2024-11-20 23:29:00
The Biden administration in the United States has approved the provision of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, where Russia continues to engage in military aggression. With the end of President Biden's term in office approaching, it appears that he wants to take over the government in Ukraine in as favorable a position as possible.
2024-11-20 23:15:00
Former sumo wrestler and top-ranked champion Katsuaki Kitanofuji, who won 10 championships in the top division and was active for many years as a commentator for NHK's sumo broadcasts, passed away on November 12th at a hospital in Tokyo where he had been recuperating from an illness. He was 82 years old.
2024-11-20 23:06:00
The price of New Year's cards for next year, 2025, has increased to 85 yen and went on sale from the 1st of this month. On social media, some people have posted that they want to stop sending New Year's cards after next year due to the price increase, while others have expressed their concerns, saying, "I feel like I want to completely cut off all ties with the people I keep in touch with through New Year's cards." We interviewed people who are quitting and those who are continuing to send New Year's cards to find out their thoughts.
2024-11-20 22:45:00
In a case where a man was found dead in a hotel in Susukino, a downtown Sapporo district, last year and three parents and children were indicted, the father, who is accused of aiding the daughter in murder, has been released on bail ahead of his first trial in January next year, according to an interview with a lawyer.
2024-11-20 21:54:00
Following comments by men's basketball player Rui Hachimura questioning the way the Japanese national team is run and calling the selection of coaching staff "disappointing," the Japan Basketball Association responded to an interview and explained, "We take this very seriously. There should have been more communication."
2024-11-20 21:36:00
In response to the Russian Defense Ministry's announcement that the Ukrainian military had attacked western Russia with ATACMS long-range missiles provided by the United States, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, "I can't go into details, but we will use all the long-range weapons we have in our possession," avoiding confirming whether ATACMS was used, but hinting at its future use.
2024-11-20 21:13:00
On the 19th, US President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would appoint Mehmet Oz, a physician and former American television host, to head the agency under the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare that will oversee the public health insurance system.
2024-11-20 19:46:00
Jimmy Lai, founder of the Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily, which is critical of the Chinese government and who was indicted on charges of violating the Hong Kong National Security Law and other laws, testified for the first time in trial, saying, "I hoped that the people of Hong Kong would be able to enjoy their freedom by having more information."
2024-11-20 19:40:00
The Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament is on its 11th day. Ozeki Kotozakura and Ozeki Toyonoryu, as well as the Maegashira Takanosho, have all won and maintained their record of one loss.
2024-11-20 19:05:00
Regarding the former correspondence expenses and the current "research, study, and public relations accommodation expenses," the House of Representatives held the first meeting of a council comprising all political parties and confirmed that a conclusion will be reached early on regarding the scope of use, etc.
2024-11-20 18:57:00
In the second trial of a former employee of the Okayama branch of major securities firm Nomura Securities, who was charged with fraud and other crimes for allegedly defrauding a total of more than 97 million yen from customers and others while he was working at the branch, the Okayama branch of the Hiroshima High Court sentenced the former employee to three years and six months in prison, following the first trial.
2024-11-20 18:42:00
The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan is calling for caution, as it has received inquiries from surviving family members who are unable to find out what assets their deceased loved ones held online or the details of the contracts for flat-rate services they used, and are having trouble figuring out how to proceed.
2024-11-20 18:16:00
On the 20th in the Tokyo foreign exchange market, concerns over the situation in Ukraine had subsided somewhat, leading to a move to sell yen and buy dollars, causing the yen to fall by more than 1 yen.
2024-11-20 18:14:00
On the 20th, Meiji University player Rui Muneta, who was selected by Rakuten as the first pick in the professional baseball draft, negotiated with the team in Tokyo, and after the contract was agreed upon, his uniform number was decided to be "1". Muneta said, "I am expected to perform at a high level. I want to become a player who suits the number '1'."
2024-11-20 18:09:00
A former sales employee at Nomura Securities, a major securities firm, was indicted on charges of attempted robbery and murder, and arson on the 20th for allegedly giving a female client living in Hiroshima City a sleeping drug, stealing over 17 million yen in cash, and setting fire to her house.
2024-11-20 17:57:00
Following the resumption of power generation at the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 in Miyagi Prefecture on the 15th of this month, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto called on Tohoku Electric Power Company President Kojiro Higuchi to share know-how regarding restarting nuclear power plants across the industry and work to improve safety.
2024-11-20 17:44:00
South Korean intelligence agencies have revealed that they have learned that North Korean troops dispatched to Russia are being assigned to Russian airborne brigades and other units for training, and that some of the soldiers have participated in fighting with the Ukrainian side. They have also indicated that there may have been casualties.
2024-11-20 17:09:00
This month, police arrested two 17-year-olds for breaking into an apartment complex in Yokohama. The apartment complex was inhabited by a man in his 30s who had been instructed to get involved in a special fraud scheme as part of an illegal part-time job, and who had been unable to be contacted after receiving payment in advance. Police believe the two men broke into the complex to get their money back, and are currently investigating further.
