Main news(2025/03/17)
U.S. February retail sales increased 0.2% from the previous month, but fell short of market expectations
2025-03-17 22:02:00
American retail sales, which also affect stock prices and exchange rates, were announced and were 0.2% higher last month than the previous month. However, this was well below market expectations of an increase of around 0.6%. In the United States, there is concern that the Trump administration's hike in tariffs could lead to a re-acceleration of inflation and a slowdown in the economy. The Federal Reserve Board will hold a meeting to decide on monetary policy on the 18th. Attention is focused on what Chairman Powell will say about the current and future economic situation at the press conference after the meeting.
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Foreign Minister Iwasaki speaks by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister, calls for "constructive action" on nuclear development issue
2025-03-17 20:55:00
As the United States continues to pressure Iran into negotiations over its nuclear development issue, including by strengthening sanctions, Foreign Minister Iwao Naotoshi spoke by telephone with Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi and called for constructive action toward a peaceful resolution of the issue.
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Sagamihara: Eldest son of parents murderer sent to juvenile detention center; Yokohama Family Court orders "long-term education"
2025-03-17 20:37:00
In February of last year, the Yokohama Family Court decided to send the eldest son, who was 15 years old at the time and is accused of murdering his parents, both in their 50s, at their apartment in Sagamihara City, to a juvenile detention center, stating that "a fairly long period of education is desirable in order to achieve rehabilitation."
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Garden party format changed after 60 years: participants now walk along multiple routes
2025-03-17 19:53:00
The Imperial Household Agency has announced that this spring's garden party at Akasaka Imperial Garden will be changed from the format that has been used for over 60 years to one in which members of the imperial family will walk along multiple routes, allowing more guests to interact with the emperor, empress and other members of the imperial family.
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Police confirm suspicious calls from same number nationwide, including fraud
2025-03-17 19:25:00
There have been a series of suspicious phone calls suspected to be related to crime from the same phone number as the "main" number of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Shinjuku Police Station, but similar suspicious phone calls impersonating other prefectural police departments have also been confirmed, and there have been cases of fraud.
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Mother sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison for murder of Susukino man; defense claims innocence
2025-03-17 19:11:00
In a case where a man was found dead in a hotel in Susukino, a downtown area of Sapporo, two years ago, and three parents and children were indicted, the mother was accused of helping her daughter dispose of the body. The prosecution sought a prison sentence of one year and six months for the mother, who was accused of "providing her daughter with a place to put the body, and not taking any action such as stopping her." Meanwhile, the defense again argued for innocence.
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"Cash demands from Aichi Prefectural Police 'main' phone number" - Caution is advised
2025-03-17 18:24:00
Since last month, there have been a series of inquiries about calls from the same phone number as the "main" number of the Aichi Prefectural Police Headquarters, where people have been asked to hand over cash to police officers. The police are urging people to be careful, such as hanging up and calling back if they are calling from a number they do not recognize, even if the police phone number is displayed on the incoming call screen.
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Average price of rice at supermarkets is 4,077 yen per 5 kg, nearly double the price of the same period last year
2025-03-17 18:22:00
The average price of rice at supermarkets nationwide was 4,077 yen (including tax) per 5 kg in the week ending on the 9th of this month. Even after the government announced the release of its rice stockpile, rice prices have continued to rise and are now almost double the price of the same period last year.
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Last year's average wage was the highest since 1976, and the wage gap between men and women is narrowing
2025-03-17 17:54:00
A survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare found that the average monthly wage of full-time workers last year was about 330,000 yen, the highest since comparable data became available in 1976. The wage gap between men and women also narrowed from the previous year, reaching its smallest level.
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Thirty years after Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, bereaved families call for successor group to "repay damages and disband"
2025-03-17 17:45:00
Ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Aum Shinrikyo Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, surviving family members held a press conference calling on the successor organization to provide compensation to the victims and to disband as soon as possible.
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Experts call for ban and strengthening of regulations on corporate and group donations in House of Representatives special committee
2025-03-17 17:03:00
A special committee of the House of Representatives invited experts to question them on the treatment of corporate and group donations. Some people called for a ban on donations, citing concerns that they would inevitably give priority to corporate profits and hinder the public interest, while others pointed out that a ban would only create new loopholes, and that regulations should be strengthened, including by ensuring transparency.
