Society

UNESCO Sides with Japan on Gunkanjima Heritage Dispute

NAGASAKI, Jul 09 (News On Japan) - Japan’s position on its handling of World Cultural Heritage sites, including Gunkanjima (Battleship Island) in Nagasaki City, has been upheld by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which rejected South Korea’s demand for a renewed review of Japan’s efforts.

The site in question, known officially as the “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution,” includes Hashima Island—commonly referred to as Gunkanjima—and was inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage list in 2015.

On July 7th, during a session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Paris, the South Korean delegation argued that Japan should provide a more comprehensive account of the site's history, including its “negative legacy.” They proposed that the committee reopen the issue and conduct a formal re-examination of Japan’s approach.

Japan responded by stating that the matter should not be dealt with at the committee level and should instead continue to be addressed through bilateral discussions. A vote was held, and Japan’s position—to handle the issue through two-nation dialogue rather than UNESCO committee intervention—was supported.

Source: FNN

Tsunami Advisory Issued for Iwate After M6.7 Earthquake Off Sanriku Coast

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the Sanriku coast at around 5:03 p.m. on November 9th, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a tsunami advisory for Iwate Prefecture at 5:12 p.m. Authorities warned that tsunami waves may have already reached coastal areas.

Niseko Tourism Surge Drives Land Frenzy

The Niseko area at the foot of Mount Yotei, about a two-hour drive from Sapporo, is now in the spotlight once again as one of Japan’s top resort destinations prepares for the peak ski season. Fueled by surging inbound demand, construction of hotels and leisure facilities is rapidly expanding across the region—but local residents are increasingly alarmed by the rise in illegal land development and unauthorized building extensions.

Takaichi Launches Into First Major Diet Battle After 3 a.m. Study Session

The Budget Committee of the House of Representatives opened on November 7th, with Prime Minister Takaichi facing her first full-scale debate since taking office.

Aluminum Balloon Causes Sapporo Subway Blackout

A power outage that halted operations on the Sapporo Municipal Subway on November 3rd was caused by an aluminum-coated balloon. Investigations have revealed that similar troubles have occurred across various transportation systems in Japan.

Rifles Approved for Bear Culling

The National Police Agency announced on November 6th that it has revised the National Public Safety Commission regulations to allow police officers to use rifles for bear control. The amendment will take effect on November 13th.

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