2024-11-20 16:42:00
In October, three high school and junior high school students from the Kanto region were arrested after applying for a shady part-time job on social media, and it was learned from an investigation that police have arrested a new suspect in his 20s on suspicion of preparing to commit robbery. Police believe that he was a recruiter who recruited the three, and plan to investigate the details of the case.
2024-11-20 16:32:00
When a hospital in Hyogo Prefecture asked people diagnosed with MCI (mild cognitive impairment), a stage just before dementia, about the problems they faced, half of the respondents said they "forgetfulness or misplacing things."
2024-11-20 16:08:00
On the 20th, in a case where the president of a chemical machinery manufacturer in Yokohama and two others were arrested on suspicion of illegal exports and later found innocent, the Metropolitan Police Department referred documents to the prosecutor's office, alleging that investigators from the Public Security Bureau at the time had destroyed the interrogation records of the former director that had been prepared after the arrest. It has not been made clear whether the documents were destroyed intentionally.
2024-11-20 16:06:00
According to Tokyo Electric Power Company Power Grid, as of 3:09 p.m., approximately 450 households in Tokyo's Minato Ward are without power.
2024-11-20 15:53:00
At around 3:40 pm on the 20th, an earthquake measuring magnitude 4 was observed in Aomori Prefecture. There is no need to worry about a tsunami caused by this earthquake.
2024-11-20 15:18:00
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, announced on the morning of the 20th that it had received information that a large-scale airstrike may be carried out on the 20th, and called for caution. In case of an emergency, the embassy has been closed and staff have been instructed to evacuate. The embassy is calling on U.S. citizens living in Ukraine to check local media for the latest information and evacuation locations, and if an air defense alert is issued, to immediately evacuate to a shelter and follow the instructions of Ukrainian authorities.
2024-11-20 15:13:00
A trial has begun at the Tokyo District Court for the political group Tsubasa no To leader Kurokawa Atsuhiko, who is accused of disrupting other camps' election campaigns by using loud megaphones during a by-election for the Tokyo 15th district of the House of Representatives held in April this year. Kurokawa has pleaded not guilty, stating that "this was a lawful act that was extremely politically significant."
2024-11-20 14:42:00
An object created by architect Kengo Kuma based on the testimonies of atomic bomb survivors will be exhibited at an exhibition introducing the activities of the Japan Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, which will be held in conjunction with the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in Norway in December.
2024-11-20 14:22:00
The Mito District Public Prosecutors' Office has decided not to indict a Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department detective who was arrested this month on suspicion of assault after punching an employee in the face at a lodging facility in Ibaraki Prefecture.
2024-11-20 14:12:00
Amid ongoing concerns about the supply of medicines to pharmacies and medical institutions, especially generic drugs, a survey by an industry group found that last month approximately 20% of prescription drugs were subject to limited shipments or supply was suspended.
2024-11-20 14:03:00
Regarding the Chinese explanation for the recent violation of Japanese airspace by a military aircraft, which was due to air currents and that "there was no intention to 'invade,'" Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi noted that China has said it will try to prevent a recurrence and stated his intention to keep a close eye on future actions.
2024-11-20 13:58:00
On the morning of the 20th, a tanker truck collided head-on with a truck in Wakkanai, Hokkaido, and two men and women in the truck were taken to the hospital in critical condition and unconscious. The road surface was frozen at the time of the accident, and the police are investigating the details of the accident.
2024-11-20 13:39:00
In the case of fraudulent insurance claims by the former Big Motor, the surviving company, which will be handling compensation and other matters, has said that the number of fraudulent cases is expected to reach as many as 80,000, and has revealed its policy for providing compensation to customers who are found to have had improper car repairs.
2024-11-20 13:06:00
Regarding slander and libel on social media, Hyogo Prefecture Governor Saito stated, "The spread of incorrect information during a disaster is a problem," and indicated his intention to consider enacting a bylaw to deter such behavior.
2024-11-20 13:00:00
Regarding the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, for which Shizuoka Prefecture has not given its approval for construction to begin, JR Central announced that a boring survey to investigate the geology and other aspects of the tunnel construction has crossed the prefectural border from the Yamanashi side and entered Shizuoka Prefecture.
2024-11-20 12:27:00
On the 20th, JR Shikoku revealed that the main cause of the approximately six hours it took to rescue passengers from a JR Setouchi Ohashi Line rapid train that got stuck on the Setouchi Ohashi Bridge on the 10th of this month was that rescue tools were not in the locations specified in the manual.
2024-11-20 12:15:00
According to an interview with a person involved in the investigation, the president of a meat processing company in Nakatsu, Oita Prefecture, which was selling beef liver under the label "flavor of fresh liver," and two others were arrested by the Kyoto Prefectural Police on suspicion of violating the Food Sanitation Act for failing to heat-treat it in accordance with national standards. The liver was also a gift in return for Nakatsu City's hometown tax donation program, and the police believe it was shipped nationwide and are currently investigating the situation.
2024-11-20 12:09:00
Actor Shohei Hino, who was active in many movies and TV dramas and was also popular for his nationwide bicycle travel program, passed away on the 14th of this month. He was 75 years old.
