2025-03-14 21:50:00
Recently, there have been a series of demonstrations in front of the Ministry of Finance calling for tax cuts and an active fiscal policy.
2025-03-14 21:06:00
Regarding the handling of corporate and organizational donations, leaders of four opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, met and reached an agreement in principle to withdraw the bills they had each submitted to the House of Representatives to ban them, and then to consolidate them into a new bill and aim to pass it.
2025-03-14 21:04:00
The Consumer Affairs Agency has issued a corrective order to two businesses that sold products claiming that one sheet can capture 250,000 mites, which live in bedding and carpets and can cause allergies, ordering them to take measures to prevent recurrence, stating that the Agency "failed to find reasonable evidence to support the advertisement."
2025-03-14 20:53:00
The Russian presidential office said that President Putin met with US special envoy for the Trump administration Vitkov, who visited Moscow, and conveyed a message to President Trump. It indicated that they intend to coordinate efforts to hold talks between the two leaders in the future.
2025-03-14 20:32:00
Firefighting efforts have been underway every day in the forest fires in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, but on the 14th, the city requested the prefecture to withdraw the Self-Defense Forces, saying that large-scale firefighting efforts from the air are no longer necessary. In addition, more than 900 homes had been unable to use tap water for drinking, but as of the 14th, they have been able to use it again, and progress is being made in restoring lifelines.
2025-03-14 19:32:00
Following the murder of a woman while streaming on the street in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, live video streamers have been voicing their concerns, with some even suspending their streams, and the impact is spreading.
2025-03-14 19:13:00
At the House of Councillors Budget Committee, Prime Minister Ishiba was criticized and held responsible by not only the opposition parties but also the ruling party for distributing 100,000 yen worth of gift certificates to each of the offices of LDP members of the House of Representatives who had been elected once. In response, Prime Minister Ishiba apologized for not showing consideration for the people, although there was no legal problem, and emphasized that he would work to prevent a recurrence.
2025-03-14 18:16:00
On the evening of the 14th, near a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Finance in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, the leader of the political group "Party to Protect the People from NHK," Takashi Tachibana, was attacked and injured by a man. The man was arrested on the spot, and the Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the incident as an assault.
2025-03-14 18:14:00
Regarding the extension of the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Sapporo, a national panel of experts has submitted a report to the government stating that the opening date is expected to be "the end of fiscal 2038," significantly later than the previous target, and that there is a possibility that it may be further delayed by several years.
2025-03-14 18:08:00
Regarding the issue of a painting in the collection of the Kochi Museum of Art that has been pointed out as a forgery, Kochi Prefecture has announced that it has determined that the painting is a forgery, taking into account the high possibility that it was painted using paints that were not in circulation at the time the painting was created.
2025-03-14 17:56:00
The G7 foreign ministers' meeting being held in Canada is expected to release an outcome document on the situation in Ukraine on the 14th, the final day of the meeting. It appears that they are trying to find a document that can be agreed upon by both Europe, which condemns Russia and supports Ukraine, and the United States, which wants to avoid backlash from Russia in order to achieve a ceasefire.
2025-03-14 17:17:00
On the evening of the 14th, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Eto announced the results of the bidding for stockpiled rice, which began on the 10th of this month. The results will include how much of the 150,000 tons that was purchased, as well as the average price at which the bids were made. After being handed over to the companies, the purchased stockpiled rice is expected to be available on supermarket shelves from the end of this month.
2025-03-14 16:47:00
On the 14th, a draft basic plan for a new agricultural policy was presented, which includes a goal of increasing rice exports, including packaged rice, to 350,000 tons by 2030. The aim is to increase rice production, including for export, and to flexibly manage it by diverting it to domestic use when domestic supply and demand becomes tight.
2025-03-14 16:04:00
According to the fire department, at around 2:45 pm on the 14th, a nearby resident reported seeing smoke on Mt. Murone in Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture. A forest fire has broken out and is spreading eastward, so firefighters are working to extinguish the fire. One person has been injured so far, but the extent of the injuries is unknown. Strong wind and dry weather warnings have been issued for inland Iwate Prefecture, including Ichinoseki City, on the 14th.
2025-03-14 15:50:00
The labor organization Zenroren announced the status of this year's spring offensive negotiations, revealing that the average wage increase rate so far has been 2.70%. While this is the same level as last year, which was the highest in 25 years, many labor unions are prepared to continue negotiations, stating that the amount is not enough to support life amid soaring prices.
