News On Japan

Japan ward rejects couple's marriage registry under separate surnames

Jun 13 (Kyodo) - A Japanese couple who kept their own surnames when they got married in the United States were told by a Tokyo ward office Monday that their marriage could not be registered using the two different names.

Kiyoko Kashiwagi, a movie producer, and Kazuhiro Soda, a film director, were challenging the law that forces married Japanese couples to share a surname, having previously tried to register their marriage with the Chiyoda Ward office in 2018. ...continue reading

Source: TBS NEWS

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

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.

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.

Major izakaya chain operator Watami has acquired Subway Japan in a large-scale acquisition it views as a 'second founding,' aiming to establish a foothold in the fast-food market.

Tokyo Skytree has started a pilot project for a 'Real-Time Translator' that can display up to 100 languages.

An autonomous driving experiment for electric vehicle (EV) buses is underway in mountainous terrain for the first time in Japan.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

A unique wedding ceremony recently took place in Fukusaki Town, Hyogo Prefecture, where efforts are underway to revitalize the town through the allure of 'yokai' (supernatural creatures in Japanese folklore).

An 88-year-old father and his 60-year-old son were arrested in Kushiro, Hokkaido, after a violent dispute where the father allegedly threatened the son with a knife, and the son retaliated by hitting his father with a frying pan, causing minor injuries.

The founder of video-sharing site FC2 was arrested Thursday upon returning to Kansai Airport on suspicion of posting obscene videos on the site in 2013.

In the trial concerning the murder of a wealthy man known as 'The Don Juan of Kishu,' his ex-wife has testified about her involvement with illegal drugs.

Popular Japanese comedian Matsumoto Hitoshi has dropped a defamation lawsuit against a publisher and one of its magazine editors over an article accusing him of sexually assaulting two women. (NHK)

Two South Korean nationals, Sangmyung Lee (47) and his younger brother Chungmyung Lee (45), have been arrested following a destructive incident in the Presidential Suite of the luxury Grand Hyatt Tokyo in Roppongi.

A relaxation spa owner in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward has been arrested on suspicion of committing indecent acts against female clients, with authorities estimating over 400 potential victims.

In Japan, the 'Suzuki' surname ranks as the country's second most common, following 'Sato.' The origins of this widespread name can be traced back to Kumano faith and its spread across the nation, with roots at the Fujishiro Shrine in Wakayama Prefecture's Kainan City.