2024-12-20 23:53:00
On the early morning of the 20th, a luxury car with a market value of 17.5 million yen was stolen from a parking lot in Hino Town, Shiga Prefecture. Security cameras recorded two people stealing the car, and the police are investigating the case as a theft.
2024-12-20 22:06:00
The government held a meeting of relevant cabinet members to address the serious manpower shortage problem in the Self-Defense Forces, and drew up a basic policy that includes providing subsidies to new recruits who begin living at bases and reviewing salaries with a view to raising them after four years.
2024-12-20 22:04:00
The Ministry of Defense and others entered the Yokota Air Base in Tokyo on the 20th to inspect the site after water containing PFOS, a fluorinated organic compound believed to be harmful, allegedly leaked out of the base.
2024-12-20 21:46:00
The government has decided to set up a new council of experts, including researchers and representatives of volunteer groups, to consider establishing a Disaster Prevention Agency that will act as a command center in the event of a disaster. The government plans to compile a policy direction by next summer.
2024-12-20 21:32:00
As water utilities face increasingly difficult times, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has published a "Water Supply Chart" that classifies all utilities nationwide based on two indicators: their business situation and the rate at which their facilities are earthquake-resistant. By visualizing the current situation, the ministry hopes to lead to effective measures.
2024-12-20 21:11:00
In order to promote the recycling of soil produced during decontamination work following the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and its final disposal outside the prefecture, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi has made clear his intention to compile a basic policy by around spring of next year.
2024-12-20 21:10:00
As a seasonal winter sight, monkeys were shown to the media warming themselves by a bonfire at the Japan Monkey Center in Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture.
2024-12-20 21:09:00
In line with concerns about an increase in street crime around the New Year's holiday, the Metropolitan Police Department is implementing "special vigilance" throughout Tokyo, and on the 20th, Superintendent General Ogata Yoshimi inspected Kabukicho in Shinjuku.
2024-12-20 21:08:00
A report was filed against a Communist Party city council member in Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture, who was taken to the hospital in a drunken state on the 13th of this month, alleging that he had used violence against nurses and firefighters. The council member held a press conference on the 20th to apologize and revealed that he had submitted his resignation, which was accepted.
2024-12-20 21:07:00
Architect Yoshio Taniguchi, who designed many art museums and public facilities both in Japan and overseas, including the expansion and renovation of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tokyo National Museum's Gallery of Horyuji Treasures, passed away on the 16th of this month due to pneumonia. He was 87 years old.
2024-12-20 21:06:00
Following the accident in April this year in which two Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters collided and crashed during training off the coast of the Izu Islands, the Maritime Self-Defense Force took disciplinary action, including pay cuts, against three senior officers for insufficient safety management during training.
2024-12-20 21:03:00
The government held a meeting of relevant cabinet members to address the serious manpower shortage problem in the Self-Defense Forces, and drew up a basic policy that includes providing subsidies to new recruits who begin living at bases and reviewing salaries with a view to raising them after four years.
2024-12-20 20:27:00
Early on the morning of the 20th, two houses and other buildings in Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture, were completely burned down, and two bodies were found in the ruins. According to the police and fire department, the man in his 50s who lived in the house and his mother who was believed to have come to visit had been unable to be contacted, and the police are working to confirm their identities and investigate the cause of the fire.
2024-12-20 20:26:00
The Ministry of Justice is considering starting discussions on amending the law regarding the retrial system, which allows for trials to be retried, in light of criticism that it prolongs trials and hinders the clearing of wrongful convictions. It plans to ask the Legislative Council for its consideration as early as next spring.
2024-12-20 20:24:00
The superintendent general of Fukuyama Higashi Police Station in Hiroshima Prefecture has been given a disciplinary pay cut after accepting entertainment from outside parties on 13 occasions, including food and drink, worth approximately 130,000 yen, as well as receiving baseball game tickets and other items worth approximately 140,000 yen.
2024-12-20 19:36:00
In the case of the murder of a couple in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, and the arson of a nearby house, a 77-year-old suspect, an acquaintance of the couple for whom police have obtained an arrest warrant on suspicion of arson, was seen throwing something on fire into the house at the time of the incident, according to an interview with an investigator. The suspect was arrested on the night of the 19th for trying to evade police questioning, but was later released to receive treatment for his burns. Police are waiting for his recovery before investigating further.
