2025-03-18 22:28:00
On the 18th, Rakuten Group CEO Hiroshi Mikitani visited the Prime Minister's Official Residence and submitted a petition to Prime Minister Ishiba expressing opposition to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' decision to ban solicitation through intermediary sites that award points for hometown tax donations.
2025-03-18 21:19:00
Regarding the weather this winter, which saw record snowfall mainly along the Sea of Japan coast, the Japan Meteorological Agency's review committee concluded that the westerly winds meandered south near Japan, making it easier for strong cold air to flow in. On the other hand, the committee stated that the record low amount of precipitation on the Pacific coast was "considered to be an abnormal phenomenon."
2025-03-18 20:54:00
On the evening of the 18th, a fire broke out in a house in Hasuda City, Saitama Prefecture, and spread to at least four other buildings. The fire has been mostly extinguished, but one person was slightly injured.
2025-03-18 20:40:00
It has been discovered that the city of Suzaka in Nagano Prefecture has been offering non-locally produced Shine Muscat grapes as a return gift for hometown tax donations. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has decided to conduct detailed interviews with the city, as it is possible that the city was aware that the origin of the grapes was being falsified but continued to accept donations.
2025-03-18 20:30:00
A Japanese man found at a base for specialized fraud in eastern Myanmar was transferred to Thailand on the 18th. Thai authorities say he will likely be deported to Japan in the future.
2025-03-18 20:13:00
On the evening of the 18th, a fire broke out in a house in Hasuda City, Saitama Prefecture, and spread to at least four other buildings. The fire has subsided, but firefighters are continuing their efforts to put out the fire.
2025-03-18 20:05:00
Experts have investigated the scene of the forest fire in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, and have pointed out that, based on the black discoloration of the ground and the bases of the cedar trees, it is likely that the fire spread through fallen leaves and other objects.
2025-03-18 19:39:00
There have been a series of suspicious phone calls suspected to be related to crime from phone numbers that are the same as the "main numbers" of real police stations and police headquarters. The National Police Agency has revealed that more than 1,400 such calls have been confirmed nationwide since January 2024.
2025-03-18 19:31:00
Regarding whooping cough, a disease that mainly infects children and causes persistent severe coughing, 482 cases were reported by medical institutions nationwide in the week ending on the 9th of this month, the highest number since statistics began being collected using the current method in 2018. Since infection in infants can lead to severe symptoms, experts are calling for "families expecting newborns to consider taking measures such as vaccinating them."
2025-03-18 19:29:00
The new "My Number License" system, which combines a My Number card and a driver's license, will begin on March 24th. Under the current system, if you renew your My Number card when it expires, you will have to go through the process of integrating it with your driver's license all over again. Until the fall, when the system is improved, the National Police Agency is calling on people whose My Number cards are about to expire to renew them first before obtaining a My Number license. Here are some points to note about the My Number license.
2025-03-18 19:18:00
Due to the snow, cars were stranded in several places in Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture, including on national highways in mountainous areas, and roads were closed and snow removal work was carried out.
2025-03-18 19:14:00
Winds are getting stronger mainly in western Japan due to the influence of a developing low pressure system, and on the 19th, winds are expected to get stronger in eastern and northern Japan as well, with some areas experiencing severe weather with rain and snow. The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for caution against strong winds and blizzards.
2025-03-18 18:49:00
The epidemic of "infectious gastroenteritis" caused by norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea, continues. The number of patients reported by medical institutions nationwide in the week ending on the 9th of this month was the highest in the past 10 years for this time of year, and experts are calling for measures such as thorough hand washing.
2025-03-18 18:48:00
It was discovered that Japan Post, which operates post offices across the country, had illegally compiled a list of personal information for a total of 10 million customers of its group company, Japan Post Bank, to use in soliciting financial products. The Japan Post Group announced that it would reduce the compensation of 14 of its executives, including the president of Japan Post.
