News On Japan

Critical Lifesaver Shortage on Japan’s Beaches

TOKYO, Jul 29 (News On Japan) - The number of lifeguards in Japan has drastically decreased, with some areas like Niigata Prefecture experiencing a drop from 40 to just 4 lifeguards.

The shortage is attributed to declining birthrates and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted lifeguard training and recruitment.

Efforts to address the shortage include the use of drones for beach surveillance and initiatives to train local children in lifesaving skills. However, the reliance on volunteers and part-time lifeguards is not sustainable. Experts emphasize the need for a clear strategy to professionalize lifeguarding or strengthen community involvement to ensure beach safety in the future.

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A fire that scorched the exterior wall of a company operated by a Pakistani national was discovered in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, on March 1st, just one day after a mosque located about 400 meters away caught fire, prompting police to investigate the possibility that the two incidents may be connected.

Police plan to arrest a Japanese doctor in his 60s who lives in the United States and is suspected of spraying an oil-like liquid at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in Chiba Prefecture in 2015, with the suspect expected to arrive in Japan as early as March 4th, investigators said.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has announced plans to draw up guidelines for the introduction of a so-called dual pricing system that differentiates between foreign visitors and local residents.

Kyoto City significantly raised its lodging tax from March 1st, increasing the maximum charge per person per night from 1,000 yen to as much as 10,000 yen, in a move aimed at tackling overtourism and funding the preservation of cultural assets, even as questions remain about its impact on visitors and the local economy.

A former emergency responder and foreign tourists worked together to rescue a woman in her 80s who was trapped inside an overturned light vehicle in Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture.

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