Main news(2025/04/21)
American cars not selling! President Trump dissatisfied with differences in safety standards between Japan and the US
2025-04-21 22:31:00
On the 20th, US President Trump listed eight examples of "non-tariff barriers" on social media in relation to negotiations with various countries over tariffs, including automobile safety standards. Under the heading of "protective technical standards," he pointed out "Japan's bowling ball tests." Bowling ball tests? What on earth are they referring to? (Toyonaga Hirotaka, International Affairs Desk)
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Iwasaki Naotoshi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, confirm cooperation with new US ambassador to Japan, exchange of views on tariff measures
2025-04-21 20:33:00
Foreign Minister Iwaya met with the new US Ambassador to Japan, George Glass, and confirmed that they would work closely together to strengthen the Japan-US alliance. They also exchanged views on the US tariff measures, and Foreign Minister Iwaya conveyed Japan's position.
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Actor Takashi Yamaguchi passes away at age 88. He played the lead role of Gennai Hiraga in "Tenka Gomen."
2025-04-21 18:38:00
Actor Takashi Yamaguchi, who gained popularity for playing the lead role of Hiraga Gennai in the NHK period drama "Tenka Gomen" and also hosted a popular quiz show, passed away on April 18th from lung cancer. He was 88 years old.
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Aki Yashiro releases CD with personal photos - What are the rights of the deceased? [QA]
2025-04-21 18:01:00
A record company in Kagoshima City has listed a CD containing private photos of singer Aki Yashiro, who died in 2023, as "on sale" on its website since the 21st, sparking criticism in Yashiro's hometown of Kumamoto Prefecture and elsewhere. In the second half of the article, we will present a Q&A with a lawyer about the rights of the deceased and the infringement of the rights of their surviving family members.
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Average price of rice at supermarkets rises for 15 consecutive weeks to 4,217 yen for 5 kg
2025-04-21 17:07:00
The average price of rice at supermarkets nationwide was 4,217 yen (tax included) per 5 kg in the week ending on the 13th of this month. This is an increase of 3 yen from the previous week, marking the 15th consecutive week of price increases. We will provide detailed information, including forecasts from experts, on why prices have remained high even after the release of stockpiled rice, and what the future holds for prices.
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Pope Francis dies Vatican 2019 visit to Japan appeals for nuclear abolition
2025-04-21 17:04:00
On the 21st, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church had passed away. He was 88 years old. The Vatican did not disclose the cause of death. In 2019, Pope Francis visited Japan for the first time in 38 years as a pope, and appealed for the abolition of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the atomic bomb sites, as well as calling for a peaceful resolution to Russia's military invasion of Ukraine and the military conflict in the Gaza Strip.
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Saitama female high school student stabbed to death: "Two people from different directions at the same intersection"
2025-04-21 16:14:00
It has been one week since the murder of a 15-year-old high school girl in Saitama City on the 21st. Police have learned that just before the incident, a security camera near the scene captured the suspect and the high school girl walking in different directions entering the same intersection. Police are investigating the possibility that the suspect attacked the high school girl immediately after seeing her at the intersection.
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Rice imports from South Korea expected to reach record high due to soaring prices
2025-04-21 15:04:00
As rice prices in Japan continue to rise, there has been a move to import rice from South Korea, and South Korean media has reported that rice exports to Japan are expected to be the highest since statistics began being kept.
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Tokyo District Court orders metropolitan government to investigate baby-swap case based on family register, etc.
2025-04-21 13:55:00
In a lawsuit filed by a man who was switched with another baby at a metropolitan hospital 67 years ago and has lived his life without knowing his birth parents, the Tokyo District Court ordered the metropolitan government to conduct an investigation into his birth parents, arguing that "he has the right to know his origins and that the metropolitan government has an obligation to investigate." The court ordered the metropolitan government to conduct an investigation based on family registers and other documents.
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Seko: "No policy has been decided at executive meetings regarding refunds from factions"
2025-04-21 13:47:00
Regarding the issue of political funding within LDP factions, former Secretary-General of the House of Councillors Seko, a former Abe faction leader, was invited as an expert witness to the House of Councillors Budget Committee and indicated that he was of the opinion that no decision to resume the program was ever made at a senior executive meeting in August three years ago, which he also attended to discuss inappropriate refunds from factions.
