Main news(2025/02/02)
Honda to make major overhauls at US plants to flexibly produce everything from EVs to gasoline-powered vehicles
2025-02-02 20:00:00
Honda, a major automobile manufacturer, is currently undergoing major renovations at its Midwestern factory to enable the production of EVs (electric vehicles) and gasoline-powered vehicles to be handled on a single line, and recently opened the facility to the press. With the Trump administration expected to reverse policies that have supported the spread of EVs, the company plans to flexibly produce according to demand.
TOP
The coldest weather this season will hit northern and western Japan from the 4th, with snow warnings expected to hit the Sea of Japan coast.
2025-02-02 19:00:00
The winter pressure pattern is strengthening, and the strongest cold front of the season will flow in from the 4th, causing snow and wind to intensify mainly on the Sea of Japan side of northern and western Japan, and there is a risk of heavy snow and severe storms that warrant warnings. Please pay attention to the latest weather information, check your fuel and other supplies, and review your plans to take any precautions you can.
TOP
Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon: Aoyama Gakuin's Wakabayashi takes second place, best debut marathon record in Japan
2025-02-02 18:12:00
The Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon took place, and Hiroki Wakabayashi, a fourth-year student at Aoyama Gakuin University, who set a new section record in the mountain climbing section of this year's Hakone Ekiden, came in second place, the top among Japanese runners, with a time of 2 hours, 6 minutes and 7 seconds, breaking the Japanese record for a debut marathon.
TOP
[Live Schedule] Japan's version of GPS satellite "Michibiki" to be launched in Kagoshima
2025-02-02 17:10:00
"Michibiki," Japan's version of the GPS satellite that will improve the accuracy of location information for smartphones and other devices, is scheduled to be launched on the H3 rocket No. 5 from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on the afternoon of the 2nd.
TOP
Nagasaki national highway flooded; Meteorological observatory warns of "Abiki" phenomenon
2025-02-02 16:57:00
On the morning of the 2nd, part of a national highway in Takaramachi, Nagasaki City was flooded, and the Meteorological Agency is urging caution, as this is believed to be the result of a phenomenon known as "abiki," in which tide levels fluctuate greatly in a short period of time.
TOP
"Ukraine should hold presidential elections after ceasefire with Russia"
2025-02-02 15:02:00
Reuters reported that Kellogg, who serves as the Trump administration's special envoy for ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine, said he believes Ukraine should hold presidential elections after a ceasefire with Russia.
TOP
Shohei Ohtani is excited for the start of the season, "nervous and excited" about his wife's pregnancy
2025-02-02 15:00:00
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers attended the team's fan appreciation event and spoke about his enthusiasm for the start of the season.
TOP
Bear in city put to sleep with tranquilizer gun, captured, no injuries, Shinjo, Yamagata
2025-02-02 13:53:00
A bear that was spotted in the city of Shinjo, Yamagata Prefecture, has been captured. According to the police, no one was injured.
TOP
Fukushima Airport passenger plane wing hits boarding bridge, no injuries
2025-02-02 12:50:00
On the morning of the 2nd, an ANA passenger plane that had just landed at Fukushima Airport in Fukushima Prefecture had a wing come into contact with the boarding bridge connecting the aircraft to the terminal building. No crew or passengers were injured.
TOP
LDP to resume discussion on optional separate surnames for married couples, focus on consolidating opinions
2025-02-02 12:05:00
The Liberal Democratic Party is set to resume internal discussions this month regarding optional separate surnames for married couples, and with both positive and cautious opinions on the introduction of the system still present, the focus will be on how to reach a consensus.
TOP
Sunday Debate: Budget Committee members exchange opinions on new fiscal year budget proposal deliberations
2025-02-02 11:47:00
Members of the ruling and opposition parties in the House of Representatives Budget Committee exchanged opinions on the NHK program "Sunday Debate" regarding the deliberation of the new fiscal year budget bill. The Liberal Democratic Party emphasized that it will discuss with the opposition parties and make any necessary amendments, aiming to pass the budget bill within the fiscal year, while the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan indicated that it would like to work with other opposition parties to make amendments of at least several hundred billion yen.
