Social News(2024/08/05)
Tokyo Women's Medical University: Issues surrounding alumni organization spur calls for president to resign
2024-08-05 23:58:00
Following the report by a third-party committee calling for fundamental reform of the board of directors and pointing out the "one-man reign" of the president of Tokyo Women's Medical University regarding the opaque financial flows surrounding the university's alumni association, the university held an information session for faculty and staff, where the president apologized, but did not explicitly state that he would resign immediately, and other board members repeatedly called for him to step down immediately.
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Suspicious fires in Kuki, Okegawa, Saitama, and other areas; 2 other incidents in the same area
2024-08-05 23:33:00
Seven suspicious fires have occurred in a three-kilometer radius around Kuki City and Okegawa City in Saitama Prefecture, and two other fires involving agricultural greenhouses and other buildings have also occurred in Kuki City, according to interviews with investigators. Both incidents occurred in the same area as the previous ones, and police are investigating whether they are related to the series of suspicious fires.
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Dangerously hot: Police officers also wear sunglasses; precautions needed as tomorrow's scorching hot day hits areas across the country
2024-08-05 21:59:00
In Western and Eastern Japan, the daytime maximum temperature exceeded 38 degrees on the 5th, making it dangerously hot. On the 6th, Fukuoka Prefecture is expected to reach 38 degrees, and other areas are expected to reach 35 degrees or higher, so please continue to take thorough measures to prevent heatstroke.
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Flightless kiwi bird dies at age 35 at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka
2024-08-05 20:56:00
The kiwi, the national bird of New Zealand and the only flightless bird kept in Japan at the Tennoji Zoo in Osaka, died on the 5th. He was 35 years old.
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Unstable atmosphere from Tohoku to Kyushu, heavy rain in Iwate, landslides and other disasters on alert
2024-08-05 20:33:00
The atmospheric conditions are extremely unstable from Tohoku to Kyushu, and it is estimated that about 100 mm of heavy rain fell in Iwate Prefecture in the hour leading up to 7 p.m. Please be on high alert for flooding in low-lying areas, rising rivers, and landslides.
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Food poisoning from "botulinum toxin" in Toyama: Four family members complain of symptoms, three in serious condition
2024-08-05 19:59:00
In July, four members of a family in Toyama City, ranging from their teens to their 80s, complained of symptoms such as eye problems and difficulty breathing, with three of them becoming seriously ill. The city's public health center is investigating the cause, suspecting it to be food poisoning caused by "botulinum toxin."
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Yamagata Shinkansen to resume full operation from the 10th of this month
2024-08-05 19:54:00
JR East has announced that the Yamagata Shinkansen, which has been unable to operate on some sections due to record-breaking rains in July, will resume full service on the line from August 10.
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Mass food poisoning from eel bento lunches: investigation into inadequate hand washing, contaminated kitchen counters
2024-08-05 19:49:00
In July, a mass food poisoning incident occurred at a department store in Yokohama, where approximately 160 people who bought eel bento boxes and other items complained of symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. The health center released the results of an investigation into the incident, which suggested that the cooks had not washed their hands properly and that the kitchen counters may have been contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus.
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Japan Meteorological Agency: Tornado observed in ocean south of Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, no damage reported
2024-08-05 19:34:00
On the afternoon of the 5th, the Meteorological Agency issued a temporary "tornado warning" after observing a tornado in the sea south of Ishigaki Island. According to the police and others, there has been no information of damage so far.
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US military helicopter crash-lands in rice field: Ministry of Defense apologizes to Ebina city and explains circumstances
2024-08-05 19:33:00
On the 3rd, following the emergency landing of a US military helicopter in a rice field in Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture, the Ministry of Defense apologized to the city and explained future measures.
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Seven suspicious fires in Saitama's Kuki and Okegawa areas, no signs of fire, person familiar with area?
2024-08-05 19:31:00
Seven suspicious fires have occurred in a three-kilometer radius in Kuki and Okegawa cities, Saitama Prefecture. At the scene of the fires, no fire was set in the houses, as the residents were asleep, and there was no sign of fire in the warehouses. All of the fires occurred in residential areas, and the police believe that someone familiar with the area may have set the fires, and are investigating whether any suspicious individuals have been seen.