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Osaka District Court finds mother partially innocent of fraud charges for "fraudulently using daughter's hospitalization to obtain insurance benefits"
2025-04-21 12:35:00
A 35-year-old mother was charged with not giving her elementary school daughter enough food, hospitalizing her for hypoglycemia, and then defrauding the insurance money that was supposed to be paid out at the time. The Osaka District Court found her not guilty of fraud, ruling that "it cannot be said that she intentionally hospitalized her daughter." However, the court found her guilty of attempted coercion by demanding that her daughter not eat, and handed her a suspended sentence.
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Unpublished manuscript of Lee Hui-seong's final novel, who passed away in January, found at his home
2025-04-21 12:25:00
It has been discovered that a large number of unpublished manuscripts of "Earth Dwellers," the final full-length novel by Akutagawa Prize-winning author Lee Hui-seong, who passed away in January this year, have been left behind in his home.
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Sanyo Shinkansen service suspended on both lines between Hiroshima and Hakata stations
2025-04-21 12:10:00
Due to a fallen bamboo tree between Tokuyama Station and Shin-Yamaguchi Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture, the Sanyo Shinkansen will be suspended on both lines between Hiroshima Station and Hakata Station.
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Prime Minister Ishiba: "President Trump's attendance at the Japan-US negotiations shows he values Japan"
2025-04-21 11:59:00
Regarding the US tariff measures, Prime Minister Ishiba pointed out at the House of Councillors Budget Committee that President Trump himself attended the first Japan-US negotiations, which showed that he placed importance on discussions with Japan and intended to make decisions under the president's leadership. He also stated his intention to continue negotiations so that both Japan and the US can contribute to the world.
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The yen rose to 140 yen per dollar for the first time in about seven months
2025-04-21 11:19:00
On the 21st, there was a strong trend of selling dollars and buying yen in the Tokyo foreign exchange market, and the yen temporarily rose to the 140 yen range per dollar for the first time in about seven months.
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US newspaper: "Defense Secretary Hegseth uses app to share military operations with his wife"
2025-04-21 10:53:00
A major American newspaper reported that Secretary of Defense Hegseth had been using a private messaging app to share information about military operations in the Middle East in a group chat that included his wife and younger brother. A series of cases have been pointed out that raise doubts about the Trump administration's information management.
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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani returns from "paternity list" and the team wins
2025-04-21 07:04:00
Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers returned from the paternity list following the birth of his child, and played in his first game in three games against the Rangers on the 20th. Although Ohtani was unable to get a hit, the team won 1-0, marking his return with a win.
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Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry: "Small and medium-sized enterprises' labor and management representatives should participate in minimum wage discussions"
2025-04-21 06:50:00
Regarding the government's goal of raising the national average minimum wage to 1,500 yen in the 2020s, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and others have argued that the government's goal should be considered taking into account the actual conditions of small and medium-sized enterprises, and have compiled a petition calling for representatives of labor and management from small and medium-sized enterprises to be allowed to participate in government discussions on the minimum wage.
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President Trump takes issue with US-made cars "hardly selling in Japan"
2025-04-21 06:47:00
US President Trump has raised concerns about the fact that American-made cars are hardly being sold in Japan. Looking at the number of cars imported into Japan by foreign manufacturers, the proportion of German cars is high, while the number of American cars is limited.
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President Putin does not issue an order to extend the ceasefire that coincided with Easter; ceasefire ends
2025-04-21 06:15:00
The ceasefire period, which was unilaterally declared by Russian President Putin to coincide with Easter, ended at 6 a.m. on the 21st, Japan time. Ukraine has proposed that Russia continue its attacks during this time, and has asked Russia to agree to a 30-day halt to missile attacks on civilian infrastructure.
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Following Japan-U.S. negotiations over tariffs, the House of Councillors Budget Committee will hold intensive discussions today
2025-04-21 06:11:00
Following the Japan-US negotiations over US tariff measures, the House of Councillors Budget Committee will hold an intensive deliberation on the 21st, with Prime Minister Ishiba in attendance. It is expected that the committee will hold a debate on how to respond to the next ministerial negotiations.
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Arctic Ocean ice extent at lowest recorded level: JAXA and others say it's linked to climate change
2025-04-21 05:21:00
According to an analysis by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and others, the extent of ice in the Arctic Ocean measured by satellite from space has been found to be the smallest in recorded history this year. They say this phenomenon is related to global climate change.
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Government to examine whether EV charging standards need to be addressed in Japan-U.S. tariff negotiations
2025-04-21 05:09:00
As the Trump administration is demanding an increase in automobile imports in Japan-U.S. negotiations over tariff measures, the government has decided to carefully examine whether specific measures are needed regarding charging standards for electric vehicles (EVs), which the U.S. side has identified as a "non-tariff barrier."
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