2025-03-18 18:42:00
The new "My Number License" system, which combines a My Number card and a driver's license, will begin on March 24th. Under the current system, if you renew your My Number card when it expires, you will have to go through the process of integrating it with your driver's license all over again. Until the fall, when the system is improved, the National Police Agency is calling on people whose My Number cards are about to expire to renew them first before obtaining a My Number license. Here are some points to note about the My Number license.
2025-03-18 18:15:00
Due to the fatality accident, services were suspended on both the inbound and outbound lines of the JR Utsunomiya Line between Tokyo Station and Utsunomiya Station, and on the Shonan-Shinjuku Line's direct section to the Utsunomiya Line north of Shinjuku Station, but services resumed on both lines just before 6:00 p.m.
2025-03-18 18:12:00
In an effort to alleviate the shortage of route bus drivers, Fukui prefecture and Fukui city began an initiative this month to allow prefectural and city hall employees to work part-time as bus drivers.
2025-03-18 18:07:00
The Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization (BPO) has issued a statement saying that a TV Tokyo program aired last year featuring close-up coverage of the police posed problems in terms of broadcasting ethics, including the imposition of excessive social sanctions on company executives and others featured in the program.
2025-03-18 18:07:00
It was discovered that Japan Post, which operates post offices across the country, had illegally compiled a list of personal information for a total of 10 million customers of its group company, Japan Post Bank, to use in soliciting financial products. The Japan Post Group announced that it would reduce the compensation of 14 of its executives, including the president of Japan Post.
2025-03-18 18:05:00
In a lawsuit filed by local residents seeking to halt operations at the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 in Ehime Prefecture, the Matsuyama District Court ruled to dismiss the lawsuit, stating that "no specific danger to the plaintiffs' lives or bodies was recognized."
2025-03-18 17:46:00
Regarding the "Emergency Fire Fighting Assistance Teams" that are dispatched from all over the country in the event of a disaster, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has announced a basic plan that includes increasing the number of units and establishing new units that will specialize in collecting information and managing safety.
2025-03-18 17:43:00
In a lawsuit filed by recipients in Hokkaido alleging that the gradual cuts to welfare benefits since 2013 were unconstitutional, the Sapporo High Court, at the second instance, ruled to revoke the cuts, stating that "the government's decision-making process contains errors that go against the spirit and purpose of the Constitution and is therefore illegal." This is the fourth ruling in a similar class action lawsuit to revoke a cut at the second instance.
2025-03-18 17:42:00
The former president of a company that runs a cram school in Tokyo that provides preparation for bar and civil service exams has been accused by the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau of concealing more than 570 million yen in income he earned through the transfer of company shares, among other means, and evading approximately 68 million yen in taxes.
2025-03-18 17:40:00
The new "My Number License" system, which combines a My Number card and a driver's license, will begin on March 24th. Under the current system, if you renew your My Number card when it expires, you will have to go through the process of integrating it with your driver's license all over again. Until the fall, when the system is improved, the National Police Agency is calling on people whose My Number cards are about to expire to renew them first before obtaining a My Number license. Here are some points to note about the My Number license.
2025-03-18 17:38:00
While there have been a series of suspicious phone calls from phone numbers identical to the "main" numbers of real police stations in various regions, four similar suspicious phone calls have been confirmed in Toyama Prefecture this month. The Toyama Prefectural Police Headquarters is urging people to hang up and call back if they are receiving a call they do not recognize, even if the police phone number is displayed on their incoming call screen.
2025-03-18 17:25:00
A 36-year-old Japanese man who was found last month at a specialized fraud base in eastern Myanmar was transferred to Thailand on the afternoon of the 18th. The man is believed to have been involved in specialized fraud at a crime base near the border with Thailand in eastern Myanmar, and was detained at a facility run by Myanmar authorities after being discovered by local militant forces on the 26th of last month. The Hokkaido Prefectural Police has obtained an arrest warrant for the man on suspicion of theft, and Thai authorities have said that he is expected to be forcibly deported to Japan.
2025-03-18 17:18:00
Due to the snow, cars were stranded in several places in Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture, including on national highways in mountainous areas, and roads were closed and snow removal work was carried out.
