2025-04-18 23:58:00
According to JR East, the Hokuriku Shinkansen temporarily suspended operations between Karuizawa Station and Itoigawa Station due to a temporary power outage, but resumed operations at around 8:30 pm. Normal operation is scheduled for the 19th.
2025-04-18 23:55:00
At around 11:39 pm on the 18th, an earthquake measuring 4 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale was observed in Nagano Prefecture. There is no need to worry about a tsunami caused by this earthquake.
2025-04-18 23:39:00
On the afternoon of the 18th, a body believed to be that of an adult was found in a drum collected by a recycling company in Yoshikawa City, Saitama Prefecture. The body had been dead for some time, and police are rushing to confirm its identity and are investigating the details of the body, assuming that it was abandoned.
2025-04-18 23:36:00
According to the police and fire department, as of 11:00 pm, there have been no reports of injuries or damage to buildings in Omachi City, Chikuhoku Village, and Ogawa Village, where a seismic intensity of 5-low was observed in the earthquake that hit Nagano Prefecture on the night of the 18th. The prefecture also said that there have been no reports of injuries or damage in other municipalities.
2025-04-18 23:35:00
According to Chubu Electric Power Grid, as of 11:00 pm, approximately 50 homes in parts of Nagano City and Ogawa Village were without power. According to Omachi City, a part of the slope on the side of a city road in the Yasaka district of the city was confirmed to have collapsed. No other major damage has been confirmed.
2025-04-18 23:09:00
On the night of the 18th, an earthquake occurred in northern Nagano Prefecture, and shaking of a maximum seismic intensity of 5-lower was observed in Nagano Prefecture. The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for caution, as similar earthquakes have occurred in succession in the past within about a week of a large earthquake in this area.
2025-04-18 23:00:00
According to JR East, services on the Tohoku Shinkansen were suspended on both lines between Tokyo and Sendai due to vehicle inspections, but resumed at around 10:42 p.m.
2025-04-18 22:53:00
According to the Ogawa Branch of the Shinmachi Fire Department, which has jurisdiction over Ogawa Village, Nagano Prefecture, where a seismic intensity of 5-low was observed, there had been no reports of casualties by around 8:55 pm, but there had been reports of power outages in some areas of the village. According to the Ogawa Village Office, power outages have occurred in some areas and the office is currently gathering information.
2025-04-18 22:02:00
According to JR East, the Tohoku Shinkansen has suspended operations on both lines between Tokyo and Sendai due to vehicle inspections. Operations are expected to resume around 10:30 p.m. The outbound Hayabusa/Komachi 39 train reportedly had a warning light on its bogie while traveling between Nasushiobara Station in Tochigi Prefecture and Shin-Shirakawa Station in Fukushima Prefecture at around 8:17 p.m.
2025-04-18 21:56:00
According to the Ogawa Branch of the Shinmachi Fire Department, which has jurisdiction over Ogawa Village, Nagano Prefecture, where a seismic intensity of 5-low was observed, there had been no reports of casualties by around 8:55 pm, but there had been reports of power outages in some areas of the village. According to the Ogawa Village Office, power outages have occurred in some areas and the office is currently gathering information.
2025-04-18 21:52:00
A committee of experts has recommended that the 12 people who died in Ishikawa Prefecture after the Noto Peninsula earthquake be recognized as disaster-related deaths. If the local government officially recognizes them, the death toll from the Noto Peninsula earthquake is expected to rise to 584.
2025-04-18 21:37:00
According to JR East, due to the effects of the earthquake, Hokuriku Shinkansen trains were made to make emergency stops between Karuizawa Station and Itoigawa Station from around 8:19 pm and services were suspended, but services resumed at 8:33 pm. According to JR West's website, as of 9:14 pm, there were delays on the outbound line between Toyama Station and Nagano Station. According to JR East's website, as of 9:15 pm, services on the Shinonoi Line were suspended on both inbound and outbound lines between Shiojiri Station and Nagano Station, and services on the Chuo Line were suspended on both inbound and outbound lines between Shiojiri Station and Kobuchizawa Station in Yamanashi Prefecture.
