Society

Volcanic alert raised at Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane

Apr 23 (NHK) - The volcanic alert level for Mount Kusatsu-Shirane in central Japan have been raised due to increased activity.

Japan's Meteorological Agency says the frequency of volcanic earthquakes on the mountain in Gunma Prefecture has increased from 7 on Saturday to 153 by 4 PM on Sunday.

The agency says there has been a slight change in ground elevation on the mountain from Saturday through Sunday evening.

The agency raised an eruption alert level to 2 on a scale of one to 5 on Sunday morning, citing the possibility of a fresh eruption affecting an area near a lake in the crater.

The agency advises caution amid the possibility of large rocks being expelled up to one kilometer, as well as ash, smaller rocks and gas being carried by the wind.

Kusatsu municipal officials have restricted entry into the area.

The Gunma Prefectural government has also closed an 8.5-kilometer section of a tourist highway linking neighboring Nagano Prefecture.

Source: Kyodo

Student's Homemade Bomb Sparks School Lockdown in Sapporo

A suspicious object feared to be explosive was discovered at a high school in Sapporo on the afternoon of November 22nd, causing temporary chaos. The object was found to have been brought to the school by one of its students.

China to resume visa-exemptions for short-term Japanese travelers

China says it will resume allowing visa-free visits by Japanese nationals on short-term trips from the end of this month. (NHK)

Japan Grapples with Poverty and Rising 'Invisible Homeless'

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Ueno Toshogu Shrine Shines in Gold with Special Lighting

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World's First Fiber Made From Bagworm Silk Revolutionizes Industry

A Japanese pharmaceutical company has announced the successful commercialization of fiber made from silk produced by bagworms.

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