Returning foreign visitors are spending more money than ever in Japan's economy. Thanks to the declining value of the yen and a dramatic increase in arrivals, their spending reached a record level for the quarter. According to preliminary data from the Japan Tourism Agency, foreign visitors spent around 9.3 billion dollars, or nearly 1.4 trillion yen, from July to September.

Japan take steps towards establishing overtourism countermeasures

<p>A team of scientists collected fish samples from the port town near Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant on Thursday (Oct 19) for the first time since the release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This comes as scientists from China, South Korea and Canada have sought to assess the impact of the plant’s recent release of treated radioactive water into the sea which began in August.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The move has since drawn criticism from Beijing and prompted the country to ban all imports of marine products from Tokyo over food safety fears.</p>

<h2><strong>About the samples collected</strong></h2>

<p>The marine samples were collected in the presence of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team while scientists from three countries observed the delivery&nbsp;fresh off the boat at Hisanohama port, about 50 kilometres south of the plant which was destroyed in 2011 following an earthquake and tsunami.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fukushima-nuclear-plant-water-release-is-safe-says-iaea-chief-612362">Fukushima nuclear plant water release is safe, says IAEA chief</a></strong></p>

<p>The IAEA team is in the midst of an eight-day visit, during which they also inspected the collection and processing of seawater and marine sediment near the plant. The UN nuclear watchdog has said that the samples will be sent to laboratories in each country for independent testing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The Japanese government has requested that we do this and one of the reasons they want us to do this is to try and strengthen confidence in the data that Japan is producing,” said Paul McGinnity, an IAEA marine radiology scientist overseeing the survey.</p>

<p>IAEA selected six species of fish – olive flounder, crimson sea bream, redwing searobin, Japanese jack mackerel, silver croaker and vermiculated puffer fish – because they are known to have higher levels of radioactivity than other species, said McGinnity, attributing this to the areas in which the fishes tend to move around in.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fish will now be shipped to a Fisheries Agency laboratory in Chiba, near Tokyo where scientists from the UN nuclear watchdog will also examine them. “I can say that we don’t expect to see any change starting in the fish,” said the IAEA scientist.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, he did note a small rise in levels of tritium, which cannot be removed from the Fukushima wastewater by the plant’s treatment system and may be detected in locations close to the discharge points, but otherwise, the levels of radioactivity are expected to be similar to those measured before the discharge last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-south-koreans-protest-iaea-chiefs-visit-over-fukushima-water-release-613508">South Koreans protest IAEA chief's visit over Fukushima water release</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Fukushima water release</strong></h2>

<p>On August 24, Fukushima Daiichi started releasing treated wastewater into the sea after more than a million metric tons of water, which is enough to fill 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools, was contaminated from contact with fuel rods at the reactor following the 2011 disaster.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the IAEA has reviewed the safety of the wastewater release, which will be done in instalments, and said it would have negligible impact on the environment, marine life and human health, not everyone was convinced, prompting hundreds of people in Japan as well as South Korea to take to the streets in protest back in August.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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A team of scientists collected fish samples from the port town near Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant on Thursday (Oct 19) for the first time since the release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea.

A team of scientists collected fish samples from the port town near Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant on Thursday (Oct 19) for the first time since the release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. This comes as scientists from China, South Korea and Canada have sought to assess the impact of the plant’s recent release of treated radioactive water into the sea which began in August. The move has since drawn criticism from Beijing and prompted the country to ban all imports of marine products from Tokyo over food safety fears. About the samples collected The marine samples were collected in the presence of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team while scientists from three countries observed the delivery fresh off the boat at Hisanohama port, about 50 kilometres south of the plant which was destroyed in 2011 following an earthquake and tsunami. ALSO READ | Fukushima nuclear plant water release is safe, says IAEA chief The IAEA team is in the midst of an eight-day visit, during which they also inspected the collection and processing of seawater and marine sediment near the plant. The UN nuclear watchdog has said that the samples will be sent to laboratories in each country for independent testing. “The Japanese government has requested that we do this and one of the reasons they want us to do this is to try and strengthen confidence in the data that Japan is producing,” said Paul McGinnity, an IAEA marine radiology scientist overseeing the survey. IAEA selected six species of fish – olive flounder, crimson sea bream, redwing searobin, Japanese jack mackerel, silver croaker and vermiculated puffer fish – because they are known to have higher levels of radioactivity than other species, said McGinnity, attributing this to the areas in which the fishes tend to move around in. The fish will now be shipped to a Fisheries Agency laboratory in Chiba, near Tokyo where scientists from the UN nuclear watchdog will also examine them. “I can say that we don’t expect to see any change starting in the fish,” said the IAEA scientist. However, he did note a small rise in levels of tritium, which cannot be removed from the Fukushima wastewater by the plant’s treatment system and may be detected in locations close to the discharge points, but otherwise, the levels of radioactivity are expected to be similar to those measured before the discharge last year. ALSO READ | South Koreans protest IAEA chief's visit over Fukushima water release Fukushima water release On August 24, Fukushima Daiichi started releasing treated wastewater into the sea after more than a million metric tons of water, which is enough to fill 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools, was contaminated from contact with fuel rods at the reactor following the 2011 disaster. While the IAEA has reviewed the safety of the wastewater release, which will be done in instalments, and said it would have negligible impact on the environment, marine life and human health, not everyone was convinced, prompting hundreds of people in Japan as well as South Korea to take to the streets in protest back in August. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Scientists test fish after Fukushima nuclear plant water release, IAEA expects ‘no change’

President Joe Biden is deepening the web of US partnerships in a determined signal to adversaries despite question marks on the political come back home. South Korea, the US and Japan have established a trilateral communication Hotline in another sign of progress in their three-way security cooperation. The Allies are keeping a tap on North Korea's evolving military threats and China's increasing assertiveness.

US already has security alliances with Japan and South Korea

<p>The Japanese government on Thursday (Oct 12)&nbsp;said it would ask a court to strip the legal status of the Unification Church, after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's assassination last year raised questions over the group's fundraising methods.</p>

<p>Education Minister Masahito Moriyama said that the government would file a request to the Tokyo District Court to revoke the status of the church as soon as Friday, once "preparations are complete".</p>

<p>"In view of the extensive damage caused, we find that it falls under the grounds for ordering dissolution as stated in the religious corporations law," Moriyama told a press briefing.</p>

<p>The church "forced a number of people to contribute donations and buy items."</p>

<p>"It has impinged on people's freedoms for a long time, prevented them from making sound decisions, severely hurt them, disrupted their lives and sabotaged their sound judgement," he said.</p>

<p>In a separate statement, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the government's plan was based on facts and a careful review of the matter.</p>

<p>"Based on the law and in accordance with the objective facts, careful work was done and the Minister of Education made the decision," he told reporters at his office.</p>

<p>The Unification Church said that it was "extremely regrettable that the government made such an important decision based on biased information from a left-wing group of lawyers established with the goal of destroying our corporation."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/canadian-speaker-raymonde-gagne-skips-g20-parliamentary-speakers-summit-amid-india-canada-row-645929">Canadian Speaker Raymonde Gagne skips G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit amid India-Canada row&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>The Unification Church would lose its status as a religious corporation and be deprived of tax benefits if it is dissolved. It could still operate as an entity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Abe was shot dead in broad daylight in July 2022 while he was delivering a speech in the western Nara region.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Kishida last year ordered an investigation into the church after it appeared that Abe's alleged assassin was inspired by bitterness against the group.</p>

<p>The investigation into the former PM's death revealed links between the church and many conservative ruling lawmakers in Japan.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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The Japanese government on Thursday (Oct 12) said it would ask a court to strip the legal status of the Unification Church, after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's assassination last year raised questions over the group's fundraising methods.