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Former police sergeant sentenced to one year in prison with three years' probation for leaking Kagoshima Prefectural Police information
2024-08-05 19:26:00
The Kagoshima District Court has sentenced a former police sergeant at the Kagoshima Prefectural Police Headquarters, who was charged with leaking internal criminal case documents to online media, to a one-year suspended prison sentence, ruling that the violation of privacy was "high."
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"Recognize the risk to life": Suspected heatstroke deaths continue as 123 people die in Tokyo in July
2024-08-05 19:18:00
According to an interview with the Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Examiner's Office, the number of people who died from suspected heat stroke in Tokyo's 23 wards in July rose to 123. The number of people who were rushed to hospital in Tokyo has also increased by more than 500 from last year, and the Tokyo Fire Department is calling for thorough measures to be taken.
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Four arrested for introducing female host club customers to sex shops and receiving cash
2024-08-05 19:17:00
"It's common for them to arrange sex," "They're dispatched like an assembly line," is the testimony of a current host in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, who makes more than 10 million yen a month. On the 5th, four sex industry brokers were arrested for introducing female customers who were in debt after being charged high fees at Kabukicho host clubs to sex industry establishments and receiving more than 400,000 yen in cash from them. The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating the details of the case, as the brokers sent profiles of female customers to establishments across the country and dispatched them to the establishment that offered the highest bid.
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Record-breaking short-term heavy rainfall in Iwate Prefecture
2024-08-05 19:16:00
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, radar analysis indicates that approximately 100 mm of heavy rain fell in the southern area of Morioka City in the hour up to 6:50 pm. As the risk of a disaster is imminent, the agency has issued a "record-breaking short-term heavy rainfall information" and is calling for people to ensure their safety.
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Yamagata Shinkansen Fukushima-Yonezawa line operations resumed, Oishida-Shinjo line operations suspended
2024-08-05 19:15:00
Due to the heavy rain, the Yamagata Shinkansen suspended operations on both lines between Fukushima Station in Fukushima Prefecture and Yonezawa Station in Yamagata Prefecture, but resumed operations at around 5:30 pm. However, due to the record-breaking rainfall since the 25th of last month, operations remain suspended between Oishida Station and Shinjo Station in Yamagata Prefecture.
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KADOKAWA announces that personal information of 250,000 people has been leaked, NicoNico Douga resumes
2024-08-05 19:13:00
Major publishing company KADOKAWA has announced that it has confirmed that personal information of approximately 250,000 people, including its subsidiaries' business partners and employees, was leaked in a cyber attack that occurred in June 2024.
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Shinkansen maintenance vehicle crashes into train after inspection method misstep reduces braking force, causing train to continue moving
2024-08-05 19:03:00
Regarding the collision between two maintenance cars on the Tokaido Shinkansen line last month, JR Central revealed that the cause was an error in the brake inspection method, which caused some cars to run with significantly reduced braking power, and therefore unable to reduce speed sufficiently.
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NHK poll: 25% "support" Kishida Cabinet, 55% "dissupport"
2024-08-05 19:00:00
According to an NHK opinion poll, the number of people who said they "support" the Kishida Cabinet remained unchanged from the July survey at 25%, while the number of people who said they "do not support" it fell two points to 55%.
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Tokyo's minimum wage to increase by 50 yen to 1,163 yen, the largest increase ever
2024-08-05 18:43:00
The Tokyo Labor Bureau's council has recommended raising the minimum wage in Tokyo by 50 yen to 1,163 yen per hour. This is the largest increase ever, and is expected to take effect in October of this year.
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Dangerously hot: Police officers also wear sunglasses; precautions needed as tomorrow's scorching hot day hits areas across the country
2024-08-05 18:38:00
In Western and Eastern Japan, the daytime maximum temperature exceeded 38 degrees on the 5th, making it dangerously hot. On the 6th, Fukuoka Prefecture is expected to reach 38 degrees, and other areas are expected to reach 35 degrees or higher, so please continue to take thorough measures to prevent heatstroke.
