Diet to start debate on anti-conspiracy bill on Thursday

April 3, 2017

TOKYO- Japan’s ruling coalition decided Monday that Diet deliberations on a bill to criminalize acts of preparing terrorist attacks will start on Thursday at a plenary meeting of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Japanese parliament. The bill

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Roller coaster with 7 on board stops in mid-air  

April 3, 2017

TSU, MIE PREF.- A roller coaster was brought to an emergency stop at the Nagashima Spa Land amusement park in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, Monday morning, leaving seven passengers suspended in midair for about 15 minutes. The cars on the

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Gov’t not denying use of wartime education rescript

April 3, 2017

TOKYO- The Japanese government has left open the possibility that the now-defunct Imperial Rescript on Education will be used widely at schools in the country as a teaching material. In a recent written answer to a lawmaker’s question, the government said

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Large manufacturer business sentiment up for 2nd quarter 

April 3, 2017

TOKYO- Business sentiment among large manufacturers in Japan rose for two quarters in a row in the Bank of Japan’s “tankan” quarterly survey for March, released Monday, thanks chiefly to an improvement in confidence among exporters on the back of a

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Matsuno encourages new recruits amid scandal

April 3, 2017

TOKYO- Japanese education minister Hirokazu Matsuno on Monday encouraged new recruits to work vigorously, amid the “amakudari” job-brokering scandal that has been shaking the ministry.  “While our ministry has damaged the Japanese people’s confidence in us, there is no need for you

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Photographer records Fukushima nature since March 2011 nuclear accident

April 3, 2017

TOMIOKA, FUKUSHIMA PREF.- Yoshiyuki Nagahata was heartbroken to watch the changing landscapes of Fukushima Prefecture areas deserted since the March 2011 nuclear accident. To communicate lessons from Japan’s worst nuclear accident, the 44-year-old photographer has been taking pictures of nature in

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JICA, DOH ink cooperation for drug rehab facility, treatment

April 3, 2017

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Department of Health (DOH) signed Monday a 1.85 billion yen (P826 million) program to establish and enhance facilities and rehabilitation as well as treatment protocols of drug dependents in the Philippines. The

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JAL flies on Haneda-NY route for 1st time in 39 yrs

April 2, 2017

TOKYO- A JAL plane departed Tokyo International Airport at Haneda for New York for the first time in some 39 years on Saturday morning. Japan Airlines  was able to resume regular flight operations between Haneda and New York as the carrier

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