2024-12-20 19:33:00
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has unveiled new passports with enhanced anti-counterfeiting measures. The photo page will be replaced with plastic, and names and other information will be written on it with a laser. Applications will be issued from late March next year.
2024-12-20 19:30:00
Japan Post has decided to file a lawsuit against Yamato Transport Co., Ltd., seeking damages, according to sources. The company claims that damages will be incurred as a result of Yamato Transport's request to review its delivery cooperation agreement.
2024-12-20 19:28:00
A trial is underway in which the former president of a real estate company who was found not guilty in an embezzlement case investigated by the Osaka District Public Prosecutors' Office Special Investigation Division is seeking compensation from the government.A video recording of the prosecutor who interrogated one of the former president's subordinates at the time banging on the table and telling the subordinate in a forceful tone, "Don't mess with the prosecutors," was played in court for the first time.
2024-12-20 19:23:00
In a case where two junior high school students were stabbed and killed at a fast food restaurant in Kitakyushu City, it was learned from an interview with an investigator that the black car believed to have been driven by the arrested 43-year-old suspect had been repeatedly captured on multiple security cameras in the area around the scene one or two hours before the incident. A security camera near the scene captured a black car with similar characteristics to the car believed to have been driven by the suspects immediately after the incident, and police have retrieved the footage and are investigating whether it is related to the incident.
2024-12-20 19:02:00
A trial is underway in which the former president of a real estate company who was found not guilty in an embezzlement case investigated by the Osaka District Public Prosecutors' Office Special Investigation Division is seeking compensation from the government.A video recording of the prosecutor who interrogated one of the former president's subordinates at the time banging on the table and telling the subordinate in a forceful tone, "Don't mess with the prosecutors," was played in court for the first time.
2024-12-20 18:54:00
Due to a strong winter pressure pattern and cold front, heavy snow is expected from Sunday to Monday, the 22nd, mainly in the Sea of Japan side of northern and western Japan, and the Japan Meteorological Agency is urging people to be careful of the impact of the heavy snow on traffic.
2024-12-20 18:38:00
In a case where two junior high school students were stabbed and killed at a fast food restaurant in Kitakyushu City, it was learned from an interview with an investigator that the black car believed to have been driven by the arrested 43-year-old suspect had been repeatedly captured on multiple security cameras in the area around the scene one or two hours before the incident. A security camera near the scene captured a black car with similar characteristics to the car believed to have been driven by the suspects immediately after the incident, and police have retrieved the footage and are investigating whether it is related to the incident.
2024-12-20 18:12:00
Due to a strong winter pressure pattern and cold front, heavy snow is expected from Sunday to Monday, the 22nd, mainly in the Sea of Japan side of northern and western Japan, and the Japan Meteorological Agency is urging people to be careful of the impact of the heavy snow on traffic.
2024-12-20 18:10:00
The Ministry of Justice is considering starting discussions on amending the law regarding the retrial system, which allows for trials to be retried, in light of criticism that it prolongs trials and hinders the clearing of wrongful convictions. It plans to ask the Legislative Council for its consideration as early as next spring.
2024-12-20 18:06:00
In the case of the murder of a couple with a knife in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, police interviews revealed that the couple had wounds on their upper bodies as well as their backs and arms, and that they had been stabbed repeatedly. The suspect, a 77-year-old acquaintance of the couple, was arrested on the night of the 19th while trying to evade police questioning, but was released and hospitalized. The police will wait for his recovery before investigating further.
2024-12-20 17:54:00
The influenza epidemic is spreading nationwide, with the number of patients who visited medical institutions in the week ending on the 15th of this month estimated to be over 710,000, more than double the number from the previous week.
2024-12-20 17:42:00
A survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology found that in fiscal 2023, 320 public school teachers received disciplinary action for sexual crimes or sexual violence against children and students, the highest number ever.
2024-12-20 17:41:00
A survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology revealed that the number of teachers who took leave due to mental illnesses such as depression last year exceeded 7,000 for the first time, the highest number ever. Many of these were due to issues with teaching students or interpersonal relationships in the workplace.
2024-12-20 16:57:00
In response to the "Nankai Trough Earthquake Emergency Information (Massive Earthquake Warning)" issued in August this year, which left many local governments and companies confused about how to respond, the Cabinet Office, which is in charge of disaster prevention measures, has put together improvement measures, such as holding joint press conferences with the Japan Meteorological Agency when announcing information. It has asked that decisions on whether to hold events, etc. be made based on the actual circumstances of each region, without setting uniform standards.
