card: Complete the required form upon arrival in China.
• Stay Within Designated Areas: Adhere to the regions permitted under the visa-free policy.
• Respect Local Laws: Engage only in permitted activities; refrain from employment, study, or journalism without the appropriate visa.

By following these guidelines, travelers can enjoy a seamless and enriching experience during their stay in China.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru is scheduled to arrive in Canada on Sunday to attend the Group of 7 summit of world leaders. He is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump to discuss tariffs.

G7 leaders are seen addressing urgent issues, such as the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the global economy will also likely top the agenda.

Ishiba hopes to stress his stance to work toward the peace and stability of the international community, and confirm the importance of the G7's unity.
Ahead of the Ishiba-Trump summit, negotiators from both countries held talks over the weekend.

Japan's chief tariff negotiator Akazawa Ryosei spoke by phone with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Saturday, to explore the possibility of reaching an agreement.

Ishiba is also expected to hold other talks on the sidelines of the G7 summit. These include his first bilateral in-person meetings with the heads of invited countries such as South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
 
 

Graduate school students in Japan have developed a device to easily measure symptoms of orthostatic dysregulation, a disorder common among children that causes them physical difficulty getting up in the morning and dizziness when standing.

The team at Nagoya University's graduate school hopes the device will help sufferers communicate their symptoms clearly when they need to skip classes due to their condition.

The disorder is more likely to arise during adolescence, and including those with mild symptoms occurs in about 10 percent of junior high school students, according to the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Pediatrics.

The cane-like device, called the OD Checker, enables patients to measure the severity of their symptoms at home, showing the results in a clear way similar to how a thermometer measures body temperature.

The device measures the change in heart rate using a sensor attached to the finger of a patient when rising to stand from a lying-down position. The severity of the disorder can be assessed in accordance with diagnostic criteria.

The device was designed to support those who often have difficulty standing up and it can also detect dizziness, according to the team, which was formed in 2021 and includes students with medical and electronics backgrounds.

The team will seek private-sector support in the future to enhance the prototype and clear clinical tests in order to market the device as medical equipment.

Kensuke Sumida, 26, the leader of the team, said he wants to utilize his experiences as a sufferer of the condition, sometimes fainting when he was an elementary school student.

"When it comes to this disorder, it's important that people treat it with understanding. We first want to make people aware of the disease through our activities," he said.
 
 

The Sakuranesia Foundation is strengthening cultural ties between Indonesia and Japan through a cultural dialogue at the 2025 Osaka Expo at the Indonesia Pavilion in Kansai, Japan.

Founder of Sakuranesia Foundation, Tovic Rustam, confirmed in Jakarta on Friday that the event featured renowned makeup artist and creative director of Jember Fashion Carnival (JFC), Bubah Alfian, alongside contemporary Japanese painter Inoue Bunta.

The cultural dialogue was supported by Indonesia's National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, and various industrial and cultural partners from both countries.

"The event also featured President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto’s pet cat, Captain Bobby, as the cultural dialogue icon," Tovic said, who attended the event alongside fellow Sakuranesia founder, Sakura Ijuin.

Tovic emphasized that Sakuranesia, as a social foundation, aims to deepen Indonesia-Japan relations through diverse arts and cultural activities. The Indonesia-Japan cultural exchange event was titled “Friend-Ship: Indonesia–Japan Cultural Dialogue.”

Bubah and Bunta engaged in an active dialogue discussing traditions and innovations shaping creativity and culture in both nations during a session called "Essence of Life: Clothing, Food, and Shelter." Bubah wore an Indonesian handcrafted batik styled as a traditional Japanese kimono.

"This is the first time I have worn a kimono-style outfit. It is very comfortable, suitable for various occasions, and quite delightful," Bubah remarked.

Bubah shared that this experience reflected the beauty of cultural fusion, which is not only visually captivating but also functional in everyday life. Bubah also invited international painter Inoue Bunta to attend the Jember Fashion Carnival (JFC) on August 8-10, 2025.

Bubah and Bunta plan to collaborate on a performance blending traditional arts from both Indonesia and Japan, delivering a message of world peace at JFC 2025.

The two figures also signed a limited-edition T-shirt featuring Captain Bobby as a souvenir, with Bunta gifting Bubah an art book.

In addition, Bunta performed spontaneous live painting, completing a rose in just three minutes, which was warmly received by guests and attendees.

The session also featured Japanese music group NEW STANDARDS and idol group Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku, who energized the event with youthful spirit from both countries.

