2025-03-24 22:40:00
On the 24th, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the possibility of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visiting Russia, saying, "General Secretary Kim has a valid invitation to visit Russia," and revealed that Russian and North Korean diplomatic authorities are currently coordinating the specific timing of the visit.
2025-03-24 21:53:00
Due to the growing demand for packaged rice in the wake of a rice shortage, Sato Foods has announced that it will discontinue sales of some of its products. In order to ensure a more stable supply of products, the company will continue to offer a smaller number of products.
2025-03-24 21:12:00
On the 24th, the Financial Services Agency issued a business improvement order under the Insurance Business Act to four major insurance companies, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc., and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd., in response to a problem in which an employee of a non-life insurance company who was seconded to a so-called shared insurance agency that handles insurance for multiple companies leaked customer information of other companies to his own company. The FSA confirmed that a combined total of over 2.6 million pieces of personal information had been leaked by the four companies, and in the order it called for the submission of a business improvement plan regarding the management and governance of customer information.
2025-03-24 18:52:00
According to police and firefighters, a light truck crashed into four elementary school children in Hamamatsu City's Chuo Ward at around 4:30 pm on the 24th. One of the girls is unconscious and in critical condition. The other three girls were also injured, but their injuries are not life-threatening. The incident occurred on a road in front of the Hamamatsu City Zoo in Hamamatsu City's Chuo Ward, and police are currently investigating the details of the incident.
2025-03-24 18:45:00
On the 22nd, in Mihama-cho, Mie Prefecture, a large bus crashed into a windbreak on the side of the road, killing the driver and injuring 21 passengers. Police have investigated the cause of the driver's death and found that he had a heart condition. On the 24th, police searched the bus operator's office on suspicion of negligent driving causing injury, and are currently investigating further.
2025-03-24 18:20:00
The price of rice continues to rise. The average price of rice at supermarkets nationwide was 4,172 yen (including tax) per 5 kg in the week ending March 16, more than double the price at the same time last year.
2025-03-24 17:55:00
On the 24th, the Shizuoka District Court decided to award 217 million yen to Iwao Hakamada (89), who was found not guilty in a retrial for the murder of a family of four in Shizuoka Prefecture 59 years ago. He was detained for 47 years and seven months. According to his legal team, this is the largest amount of criminal compensation ever awarded.
2025-03-24 17:51:00
Starting with the 24th, passports have been changed to new ones with stronger anti-counterfeiting measures. In addition, the application process for obtaining a passport has been made online in all prefectures.
2025-03-24 16:32:00
A 42-year-old suspect who was arrested this month for allegedly killing a woman while she was streaming video on a street in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward was placed under detention for evaluation to determine his criminal responsibility on the 24th.
2025-03-24 16:15:00
By the 24th, eight people who died in Ishikawa Prefecture after the Noto Peninsula earthquake were recognized by local governments as having died as disaster-related. The total number of disaster-related deaths from the Noto Peninsula earthquake in Niigata and Toyama prefectures combined is now 329, bringing the total death toll, including direct deaths, to 557.
2025-03-24 15:50:00
The "My Number License," which combines a My Number card and a driver's license, went into operation on the 24th. People were quickly seen visiting driver's license centers around the country to complete the procedures, but there were also problems with the inability to complete the integration process, and glitches were found in the app that reads the information on the "My Number License." We will explain how the "My Number License" works and points to note when applying. (Information current as of 1:00 PM on the 24th)
2025-03-24 15:43:00
During last year's Hyogo Prefectural gubernatorial election, when the spread of fake and misinformation on social media became an issue, the research group's analysis found that the "Community Notes" feature on X, the former Twitter account, which allows users to supplement erroneous content with additional information, was barely functioning.
2025-03-24 14:40:00
Yellow sand has been observed in mainland China, and is expected to reach a wide area from western to northern Japan between the 25th and 26th. The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for caution against yellow sand adhesion and its impact on traffic.
2025-03-24 14:09:00
Regarding the new fiscal year budget bill, the leaders of the House of Councillors of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party met and agreed to revise the bill again before the end of the fiscal year, which is just one week away, and to aim for its passage. They also confirmed that they would not compile a provisional budget bill.
2025-03-24 14:07:00
The Japan Meteorological Agency announced on the afternoon of the 24th that "cherry blossoms have bloomed in Tokyo." According to the agency, more than five flowers were confirmed to have bloomed at around 2:00 p.m. on the Somei Yoshino cherry tree at Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda Ward, which is the benchmark for cherry blossom blooming in Tokyo. The announcement of cherry blossom blooming in Tokyo was ▽ the same as in an average year ▽ five days earlier than last year.
2025-03-24 13:15:00
After finishing his opening series in Japan, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers returned to the United States to play in another exhibition game against his former team, the Angels. He went to bat twice, giving up one walk and grounding out to second base, before being replaced.
2025-03-24 12:20:00
The LDP and Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's House of Councillors Diet Affairs Committee chairmen met to discuss the schedule for deliberation on the new fiscal year's budget bill. The LDP stated that if there is no prospect of the budget bill being passed within the fiscal year, it will be necessary to prepare and deliberate a provisional budget bill, and asked the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan to consider how to respond in the future.
2025-03-24 11:52:00
At around 11:37 a.m. on the 24th, an earthquake measuring 3 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale was observed in Niigata and Nagano prefectures. There is no need to worry about a tsunami caused by this earthquake.
2025-03-24 10:29:00
The Major League Baseball season will begin in the United States on the 27th of this month. The Dodgers, who won the first two games of their opening series in Japan, will have two-time Cy Young Award winner Snell as their opening pitcher in the United States, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto starting in the second game and Roki Sasaki starting in the third game.
2025-03-24 10:22:00
Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, who served as acting president for President Yoon Seok-yeol, who declared "emergency martial law" in South Korea, and who was subsequently suspended from his duties after a motion calling for his impeachment was passed, has been dismissed by the Constitutional Court of South Korea, with Prime Minister Han reinstating his duties as acting president.
2025-03-24 07:21:00
Due to the influence of cold air and warm, humid air above, the atmospheric conditions are expected to be extremely unstable from now until the 25th, mainly in the Chugoku region through the Kanto-Koshinetsu region. The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for caution against strong gusts of wind such as lightning and tornadoes, and sudden heavy rain.
2025-03-24 05:26:00
Palestinian health authorities announced that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 50,000 since fighting between the Israeli army and the Islamic organization Hamas began in October of last year. The Israeli army has resumed large-scale attacks on the Gaza Strip and is stepping up its offensive, putting the ceasefire agreement at risk of collapse.
2025-03-24 05:17:00
Ukraine will hold talks with the US in Saudi Arabia on the 23rd, during which they will discuss a halt to attacks on energy and infrastructure facilities. The US and Russia are also scheduled to hold talks on the 24th, and attention is focused on whether there will be any progress toward a ceasefire.
2025-03-24 04:38:00
The "My Number Card," which combines your My Number card and driver's license, will be available to obtain from the 24th. While this card has the added benefit of making it easier to change your address, you should be careful about the timing of when you obtain it.
2025-03-24 04:36:00
The Joint Operations Command, which will unify the command of the Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces, was launched on the 24th. The Ministry of Defense says this will lead to faster unit operations and stronger cooperation with the US military.
2025-03-24 04:34:00
Regarding the new fiscal year budget proposal, the government and ruling parties will be revising it again in the House of Councillors, and then they will begin coordinating with the opposition parties regarding the deliberation schedule in order to ensure that it is passed by the end of the fiscal year, which is just one week away.
