Sides are being taken in Japan’s underworld. Following a series of violent incidents in Kanto over the weekend, likely involving the Yamaguchi-gumi and its newly formed rival, the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi, hostilities are continuing this week, reports TV Asahi (Mar. 3). At approximately 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, a vehicle plowed into the home of the chairman of a Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi […]
A Japanese government study has found nearly a third of working women who responded to a survey reported being sexually harassed on the job, such as being subjected to unwanted physical contact or degrading comments. The study, released Tuesday and the first of its kind, examined responses from more than 9,600 women employees, submitted by […]
Kyoto Prefectural Police have arrested a 26-year-old employee at a health food company after a spy camera was found mounted under the desk of a female colleague, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Feb. 29). The suspect allegedly used tape to attach the camera, measuring nine centimeters by five centimeters, under the desk such that it took footage […]
Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force’s first woman destroyer captain assumed her duties Monday, taking the helm of the destroyer Yamagiri based at the Yokosuka Naval Base southwest of Tokyo. Cmdr Miho Otani, 44, who will be in charge of about 220 crew on the destroyer, said in a written statement that she wants to set a […]
Hiroshima Prefectural Police are investigating a string of incidents in Kure City in which women were sexually assaulted by a man wearing women’s clothing, reportsHiroshima Home Television (Feb. 29). At approximately 2:00 a.m. on February 10, Takahiro Murakami, a 41-year-old company employee, allegedly came up from behind a woman walking home in the Washonoborimachi and fondled her body. […]
The Meteorological Agency warned Hokkaido on Tuesday to brace for its worst blizzard in years, and airlines and railways halted some operations. As an intensive low-pressure system moved eastward near Hokkaido, the agency forecast a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 40 meters per second and 40 cm of snowfall in the 24 hours until 6 […]
Japan is seeing growth in its factory activity. The Economy Ministry says industrial production was up 3.7 percent in January from the previous month. It is the first increase in 3 months after a decline of 1.7 percent in December. Ministry officials said on Monday that output rose in 12 of the 15 reporting sectors. […]
Emperor Akihito, 82, has been diagnosed with influenza after suffering a fever over the weekend, the Imperial Household Agency said in Tokyo on Monday, without giving further details. Akihito will rest at his residence in the Imperial Palace. Born in 1933, Akihito was heir to Emperor Hirohito, in whose name Japan fought World War II. […]
Japan and the Philippines are to sign an agreement as early as next week to promote technological cooperation and the transfer of defense equipment.The two governments have been holding working-level talks on the matter since a broad agreement was reached at summit talks in November of last year.The new agreement is expected to include measures […]
Kansai Electric Power Company says it will restart on Friday another reactor at the Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture, central Japan.The plant in February last year cleared strict government regulations adopted after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident. Its No. 3 reactor was restarted late last month.Final preparations are underway at the No. 4 […]
