Japan revises down GDP growth rate to 3.7%

Jul 07 (NHK) - Japan's government has revised down its projection for the country's economic growth in fiscal 2021.

The Cabinet Office said at a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy on Tuesday that Japan's GDP will expand about 3.7 percent in real terms, excluding price fluctuations.

The figure is down 0.3 percentage points from the previous estimate that the Cabinet approved in January.

But the government said GDP will this year return to levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic, as the figure for last fiscal year was better than expected. Previously, the government said GDP would recover this fiscal year, ending in March 2022.

In the meeting, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said GDP will likely surpass pre-pandemic levels this year, and hit a record high next fiscal year.

Suga said participants in the meeting pointed out that vaccinations can help speed up normalization of economic activities and make further economic growth possible. He added that the government will do all it can to get people vaccinated as soon as possible.

The participants also discussed basic guidelines for next year's draft budget. Suga said he wants to focus on investments to create a green society, promote digital transformation, revitalize local regions and tackle population decline.

Nissan to Cut 9,000 Jobs, Focuses Layoffs on Production Sites

Nissan Motor is implementing a workforce reduction plan involving 9,000 employees, with over 70% of the cuts concentrated in production sites, according to a JNN investigation.

Tokyo Cedar Pollen Season Starts Record Early Since 1985

Cedar pollen dispersal in Tokyo began on January 8th, marking the earliest start since monitoring began in 1985, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Japanese Lunar Lander Resilience Launched From Kennedy Space Center

A rocket carrying the lunar lander developed by Japanese space venture ispace was successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center in the United States.

Foreign visitors to Japan hit record high in 2024

The number of foreign visitors to Japan hit an all-time high last year, topping the annual record set before the coronavirus pandemic. Spending by tourists also reached a record high. (NHK)

Michelin-Star Chef's Exclusive Film Menu

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.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Osaka court awards family full lost wages of girl with disability killed in 2018

A Japanese high court has ruled that the calculation of earnings a girl with a hearing impairment who died in an accident would have made must be 100 percent based on the average income in Japan. (NHK)

Co-pilot Vomits on Plane Just Before Departure

A Japan Airlines (JAL) international flight faced a major delay after one of its pilots was found to have consumed alcohol exceeding the allowable limits the night before departure. Investigations by FNN have revealed conflicting accounts between JAL and the pilot involved regarding the decision to proceed with the flight.

Chiba Celebrates 'Coming of Age' with Mickey

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

New Adults Gather in Kyoto to Showcase Archery Skills

At Kyoto’s Sanjusangendo, newly recognized 20-year-old adults gathered to demonstrate their archery skills during the annual "Toshiya" event.

Two Women Struck and Killed by Train at Narrow Railroad Crossing in Kobe

Two women were fatally struck by a train at a railroad crossing in Tarumi Ward, Kobe City, on January 9th, with investigators believing that the women may have accidentally waited for the traffic signal inside the lowered crossing gate.

Illegal Host-Club Connections Under Scrutiny

A leader of a massive scouting group has been arrested on suspicion of introducing women to illegal 'fuzoku' establishments. The group is believed to have earned around 7 billion yen through tactics described as akin to human trafficking.

Man Arrested for Vandalizing Imperial Palace Restroom

A 46-year-old man arrested for vandalizing a restroom inside the Imperial Palace during the New Year's public greeting has been sent to prosecutors, with further investigations underway into graffiti found on a nearby manhole.

Baby Boomers Enter Elderly Ranks, Care Crisis Looms

In 2025, all members of the postwar baby boomer generation will reach the age of 75 or older, becoming what is categorized as late-stage elderly. The sudden surge in people requiring care has raised concerns over the so-called "2025 Problem," posing a serious challenge to caregiving services.

< 2 3 4 5 >