JAPAN: Students from elementary and junior high schools in Okinawa Prefecture had the chance to act like journalists when they met Crown Prince Akishino and his family for 30 minutes in Tokyo. This meeting took place at the East residence in the Moto-Akasaka area of Minato Ward and is part of a series of events [...]

JAPAN: Leaders from the European Union and Japan have formed an alliance to enhance economic collaboration, promote free trade, and combat unfair trade practices, as both regions encounter increasing challenges from the United States and China. They also expressed their commitment to maintaining "a stable and predictable rules-based free and fair economic order." Additionally, the [...]

Japan: Female candidates in the Upper House election are encountering various types of harassment from voters and supporters, including stalking, death threats, and excessively long handshakes and hugs. This issue poses a significant challenge as Japan strives to boost the number of women in political positions. The government has set a target for women to [...]

Japan: Approximately 30 members of the Lucifers street gang voluntarily entered the Atsuta Ward police station in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, to officially disband the gang. Established in the mid-1990s, the gang operated in Atsuta Ward and grew to around 500 members over the years. Despite numerous arrests for crimes such as assault and theft, law [...]

Japan: Official campaigning for the House of Councillors election in Japan began on Thursday, set for July 20. This election is a significant challenge for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his minority government as citizens face increasing living costs. Ishiba aims for the ruling coalition, comprising his Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito party, to [...]

Japan: In Japan, the number of work-related mental disorder cases increased by 172 in fiscal 2024, reaching a total of 1,055, which is the highest figure recorded for the sixth consecutive year, according to the government. Harassment from superiors was identified as the primary cause. Among these cases, 88 involved suicides or suicide attempts during [...]

Japan: Extreme temperatures led to heatstroke warnings in various areas of Japan, with many individuals requiring emergency medical assistance in Tokyo. The scorching weather has dominated news coverage in the country, which faced its hottest summer on record last year, driven by climate change and severe heatwaves worldwide. Each summer, Japanese authorities encourage the public, [...]

Japan: Japan's main opposition party is inclined to refrain from introducing a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's cabinet, which would lead to simultaneous elections in the Diet. This political maneuvering occurs as Ishiba's minority government faces pressure to manage ongoing inflation while also negotiating tariffs with the United States. With the upper house [...]

Japan: After more than a hundred years, Japan has revamped its prison system with new regulations that prioritize rehabilitation rather than punishment in an effort to address the country's high rates of reoffending. This reform, which has been implemented for the first time in 118 years, applies to individuals who commit crimes after the law [...]

Japan: In March, ten university students from Niigata Prefecture traveled to Texas to explore agriculture and climate change as part of a Japan-U.S. exchange program. During their six-day visit, the Japanese students collaborated with their Texan counterparts. The Texas students are expected to visit Niigata Prefecture this August. This initiative is supported by the U.S.-Japan [...]