News from Japan
Record 16% of fathers in Japan’s civil service took child care leave in 2019
The health ministry reported the highest ratio among eligible male staff at 59.2%, while the Defense Ministry and the Imperial Household Agency recorded figures of ...
Vaccination tickets to be sent to Japan’s older residents from mid-March
The group of 36 million is third in line for the COVID-19 vaccine, after two groups of medical workers totaling more than 3.7 million.
Japan to start random PCR testing to gauge extent of infections in cities
The central government is aiming to conduct up to several thousand polymerase chain reaction tests per day in Tokyo, Osaka and other metropolitan areas.
Secretary admits to receiving ¥3 million from Katsuyuki Kawai
The secretary said he received ¥1 million in Kawai's office on May 31, 2019, and ¥2 million in a hotel on July 3 the same ...
Fukushima College robot wins top prize for nuclear decommissioning
Students in 14 teams from colleges across the country were tasked this year with developing robots to remove fuel debris, organizers said.
Suga’s hoarse voice at a parliamentary debate raises health concerns
The government's top spokesman dismissed concerns, saying the prime minister consults with a medical officer and takes medicine as needed.
With bid policy set, localities in Japan roll the dice on casino resort licenses
Areas interested in submitting proposals now have a clear schedule of when they can do so, and a better understanding of what they can and ...
Suga faces mounting pressure over slow pandemic response
Support for the prime minister's Cabinet has dropped from 39% last month to 33%, with disapproval rising 10 percentage points to 45%, according to a ...
Japan likely to hit COVID-19 herd immunity in October, months after Olympics
Japan has arranged to buy 314 million doses, but problems seen in vaccine rollouts elsewhere have stirred doubt that Japan will get those supplies on ...
Tokyo reports lowest daily COVID-19 figure since Dec. 28
The capital confirmed 618 new COVID-19 cases Monday, more than two weeks into the coronavirus state of emergency.
Japan to hold coronavirus vaccination simulation
Taro Kono, the minister in charge of vaccination efforts, said the event would take place in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Wednesday.
Tsunami-hit Miyagi school building to reopen as memorial in April
Opinions are divided among residents, with some bereaved families saying they cannot bear the sight of the building.
GSDF and U.S. reached secret deal in 2015 to station amphibious unit in Okinawa
Although the plan has been suspended due to the impasse over the relocation of a U.S. air base in the prefecture, the GSDF hasn't given ...
Japan virus surge leaves 15,000 on waiting lists for hospitals or other accommodations
With the number of virus cases rising sharply since November, health centers and hospitals have been strained, with some patients dying at home.
Japan’s vending machines embrace baby goods
Disposable diapers, baby wet wipes and canned liquid formula are now increasingly being offered in locations around the country.
Japanese firm using school pools to improve solar energy efficiency
ELM Inc. has begun using water in swimming pools at closed-down schools to prevent its energy generation systems from overheating.
As fears wane, experts say empathy is key to virus fight
Academics have suggested that many people are not seeing the pandemic as directly affecting them, and as such don't feel threatened by numbers alone.
South Korea seeks ‘amicable solution’ with Japan over ‘comfort women’ issue
Seoul said it would "make every effort to continue constructive and future-oriented cooperation" with its neighbor.
New Tokyo COVID-19 cases dip below 1,000 for first time in 12 days
The number of severely ill patients in Tokyo remained static at 156, the metropolitan government said in a statement.
Death toll from snow shoveling reaches 70 in Japan
Many older people found it difficult to remove snow by themselves, with their family members unable to return to their hometowns during the New Year's ...