2024-12-20 16:32:00
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications decided on the 20th to add numbers beginning with "060" to the list of mobile phone numbers. After the telecommunications carriers have completed their adjustments, the numbers will be gradually available from July of the year after next.
2024-12-20 16:31:00
In a case where two junior high school students were stabbed and killed at a fast food restaurant in Kitakyushu City, it was learned from an interview with an investigator that the black car believed to have been driven by the arrested 43-year-old suspect had been repeatedly captured on multiple security cameras in the area around the scene one or two hours before the incident. A security camera near the scene captured a black car with similar characteristics to the car believed to have been driven by the suspects immediately after the incident, and police have retrieved the footage and are investigating whether it is related to the incident.
2024-12-20 16:26:00
In August of this year, it was discovered that a one-year-old boy had choked on a round piece of cheese like a candy and died. The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan is calling for caution, especially for infants and young children, such as cutting the cheese into small pieces before giving it to them.
2024-12-20 16:13:00
In the case of the murder of a couple with a knife in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, police interviews revealed that the couple had wounds on their upper bodies as well as their backs and arms, and that they had been stabbed repeatedly. A 77-year-old suspect, an acquaintance of the couple, was arrested on the night of the 19th while trying to evade police questioning, but was released and hospitalized, and the police are waiting for him to recover before conducting a detailed investigation.
2024-12-20 15:42:00
On the 19th, a 41-year-old company executive was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of hit-and-run after he ran away from the scene after hitting and killing a man riding a bicycle in Hachioji City, Tokyo. He has reportedly confessed that he was driving after drinking alcohol.
2024-12-20 15:28:00
In the wake of a rise in cases of children gathering in areas such as "Toyoko" in Kabukicho, Tokyo, becoming involved in crime, the Agency for Children and Families has presented proposed guidelines for "child and youth shelters," which are currently being developed as refuge for children and young people who have no place to go at home or elsewhere, stating that such shelters can be used without parental consent.
2024-12-20 14:57:00
On the morning of the 20th, a fire broke out in an apartment in Suginami Ward, Tokyo. The mother and child who lived in the apartment were taken to the hospital, but the mother, who is in her 80s, was confirmed dead. The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating the exact cause of the fire.
2024-12-20 14:45:00
On the night of the 19th, a tuna fishing boat carrying two men went missing in the Tsugaru Strait off the coast of Aomori Prefecture, leaving one crew member dead and the captain missing. A vessel believed to be the fishing boat was found capsized in the surrounding waters, and patrol boats of the Japan Coast Guard and others are continuing their search.
2024-12-20 14:16:00
In the case of the theft of 48 billion yen worth of Bitcoin from cryptocurrency exchange DMM Bitcoin, a US analysis company has published the results of an investigation which suggests that North Korea may have stolen the funds through a cyber attack.
2024-12-20 14:12:00
Regarding the issue of incorrect medication being displayed on "electronic prescriptions," which use My Number health insurance cards to allow medical institutions and pharmacies to share medication information online, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Fukuoka stated, "This is a very serious issue that could lead to health damage," and expressed his intention to take thorough measures to prevent recurrence.
2024-12-20 13:47:00
According to JR East Morioka Branch, the Akita Shinkansen had suspended operations on both lines between Morioka and Akita due to a brake failure found on a train running in Iwate Prefecture, but service resumed around 1:00 p.m. JR is moving the train to Shizukuishi Station in Iwate Prefecture to investigate the cause of the failure.
2024-12-20 13:30:00
A national organization to which food banks from around the country belong has begun intensive food assistance to households in financial difficulty this month and next month, citing the increased need for assistance around the New Year period. However, due to the prolonged rise in prices, more than 60% of food banks have seen a decrease in food donations, and the organization is calling for cooperation in providing assistance.
2024-12-20 13:28:00
The Ministry of Defense and others entered the Yokota Air Base in Tokyo on the 20th to inspect the site after water containing PFOS, a fluorinated organic compound believed to be harmful, allegedly leaked outside the base.
2024-12-20 13:09:00
Regarding the issue of incorrect medication being displayed when using "electronic prescriptions," which allow medical institutions and pharmacies to share medication information online using My Number health insurance cards, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Fukuoka said, "This is a very serious issue that could lead to health damage," and expressed his intention to take thorough measures to prevent recurrence.