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Dragon Ball figure stolen from convenience store in Funabashi, Chiba
2025-03-17 16:07:00
The target was a figurine of a character from the popular manga "Dragon Ball." In the early morning of the 17th, a fire extinguisher was sprayed at a convenience store in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture, and a lottery prize figurine was stolen, and the police are investigating the incident as a robbery.
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The Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan will hold intensive deliberations at the House of Councillors Budget Committee on the 19th to reach an agreement
2025-03-17 15:42:00
The LDP and CDP Diet Affairs Committee chairpersons met and agreed to hold intensive discussions on themes such as foreign affairs and security at the House of Councillors Budget Committee on the 19th. The CDP also called for thorough discussions, taking into account the issue of gift certificates, without being limited by a set date.
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Ayumi Ishida passes away at age 76 "Blue Light Yokohama"
2025-03-17 15:33:00
Ayumi Ishida, a singer and actor known for hit songs such as "Blue Light Yokohama" and "What Would You Do?" and who also appeared in TV dramas and movies, passed away on the 11th of this month at a hospital in Tokyo due to hypothyroidism. She was 76 years old.
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Tornadoes and wildfires in the US: 40 dead in seven states from the South to the Midwest
2025-03-17 15:07:00
In the United States, a rapidly developing low pressure system caused severe weather from the South to the Midwest, resulting in numerous tornadoes and forest fires, with 40 deaths confirmed in seven states so far.
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[Live broadcast] MLB opening tomorrow, Cubs' Shota Imanaga holds press conference
2025-03-17 14:07:00
The opening series of Major League Baseball, which will be held in Japan for the first time in six years, between the Dodgers and Cubs, will be held at Tokyo Dome on March 18th and 19th.
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Sumitomo Life Chairman Masahiro Hashimoto to be new chairman of Central Council for Education "Communicate in an easy-to-understand manner"
2025-03-17 13:40:00
The Central Council for Education, an advisory body to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, held a general meeting and selected Masahiro Hashimoto, chairman of Sumitomo Life Insurance, a major life insurance company, as its new chairman.
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President Trump announces plans to meet with Putin on the 18th
2025-03-17 13:38:00
On the 16th, US President Trump spoke to reporters on board Air Force One en route to Washington, D.C., and said about discussions with Russia toward a ceasefire in Ukraine, "We may make an announcement on Tuesday. I will talk to President Putin on Tuesday," revealing that he plans to meet with Russian President Putin on the 18th.
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Former executive in charge of investor relations found guilty of insider trading at Tokyo District Court
2025-03-17 12:38:00
In a trial where a former executive officer in charge of investor relations (IR) at a Tokyo company was charged with insider trading, the Tokyo District Court handed down a guilty verdict with a suspended sentence, stating that "the crime was committed shortly after he joined the company as head of IR, and the profits he gained were large."
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China's main economic statistics for January and February: Consumption up but real estate development down sharply
2025-03-17 12:25:00
China's major economic statistics for the two months of this year, January and last month, showed that an indicator of consumption trends was up 4.0% compared to the same period last year, thanks in part to the government's economic stimulus measures, but investment in real estate development was down significantly.
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China's new home price index falls in 45 major cities in February as real estate slump continues
2025-03-17 11:59:00
China's new home price index for February fell from January in 45 major cities, an increase of three from January, with real estate prices continuing to stagnate in over 64% of the total.
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Yokohama post office delivery worker drinks alcohol and does not attend roll call to check work
2025-03-17 11:54:00
It was discovered that a delivery person at a post office in Yokohama city had been drinking alcohol and working in an intoxicated state in May last year. The post office in question did not conduct roll calls to check whether delivery persons had been drinking alcohol as required by law, and Japan Post is investigating the situation nationwide and intends to work to prevent recurrence.
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Ofunato Elementary School Resumes Classes in Original Building after Being Rented Due to Forest Fire
2025-03-17 11:53:00
An elementary school that had been renting a different school building due to a forest fire in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, resumed classes in its original building on the 17th.
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Prime Minister Ishiba: "I don't know if previous prime ministers have done this" regarding the distribution of gift certificates
2025-03-17 11:42:00
Regarding the issue of distributing gift certificates to the offices of LDP members of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Ishiba repeatedly apologized at the House of Councillors Budget Committee, saying that he felt deeply that his actions were at odds with public sentiment, and indicated his intention to provide a full explanation. However, when asked by the opposition parties whether previous prime ministers had also done so as a matter of practice, he said that he was not aware of the matter and was not in a position to answer.
