NASA’s Terra satellite flew over Tropical Storm Chanthu as it continued moving past the big island of Japan and staying to the east of the country. On August 15 at 11:00 a.m. EDT (15:00 UTC) the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) indicated that Chanthu was located about 424 nautical miles south-southeast of Yokosuka, Japan, near […]
Japan on Friday announced it is pouring $2.4 billion into a new railway aimed at easing Manila’s notorious gridlock. Japan, the Philippines’ top trading partner and source of aid, said the 38-kilometer (24-mile) elevated commuter line would connect Manila to nearby Bulacan province to decongest the capital and help spur economic activity. “This is one […]
The Japanese government is looking into the possibility of relaxing its restrictive hiring rules for Filipino health care workers who would attend to its greying population. Masato Ohtaka, deputy press secretary of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, confirmed that since his government opened the hiring of Filipino nurses and caregivers, the required number of health care workers […]
The western Japanese city of Nagasaki commemorates the 71st anniversary of the atomic bombing on Tuesday.The city was hit August 9th, 1945 by an American bomber, 3 days after a similar attack on Hiroshima.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and representatives from 53 countries and territories are scheduled to attend a memorial ceremony that starts at 10:35AM.Participants […]
Emperor Akihito is likely to express his thoughts on his role in a video message Monday amid growing speculation that he is considering abdicating, sources said Thursday. The Imperial Household Agency is arranging for the 82-year-old emperor’s message to be made public Monday afternoon, the agency sources said, adding he is expected to read out […]
The transport ministry has launched a trial in Tokyo offering a lower starting taxi fare to confirm demand for short-distance rides.Forty taxis are taking part in the test through September 15th.The cabs are offering a lower starting fare of just 410 yen, or about four dollars, which covers a little more than one kilometer. An […]
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida will begin a visit to the Philippines on August 10th. He wants to discuss with the country’s new president, Rodrigo Duterte, ways to cope with China’s claims in the South China Sea.Officials in both countries are arranging the first meeting between Kishida and Duterte. It has been decided that Kishida […]
The Philippines warned its citizens Wednesday (Aug 3) against illegally travelling to Japan in search of work, saying they risked being trafficked for sex or forced labour. Following offers of work, a number of Filipinos have travelled there on tourist visas but later found themselves in fake or forced marriages with Japanese citizens, Manila’s foreign […]
An 18-year-old schoolgirl was stabbed by a man as she was waiting for a train on a crowded platform at JR Sendai Station in Miyagi Prefecture on Thursday morning. According to police, the girl was stabbed in the back at around 7:30 a.m., Sankei Shimbun reported. She told police she didn’t feel anything at first […]
A summer festival featuring enormous illuminated lantern floats is drawing many tourists in the northern Japanese city of Aomori.The annual Aomori Nebuta Festival began on Tuesday. It’s one of Japan’s most popular summer festivals.“Nebuta” refers to the giant floats that are decorated with the images of samurai warriors and mythical characters.Fifteen floats started parading along […]