2024-11-20 12:01:00
According to the police, on the morning of the 20th, a sixth grade student sprayed tear gas on playground equipment in the schoolyard of an elementary school in Nabari City, Mie Prefecture, and seven children were taken to the hospital with eye pain. All symptoms were mild, and the details of the incident are currently being investigated.
2024-11-20 11:54:00
On the 19th, the prosecution of the trial in which the next president of the United States, Trump, was found guilty of paying hush money for an extramarital affair, told the court that they were opposed to dropping the trial proceedings themselves, but would agree to a postponement of the sentencing. The court has not yet made a decision.
2024-11-20 11:13:00
Regarding new economic measures, the Democratic Party for the People has broadly approved the revised bill proposed by the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, which includes a review of the so-called "1.03 million yen annual income barrier." In response to this, the three parties are expected to hold a meeting of their policy chiefs on the 20th to reach an agreement on economic measures.
2024-11-20 11:13:00
"When I said I was going to quit my illegal part-time job, I was kidnapped and stabbed." This month, a man in his 20s in Tokyo called for help, and the injured man was taken into custody, according to an interview with the Metropolitan Police Department. In illegal part-time jobs, people are threatened with personal information submitted when applying, and not only are they unable to escape, but there are also cases where they are actually harmed, so the Metropolitan Police Department is urging people never to get involved.
2024-11-20 11:01:00
During his visit to Brazil, Prime Minister Ishiba met separately with President Lula, who served as chair of the G20 summit, and the two leaders agreed that Japan would work to strengthen ties with Mercosur, a South American customs union that includes Brazil and other countries, in order to expand trade and investment.
2024-11-20 10:53:00
In connection with the relocation of the U.S. military's Futenma Air Base to Henoko, Nago City, interviews with relevant parties have revealed that the Okinawa Defense Bureau has begun transporting stone and other materials from Miyagi Island in Uruma City, which had been selected as a new source of stone supply for use in landfill work.
2024-11-20 10:42:00
US President-elect Donald Trump inspected the test flight of a large spacecraft being developed by SpaceX, a space development company led by businessman Elon Musk. Major media outlets have reported that the inspection is a sign of the closeness between the two and Musk's growing influence.
2024-11-20 09:08:00
The Baltic Sea has been hit by a series of cut or damaged undersea communications cables, and authorities in coastal Sweden and other areas have begun an investigation. Germany's defense minister has expressed concern over Russia, saying there is a high possibility that the cables were the result of sabotage.
2024-11-20 09:01:00
On the 19th, several chickens were found dead at a poultry farm in Izumi City, Kagoshima Prefecture, and the prefecture announced that the "H5" avian influenza virus was detected. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, this is the first outbreak of avian influenza at a poultry farm in Kyushu this season.
2024-11-20 08:59:00
According to trade statistics for October released by the Ministry of Finance, the trade balance, which is exports minus imports, was in the red by 461.2 billion yen. This is the fourth consecutive month that the trade balance has been in the red.
2024-11-20 08:04:00
While visiting Brazil, Prime Minister Ishiba held a three-way summit with the United Kingdom and Italy, and the leaders agreed to continue working together toward completing the joint development of the next-generation fighter jets, stating that the joint development will serve as the foundation for broad-ranging cooperation that will continue for decades to come.
2024-11-20 07:35:00
The government plans to require companies with annual emissions of 100,000 tons or more to participate in the "emissions trading" system, which allows companies to buy and sell carbon dioxide emission allowances, scheduled to be fully implemented from fiscal 2027. Around 300 to 400 companies in fields such as electricity, steel, and chemicals are expected to be subject to the system.
2024-11-20 06:52:00
Regarding new economic measures, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito have presented a revised bill that includes provisions that would lead to a review of the so-called "1.03 million yen annual income barrier" that the Democratic Party for the People is calling for. The Democratic Party for the People plans to discuss the revised bill within the party on the 20th and decide whether to accept it.
2024-11-20 06:51:00
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the number of North Korean soldiers stationed in western Russia "could grow to 100,000," and urged countries to act quickly, saying giving the situation time will only make it worse.
2024-11-20 06:49:00
After attending the APEC summit and the G20 summit, Prime Minister Ishiba held a press conference in Brazil after completing his scheduled visit. Regarding relations with China, based on his meeting with President Xi Jinping, he emphasized his intention to promote communication and mutual visits, including between leaders, while reducing issues and concerns and increasing areas of cooperation.
2024-11-20 06:17:00
At COP29, the United Nations conference to discuss climate change being held in Azerbaijan, a focus is on funding to support climate change measures in developing countries. The chief negotiator for the chair country has indicated his intention to put together a more complete draft by the evening of the 20th, and with negotiations proving difficult, attention is focused on whether progress can be made toward an agreement.
2024-11-20 05:43:00
In the sixth match of the Asian final qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be held jointly in North and Central America, Japan won 3-1 away against China. With 16 points, if they win their next match, they will qualify for the eighth consecutive tournament, regardless of the results of other teams.
