National
Muted in country of their birth, three women try to find their voice
As Japan's demographic sands shift, with its graying population, declining regional communities and doors inching slowly further open to immigrant workers, three young Tokyoite women are envisioning a new way forward. One is Korean, one is Chinese and the other is Japanese, but they all want to make the country… Read
Women, late-in-life new authors expand Japanese literature
The works recognized this summer by one of Japan's most coveted literary awards, the Naoki Prize, have something new in common: For the first time in 85 years, all six of the nominated authors are women. Japan is home to what many consider the world's first novel, "The Tale of… Read
Fujisawa beach cleaning project marks 10th anniversary
SEGO Initiative, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to environmental causes, will host its 10th anniversary Fujisawa beach cleaning project on Sept 22, at Katase Higashihama in Fujisawa City near Enoshima Yacht Harbor, a Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games venue. In case of rain, the cleanup will be held on Sept… Read
2 killed after sports car crashes on Tochigi highway
Two people were killed after the sports car they were in burst into flames following a crash with another car on a highway in Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture, on Friday night. According to police, the crash occurred on a prefectural highway at around 11:30 p.m. The driver of another vehicle said… Read
Japan eyes new defense unit to monitor space in fiscal 2020
Japan's Defense Ministry has decided to make a budget request for a new space monitoring unit to be set up in fiscal 2020 within its air forces, government sources said. The unit aimed at tracking space debris that poses a threat to Japanese surveillance satellites orbiting Earth, as well as… Read
TEPCO to submit decommissioning plan regarding five reactors
Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) will submit to a municipal official on Monday a plan regarding the decommissioning of five reactors at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear station, the world's biggest atomic plant, Jiji Press said. Japan suffered its worst energy crisis since the war after a March 2011 quake and tsunami… Read
Japanese, N Korean students discuss peace in Pyongyang
Japanese and North Korean university students have been discussing peace during a six-day exchange event in Pyongyang held since Wednesday. In the event, 10 students from Japan met with 16 students learning Japanese at the Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies, most of whom have never met with Japanese nationals before.… Read
Japan looks to encourage paternity leave by raising subsidies
To boost the number of male employees taking paternity leave and promote female participation in the workforce, Japan's labor ministry has decided to increase government subsidies for companies whose employees do so, sources close to the matter said. The rate of men who take leave for childcare is currently around… Read
Gov't considers tax breaks for donations to Kyoto Animation
The government is considering providing tax breaks for donations to Kyoto Animation Co, hit by a deadly arson attack last month, to encourage companies and individuals to help rebuild the animation firm, government sources said Thursday. The state is planning to allow donations to the Kyoto-based animation producer to be… Read
GSDF conduct live fire drills near Mt Fuji
Japan's Ground Self Defense Forces on Thursday began four days of live-fire drills at training grounds in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture. The annual exercise, held since 1961, comes as the government moves to expand the role of the military and boost the defense budget. A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Type 16… Read
