Main news(2025/02/28)
Former LDP Prime Minister Kishida: "Promoting wage increases is the main focus" regarding summer House of Councillors elections
2025-02-28 22:12:00
Regarding the House of Councillors election this summer, former Prime Minister Kishida of the Liberal Democratic Party pointed out that the natural way to increase people's take-home pay is to promote further wage increases, and expressed the view that it is necessary to clearly advocate economic policies to achieve this and gain the support of voters.
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Greek protesters clash with police in Athens over train disaster two years ago
2025-02-28 20:52:00
On the 28th, protests were called across Greece over the train accident that occurred two years ago, and in the capital Athens, violent clashes occurred between police and demonstrators.
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House of Representatives Budget Committee intensively discusses high-cost medical care system
2025-02-28 19:33:00
During intensive deliberations in the House of Representatives Budget Committee, Constitutional Democratic Party leader Noda called for a one-year postponement of the increase in the upper limit of the cost-sharing cap under the "High-Cost Medical Care Expenses System." In response, Prime Minister Ishiba indicated that the increase in August of this year would go ahead as scheduled, but that the matter of what happens after August of next year would be reconsidered.
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March Vegetable price forecast: Cabbage and Chinese cabbage prices to remain higher than average
2025-02-28 19:10:00
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced its vegetable price outlook for March, stating that prices of cabbage and Chinese cabbage are expected to remain higher than average.
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Japanese man reportedly found in eastern Myanmar 'doesn't want to go home'
2025-02-28 18:51:00
It has been newly learned from interviews with related parties that a Japanese national who was found on the night of the 26th at a base for special fraud in eastern Myanmar said, "I don't want to go back to Japan." The armed group that controls this region believes that several Japanese nationals have escaped from the base and will continue to search for them.
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Osaka-Kansai Expo's "Big Roof Ring" completed, a symbol of the city with a circumference of about 2 kilometers
2025-02-28 18:04:00
The "Big Roof Ring," which will be the symbol of the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025, which opens in April this year, has been completed and unveiled to the press, with a circumference of approximately two kilometers.
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Rice inventory at JA Group and other businesses down 16% year-on-year at end of January
2025-02-28 17:55:00
As rice prices continue to rise, rice inventories at collectors and wholesalers such as the JA Group were down 16% as of the end of January compared to the same month last year.
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Saitama Yashio road collapses one month ago, calls for compensation grow as impact continues
2025-02-28 17:38:00
On the 28th, it will be one month since a large road collapse in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, leaving one man missing. The construction of a sewer pipe diversion, which is being carried out in preparation for the search, is expected to be completed in mid-May, and surrounding businesses and others are calling for compensation for the prolonged impact.
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Last year's domestic overnight stays reached a record high of 650.28 million, according to the Japan Tourism Agency
2025-02-28 16:59:00
According to the Japan Tourism Agency, a preliminary estimate shows that a total of 650.28 million people stayed at hotels and inns across Japan last year, up 5.3% from the previous year and the highest number ever.
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Fuji-Q Highland coaster inspection employee trapped and unconscious
2025-02-28 16:50:00
An employee in his 20s who was inspecting a roller coaster at Fuji-Q Highland, an amusement park in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture, was crushed between a stationary car and the rails and taken to the hospital. The employee was unconscious when he was taken to hospital, and the police are currently investigating the exact cause of the accident.
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Food prices to increase in March: over 2,000 items for the first time in five months; prices continue to rise
2025-02-28 15:57:00
A private research company has found that the number of food items whose prices will increase in March will exceed 2,000 for the first time in five months. The number of food items whose prices will increase this year has already exceeded 10,000, and prices are continuing to rise at a faster pace than last year.
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Forest fire in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture: Causes of firefighting difficulties include "ria coastline"
2025-02-28 15:53:00
In Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, where a forest fire continues, firefighters from all over the country are working hard to extinguish the fire, but the fire continues to spread. The Sendai City Fire Department, which is in charge of coordinating the firefighting efforts, cites "changeable weather conditions" and "complex terrain" as factors that make the firefighting efforts difficult.
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Sendai High Court rules last October's House of Representatives election constitutional over disparity in the value of one vote
2025-02-28 15:37:00
The Sendai High Court ruled that the disparity in the value of one vote in last October's House of Representatives election, which was as large as 2.06 times, did not violate the Constitution, and dismissed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the election.
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Junior high school teacher sentenced to 19 years in prison for murder of man in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo, Tokyo District Court
2025-02-28 15:32:00
In a case in which a junior high school teacher was charged with murder and other crimes for breaking into a home in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo, and killing a man with a knife, the Tokyo District Court rejected the teacher's claim of innocence and sentenced him to 19 years in prison.