2024-12-20 13:06:00
According to JR East, a brake malfunction was found on the Akita Shinkansen Komachi 18 train traveling through Iwate Prefecture at around 11:30 a.m. on the 20th, and the train is currently stopped near Akabuchi Station in Iwate Prefecture. As a result, the Akita Shinkansen has suspended operations on both lines between Akita and Morioka. There is currently no prospect of resuming operations.
2024-12-20 12:59:00
A trial is set to begin in March next year in which passengers' families and others are seeking approximately 1.5 billion yen in damages from the operating company and its president over the sinking of a tourist boat off the coast of Hokkaido's Shiretoko Peninsula, leaving 26 people dead and missing.
2024-12-20 12:37:00
In response to the "Nankai Trough Earthquake Emergency Information (Massive Earthquake Warning)" issued in August this year, which left many local governments and companies confused about how to respond, the Cabinet Office, which is in charge of disaster prevention measures, has put together improvement measures, such as holding joint press conferences with the Japan Meteorological Agency when announcing information. It has asked that decisions on whether to hold events, etc. be made based on the actual circumstances of each region, without setting uniform standards.
2024-12-20 12:22:00
According to an interview with an investigator, the Hyogo Prefectural Police Headquarters has accepted a complaint filed by the support group of Hyogo Prefectural gubernatorial candidate Kazumi Inamura, alleging that an unspecified number of people had made false reports simultaneously regarding the freezing of her social media accounts during the election period. The police plan to continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the freezing of the accounts.
2024-12-20 12:08:00
Last month, a fire broke out at a girls' bar in Susukino, a downtown area of Sapporo, injuring five people. The ex-boyfriend of a female bar employee was left unconscious and in critical condition, but it was learned from police interviews that she died at the hospital on the night of the 19th. Police are investigating the possibility that the ex-boyfriend spread a gasoline-like liquid inside the bar and set it on fire.
2024-12-20 12:01:00
In the case of the murder of a couple with a knife in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, police interviews revealed that the couple had wounds on their upper bodies as well as their backs and arms, and that they had been stabbed repeatedly. A 77-year-old suspect, an acquaintance of the couple, was arrested on the night of the 19th while trying to evade police questioning, but was released and hospitalized, and the police are waiting for him to recover before conducting a detailed investigation.
2024-12-20 11:52:00
A national organization to which food banks from around the country belong has begun intensive food assistance to households in financial difficulty this month and next month, citing the increased need for assistance around the New Year period. However, due to the prolonged rise in prices, more than 60% of food banks have seen a decrease in food donations, and the organization is calling for cooperation in providing assistance.
2024-12-20 11:50:00
The Ministry of Justice is considering starting discussions on amending the law regarding the retrial system, which allows for trials to be retried, in light of criticism that it prolongs trials and hinders the clearing of wrongful convictions. It plans to ask the Legislative Council for its consideration as early as next spring.
2024-12-20 11:43:00
On the morning of the 20th, a man was found bleeding from his head and collapsed on the street in Adachi Ward, Tokyo, and was confirmed dead. Based on security camera footage, the Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the case, believing that the man was hit and run by a car while trying to cross the street.
2024-12-20 11:42:00
The Consumer Price Index for November, which looks at the price movements of goods and services consumed at home, excluding fresh food, which is highly volatile due to weather, rose 2.7% from the same month last year. Of this, the increase in "rice" was the largest to date.
2024-12-20 11:32:00
In a case where two junior high school students were stabbed with a knife at a fast food restaurant in Kitakyushu City, killing a 15-year-old girl and injuring a male student, police have arrested a 43-year-old suspect who lives nearby on suspicion of attempted murder of the male student. Based on security camera footage, it appears that the suspect entered the restaurant about 10 minutes after parking his car in the restaurant's parking lot and stabbed the two students in less than 30 seconds. Police are currently investigating the details of the incident.
2024-12-20 11:31:00
On the 19th, a 41-year-old company executive was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of hit-and-run and other charges after he hit and killed a man on a bicycle in Hachioji City, Tokyo, and then fled the scene.
