Main news(2024/12/23)
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare plans to raise upper limit of high-cost medical care system from August next year
2024-12-23 23:31:00
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to raise the upper limit of the "High-cost Medical Care Expenses System," which limits the out-of-pocket expenses of patients with high medical expenses, from August next year. For those with average annual incomes of around 3.7 million to 7.7 million yen, the monthly limit will be raised by more than 8,000 yen.
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About 2% of land acquired last year that is important for national security was acquired by foreign countries, with China accounting for the largest share.
2024-12-23 21:38:00
The government has released information on land and buildings acquired in the past year in areas deemed important for national security. Approximately 2% of the land and buildings were acquired by foreigners or foreign corporations, with China accounting for the largest proportion.
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Prime Minister Ishiba to hold press conference tomorrow at the end of the session to explain the results of the current Diet session
2024-12-23 20:07:00
Prime Minister Ishiba will hold a press conference on the 24th, at the end of the current Diet session, to explain the results of the session.
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Election posters: ruling and opposition parties confirm amendments to Public Election Law in time for metropolitan assembly elections
2024-12-23 19:26:00
In order to ban disrespectful content from election posters, the ruling and opposition parties have confirmed their intention to amend the Public Offices Election Act in time for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election in the summer of 2025.
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Government summarizes issues facing nationwide implementation of free school lunch program
2024-12-23 19:25:00
The government has summarized the issues surrounding the implementation of free school lunches nationwide. It points out that the benefits will not reach children and students who do not eat school lunches due to allergies, and that a stable financial source of at least 480 billion yen will be required.
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The Fisheries Agency's policy to reduce next year's fishing quota for Japanese flying squid by more than 70% from this year
2024-12-23 19:01:00
Regarding Japanese flying squid, which has been suffering from a continuing shortage, the Fisheries Agency has announced its intention to reduce next year's catch quota by more than 70% from this year, making it the lowest ever, due to a significant decline in the resource stock in Japanese waters.
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Five opposition parties confirm request to summon former Abe faction accounting officer as witness
2024-12-23 17:41:00
Regarding the LDP's politics and money issue, five opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, confirmed that they will continue to call for the former Abe faction's accounting officer to appear before the Diet as an expert witness in order to uncover the truth, and agreed that if the ruling party does not comply, they will also consider a vote in the House of Representatives Budget Committee.
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Japan Post files lawsuit against Yamato Transport seeking damages "Damage caused by review of collaboration"
2024-12-23 17:38:00
Japan Post has announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Yamato Transport seeking damages in response to the company's request to review a collaboration agreement concluded last year.
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Closing ceremony held at a high school in Anamizu, Ishikawa: "This time, let's smile at the opening ceremony of the third term"
2024-12-23 17:09:00
The closing ceremony for the second term was held at a high school in Anamizu Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, which was severely damaged in the Noto Peninsula earthquake. The principal called out to all the students, saying, "The earthquake has taken away your normal daily routine, but this time, let's meet again with smiles on our faces at the opening ceremony of the third term."
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Restaurant chains raise prices in response to steep rise in rice prices
2024-12-23 16:51:00
In response to the significant increase in rice prices, restaurant chains are raising their menu prices one after another.
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JR Kyushu officially announces withdrawal from Japan-Korea route over cover-up of high-speed ferry flooding
2024-12-23 16:32:00
In response to the issue of a subsidiary of JR Kyushu concealing flooding on the Queen Beetle, a high-speed ferry connecting Japan and South Korea, JR Kyushu has abandoned its initial goal of resuming operations and officially announced that it will withdraw from the Japan-Korea route, which has been in operation for over 30 years.
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National Police Agency Commissioner General orders executives to "Uncover the profit structure of malicious host clubs"
2024-12-23 16:28:00
Regarding the recent spate of cases in which female customers of host clubs are charged exorbitant fees and forced into debt, National Police Agency Commissioner General Tsuyuki Yasuhiro, at a meeting of senior officials in charge of adult entertainment cases from across the country, gave instructions to dismantle the illegal "business model" of unscrupulous host clubs and clarify their revenue structures.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi emphasizes that "policies will be advanced while taking into account the opinions of the opposition parties"
2024-12-23 15:57:00
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi spoke in Tokyo, emphasizing that since becoming a minority government, the party has been able to move forward with policies such as the budget and political reform while also taking into account the opinions of the opposition parties, and expressed his intention to continue to run the government carefully.
