Japan Set For Bumper Rice Crop; Production Up 560,000 Tons

TOKYO, Sep 01 (News On Japan) - Rice plants are generally developing on schedule ahead of the new-crop harvest, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Using meteorological data through August 15, the ministry presented its estimate for rice yield per unit area.

By prefecture, Shizuoka is expected to surpass last year’s level, while 12 prefectures including Yamagata are forecast to be slightly above. Four prefectures, including Miyagi and Akita, are seen slightly below, and areas such as Niigata and Hokkaido are projected to be broadly in line with a year earlier.

So far, the impact of extreme heat and water shortages has been limited, and overall growth remains generally steady.

The ministry expects national rice production to increase by 560,000 tons from last year. The outlook assumes average weather conditions; if the heat persists or damage from rice stink bugs expands, the forecast could deteriorate.

Source: TBS

Massive Solar Farm Sparks Backlash Over Deforestation

Vast hillsides have been cleared for the construction of a large-scale solar power facility in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture, leaving piles of felled trees scattered across the slopes. The development covers approximately 146 hectares, or the size of 32 Tokyo Domes, and involves cutting down about 365,000 trees to make way for 470,000 solar panels.

Maebashi Mayor Admits Love Hotel Scandal Completely Her Fault

Maebashi Mayor Akira Ogawa held a closed-door meeting with all city council members on October 2nd to explain her repeated hotel meetings with a married senior city official, but afterward she avoided stating whether she would resign.

Why Did a Wooden Home in Tokyo Collapse?

A two-story wooden house collapsed in Tokyo’s Suginami Ward on the night of September 30th, with experts suggesting that the ground beneath the property, rather than the building itself, gave way, likely due to a cracked retaining wall.

Hokkaido Saw Record-Breaking Rainfall in Just Six Hours

Heavy rainfall battered parts of Hokkaido, with some areas receiving more than a month’s worth of precipitation in only six hours, prompting flood warnings and evacuation advisories. Meteorologists are saying the downpour was the result of a combination of unstable atmospheric conditions and moist air flowing in from the sea.

Kamakura Introduces Bathing Tax to Tackle Overtourism

Kamakura City in Kanagawa Prefecture has approved the introduction of a bathing tax, but the measure is drawing strong criticism from local hot spring operators since only two facilities fall under the new levy.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Sixty Percent of Hospitals in Japan Operating in the Red

Around 60 percent of hospitals across Japan are operating in the red, creating a critical situation where closures and bankruptcies are no longer a distant threat. Behind the figures lies a deepening financial crisis that is raising questions about whether patients can continue to rely on stable access to medical care.

Asahi Cyberattack Leaves Stores Without Beer

A system failure caused by a cyberattack at beverage giant Asahi Group shows no sign of resolution, disrupting deliveries and leaving some supermarket shelves empty.

Forever 21 to Exit Japan for Third Time

Forever 21, the American fast fashion brand that once led a global boom in affordable clothing, has decided to withdraw from Japan for the third time after its US parent company filed for bankruptcy and supply from the United States came to a halt.

Japan Faces 200 Yen Vending Machine Drinks

The wave of price increases continued into October, with more than 3,000 items, including beverages and food, set to rise in price, leaving supermarkets and retailers grappling with how to respond.

Japan's Minimum Wage Breaks 1,000 Yen Barrier

From October, Japan’s minimum wage will rise across the country to exceed 1,000 yen for the first time, a development welcomed by workers but one that is expected to squeeze retailers such as discount supermarkets where higher personnel costs could lead to losses.

NTT to Raise Landline Basic Fee for First Time in 30 Years

NTT, which had previously announced plans to gradually phase out fixed-line metal cables over the next decade, said at a briefing on September 30th that it will raise basic charges from next fiscal year to temporarily maintain the service.

Osaka Office Rents See World’s Fastest Growth

Office rents in Osaka are rising at the fastest pace in the world, driven by a wave of new developments in Umeda such as the recently opened Grand Green Osaka, which has brought fresh momentum to the city’s commercial real estate market.

Cyberattack Halts Asahi Shipments, Production and Events

Asahi Group Holdings said on September 29th that a cyberattack had caused a major system failure which has yet to be restored and shows no signs of resolution, with the impact now spreading across its operations even as the company stressed that no leaks of personal information or customer data have been confirmed.

< 2 3 4 5 >