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National
Gov't estimates Jan 1 quake cut Japan growth by ¥115 bil
The government on Tuesday estimated that a deadly earthquake that hit central Japan on New Year's Day had a negative economic impact of up to 115.0 billion yen in the first quarter of 2024, equivalent to less than 0.1 percent of nominal gross domestic product. The Cabinet Office released the… Read
Japan eyes cashless tax refunds to stem illicit resale by tourists
Japan is considering introducing cashless tax refunds for inbound travelers, as part of efforts to prevent them from illicitly earning money by reselling tax-free items before departure, sources close to the matter said Tuesday. Under the envisaged system, the government would have foreign travelers pay for products that include the… Read
He hippo in Japan zoo turns out to be a she
Betrayed by its DNA and unmanly toilet habits, a hippopotamus in Japan thought for seven years to be a he is in fact a she, the zoo where the wallowing giant lives said Tuesday. The 12-year-old came to Osaka Tennoji Zoo in 2017 from the African Safari animal park in… Read
U.S. military to join search for crashed Japan SDF choppers in Pacific
The U.S. military will join Japan's search and rescue efforts for seven missing Maritime Self-Defense Force members after two helicopters crashed in the Pacific over the weekend, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said Tuesday. The U.S. Navy will dispatch a P-8 patrol plane, Kihara told reporters, with the search areas… Read
Sakura tree falls on man at Sannenzaka near Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto
A man was injured and taken to hospital on Tuesday when a sakura tree fell on him at Sannenzaka, one of Kyoto’s busiest tourist areas located along the approach to Kiyomizudera (Kiyomizu temple) in the city’s Higashiyama Ward. The incident occurred at approximately 11:45 a.m., with a witness calling emergency services to report… Read
Believers still pursuing Hiroshima mystery beast 50 years after sightings
During the early 1970s there were multiple reported sightings of a frightening ape-like creature that emerged from deep in the Chugoku Mountain range in western Japan, sparking angst among locals and even a police investigation. As the story began to take hold, with dozens of sightings reported around Mt Hiba… Read
Turkish Airlines diverges from instructed landing route at Haneda
A Turkish Airlines passenger flight diverged from its instructed landing route at Tokyo's Haneda airport and performed a go-around, prompting Japan's transport ministry to investigate the incident, ministry officials said Monday. Turkish Airlines Flight 198 from Istanbul was meant to land on Runway B at around 7:15 p.m. on Saturday,… Read
Flight data recorders from crashed MSDF helicopters show no sign of mechanical failure
An initial analysis of flight data recorders recovered from the crash of two Japanese navy helicopters showed no sign of mechanical problems, Japan’s defense minister said Monday, indicating likely human error. One of the eight crew members died and a search is continuing for the seven others. Defense Minister Minoru… Read
Chinese professor of Japanese university missing in China since Feb 2023
A Chinese professor of Japan's Asia University has become unreachable in China since February last year after he temporarily returned to his home country, sources familiar with bilateral relations said Sunday. Fan Yuntao, 61, was contacted by Chinese authorities before he disappeared, the sources said, adding he may have been… Read
1 dead, 7 missing after 2 MSDF helicopters crash in Pacific during night training
Two Japanese navy helicopters carrying eight crew members crashed in the Pacific Ocean south of Tokyo during a nighttime training flight after possibly colliding with each other, the country's defense minister said Sunday. One crew member who had been recovered from the waters was later pronounced dead, while rescuers searched… Read