2025-04-18 21:28:00
According to the police, a body was found in a drum at a company in Yoshikawa City, Saitama Prefecture, at around 4:00 pm on the 18th. The body was covered with a blue tarp, and its age and gender are unknown. The police are rushing to confirm the identity and are investigating the details of the body, assuming it was abandoned.
2025-04-18 21:26:00
At around 8:19 pm on the 18th, an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 5-low was observed in Nagano Prefecture. There is no need to worry about a tsunami from this earthquake. The seismic intensity in various areas was: ▼Seismic intensity 5-low in Omachi City, Chikuhoku Village, and Ogawa Village in Nagano Prefecture. ▼Seismic intensity 4 in Nagano City, Matsumoto City, Azumino City, Aoki Village, Omi Village, Ikusaka Village, Ikeda Town, and Matsukawa Village. ▼Seismic intensity 3 to 1 was observed over a wide area of the Kanto-Koshinetsu, Hokuriku, and Tokai regions. According to observations by the Japan Meteorological Agency, the epicenter was in northern Nagano Prefecture, the depth of the epicenter was 10 kilometers, and the magnitude, which indicates the scale of the earthquake, is estimated to be 5.0.
2025-04-18 21:18:00
According to the Ogawa Branch of the Shinmachi Fire Department, which has jurisdiction over Ogawa Village in Nagano Prefecture, where a seismic intensity of 5-lower was observed, there had been no reports of casualties as of around 8:55 p.m., but there had been reports of power outages in some areas of the village.
2025-04-18 21:17:00
At around 8:19 pm on the 18th, an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 5-low was observed in Nagano Prefecture. There is no need to worry about a tsunami from this earthquake. The seismic intensity in various areas was: ▼Seismic intensity 5-low in Omachi City, Chikuhoku Village, and Ogawa Village in Nagano Prefecture. ▼Seismic intensity 4 in Nagano City, Matsumoto City, Azumino City, Aoki Village, Omi Village, Ikusaka Village, Ikeda Town, and Matsukawa Village. ▼Seismic intensity 3 to 1 was observed over a wide area of the Kanto-Koshinetsu, Hokuriku, and Tokai regions. According to observations by the Japan Meteorological Agency, the epicenter was in northern Nagano Prefecture, the depth of the epicenter was 10 kilometers, and the magnitude, which indicates the scale of the earthquake, is estimated to be 5.0.
2025-04-18 21:14:00
According to Chubu Electric Power Grid, which maintains and manages power equipment, as of 8:50 p.m. there were no reports of power outages in the prefecture.
2025-04-18 21:10:00
According to the JR West website, due to the earthquake, delays have been occurring on the Hokuriku Shinkansen on the outbound lines between Toyama Station and Takasaki Station since around 8:45 p.m.
2025-04-18 20:56:00
Following the large-scale ETC system failure that occurred on expressways in eight prefectures this month, the three expressway companies held the first meeting of a study committee in Nagoya to develop a manual for dealing with wide-area system failures.
2025-04-18 20:56:00
At around 8:19 pm on the 18th, an earthquake measuring a lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale was observed in Nagano Prefecture. In response to this earthquake, Nagano Prefecture has set up a warning liaison committee headed by the head of the crisis management department, and is currently gathering information on the damage situation, etc.
2025-04-18 20:54:00
According to the JR East website, the Tohoku Shinkansen has suspended operations on both lines between Tokyo and Sendai due to vehicle inspections. Operations are expected to resume around 9:40 p.m.
2025-04-18 20:53:00
A man who works at Omachi City Hall in Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture, where shaking of magnitude 5-lower was observed, said, "I was working on the first floor of city hall when the earthquake hit, and I suddenly heard a loud bang and it felt like the shaking lasted for about 15 seconds, which was a longer period. No things fell off the shelves inside the building."