2024-12-20 11:27:00
The first meeting of the Ministerial Conference aimed at realizing a disaster prevention nation was held, and Prime Minister Ishiba instructed that officials from the Cabinet Office and other organizations be dispatched to the disaster-stricken areas of the Noto Peninsula before winter sets in, and that they work to improve the environment at evacuation shelters while listening to local needs.
2024-12-20 11:25:00
In a case where two junior high school students were killed with a knife at a fast food restaurant in Kitakyushu City, it was learned from an interview with an investigator that the knife believed to have been used in the incident and the yellow sandals believed to have been worn at the time were seized from the home of the arrested 43-year-old suspect. Police are conducting an examination and investigating whether they are related to the incident.
2024-12-20 10:22:00
In order to promote the recycling of soil produced during decontamination work following the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and its final disposal outside the prefecture, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi has made clear his intention to compile a basic policy by around spring of next year.
2024-12-20 10:12:00
It has been learned that the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library in Minato Ward, which is becoming increasingly dilapidated, is considering relocating to nearby public land in Shibuya Ward, which includes the former National Children's Castle, which the metropolitan government plans to redevelop.
2024-12-20 09:16:00
Due to a personal injury accident, services on the Odakyu Odawara Line were suspended on both lines between Shinjuku Station and Shin-Yurigaoka Station, but services resumed at around 9:05 a.m.
2024-12-20 09:02:00
According to a Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare report, the number of disabled people working at companies that are required by law to employ them has reached a record high of approximately 670,000. However, only 46.0% of companies have achieved the statutory employment rate, which was raised in April this year, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to provide support through Hello Work.
2024-12-20 08:50:00
The Consumer Price Index for November, which tracks the price movements of goods and services consumed at home and excludes fresh food, which is subject to large fluctuations due to weather, rose 2.7% from the same month last year, up 0.4 percentage points from October's 2.3% increase.
2024-12-20 07:31:00
Until now, Akoya pearl oysters, which are used in pearl farming, had been thought to have reached their northernmost habitat off the coast of Chiba Prefecture, but it was discovered in October this year that they had been spotted off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture for the first time. Experts point out that this may be the result of global warming.
2024-12-20 07:04:00
Regarding the official drug prices set by the government, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is finalizing adjustments to change the current method of uniformly lowering prices for all target items in the next fiscal year's price revision. For new drugs, the price reduction will be decided on a case-by-case basis, with restrictions on the items subject to reduction.
2024-12-20 06:09:00
Regarding the "My Number Health Insurance Card," which began full-scale operation on December 2nd after the issuance of new health insurance cards was halted, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare revealed that by the end of last month, more than 13,000 applications had been submitted to cancel registration for the card.
2024-12-20 06:06:00
In a case where two junior high school students were stabbed with a knife at a fast food restaurant in Kitakyushu City, leaving the female student dead and the male student injured, police have learned that when the 43-year-old suspect arrested on suspicion of attempted murder entered the restaurant, security cameras did not clearly capture the knife. Many of the customers in the restaurant were unaware that they had been stabbed, and police are investigating how he managed to bring the knife into the restaurant.
2024-12-20 06:04:00
In the case of a couple murdered in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, and a nearby house set on fire, the police arrested a 77-year-old acquaintance of the couple, who they had obtained an arrest warrant for on suspicion of arson and were searching for, on the night of the 19th on suspicion of obstruction of justice for trying to evade questioning. He was released for the time being because he suffered burns to his body and required hospitalization, and will be arrested again once his injuries have healed, and their connection to the series of incidents will be investigated in detail.
2024-12-20 03:00:00
Following the retrial of the murder of a family of four in Shizuoka Prefecture 58 years ago, which resulted in the acquittal of Iwao Hakamada, the Shizuoka Prefectural Police Headquarters has largely completed fact-finding in the investigation that took place at the time, and interviews with relevant parties have revealed that the prefectural police plan to announce the results of their investigation within the year.
2024-12-20 02:00:00
On the night of the 19th, a tuna fishing boat with two crew members on board went missing in the Tsugaru Strait off the coast of Aomori Prefecture, and one crew member was found adrift, but was later confirmed dead. A capsized fishing boat was found in the surrounding waters, and the Japan Coast Guard is continuing its search.
2024-12-20 00:51:00
Tsuneo Watanabe, CEO and editor-in-chief of the Yomiuri Shimbun Group, who also had an impact on the political and professional sports worlds, passed away in a hospital in Tokyo on the early morning of the 19th. He was 98 years old.