The Japanese government on Thursday (Oct 12) said it would ask a court to strip the legal status of the Unification Church, after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's assassination last year raised questions over the group's fundraising methods. Education Minister Masahito Moriyama said that the government would file a request to the Tokyo District Court to revoke the status of the church as soon as Friday, once "preparations are complete". "In view of the extensive damage caused, we find that it falls under the grounds for ordering dissolution as stated in the religious corporations law," Moriyama told a press briefing. The church "forced a number of people to contribute donations and buy items." "It has impinged on people's freedoms for a long time, prevented them from making sound decisions, severely hurt them, disrupted their lives and sabotaged their sound judgement," he said. In a separate statement, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the government's plan was based on facts and a careful review of the matter. "Based on the law and in accordance with the objective facts, careful work was done and the Minister of Education made the decision," he told reporters at his office. The Unification Church said that it was "extremely regrettable that the government made such an important decision based on biased information from a left-wing group of lawyers established with the goal of destroying our corporation." Also read: Canadian Speaker Raymonde Gagne skips G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit amid India-Canada row The Unification Church would lose its status as a religious corporation and be deprived of tax benefits if it is dissolved. It could still operate as an entity. Abe was shot dead in broad daylight in July 2022 while he was delivering a speech in the western Nara region. Prime Minister Kishida last year ordered an investigation into the church after it appeared that Abe's alleged assassin was inspired by bitterness against the group. The investigation into the former PM's death revealed links between the church and many conservative ruling lawmakers in Japan. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japan govt to ask court to revoke legal status of Unification Church linked to Abe assassination

<p>Spike Lee has praised Christopher Nolan's <em>Oppenheimer</em> but also wished that the film had shown the impact of nuclear bombs on Japan and its people during World War II. Lee spoke candidly in a recent interview and praised Nolan's latest film which has emerged as one of the biggest-grossing films of the year.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>Oppenheimer</em> was fronted by Cillian Murphy and was a three-hour-long biographical drama on American theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer. The film was released worldwide on July 21 and earned rave reviews from critics.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
While speaking to The Washington Post, Lee stated that his remark on the film was “not criticism”, but a comment.</p>

<p><br />
“Chris Nolan with <em>Oppenheimer,</em> he’s a massive filmmaker. Great film… and this is not a criticism. It’s a comment. If (‘Oppenheimer’) is three hours, I would like to add some more minutes about what happened to the Japanese people.<br />
<br />
“People got vaporized. Many years later, people are radioactive. It’s not like he didn’t have power. He tells studios what to do. I would have loved to have the end of the film maybe show what it did, dropping those two nuclear bombs on Japan,” the Oscar winner told the publication.<br />
<br />
Spike Lee also shared he showed Christopher Nolan’s World War II epic <em>Dunkirk</em> in his New York University film class.<br />
<br />
“Understand, this is all love. And I bet (Nolan) could tell me some things he would change about <em>Do the Right Thing</em> and <em>Malcolm X</em>,” he added.<br />
<br />
Apart from Cillian Murphy, <em>Oppenheimer </em>also starred Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr and Matt Damon in key roles.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Spike Lee has praised Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer but also wished that the film had shown the impact of nuclear bombs on Japan and its people during World War II.

Spike Lee has praised Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer but also wished that the film had shown the impact of nuclear bombs on Japan and its people during World War II. Lee spoke candidly in a recent interview and praised Nolan's latest film which has emerged as one of the biggest-grossing films of the year. Oppenheimer was fronted by Cillian Murphy and was a three-hour-long biographical drama on American theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer. The film was released worldwide on July 21 and earned rave reviews from critics. While speaking to The Washington Post, Lee stated that his remark on the film was “not criticism”, but a comment. “Chris Nolan with Oppenheimer, he’s a massive filmmaker. Great film… and this is not a criticism. It’s a comment. If (‘Oppenheimer’) is three hours, I would like to add some more minutes about what happened to the Japanese people. “People got vaporized. Many years later, people are radioactive. It’s not like he didn’t have power. He tells studios what to do. I would have loved to have the end of the film maybe show what it did, dropping those two nuclear bombs on Japan,” the Oscar winner told the publication. Spike Lee also shared he showed Christopher Nolan’s World War II epic Dunkirk in his New York University film class. “Understand, this is all love. And I bet (Nolan) could tell me some things he would change about Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X,” he added. Apart from Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer also starred Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr and Matt Damon in key roles.

Spike Lee feels Nolan's Oppenheimer should have shown nuclear bomb's impact on Japan

<p>A tsunami advisory was issued by Japan for the Izu Islands after it was struck by a magnitude 6.6 earthquake in the Pacific Ocean.</p>

<p>The meteorological agency of Japan said that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres at around 11:00 a.m. on Thursday (Oct 5) near Torishima Island in the Izu chain.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Pacific Ocean, around 550 km (340 miles) south of Tokyo.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-to-release-second-batch-of-fukushima-nuclear-wastewater-next-week-640741">Japan to release second batch of Fukushima nuclear wastewater next week</a></p>

<p>Two hours after being issued,&nbsp;the advisory was lifted. The advisory, which was the second-lowest of a four-stage warning system, had advised people to maintain distance from the seashore and river mouths.</p>

<p>The experts also expect some changes in tide levels along the Pacific coast of the main islands in Japan.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Tsunami waves reach one of the islands</strong></h2>

<p>After the advisory was issued, tsunami waves, which measured up to 30 cm in height, were seen on at least one of the Izu islands. Originally, the weather forecasters had estimated waves of around one metre for the remote chain of islands located south of Tokyo.</p>

<p>People living in the coastal areas and close to the river mouths were advised to retreat to higher ground. &nbsp;“A 1-meter wave may not seem significant. ... But encountering such a wave can be extremely dangerous and it can sweep you off your feet,” &nbsp;said a Meteorological Agency representative, while speaking at a press conference.</p>

<p>The US Geological Survey stated that the area was hit by a series of offshore earthquakes on Thursday morning. The agency stated that the quake was not felt in Tokyo or on the islands.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Japan says workers stole possibly radioactive metal from Fukushima</strong></p>

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<p>Earlier, it was predicted that the tsunami would reach the Izu islands at various times including at Hachijo-jima at 11:50 am and Izu Oshima at noon. &nbsp;The meteorological agency further warned of potential aftershocks, adding that there is a 10 per cent to 20 per cent chance that an earthquake of similar magnitude will occur. The residents were told to stay on alert for the next week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the agency, throughout the last week, seismic activity was observed in the same area of the western Pacific Ocean.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for&nbsp;wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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A tsunami advisory was issued by Japan for the Izu Islands after it was struck by a magnitude 6.6 earthquake in the Pacific Ocean. The meteorological agency of Japan said that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres at around 11:00 a.