Renowned young Japanese photographer Kenta Karima documented the event, while Indonesian student representative in Japan, Muhammad Rizal Pabuarany, symbolized youth exchange between the two nations.

Meanwhile, Ambient provided costumes for the performers and Leins Entertainment produced T-shirts featuring Captain Bobby, highlighting the close collaboration between creators from Japan and Indonesia.

Japanese influencer Nanako Shibasaki, who served as the event's host, facilitated a communicative presentation that naturally bridged cross-cultural interaction.
 

There are growing discussions within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party about how to tax the rapidly increasing number of foreign visitors to Japan more effectively. The LDP argues that abolishing the consumption tax exemption and raising the International Tourist Tax (departure tax) would also help to combat overtourism.

A group of LDP lawmakers on Thursday handed proposals to Itsunori Onodera, chairperson of the LDP’s Policy Research Council, and Yoichi Miyazawa, chairperson of the party’s Research Commission on the Tax System, calling for the abolition of the consumption tax exemption.

Introduced alongside Japan’s consumption tax in 1989, the exemption is based on the international principle that consumption tax is levied at the point of consumption.

However, there have recently been an increasing number of cases of abuse of the system, with large quantities of tax-exempt goods being purchased and resold for profit.

In response, the government plans to revise the current system of selling goods without consumption tax being imposed at duty-free shops and instead implement a “refund system” from November next year, whereby consumers will receive the amount paid in consumption tax at the time of departure. If abuse occurs, the refund will not be paid.

Nevertheless, the lawmakers argue that abuse cannot be prevented if duty-free shops and international visitors collude, and therefore the tax exemption should be abolished.

“Offering a 10% discount (by not imposing the consumption tax) to encourage people to buy overseas brand-name goods (in Japan) is not the vision of a tourism-oriented country that we are aiming for,” said Kenji Nakanishi, a member of the House of Representatives.

The government and the LDP are also considering increasing the departure tax. Introduced in 2019 as a source of revenue for tourism promotion, the tax imposes a ¥1,000 levy on passengers departing from Japan, regardless of nationality. The tax is added to airline and cruise ship ticket prices.

At the House of Councillors Budget Committee in May, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated that visitors to Japan also use Japan’s infrastructure and that “paying appropriate compensation is an obligation that they owe Japanese taxpayers,” indicating his intention to consider raising the tax.

There are countries and regions with higher departure taxes than Japan — Australia imposes a 70 Australian dollar (approximately ¥6,600) levy, while Hong Kong charges 120 Hong Kong dollars (approximately ¥2,200).

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the number of foreign visitors to Japan in 2024 increased by 47.1% year-on-year to reach 36.87 million. Visitors are arriving at a record-breaking pace this year, making measures to address overtourism an urgent issue.
 
 

Japan's transport ministry said Friday it has instructed Japanese airlines operating Boeing 787s to inspect them following the fatal crash of an Air India 787-8.

In the instruction dated Thursday, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism called on All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines and JAL's low-cost subsidiary Zipair Tokyo to check the engines and airframes of the planes. It will not suspend their use, it said.

"We will take necessary measures by collecting information and considering the development of investigations" by Indian authorities, transport minister Hiromasa Nakano said at a press conference.

Air India Flight 171 bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff Thursday in a residential area of the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, killing more than 240 people.
 
 

The Japanese government will hold the first round of annual auctions earlier than usual for rice imported under a minimum market access agreement as part of efforts to stabilize rice prices, agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Thursday.

This year’s first auction for rice as staple food will take place on June 27 instead of September as usual, Koizumi told reporters, adding that delivery would be possible in September.

Japan imports up to 100,000 tons of rice as staple food under the minimum access agreement, which is sold through several batches of auctions.

The June auction is expected to cover 30,000 tons, with additional auctions scheduled monthly, ahead of the usual timeline.
 
 

A rescue drill for taking tourists with heatstroke to hospital by helicopter has been held at the Tottori Sand Dunes on the Sea of Japan coast.

About 20 officials from the Tottori prefectural government and personnel from a local fire department took part in Thursday's drill.

It was based on the scenario that a woman and her three-year-old son had developed heatstroke near the beach.

An official playing the role of a tourist found two dummies lying on the sand and used a cell phone to call for help.

Emergency service workers who arrived at the site checked their conditions and determined it would be difficult to transport them by land.
They made a radio call for a helicopter to be dispatched.

