Main news(2025/04/25)
JA Zennoh wins bid for stockpiled rice; "Only 24% shipped" - distribution is an issue
2025-04-25 23:37:00
Regarding the government's stockpiled rice, some small and medium-sized supermarkets have complained that it is not available, and the issue of how to distribute it has become an issue. In the midst of this, JA Zennoh, the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, which has won more than 90% of the stockpiled rice auctions so far, announced that it has shipped 24% of the rice it won to its customers.
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Putin meets with US envoy, Russia says
2025-04-25 21:02:00
On the 25th, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that President Putin was meeting with US special envoy for the Trump administration, Vitkov, at the Kremlin.
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TBS TV: Company response insufficient in response to four cases of harassment by program performers
2025-04-25 20:41:00
TBS Television, which has been investigating the reality of dining out between employees and people in the entertainment industry, has revealed that there have been four cases in the past where the company's response was inadequate after announcers were groped or otherwise assaulted by program guests.
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Okinawa Governor decides not to make sexual assault case involving U.S. soldier public out of consideration for victim's feelings
2025-04-25 20:40:00
Okinawa Governor Tamaki explained that despite being informed by the prefectural police that two U.S. Marines had been referred to prosecutors on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman, he did not make the information public, saying, "This was out of consideration for the feelings of the victim, who did not want the incident to be made public."
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Komeito leader Saito calls for tax cuts and temporary benefits ahead of House of Councillors elections
2025-04-25 20:40:00
In the run-up to the House of Councillors election in the summer, Komeito leader Saito called for tax cuts and benefits as a stopgap measure to address rising prices and other issues, and also indicated his intention to quickly consider the specific taxes that would be subject to the cuts and the financial resources to make up for the cuts.
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Russia announces that a Russian military officer was killed in an explosion near Moscow
2025-04-25 19:29:00
Russia's Investigative Committee, which continues its military invasion of Ukraine, announced on the 25th that an explosion occurred near the capital Moscow, killing a Russian military officer. Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the incident, as a passenger vehicle exploded. In December 2024, an explosion occurred in Moscow, killing two Russian military officers.
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Shinji Ishimaru's regional political party to field 10 candidates in summer's House of Councillors election
2025-04-25 17:36:00
The regional political party founded by Shinji Ishimaru has announced that it will field a total of 10 candidates in the Tokyo electoral district and proportional representation in the House of Councillors election this summer.
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Tokyo District Court orders Amazon to pay damages, "Removing genuine products without investigating counterfeit products"
2025-04-25 16:30:00
In a lawsuit filed against online retailer Amazon by a seller claiming that insufficient measures against counterfeit goods had led to a drop in sales, the Tokyo District Court ruled that "it was gross negligence to remove the entire page, including genuine products, without investigating the counterfeit goods," and ordered Amazon Japan to pay 35 million yen in damages.
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CDP leader Noda pledges to eliminate consumption tax on food products for one year in principle in upper house election campaign
2025-04-25 14:31:00
Constitutional Democratic Party leader Noda has indicated he plans to include in his campaign pledges for the House of Councillors election this summer a proposal to reduce the consumption tax rate on food items to zero percent, in principle for one year only, and then transition to a "tax credit with benefits" that would provide benefits and income tax deductions.
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Tokyo Metropolitan Government "Won't Appeal" Against Tokyo District Court Ruling on Baby Mix-Up 67 Years Ago
2025-04-25 14:22:00
It has been learned that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has informed the man who was switched with another baby 67 years ago that it will not appeal the ruling of the Tokyo District Court ordering the metropolitan government to investigate the birth parents of the man. This means that the ruling ordering the metropolitan government to investigate the birth parents is now final.
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Why do we fall into a deep sleep when we don't get enough sleep? Research on lizard brains conducted by Nagoya University and others
2025-04-25 14:00:00
Nagoya University and others have announced that they have investigated the functioning of the brains of lizards in detail to find out why they become sleepy and fall into a deep sleep when they are sleep-deprived, and have found that the "cerebral cortex," which covers the surface, is involved. They say that this result will lead to an understanding of the mechanism by which sleepiness accumulates in the brain.
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PFAS levels exceed national "provisional guideline values" at 242 locations in 22 prefectures in fiscal 2023
2025-04-25 13:35:00
The government has published the results of its compilation of detection status of PFAS, an organic fluorine compound some of which are considered harmful, in groundwater and rivers across the country in fiscal year 2023, revealing that concentrations exceeding the provisional national guideline values were detected at 242 locations in 22 prefectures. Measures are being taken at all locations, such as calling for people not to consume PFAS as drinking water, but most of the emission sources have not been identified, and the Ministry of the Environment will continue to work to understand the situation.