TOP
More than 40% of people who have evacuated to public housing outside Ishikawa Prefecture say they will not return
2025-02-02 11:09:00
Ishikawa Prefecture conducted a survey about future residence among people who were affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake and evacuated outside the prefecture and are now living in public housing across the prefecture. The survey found that over 40% of respondents indicated they did not intend to return to Ishikawa Prefecture.
TOP
Shogi "Kio-sen" begins: 8-dan Masuda challenges 7-crown Fujii in his first title match
2025-02-02 11:06:00
The five-game match for the "Kio-sen," one of the eight major titles in shogi, kicked off in Kochi City on the 2nd. Sota Fujii (22), who holds seven titles and is aiming for his third consecutive victory, will be challenged by Yasuhiro Masuda (27), an eighth-dan player, who will be challenging for the title for the first time.
TOP
"Pre-disaster prevention" is one of the main points of discussion at the expert meeting for the establishment of the Disaster Prevention Agency
2025-02-02 10:58:00
One of the points of discussion at the government's expert meeting to set up a Disaster Prevention Agency is "pre-disaster prevention," which involves taking measures to minimize damage before a disaster occurs. In addition to strengthening systems such as earthquake resistance, the focus will likely also be on how to raise public awareness of disaster prevention.
TOP
Snowboarding World Cup: Hirano Ruka and other Japanese athletes dominate the podium in the halfpipe
2025-02-02 08:07:00
The fourth round of the Snowboarding World Cup Halfpipe event was held in the United States, and in the men's final, 22-year-old Hirano Ruka won his first victory of the season, with Japanese athletes dominating the podium.
TOP
President Trump signs tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China US media
2025-02-02 08:04:00
On the 1st, Western media unanimously reported that US President Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on imports from China.
TOP
Shohei Ohtani reveals he will evacuate temporarily from Los Angeles due to wildfires, but will return home in about two weeks
2025-02-02 07:03:00
Shohei Ohtani, a Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, revealed that he had been evacuated from his home for about two weeks due to the wildfires that broke out near Los Angeles in the western United States. He has now returned home, and said, "I pray that everyone can return to their normal lives as soon as possible."
TOP
10 killed in series of Russian missile and drone attacks in Ukraine
2025-02-02 06:44:00
Nobuyuki Watanabe, Moscow. On the 1st, as Russia continues its military invasion of Ukraine, a series of Russian missile and drone attacks were carried out in the central city of Poltava and other areas, killing a total of 10 people.
TOP
President Trump announces airstrike on ISIS base in Somalia, killing members
2025-02-02 06:37:00
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces had carried out an airstrike on a mountain base in Somalia where members of the extremist group Islamic State (IS) were hiding out, killing the members.
TOP
Snowfall is expected in the Kanto-Koshin region, mainly in the morning.
2025-02-02 06:30:00
Due to the influence of a "southern coast low" passing along the southern coast of Honshu, snow is falling in some mountainous areas of the Kanto-Koshin region. Snow and rain are expected to fall mainly in the morning, with snow accumulating in some areas even on flat land, so please be careful of the impact of snow accumulation and frozen roads on traffic.
TOP
Wildfires near LA under control, entry restrictions to be lifted from the 2nd, recovery to begin in earnest
2025-02-02 06:16:00
A series of wildfires in the suburbs of Los Angeles in the western United States have been contained more than three weeks after they began. The mayor of Los Angeles has announced plans to lift restrictions on entry to the affected areas from the 2nd, and recovery efforts are expected to begin in earnest in the future.
TOP
Hamas releases three prisoners; Israel releases 180 more; focus on implementation of ceasefire agreement
2025-02-02 05:42:00
Following the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Islamic organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Hamas released three more men on the 1st. In response, Israel has released over 180 Palestinians, and attention is being paid to whether the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the two sides will proceed smoothly in the future.
TOP
Saitama Yashio Road collapses, debris removal temporarily suspended, search to begin soon
2025-02-02 05:11:00
In a large-scale road collapse accident that occurred in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, where one man is still missing, construction work to build a slope to allow heavy machinery to enter the hole has been completed and removal of rubble has begun, but since the evening of the 1st, a certain amount of water has been confirmed in the hole, and work under the slope has been temporarily halted to ensure safety. It is expected that it will be some time before a full-scale search can begin.
TOP