U.S. President Donald Trump announced on May 30th that his administration plans to double the current tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to 50 percent. Speaking at a plant owned by major American steelmaker U.S. Steel, Trump declared that the existing 25 percent tariff on steel imports would be raised to 50 percent starting June 4th. The same rate will also apply to aluminum products, with the measure expected to affect exporters globally.
Amid mounting financial strain and work reform policies, Japan’s university hospitals are struggling to maintain the quality of their medical research, threatening the future of healthcare in the country. A recent survey of approximately 3,000 physicians working in university hospitals revealed that 60% spend less than five hours a week on research, with 22% reporting zero research time. The main reason: they are simply too busy with clinical duties to conduct research.
Mako Komuro, the eldest daughter of the Akishino family and now living in the United States, has given birth to her first child, the Imperial Household Agency announced on May 30th. The agency stated that the birth was disclosed during a press conference after some media reports surfaced, despite their intention to allow Komuro to live in a quiet environment following her departure from the Imperial family.
Japan has officially abolished both penal servitude and imprisonment without labor, replacing them with a newly introduced 'custodial sentence' system. This marks the first major reform of the country's penal code since it was established in 1907.
Okinawa resident Sueko Urasaki, who appeared as a trembling child in a U.S.-filmed recording of the Battle of Okinawa, has spoken publicly for the first time in 80 years about her harrowing experience, expressing a heartfelt plea for peace to future generations.
Mako Komuro, the eldest daughter of the Akishino family and now living in the United States, has given birth to her first child, the Imperial Household Agency announced on May 30th. The agency stated that the birth was disclosed during a press conference after some media reports surfaced, despite their intention to allow Komuro to live in a quiet environment following her departure from the Imperial family.
JR East Japan's group company has come under suspicion for overcharging labor costs in a government-commissioned project, claiming 65 people were working on a project while on 3 were involved.
SoftBank has teamed up with Intel and the University of Tokyo to establish a new semiconductor memory development company in Japan focused on artificial intelligence applications. Named SAIMEMORY, the new firm aims to develop cutting-edge memory chips with enhanced performance and lower energy consumption.
Concordia Financial Group, which will change its name to Yokohama Financial Group in October, is seeking to reinforce its identity as a strong regional bank group centered on Yokohama Bank. President Tatsuya Kataoka, who also serves as head of Yokohama Bank, discussed the strategy behind the rebranding, the group's structural reforms, and its ambitions for stronger financial performance during a joint interview with Nikkei Financial.
In a time when environmental concerns are reaching a critical point, businesses across the world, but mainly in Europe and the Middle East are ramping up their recycling efforts, an increasingly powerful driver of both ecological protection and economic opportunity.
Opposition parties submitted three bills to the Diet on May 30th seeking to introduce a system allowing married couples to retain separate surnames—a topic that returned to parliamentary deliberation for the first time in 28 years.
Osaka University has announced it will accept up to 100 medical researchers from the United States in response to a policy by the Trump administration that suspended the acceptance of international students at Harvard University.
2025年には、クラウドに対する侵害のうち60％以上が設定ミスに起因していました。企業がスケーラビリティやコスト削減のためにクラウドを活用すればするほど、それに伴って新たなセキュリティリスクにさらされる可能性も高まります。
Sharp announced on May 29th that it will release new models of its AQUOS smartphone series equipped with generative AI, with sales beginning in late June or later. The lineup will include both high-end and basic models.
An international triathlon competition featuring a rare moat swim was held on May 25th at Osaka Castle Park.
A young sushi chef from Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, has taken center stage in a nationwide competition to crown Japan’s top conveyor belt sushi artisan. The event, known as the All-Japan Conveyor Belt Sushi MVP Championship, brings together 13 elite chefs from across the country to compete not only in sushi-making technique but also customer service and performance skills.
This week we continue our exploration of the fascinating state of kabuki in 1925. (Kabuki In-Depth)
The film Detchiage is set for nationwide release on June 27th and revolves around the devastating consequences of false accusations, particularly those made by minors.
Every year, the “Salaryman Senryu” competition captures the mood of the times through humorous verse, and this year’s top ten results were announced on May 29th.
A pirate-themed game titled "Pirates Anime Quest" has stirred controversy after it appeared on Nintendo’s online store, with users pointing out its uncanny resemblance to characters from the wildly popular anime series One Piece.
Okinawa Prefecture announced during a meeting with the tourism industry on May 27th that it is aiming for its annual tourism revenue to exceed 1 trillion yen for the first time in fiscal 2025, and plans to introduce a lodging tax during fiscal 2026.
A 20-year-old man who went missing while attempting to swim across Hakata Bay from Nokonoshima Island to the mainland was found in the water and later confirmed dead.
A British couple in light clothing was rescued from Mount Yotei in Hokkaido on May 13th, after sending an SOS due to the cold. The incident has reignited concern over poorly prepared climbers, especially foreign visitors, as mountain guides emphasize the need for greater awareness of hypothermia risks, particularly in northern Japan.
Naha is the gate city for Okinawa vacation. It's not a place with beautiful beaches, but it's great base for traveling across Okinawa main island and other islands. Naha also has charm that you can explore, without getting a rental car. (Tokyo Kenchan)