National
China lifts bans on group tours to US, Japan and other key markets
China has lifted pandemic-era restrictions on group tours for more countries, including key markets such as the United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia in a potential boon for their tourism industries. The decision was announced by China's culture and tourism ministry on Thursday, effective immediately. Prior to the pandemic,… Read
China resumes Japan-bound group tours after COVID hiatus
China said Thursday that it has approved the resumption of Japan-bound group tours for its citizens, lifting restrictions introduced in January 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in a move expected to revitalize Japan's inbound tourism sector. The resumption of the tours, which comes amid strained bilateral relations over Tokyo's… Read
Japanese TV issues heatstroke alert, says to avoid exercise, but keeps showing high school baseball game
Japanese television programs love putting all sorts of text and graphics on-screen. It’s something sports broadcasts have always been especially fond of, and even since long before overseas broadcasters adopted the practice, baseball on TV in Japan resembled a video game, with a constant display of the score, inning, pitch… Read
Japan's crown prince, princess to officially visit Vietnam in Sept
Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito and his wife Princess Kiko will make an official visit to Vietnam in late September on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Imperial Household Agency said Wednesday. The goodwill visit is expected to last for around a week,… Read
Japan's second-oldest museum forced to crowdfund to pay bills
Japan's second-oldest museum has raised $3.4 million through crowdfunding after reportedly being denied additional financial support to cover soaring utility bills to preserve its collection of animal and plant specimens. More than 30,000 people have donated a total of 480 million yen to the National Museum of Nature and Science… Read
Mount Fuji trail use to be restricted when overcrowded
A local Japanese government said Wednesday it will work with police to restrict the number of hikers who can use a route to climb to the summit of Mt. Fuji if it becomes dangerous from overcrowding. The Yoshida Trail, located on the Yamanashi Prefecture side of the mountain, will become… Read
Japan's Defense Ministry to seek record ¥7 tril budget for FY2024
The Defense Ministry will seek a record-high budget of over 7 trillion yen for the next fiscal year, a source familiar with the matter said Tuesday, a move in line with Japan's new security strategy to eventually double its annual defense outlays. The defense spending plan for the year starting… Read
Hokkaido police officer leaves gun in convenience store
A police officer left his loaded handgun at a convenience store in Ashikawa City on Monday, Hokkaido Prefectural Police said Tuesday. According to police, the officer, a sergeant in his 20s, was heading to work in plain clothes when he used the convenience store’s toilet at around 10:20 a.m. on… Read
Typhoon Khanun lashes southern Japan, South Korea; another storm looms
Flights were cancelled and trains halted on Wednesday as heavy rain from Typhoon Khanun pounded southern regions of Japan and South Korea, just as another storm approached from the east to threaten Tokyo ahead of Japan's peak summer holiday season. Khanun could make landfall at the southeastern South Korean port… Read
Nagasaki urges break from nuclear deterrence at reduced A-bomb anniversary
Nagasaki's mayor called on nuclear weapons-possessing nations to "show courage" and break free from nuclear deterrence principles on Wednesday at a scaled-down ceremony to mark the 78th anniversary of the atomic bomb attack on the city held amid a typhoon. The ceremony at the Nagasaki Dejima Messe conference center was… Read