A tsunami advisory was issued by Japan for the Izu Islands after it was struck by a magnitude 6.6 earthquake in the Pacific Ocean. The meteorological agency of Japan said that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres at around 11:00 a.m. on Thursday (Oct 5) near Torishima Island in the Izu chain. The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Pacific Ocean, around 550 km (340 miles) south of Tokyo. ALSO READ | Japan to release second batch of Fukushima nuclear wastewater next week Two hours after being issued, the advisory was lifted. The advisory, which was the second-lowest of a four-stage warning system, had advised people to maintain distance from the seashore and river mouths. The experts also expect some changes in tide levels along the Pacific coast of the main islands in Japan. Tsunami waves reach one of the islands After the advisory was issued, tsunami waves, which measured up to 30 cm in height, were seen on at least one of the Izu islands. Originally, the weather forecasters had estimated waves of around one metre for the remote chain of islands located south of Tokyo. People living in the coastal areas and close to the river mouths were advised to retreat to higher ground. “A 1-meter wave may not seem significant. ... But encountering such a wave can be extremely dangerous and it can sweep you off your feet,” said a Meteorological Agency representative, while speaking at a press conference. The US Geological Survey stated that the area was hit by a series of offshore earthquakes on Thursday morning. The agency stated that the quake was not felt in Tokyo or on the islands. WATCH | Japan says workers stole possibly radioactive metal from Fukushima Earlier, it was predicted that the tsunami would reach the Izu islands at various times including at Hachijo-jima at 11:50 am and Izu Oshima at noon. The meteorological agency further warned of potential aftershocks, adding that there is a 10 per cent to 20 per cent chance that an earthquake of similar magnitude will occur. The residents were told to stay on alert for the next week. As per the agency, throughout the last week, seismic activity was observed in the same area of the western Pacific Ocean. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Japan issues tsunami warning for Izu Islands after 6.6 magnitude quake

Over the last 24 months, Tsubame Industries has been working on a four-wheeled, 4.5-meter (14.8-foot) tall robot that bears a little similarity to "Mobile Suit Gundam" from the immensely popular Japanese animation series. The robot is scheduled to make its debut at the Japan Mobility Show in late October. Afterwards, Tsubame Industries intends to sell the robot in five units for a total of 400 million yen ($2.7 million) apiece. The robot, named ARCHAX after the bird-like dinosaur Archaeopteryx, is equipped with cockpit monitors that project pictures from external cameras. This allows the pilot to control the robot's hands and arms using joysticks from inside its body.

Japan startup develops a giant human-piloted robot

<p>France began vaccinating millions of ducks on Monday (Oct 2), becoming the&nbsp;only European country with a vaccination campaign against bird flu in a bid to avoid mass culls. The move comes despite countries like the United States and Japan saying that they would impose import restrictions on French poultry.</p>

<p>France has been one of the countries worst affected by the unprecedented global spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly called bird flu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“There’s high pressure from the virus, but vaccination should mean we only face individual cases, avoiding the tidal wave sweeping through farms,” said Jocelyn Marguerie, poultry chief at the SNGTV farm vets’ association, as quoted by AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is France planning to do?</strong></h2>

<p>Around 60 million ducks are to be vaccinated across the country over the next year after France made the two-jab course for ducklings as young as 10 days on farms raising more than 250 birds mandatory from October.</p>

<p>The first shots were administered on Monday morning to ducks on a farm in the Landes, a region in southwestern France in the presence of Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau. “It’s a moment of optimism, we have the feeling of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” Fesneau told reporters there.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The total cost to vaccinate the millions of birds is estimated to be $102 million (96 million euros), out of which 85 per cent will be funded by the government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The country’s first 80 million doses will come from pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Bird flu in France</strong></h2>

<p>France’s liver for foie gras or meat-producing duck sector is especially sensitive to the virus. The country’s poultry population saw a wave of bird flu in 2015-17 and has suffered nearly constant outbreaks since 2020.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This vaccination plan...is a world first: its goal is to protect all farmed birds and should put an end to the preventive slaughter of animals, which no one wants to live with anymore,” said duck and fois gras makers group CIFOG.</p>

<p>The discovery of one case would mean culling for the whole farm and others nearby, often bringing a heavy financial toll on French farmers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I’ve been caught up in four culls since 2016. I hope we’ll get back to being unscathed. (vaccination) has to work!” Thierry Dezes, who raises ducks in Landes and plans to jab some 5,000 ducklings, as quoted by AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There has been some backlash about the move as one farmer told AFP how customers don’t want meat from “vaccinated ducks”.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>US, Japan import restrictions</strong></h2>

<p>The US imposed restrictions on imports of French poultry starting October 1 citing a risk of introduction and spread of the virus into the country since vaccinated birds may not show signs of infection.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, a senior official at the Japanese ministry of agriculture told AFP that Tokyo would suspend imports of French poultry products after the vaccination campaign had started.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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France began vaccinating millions of ducks on Monday (Oct 2), becoming the only European country with a vaccination campaign against bird flu in a bid to avoid mass culls.

France began vaccinating millions of ducks on Monday (Oct 2), becoming the only European country with a vaccination campaign against bird flu in a bid to avoid mass culls. The move comes despite countries like the United States and Japan saying that they would impose import restrictions on French poultry. France has been one of the countries worst affected by the unprecedented global spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly called bird flu. “There’s high pressure from the virus, but vaccination should mean we only face individual cases, avoiding the tidal wave sweeping through farms,” said Jocelyn Marguerie, poultry chief at the SNGTV farm vets’ association, as quoted by AFP. What is France planning to do? Around 60 million ducks are to be vaccinated across the country over the next year after France made the two-jab course for ducklings as young as 10 days on farms raising more than 250 birds mandatory from October. The first shots were administered on Monday morning to ducks on a farm in the Landes, a region in southwestern France in the presence of Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau. “It’s a moment of optimism, we have the feeling of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” Fesneau told reporters there. The total cost to vaccinate the millions of birds is estimated to be $102 million (96 million euros), out of which 85 per cent will be funded by the government. The country’s first 80 million doses will come from pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. Bird flu in France France’s liver for foie gras or meat-producing duck sector is especially sensitive to the virus. The country’s poultry population saw a wave of bird flu in 2015-17 and has suffered nearly constant outbreaks since 2020. “This vaccination plan...is a world first: its goal is to protect all farmed birds and should put an end to the preventive slaughter of animals, which no one wants to live with anymore,” said duck and fois gras makers group CIFOG. The discovery of one case would mean culling for the whole farm and others nearby, often bringing a heavy financial toll on French farmers. “I’ve been caught up in four culls since 2016. I hope we’ll get back to being unscathed. (vaccination) has to work!” Thierry Dezes, who raises ducks in Landes and plans to jab some 5,000 ducklings, as quoted by AFP. There has been some backlash about the move as one farmer told AFP how customers don’t want meat from “vaccinated ducks”. US, Japan import restrictions The US imposed restrictions on imports of French poultry starting October 1 citing a risk of introduction and spread of the virus into the country since vaccinated birds may not show signs of infection. Meanwhile, a senior official at the Japanese ministry of agriculture told AFP that Tokyo would suspend imports of French poultry products after the vaccination campaign had started. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

