Main news(2025/04/17)
President Trump: "Very productive meeting" one day after Japan-U.S. negotiations
2025-04-17 22:31:00
On the morning of the 17th, one day after negotiations with Japan over tariffs, US President Trump posted on his social media, "I had a very productive phone call with the President of Mexico yesterday. I also met with the highest level of the Japanese trade delegation. It was a very productive meeting." He added, "All countries are eager to meet, including China. Today, it's Italy." On the 17th, he is scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister Meloni at the White House.
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Japan Football Association-run medical facility files fraudulent medical fee claims
2025-04-17 21:49:00
The Japan Football Association has revealed that it has received administrative action from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, which has warned that a medical facility it operates in Fukushima Prefecture has been fraudulently billing patients for rehabilitation treatment under false pretenses of medical examination by doctors who did not actually provide the treatment. The amount of the money is expected to reach tens of millions of yen, and the association says it will return it once an investigation is complete.
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European Central Bank cuts interest rates by 0.25% at sixth consecutive meeting, aiming to support economy
2025-04-17 21:25:00
The European Central Bank decided to cut interest rates by 0.25% at its monetary policy meeting held on the 17th. This marks the sixth consecutive interest rate cut since September last year. The background to the decision is thought to be the aim of propping up the economy, given the slowdown in the rate of inflation in the eurozone and concerns about an economic slowdown due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in the United States.
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Trump criticizes Fed chairman for being "too slow and wrong"
2025-04-17 21:08:00
On the 17th, US President Trump posted on his social media that Federal Reserve Chairman Powell "always responds too slowly and is wrong," once again calling for an early interest rate cut.
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China requests informal meeting at UN Security Council over U.S. tariff policy
2025-04-17 21:01:00
Regarding the tariff policy of the Trump administration in the United States, China has requested that an informal meeting be held at the UN Security Council, and it is believed that China aims to put pressure on the Trump administration by inviting other countries to participate.
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CDP and National Alliance agree on basic policies; Alliance plans to encourage cooperation in Upper House elections
2025-04-17 21:00:00
The CDP, the DPP, and the coalition that supports them have agreed on a common basic policy consisting of five priority areas, including the constitution, foreign affairs, and security. The coalition hopes that this agreement will encourage cooperation between the two parties in the upcoming House of Councillors elections in the summer.
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Electric motorcycle catches fire in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo Lithium-ion battery may be the source of the fire
2025-04-17 20:51:00
This month in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo, a fire broke out in an electric motorcycle being used for a sharing service. After investigating, the fire department and the manufacturer found that a lithium-ion battery is believed to be the source of the blaze. Further investigation is planned to be conducted by a specialist institution.
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Speakers of the House of Representatives and House of Councillors meet to draw up a summary of measures to ensure stable imperial succession
2025-04-17 20:38:00
A meeting was held between the Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, along with representatives of each political party, to discuss how to ensure stable imperial succession. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nukaga, expressed his intention to have the Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors prepare a draft summary based on the discussions held so far, and to present it at the next meeting.
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Taiwan's TSMC sees fifth consecutive quarter of increased revenue and profits; sales of AI-related semiconductors booming
2025-04-17 20:23:00
Taiwan's TSMC, the world's largest contract manufacturer of semiconductors, announced its financial results for the three months ending last month, reporting increased sales and profits for the fifth consecutive quarter, thanks to strong sales of semiconductors for AI (artificial intelligence).
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Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line extension and Tobu Isesaki Line to operate directly
2025-04-17 19:37:00
Tokyo Metro and Tobu Railway have announced that they will begin direct service connecting the extended section of the Yurakucho Line with the Tobu Isesaki Line and other lines in the mid-2030s. The aim is to revitalize the areas along the line by improving access between Tokyo's waterfront and eastern Saitama Prefecture.
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Taiwan's Yageo raises TOB price for Shibaura Electronics acquisition, intensifying bidding battle
2025-04-17 19:26:00
As precision parts manufacturer MinebeaMitsumi and a Taiwanese electronic parts manufacturer each made a takeover bid for Shibaura Electronics, a company that makes temperature sensors, the Taiwanese manufacturer announced on the 17th that it would raise the price of its tender offer (tender offer) from the initial amount. The price is higher than MinebeaMitsumi's proposal, and the bidding war is intensifying.
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Asbestos pneumoconiosis lawsuit: Second trial results show government loser, ruling differs from government practice
2025-04-17 19:24:00
In a lawsuit filed by the family of a former worker who worked in an asbestos factory and suffered from pneumoconiosis, the Osaka High Court ruled against the government, ordering the government to pay compensation. The ruling showed a different approach to the government's approach to providing relief to victims, and the government's future response will be the focus of attention.