2025-04-18 20:50:00
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, shaking of a seismic intensity of 5 or less may cause dishes and books on shelves to fall, and unstable furniture to topple. It is dark and difficult to see the surrounding situation. There is a possibility of another strong tremor. Prioritize your personal safety by refraining from taking any unnecessary action and tidying up after it becomes light. Tonight, in order to be able to evacuate immediately, please rest with the following items by your pillow: slippers or shoes to wear when moving around; a flashlight; and an emergency evacuation bag. Also, to ensure your safety in the event of a strong tremor while you are sleeping, please check that no furniture will tip over or heavy objects will fall, and that there are no objects that are likely to fall over near entrances or passageways.
2025-04-18 20:46:00
An employee of Chikuhoku Village in Nagano Prefecture, where a magnitude 5.0 earthquake was observed, said, "I was in the town hall on work at the time. Suddenly, there was a loud bang and it felt like my body was being pushed up. After that, the shaking continued strongly, and now the town hall is receiving a lot of calls. We are continuing to check the extent of the damage."
2025-04-18 20:43:00
According to the police stations in Omachi city, Chikuhoku village, and Ogawa village, where shaking of magnitude 5-lower was observed, no information of damage has been received so far, but they are continuing to check for any further information.
2025-04-18 20:37:00
Following the earthquake, which was observed in Nagano Prefecture with a seismic intensity of 5-lower, the government set up an information liaison room at the Crisis Management Center in the Prime Minister's Official Residence at 8:21 pm and is currently assessing the damage.
2025-04-18 20:29:00
In a lawsuit filed by recipients in Hiroshima Prefecture who claimed that they were being forced to live below the minimum standard guaranteed by the Constitution after the gradual reduction in welfare payments that began in 2013, the Hiroshima High Court, on second instance, ruled that the government's response was illegal and, following the first instance ruling, overturned the reductions.
2025-04-18 19:45:00
There are said to be more than 17 million people in the "employment ice age generation" across Japan. It has been about 20 to 30 years since they graduated from school and entered the workforce, and they are now in their early 50s to late 30s. While prices are soaring, wages are not increasing even as they get older, and many people are worried about their future pensions. The government is strengthening its support, but how are the people themselves facing these challenges?
2025-04-18 19:40:00
Following the major earthquake that hit central Myanmar, members of Japan's International Disaster Relief Team working in the disaster-stricken area spoke to NHK in an interview, pointing out the importance of long-term care, saying that three weeks have passed since the earthquake, and that many people in the area are complaining of mental health problems due to fear of aftershocks.
2025-04-18 19:39:00
In a case where a 24-year-old suspect was arrested for abandoning the body of a 19-year-old woman in a car parked on a street in Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture, it was revealed through interviews with investigators that messages were sent to the woman's family from social media up until around December last year. The suspect stated that he "killed her around August last year," and police are investigating the possibility that he was trying to keep the incident from being discovered.
2025-04-18 19:15:00
On the 18th, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department dismissed a 45-year-old police sergeant from Kamata Police Station who was arrested for breaking into the room of a man who lived alone and died twice and stealing a total of 30 million yen in cash.
2025-04-18 19:12:00
With the 20th anniversary of the Fukuchiyama Line derailment in which 107 people were killed approaching, JR West President Kazuaki Hasegawa said, "We will continue to bear heavy responsibility as the company responsible," and expressed his intention to work on employee education to ensure that the accident is not forgotten.
2025-04-18 18:52:00
Due to the influence of warm air flowing in from the south, temperatures rose across the country on the 18th, with Shimane Prefecture recording a midsummer high of over 30 degrees. The heat will continue on the 19th, with midsummer temperatures predicted for the Kanto-Koshin region, so please be careful to manage your health.
