Emergency warning lifted, but caution continues

Jul 08 (NHK) - Record rainfall has caused floods and landslides over a wide area from Kyushu to Tokai.

Weather officials have lifted emergency warnings issued for Kochi and Ehime Prefectures, but are calling for continued caution against floods and landslides.

The Meteorological Agency says a seasonal rain front has become active around the main island of Honshu, bringing record downpours.

Up to three times the average monthly rainfall has fallen so far in Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture, Shikokuchuo City in Ehime Prefecture, Hiroshima City and Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture.

In Gujo, over 1,000 millimeters of rain has fallen since Tuesday.

The risk of mudslides continues to be high.

Mudslide alert information has been issued for places in Gifu, Ehime, Kochi, Kyoto, Hyogo, Hiroshima, Tokushima, Yamaguchi and Kagoshima Prefectures.

Thunder storms may bring torrential rains of more than 50 millimeters per hour in Kyushu and Shikoku on Sunday night.

The agency is calling on people in disaster stricken areas to keep safe, and those in other areas where heavy rains are falling to stay on high alert.

Ameyoko Restaurants Run by Foreigners, Mainly Chinese

Tokyo's downtown market district, Ameyoko, which attracts hundreds of thousands of shoppers, especially around New Year, is undergoing a major transformation. Traditional fresh fish stores have dwindled, while multinational restaurants have surged. What is happening?

Bear Cull Remains Unresolved as Negotiations Collapse

A dispute over the remuneration for bear hunters has led to a standoff between a town in Hokkaido and its local hunter association. The breakdown in negotiations means that the hunters will no longer respond to bear sightings, leaving the small town of Naie, with a population of about 4,800, in a precarious situation.

Cake Shop Crunch: Rising Costs Force Closures at Record Rate

An increasing number of Western confectionery shops in Japan, particularly cake shops, are going bankrupt. According to research released in June, from January to May, there have been 18 bankruptcies, the highest number since 2010. If this trend continues, it will surpass the record set in 2019.