Main news(2025/01/23)
More than 5,700 commercial TV programs uploaded to YouTube without permission in one month - Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association
2025-01-23 22:25:00
The Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association (JBA) conducted a survey on commercial television programs that have been illegally uploaded to video sharing sites and other such websites, finding that at least 5,700 videos were posted to YouTube without permission in the course of a single month, resulting in an estimated loss of 1.7 billion yen in advertising revenue.
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International Criminal Court requests arrest warrant for Taliban leaders
2025-01-23 22:09:00
The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on the 23rd that it had requested arrest warrants for Taliban leader Akhundzada Akhundzada and others on suspicion of crimes against humanity for restricting women's rights.
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Naha District Public Prosecutors Office Decides Not to Indict U.S. Soldier on Suspicion of Sexual Assault on Woman
2025-01-23 21:09:00
The Naha District Public Prosecutors' Office has decided not to indict a U.S. Marine in his 30s who was referred to prosecutors on suspicion of sexually assaulting and injuring an adult woman in Okinawa Prefecture, due to insufficient evidence.
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Fourth grade elementary school student and father die after falling into the sea while fishing on Hachijojima Island
2025-01-23 21:08:00
On the evening of the 23rd, a father and his elementary school-aged son fell into the sea while fishing on Hachijojima Island in Tokyo and died after being taken to hospital.
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Two characters found on pottery fragment excavated in Kochi: "May be part of Japan's oldest written text"
2025-01-23 21:05:00
A survey by the Kochi Prefectural Archaeological Center has revealed that two characters likely to be Chinese characters were inscribed on a fragment of pottery thought to date from the late Yayoi period to the early Kofun period, excavated from a site in Nangoku City, Kochi Prefecture. According to the center, it is extremely rare to find two or more characters from this period, and they may be part of one of the oldest documents in Japan.
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Optional separate surnames system to be discussed in the Diet
2025-01-23 20:17:00
One of the topics of interest in the regular Diet session starting on the 24th is whether or not to introduce a selective system of separate surnames for married couples. While there are cautious voices within the Liberal Democratic Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan plans to submit the necessary bills with the aim of introducing the system, and the debate is expected to become lively. Those who have been calling for the introduction of the system are expressing their hopes that the debate will deepen in the Diet.
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Israeli military casualties rise as military operations continue in West Bank
2025-01-23 19:44:00
While Israel and the Islamic organization Hamas are entering a ceasefire period in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military continues its military operations in the Palestinian territories in the West Bank, and casualties continue to mount. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu by phone, telling him that "support for Israel is a top priority," and emphasizing that the U.S. will continue to pursue pro-Israel policies.
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Fukushima: Cram school student killed in accident; car repeatedly ignores traffic lights and enters crosswalk
2025-01-23 18:54:00
On the 22nd, a 19-year-old prep school student who was preparing for a university entrance exam in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, was hit and killed by a drunk driver on a crosswalk. Interviews with investigators have revealed that security camera footage indicates that the car is suspected of repeatedly ignoring traffic lights and entering the crosswalk just before the accident.
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Kudo-kai No. 3 sentenced to life imprisonment in second trial for involvement in six attacks on civilians
2025-01-23 18:51:00
The Fukuoka High Court, in its second instance, sentenced the number three member of the Kudo-kai, a designated dangerous crime organization, to life imprisonment, following the first instance sentence, on charges of violating the Organized Crime Punishment Act and other crimes for his involvement in six incidents in which civilians were attacked in Kitakyushu City and other areas.
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30% of Japanese companies respond negatively to Trump administration due to concerns about tariffs
2025-01-23 18:18:00
NHK conducted a survey of 100 major Japanese companies regarding the impact of the new Trump administration, which took office on January 20th. Thirty percent of the companies that responded said that the new administration had a "negative" or "somewhat negative" effect on their business and profits. Some companies have already begun to take action.
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Kanagawa Auto Parts Manufacturer Issues Recommendation from Japan Fair Trade Commission for Violating Subcontract Law
2025-01-23 18:11:00
The Japan Fair Trade Commission has issued a recommendation to an auto parts manufacturer in Kanagawa Prefecture, which is accused of violating the Subcontracting Act by having 30 subcontractors store molds used in manufacturing free of charge, demanding that the manufacturer pay storage costs.
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The average price of a new apartment in the Tokyo metropolitan area last year was 78.2 million yen, lower than the previous year
2025-01-23 17:40:00
The average price of new apartments released in the Tokyo metropolitan area last year was 78.2 million yen, slightly lower than the previous year. Meanwhile, the number of units released was the lowest since the survey began.
