Society

JBIC to stop financing coal-fired plants by FY2040

Aug 27 (NHK) - A Japanese government-backed lender says it is going to reduce to zero its outstanding loans for overseas coal-fired power plants.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation has set a target date of around fiscal 2040. The policy is part of its push for carbon neutrality, as the world turns to cleaner fuels.

The JBIC says its loan balances for such plants stood at about 6 billion dollars as of the end of March. The lender has already indicated it will no longer offer financing for the projects that involve Japanese companies.

Japan's three biggest private financial groups, Mitsubishi UFJ, Sumitomo Mitsui, and Mizuho, have announced similar plans, also with a fiscal 2040 target date.

Tokyo Court Rules Workplace Use of '-chan' as Sexual Harassment

A Tokyo District Court has ruled that addressing a colleague using the 'chan' suffix constitutes sexual harassment, ordering a male employee to pay 220,000 yen in damages.

Inside Japanese Fonts: How Designers Shape the Way We Read

Fonts are an invisible part of daily life, yet they profoundly shape how we perceive information and emotion. From the elegant Mincho to the bold Gothic, these designs are chosen according to purpose—whether to convey clarity, trust, or impact—and their influence extends beyond readability into branding and communication.

Knife-Wielding Man Arrested Near U.S. Embassy in Tokyo

A man wielding knives in both hands was arrested near the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo’s Minato Ward on the afternoon of October 25th after injuring a riot police officer on duty.

Imperial Family Pays Tribute to War Victims

The Emperor, Empress, and their daughter Princess Aiko visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida Ward on Thursday afternoon, marking their first visit to the site as Japan observes the 80th year since the end of World War II. They were greeted upon arrival by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and other officials.

First Snow Caps Mount Fuji, 15 Days Earlier Than Last Year

The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced on October 23rd that the season’s first snow had been observed on Mount Fuji, which stands 3,776 meters tall. Around 6 a.m., an official visually confirmed that snow had clearly accumulated near the summit.

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Families Honor War Dead from Northern Territories

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