Society

LDP becomes top party in Tokyo assembly, rivaling governor's

Jul 05 (Nikkei) - The Liberal Democratic Party regained the largest number of seats in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly in Sunday's election for the capital's legislature.

The LDP, headed in national politics by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, displaced Tomin First no Kai, or Tokyoites First party, a regional party founded by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, as the leading force in the 127-seat assembly.

However, the LDP and ally Komeito failed to win a combined majority in the assembly, dealing a blow to their coalition gears up for a general election slated for the fall.

Coronavirus infections in Tokyo are once again on the rise after the state of emergency was lifted last month.

Voter turnout was estimated at 42.40 percent, down 8.88 points from the turnout at the same time in the previous Tokyo assembly election in 2017.

For Tomin First, comprised of many young members who have not established strong footholds in the capital yet, full-fledged support of Koike was mandatory to win out the regional assembly election with some 11 million eligible voters.

Koike, who currently serves as special adviser to the regional party, was hospitalized due to severe fatigue for over a week in late June and was unable to get out and stump for the party during the campaign.

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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