2025-03-14 15:47:00
On the 13th, a passenger plane made an emergency landing at an airport in Colorado, USA, and then caught fire in the engine. The 178 passengers and crew on board were immediately evacuated, and 12 of them suffered minor injuries.
2025-03-14 15:35:00
In the so-called "Matsuhashi Incident," in which a man was murdered in Kumamoto Prefecture 40 years ago, the family of the man, who was found not guilty in a retrial after serving his sentence, filed a lawsuit alleging that the prosecution had illegally withheld important evidence. The Kumamoto District Court ordered the state to pay more than 23 million yen in damages. However, the lawsuit against the prefecture was not accepted.
2025-03-14 14:53:00
In a lawsuit filed by residents of Aichi Prefecture and other areas seeking the national government's cancellation of approval to extend the operation of three nuclear power plants operated by Kansai Electric Power Co. in Fukui Prefecture, which have been in operation for more than 40 years, the Nagoya District Court dismissed the lawsuit regarding Takahama Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2. After this, a ruling will be handed down regarding Mihama Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3.
2025-03-14 14:37:00
As issues surrounding online casinos continue to grow, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Murakami indicated at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting that he intends to quickly set up a meeting to consider ways to strengthen regulations, such as "blocking" websites.
2025-03-14 14:24:00
On the 13th, a 50-year-old female suspect and her 30-year-old daughter, who had previously lived in an apartment in front of a parking lot in Mito City, were arrested for abandoning a man's body in a car parked in the parking lot. The suspect's son in his 20s has been unable to be contacted, and police are working to confirm his identity and investigate the details of the incident.
2025-03-14 14:01:00
The government has put together a draft of a new Basic Consumer Plan to respond to digitalization and the aging population, and Prime Minister Ishiba has instructed relevant ministers to strengthen measures to prevent fraud and other crimes that involve the misuse of social media.
2025-03-14 13:59:00
Due to a malfunction of the points at Toyohashi Station in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, the Tokaido Shinkansen has suspended operations between Shin-Osaka Station and Kakegawa Station for upbound trains, and between Tokyo Station and Nagoya Station for downbound trains, since before 1:30 p.m. There is no prospect of resuming operations. The Tokaido Shinkansen also temporarily suspended operations on the morning of the 14th due to a malfunction of the points at Toyohashi Station.
2025-03-14 13:23:00
The Osaka High Court, in its second instance, sentenced a 54-year-old uncle charged with murder and arson for setting fire to a home in Inami Town, Hyogo Prefecture, and killing two elementary school-aged brothers, to 30 years in prison, following the first instance.
2025-03-14 12:50:00
Glass, who was nominated by U.S. President Donald Trump as the new ambassador to Japan, attended a congressional hearing and stated his view that "relationships with Japan are the best they've ever been," but also said he would "make sure that Japan-U.S. relations are beneficial to the American people," and also indicated his intention to ask Japan to shoulder a reasonable burden, including in supporting U.S. forces in Japan.
2025-03-14 12:38:00
On the morning of the 14th, four China Coast Guard vessels entered Japanese territorial waters one after another off the coast of the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. The Japan Coast Guard is continuing to warn and monitor the vessels to immediately leave the territorial waters.
2025-03-14 12:33:00
Roki Sasaki, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who is in Japan for the opening series in Tokyo next week, met with Prime Minister Ishiba. Sasaki, who spent some time in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, where the forest fires occurred, told reporters that he would do his best in the game for the people affected by the disaster.
2025-03-14 12:17:00
Ahead of the opening series between the Cubs and Dodgers in Major League Baseball, which begins on the 18th of this month at Tokyo Dome, press conferences for players and managers from both teams have begun. Cubs manager Counsell has been holding a press conference since before noon.
2025-03-14 12:15:00
It has come to light that Prime Minister Ishiba handed out 100,000 yen worth of gift certificates to each of the offices of one-time elected LDP members of the House of Representatives whom he had dinner with last week. Prime Minister Ishiba explained that there was no legal problem with this, saying that the gifts were purchased at his own expense as souvenirs for the dinner and that they did not constitute donations related to political activities. Here is a summary of the reactions of the ruling and opposition parties.
2025-03-14 11:57:00
Regarding bills related to pension system reform, the government told the board of directors of the House of Councillors' Rules and Administration Committee that it would like to postpone the bill, as it would not be able to meet the deadline of the 14th for submission to the Diet.
