Travel

Cabs in Japan to stop displaying driver's name, photo

TOKYO, Aug 22 (canindia.com) - Japan's Transport Ministry has abolished the requirement for taxi drivers to display their name and photograph in their vehicles, local media reported on Monday.

The move, aimed at preventing the posting of taxi drivers' personal information online, is to ensure a safe work environment for drivers and ease the labor shortage in the transportation industry, Xinhua news agency quoted public broadcaster NHK as saying.

Taxi drivers used to have to display their photo ID to show that they are the authorised driver and not an impostor.

But there have been cases when dissatisfied passengers took a picture of the driver's ID card without permission and uploaded it to a social networking site, said the NHK report. ...continue reading

Typhoon No. 22 (Halong) Leaves Izu Islands Battered; Caution Still Urged

Typhoon No. 22 has brought severe weather to the Izu Islands, especially around Hachijo Island, with strong winds and heavy rain continuing to affect the region. Although the rain and wind have peaked, authorities urge continued caution against violent gusts, high waves, and potential landslides due to saturated ground conditions. While most of the Kanto region, including the Tokyo metropolitan area, has avoided major transportation disruptions, some services along the coasts of Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures may still be affected.

Typhoon No. 23 (Nakri) Approaching South of Japan Over Holiday Weekend

As of 9 a.m. on October 9, Typhoon No. 23 (Nakri) was moving quickly northwest over waters south of Japan and is expected to influence weather conditions over the upcoming three-day holiday weekend. The typhoon is forecast to strengthen slightly as it approaches the Okinawa and Amami regions between October 10 and 11. Afterward, it is expected to curve northward, moving off the coast of Kyushu on October 12 and reaching waters south of Japan’s main islands by October 13.

Japanese Teachers Still Work World’s Longest Hours

Elementary and junior high school teachers in Japan still work the longest hours among their peers worldwide, according to an OECD report released on Tuesday. While the 2024 results by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showed working hours had fallen by around four hours per week compared with the previous survey in 2018, Japan’s teachers still far exceeded their global counterparts.

Beer Shortages Hit Japan's Izakayas

Beer deliveries from Asahi Group Holdings have been disrupted following a ransomware cyberattack, causing shortages that have already begun to affect izakaya and other establishments across Japan. Some bars have reported their beer stock falling to “only one left” as supply chain delays ripple through the industry.

Magnitude 4.9 Quake Off Fukushima, No Tsunami Warning Issued

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture around 9:30 a.m. on October 7th, registering a maximum intensity of 4 on the Japanese seismic scale. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, there is no risk of a tsunami caused by this tremor.

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