National
Frustrated by Japan's same-sex marriage ban, LGBTQ couples opt for 'photo weddings'
Unable to get married legally in Japan, LGBTQ couples are celebrating their special bond by donning traditional kimonos and fashionable formal wear for elaborate "photo weddings". But these carefully choreographed images are often kept hidden in this conservative society where many LGBTQ people say they face prejudice and stigma, even… Read
Israel to attend Hiroshima peace ceremony amid call for cease-fire
The western Japanese city of Hiroshima on Monday announced that Israel has expressed its intention to attend the Aug. 6 annual peace ceremony commemorating the atomic bomb attack on the city, bringing the number of countries slated to take part to a record high of 115. The invitation to Israel,… Read
Japan zoo to exhibit endangered Komodo dragon
A Komodo dragon, the world's largest lizard and an endangered species, will be housed at a central Japan zoo, the city of Nagoya said Monday, making it the only one of its kind to be exhibited in the country. The reptile, a 13-year-old male named "Taro," will arrive in Japan… Read
Japan defense forces at record-low 51% of recruitment goal in FY 2023
Japan's Self-Defense Forces secured a record-low 51 percent of its recruitment goal in fiscal 2023, the Defense Ministry said Monday, as competition with the private sector to secure personnel has intensified amid the nation's chronic labor shortage. In the fiscal year through March, the SDF took in 9,959 new members,… Read
United Airlines plane returns to Japan airport for emergency landing
A United Airlines plane bound for Guam on Sunday returned to Chubu airport in Aichi Prefecture for an emergency landing after detecting a system malfunction during the flight, the transport ministry said. Flight 136, a Boeing 737 aircraft, made the return landing at around 11:35 a.m. There were no injuries… Read
Japan sees 1st 40 C day this summer as heatwave persists
Japan recorded a temperature of 40 C for the first time this year on Sunday, with the mercury hitting the scorching level in central Japan as a heatwave continues to engulf the nation, according to the weather agency. With a high-pressure system hovering over wide areas, Shizuoka reported 40.0 C… Read
Japan to require unintended acceleration prevention tech in new cars
Japan will require all new automatic passenger cars to have technology to prevent drivers from accelerating unintentionally by hitting the gas pedal instead of the brake, according to the transport ministry. With the country facing a rapidly aging population, it is hoped the new rule will curb traffic accidents, often… Read
119 people in Tokyo taken to hospital to be treated for heatstroke on Saturday
The Tokyo Fire Department said that j119 people in the Tokyo metropolitan region were taken to hospital to be treated for heatstroke on Saturday. The department said the age of people taken to hospital ranged from 2 to 99, with more than half over 70 years old, broadcaster NTV reported.… Read
Tokyo-Osaka bullet train services halted for hours after power failure
Bullet train services between Tokyo and Osaka were halted for hours on Saturday afternoon due to a power failure, affecting around 97,000 travelers, as a sweltering heat wave hit the Pacific side of the Japanese archipelago, Central Japan Railway Co. said. Following the suspension from 0:15 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.,… Read
Only 8% of religious group followers' kids back gov't remedy steps
Only 8 percent of "second-generation" members of religious groups such as the Unification Church in Japan feel the government's measures to protect them, which include banning maliciously solicited donations, are sufficient, a Kyodo News survey showed Saturday. Their plight has garnered attention since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated… Read