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SBI Holdings subsidiary fails to declare 3.4 billion yen in income in China that should have been recorded in Japan
2025-03-17 11:19:00
According to an interview with a person involved, a subsidiary of the major online financial company "SBI Holdings" was found to have failed to declare approximately 3.4 billion yen by the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau, for transferring income that should have been recorded in Japan to China. SBI Holdings was subject to additional tax of approximately 200 million yen.
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Shinbashi suspended business for unlicensed street operation for first time due to violation of road traffic law
2025-03-17 11:06:00
The Tokyo Metropolitan Public Safety Commission has ordered a 21-day suspension of operations for an izakaya restaurant that was referred to prosecutors for operating without a license on the street in Tokyo's Shinbashi entertainment district. This is the first time in the country that such an administrative punishment has been imposed for violating the Road Traffic Act.
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Trump administration deports hundreds of gang members under "Alien Enemy Act"
2025-03-17 09:02:00
The Trump administration in the United States announced that it had deported hundreds of gang members by applying the "Enemy Alien Act," which was used during World War II. Meanwhile, a federal court has issued a sudden decision to temporarily halt the deportation of immigrants based on the law, and the conflict between the Trump administration and the courts is likely to intensify.
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Tokyo's Shinjuku Mylord to close due to redevelopment, bringing an end to its 40-year history
2025-03-17 08:44:00
As part of the ongoing redevelopment of Shinjuku, Tokyo, Shinjuku Mylord, a popular station building, closed on the 16th, bringing an end to its more than 40-year history.
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More than 80% of Tokyo subway sarin gas attack victims feel the memory is fading: NHK survey
2025-03-17 06:41:00
In a survey conducted by NHK targeting victims of the Aum Shinrikyo subway sarin gas attack 30 years ago, more than 80% of respondents said they felt the incident had faded from memory. The issue is how to convey the lessons of this unprecedented chemical terrorism to the younger generation.
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Northern Japan: Snow and very strong winds expected mainly on the Pacific coast; be on alert
2025-03-17 06:21:00
Due to the influence of a rapidly developing low pressure system, very strong winds accompanied by snow are expected to blow mainly on the Pacific coast of northern Japan on the 17th, causing rough weather such as heavy seas. The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for caution against the impact of heavy snow on traffic, strong winds and high waves.
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Japan and EU to hold training on response to "gray zone" situations that do not amount to armed attacks
2025-03-17 06:17:00
It has been learned from an interview with a related person that Japan and the European Union will hold a joint training session at the end of this month for maritime security officials from five Southeast Asian countries to learn how to respond to so-called gray zone situations that do not result in armed attacks. This will be the first time that Japan and the EU will hold such a training session together, and it is believed that the EU is cooperating with Japan to check China, which is strengthening its maritime expansion.
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Regarding gift certificate issue, Ishiba "gives a detailed explanation" and CDP and others "demand explanation at the Political Ethics Committee"
2025-03-17 05:19:00
Regarding the issue of distributing gift certificates to the offices of LDP members of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Ishiba has decided to continue to provide a detailed explanation, saying he wants to minimize the impact on budget deliberations and other matters. In response, the Constitutional Democratic Party and others plan to intensify their pursuit of the issue, including by requesting that Prime Minister Ishiba explain himself before the Political Ethics Committee.
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Sporadic attacks continue in Gaza, raising concerns over impact on ceasefire talks
2025-03-17 05:16:00
As talks between Israel and the Islamic organization Hamas over the continuation of the ceasefire agreement have been proving difficult, sporadic attacks by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip in Palestine have resulted in casualties, raising concerns about the impact on the talks.
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Trump administration envoy predicts talks between US and Russian presidents this week
2025-03-17 05:10:00
Regarding talks toward a ceasefire in Ukraine, the Trump administration's special envoy Vitkow indicated that President Trump and Russian President Putin are expected to hold talks this week.
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59 killed in North Macedonia nightclub fire
2025-03-17 05:01:00
On the 16th, a fire broke out at a nightclub in North Macedonia, southeastern Europe, killing 59 people and injuring more than 150. Authorities have arrested 15 people for operating the nightclub without a license and are investigating whether there were any problems with safety management.
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