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Osaka Kadoma junior high school student commits suicide due to bullying, sues city and classmates
2024-08-05 18:33:00
On the 5th, the parents of a third-year junior high school boy from Kadoma City, Osaka, who committed suicide two years ago, filed a lawsuit against the city and 11 of his classmates, seeking damages, claiming that the student was bullied by his classmates on social media and that his homeroom teacher failed to respond appropriately to the bullying.
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Aomori, Tohoku Town: Slope behind hot spring facility collapses, depositing mud into bath area, one man slightly injured
2024-08-05 18:18:00
On the 4th, a slope behind a hot spring facility in Tohoku Town, Aomori Prefecture, collapsed, sending mud and sand into the bath, causing minor injuries to a man bathing in the bath. According to the meteorological observatory, heavy rain was falling in the area at the time, and the prefecture is currently investigating the extent of the damage.
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Subsidies temporarily suspended for 20 farmland solar power generation businesses found to be in violation of the Agricultural Land Act
2024-08-05 18:08:00
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has announced that it will temporarily suspend the payment of subsidies to 20 businesses that are using agricultural land to generate solar power, after confirming violations of the Agricultural Land Act.
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Yokohama: Board of Education staff mobilized to observe trial; citizen audit request for travel expenses refund rejected
2024-08-05 18:06:00
In relation to the issue of the Yokohama City Board of Education mobilizing a large number of employees to observe the trial of a teacher involved in a sex crime case, a citizen's request for an audit was filed seeking the return of travel expenses and other payments made to employees. The city's audit committee dismissed the request, stating that "although the orders given to employees to travel on business were illegal, there were no serious and obvious defects."
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Earthquake-damaged nursing home in Wajima reopens for the first time in seven months
2024-08-05 17:46:00
A special nursing home for the elderly in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, which was severely damaged by the Noto Peninsula earthquake, resumed accepting residents on the 5th for the first time in about seven months. Some of the original residents are finding it difficult to return because their families have evacuated to distant areas.
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Rehearsals for the Peace Memorial Ceremony ahead of Hiroshima Atomic Bombing Day
2024-08-05 16:56:00
A rehearsal for the Peace Memorial Ceremony was held at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park ahead of Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Anniversary on the 6th.
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Megumi Yokota's request to return to Japan displayed on electronic station sign
2024-08-05 16:32:00
Hoping for the early return of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korea when she was in the first year of junior high school, electronic billboards calling for an early resolution to the issue have been put up at JR Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo and elsewhere. Her mother, Sakie, commented, "I want people to remember that this is still a real issue, and not something of the past."
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Yamagata Shinkansen service suspended on both lines between Fukushima and Yonezawa due to heavy rain
2024-08-05 16:27:00
Due to the heavy rain, the Yamagata Shinkansen has been suspended on both lines between Fukushima Station in Fukushima Prefecture and Yonezawa Station in Yamagata Prefecture since 3:22 p.m. In addition, due to the record-breaking rainfall since the 25th of last month, service has been suspended between Oishida Station and Shinjo Station in Yamagata Prefecture.
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To develop the next generation of leaders, high school students visit workplaces where women play active roles in Chiba
2024-08-05 16:10:00
In an effort to nurture the next generation of female leaders, an event was held in Chiba City in which high school students visited workplaces where female managers are active, learning about the rewards of their jobs and the workplace environment.
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Yokohama: Board of Education staff mobilized to observe trial; citizen audit request for travel expenses refund rejected
2024-08-05 15:47:00
In relation to the issue of the Yokohama City Board of Education mobilizing a large number of employees to observe the trial of a teacher involved in a sex crime case, a citizen's request for an audit was filed seeking the return of travel expenses and other payments made to employees. The city's audit committee dismissed the request, stating that "although the orders given to employees to travel on business were illegal, there were no serious and obvious defects."
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Tokyo University professors request Tokyo Governor Koike to write a memorial for Koreans killed during the Great Kanto Earthquake
2024-08-05 15:40:00
Professors from the University of Tokyo have submitted a letter of request to Tokyo Governor Koike, urging him to recognize the murder of Koreans in the chaos following the Great Kanto Earthquake over 100 years ago as a historical fact and to issue a message of remembrance.