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Group home for people with disabilities "Megumi" business succession "Aiming for March"
2025-01-23 17:37:00
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has announced that the takeover of Megumi, a group home for people with disabilities, which was subject to the collective responsibility system for overcharging food fees from users, will be delayed by about a month from the end of this month to March. The ministry says that the delay is due to the delay in securing personnel.
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Davos Conference: Lively discussions including concerns over Trump administration policies
2025-01-23 17:16:00
As U.S. President Trump pushes ahead with policy changes in a wide range of areas, including the economy and climate change measures, lively discussions are taking place at the Davos Forum, which brings together the world's top political and business leaders, including concerns about Trump's policies.
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Electrical union demands wage increase of more than 17,000 yen in spring labor offensive, highest level ever
2025-01-23 17:01:00
The Electrical Union, which is made up of labor unions from major electronics manufacturers and other companies, has decided to seek a monthly wage increase of more than 17,000 yen, the highest level ever, equivalent to a base increase, in this year's spring labor offensive.
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Last year, the number of new NISA accounts opened at major securities firms increased by 1.5 times from the previous year to over 3.4 million
2025-01-23 16:44:00
The number of new NISA accounts opened at major securities firms in the past year was just over 3.4 million, 1.5 times the number from the previous year, suggesting that the expansion of NISA has led to a broadening of the base of individual investors.
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Nationwide supermarket sales for the past year increased 2.7% year-on-year, but the number of items purchased decreased
2025-01-23 16:32:00
Sales at major supermarkets across the country increased by 2.7% over the previous year due to price hikes on processed foods and on retail prices of rice, vegetables, etc. However, successive price hikes have led to consumers becoming more frugal, and the number of items purchased per person continues to decline.
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Zenroren to demand wage increase of 10% or more, or 32,000 yen per month, in spring labor offensive
2025-01-23 16:16:00
In this year's spring offensive, the labor organization Zenroren has decided to demand a wage increase of at least 10%, or at least 32,000 yen per month. This is the highest demand to date, and they are prepared to go on strike to protect the lives of workers from soaring prices.
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Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Liberal Democratic Party corrects income and expenditure report after failing to report some party income
2025-01-23 15:27:00
Following the discovery that part of the income from a political fundraising party held by the Liberal Democratic Party faction in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, the "Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Liberal Democratic Party," was not reported in its political funding income and expenditure report, the faction held a press conference on the 23rd to correct the income and expenditure report and to announce that six of the faction's former secretaries-general would not be officially endorsed in this year's Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election.
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Suzhou, China: Japanese school bus attacker sentenced to death by man in his 50s
2025-01-23 15:17:00
In connection with an incident in which a man with a knife attacked a Japanese school bus in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China in 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that a local court on the 23rd sentenced a man in his 50s to death.
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New wildfire breaks out near LA, evacuation orders and warnings issued to over 50,000 nearby residents
2025-01-23 14:18:00
While efforts to extinguish a wildfire that broke out on the 7th of this month near Los Angeles continue, a new wildfire broke out on the 22nd and spread rapidly, resulting in evacuation orders and warnings being issued to more than 50,000 nearby residents.
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Stock prices rise in the New York market due to the trend of active AI-related investment
2025-01-23 14:15:00
On the 23rd, the Tokyo Stock Exchange saw the Nikkei average temporarily recover to the 40,000 yen range for the first time in about two weeks during trading hours, following the trend of major stock price indexes rising on the 22nd New York Stock Exchange due to the view that AI-related investments will become more active. One factor behind the rise in stock prices is the somewhat weakening yen in the foreign exchange market, and buying orders are spreading for semiconductors and export-related stocks.
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South Korean President Yoon sent to prosecution to decide on charges next month
2025-01-23 14:07:00
The Agency for Investigation of Crimes by High-Ranking Public Officials, which is part of the Joint Investigation Headquarters and has been investigating South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol, who declared a state of emergency, on suspicion of masterminding a civil unrest, announced on the 23rd that it had sent the case to the prosecutor's office.
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Masahiro Nakai announces retirement from showbiz on his fan club website
2025-01-23 13:05:00
Talent Masahiro Nakai, who has been reported to have had trouble with a woman, has announced on his fan club website that he is retiring from show business.
