News - Page 319

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japan Fair Trade Commission on Tuesday conducted an on-site inspection of over 20 firms on suspicion of rigging bids for condominium repair projects in Aichi, Gifu and Mie prefectures in central Japan, people familiar with the matter

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius in the Shikoku region of western Japan on Tuesday, marking the first “kokushobi,” or cruelly hot day, there this year. The town of Kuroshio, Kochi Prefecture, observed 40.7 degrees shortly past 2:30 p.m.,

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–A powerful earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan at around 4:27 p.m. on Tuesday, measuring up to 7, the highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale. The quake struck at a depth of about 10 kilometers

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s key Nikkei 225 stock average slumped again on Tuesday as heavy selling hit artificial intelligence- and semiconductor-related stocks. The index of 225 major issues listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime section closed at 62,364.92, down 2,566.27

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–The amount of domestic rice consumed as a staple food in Japan in the year from July 2025 hit a record low of 6.83 million tons on a preliminary basis in terms of brown rice, it was learned

Sapporo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Public prosecutors have sought a 30-year prison sentence for a teenager in a high-profile group assault case in which a 20-year-old university student died in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, in 2024. During Monday’s hearing at Sapporo District Court in the

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Immigration Services Agency will hire 226 more employees to bolster its operations amid an increase in foreign residents in the country, Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said Tuesday. Through the addition of 176 immigration inspectors and 50 immigration

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government released human resources reform plans Tuesday, including expansion of the reduced working hours program for national public servants. Specifically, the government will consider allowing its regular employees to cut working hours for health reasons and

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Chinese automaker BYD Co. on Tuesday released its first electric minivehicle designed exclusively for the Japanese market. The new model, named Racco, starts at 2,145,000 yen. This means that the vehicle is available at as low as 1,995,000

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government has decided to present the People’s Honor Award to retired speedskating star Miho Takagi at the prime minister’s office on Aug. 4, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Tuesday. During a press conference, Kihara emphasized