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 [...]

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining significant attention, and there is an increasing interest in harnessing its advantages. However, are there potential risks involved? On March 16, prominent Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari and Toshikazu Yamaguchi, president of The Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings, talked about the role of newspapers in the age of AI and strategies [...]