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Average wage increase rate in spring labor offensive exceeds 5% for second consecutive year, but small and medium-sized enterprises fall short, according to Rengo data
2025-04-17 19:08:00
This year's spring labor offensive has seen high wage increase responses even after the centralized response date in March, and the labor organization Confederation of Japan's labor union has found that the average wage increase rate has remained at a high level of over 5% for two consecutive years. However, when limited to small and medium-sized enterprises, it is below 5%, and Confederation of Japan has stated that it will continue negotiations until the end, saying that its main goal is to correct the disparity between large and small companies.
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UN: 500,000 more forced to flee Gaza Strip, deepening humanitarian crisis
2025-04-17 19:01:00
In the Gaza Strip in Palestine, Israeli forces have occupied about 30 percent of the area since March and are forcing residents to leave, with the United Nations reporting that an additional 500,000 people have been forced to flee, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
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Free web services have pitfalls: personal information may be viewed due to incorrect settings
2025-04-17 18:54:00
This is a pitfall in free web services. It was discovered that some users' personal information, such as their addresses and mobile phone numbers, was viewable from outside on a free Google service that allows users to share emails and other information within their own groups. The cause is believed to be a mistake in the settings made by the user's administrator when creating the group, and experts point out that "those who use the service should do their research carefully before using it." *Notes on this subject are listed in the Q&A section at the end of the article.
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Auto tariffs could reduce Japanese automakers' operating profits by 3 trillion yen
2025-04-17 18:28:00
On the 17th, it will be two weeks since the Trump administration imposed an additional 25% tariff on automobiles, and Japanese automobile and parts manufacturers will also be seriously affected by the business performance. According to calculations by a private research company, if no measures are taken against the recent automobile tariffs, the operating profits of the six major automobile manufacturers will be reduced by a combined 3.2467 trillion yen.
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Saitama: High school girl stabbed to death - did the perpetrator prepare in advance by purchasing multiple knives?
2025-04-17 18:03:00
Police have learned that a knife believed to be new was found in the room of the suspect arrested in the case of the murder of a 15-year-old high school girl who was stabbed to death with a kitchen knife this month in Sakura Ward, Saitama City. Police are investigating further, as they believe that the suspect may have made preparations in advance, such as purchasing multiple knives, to commit the crime.
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Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2: Debris is “grabbed” in second test removal
2025-04-17 17:59:00
Regarding the second test removal of nuclear fuel debris, which is being conducted at Unit 2 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced on April 17 that it had successfully grasped nuclear fuel debris with a device inserted inside the containment vessel.
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The man killed in Fuchucho, Hiroshima was identified as a 52-year-old company employee from Nerima Ward, Tokyo.
2025-04-17 17:56:00
The identity of the man who was murdered in a forest park in Fuchu-cho, Hiroshima Prefecture on the 12th of this month has been confirmed as a 52-year-old company employee living in Nerima-ku, Tokyo. Police suspect that multiple men and women were involved in the incident and are currently investigating their whereabouts.
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Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare explains at LDP meeting that pension reform bill excludes raising basic pension
2025-04-17 17:19:00
Regarding bills related to pension system reform, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare told a meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party that a measure to boost basic pensions by utilizing employee pension reserves, which had been considered as one of the pillars of the reform, would not be included in the bill, as it would not gain widespread support.
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Former Hyogo 100-Article Committee Chairman files police report over "massive slanderous emails"
2025-04-17 17:15:00
A prefectural assemblyman who served as chairman of the Hyogo Prefectural Governor Saito's 100-article committee on whistleblower documents filed a complaint with the police on the 17th, claiming that he had been sent a large number of defamatory emails that had disrupted his work. A similar complaint has also been filed by another prefectural assemblyman, and the police are currently investigating.
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Princess Kako visits Wajima lacquer training center in Wajima, Ishikawa
2025-04-17 17:08:00
Princess Kako, the second daughter of Prince and Princess Akishino, visited a training center in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, where Living National Treasures of Wajima lacquerware serve as instructors.
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Deputy leader of the CDP, Ogushi, on internal party discussions on consumption tax: "We will come to a conclusion once we reach it"
2025-04-17 16:19:00
Regarding the fact that there are both opinions for and against lowering the consumption tax rate within the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Deputy Leader Okushige expressed the view that the discussion is still ongoing and that once the party reaches a conclusion, they will be able to respond in a unified manner.
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US Yokota Air Base to purify PFOS before releasing it after leaking
2025-04-17 15:53:00
In 2024, in response to the issue of water containing PFOS, a substance known to be harmful, leaking out of the U.S. Yokota Air Base, the U.S. side informed the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and other parties of its intention to purify the water remaining on the base with activated carbon before releasing it.
