Tag - local-government

 
 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Above part of the photo shows an empty land lot in the city of Kobe and the bottom part shows it was turned into an temporary evacuation area.
JAPAN / Society
Aug 15, 2024
Land ministry to support empty land utilization
The ministry plans to seek the necessary funds under the government's fiscal 2025 budget.
The city of Kurayoshi in Tottori Prefecture relocated privately-managed war memorials erected in various places in the city to a plot of land owned by the city.
JAPAN / Society
Aug 14, 2024
Maintaining privately built war memorials an urgent task in Japan
Of 16,235 memorials for the war dead built by members of the public, 780 were damaged, according to a welfare ministry survey.
Forest in the town of Kamishihoro, Hokkaido, which was designated as an advanced area for decarbonization in fiscal 2022.
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability
Aug 12, 2024
Japan looks to farms in 'advanced decarbonization areas'
Example projects include "agrivoltaics" initiatives and those using livestock manure as a source of biogas.
In recent years, the number of ambulance dispatches has been on the rise, amid concerns that those who need urgent care may not be receiving it.
JAPAN / Society
Aug 7, 2024
Japan municipalities take tougher stance on nonurgent ambulance calls
The proliferation of nonurgent calls and related requests for ambulances have been giving local municipalities a headache.
Tokyo's Shibuya Ward offers a ticket to Shibuya Sky, an open-air observation deck at the rooftop of a high-rise building in Shibuya, as a return gift for those who made furusato nozei donations to the ward.
JAPAN / Society
Aug 2, 2024
'Furusato nozei' donations topped ¥1 trillion for first time in 2023
The city of Miyakonojo in Miyazaki Prefecture received the largest amount of donations, at ¥19.3 billion.
Masanori Matsugawa, mayor of Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture
JAPAN
Jul 26, 2024
Ginowan mayor dies on official trip to Tokyo
The 70-year-old mayor was found dead in his hotel room after failing to turn up at the hotel's lobby at a prearranged time.
People who made hometown tax donations to the city of Narita in Chiba Prefecture take part in a tour on Sunday at Narita Airport in the city, which was offered as a return gift.
JAPAN
Jul 26, 2024
Japan's hometown tax donations top ¥1 trillion for first time
The number of people who received residence tax breaks through the system is also believed to have hit a record 10 million.
Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito holds a news conference on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 25, 2024
Another Hyogo official dies after allegations against governor
The employee is the second person to die since a document on Saito’s allegations surfaced. The creator, a senior Hyogo official, also died in an apparent suicide.
An election observer (on the screen) remotely monitors early voting for the Kofu mayoral election in Kofu, Tottori Prefecture, on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 19, 2024
Tottori town becomes first in Japan to monitor voting online
Polling stations are decreasing as it is getting harder to find observers due to depopulation, and online monitoring is viewed as a possible solution.
Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito speaks to reporters on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 16, 2024
Hyogo governor stands firm on not resigning despite official's death
Gov. Motohiko Saito said he has "responded within the necessary scope" of his duties in relation to allegations of power harassment against him.
Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito bows at a news conference at the prefectural government office in Kobe on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 13, 2024
Hyogo vice governor to resign over death of prefectural official
Vice Gov. Yasutaka Katayama's resignation comes after the death of an official who distributed a document about alleged harassment by Gov. Motohiko Saito.
Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito holds a news conference at the Hyogo prefectural office on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 10, 2024
Hyogo governor refuses to resign after union complaint
Motohiko Saito's refusal came in the wake of the sudden death of a prefectural official who created a document accusing him of wrongdoing.
Suzu General Hospital suffered a significant loss in the last fiscal year due to a decline in the number of patients.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jul 9, 2024
Public hospitals in quake-hit Okunoto area bleed red ink
The area in Ishikawa Prefecture was hit especially hard by the 7.6 magnitude quake that shook the peninsula on Jan. 1.
An interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, on June 6
JAPAN
Jul 5, 2024
Interim storage facility for nuclear fuel nears completion in Aomori
The site is expected to play a key role in Japan's efforts to establish a nuclear fuel cycle, but residents are concerned the temporary facility will become permanent.
Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura, speaking in the city of Osaka on Thursday, explains his plan to propose measures to protect people from fraud.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 28, 2024
Osaka governor eyes ban on mobile phone calls at ATMs
The proposal is part of an effort to protect elderly people from fraud.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike speaks at a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly session earlier this month.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 28, 2024
Campaigning begins for Tokyo assembly by-elections
The Liberal Democratic Party and the regional party Tomin First no Kai are competing to become the biggest group in the assembly.
Internal affairs minister Takeaki Matsumoto
JAPAN
Jun 26, 2024
Point websites to be barred from Japan's hometown tax donation system
Donations collected via the sites will no longer be tax deductible under the hometown tax system.
The government will cover up to 50% of construction expenses for four takeoff and landing sites for flying cars, subject to a cap of ¥50 million ($313,500) per site.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jun 25, 2024
Japan to subsidize construction of first vertiports for flying cars
Post-construction, the transport ministry will use operational and utilization data from the facilities to develop guidelines for the construction of future vertiports.
Office employees drink outdoors in Kabukicho. Street drinking at night will be banned in certain areas of Shinjuku on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. However, the ban has no penalties.
JAPAN
Jun 22, 2024
Tokyo's Shinjuku bans street drinking at night on Halloween
The move comes as Shinjuku has faced increased disturbances and other nuisances from young people moving from neighboring Shibuya.
Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe (second from right) and Aikasa founder Shoji Marukawa (second from left) hold rental umbrellas during a media briefing on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Society
Jun 19, 2024
Shibuya launches initiative to set up 150 new umbrella-sharing stands
The initiative envisions a reduction of 76.1 tons in carbon dioxide emissions and 29.1 tons in waste per year.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?