France to vaccinate millions of ducks against bird flu despite risk of import restrictions

<p>Brown bear cubs are in a dire state and around 10 have died so far this year due to salmon shortage in a remote part of northern Japan, media reports said. Experts have blamed global warming and subsequent rising sea temperatures because of the climate crisis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Shiretoko area, the easternmost portion of the Japanese island of Hokkaidō, was designated by UNESCO in 2005 and it became a World Heritage Site.</p>

<p>At that time, UNESCO hoped that Shiretoko and the Kuril Islands (in Russian Federation) would jointly become a transboundary "World Heritage Peace Park" but it didn't happen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The issue was reported after officials weighed in on the images captured from a tour boat off the coast on September 19.</p>

<p>The images showed a starving brown bear swimming on the beach, scrounging through washed-ashore seaweed and desperately looking for food.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prominent-crocodile-expert-pleads-guilty-of-sadistic-sexual-interest-in-animals-particularly-dogs-639730">Prominent crocodile expert pleads guilty of 'sadistic sexual interest' in animals, particularly dogs</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Katsuya Noda, the tour boat operator, told the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun: "Some bears have grown really thin. They are having a tough time, because there are no fish in the rivers, just like last year."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pink salmon and acorns are among the essential food sources in late summer for the approximately 500 brown bears that inhabit the region known for its dramatic coastline and wild animals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pink salmon hatch in rivers and return to streams after spending the winter in the sea to lay eggs between August and October.</p>

<p>They eventually become the source of food for the brown bears. But because of climate change and its impact, the bears have been forced to swim in the sea because of the shortage of river fish.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/atlas-show-hundreds-of-mysterious-fairy-circles-spread-across-continents-639655">Over 250 mysterious fairy circles spotted from space spread across 3 continents</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>A report by The Guardian mentioned that experts have noted that sea surface temperatures off Hokkaido remained above 20C from mid-July to early August 2021, which was alarmingly 5C higher than average for that time of the year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the researchers at Hokkaido University, seawater temperature around the island will rise by up to 10C in the 2090s if the global heating continues at its current rate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Masami Yamanaka, who is a researcher at the Shiretoko Nature Foundation, told the Japanese newspaper that the health of brown bear cubs has deteriorated because of the lack of salmon, combined with a poor acorn harvest.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted, Yamanaka said: "An estimated 70% to 80% of the cubs born this year are dead. It’s a really serious situation."&nbsp;</p>

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Brown bear cubs are in a dire state and around 10 have died so far this year due to salmon shortage in a remote part of northern Japan, media reports said. Experts have blamed global warming and subsequent rising sea temperatures because of the climate crisis.

Brown bear cubs are in a dire state and around 10 have died so far this year due to salmon shortage in a remote part of northern Japan, media reports said. Experts have blamed global warming and subsequent rising sea temperatures because of the climate crisis. The Shiretoko area, the easternmost portion of the Japanese island of Hokkaidō, was designated by UNESCO in 2005 and it became a World Heritage Site. At that time, UNESCO hoped that Shiretoko and the Kuril Islands (in Russian Federation) would jointly become a transboundary "World Heritage Peace Park" but it didn't happen. The issue was reported after officials weighed in on the images captured from a tour boat off the coast on September 19. The images showed a starving brown bear swimming on the beach, scrounging through washed-ashore seaweed and desperately looking for food. Also read: Prominent crocodile expert pleads guilty of 'sadistic sexual interest' in animals, particularly dogs Katsuya Noda, the tour boat operator, told the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun: "Some bears have grown really thin. They are having a tough time, because there are no fish in the rivers, just like last year." Pink salmon and acorns are among the essential food sources in late summer for the approximately 500 brown bears that inhabit the region known for its dramatic coastline and wild animals. Pink salmon hatch in rivers and return to streams after spending the winter in the sea to lay eggs between August and October. They eventually become the source of food for the brown bears. But because of climate change and its impact, the bears have been forced to swim in the sea because of the shortage of river fish. Also read: Over 250 mysterious fairy circles spotted from space spread across 3 continents A report by The Guardian mentioned that experts have noted that sea surface temperatures off Hokkaido remained above 20C from mid-July to early August 2021, which was alarmingly 5C higher than average for that time of the year. According to the researchers at Hokkaido University, seawater temperature around the island will rise by up to 10C in the 2090s if the global heating continues at its current rate. Masami Yamanaka, who is a researcher at the Shiretoko Nature Foundation, told the Japanese newspaper that the health of brown bear cubs has deteriorated because of the lack of salmon, combined with a poor acorn harvest. As quoted, Yamanaka said: "An estimated 70% to 80% of the cubs born this year are dead. It’s a really serious situation." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Climate change: Brown bear cubs starve and die in Japan due to lack of salmon

<p>Takehiko Nakao, the former Asian Development Bank chief, has raised concerns about the Japanese yen's declining value, suggesting that Japan may need to intervene in the currency market again. Nakao also called for the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to reconsider its ultra-easy monetary policy.</p>

<p>In a recent interaction with Reuters, Nakao spoke about the risks associated with prolonged monetary easing, highlighting the need for a possible policy modification.</p>

<p>Reuters quoted Nakao as saying, "There may be views that the intervention is not imminent as the depreciation has not been so rapid compared to the last time when authorities intervened in September/October. But it's fully possible the authorities will conduct intervention in case the yen weakens further."</p>

<p>In the face of a weakening yen, Japan has spent over 9 trillion yen last year to stabilise the currency. The yen, currently trading around 147.77 against the dollar, has been a cause for concern, as a weaker yen can negatively impact Japan's exports and create economic instability.</p>

<p>Takehiko Nakao, who worked as the top currency official from August 2011 to March 2013, supervised a significant intervention in 2011 to control the yen’s strength in response to the U.S. Federal Reserve's quantitative easing. However, now that the yen is considerably weaker, Japan faces different economic challenges, such as rising import prices and increased living costs.</p>

<p>Nakao's concerns are echoed by investors who view prolonged monetary easing as distorting markets and hurting bank profits. A weaker yen has emerged as a result of Japan's contrast with the global trend of monetary control. Other major central banks, such as the Federal Reserve, have hiked interest rates to fight off inflation while the BOJ continues to undertake potent monetary stimulus measures.</p>

<p>As the BOJ concludes its two-day meeting this week, it is widely expected to maintain its yield curve control (YCC) targets at a negative 0.1 per cent for short-term interest rates and 0 per cent for the 10-year bond yield. However, Nakao, who is in talks with present policymakers, argues for a change in direction.</p>

<p>"In the face of ongoing headline inflation and an excessively weak yen, the BOJ may have no choice but to proceed with monetary policy normalisation, including an exit from negative rate policy and yield curve control, so as not to fall behind the curve," Nakao&nbsp; told Reuters. "Given that JGB yields remain stable and inflation is on the rise, now is the chance to tweak yield curve control."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from Reuters)</em></p>

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Takehiko Nakao, the former Asian Development Bank chief, has raised concerns about the Japanese yen's declining value, suggesting that Japan may need to intervene in the currency market again.