2025-04-18 18:49:00
Just before noon on the 18th, two workers at a construction site in Tamana City, Kumamoto Prefecture, were temporarily buried under mud. Both were rescued, but one of the workers, a 58-year-old man, remains in a coma and in critical condition.
2025-04-18 18:47:00
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force announced that the identities of six people killed in the crash of two Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters during training off the coast of the Izu Islands last year have been confirmed through DNA testing of the bodies found in March.
2025-04-18 18:42:00
In response to the issue of Japan Post fraudulently compiling a list of personal information for a total of 10 million Japan Post Bank customers to use in soliciting financial products, the Japan Post Group has compiled measures to prevent recurrence, including taking steps to obtain customer consent and reviewing employee evaluation methods.
2025-04-18 18:41:00
A police inspector in his 50s working at a police station in Okayama Prefecture was referred to prosecutors in March for allegedly driving a motorcycle while under the influence of alcohol on his way to work. The day of the incident was the day that prefectural police personnel transfers were notified, and the inspector explained that "I was worried about the details of the transfer, so I increased my drinking the day before."
2025-04-18 18:31:00
As of the 18th, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office has decided not to indict singer Kosuke Naka (44), who was arrested for sexually assaulting a man he did not know at a public bath in Tokyo.
2025-04-18 18:19:00
It's the season when we need to worry about ultraviolet rays. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the amount of ultraviolet rays is on the rise, and experts are urging people to take precautions from now on.
2025-04-18 18:14:00
Due to the influence of warm air flowing in from the south, temperatures rose across the country on the 18th, with Shimane Prefecture recording a midsummer high of over 30 degrees. The heat will continue on the 19th, with midsummer temperatures predicted for the Kanto-Koshin region, so please be careful to manage your health.
2025-04-18 17:58:00
During this year's Golden Week holiday, the peak days for domestic flights of major airlines are expected to be April 26th and May 3rd for outbound flights, and May 6th for inbound flights.
2025-04-18 17:53:00
On the 18th, a toxic gas was released at a hospital in Chitose, Hokkaido, and the fire department dealt with the incident. No one was injured, but at the time, two hospital staff members were preparing chemicals for artificial dialysis, and police are investigating the possibility that the cause was an accidental mixing of chemicals.
2025-04-18 17:37:00
In a lawsuit in which a woman in her 40s from Hiroshima City was repeatedly sexually abused by her father as a child and is suffering from the aftereffects of the abuse, she sought compensation from her father. By the 18th, the Supreme Court made a decision to dismiss the woman's appeal, and the ruling dismissing the lawsuit on the grounds that the lawsuit was filed too late has become final.
2025-04-18 17:19:00
As the recovery in travel demand has led to a shortage of ground staff at airports, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has begun discussions with experts to formulate guidelines to encourage wage increases.
2025-04-18 17:12:00
Due to the influence of warm air flowing in from the south, temperatures have been rising since the morning in many areas, with some areas reaching summer-like temperatures of over 25°C. Temperatures are expected to reach nearly 30°C during the day in some places, so please be careful to manage your health.
2025-04-18 16:40:00
Regarding the issue of rice provided as a return gift for hometown tax donations in Kibichuo Town, Okayama Prefecture, possibly exceeding the legally set upper limit on procurement costs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will request a detailed report from the town and consider the necessary measures.
2025-04-18 15:54:00
With a view to providing relief to victims of the former Unification Church, the Agency for Cultural Affairs has decided to formulate guidelines for the appropriate liquidation procedures of assets after "designated religious corporations," which are expected to have many victims, are dissolved.
2025-04-18 15:35:00
It's the season when we need to worry about ultraviolet rays. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the amount of ultraviolet rays is on the rise, and experts are urging people to take precautions from now on.