2025-03-18 17:07:00
Due to a fatal accident that occurred between Koga Station and Nogi Station, JR Utsunomiya Line has suspended operations on both lines between Tokyo Station and Utsunomiya Station since around 4:30 pm on the 18th. As a result, Shonan-Shinjuku Line has also suspended operations on the Utsunomiya Line direct section north of Shinjuku Station. Both lines are expected to resume operations around 6:10 pm.
2025-03-18 16:33:00
In a lawsuit filed by local residents seeking to halt operations at the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 in Ehime Prefecture, the Matsuyama District Court ruled to dismiss the lawsuit, stating that "no specific danger to the plaintiffs' lives or bodies was recognized."
2025-03-18 16:11:00
In December of last year, a four-month-old boy died while being put to sleep face down at an unlicensed childcare facility in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has referred the case to the prosecutor's office on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death, alleging that the accident was caused by the facility's then-director failing to instruct temporary staff on how to put the baby to sleep safely.
2025-03-18 16:08:00
In response to the issue of Japan Post misusing Japan Post Bank customer information at post offices nationwide for insurance solicitation without prior consent, the Japan Post Group announced that it takes serious responsibility for the situation and will reduce Japan Post President Tetsuya Senda's monthly salary by 30% for three months. In addition, Japan Post President Hiroya Masuda, Japan Post Insurance President Kunio Tanigaki, and Japan Post Bank President Takayuki Kasama will also be given salary cuts, and disciplinary measures will be taken against 14 group executives in total.
2025-03-18 15:57:00
How can we achieve wage increases that will improve people's lives? In this year's spring labor offensive, large companies are increasingly accepting the full amount demanded by unions. The rate of wage increases is also currently higher than last year. However, the question is whether this momentum will spread to small and medium-sized companies. There are concerns that if things continue as they are, there will be an increase in polarization between "companies that can raise wages" and "companies that cannot." Economics expert and commentator Imai Junko will provide a detailed explanation based on the latest data. *Information as of March 18th. (Video: 8 minutes 6 seconds)
2025-03-18 15:48:00
The Consumer Affairs Agency has put together a revised guideline for the labeling of food "expiration dates" and "best before dates," calling on businesses to refrain from setting dates shorter than necessary. The aim is to encourage businesses to set longer expiration dates, thereby reducing food waste.
2025-03-18 15:38:00
It has been discovered that the city of Suzaka in Nagano Prefecture has been offering non-locally produced Shine Muscat grapes as a return gift for hometown tax donations. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has decided to conduct detailed interviews with the city, as it is possible that the city was aware that the origin of the grapes was being falsified but continued to accept donations.
2025-03-18 15:02:00
The Matsuyama District Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by local residents and others seeking an injunction against Shikoku Electric Power Co. to halt operations at the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 in Ehime Prefecture.
2025-03-18 14:22:00
In a lawsuit filed by recipients in Hokkaido who claimed that the gradual cuts in welfare benefits that began in 2013 were a violation of the Constitution, which guarantees a minimum standard of living, the Sapporo High Court on the second instance handed down a ruling to overturn the cuts, contrary to the first instance ruling. This is the fourth case in which a cut has been overturned at the second instance in a similar class action lawsuit.
2025-03-18 14:06:00
Following the death in March of Ishikawa Kazuo, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the "Sayama Incident" in which a high school girl was murdered in Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture in 1963, 62 years ago, and who had sought a retrial, the Tokyo High Court decided to end the hearings by the 18th.
2025-03-18 13:49:00
A 56-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a male university student who was sitting next to him on a night bus traveling from Osaka to Tokyo. The incident was discovered when the university student complained to the bus driver at a parking area in Kanagawa Prefecture where the bus had stopped for a break.
2025-03-18 13:46:00
Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of Prince and Princess Akishino, graduated from high school on the 18th.
2025-03-18 13:07:00
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors' Office has decided not to indict a 39-year-old Sri Lankan man who was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department for allegedly keeping a stolen van, knowing that it was stolen.
2025-03-18 12:59:00
Following the road collapse that occurred in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism decided to conduct a nationwide survey of sewer pipes above a certain size, and requested local governments to conduct the survey on the 18th.
