Society

Japan's legislature sees first coronavirus infection

Sep 19 (Japan Times) - A member of the House of Representatives has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and was admitted to a hospital, the Lower Houseâ€™s secretariat said Friday, the first confirmed infection of a Japanese lawmaker.

Shuichi Takatori, who belongs to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, developed a fever of more than 37 degrees Friday morning, which has since subsided, and the results of an antigen test came back positive, according to his office.

The 59-year-old had attended the Lower House plenary session Wednesday, where Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was elected, and afterward greeted former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with LDP Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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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