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Dodgers manager Roberts considers sending players to next year's WBC
2025-04-17 15:29:00
Regarding the possibility of sending players to next year's World Baseball Classic (WBC), in which some of Major League Baseball's leading players are eager to participate, Dodgers manager Roberts, who has three Japanese players on his team, stated, "If the players want to participate, we will support them," indicating his willingness to accept the idea.
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ANA and Singapore Airlines to start joint venture in September to strengthen Asian routes
2025-04-17 15:28:00
All Nippon Airways has announced that it will begin a joint venture with Singapore Airlines from September this year as part of its efforts to strengthen its Asian routes.
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Man in his 50s executed for attacking Japanese school bus in Suzhou, China
2025-04-17 15:19:00
It has been revealed that a man in his 50s who was sentenced to death for the incident in which a man with a knife attacked a Japanese school bus in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China in 2024 has had his sentence carried out.
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Komeito Secretary-General: "No supplementary budget draft in this Diet session" to postpone cash payments
2025-04-17 14:58:00
Regarding measures to deal with rising prices, Komeito Secretary-General Nishida said that for the time being, efforts will be made to reduce the burden on the people through existing subsidies for low-income households, and indicated that a supplementary budget bill will not be compiled in the current Diet session. The new cash subsidies requested by the Komeito Party will be shelved.
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Bank of Japan Board member Nakagawa: "U.S. tariff policy increases uncertainty about future"
2025-04-17 14:51:00
In a speech in Maebashi City on the 17th, Junko Nakagawa, a member of the Bank of Japan's Board of Directors involved in deciding monetary policy, said that the Trump administration's tariff policy could affect corporate performance and consumption, and that the outlook is becoming increasingly uncertain, and that future monetary policy should be decided with great caution.
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[Breaking News] SBI President Kitao holds press conference regarding Fuji TV parent company management structure
2025-04-17 14:02:00
Regarding the management structure of Fuji Television's parent company, Yoshitaka Kitao, president of the comprehensive financial group "SBI Holdings," who was proposed as a candidate for new director by a major shareholder investment fund, is holding a press conference in Tokyo. We will report on his remarks at the conference in a breaking news report.
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Miyagi Iwanuma Nursery teacher murdered, smartphone stolen? Location information cannot be traced
2025-04-17 13:01:00
In the case of a 35-year-old nursery school teacher found murdered on the beach in Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, it has been revealed through interviews with investigators that the location information of the smartphone of the woman who went missing could not be traced. The smartphone was not found at the scene, and the police are investigating the possibility that it may have been taken by someone.
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Myanmar earthquake: First group of Japanese emergency medical team returns home
2025-04-17 13:00:00
In response to the major earthquake that hit central Myanmar, the first medical team dispatched by the government's Japan Disaster Relief Team to the area returned home on the morning of the 17th. One doctor pointed out that the rainy season is about to begin in the area, and the health of the victims remains a concern.
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Nara: Six students transported to hospital after lightning strike accident Police confirm details of incident at scene
2025-04-17 12:50:00
On April 10th, lightning struck the grounds of a school in Nara City, causing six students who were participating in club activities to be taken to the hospital. On the 17th, police received an explanation from the teacher in charge of the club on the grounds to confirm the details of what happened at the time.
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Nagasaki helicopter accident: 3 killed; Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism inspects operating company
2025-04-17 12:49:00
Following an accident in which a medical transport helicopter was found capsized off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture, killing three people, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has begun on-site inspections of the helicopter operating company in accordance with the Aviation Act to examine their safety management system.
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[Domestic and international reactions] Japan-US negotiations over tariff measures
2025-04-17 12:39:00
Minister of State for Economic Revitalization Akazawa held his first Japan-U.S. negotiations regarding the tariff measures of the Trump administration. Here are reactions from both inside and outside Japan.
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The selective separate surnames for married couples coalition calls on Komeito to submit and pass a bill in the current Diet session
2025-04-17 11:59:00
Regarding the introduction of optional separate surnames for married couples, Rengo Chairman Yoshino met with Komeito Leader Saito and called for the submission of the necessary bill to the current Diet and for it to be passed, citing that this is an important issue that concerns individual dignity and human rights.
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Body found in car in Aichi Prefecture; suspect may be missing 19-year-old woman, 24-year-old man arrested
2025-04-17 11:49:00
On the night of the 16th, police investigated a car parked on a road in Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture, and found a body inside the car. According to investigators, the body is believed to be that of a 19-year-old woman from Gifu Prefecture whose whereabouts are unknown, and police are currently investigating the details of the incident by questioning a man in his 20s who was an acquaintance of the woman.
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Dodgers Shohei Ohtani hits his 6th solo home run in 2 games
2025-04-17 11:35:00
Shohei Ohtani of the Major League Baseball Dodgers started in the game against the Rockies on the 16th, and hit his sixth solo home run of the season, his first in two games, in his first at-bat in the first inning.