2025-03-14 11:54:00
Regarding the White House spokesperson's statement that "Japan imposes a 700% tariff on rice," Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Eto pointed out that the statement does not match the facts, and expressed his intention to view the fact that such a statement was made from the U.S. side with a sense of urgency.
2025-03-14 11:53:00
JR East resumed coupled train operations on the 14th, which had been suspended after a coupling came off on the Tohoku Shinkansen while it was running in Tokyo, and at Morioka Station, the Komachi and Hayabusa were coupled together and headed toward Tokyo. JR plans to return to normal operations on the 15th, but the exact cause of the coupling coming off is unknown and the investigation is ongoing.
2025-03-14 11:50:00
A 35-year-old suspect was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department for allegedly trying to defraud people of money for home renovations by inciting fears that "if the work under the floor is not done, the house will tilt." He is the de facto head of a quasi-gang called "Uchikoshi Specter," and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is investigating whether there is any connection between this crime syndicate and the recent spate of renovation scams.
2025-03-14 11:02:00
Last year, two Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters collided and crashed during training off the coast of the Izu Islands, leaving seven crew members missing. The two aircraft were recovered from the ocean floor and transported to a U.S. military port facility on the 14th. Several bodies were found inside the aircraft, and the Maritime Self-Defense Force plans to identify them in the future.
2025-03-14 10:43:00
In New York, demonstrators briefly occupied the lobby of Trump Tower to demand the release of a Palestinian man who had been detained by immigration authorities during protests against Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, and police arrested around 100 people.
2025-03-14 10:32:00
Regarding the bills related to pension system reform, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Fukuoka stated that these are important bills, as they will increase the future pensions that part-time workers and other workers will receive by expanding the scope of application of the Employees' Pension Insurance, and expressed his intention to expedite adjustments so that the bills can be submitted to the Diet as soon as possible.
2025-03-14 10:16:00
The government approved a bill to amend the NTT Act and related laws at a cabinet meeting on the 14th. Regarding the future of the NTT Act, which has been a focus of attention, the bill includes a provision to review the matter "including amendment and abolition" within three years of the enforcement of the revised law, and will postpone abolition for the time being.
2025-03-14 09:04:00
The National Institute for Environmental Studies has established Japan's first experimental facility to conduct research into early detection and control of highly poisonous invasive fire ants and has begun raising the ants.
2025-03-14 08:50:00
U.S. President Donald Trump said of North Korea that it is "clearly a nuclear power," once again using language that differs from the U.S. government's previous official position.
2025-03-14 08:20:00
The Bank of Japan will hold a meeting to decide on monetary policy from March 18. The majority of the opinion within the BOJ is that it is necessary to wait and see how the additional interest rate hike in January and the successive tariff policies being implemented by the Trump administration in the United States will affect the economy and prices, while the majority of the financial markets are of the opinion that the policy interest rate will remain unchanged.
2025-03-14 08:11:00
Foreign Minister Iwaya, who is visiting Canada, met with US Secretary of State Rubio just before 7:00 a.m. on the 14th, Japan time. Minister Iwaya is believed to have once again requested that Japan be excluded from tariff measures on steel products and other items.
2025-03-14 07:17:00
Regarding the 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States over Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Putin said that it is not enough, saying, "A ceasefire must lead to long-term peace and eliminate the root causes of the crisis."
2025-03-14 07:14:00
On the night of the 13th, someone broke into a house in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, and attacked and injured two men and women believed to be residents of the house. The assailant is said to have fled, and the police are investigating his whereabouts as an attempted murder case.
2025-03-14 07:10:00
On the 13th, US President Trump posted on his social media that he would impose a 200% tariff on alcoholic products such as wine imported from the European Union. He cited the EU's imposition of tariffs on American whiskey in retaliation for the Trump administration's tariffs on steel and aluminum products.
2025-03-14 05:16:00
In the case of the murder of a 22-year-old woman who was streaming video on the street in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, it has been newly revealed through interviews with investigators that the arrested suspect stated, "I thought that if I committed the crime and went to court, the world would know what women were doing to me." The Metropolitan Police Department believes that the background to the crime was a financial dispute with the woman, and is working to determine the motive.
2025-03-14 03:37:00
At the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting being held in Canada from the evening of the 13th to the early hours of the 14th (Japan time), the ministers confirmed that the G7, now in its 50th year, will maintain and strengthen its unity, and, bearing in mind China's actions in the Indo-Pacific region, oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo.
2025-03-14 02:26:00
A survey by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan using new methods including satellite measurements has revealed that the elevation of Mount Fuji is 5 centimeters higher than previously estimated.