Rescuers descended on a rope to airlift the two dummies.
The Tottori prefectural government says 43 people with heatstroke symptoms were taken from the dunes to hospital in the fiscal year that ended in March. It says one of them was transported by helicopter.
 
 

Japan's Princess Kako, on an official visit to Brazil, attended a ceremony on Wednesday marking the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between her country and the South American country.

During the ceremony in Brasilia, Princess Kako, the second daughter of Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, said in her speech that despite the geographical distance between the two countries, she feels "the distance of hearts is very close." She noted that a samba carnival has been held in Japan.

 

The ceremony was hosted by the Brazilian National Congress. Wearing a traditional Japanese kimono, the princess delivered the speech in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower chamber of the congress.

She expressed gratitude to Brazil, home to the world's largest community of Japanese immigrants and their descendants, totaling about 2.7 million, for "warmly accepting immigrants from Japan."

 

"I envision a future in which (people from the two countries) will continue to interact and remain close to each other as a dear friend and amigo (the Portuguese word for friend)," she said.
 
 

Parliament enacted a bill Wednesday to raise in stages what is called adjustment allowances for public school teachers to 10% of base salaries from the current 4%.

The revised special measures law on teachers' salaries was approved by a majority vote in a plenary meeting of the House of Councilors, the upper chamber of parliament, after its passage through the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, last month.

Following the revision, the adjustment allowances, given instead of overtime pay, will be raised by 1 percentage point annually from next year until it reaches 10% in 2031.

The revision also requires all prefectural and municipal boards of education to draw up and publish plans to manage teachers' workloads, in a bid to resolve the worsening problem of long working hours.

During Lower House deliberations. the bill, originally submitted by the government, was amended as agreed among ruling and opposition parties, namely the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), Nippon Ishin no Kai and the Democratic Party for the People.

As part of the amendment, a target to cut teachers' average monthly overtime by around 30% to 30 hours was added as a supplementary provision. The bill also seeks government support for teachers to deal with parents who make unreasonable demands.

During parliamentary debates, however, some lawmakers called for a more drastic change to the law, saying that the supplementary provision would not eliminate the cause of long working hours as teachers are not paid according to hours worked overtime.

The CDP, which jointly submitted the amended bill in the Lower House, argued for a further review of the law in deliberations at the Upper House education committee, saying, "This revision provides a path to a new revision."
 
 

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc, whose nuclear reactors have remained offline since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, plans to revise its strategy for restarting reactors in central Japan, sources familiar with the matter said.

TEPCO is now preparing to restart the No. 6 unit of its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa complex in Niigata Prefecture, one of the world's largest nuclear power plants by output capacity, aiming to finish preparations in August, they said.

The company had previously planned to restart the No. 7 reactor even though the unit will have to be halted in October to implement anti-terrorism safety measures. TEPCO expected the No. 7 reactor's operation would help meet an expected rise in power demand during summer.

The change in plans comes as the company's prospects for gaining local consent to resume operation of the plant on the Sea of Japan coast remain uncertain, according to the sources.

Niigata Gov Hideyo Hanazumi has yet to consent to the plant's operation, pending a series of public hearings on the matter this summer.
TEPCO began loading nuclear fuel into the No. 6 reactor on Tuesday, the sources said.

Taking steps to protect nuclear plants from terrorist attacks became mandatory under the stricter safety standards implemented by the Nuclear Regulation Authority after the nuclear disaster at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi plant triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.
TEPCO aims to complete anti-terrorism measures for the No. 7 unit by August 2029.

As for the No. 6 reactor, TEPCO has until September 2029 to implement these measures, and it can continue operating until that time, pending local approval.

The utility and the government had planned to have at least one unit in operation at the complex from summer to meet rising electricity demand and lower dependence on fossil fuel power generation.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority imposed a de facto ban on the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in 2021 after it was found to be vulnerable to unauthorized entry at multiple locations, but the authority lifted the ban after security measures were improved.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to call on his Group of Seven counterparts to work together to tackle North Korea's cryptocurrency thefts at their summit in Canada later this month, government sources said Wednesday.

Ishiba's decision comes amid allegations that North Korea is using illicitly obtained virtual assets to fund its development of weapons of mass destruction, prompting demands for stronger international cooperation to cut off its financial lifelines.

With Pyongyang bolstering its relations with Moscow in the military field, Japan is also eager to deepen collaboration with European nations supporting Ukraine, which has been under invasion by Russia since February 2022, the sources said.

The G7 countries, meanwhile, plan to establish a task force to review tax exemptions on cross-border e-commerce involving small parcels, the sources said, as retailers flood the markets of member nations with cheap goods.