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Trump appoints former senior official who advocated for increased defense spending to Under Secretary of Defense
2024-12-23 15:56:00
The next US president, Donald Trump, has announced that he will appoint a former senior official who is known as a hardliner on China and has previously advocated for an increase in Japan's defense spending to the position of Under Secretary of Defense. This could have an impact on the discussions on security policy.
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House of Councillors Ethics Committee: "No quota achieved, no idea about kickbacks"
2024-12-23 15:52:00
Former Minister of State for the Promotion of 100 Million People's Dynamic Engagement, Eto Seiichi, who appeared before the House of Councillors Political Ethics Committee, explained that he did not know the actual situation of kickbacks because he had never met the sales quota for party tickets to raise political funds for factions.
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Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission files criminal charges against judge in his 30s for insider trading
2024-12-23 15:39:00
On the 23rd, the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission filed criminal charges with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors' Office Special Investigation Division on suspicion of violating the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act against a judge in his 30s who was undergoing compulsory investigation on suspicion of insider trading while on secondment to the Financial Services Agency.
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South Korean military: "North Korea may launch intermediate-range ballistic missile this year"
2024-12-23 15:08:00
On the 23rd, the South Korean military announced the results of an analysis stating that North Korea may launch a medium-range ballistic missile around the time of an important meeting of the Workers' Party of Korea scheduled to be held later this year.
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Former Nagano Prefectural Assemblyman Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Murdering Wife Nagano District Court
2024-12-23 14:48:00
The Nagano District Court sentenced a 50-year-old former prefectural assemblyman to 19 years in prison for murder for killing his then 47-year-old wife in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, three years ago.
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The three opposition parties, CDP, Ishin, and Komin, jointly submit a bill to make school lunches free to the Diet
2024-12-23 14:19:00
In response to the declining birthrate, three opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, have jointly submitted a bill to the Diet to make school lunches free of charge at public elementary and junior high schools.
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Figure skating World Championships representative athletes including Kaori Sakamoto hold press conference
2024-12-23 14:03:00
The athletes selected to represent Japan at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships held a press conference, and Kaori Sakamoto, who is aiming for her fourth consecutive victory in the women's singles, said, "Since this is a tournament that determines the Olympic spots, I want to do my best."
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Released former head of anti-whaling group plans to continue activities, renews criticism of Japan's whaling
2024-12-23 13:49:00
The former leader of the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, who was internationally wanted for ordering sabotage of a Japanese research whaling vessel and released this month, attended a rally in France, where he expressed his intention to continue his activities and once again criticized Japan's whaling.
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Employee of after-school day care service operator found guilty in case of death of male student
2024-12-23 13:27:00
Two years ago, a male student who attended an after-school day care center in Osaka that cares for children with disabilities went missing and later died in a river. In a trial in which an employee of the corporation that operated the facility was charged with professional negligence resulting in death, the Osaka District Court sentenced the employee to one year and ten months in prison, suspended for four years, citing a "lack of awareness of the danger" in the response.
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Kyoto woman stabbed with knife, man escapes
2024-12-23 13:07:00
According to police and fire departments, at around 11:40 a.m. today, a woman in her 40s was stabbed with a knife by a man on the street in Kuze-Kamikuze-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto City, and was taken to the hospital with her injuries.
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Stock prices rise Last weekend in the New York market, following the rise in major stock indexes
2024-12-23 12:18:00
The Tokyo stock market opened on the 23rd, the start of the week, with the Nikkei average rising, following the trend of all major stock indexes rising in the New York market at the end of last week.
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Emperor Emeritus celebrates his 91st birthday with celebrations at his residence
2024-12-23 12:17:00
The Emperor Emeritus celebrated his 91st birthday on the 23rd, and a celebration is being held at his residence.
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Kawasaki Heavy Industries: Fictitious transactions, slush funds, billions of yen undeclared income, Osaka National Tax Agency
2024-12-23 12:08:00
In an interview with a person involved in the case of Kawasaki Heavy Industries providing goods to the crew of the Maritime Self-Defense Force submarines with slush funds created through fictitious transactions, the Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau has determined that these were entertainment expenses that cannot be recognized as expenses. Kawasaki Heavy Industries plans to file amended tax returns as it is expected to be found to have failed to declare over 1 billion yen in income over the six years up to 2023, including the concealment of income.
