National
Downtown Tokyo's homeless fear removal ahead of Olympics
Shelters made of cardboard start popping up in the basement of Tokyo's Shinjuku train station right before the shutters come down at 11 p.m., in corridors where "salarymen" rushing home and couples on late-night dates have just passed by. Dozens of homeless people sleeping rough in such spots worry that… Read
Court orders disclosure of phone number over online defamation
In a rare ruling, a Japanese court has ordered mobile service provider SoftBank Corp to disclose the phone number of an individual who posted defamatory comments online about a real estate company in Tokyo, a lawyer said Thursday. The Tokyo District Court ordered the carrier last month to disclose the… Read
Japan should ban confiscation of foreign employees' passports, lawyer says
The Japanese government should forbid employers from retaining the passports of their foreign workers, a lawyer said on Thursday after a Filipino woman sued her former employer for refusing to return her personal documents. The case comes at a time when the government is seeking to attract laborers from outside… Read
Japan to step up precautions against China coronavirus
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday Japan will step up precautions against a new coronavirus believed to have originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The government will request airlines to make flight announcements urging passengers arriving in Japan from China to report if they are feeling unwell. "We will… Read
Shop fearing Wuhan virus bans Chinese visitors in Hakone
Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture is a town always bustling with tourists and one of the most popular day-trip destinations for travelers staying in the Tokyo area. Some visitors to Hakone will notice a candy shop and rest spot decorated with "Star Wars" imagery. Unfortunately, the shop is now in the… Read
First woman enters Japan's submarine academy
The first female student was admitted to Japan's national naval submarine academy Wednesday after the end of a ban on women on the country's submarines. Saki Takenouchi, 26, entered the academy in a western region of Hiroshima along with about 20 men, after the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force overturned previous… Read
Late-night train services planned during Tokyo Olympics
The Olympics organizing committee and Tokyo metropolitan government said Wednesday they are making arrangements with train operators to offer special late-night train services for those watching the Summer Games between July 24 and Aug 9. In the metropolitan area, eight venues are scheduled to hold events lasting until 11 p.m.… Read
Japan faces decision over contaminated Fukushima nuclear plant water
At the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant north of Tokyo, workers in protective suits are still removing radioactive material from reactors that melted down after an earthquake and tsunami knocked out its power and cooling nearly nine years ago. On an exclusive tour of the plant, spread over 3.5 million square… Read
Gov't streamlines celebration for crown prince's ascension
The government decided Tuesday the outline of a ceremony in April for formally announcing Crown Prince Fumihito's rise to first in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne while reducing the number of banquets and simplifying their style compared with previous ascensions. The 54-year-old became the crown prince after his elder brother,… Read
Abe calls for vigilance, steps against spread of new coronavirus
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday Japan needs to be on high alert and take necessary measures against a new coronavirus amid a spike in patients in China ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays. In a meeting at the prime minister's office, Abe instructed Cabinet ministers to strengthen quarantine… Read