The three-day summit is scheduled to kick off from Sunday. Canada, this year's rotating president, has sounded out Japan about participating in the task force, the sources added.

The move reflects growing concern among G7 members about the strain that the volume of parcels containing low-value goods puts on customs processing.

The countries also seek to provide some level of protection to domestic businesses subject to sales and consumption taxes, from which products sold by overseas retailers, notably those in China, are exempt.

Under the "de minimis" rule, Japan currently waives trade and consumption taxes on imported items priced 10,000 yen ($69) or less, except for rice, sugar and some other items.

In 2024, approximately 170 million boxes valued under the threshold were imported, accounting for about 90 percent of the total number approved by customs, according to Japan's Finance Ministry.

Chinese e-commerce giants like Shein and Temu have taken advantage of the tax exemption to grow their presence in Japan and other large markets.
The G7 members believe that the surge in these shipments is straining customs operations and weakening border controls against counterfeit products and illicit drugs.

In May, the United States revoked its tax exemption for small parcels from China, citing concerns about the inflow of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl. Japan is also considering a review of the tax exemption system for such shipments, the sources added.
 

Japan plans to release an additional 200,000 tons of rice from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers, Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Tuesday, as the staple food's price fell for the second consecutive week.

The amount will consist of 100,000 tons of rice each from the 2020 and 2021 harvests. The government will accept applications for the 2020 rice once the limit for the 2021 rice has been reached.

Major retailers, midsize and small supermarkets, and rice shops with their own rice millers are eligible to apply for 120,000 tons of rice harvested in 2021, including 20,000 tons of rice left unsold from the previous sale, from Wednesday.

The retail price for the 2021 rice is expected to be sold in stores at around 1,800 yen (about 12.43 US dollars) per 5 kg, while the 2020 rice is expected to cost 1,700 yen, Koizumi said.

Rice prices at supermarkets in the week through June 1 averaged 4,223 yen per 5 kg, down 37 yen from the previous week, marking the second consecutive weekly decline, but still having doubled compared to a year ago, according to agriculture ministry data released Monday.

However, Koizumi voiced discontent at the slow pace at which prices are falling. "It didn't even go down 100 yen in two weeks," he said, adding that he will implement strategies to lower prices to the 3,000-yen range target as soon as possible.

The latest effort will reduce the country's rice reserves to around 100,000 tons, down from about 910,000 tons before the government began releasing stocks through auctions in March and April.

Japan essentially stores 1 million tons of rice in preparation for emergencies such as natural disasters or extremely poor harvests. A sharp decline in stockpiles has raised concerns that the government's rice reserves could fall short in an emergency.
 
 

Japan's ruling parties agreed Tuesday to include cash handouts for households hit by rising prices in their platforms for this summer's House of Councillors election, senior lawmakers said.

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the main opposition force, unveiled its election pledges Tuesday, highlighting a proposal to suspend the 8 percent consumption tax on food for at least one year, in sharp contrast with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which opposes tax cuts.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who leads the LDP, has rejected opposition calls for tax cuts, citing concerns about their impact on Japan's fiscal health, which is the worst among advanced economies.

The LDP and its junior coalition partner, the Komeito party, will finalize details of the handout scheme, including the payment amount and distribution method, the lawmakers said.

Although the coalition is considering using the fiscal 2024 tax revenue surplus to fund the cash handout program, it may face backlash for appearing to use the payouts to boost public support ahead of the key national election, political experts said.

The ruling parties are aiming to secure a majority in the upper house, as they no longer hold more than half the seats in the House of Representatives, or lower house, following their defeat in the October general election.

Masaji Matsuyama, secretary general of the LDP's upper house caucus, said at a news conference that providing cash handouts is "very desirable to swiftly support the lives of people hit by rising prices."

At a separate news conference, Komeito Secretary General Makoto Nishida said it is preferable to distribute the direct payments "within the year."

Earlier this year, the ruling bloc considered introducing a similar scheme that proposed offering cash aid to all residents as part of an economic stimulus package. However, it shelved the unpopular plan.

As a stopgap measure before carrying out the tax cut, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan pledged to pay cash handouts worth 20,000 yen ($138) per person.

Party chief Yoshihiko Noda criticized Ishiba's government for failing to address inflation.

"As prices for food, daily necessities, gasoline and rice continue to rise, protecting people's livelihoods will be the biggest issue" in the upcoming upper house poll, Noda said.