Main news(2025/02/04)
Number of Japanese living in China falls below 100,000 for the first time in 20 years Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2025-02-04 21:41:00
Statistics from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs show that the number of Japanese people living in China has fallen below 100,000 for the first time in 20 years. This is thought to be due to a worsening business environment in China due to the slowdown in the economy, as well as a growing trend among Japanese expatriates to forgo bringing their families with them due to safety concerns.
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Kobe District Public Prosecutor's Office decides not to indict hospital director and others who were referred to prosecutors over doctor's suicide
2025-02-04 20:50:00
Three years ago, following the suicide of a 26-year-old doctor who worked at a hospital in Kobe, the Kobe District Public Prosecutors' Office has decided not to indict the hospital's operating corporation, the hospital's director, and his former superior, who had been referred to prosecutors for allegedly forcing the doctor to work illegal overtime hours.
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Prime Minister Netanyahu to meet with President Trump on the 4th; attention focused on his remarks
2025-02-04 20:44:00
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with US President Trump on the 4th, and attention is focused on what the two leaders will say regarding achieving a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in Palestine.
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40-year-old gang leader arrested in illegal salmon poaching case
2025-02-04 20:39:00
In a case in which Vietnamese people who were recruited through "illegal part-time jobs" were arrested and indicted for poaching salmon in a river in Hokkaido in 2024, police arrested a 40-year-old gang leader who is believed to have been the mastermind behind the operation.
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JR East establishes new training program for foreign talent recruitment, accepting employees from other companies
2025-02-04 19:32:00
As the railway industry faces a labor shortage issue, JR East has decided to establish a new training system to recruit foreign personnel. The company plans to accept foreign personnel not only from its own company but also from other railway companies, as an industry-wide initiative.
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Prime Minister Ishiba to visit the US from the 6th for first summit meeting with President Trump
2025-02-04 19:18:00
The government announced that Prime Minister Shinzo Ishiba will visit the United States from the 6th and hold his first summit meeting with President Trump.
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Sapporo Susukino man murder case: father "had no idea" it was his daughter's crime
2025-02-04 19:13:00
In a trial in which a man was found dead in a hotel in Susukino, a downtown area in Sapporo, and three parents and children were indicted, the father, who is accused of helping his daughter kill her, was questioned. When asked if he thought his daughter would kill the victim, the father said, "I didn't think that at all."
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Six small and medium-sized business associations hold conference to promote price transfer to secure funds for wage increases
2025-02-04 19:12:00
Six organizations representing small and medium-sized enterprises in Tokyo held their first conference to call for the promotion of price pass-on in order to secure funds for wage increases, and agreed to actively engage in price negotiations.
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Smartphone found in elementary school desk for voyeurism; teacher dies afterward Chiba Ichikawa
2025-02-04 19:00:00
In January, it was discovered that a smartphone placed in a desk in a classroom at an elementary school in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture, had been used to take pictures of several students. The smartphone belonged to a male teacher in his 30s, who was later found dead.
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Aichi Prefecture: Over 500 people, including kindergarteners, affected by food poisoning; bento box manufacturer banned from business
2025-02-04 17:55:00
More than 500 people, including kindergarten children, who ate bento lunches made by a bento manufacturing company in Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture, complained of symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting, and norovirus was detected in some of them. The city determined that it was food poisoning and suspended the business of the facility operated by the company.
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Two former Japan Airlines captains suspended after drinking and lying
2025-02-04 17:45:00
In December 2024, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism suspended two former Japan Airlines pilots from aviation operations for 210 and 180 days after they were found to have alcohol in pre-flight tests.
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Former Hanshin manager Yoshio Yoshida dies at age 91
2025-02-04 17:35:00
Yoshio Yoshida, the famous shortstop and manager of the Hanshin Tigers who led the team to its first ever Japan Series title in 1985, has passed away after suffering a cerebral infarction. He was 91 years old.
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China announces investigation into Google for alleged antitrust violations
2025-02-04 17:08:00
On the 4th, China's State Administration for Market Regulation announced that it would investigate the American IT giant Google for alleged antitrust violations. Although it did not disclose the specific reasons for the investigation, some have speculated that it may be part of a retaliatory measure against the Trump administration's additional tariffs on China.
