News On Japan

Japan to Extend Gasoline Subsidy

TOKYO, Mar 28 (News On Japan) - In response to the continued surge in energy prices due to the weakening yen and the rise in consumer prices, the Japanese government has decided to extend the subsidy for gasoline and other fuels beyond its April deadline.

According to government officials, the subsidy aimed at curbing the prices of fuel oil such as gasoline and kerosene will be extended past its current April deadline and will continue into May and beyond. The extension is expected to last for several months, with considerations also being made to maintain the subsidy rate without reductions.

The decision comes in light of inflation, the depreciating yen, and the rise in crude oil prices due to instability in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Kishida is expected to announce this in a press conference on Thursday evening.

The subsidy to oil wholesalers, which started in 2022, has been continually extended despite questions about its effectiveness.

Source: ANN

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Yomiuriland’s iconic Ferris wheel, cherished by visitors for over four decades, marked its final day of operation on Monday, as fans flocked to bid farewell to the beloved attraction and relive old memories.

Last month, Chef Kei Kobayashi, the first Asian to earn three Michelin stars in Paris, supervised dishes for the film "Grand Maison Paris." His restaurant in Paris, as well as five branded establishments in Japan, was featured in a special interview. Kobayashi proposed 20 to 30 menu items for the movie, with several dishes now being offered in Japan for a limited time, including a 5,500-yen course at his Gotemba restaurant.

Chiba's Urayasu City hosted a '20-Year Celebration' event at Tokyo DisneySea on Monday, marking the transition to adulthood for local residents.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has unveiled a plan to start covering up to 1.5 million yen in student loan repayments for individuals hired as teachers or technical public officials in the city starting from April this year. The initiative is expected to launch next year.

A female student wielded a hammer on Hosei University's campus in Tokyo, injuring eight students.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Business NEWS

Corporate bankruptcies in Japan rose for the third straight year in 2024. It is the highest number since 2013. Rising prices and labor shortages were to blame in many cases. (NHK)

Kobe is set to become the first city in Japan to consider imposing a tax on vacant units in high-rise condominiums. Mayor Hisamoto expressed strong support for the measure, stressing that the city will avoid repeating the situation seen in Tokyo’s Harumi Flag development.

Japan’s largest non-life insurer, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, has decided to raise the starting salary for university graduates joining the company in April next year. The salary for general positions will increase from approximately 280,000 yen to a maximum of about 410,000 yen.

The deadline for the U.S. presidential order, which demanded the termination of Nippon Steel’s planned acquisition of U.S. Steel within 30 days, has been extended.

Japanese automakers reported last year’s new car sales in China, revealing a year-on-year decline across all three major manufacturers. In response, they are working to restructure operations and strengthen their market strategies.

Fast Retailing, the operator of Uniqlo and other brands, has announced plans to raise its starting salary to 330,000 yen.

The nine-day New Year holiday, often hailed as a "miraculous break," has come to an end, and everyday life is gradually resuming. However, for some, this period marked a turning point—deciding to quit their jobs. One resignation service provider reported a record-high number of client requests.

Ahead of the opening of CES, the world’s largest technology expo, Sony Group and Honda have unveiled their first mass-produced electric vehicle (EV) model under the ‘AFEELA’ brand.