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Japan Fair Trade Commission to impose fines on major non-life insurers after finding pre-dealing arrangements were a collusion or cartel
2024-08-05 15:33:00
In a case involving four major non-life insurance companies pre-adjusting insurance premiums for contracts with multiple companies and local governments, the Japan Fair Trade Commission has found that three of the companies engaged in collusion in bidding for contracts placed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, according to interviews with people involved. The commission has also determined that the four companies have engaged in a cartel regarding insurance contracts with railway companies, and has decided to order them to pay a total of more than 150 million yen in fines.
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Rakugo performer Katsura Yonemaru passes away at age 99
2024-08-05 15:31:00
Katsura Yonemaru, the oldest Rakugo performer in Japan, who established his own style of new Rakugo and was active on television and elsewhere, passed away on the 1st of this month at a hospital in Tokyo due to old age. He was 99 years old.
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Japan Meteorological Agency: Tornado observed in ocean near Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, no damage reported
2024-08-05 15:29:00
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, a tornado was observed in the ocean about 10 kilometers southeast of Ishigaki Island at around 1:28 pm on the 5th. In response, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a "tornado warning" for the Ishigaki Island area at 1:54 pm.
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Children of Noto continue judo: online exchange with athlete Abe Hifumi
2024-08-05 15:28:00
Children in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture, which was affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake, interacted online with Hifumi Abe, who won the gold medal in the men's 66 kg judo event at the Paris Olympics.
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US military helicopter crash-lands in rice field: Ministry of Defense apologizes to Ebina city and explains circumstances
2024-08-05 15:20:00
On the 3rd, following the emergency landing of a US military helicopter in a rice field in Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture, the Ministry of Defense apologized to the city and explained the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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Dangerously hot: Police officers also wear sunglasses; heatstroke alert issued in 34 prefectures
2024-08-05 14:34:00
Temperatures are rising in many areas on the 5th, with temperatures reaching over 35 degrees from the morning. Dangerously hot weather is expected in western Japan, so please continue to take thorough measures to prevent heatstroke. Meanwhile, in northern and eastern Japan, the atmospheric conditions are becoming very unstable and there is a risk of very heavy rain, so caution is needed against landslides, flooding of low-lying areas, and rising rivers.
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Japan Meteorological Agency announces tornadoes and other gusts of wind in Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture
2024-08-05 14:07:00
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tornado warning at 1:54 pm on the 5th, stating that a tornado or other gust of wind appeared in the Ishigakijima region of Okinawa Prefecture. The agency urges people to exercise caution as there is a risk of further tornadoes and other gusts of wind occurring in the Ishigakijima region, and to ensure their safety by staying inside a sturdy building in the event of a sudden change in the weather, thunder, or hail. *The tornado warning is valid until 3:00 pm.
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123 people suspected of heat stroke died in Tokyo's 23 wards in July, most of them indoors, without air conditioning
2024-08-05 14:06:00
According to an interview with the Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Examiner's Office, the number of people who died from suspected heat stroke in Tokyo's 23 wards in July rose to 123. The number of people who were rushed to hospital in Tokyo has also increased by more than 500 from last year, and the Tokyo Fire Department is calling for thorough measures to be taken.
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High school student beaten to death in Sendai street; two suspects in their 20s arrested
2024-08-05 13:47:00
On the 1st of this month, a male high school student was punched in the face and stomach on the street in Sendai City, losing consciousness and later dying. Police have arrested two suspects in their 20s for punching a high school student they did not know while drunk, and are currently investigating the details of the incident.
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Volcanic tremors observed at Mt. Iwate multiple times this month, eruption alert level 1 continues
2024-08-05 13:45:00
Since the 2nd of this month, multiple instances of volcanic tremors, which are thought to occur when underground magma or volcanic gases move, have been observed on Mount Iwate in Iwate Prefecture, and the Sendai Regional Meteorological Observatory is urging people to pay close attention to future developments in volcanic activity.
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68-year-old suspect arrested in Tokyo for allegedly molesting a girl under false accusations
2024-08-05 13:07:00
A 68-year-old suspect was arrested in Nerima Ward, Tokyo, for allegedly committing lewd acts against an elementary school girl, claiming that he had bumped into her. He has denied the charges, saying he has no knowledge of the incident when questioned by the Metropolitan Police Department.
