News On Japan

UNESCO panel seeks more details on Japan sites

Jul 24 (NHK) - A UNESCO committee has requested that a Japanese facility dedicated to a group of World Heritage sites provide more explanation on former wartime workers from the Korean Peninsula.

A group of 23 industrial sites in Japan gained World Heritage status in 2015. People from the Korean Peninsula worked at some of the locations in the 1940s.

Japan's government set up the Industrial Heritage Information Centre in Tokyo last year to explain the historical backgrounds of those sites. The move was in line with a resolution adopted by the World Heritage Committee.

A report on the facility was published this month after a UNESCO mission inspected it last month.

According to the report, "the interpretive measures to allow an understanding of those brought against their will and forced to work are currently insufficient."

In response to it, the committee unanimously passed a resolution at a virtual session on Thursday.

The resolution says the committee "takes note with satisfaction" that Japan "has met a number of its commitments and complied with a number of aspects of the Committee's relevant decisions."

But the resolution says the committee "strongly regrets" that Japan "has not yet fully implemented the relevant decisions."

The resolution says the committee requests Japan to fully take into account "measures to allow an understanding of a large number of Koreans and others brought against their will and forced to work under harsh conditions, and the Japanese government's requisition policy."

The 23 sites are related to Japan's industrial revolution, which took place between the latter part of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. Among them is the Hashima coal mine in Nagasaki City, southwestern Japan. It is also known as "Battleship Island" for its shape.

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

From April 1st, a new regulation took effect across Osaka Prefecture requiring all restaurants with a customer seating area larger than 30 square meters to become entirely smoke-free indoors—unless they install a designated smoking room. Establishments violating the rule face fines of up to 50,000 yen, while customers may be fined up to 30,000 yen.

The Imperial Household Agency launched an official YouTube channel on April 1st to introduce the activities of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

Japan's new fiscal year began on April 1st, with companies across the country holding entrance ceremonies to welcome new employees.

The Japanese government has released an updated damage forecast for a potential Nankai Trough megaquake, estimating that up to 298,000 people could die in the worst-case scenario. This projection reflects a slight reduction from the previous estimate of 332,000 deaths made 13 years ago.

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced on March 30th that cherry blossoms (Somei-Yoshino) in central Tokyo have reached full bloom, one day earlier than the historical average and five days earlier than last year.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

A special unit dedicated to investigating "lone offenders"—individuals who commit acts of terrorism without belonging to any specific organization—has been established for the first time in Japan within the Public Security Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

Downtown, the popular comedy duo, has stepped down as official ambassadors for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, according to an announcement by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition.

A tour bus carrying over 20 foreign tourists collided with a van inside the Tokiwa Tunnel on the Dōō Expressway on March 31st, sending several people to the hospital.

In August 1990, two men hiking in the Scottish Highlands captured a striking photo of a silent, diamond-shaped object hovering in the sky—later dubbed "the greatest UFO photo ever taken." A Harrier jet was seen circling the object before it suddenly shot straight up and vanished. (Abroad in Japan)

The Fukuoka Prefectural Police will introduce a new recruitment track for working adults starting next fiscal year, easing both age and physical fitness requirements as part of broader efforts to combat a worsening manpower shortage.

Children on spring break took part in a zazen meditation session at Toshoji Temple in Kiho, Mie Prefecture, on March 28th to help reset their daily routines.

A growing number of women in Japan are choosing men’s-style suits for both comfort and practicality, reflecting a broader shift toward genderless fashion. From school uniforms to police attire, traditional dress codes are evolving as functionality and diversity take center stage in work and daily life.

A temporary barrier has been installed under the iconic Glico sign in Osaka's bustling Minami district, commonly referred to as "Guri-shita," to prevent people from sitting and loitering in the area.