Takehiko Nakao, the former Asian Development Bank chief, has raised concerns about the Japanese yen's declining value, suggesting that Japan may need to intervene in the currency market again. Nakao also called for the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to reconsider its ultra-easy monetary policy. In a recent interaction with Reuters, Nakao spoke about the risks associated with prolonged monetary easing, highlighting the need for a possible policy modification. Reuters quoted Nakao as saying, "There may be views that the intervention is not imminent as the depreciation has not been so rapid compared to the last time when authorities intervened in September/October. But it's fully possible the authorities will conduct intervention in case the yen weakens further." In the face of a weakening yen, Japan has spent over 9 trillion yen last year to stabilise the currency. The yen, currently trading around 147.77 against the dollar, has been a cause for concern, as a weaker yen can negatively impact Japan's exports and create economic instability. Takehiko Nakao, who worked as the top currency official from August 2011 to March 2013, supervised a significant intervention in 2011 to control the yen’s strength in response to the U.S. Federal Reserve's quantitative easing. However, now that the yen is considerably weaker, Japan faces different economic challenges, such as rising import prices and increased living costs. Nakao's concerns are echoed by investors who view prolonged monetary easing as distorting markets and hurting bank profits. A weaker yen has emerged as a result of Japan's contrast with the global trend of monetary control. Other major central banks, such as the Federal Reserve, have hiked interest rates to fight off inflation while the BOJ continues to undertake potent monetary stimulus measures. As the BOJ concludes its two-day meeting this week, it is widely expected to maintain its yield curve control (YCC) targets at a negative 0.1 per cent for short-term interest rates and 0 per cent for the 10-year bond yield. However, Nakao, who is in talks with present policymakers, argues for a change in direction. "In the face of ongoing headline inflation and an excessively weak yen, the BOJ may have no choice but to proceed with monetary policy normalisation, including an exit from negative rate policy and yield curve control, so as not to fall behind the curve," Nakao told Reuters. "Given that JGB yields remain stable and inflation is on the rise, now is the chance to tweak yield curve control." (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Japan contemplates yen intervention and policy shift as economic concerns mount

Based on recently revealed political financing reports from the Japanese government, it appears that a number of political organisations are funding Japanese Prime Minister Kishida by misreporting donations made in 2021. The reports come after it was recently discovered that other cabinet members had also been involved in inappropriate contribution management. It is further alleged that Kishida's fund management organisation and his support group also made other errors in declaring the names of donors and the dates.

Japan Funding Row: PM Kishida under scanner

Researchers in Japan have made a mind-blowing discovery. A study published in environmental chemistry letters has revealed that microplastics are present in clouds, and that is expected to have a significant impact on climate.

Study shed light on concerning reality of microplastics

Weeks after the release of the first batch of Fukushima water ended. Japan has now set the date for the release of the second batch of treated radioactive water, according to the facilities.

Japan started releasing Fukushima water last month, country says water is safe after being treated

Humans are racing against time to develop a robust and substantial space program keeping that in mind the US Space Force is considering setting up a unit in Japan. Underscoring the importance of bilateral cooperation in the space domain where China is wrapping up its capabilities the US state Force founded in 2019 is now looking to establish a branch in Japan.

US eyes space force unit in Japan amid China's growing influence

In pics | Social media inspires Japanese women to dash into rickshaw pulling

US' Space Force is planning to make a space hotline with China. US is also planning to open a Space Force branch in Japan. Will China agree to the hotline deal? Priyanka Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: US plans to establish space hotline with China

There's currently no cure known for Alzheimer's disease that causes a decline in memory - thinking, learning and organising skills. Over time it is the most common cause of Dementia and usually affects people over the age of 65.

Japan 1st country to get treatment for Alzheimer's as it approves drug  to treat disease

The United States ambassador to Japan has again made some shocking claims about China.

US ambassador claims Chinese vessels fishing near Japan

Normal service resumed for double-world champion Max Verstappen as he claimed a dominant victory in an otherwise action-packed Japanese Grand Prix.

Red Bull's double-world Champion Max Verstappen wins Japanese Grand Prix

<p>Japan is set to delay a proposed bill aimed at establishing a system that would prevent individuals with a history of sex crime from being employed in professions involving dealing with children.</p>

<p>Japan Times reported that the bill is not expected to be tabled in an extraordinary parliamentary session next month and instead will be delayed until next year.</p>

<p>Japan’s minister in charge of child policies, Ayuko Kato, is expected to announce the delay in the coming days. The decision has been taken in the wake of rising criticism from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leaders over the contents of the bill.</p>

<h2><strong>LDP leaders criticise bill</strong></h2>

<p>Leaders in the ruling party want to expand the scope of the bill before it is tabled.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to an LDP panel, formed specially to draft the bill, the bill won’t help establish an effective system if ‘only day nurseries and schools are required to use the system but not cram schools and after-school childcare centres as proposed.’</p>

<p>LDP members also propose that a time limit should be set for how far back records of sex crimes can be available for the system.</p>

<h2><strong>When will the bill be presented now?</strong></h2>

<p>As per reports, the bill will now be presented in an ordinary Diet session next year. Till then, efforts will be made to enrich the draft with provisions that the LDP panel has been demanding.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Japan says workers stole possibly radioactive metal from Fukushima</strong></p>

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<p>The proposed bill, often referred to as the "Japanese DBS," resembles the Disclosure and Barring Service certificate used by the British government. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has presented this legislation as a significant policy initiative stemming from the establishment of the Children and Families Agency in April last year.</p>

<h2><strong>Challenges</strong></h2>

<p>In Japan, the oversight of licensing for teachers and childcare workers falls under different government offices, creating challenges in preventing individuals with a history of sex crimes from switching between professions involving children.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/possibly-radioactive-metal-stolen-from-near-fukushima-nuclear-plant-japan-638448"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Possibly radioactive metal stolen from near Fukushima nuclear plant: Japan</strong></a></p>

<p>Advocacy from parent and child support groups has been instrumental in pushing for the implementation of this system. The government has been deliberating its response to the issue since 2020 when two men, both registered with a babysitter matching app, were separately arrested for sexually assaulting children under their care.</p>

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Japan is set to delay a proposed bill aimed at establishing a system that would prevent individuals with a history of sex crime from being employed in professions involving dealing with children.