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Google's parent company reports third-month earnings increase, advertising revenue and other revenues rise
2025-04-25 13:11:00
Alphabet, the parent company of the American IT giant Google, reported increased revenue and profits for the three months to March due to increased advertising revenue from its search site.
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Nagano Iida accident: 4 people killed - investigation into driving error, speed etc.
2025-04-25 12:30:00
On the 24th, a car traveling on a road on a levee in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, crashed into a floodgate on the side of the road, killing four people. As the accident occurred on a straight road with good visibility, the police believe that the driver made a mistake in driving for some reason, and are currently investigating the details of the accident, such as the speed the car was traveling at the time.
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Memorial ceremony commemorating 20 years since JR Fukuchiyama Line derailment: victims honoured
2025-04-25 12:15:00
On the 25th, it will be 20 years since the JR Fukuchiyama Line derailment accident, in which 107 people were killed. A memorial service was held at the accident site, where bereaved families and JR West officials mourned the victims.
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Japan-U.S. Finance Ministers' Meeting: "The U.S. side makes no mention of exchange rates" - Yen falls
2025-04-25 12:00:00
As the market focuses on whether the Trump administration will seek to correct the strong dollar in the Japan-US negotiations, Finance Minister Kato met with Treasury Secretary Bessent in Washington early on the 25th (Japan time) to discuss foreign exchange and other issues. Minister Kato revealed that the US side had not mentioned anything about exchange rate targets, and in response, the view that the yen would continue to appreciate receded in the foreign exchange market, causing the yen to fall somewhat.
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"Preparing for negotiations that will benefit both Japan and the U.S." Prime Minister Ishiba on tariffs
2025-04-25 11:37:00
Regarding the tariff measures taken by the Trump administration, Prime Minister Ishiba instructed his cabinet members to continue preparations for the next ministerial negotiations with the aim of achieving results that benefit both Japan and the United States, and to communicate through various channels that investment and job creation by Japanese companies are contributing to the American economy.
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First meeting to strengthen support for the "employment ice age generation" considers support measures such as securing housing
2025-04-25 10:32:00
The first meeting of the relevant ministerial council to strengthen support for the so-called "employment ice age" generation was held, and Prime Minister Ishiba called for consideration of support measures such as asset formation and housing security, in anticipation of the aging of the "employment ice age" generation in the future.
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President Trump "met with China this morning" - focus on easing trade tensions
2025-04-25 08:17:00
As attention is focused on talks aimed at easing trade friction between the United States and China, US President Trump said on the 24th that he had a meeting with China this morning, explaining that talks had taken place. Until now, the Chinese side has said that no talks had taken place, and the two sides have been at odds.
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G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting Concludes: Tariffs Raise Concerns
2025-04-25 07:17:00
The meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of the G20, the major 20 countries, held in Washington, D.C., concluded in the early hours of the 25th, Japan time. The meeting was marked by a series of concerns from each country that the Trump administration's tariff measures are having a negative impact on the economy, and the issue now is whether the G20 can cooperate in the future to achieve the free and open economy that they have been aiming for.
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Finance Minister Kato meets with U.S. Treasury Secretary: "The U.S. side did not discuss exchange rates"
2025-04-25 06:57:00
Minister of Finance Kato, who is visiting the United States, met with US Treasury Secretary Bessent in the early morning of the 25th (Japan time) to discuss issues such as foreign exchange. Minister Kato stated in a press conference after the meeting that the US side did not discuss exchange rate levels, targets, or frameworks for managing exchange rates, but revealed that the two sides agreed to continue to hold close discussions on foreign exchange.
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President Trump: "It will be very difficult to take back Crimea"
2025-04-25 06:54:00
Regarding the treatment of territory in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, US President Trump said that it would be "very difficult to take back" the southern Crimea that Russia unilaterally annexed. This highlights the difference in position between him and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who does not recognize the occupation of Crimea.
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Large-scale Russian military attack: President Trump "unnecessary, bad timing"
2025-04-25 06:02:00
Following a massive Russian missile and drone attack in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, leaving 12 people dead, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction, calling the attack "unnecessary and extremely ill-timed," and attention is focused on whether this will affect future ceasefire talks.
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Local governments struggling to cope with growing number of children with Japanese nationality attending international schools
2025-04-25 05:17:00
It has become clear that at least 4,800 children of Japanese nationality are attending international schools, not compulsory education schools, in Tokyo's 23 wards. Local governments are being forced to deal with the increasing number of children attending these facilities at this time.
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Hyogo Prefecture: 20 years since the JR Fukuchiyama Line derailment - A day to pledge railway safety
2025-04-25 05:04:00
On the 25th, it will be 20 years since the JR Fukuchiyama Line derailment, in which 107 people were killed. A memorial service will be held at the accident site, and it will be a day to pledge once again to railway safety.
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