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Rakugo performer Katsura Yonemaru passes away at age 99
2024-08-05 12:45:00
Katsura Yonemaru, the oldest Rakugo performer in Japan, who established his own style of new Rakugo and was active on television and elsewhere, passed away on the 1st of this month at a hospital in Tokyo due to old age. He was 99 years old.
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Commemoration ceremony marks 80 years since Japanese soldiers escaped from Australian POW camp
2024-08-05 12:34:00
August 5th marked 80 years since the incident during the Pacific War in which a group of Japanese soldiers attempted to escape from a prisoner-of-war camp in Australia and were shot to death, resulting in 231 deaths. A memorial service was held in the area, with many Japanese in attendance.
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Dangerous heat in western Japan: Heatstroke alert issued for 34 prefectures; measures to be taken
2024-08-05 11:54:00
Temperatures are rising in many areas on the 5th, with temperatures reaching over 35 degrees from the morning. Dangerously hot weather is expected in western Japan, so please continue to take thorough measures to prevent heatstroke. Meanwhile, in northern and eastern Japan, the atmospheric conditions are becoming very unstable and there is a risk of very heavy rain, so caution is needed against landslides, flooding of low-lying areas, and rising rivers.
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Four arrested for introducing female host club customers to sex shops and receiving cash
2024-08-05 11:46:00
Four sex industry brokers have been arrested for allegedly introducing female customers who had fallen into debt after being charged high fees at a host club in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, to sex industry establishments and receiving over 400,000 yen in cash from them. The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating the details of the case, as the brokers sent profiles of female customers to establishments across the country and dispatched them to the establishment that offered the highest bid.
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Ishikawa, Komatsu: Third grade elementary school student drowns in waterfall at tourist attraction, unconscious and in critical condition
2024-08-05 11:04:00
On the 4th, a third-grade boy drowned while splashing around in the water at Jyunigataki Falls, a tourist spot in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture. According to police, he is now in a coma and in critical condition.
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Rakugo performer Katsura Yonemaru passes away at age 99
2024-08-05 11:01:00
Katsura Yonemaru, the oldest Rakugo performer in Japan, who established his own style of new Rakugo and was active on television and elsewhere, passed away on the 1st of this month at a hospital in Tokyo due to old age. He was 99 years old.
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JR Tsurumi Line resumes full service
2024-08-05 09:04:00
JR Tsurumi Line services were suspended on the entire line due to point inspections at Musashi-Shiraishi Station in Kawasaki City, but services resumed at around 8:49 a.m.
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Warehouse completely burned down in Kuki, Saitama; police investigating connection to seven fires in the prefecture this month
2024-08-05 07:37:00
In the early hours of the 5th, a warehouse on a residential property in Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture, burned down. Since the 1st of this month, there have been a series of fires burning down houses and other buildings in Kuki City and Okegawa City in Saitama Prefecture, and the police are investigating the seven cases, suspecting that they may be serial arson.
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Keio Line operations resume on all lines
2024-08-05 06:58:00
Due to a fatal accident that occurred in Fuchu City, Tokyo, Keio Line services were suspended on both inbound and outbound lines between Tobitakyu Station and Fuchu Station, and on the Keibajo Line between Higashi-Fuchu Station and Fuchu Keiba-Mae Station. However, services resumed on the entire line at around 6:51 a.m.
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Extreme heat expected in Western and Eastern Japan; thorough measures to prevent heatstroke required
2024-08-05 06:13:00
Extreme heat is expected to continue on the 5th, especially in western and eastern Japan, so please continue to take thorough measures to prevent heatstroke. Meanwhile, in northern and eastern Japan, atmospheric conditions are expected to become extremely unstable through the 6th, so caution is required against landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, and rising rivers.
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A jet ski crashed into the riverbank of the Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture, killing a 32-year-old man and injuring another.
2024-08-05 00:15:00
On the evening of the 4th, a jet ski carrying two people crashed into a wave-breaker on the riverbank on the Nagara River in Gifu City, killing a 32-year-old man and seriously injuring another person.
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