Japan is set to delay a proposed bill aimed at establishing a system that would prevent individuals with a history of sex crime from being employed in professions involving dealing with children. Japan Times reported that the bill is not expected to be tabled in an extraordinary parliamentary session next month and instead will be delayed until next year. Japan’s minister in charge of child policies, Ayuko Kato, is expected to announce the delay in the coming days. The decision has been taken in the wake of rising criticism from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leaders over the contents of the bill. LDP leaders criticise bill Leaders in the ruling party want to expand the scope of the bill before it is tabled. According to an LDP panel, formed specially to draft the bill, the bill won’t help establish an effective system if ‘only day nurseries and schools are required to use the system but not cram schools and after-school childcare centres as proposed.’ LDP members also propose that a time limit should be set for how far back records of sex crimes can be available for the system. When will the bill be presented now? As per reports, the bill will now be presented in an ordinary Diet session next year. Till then, efforts will be made to enrich the draft with provisions that the LDP panel has been demanding. Watch: Japan says workers stole possibly radioactive metal from Fukushima × The proposed bill, often referred to as the "Japanese DBS," resembles the Disclosure and Barring Service certificate used by the British government. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has presented this legislation as a significant policy initiative stemming from the establishment of the Children and Families Agency in April last year. Challenges In Japan, the oversight of licensing for teachers and childcare workers falls under different government offices, creating challenges in preventing individuals with a history of sex crimes from switching between professions involving children. Also read: Possibly radioactive metal stolen from near Fukushima nuclear plant: Japan Advocacy from parent and child support groups has been instrumental in pushing for the implementation of this system. The government has been deliberating its response to the issue since 2020 when two men, both registered with a babysitter matching app, were separately arrested for sexually assaulting children under their care. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Japan delays bill aimed at preventing sex offenders from working with children

<p>In a supposed veiled attack on China, the foreign minister of QUAD nations, on Friday (September 22), expressed concerns about the militarisation of disputed features, and the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exclusive-pm-modis-attendance-underscores-aseans-indo-pacific-importance-says-indonesian-ambassador-628738">Indo-Pacific</a> while reaffirming that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity underpin the development of the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The remarks were made in a joint statement after a meeting of foreign ministers of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-to-host-quad-summit-in-2024-594495">Quad grouping</a> – Australia, India, Japan and the United States – on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>About the Indo-Pacific</strong></h2>

<p>The meeting included the foreign ministers of the four-nation bloc: Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We reaffirm our conviction that international law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the maintenance of peace and security in the maritime domain underpin the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific,” said the Quad nation’s foreign ministers, in the joint statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They also emphasised the importance of adherence to international law and the UN charter to address challenges to the global maritime rules-based order which includes “respect to maritime claims, and in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/can-south-china-sea-dispute-escalate-into-a-full-scale-war-414263">South and East China Seas.</a>”&nbsp;</p>

<p>China’s aggressive behaviour in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-installs-ground-stations-in-disputed-south-china-sea-to-monitor-vessels-report-637869">South China Sea</a> and Indo-Pacific was quite evident after it released the 2023 edition of its so-called <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-map-claiming-regions-beyond-its-border-is-aggression-shows-beijings-character-630176">“standard map”</a> back in August, which included parts of India’s Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Aksai Chin region, Taiwan and some regions of the disputed South China Sea, as part of China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In an apparent reference to China, the statement said, “We continue to express serious concern about the militarisation of disputed features, the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, and efforts to disrupt other countries’ offshore exploitation activities.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>It added, “We strongly support the principles of freedom, the rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful settlement of disputes; and oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the Quad did not have a formal military aspect till now it is widely seen as a grouping formed to counter China’s rising influence in the Indo-Pacific.</p>

<p>Beijing’s <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-vietnam-malaysia-philippines-and-taiwan-reject-chinas-new-controversial-map-release-statements-631063">continued claims</a> over the entire South China Sea drew criticism from Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Not to mention China’s territorial disputes with Japan over the East China Sea and its recently <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-flags-abnormal-chinese-movements-rise-in-military-activity-around-island-638625">ramped-up military drills</a> around Taiwan as it continues to claim the self-ruled island as its territory and maintains it will seize it one day, by force, if necessary.</p>

<h2><strong>‘Deep concern’ over Ukraine war</strong></h2>

<p>The Quad ministers in their statement also expressed “deep concern” over the “raging” war in Ukraine and “mourn its terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences.” They also underscored the “need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine” in line with international law.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Quad nation’s foreign ministers also said they are “deeply concerned about the global food security situation” and support the UN’s attempts to renew the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-russia-formally-backs-out-of-black-sea-grain-deal-what-happens-now-616637">Black Sea grain deal </a>after Russia backed out of it, in July.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the statement does not directly mention Russia it said, “In the context of this war, we concur that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons would be unacceptable.” In a supposed reference to Moscow and its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/data-lab-putins-nuclear-threats-what-happens-if-russia-uses-nukes-524398">repeated veiled threats</a> to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We underscore that the rules-based international order must respect the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ukraine-war-g20-leaders-call-for-upholding-territorial-integrity-sovereignty-634125">sovereignty and territorial integrity</a> of all states,” said the joint statement.&nbsp;<br />
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In a supposed veiled attack on China, the foreign minister of QUAD nations, on Friday (September 22), expressed concerns about the militarisation of disputed features, and the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels in the Indo-Pacific while reaffirming that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity underpin the development of the region.

In a supposed veiled attack on China, the foreign minister of QUAD nations, on Friday (September 22), expressed concerns about the militarisation of disputed features, and the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels in the Indo-Pacific while reaffirming that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity underpin the development of the region. The remarks were made in a joint statement after a meeting of foreign ministers of the Quad grouping – Australia, India, Japan and the United States – on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. About the Indo-Pacific The meeting included the foreign ministers of the four-nation bloc: Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “We reaffirm our conviction that international law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the maintenance of peace and security in the maritime domain underpin the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific,” said the Quad nation’s foreign ministers, in the joint statement. They also emphasised the importance of adherence to international law and the UN charter to address challenges to the global maritime rules-based order which includes “respect to maritime claims, and in the South and East China Seas.” China’s aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific was quite evident after it released the 2023 edition of its so-called “standard map” back in August, which included parts of India’s Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Aksai Chin region, Taiwan and some regions of the disputed South China Sea, as part of China. In an apparent reference to China, the statement said, “We continue to express serious concern about the militarisation of disputed features, the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, and efforts to disrupt other countries’ offshore exploitation activities.” It added, “We strongly support the principles of freedom, the rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful settlement of disputes; and oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo.” While the Quad did not have a formal military aspect till now it is widely seen as a grouping formed to counter China’s rising influence in the Indo-Pacific. Beijing’s continued claims over the entire South China Sea drew criticism from Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei. Not to mention China’s territorial disputes with Japan over the East China Sea and its recently ramped-up military drills around Taiwan as it continues to claim the self-ruled island as its territory and maintains it will seize it one day, by force, if necessary. ‘Deep concern’ over Ukraine war The Quad ministers in their statement also expressed “deep concern” over the “raging” war in Ukraine and “mourn its terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences.” They also underscored the “need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine” in line with international law. The Quad nation’s foreign ministers also said they are “deeply concerned about the global food security situation” and support the UN’s attempts to renew the Black Sea grain deal after Russia backed out of it, in July. While the statement does not directly mention Russia it said, “In the context of this war, we concur that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons would be unacceptable.” In a supposed reference to Moscow and its repeated veiled threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. “We underscore that the rules-based international order must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states,” said the joint statement. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity underpin development of Indo-Pacific: Quad foreign ministers