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Caution: Unfounded information spreads on social media regarding forest fire in Ofunato, Iwate
2025-02-28 15:21:00
Regarding the forest fire that broke out in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, unfounded information has been spreading on social media, including claims that it was artificially started by a laser weapon. Unfounded and false information often spreads during disasters when anxiety spreads, so caution is required.
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The LDP, Komeito and CDP submit their respective amendments to the new fiscal year budget proposal to the Diet
2025-02-28 14:49:00
Regarding the new fiscal year budget, both the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party submitted revised bills to the Diet that reflected the contents of their agreement with the Japan Restoration Party. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan also submitted its own revised bill of 3.8 trillion yen, and both parties are expected to explain their purpose at the House of Representatives Budget Committee on the evening of the 28th. The ruling and opposition parties will also be discussing revised bills that they each submitted on March 3rd, the start of the week.
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Prime Minister Ishiba: "High-cost medical care fee system will be raised as scheduled, but will be reconsidered"
2025-02-28 14:18:00
Regarding the increase in the upper limit of the "high-cost medical care system," which the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan is calling for a complete freeze, Prime Minister Ishiba stated at the House of Representatives Budget Committee that the increase will go ahead as scheduled from August this year, but that he will reconsider the shape of the system after August next year after hearing the opinions of patient groups and others, with a decision to be made by autumn this year.
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Forest fire continues to spread in Ofunato, Iwate, severely damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake
2025-02-28 14:01:00
Support is also being provided to people evacuating from Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, where a forest fire that broke out on the 26th continues to spread. More than 500 people died or went missing in Ofunato City in the Great East Japan Earthquake, and many homes were completely destroyed by the tsunami that swept through the city.
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Two men died near the coast of Itoshima, Fukuoka, possibly while harvesting wakame seaweed in a rubber boat
2025-02-28 13:30:00
On the morning of the 28th, two men in their 70s were found dead near the coast of Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture. A sinking rubber boat was found nearby, and the Japan Coast Guard believes that they may have drowned while harvesting wakame seaweed, and is currently investigating the details of the incident.
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Yamanashi Otsuki forest fire continues to spread Helicopter firefighting efforts from the sky
2025-02-28 12:33:00
The forest fire that broke out on the 26th in Otsuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, is still spreading, and firefighting operations have been carried out from the air by helicopter since the morning of the 28th.
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LDP and Komeito approve amendments to budget and tax bills to be submitted to Diet
2025-02-28 12:07:00
Regarding the new fiscal year budget, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito have put together amendments to the budget and tax-related bills to reflect the specific measures for free education agreed upon with the Japan Restoration Party, and have taken the steps to obtain approval within their respective parties. The amendments are expected to be submitted to the Diet in the afternoon of the 28th.
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Three people killed in house fires in Ibaraki and Chiba as dry air continues in the Kanto region
2025-02-28 12:05:00
Between the evening of the 27th and the early hours of the 28th, a series of fires broke out in houses in Ibaraki and Chiba prefectures, killing a total of three people.
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USAID laid-off employees pack up after building cuts announced
2025-02-28 12:03:00
The Trump administration has decided to drastically cut staff at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which oversees overseas aid. On the 27th, employees who were told they would be fired packed their belongings and left the headquarters building in Washington, D.C., one after another.
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The government decides to spend 100 billion yen from reserve funds to support the Noto Peninsula
2025-02-28 11:17:00
The government decided at a cabinet meeting on the 28th to spend an additional 100 billion yen from the reserve fund of the fiscal 2024 budget to support the recovery and reconstruction of the Noto Peninsula. Of this, 50 billion yen will be allocated as a grant, which will be able to be used flexibly based on local requests.
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US President Trump to accept second state invitation from UK
2025-02-28 11:04:00
US President Trump has indicated that he will accept a state invitation from King Charles of the UK. President Trump visited the UK as a state guest during his first term, making it unusual for a foreign leader to be invited as a state guest twice.
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Dodgers Shohei Ohtani to play as leadoff batter in first exhibition game
2025-02-28 10:04:00
Shohei Ohtani of the Major League Baseball Dodgers took batting practice indoors in preparation for his first appearance as a batter in an exhibition game scheduled for March 1st, Japan time, in preparation for his first real game of the season. Ohtani is scheduled to start as the leadoff batter in the game against the Angels the next day.
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Stock price falls by more than 1,000 yen Sell orders for export-related stocks
2025-02-28 09:54:00
On the 28th, the Nikkei average on the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell by more than 1,000 yen. US President Trump announced that from March 4th, he would impose additional tariffs on imports from China, as well as tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. This has led to a surge in sell orders, especially for export-related stocks that are likely to be affected by the tariffs.
