Jun 11 (Kyodo) - More Japanese farmers are planning to lower their rice production and switch to wheat and soybean this year amid rising grain prices caused by Russia's war in Ukraine, according to a government survey.
Among Japan's 47 prefectures, 37 said as of the end of April that they will reduce cooking rice acreage from a year earlier, up from the 22 prefectures that responded the same way in the previous January survey, said the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
A suspicious object feared to be explosive was discovered at a high school in Sapporo on the afternoon of November 22nd, causing temporary chaos. The object was found to have been brought to the school by one of its students.
China says it will resume allowing visa-free visits by Japanese nationals on short-term trips from the end of this month. (NHK)
Japan is facing a deepening crisis of poverty and inequality, with rising reports of 'invisible homeless' individuals and growing economic hardships among the population. Discussions over reforms to the country's tax and welfare systems have taken center stage, as policymakers grapple with how to provide meaningful support.
A special lighting ceremony was held on November 20th at Ueno Toshogu Shrine, located in Ueno Park, Taito Ward, Tokyo. The event featured a unique lighting design created by renowned lighting designer Motoko Ishii.
A Japanese pharmaceutical company has announced the successful commercialization of fiber made from silk produced by bagworms.
Struggling Japanese automaker Nissan Motor says about 1,000 of its employees in the United States have accepted early retirement offers. That figure represents 6 percent of the firm's US workforce. (NHK)
The Japanese government plans to incorporate securing copper mine interests into its upcoming economic measures, according to a report by TV Tokyo. Copper, an essential material for electric vehicles (EVs), semiconductors, and data centers, faces increasing global demand, raising concerns over supply shortages.
This year's bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau have hit store shelves across Japan. And in some more good news for wine drinkers, many retailers and importers have kept prices unchanged despite the weak yen. (NHK)
Japanese semiconductor maker Kioxia Holdings is expected to be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange next month after years of postponement. (NHK)
The iconic Osaka Marubiru in Umeda, closed last year due to aging, will be replaced with a new 192-meter skyscraper, the tallest in the Osaka Station area.
The average price for a newly built condominium in Tokyo’s 23 wards has remained above 100 million yen for six consecutive months.
The average transaction price of newly harvested rice between agricultural cooperatives and wholesalers reached a record high for the second consecutive month in October. The price of unpolished rice was 23,820 yen per 60 kilograms.
NVIDIA has thrown its weight behind Sakana AI, a Tokyo-based startup rapidly gaining traction in the booming generative AI field. Since ChatGPT's debut in November 2022, industry giants like Google and Meta have entered the fray, intensifying the competitive landscape.
