National
Japan prepares to restart world's biggest nuclear plant
Japan took the final step to allow the restart the world's largest nuclear power plant on Monday as the region of Niigata voted to resume operations, a watershed moment in the country's return to nuclear energy nearly 15 years after the Fukushima disaster. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, located about 220 km northwest of… Read
Japanese H3 rocket fails to put geolocation satellite into orbit
A Japanese H3 rocket carrying the sixth satellite in a seven-orbiter geolocation system failed to deliver its payload into orbit after liftoff on Monday, the country's science ministry said. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is assessing the situation and investigating the cause of the second-stage engine's premature cutoff that occurred… Read
Program offers exhausted mothers rare chance to rest
A newborn baby was found dead in the snow in Shiogama earlier this year, shocking the local community and prompting residents to launch a program giving exhausted mothers a chance to rest while volunteers care for their children. The tragedy occurred in January, when a baby girl was discovered on… Read
Man found dead near wild boar trap with bear in it in Miyagi Prefecture
An 89-year-old man was found collapsed in a mountain forest in Taiwa town, Miyagi Prefecture, on Saturday. Nearby was a wild boar trap with a bear inside it. A member of a local hunting association called police at around 8:10 a.m. and said a man was lying on the ground,… Read
Cabinet to officially announce new romanization spelling recommendation
Sometimes the wheels of Japanese government turn slowly. Very, very slowly. As an example, way back in 1954 the cabinet of Japan said “Hey, everybody, please use the Kunrei romanization system for writing Japanese words and names in the Latin alphabet,” and it’s taken more than 70 years to fix what feels like a… Read
Land deal signed for Japan radar unit to monitor Chinese military activity
A land lease deal has been signed between Japan's Defense Ministry and a village on the easternmost remote island of Okinawa for the deployment of a mobile surveillance radar unit amid China's increasing military activities, according to sources familiar with the matter. Japan aims to enhance its monitoring capabilities through… Read
Bullet train transforms into moving disco
JR Central on Friday held a disco event in a Tokaido bullet train car complete with a dance floor, with DJ KOO of Japanese pop group TRF performing for dancing passengers. The event, held in the so-called shinkansen disco car, was staged just ahead of 100 years since the start… Read
Mechanic shortage puts Japan's air ambulance network under strain
Doctor helicopters -- air ambulances that rush doctors straight to patients -- have been grounded one after another since the summer, exposing a crisis that officials warn could lead to the collapse of Japan's air medical system. A severe shortage of mechanics at contracted operators is spreading across regions, turning… Read
Japan to lower passport application fees by up to 7,000 yen
The Japanese government is planning on lowering passport application fees by up to around 7,000 yen, governmental sources said, utilizing part of the revenue from the departure tax that is expected to be raised. The fee for a 10-year passport is slated to be reduced from 16,300 yen to 9,000… Read
Tokyo's Shibuya Ward adding new anti-littering fines; will require more trash cans too
Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood is one of the most popular, and crowded, parts of the city. In particular the part of the district that stretches from Shibuya Station, across the world-famous Shibuya Scramble intersection, down the Center-gai shopping street, and into the shops, restaurants, and pubs along the way and the roads… Read
