Society

Ryo Ishikawa leaves key roles after caught violating quarantine

Nov 10 (Japan Times) - Ryo Ishikawa said Tuesday he will resign as vice chairman of the Japan Golf Tour Players Association and the Japan Golf Tour Organization following a tabloid report that he broke quarantine rules after arriving home from a trip to the United States.

The 30-year-old pro golfer, who was the Japanese tour’s leading money winner in 2009, also said he will withdraw from this week’s Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters and let the JGTO make a decision about his appearance in future competitions.

Ishikawa was photographed entering the golf lodge after a round on a course in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, on Oct. 27, only days after he returned home from California, where he took part in a Korn Ferry Tour qualifying event.

The gossip magazine published on Tuesday said Ishikawa ignored Japan’s public health orders, quoting an unnamed source who said Ishikawa was among a group that played on the same course as the general public, and another claimed he held drinking parties at night.

Japan Looks to Limit Continuous Work

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's advisory panel has outlined a proposal for amending the law to prohibit working more than 14 consecutive days. Under the current system, workers can technically work up to 48 days in a row through a system known as 'four-day-off-per-four-weeks,' while labor agreements also allow for holiday work, meaning there are no effective restrictions on consecutive workdays.

First 'Rose of Versailles' Manhole Covers Appear in Chiba’s Kashiwa

Manhole covers featuring characters from Riyoko Ikeda’s popular manga The Rose of Versailles were unveiled on November 11th at three locations within Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture.

USJ to Open 'Donkey Kong Country' in December

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) has announced that the new 'Donkey Kong Country' area will open on December 11th, expanding the 'Super Nintendo World' by 1.7 times.

Japan Plans to Raise Teacher Pay

Japan's Finance Ministry presented a plan on November 11th during the Fiscal System Council to gradually increase the 'teacher adjustment allowance' --currently awarded as a substitute for overtime pay -- from its current 4% of monthly salary to 10% over a span of five years.

Satellite Malfunction Leaves Japan Weather Images Unavailable

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is currently experiencing issues displaying images from the Himawari weather satellite on its official website. Efforts are underway to identify the cause and restore normal service, but the timeline for recovery remains unclear.

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