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NHK announces song lineup for participating singers at Kohaku Uta Gassen
2024-12-23 12:02:00
The songs that will be sung by the participating singers at the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, which will be broadcast on New Year's Eve, have been announced.
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Honda-Nissan to merge, new company's head to be Honda-nominated director
2024-12-23 11:29:00
Honda and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. are expected to enter into full-scale discussions toward a business integration by signing a memorandum of understanding on the 23rd, aiming to reach a final agreement by June next year. The two companies are considering establishing a new holding company to integrate the two companies, and the president of the new company will be chosen from among the directors appointed by Honda.
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LDP House of Councillors Special Committee proposes abolishing policy activity expenses and other measures for vote on the 24th
2024-12-23 11:06:00
At a board meeting on the morning of the 23rd, a special committee of the House of Councillors discussing political reform agreed to hold a committee meeting on the morning of the 24th to hold a question-and-answer session.
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President-elect Trump unhappy with Panama Canal fees, demands return
2024-12-23 10:59:00
U.S. President-elect Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with the Panama Canal, a key maritime transport route in Central America that was once built by the United States, saying that tolls through the canal are too high, and has claimed that if he is not treated appropriately, he will ask the Panamanian government to return it.
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Honda and Nissan to reach final agreement on merger by June next year
2024-12-23 09:45:00
Honda and Nissan are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on the 23rd and enter into full-scale discussions toward a business integration. According to sources, the two companies aim to reach a final agreement by June 2025.
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"Multiple drones" affect aircraft takeoffs and landings at Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport in Yamaguchi
2024-12-23 09:11:00
On the night of the 22nd, Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport, which is used by both the US military and civilians in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, received a report that "several drones had entered," temporarily blocking the runway. This resulted in the delay of an All Nippon Airways flight bound for the airport by about three hours.
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Fixed-line phone number portability for changing telecommunications carriers to begin next month
2024-12-23 06:59:00
"Number portability," which allows you to change telecommunications carriers in both directions without changing your phone number, will be available for landline phones from next month.
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Honda and Nissan to sign memorandum of understanding today, enter into merger talks
2024-12-23 06:56:00
Honda and Nissan Motors are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding as early as the 23rd and enter into full-scale discussions toward a business integration. The aim of the business integration is to increase competitiveness and compete against emerging manufacturers in the United States and China, which are ahead in the development of electric vehicles (EVs) and vehicle software.
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Heavy snowfall expected in northern and western Japan along the Japan Sea coast through the 24th - be careful
2024-12-23 06:50:00
Snow is getting heavier, especially in northern Japan, due to the continued influx of strong cold air. Heavy snow is expected to fall from northern to western Japan, mainly on the Sea of Japan side, through the 24th, so caution is advised.
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More than 50 new letters found in National Treasure "Shimazu Family Documents"
2024-12-23 06:40:00
The Shimazu Family Documents, which were handed down through the Shimazu family of the Satsuma domain and are designated as national treasures, were photographed by the Historiographical Institute at the University of Tokyo using an infrared camera to photograph the backing of a "tekagami," a document containing important letters, and the Historiographical Institute discovered more than 50 new letters among the documents.
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Germany: Car crash kills 5; suspect was near the scene multiple times beforehand
2024-12-23 06:23:00
Investigators are investigating the incident in which a car crashed into a Christmas market in eastern Germany, killing five people, and believe the suspect may have been in the area several times beforehand and may have planned the attack.
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Revision of the Political Funds Control Law expected to be implemented tomorrow, the last day of the Diet session
2024-12-23 05:24:00
On the 23rd, the House of Councillors will deliberate on a bill related to political reform, which includes the abolition of policy activity expenses. The bill is expected to be passed on the 24th, at the end of the session, with the support of the opposition parties, and a second revision of the Political Funds Control Law will be realized.
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Emperor Emeritus turns 91 today
2024-12-23 05:13:00
The Emperor Emeritus celebrated his 91st birthday on the 23rd.
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