Society

Abe announces LDP leadership candidacy

Aug 27 (NHK) - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has officially announced he will run in the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in September.

An election win would give him a 3rd term as the leader of the main governing party.

He told reporters he won overwhelming support from the Japanese people when he called a snap general election last year, and that it is his responsibility to respond to the people's mandate.

Abe said Japan faces a turning point in its history over the next few years. He pointed to next year's notable events, such as Emperor Akihito's abdication and the first summit of the Group of 20 nations in the country. He also mentioned the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in 2020.

Abe expressed his resolve to take leadership in creating a new nation for a coming era with a new emperor.

He said he is confident he is mentally and physically strong enough to pursue this mission.

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

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