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Linear Chuo Shinkansen tunnel construction resumes in Machida, Tokyo JR Central
2025-01-23 12:59:00
Construction of a tunnel for the Linear Chuo Shinkansen in Machida, Tokyo, which had been suspended due to water gushing out from a residential garden, has been put on hold, with JR Central putting together measures to prevent a recurrence and resuming construction on the 23rd. Construction will continue carefully while taking measures.
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Hyogo Prefectural Police Calls for an End to Slanderous and Speculative Postings on Social Media
2025-01-23 12:53:00
Following the death of a former Hyogo Prefectural Assembly member on the 18th of this month, false information such as "he was scheduled to be arrested" was spread on social media. In response, the Hyogo Prefectural Police Headquarters made an unprecedented appeal through X's official account for an end to slanderous posts based on speculation and conjecture.
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Hiroshima Okunoshima: Company employee arrested for kicking rabbit
2025-01-23 12:51:00
A company employee from Otsu City was arrested for kicking a rabbit on Okunoshima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, known as the "Rabbit Island" because of the large number of wild rabbits that inhabit it. Since last November, a series of rabbits have been found dead on the island with broken bones, and the police are investigating whether there is a connection to the incident, as the company employee stated that he had "done the same thing many times."
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Tokyo Nerima: President and two others arrested for assaulting employee; employee dies after being taken to hospital
2025-01-23 12:31:00
In January, a 50-year-old man was assaulted and kicked in the grounds of a shrine in Nerima Ward, Tokyo, and two others were arrested on suspicion of assault. The man later died, and the Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating the exact cause of death and the circumstances of the incident.
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Guidelines for the operation of "masquerade investigation" for applying for illegal part-time jobs are formulated
2025-01-23 12:14:00
Amid a rise in crimes committed through illegal part-time jobs, the National Police Agency has drawn up guidelines for the operation of "fictitious identity investigations," in which investigators use fictitious people's driver's licenses or other identification to apply for illegal part-time jobs and contact criminal groups, and has instructed police forces across the country to limit their implementation to investigations of robberies, frauds, and other crimes.
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Fukushima: Student killed in car hit by drunk driver; checkpoint near scene
2025-01-23 12:13:00
Following an accident on the 22nd in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, in which a 19-year-old prep school student who was there to take a university entrance exam was hit and killed by a drunk driver on a crosswalk, police conducted emergency checkpoints near the scene on the morning of the 23rd, at the time of the incident.
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NTT Docomo asks Fuji TV parent company to investigate and find cause
2025-01-23 12:01:00
Regarding the issue reported in a weekly magazine that Fuji Television employees were involved in a dispute between entertainer Nakai Masahiro and a woman, it has been learned that on the 22nd, NTT Docomo, a major shareholder of Fuji Television's parent company, Fuji Media Holdings, has asked the company to investigate the issue and determine the cause.
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Fuji Media Holdings' extraordinary board meeting considers setting up a third-party committee
2025-01-23 11:58:00
In response to a weekly magazine report alleging that Fuji TV employees were involved in trouble between entertainer Nakai Masahiro and a woman, Fuji TV's parent company, Fuji Media Holdings, will hold an emergency board meeting on the afternoon of the 23rd to discuss the establishment of an independent third-party committee, as requested by major shareholders, to examine whether there have been any problems with the company's response so far. It has been learned that NTT Docomo, a major shareholder of Fuji TV's parent company, asked the company to investigate the issue and determine its cause on the 22nd. We are reporting the latest information in our breaking news.
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Vehicle fire in tunnel on Higashi-Hiroshima bypass in Hiroshima leaves 20 people ill
2025-01-23 11:54:00
According to the police and fire department, just before 10 a.m. on the 23rd, the fire department was notified of a "fire" in the Oyama Tunnel on the National Route 2 Higashi-Hiroshima Bypass, which is located on the border between Hiroshima City and Higashi-Hiroshima City in Hiroshima Prefecture. A car caught fire in the tunnel, and the fire was put out about an hour later, but according to the police, about 20 people have complained of feeling unwell, having inhaled smoke. All of them are conscious. The police are currently investigating the details of the incident.
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Trump administration to send 1,500 more troops to Mexican border to strengthen border control
2025-01-23 11:41:00
The US Department of Defense announced that it would send 1,500 additional troops to the border with Mexico as a measure against illegal immigration, and provide military aircraft to support deportations. The Trump administration has made strengthening border control a top priority, and has begun taking concrete action since taking office.