<p>The Bank of Japan's (BOJ) monetary policy may change as a result of Japanese consumer inflation exceeding expectations. The national core consumer price index (CPI), excluding unstable fresh food prices, increased 3.1 per cent in August, matching the rate from the previous month and above the prediction of 3 per cent, according to statistics from the Statistics Bureau cited by the financial news website Investing.com.</p>

<p>The national CPI inflation grew by 3.2 per cent in August when fresh food costs were taken into account, which indicated a small decline from July's 3.3 per cent increase. The monthly growth rate also dropped, going from 0.5 per cent in July to 0.3 per cent in August.</p>

<p>An important core measurement, which excludes the cost of fuel and fresh food, was nevertheless strong in August at 4.3 per cent, a 40-year high. Consumer spending on food and other items continued to outweigh government subsidies for fuel and power, maintaining this inflationary tendency. This core figure, which the BOJ constantly monitors in order to assess Japan's underlying inflation, has been steadily increasing this year despite a drop in the overall inflation.</p>

<p>Since the BOJ's 2 per cent annual objective for headline CPI inflation has not been met for 17 months straight, there have been debates about possible modifications to the current policy of ultra-low interest rates. Indicating a change, BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda cited significant support over seven years as well as indications of stable wage growth and inflation. Ueda's remarks have increased discussions about the possibility of discontinuing negative interest rates, even if the bank is anticipated to keep its neutral position.</p>

<p>As a result of a recent rise in oil prices, Japan's inflation rate has risen sharply, displaying trends similar to other developing economies. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is under political pressure due to rising inflation and other economic difficulties, since his popularity has declined ever since he took to office in October 2021. In reaction to price hikes, Kishida promised a "drastic" economic package while keeping key economic team members.</p>

<p>Due to differences in local and American interest rates, the yen is losing value and is currently trading at 10-month lows against the dollar. This has caused Japan's inflation. Japanese consumers now pay more for imports, particularly food and energy, as a result of the yen's weakening.</p>

<p>Analysts forecast that the BOJ would keep its current straightforward monetary policy after its policy meeting. Now the focus is on Governor Ueda's long-term goals for the central bank. Following his assertion that there might be enough information available by year's end to decide whether to continue the programme, several BOJ observers have revised their projections for increased rates, with half now calling for an increase in the first half of 2024.</p>

<p>The Japanese economy is still weak, according to Tom Kenny, a senior international economist at ANZ Research, who was quoted in a Moneycontrol report. He suggested that current monetary policies may need to be maintained because the demand might not be able to support persistent price pressures. Despite rumours, many analysts are sceptical to forecast that the BOJ's negative rate policy will stop immediately by year's end.</p>

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The Bank of Japan's (BOJ) monetary policy may change as a result of Japanese consumer inflation exceeding expectations. The national core consumer price index (CPI), excluding unstable fresh food prices, increased 3.

The Bank of Japan's (BOJ) monetary policy may change as a result of Japanese consumer inflation exceeding expectations. The national core consumer price index (CPI), excluding unstable fresh food prices, increased 3.1 per cent in August, matching the rate from the previous month and above the prediction of 3 per cent, according to statistics from the Statistics Bureau cited by the financial news website Investing.com. The national CPI inflation grew by 3.2 per cent in August when fresh food costs were taken into account, which indicated a small decline from July's 3.3 per cent increase. The monthly growth rate also dropped, going from 0.5 per cent in July to 0.3 per cent in August. An important core measurement, which excludes the cost of fuel and fresh food, was nevertheless strong in August at 4.3 per cent, a 40-year high. Consumer spending on food and other items continued to outweigh government subsidies for fuel and power, maintaining this inflationary tendency. This core figure, which the BOJ constantly monitors in order to assess Japan's underlying inflation, has been steadily increasing this year despite a drop in the overall inflation. Since the BOJ's 2 per cent annual objective for headline CPI inflation has not been met for 17 months straight, there have been debates about possible modifications to the current policy of ultra-low interest rates. Indicating a change, BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda cited significant support over seven years as well as indications of stable wage growth and inflation. Ueda's remarks have increased discussions about the possibility of discontinuing negative interest rates, even if the bank is anticipated to keep its neutral position. As a result of a recent rise in oil prices, Japan's inflation rate has risen sharply, displaying trends similar to other developing economies. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is under political pressure due to rising inflation and other economic difficulties, since his popularity has declined ever since he took to office in October 2021. In reaction to price hikes, Kishida promised a "drastic" economic package while keeping key economic team members. Due to differences in local and American interest rates, the yen is losing value and is currently trading at 10-month lows against the dollar. This has caused Japan's inflation. Japanese consumers now pay more for imports, particularly food and energy, as a result of the yen's weakening. Analysts forecast that the BOJ would keep its current straightforward monetary policy after its policy meeting. Now the focus is on Governor Ueda's long-term goals for the central bank. Following his assertion that there might be enough information available by year's end to decide whether to continue the programme, several BOJ observers have revised their projections for increased rates, with half now calling for an increase in the first half of 2024. The Japanese economy is still weak, according to Tom Kenny, a senior international economist at ANZ Research, who was quoted in a Moneycontrol report. He suggested that current monetary policies may need to be maintained because the demand might not be able to support persistent price pressures. Despite rumours, many analysts are sceptical to forecast that the BOJ's negative rate policy will stop immediately by year's end. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Japanese consumer inflation surpasses expectations, fuelling speculation on BOJ's next move

Thieves may have stolen radioactive metal from Japan's Tsunami-battered Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Japan says workers stole possibly radioactive metal from Fukushima

<p>Japan began their bid for a first Asian Games men's football gold since 2010 with a 3-1 win over Qatar on Wednesday, as Syria and Afghanistan pulled out.</p>

<p>Japan were cruising 2-0 at half-time after goals by Teppei Yachida and Kotaro Uchino, before Qatar hit back in the 79th minute through substitute Abdulla Al Sulaiti.</p>

<p>But just as the Qataris threatened to grab a point in the group-round match, defender Taichi Yamasaki popped up to make the game safe for Japan in the closing minutes.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-a-nice-job-to-do-england-skipper-jos-buttler-on-informing-jason-roy-about-his-world-cup-squad-omission-637962">'Not a nice job to do' England skipper Jos Buttler on informing Jason Roy about his World Cup squad omission</a></p>