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To alleviate the shortage of taxi drivers, training time for regular Type 2 driver's licenses will be shortened
2025-04-17 11:30:00
In order to resolve the shortage of taxi drivers, the National Police Agency has decided to reduce the number of hours of training required to obtain a "regular second-class license" to drive a taxi or hire car by nearly 30%. This was requested by the taxi industry association, and they hope to increase the number of people obtaining the license.
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Party leader debate scheduled for the 23rd - Prime Minister Ishiba and the leaders of the three opposition parties will attend, and the ruling and opposition parties will reach an agreement.
2025-04-17 11:00:00
The ruling and opposition parties have agreed that the party leaders' debate scheduled for next week on the 23rd will be attended by Prime Minister Ishiba and the leaders of the three opposition parties.
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North Korea opposes joint US-South Korean drills involving US B-1 bombers
2025-04-17 10:23:00
North Korea's Ministry of Defense criticized the joint US-South Korean military training involving US B-1 bombers, saying it would "deter US plans of aggression with strong force."
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UK Supreme Court rules that transgender people are not legally defined as women
2025-04-17 10:16:00
In a UK case over whether transgender people who identify as women should be treated as women under the law, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of "woman" is biological.
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Japan Fair Trade Commission issues warning to 15 major hotel companies over possible cartel over room prices
2025-04-17 10:12:00
It has been discovered that 15 major hotel operators in Tokyo have been sharing internal information such as room rates, and the Fair Trade Commission has decided to issue a warning soon, citing concerns that this could lead to a cartel that unfairly raises prices, which could be in violation of the Antimonopoly Act, according to interviews with people familiar with the matter.
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Last year's trade balance was in the red by 5.2217 trillion yen, the fourth consecutive year of deficit
2025-04-17 09:21:00
The Ministry of Finance announced last year's trade statistics, and the trade balance, which is exports minus imports, was a deficit of 5.2217 trillion yen. This is the fourth consecutive year of a trade deficit, but the deficit has narrowed compared to the previous fiscal year, fiscal 2023.
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Kyoto University: iPS cell treatment for Parkinson's disease found to be effective in clinical trials
2025-04-17 07:17:00
A research team at Kyoto University, which is developing a new treatment for Parkinson's disease by transplanting cells made from iPS cells into the brains of patients, announced that the results of a clinical trial on seven patients showed safety and effectiveness. The pharmaceutical company that cooperated in the clinical trial will now apply to the government for approval to manufacture and sell the treatment.
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[Breaking News] Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa begins ministerial negotiations on "Trump tariffs"
2025-04-17 07:13:00
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa, who is visiting Washington, has been negotiating with Treasury Secretary Bessent and others regarding the tariff measures imposed by the Trump administration. He is expected to strongly request a review of the measures, while also carefully listening to the requests of the US side and trying to gauge their response.
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President Trump: "Major developments" on social media after meeting with Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa
2025-04-17 06:58:00
After finishing his meeting with Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa regarding tariff measures, U.S. President Trump posted on social media, "I am very honored to have met with the Japanese negotiating team. This is great progress."
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"Successfully created mini-livers from iPS cells" Osaka University group
2025-04-17 06:25:00
A group including Osaka University, which is conducting research to create small livers from human iPS cells, has announced that they have succeeded in creating a "mini-liver" about 0.5 mm in size that has the same internal structure as a real liver.
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Hiroyuki Sanada and others on Time magazine's "100 most influential people in the world"
2025-04-17 05:20:00
This year, actor Hiroyuki Sanada, musician YOSHIKI, and contemporary artist Yoshitomo Nara were selected from Japan for the "100 Most Influential People in the World" by the American magazine Time. In the "Leaders" category, US President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Elon Musk were also selected.
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NY Dow temporarily falls by more than $900 Fed Chairman Powell's remarks
2025-04-17 04:30:00
On the 16th, the New York Stock Exchange saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average drop by more than $900 following comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Powell. In his speech, Chairman Powell acknowledged that the impact of the Trump administration's tariff measures on the economy would be much greater than expected, but he also reiterated his cautious stance on early interest rate cuts to support the economy, which has led to growing concerns among investors about an economic slowdown and an increase in sell orders.
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Saitama: Suspect in stabbing murder of female high school student wandered around the area looking for someone to attack?
2025-04-17 03:31:00
In the case of the murder of a 15-year-old high school girl in Sakura Ward, Saitama City on the 14th of this month, it was revealed by an investigator that the arrested suspect had been walking around within a radius of about 1 kilometer around the area for about two hours before the incident. The police are investigating further, as they believe that he may have been looking for someone to attack.
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