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TEPCO applies to raise home power prices by nearly 30%

TOKYO - Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) has applied to the Japanese industry ministry to boost its power prices to households by nearly 30% from June due to soaring fuel procurement costs, the company said on Monday.

The move follows five other Japanese electric utilities which have already applied to raise prices by between 28% and 46% from April as the industry is squeezed by high costs of imported fuel, exacerbated by the weak yen against the U.S. dollar.

The ministry will examine details of the company's cost reduction measures and decide the actual price increase.

TEPCO also forecast it would fall into a net loss of 317 billion yen ($2.4 billion) for the year to March 31, against a 5.64 billion yen profit a year earlier, due to the surging prices of fossil fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and thermal coal, as well as local wholesale electricity prices. ...continue reading

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Transport disruption from Typhoon No. 7 widened late on June 25, with airlines preparing to cancel nearly 180 flights on June 26 and rail and expressway operators warning that services from Okinawa to the Tokyo region could be affected as the storm and a rainy-season front bring heavy rain and strong winds across Japan.

As of 10 p.m. on June 25, Typhoon No. 7 (Mekkhala) was moving between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island. The storm is forecast to make its closest approach to Okinawa’s main island from before dawn through the morning of June 26 while carrying a storm zone. Residents are urged to remain on alert for dangerous storm conditions.

A powerful earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of upper 6 struck off Iwate Prefecture at around 7:30 a.m. on June 25, shaking parts of Aomori Prefecture and leaving Hachinohe, which was hit by a similarly strong quake last December, facing fresh damage.

A powerful earthquake registering a maximum intensity of 6 upper on Japan’s seismic scale struck Aomori Prefecture at around 7:30 a.m. today. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the epicenter was off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, with a depth of about 50 kilometers. The earthquake’s magnitude was estimated at 6.9.

The sale of religious corporations that operate temples and shrines across Japan is drawing growing scrutiny from authorities, who fear the transactions could be used for tax evasion and money laundering, as brokers openly advertise properties and corporate status for tens or even hundreds of millions of yen.

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The sale of religious corporations that operate temples and shrines across Japan is drawing growing scrutiny from authorities, who fear the transactions could be used for tax evasion and money laundering, as brokers openly advertise properties and corporate status for tens or even hundreds of millions of yen.

The Nikkei Stock Average fell for a second straight session in Tokyo as investors locked in profits from a rapid rally in artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related shares, briefly sending the benchmark down more than 1,300 yen before bargain hunting helped it recover part of the loss.

Imabari Shipbuilding, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Namura Shipbuilding are aiming to resume construction of liquefied natural gas carriers around 2035, as Japan’s shipbuilding industry looks for a path to recovery after losing much of the global market to lower-cost rivals in South Korea and China.

Finance Minister Katayama held online talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as the yen approached its weakest level in about 39 years, with the two sides believed to have discussed possible responses, including foreign exchange intervention.

Every year, thousands of people save money by buying through the Japanese auction process. But many do not realize they've paid too much until the vehicle arrives.

Tokyo stocks surged at the start of the week, with the Nikkei Stock Average closing above 72,000 for the first time and extending its record-setting streak to a sixth consecutive trading day.

Sugar prices are on a firmer upward trend as concerns grow over the impact of Middle East tensions and the weaker yen, raising the prospect of further cost pressure on confectionery and other food products.

The Bank of Japan's decision on June 16 to raise its policy interest rate to 1%, the highest level in roughly 30 years, is expected to increase annual net burdens by more than 20,000 yen for households in their 30s with two or more members once higher interest income on deposits and increased mortgage repayment costs are both taken into account, according to estimates by an economist.