2025-04-18 15:34:00
Regarding the issue of water leaking from Yokota Air Base last year, which is thought to contain PFAS, a type of organic fluorine-containing chemical that is considered hazardous, the US side notified the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and other parties on the 16th of its intention to purify the water remaining on the base with activated carbon before releasing it. In response to this, the Ministry of the Environment stated that it would be acceptable if the concentration of PFAS released was below the provisional target value currently set by the government for tap water.
2025-04-18 15:27:00
In order to strengthen measures to prevent child abuse, a law has been passed that allows restrictions on meetings between children temporarily placed in child consultation centers and their guardians if there is a high risk of adverse effects from such meetings even at the stage of "suspection" of abuse.
2025-04-18 14:48:00
In response to the concentrated outbreaks of avian influenza at poultry farms in certain regions since January this year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries held a countermeasure meeting on the 18th and announced a new policy to designate areas where outbreaks are occurring repeatedly and take measures against wild birds outside of poultry farms as well.
2025-04-18 14:47:00
It's the season when we need to worry about ultraviolet rays. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the amount of ultraviolet rays is on the rise, and experts are urging people to take precautions from now on.
2025-04-18 14:38:00
It has been discovered that a sales representative for a medical equipment manufacturer in Tokyo was present during an orthopedic surgery at a hospital and operated an X-ray machine without a license. The act of emitting X-rays is only permitted for doctors and other medical professionals, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is currently investigating the details of the incident.
2025-04-18 14:34:00
An exhibition hall displaying materials relating to the Northern Territories and Takeshima in Shimane Prefecture has reopened after renovations, and Minister Sakai, who is in charge of territorial issues, expressed his intention to encourage the younger generation to take an interest in these issues and to strengthen the dissemination of information about Japan's position.
2025-04-18 14:17:00
A bill to hold a prefectural referendum on whether to restart the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant was voted on at a plenary session of the Niigata Prefectural Assembly held on the 18th, and was rejected by a majority. As a result, a prefectural referendum on the bill will not be held.
2025-04-18 14:02:00
Princess Kako, the second daughter of Prince and Princess Akishino, who is visiting Ishikawa Prefecture, observed artisans at work at a Kutani ware workshop in Komatsu City that has been in operation since the Meiji era.
2025-04-18 13:47:00
It has been announced that the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Hall holds an annual atomic bomb exhibition overseas to convey the horrors of the atomic bomb to the world, and this year, marking 80 years since the bombing, the exhibition will be held in the United Kingdom, a nuclear-weapon state.
2025-04-18 13:31:00
As bears continue to appear in urban areas, a revised Wildlife Protection and Management Act was passed and enacted at the House of Councilors plenary session on the 18th, which includes provisions allowing the use of hunting rifles in urban areas on an exceptional basis at the discretion of local municipalities.
2025-04-18 12:49:00
A 31-year-old suspect has been arrested after allegedly receiving the money from another "collection agent" in a series of robberies carried out by illegal part-time workers that occurred in the Tokyo metropolitan area last year. He said, "I don't know anything about the robbery, but after receiving the money, I asked my wife to take it to another place," and the Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating the matter in detail.
2025-04-18 12:23:00
Regarding the fact that a major shareholder investment fund has proposed its own candidates for the next management structure of Fuji Television's parent company, Nippon Cultural Broadcasting Corporation President Kiyoto Saito, who serves as an outside director of the parent company, has expressed the view that in order to restore trust, the company should consider reviewing the director candidates it has already presented.
2025-04-18 12:19:00
The first hearing in a case in which a former Mitsubishi UFJ Bank employee is accused of stealing gold bars from a safe deposit box was held at the Tokyo District Court on the 18th, and the former employee stated, "I will admit to everything," and admitted to the charges against him.
2025-04-18 12:18:00
In response to a series of incidents in which individual investors' IDs used to log into securities account sites have been leaked, resulting in unauthorized transactions being made, the Financial Services Agency has revealed that more than 1,400 cases of fraudulent transactions have been confirmed to date, and is calling for strengthened security measures.