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Tokyo's 23 wards' consumer price index in February increased 2.2% from the same month last year
2025-02-28 08:50:00
The February Consumer Price Index for Tokyo's 23 wards, excluding fresh food, which is subject to large fluctuations due to weather, was a preliminary figure, and rose 2.2% from the same month last year. Although the rate of increase was 0.3 percentage points lower than January's 2.5%, it has remained in the 2% range for four consecutive months.
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Reports that three people were indicted in connection with the suspicion of illegal acquisition of "Deepseek" data
2025-02-28 08:17:00
Amid reports that Chinese startup Deepseek is suspected of illegally obtaining advanced semiconductors from American semiconductor giant Nvidia via Singapore, Singapore authorities have indicted three men believed to be connected to the case, local media reported.
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Keihin Kyuko Line service suspended between Keikyu Kawasaki and Kanagawa-Shinmachi due to fire along the line
2025-02-28 08:15:00
Due to a fire along the tracks, Keikyu Railway has suspended services on both lines between Keikyu Kawasaki Station and Kanagawa-Shinmachi Station since around 7:30 a.m.
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President Trump calls Ukraine mineral rights agreement a "defensive measure"
2025-02-28 07:53:00
In his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the 28th, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his view that reaching an agreement on mineral resource rights would deepen U.S. commitment, deter Russia from taking action, and help guarantee Ukraine's security.
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[Live] Forest fire in Ofunato, Iwate continues to spread, helicopters spray water from morning
2025-02-28 07:14:00
The forest fire that broke out on the 26th in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, continues to spread, with one body found so far and 84 buildings, including homes, believed to have been damaged. The city expects the burned area to expand further, and is checking to see if anyone else was unable to escape, and has been using helicopters to spray water on the area since the morning of the 28th.
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Nasdaq plunges amid fears over tariffs
2025-02-28 07:09:00
On the 27th, the New York Stock Exchange saw growing concern over the Trump administration's tariff policies, and the Nasdaq stock index, which is dominated by tech-related stocks, fell sharply by more than 2.7% from the previous day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average had also risen by more than $450 at one point, but sell orders gradually became more prevalent, closing at $43,239.50, down $193.62 from the previous day. A market insider said, "The successive tariff policies of the Trump administration are dampening investor sentiment. Furthermore, with regard to Nvidia, which announced its financial results the previous day, sell orders spread due to concerns that profit margins will deteriorate in the near future, pushing down overall stock prices."
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17 years ago, Lake Biwa murder: "Man was not arrested and disappeared"
2025-02-28 06:59:00
In a case where a dismembered man's body was found around Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture 17 years ago, a 74-year-old suspect arrested on suspicion of murder gave false explanations to those around him, such as "the man was arrested by the police and disappeared," from the time the body was found until its identity was confirmed, according to interviews with people involved. The police are currently investigating the details of the incident.
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Fire breaks out at public housing in Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto; two men dead, two unconscious
2025-02-28 06:51:00
On the 28th, a fire broke out at a public housing complex in Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto City. According to the police, five men and women were taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation, and two of the men were confirmed dead. The police and fire department are investigating the cause of the fire.
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Man dies at bottom of elevator after falling from 4th floor with door open
2025-02-28 06:29:00
In a commercial building in Kobe, a man was found collapsed at the bottom of the elevator space where elevators go up and down, and later died. The man had been visiting a karaoke bar on the fourth floor, and it was learned from an investigation that the elevator doors had been left open on that floor at the time, with no elevator car for people to sit in. Police are investigating the case, believing he fell from the fourth floor.
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G20 ends without adopting a joint statement saying "protectionism hinders economic growth"
2025-02-28 06:08:00
The meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of the G20, held in South Africa, concluded on the evening of the 27th, Japan time. As U.S. President Trump announced new tariff policies, various countries expressed the view that the rise of protectionism would hinder economic growth, but the discussions did not result in the adoption of a joint statement, leaving issues for the unity of the G20.
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President Trump intends to impose additional 10% tariffs on China, raising it to 20%
2025-02-28 06:07:00
On the 27th, US President Trump announced his intention to impose a new 10% additional tariff on imports from China starting March 4. An additional 10% tariff has already been imposed on China since February 4, bringing the total tariffs to 20%.
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"Prepayment for gift certificate purchases is illegal moneylending" - User files lawsuit against company
2025-02-28 01:08:00
A user has filed a lawsuit against multiple companies, seeking compensation, claiming that the companies' actions of "purchasing gift certificates and other vouchers in advance even if you do not have them in hand" are in reality illegal loans with extremely high interest rates. This is believed to be the first lawsuit in which multiple users have filed a lawsuit seeking compensation all at once on the grounds that such actions are illegal.
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