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Sagamihara parents murder case: eldest son, 15 at the time, first hearing, denies some charges
2025-02-04 15:57:00
In February 2024, the first trial of the eldest son, who was 15 years old at the time and charged with murder and other crimes for killing his parents, both in their 50s, at their home apartment in Sagamihara City, was held at the Yokohama District Court.The eldest son admitted to killing his father, but denied some of the charges against his mother, saying, "I killed her because she told me to kill her."
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Prime Minister Ishiba is amazed by the talking "Myakumyaku" doll
2025-02-04 15:54:00
A doll of "Myakumyaku," the official mascot of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, installed at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, is equipped with the ability to speak when people approach, surprising Prime Minister Ishiba.
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The LDP and Komeito plan to respond sincerely to the new fiscal year budget proposal, including amendments
2025-02-04 15:53:00
The secretaries-general of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito met to discuss the new fiscal year budget proposal and confirmed their intention to hold discussions with the three opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, in order to pass the budget within the fiscal year, and to respond in good faith, including making amendments if necessary.
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Honda proposes acquiring Nissan shares and making it a subsidiary, but strong opposition is voiced
2025-02-04 15:47:00
It has been revealed that Honda has proposed acquiring Nissan shares and making it a subsidiary in the ongoing discussions regarding a business integration between Honda and Nissan Motors. Honda is believed to be aiming to take the lead in management, but there has been strong opposition from Nissan, and it is expected that the plan will be difficult to realize.
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Government warns of successive DDoS attacks, urging companies to take appropriate measures
2025-02-04 14:38:00
In response to a series of "DDoS" cyber attacks, in which large volumes of data were sent to domestic airlines, financial institutions and other organisations over the New Year period, the government has issued a warning to companies to take appropriate measures.
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Japan Curling Championships Women's Loco Solare wins first victory of the tournament
2025-02-04 14:05:00
The Japan Curling Championships, which also serves as a selection event for next year's Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympics, held the women's preliminary league on the third day of the tournament on the 4th. Loco Solare, who are aiming to compete in their third consecutive Olympics, defeated Sapporo International University 10-3, marking their first victory of the tournament.
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LDP Secretary-General Moriyama plans not to send lawmakers to nuclear ban treaty conference
2025-02-04 13:49:00
Regarding the Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to be held in March this year, LDP Secretary-General Moriyama stated that the party's basic policy is to work toward nuclear disarmament while acknowledging the nuclear possession of countries such as the United States and China, and that it would be difficult to officially attend the conference, so he is not considering sending any party members to the meeting.
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Explosion at park in Kita Ward, Tokyo: High school student referred to prosecutors
2025-02-04 12:57:00
A 15-year-old high school student was referred to prosecutors for placing a cylinder filled with rocket fireworks and other explosives in a park in Kita Ward, Tokyo, last October, and detonating them, thereby disrupting the ward's work to manage the park. When questioned by the Metropolitan Police Department, he admitted to the charges, saying, "I made them based on information I found on the Internet."
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Fuji TV parent company committee to compile recommendations today
2025-02-04 12:14:00
The committee, composed of outside directors of Fuji Media Holdings, the parent company of Fuji Television, plans to compile recommendations on the 4th for reviewing the management structure and ensuring transparency in personnel matters, and will ask the company to hold an extraordinary board meeting next week to discuss the recommendations.
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Prime Minister Ishiba: "Appropriate response to rising gasoline prices" at House of Representatives Budget Committee
2025-02-04 12:14:00
The House of Representatives Budget Committee was deliberating on the new fiscal year budget proposal, and Prime Minister Ishiba was repeatedly asked to quickly abolish the provisional gasoline tax rate. He said he could not specify when the tax would be abolished, but explained that the government would respond appropriately to the rising gasoline prices.
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GSDF searches for shell fired during training, may have fallen outside training ground, Shiga
2025-02-04 12:01:00
It has been learned from multiple people involved that the landing location of one of the shells fired during training on the 3rd at the Ground Self-Defense Force training ground in Shiga Prefecture has not been confirmed. The Ground Self-Defense Force believes that it may have flown outside the training ground, and has explained this to the relevant local government while conducting a search for the shell.
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First hearing in case of attack on former Prime Minister Kishida: Defendant denies some charges, says he had no intent to kill
2025-02-04 11:13:00
The first hearing of a 25-year-old defendant accused of attempted murder and other crimes for allegedly throwing an explosive device near former Prime Minister Kishida, who was visiting Wakayama City to support an election campaign two years ago, was held at the Wakayama District Court. The defendant admitted to manufacturing gunpowder, but denied some of the charges, stating that he had no intention of killing.