2025-03-18 12:48:00
Chubu Electric Power Co. has announced that it has begun dismantling work on the reactor at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture, where it is currently decommissioning. This is the first time in Japan that dismantling of a reactor at a commercial nuclear power plant has begun.
2025-03-18 12:40:00
The launch of the "My Number License" system, which combines the My Number Card and driver's license, is approaching on the 24th of this month, but under the current system, when the My Number Card expires and you renew it, you have to go through the process of integrating it with your driver's license all over again. To avoid double work and inconvenience, the National Police Agency is calling on people whose My Number cards are about to expire to first renew them before obtaining a My Number license until the system is improved in the fall.
2025-03-18 12:34:00
The former president of a company that runs a cram school in Tokyo that provides preparation for bar and civil service exams has been accused by the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau of concealing more than 570 million yen in income he earned through the transfer of company shares, among other means, and evading approximately 68 million yen in taxes.
2025-03-18 12:13:00
Winds are getting stronger mainly in western Japan due to the influence of a low pressure system, and on the 19th, winds are expected to get stronger in eastern and northern Japan as well, bringing stormy weather with rain and snow in some areas. The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for people to be on alert for strong winds, as well as lightning strikes and tornadoes.
2025-03-18 12:11:00
Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of Prince and Princess Akishino, graduated from high school on the 18th.
2025-03-18 11:45:00
It has been discovered that the city of Suzaka in Nagano Prefecture has been offering non-locally produced Shine Muscat grapes as a return gift for hometown tax donations. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has decided to conduct detailed interviews with the city, as it is possible that the city was aware that the origin of the grapes was being falsified but continued to accept donations.
2025-03-18 11:29:00
As digitalization progresses, the government has noted an increase in complex consumer troubles involving social media and the internet. In order to prevent malicious and serious damage that exploits consumer vulnerabilities, the government decided at a cabinet meeting on the "Basic Consumer Plan" for the next five years, starting from the new fiscal year. This plan includes reviewing the legal system and promoting education to prevent such problems before they occur.
2025-03-18 11:26:00
The government has decided on a new plan to use ships to provide medical care in the event of a large-scale disaster. Prime Minister Ishiba has instructed his cabinet to expedite preparations for the launch of the system by January next year.
2025-03-18 11:13:00
According to JR Kyushu, the Kyushu Shinkansen suspended operations on both lines between Kumamoto Station and Kawauchi Station in Kagoshima Prefecture due to the earthquake that hit at around 5:00 a.m. on the 18th, measuring a magnitude of 4.0. However, operations resumed at 10:20 a.m. after safety was confirmed.
2025-03-18 10:12:00
The government has decided on a new plan to use ships to provide medical care in the event of a large-scale disaster. Prime Minister Ishiba has instructed his cabinet to expedite preparations for the launch of the system by January next year.
2025-03-18 06:52:00
On the early morning of the 18th, a house and other buildings were burned down in Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture, and two bodies were found in the ruins. Police and others are working to confirm the identities of the bodies and are investigating the cause of the fire.
2025-03-18 06:22:00
As the number of fee-paying nursing homes where elderly people live and receive meals and nursing care is increasing, problems such as the payment of high referral fees to businesses that introduce residents and the provision of excessive services have been pointed out. In response, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare plans to set up a study group of experts and implement measures to ensure quality.
2025-03-18 06:16:00
At around 5:00 a.m. on the 18th, an earthquake measuring magnitude 4 was observed in Kumamoto Prefecture. There is no need to worry about a tsunami caused by this earthquake.
2025-03-18 06:13:00
According to JR Kyushu, due to the impact of the earthquake, which recorded a maximum seismic intensity of 4 in Kumamoto Prefecture at around 5:00 a.m. on the 18th, the Kyushu Shinkansen will suspend operations on both lines between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo from the first train in order to ensure safety.
2025-03-18 05:52:00
Starting on the 18th, the Imperial Household Agency will begin a project in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, which is open to the public, to help people learn about the activities and history of the Imperial Family through puzzles, quizzes and other "mystery solving" activities.
