Society

Japan to create 'global startup cities' in 4 areas

Jul 15 (NHK) - The Japanese government has chosen four urban areas as "global startup cities" in a program in which it aims to create its version of the US Silicon Valley.

The program is intended to foster startups that will lead the country's economy, like the global IT giants known as GAFA -- Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon.

The government received applications for the program from 17 municipalities across the country. It selected four urban areas to which it will offer concentrated support over the next three years.

They are the Tokyo metropolitan area, including Yokohama and Tsukuba; the Chubu region centering on Aichi Prefecture; the Kansai region comprising Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe cities; and Fukuoka City in western Japan.

The government will extend subsidies to consortiums formed by local governments, business groups and universities, while easing regulations in the areas.

It also plans to help attract investments and talented people from abroad.

Separately, the government has chosen four areas, including the northern city of Sapporo and Hiroshima Prefecture, to attract startups in specific fields such as environment technologies.

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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