2025-04-18 12:16:00
Kobe Airport began accepting international charter flights on the 18th, and a commemorative ceremony was held to mark the arrival of the first flight. Since its opening in 2006, Kobe Airport has only been open to domestic flights, but this marks a new start.
2025-04-18 11:46:00
Due to the influence of warm air flowing in from the south, temperatures have been rising since the morning in many areas, with some areas reaching summer-like temperatures of over 25°C. Temperatures are expected to reach nearly 30°C during the day in some places, so please be careful to manage your health.
2025-04-18 11:30:00
According to an interview with a person involved in the investigation, a 24-year-old suspect who was arrested for abandoning a body in a car parked on a street in Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture, told police during questioning that he "strangled her to death around last summer." The deceased is believed to be a 19-year-old woman from Gifu Prefecture who had been consulting the police about a relationship since last year, and the police are currently investigating the circumstances.
2025-04-18 11:27:00
Due to track construction near Tamachi Station, JR's Yamanote Line and Keihin-Tohoku Line will be suspended on some sections from the 19th until around noon on the 20th. JR will provide alternative transportation to subways, private railways, etc.
2025-04-18 11:24:00
Regarding the measure to boost basic pensions by utilizing employee pension reserves, which was not included in the pension system reform-related bill, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Fukuoka said that he would reconsider the measure after assessing future socio-economic conditions, and emphasized his intention to continue making efforts to submit the bill.
2025-04-18 10:24:00
Regarding the issue of Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ), a major telecommunications company that provides email security services, being subject to unauthorized access through a cyber attack and possibly resulting in the leakage of customer information, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Murakami indicated at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 18th that he intends to consider necessary measures based on a report from the company.
2025-04-18 09:06:00
At around 8:57 a.m. on the 18th, an earthquake measuring magnitude 3 was observed in Oita Prefecture. There is no need to worry about a tsunami caused by this earthquake.
2025-04-18 08:09:00
The diesel locomotive "Kiha 52," manufactured during the era of the former Japanese National Railways, with the last one in operation on the Isumi Railway in Chiba Prefecture, will now be retired.
2025-04-18 06:51:00
According to the Sagami Railway, services on the Sagami Line were suspended on both lines between Yamato Station and Ebina Station due to a signal problem, but resumed at 6:36 a.m.
2025-04-18 06:33:00
The Kanto region is said to have multiple "earthquake hotspots." Research results that look into the cause have been published. Expert analysis has revealed that a raised area called a "seamount" beneath the northern part of Tokyo Bay may be causing frequent earthquakes.
2025-04-18 05:33:00
At around 5:10 a.m. on the 18th, an earthquake measuring 3 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale was observed in Okinawa Prefecture. There is no need to worry about a tsunami caused by this earthquake.
2025-04-18 05:30:00
On the night of the 17th, a woman in her 60s or 70s was found bleeding and collapsed in an apartment in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, and later died. Police arrested a suspect in his 40s, believed to be the woman's son, who was present at the scene, for coming at police officers with a knife, and are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the woman's death.
2025-04-18 05:18:00
According to an interview with the prefecture and other sources, the remains of about 20 people believed to have died in the war were discovered last year during the production of a movie based on a true story on Ie Island in the northern part of Okinawa Island, where a horrific battle that is said to be a "microcosm of the Battle of Okinawa" took place. This is the first discovery of remains on Ie Island in about 20 years.
2025-04-18 00:29:00
On the 15th of this month, there were multiple incidents of male high school students having their uniforms and jumpers cut on the sidewalks of Chuo Ward, Sapporo, and the police are investigating the incidents as damage to property.
2025-04-18 00:06:00
On the evening of the 17th, the first meeting to explain the survey to local residents was held in Genkai Town, Saga Prefecture, where literature research is being conducted to select a final disposal site for so-called "nuclear waste."