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Exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products and food products last year reached a record high of over 1.5 trillion yen
2025-02-04 10:21:00
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries officially announced that the total value of agricultural, forestry and fishery products and food exports from Japan to overseas countries last year reached a new record high, exceeding 1.5 trillion yen for the first time. The ministry attributes this to the growing popularity of Japanese food around the world.
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President Trump to set up government-backed fund in possible TikTok acquisition
2025-02-04 10:15:00
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to create a new sovereign wealth fund, and has mentioned the possibility that the fund could be involved in acquiring the U.S. business of Chinese video-sharing app TikTok.
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Dodgers Shohei Ohtani does his own training at the camp before the start of camp
2025-02-04 10:12:00
Shohei Ohtani of the Major League Baseball Dodgers appeared at the team's training camp in Arizona on the 3rd before the start of training camp and played catch, demonstrating that he is recovering well from the surgery he underwent during the off-season on his left shoulder.
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Cabinet approves tax reform bill to increase income tax deduction to 1.23 million yen
2025-02-04 09:58:00
At a cabinet meeting on the morning of the 4th, the government decided on a bill to reform the tax system, which includes revising the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier" and raising the income tax deduction by 200,000 yen to 1.23 million yen.
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Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau announces US tariffs will be suspended for 30 days
2025-02-04 06:55:00
On the 3rd, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau announced on social media that the 25% tariffs that US President Trump had planned to impose on Canada from the 4th would be suspended for at least 30 days. President Trump had also agreed with Mexican President Sheinbaum to suspend the tariffs for one month.
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US investment fund Dalton demands Fuji TV parent company's Hieda resignation
2025-02-04 06:51:00
An American investment fund has revealed that it has sent a letter to Fuji Television's parent company, accusing it of flaws in corporate governance and demanding the resignation of its director and advisor, Hisashi Hieda.
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Record snowfall in Hokkaido, risk of sudden snowfall on the Japan Sea coast of Honshu
2025-02-04 06:42:00
Due to the influence of a rapidly developing low pressure system, the Pacific side of Hokkaido has seen record snowfall, with over 80 centimeters falling in just six hours. The strongest cold front of the season is expected to flow in soon, and there is a risk of a sudden increase in snowfall on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu. The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for caution against traffic disruptions caused by the heavy snow, as well as blizzards and high waves.
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Elon Musk: "President Trump agrees to shut down USAID"
2025-02-04 05:21:00
Elon Musk, the businessman who heads an organization in the Trump administration that is considering ways to cut government spending, has revealed that President Trump has agreed to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the State Department agency that oversees foreign aid.
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Saitama Yashio road collapse accident one week ago, full-scale search for man underway
2025-02-04 05:04:00
Four days have passed since a large-scale road collapse occurred in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, leaving a man missing. The prefecture is currently building a second slope, and has asked residents of the 12 cities and towns involved to refrain from using water except in unavoidable circumstances during certain hours on the 4th, in order to check the changes in the water level in the hole. By taking more drastic measures, they are rushing to ensure that a full-scale search can be carried out.
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India promotes the spread of electric bikes to combat air pollution; Japan also launches new products
2025-02-04 04:53:00
In India, the world's largest motorcycle market, the government is promoting the spread of electric motorcycles as a measure to combat air pollution, and Japanese manufacturers are also increasingly introducing new products.
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Former Prime Minister Kishida attack case: First hearing today - main issue is whether there was intent to kill
2025-02-04 04:51:00
The first hearing of a 25-year-old defendant accused of attempted murder and other crimes for allegedly throwing an explosive device near former Prime Minister Kishida, who was visiting Wakayama City to support his election campaign two years ago, will be held at the Wakayama District Court on the 4th. According to those involved, the main issue at stake in the trial is whether or not there was intent to kill, and attention is focused on whether the motive of the defendant, who has continued to remain silent, will be revealed.
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President Trump agrees to suspend 25% tariffs on Mexico for one month
2025-02-04 04:37:00
On the 3rd, US President Trump spoke by phone with Mexican President Sheinbaum and announced that they had agreed to suspend for one month the 25% tariffs that the US was planning to impose on Mexico from the 4th.
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