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Musk questions feasibility of massive AI investment plan: "Funding is not sufficient"
2025-01-23 10:47:00
In response to U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that SoftBank and two other companies would make huge investments in AI, entrepreneur Elon Musk questioned the feasibility of the plan, saying it lacked sufficient financial resources.
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Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line operations resume
2025-01-23 10:12:00
Tokyo Metro's Marunouchi Line suspended all services from just after 9:10 a.m. to check safety, but resumed operations at around 9:30 a.m.
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Last year's trade balance was in the red for the fourth consecutive year at 5.3326 trillion yen, but in December it was in the black for the first time in six months
2025-01-23 09:19:00
According to the trade statistics for last year (2024) released by the Ministry of Finance, the trade balance, which is exports minus imports, was a deficit of 5.3326 trillion yen. This is the fourth consecutive year that the trade balance has been in the red. The deficit has shrunk from just over 9 trillion yen in 2023, the year before. Also announced was the trade balance for last December, which was a surplus of 130.9 billion yen. This is the first time in six months that the trade balance has been in the black.
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[Live] Roki Sasaki joins the Dodgers at press conference - uniform number will be "11"
2025-01-23 08:17:00
"In what words will he explain his decision?" The Dodgers announced on the 22nd that they had signed a minor league contract with pitcher Roki Sasaki. A press conference was held at 8:00 a.m. Japan time, and at the beginning of the conference, Sasaki put on the uniform that had been prepared for him. His uniform number is "11". The press conference is being broadcast live. We will provide you with the latest information as it comes to you.
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[Earthquake] Earthquake magnitude 4 in Hiedaga village, Fukushima, no risk of tsunami
2025-01-23 08:16:00
An earthquake occurred at around 8:09am on the 23rd. There is no need to worry about a tsunami caused by this earthquake. The epicenter was in Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture, and the depth of the epicenter was very shallow, and the magnitude of the earthquake was estimated to be 4.6.
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President Trump retracts diversity policy, department staff placed on leave
2025-01-23 07:12:00
Following President Trump's decision to revoke the previous administration's policy requiring government agencies to prioritize diversity in their hiring, it has been revealed that the departments in each ministry and agency responsible for this policy will be closed and their employees will be placed on administrative leave immediately.
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President Trump pardons supporters indicted for storming the Capitol, released one after another
2025-01-23 06:57:00
Following U.S. President Trump's pardon of those charged in connection with the Capitol riots four years ago, supporters and others have been released one after another from detention centers in Washington, D.C.
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President Trump strongly opposes bishop who preached "compassion," demands apology
2025-01-23 06:22:00
When President Trump of the United States visited the cathedral to mark his inauguration, he was admonished by the bishop to "have compassion" for the fear of sexual minorities and immigrants. In response, he strongly protested on his own social media and demanded an apology to the people.
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[Earthquake] Fukushima, Hiedaga village hit by magnitude 5 earthquake; watch out for avalanches for the next week or so
2025-01-23 06:06:00
In the early hours of the 23rd, an earthquake measuring a lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale was observed in Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture. Seismic activity has been increasing since the 21st in the area around the epicenter of this earthquake, and the Japan Meteorological Agency has called for caution against falling rocks, landslides, and avalanches, as there is a risk of similar tremors occurring in the area over the next week or so in areas that experienced strong tremors.
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Ukrainian soldier captured by North Korean soldier reveals situation
2025-01-23 05:52:00
In an interview with NHK, a Ukrainian soldier who captured a North Korean soldier in Kursk Oblast in western Russia, where the Ukrainian military is continuing its cross-border attacks, revealed the situation at the time, saying that during the transfer, the North Korean soldier tried to end his own life by hitting his head against a pillar.
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The Bank of Japan is expected to consider raising its policy interest rate to around 0.5%
2025-01-23 05:33:00
The Bank of Japan will hold a monetary policy meeting from the 23rd. In preparation for further interest rate hikes, the BOJ has been closely monitoring the policies that US President Trump will put forward immediately after his inauguration and movements in the financial markets, but many believe that there will be no significant impact on the current economic and price outlook, and it is expected that the environment for an interest rate hike has been established and that the BOJ will consider raising the policy interest rate to around 0.5%.
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Trump: "If we don't deal with Russia, we'll face high tariffs" over Ukraine invasion
2025-01-23 04:54:00
Regarding Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he will increase pressure on Russia by imposing high tariffs on everything Russia sells to the United States and other countries if Russia does not reach a deal to end the fighting.
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