Tropical storm, front bring heavy rain to Japan's western prefectures
Japanese weather officials say bands of thick thunderclouds are causing heavy downpours in western Japan's Kochi, Wakayama and Nara prefectures. (NHK)
Expressway tolls extended for 50 years to 2115
Japan's House of Councillors pass a law Wednesday extending the deadline for collecting expressway tolls, which had been until 2065, by 50 years to 2115, TV Asahi reports. (NOJ)
Japan to channel billions of dollars into raising birth rate
The Japanese government on Thursday announced specific measures to curb falling birth rates by boosting financial support for households with children. (DW News)
Three people charged over Ghosn's escape found not guilty in Turkey retrial
A lawyer for three people who were charged with helping former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn flee Japan has told NHK they were acquitted by a Turkish court in a retrial. (NHK)
03 June 2023
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SOCIETY
Man arrested for abusing girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter
Japan Today - May 31
Police in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, have arrested a 36-year-old self-employed man on suspicion of abusing his girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter.
Japanese court rules non-recognition of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional
NHK - May 31
A district court in central Japan has ruled that the government's failure to recognize same-sex marriage violates the country's constitution.
Cosplayers clean up Dotonbori
NOJ - May 29
About 200 people, including "cosplayers" dressed up as characters from manga and anime, cleaned up the Dotonbori area on Saturday, Kyodo reports.
Man fatally shot in Tokyo coffee shop; one of 2 suspects turns himself in
Japan Today - May 28
A man in his 50s was fatally shot in a coffee shop in Machida, Tokyo, on Friday night, in what police believe was a gang-related shooting. The shooter fled with an accomplice but later turned himself in at a police station.
[more society news…]
BUSINESS
New Murakami Haruki novel tops Japan book sales
NHK - Jun 02
The latest novel by Japanese author Murakami Haruki has racked up the country's highest sales for any category of book in the past six months.
Norwegian fund to reject all-male boards in Japanese firms
Japan Today - May 31
Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's biggest, will from now on vote against the nomination of all-male boards in Japanese companies, a senior fund official said Tuesday.
Air Nippon Airways launches NFTs marketplace
coinjournal.net - May 31
The largest airline in Japan, Air Nippon Airways (ANA), has today launched an aeronautical-themed non-fungible tokens (NFTs) marketplace with its subsidiary ANA Neo.
Nikkei hits highest since July 1990 on weak yen, US optimism
yahoo.com - May 29
Japan's Nikkei share average rose on Monday to its highest level since July 1990, buoyed by optimism over a U.S. debt ceiling deal and a weaker yen.
[more business news…]
POLITICS
Expressway tolls extended for 50 years to 2115
NOJ - Jun 02
Japan's House of Councillors pass a law Wednesday extending the deadline for collecting expressway tolls, which had been until 2065, by 50 years to 2115, TV Asahi reports.
Japan to channel billions of dollars into raising birth rate
DW News - Jun 02
The Japanese government on Thursday announced specific measures to curb falling birth rates by boosting financial support for households with children.
Japan aims to halve pollen emissions in 30 years to tackle hay fever
Kyodo - May 31
Japan on Tuesday unveiled a comprehensive policy package to tackle hay fever caused by pollen from cedar and cypress trees, aiming to halve emissions over the next 30 years.
Kishida fires son after scandal tarnishes image
Business Times - May 30
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he would fire his son, who is working as his secretary, after a scandal over a party held at his official residence in late 2022.
[more politics news…]
EDUCATION
Young South Koreans change their attitude toward Japan as ties thaw
South China Morning Post - Jun 02
Relations between Japan and South Korea had plunged to their lowest in decades after a bitter dispute over wartime forced labour, in 2018, spilled over into trade restrictions and a consumer backlash against Japanese goods.
University of Tokyo joins FSA on financial-crisis research
NHK - Jun 01
Japan's leading university and the Financial Services Agency have started working on a project to prevent future financial crises.
Know Your Enemy : Japan | World War Propaganda Documentary HD
TRNGL - Jun 01
Know Your Enemy: Japan is an American World War II propaganda film about the Japan's aggressive war directed by Frank Capra, with additional direction by experimental documentary filmmaker Joris Ivens.
Baby boomtown: does Nagi hold the secret to repopulating Japan?
theguardian.com - May 29
Set against mountains and forests, Nagi basks beneath a cobalt sky, reflected in perfectly symmetrical rows of submerged rice paddies. But there is more to this town in western Japan than pretty views and agricultural output. Nagi is quietly producing what much of the rest of the country is lacking: children.
[more education news…]
ENTERTAINMENT
'Let's Get Divorced' (2023) Japanese Series on Netflix
martincid.com - May 30
A mediatised married couple who no longer love each other is highly optimistic about getting a divorce. However, external circumstances will get in their way and they will have no other choice but to work hand in hand to reach their ultimate goal: getting a divorce.
Japanese anime pop star Mai Mizuhashi skirts nationalism to build Chinese fan base on Ride the Wind reality show
scmp.com - May 29
A Japanese singer’s explosive popularity in China after appearing on a top Chinese music show proves that Chinese audiences can separate culture from geopolitics, despite international tension and growing online nationalism, according to analysts.
ビットコインカジノのスロットゲーム：オンラインギャンブルの新たな魅力
newsonjapan.com - May 29
ビットコインの普及とオンラインギャンブルの人気が高まる中、ビットコインカジノのスロットゲームが注目を浴びています。
Koji Yakusho wins best actor at Cannes
Barrons - May 28
Japan's Koji Yakusho won best actor at Cannes on Saturday for "Perfect Days" by German director Wim Wenders, a touching tale about a Tokyo toilet cleaner.
[more entertainment news…]
FOOD
Japanese convenience store chain offers edible spoons to reduce plastic waste
nextshark.com - Jun 01
A Japanese convenience store chain will start offering edible spoons in June that customers can use to eat ice cream.
Japanese man finds live frog in takeaway udon cup
India Today - May 31
A Japanese man ordered takeaway from a popular restaurant chain but he was not prepared for what he saw inside.
Tokyo’s Wildest Festival: Sanja Matsuri!
Japan by Food - May 30
The wildest festival in Tokyo! One of the largest Shinto festivals in Japan, Sanja matsuri is a three-day festival held in Asakusa. In today's video, Shizuka visits not once, but twice to get the full festival experience!
Pair of Hokkaido melons fetch Y3.5 mil in auction; 2nd highest bid on record
Japan Today - May 25
A pair of premium melons in Hokkaido fetched 3.5 million yen at the year's first auction on Thursday, securing the event's second highest bid on record.
[more food news…]
TRAVEL
Tropical storm, front bring heavy rain to Japan's western prefectures
NHK - Jun 02
Japanese weather officials say bands of thick thunderclouds are causing heavy downpours in western Japan's Kochi, Wakayama and Nara prefectures.
Japan had warmest spring since 1898 with early blooms, summer temperatures
NHK - Jun 02
Weather officials say that Japan had the warmest spring in 125 years this year, characterized by early blooms on cherry trees, and summer-like temperatures on certain days in May.
[Monsters In Tokyo] #6 Sangenjaya King Kong
NOJ - Jun 02
Built in 1979, the King Kong-like figure is perched atop a pink commercial building which houses a gym and a brightly lit FamilyMart. From afar, the giant creature is seemingly overlooking the bustling district, leaning towards the edge of the building, with its right arm dangling freely.
Bird strike crushes nose of Air France Airbus A350 in Osaka
simpleflying.com - May 29
An Air France service between Osaka and Paris was forced to turn back on Sunday after a bird strike damaged its nose cone.
[more travel news…]