<p>The Games in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou do not officially open until Saturday, but several sports are already under way.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, the first day of action, South Korea launched their quest for a third men's football gold in a row with a 9-0 demolition of Kuwait.</p>

<p>The men's football competition has been hit by withdrawals, however, with Afghanistan and Syria pulling out on Wednesday from Group C.</p>

<p>That means group opponents Hong Kong and Uzbekistan are into the last 16 without kicking a ball.</p>

<p>India were thrashed 5-1 by hosts China on Tuesday but coach Igor Stimac said he was just pleased to be able to field a team.</p>

<p>"I'm happy because I see that some teams pulled out at the last minute (because) they couldn't get enough players," said the former international defender for Croatia.</p>

<p>"It's a big problem for the whole tournament now."</p>

<p>The Asian Games are outside FIFA's international window so clubs are not compelled to release players.</p>

<p>Asian Games football teams are made up of under-23 squads but they can have three overage players.</p>

<p>Football, beach volleyball, cricket, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing and volleyball will all take place at the Games on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Japan began their bid for a first Asian Games men's football gold since 2010 with a 3-1 win over Qatar on Wednesday, as Syria and Afghanistan pulled out. Japan were cruising 2-0 at half-time after goals by Teppei Yachida and Kotaro Uchino, before Qatar hit back in the 79th minute through substitute Abdulla Al Sulaiti.

Japan began their bid for a first Asian Games men's football gold since 2010 with a 3-1 win over Qatar on Wednesday, as Syria and Afghanistan pulled out. Japan were cruising 2-0 at half-time after goals by Teppei Yachida and Kotaro Uchino, before Qatar hit back in the 79th minute through substitute Abdulla Al Sulaiti. But just as the Qataris threatened to grab a point in the group-round match, defender Taichi Yamasaki popped up to make the game safe for Japan in the closing minutes. Also Read: 'Not a nice job to do' England skipper Jos Buttler on informing Jason Roy about his World Cup squad omission The Games in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou do not officially open until Saturday, but several sports are already under way. On Tuesday, the first day of action, South Korea launched their quest for a third men's football gold in a row with a 9-0 demolition of Kuwait. The men's football competition has been hit by withdrawals, however, with Afghanistan and Syria pulling out on Wednesday from Group C. That means group opponents Hong Kong and Uzbekistan are into the last 16 without kicking a ball. India were thrashed 5-1 by hosts China on Tuesday but coach Igor Stimac said he was just pleased to be able to field a team. "I'm happy because I see that some teams pulled out at the last minute (because) they couldn't get enough players," said the former international defender for Croatia. "It's a big problem for the whole tournament now." The Asian Games are outside FIFA's international window so clubs are not compelled to release players. Asian Games football teams are made up of under-23 squads but they can have three overage players. Football, beach volleyball, cricket, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing and volleyball will all take place at the Games on Thursday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asian Games: Japan beat Qatar in opening fixture with aim to win first football gold since 2010

<p>More than half of Toshiba Corp.'s shareholders participated in a $15 billion acquisition led by private equity firm Japan Industrial Partners Inc., fulfilling the requirements to push the electronics company private and end its 74-year run as a publicly traded company, Bloomberg reported.</p>

<p>According to Toshiba, whose history dates back to 1875, JIP currently owns 78.65 per cent of all its shares. As soon as a date is finalised, it will announce it on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). The Tokyo-based company's withdrawal would bring to an end a difficult decade at the company, one marred by scandal and devastating losses.</p>

<p>A drawn-out auction process has put the inventor of the first laptop and flash memory in limbo during a year of industry-wide revolution brought on by surging interest in artificial intelligence. As talks to merge with the flash memory division of Western Digital Corp. dragged on, Toshiba's chip subsidiary Kioxia Holdings Corp. fell farther behind market leaders Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc.</p>

<p>Executives at Toshiba and its lenders have stated that privatisation will enable Toshiba to concentrate on longer-term strategy. The company, whose products include refrigerators, hard disc drives, and nuclear power reactors, has gone through three presidents in as many years. Goro Yanase, the chief operating officer, resigned earlier this year to accept accountability for making false claims for entertainment expenses.</p>

<p>Toshiba, once lauded for its technological advances, paid what was Japan's largest-ever fine for financial statement fraud in 2015. Following a failed venture into the nuclear industry, it was forced to write off $6.3 billion and sell off its prized memory-chip division, which is now known as Kioxia Holdings Corp.</p>

<p>The ailing corporation came under pressure from activists, and in 2021 it announced plans to split into three companies. However, in 2022, that plan was changed to a two-way split. The board started looking for offers to take the company private after the top executive at the time quit to accept responsibility for the issues.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from Bloomberg)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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More than half of Toshiba Corp.'s shareholders participated in a $15 billion acquisition led by private equity firm Japan Industrial Partners Inc., fulfilling the requirements to push the electronics company private and end its 74-year run as a publicly traded company, Bloomberg reported.

More than half of Toshiba Corp.'s shareholders participated in a $15 billion acquisition led by private equity firm Japan Industrial Partners Inc., fulfilling the requirements to push the electronics company private and end its 74-year run as a publicly traded company, Bloomberg reported. According to Toshiba, whose history dates back to 1875, JIP currently owns 78.65 per cent of all its shares. As soon as a date is finalised, it will announce it on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). The Tokyo-based company's withdrawal would bring to an end a difficult decade at the company, one marred by scandal and devastating losses. A drawn-out auction process has put the inventor of the first laptop and flash memory in limbo during a year of industry-wide revolution brought on by surging interest in artificial intelligence. As talks to merge with the flash memory division of Western Digital Corp. dragged on, Toshiba's chip subsidiary Kioxia Holdings Corp. fell farther behind market leaders Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc. Executives at Toshiba and its lenders have stated that privatisation will enable Toshiba to concentrate on longer-term strategy. The company, whose products include refrigerators, hard disc drives, and nuclear power reactors, has gone through three presidents in as many years. Goro Yanase, the chief operating officer, resigned earlier this year to accept accountability for making false claims for entertainment expenses. Toshiba, once lauded for its technological advances, paid what was Japan's largest-ever fine for financial statement fraud in 2015. Following a failed venture into the nuclear industry, it was forced to write off $6.3 billion and sell off its prized memory-chip division, which is now known as Kioxia Holdings Corp. The ailing corporation came under pressure from activists, and in 2021 it announced plans to split into three companies. However, in 2022, that plan was changed to a two-way split. The board started looking for offers to take the company private after the top executive at the time quit to accept responsibility for the issues. (With inputs from Bloomberg) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Success for Toshiba's $15 billion buyout, company to delist from TSE

<p>Interesting visuals caught the attention of netizens as they watched the world's first wrestling match organised on a Japanese bullet train. A video of the fight is now going viral on social media platforms. So how was the event organiser, DDT Pro-Wrestling, able to pull off this astonishing feat?<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Aisle was the ring for wrestlers when they hit punches at each other and tackled each other in this fascinating and first-of-its-kind game. The match which took place on Monday (September 18) saw the participation of professional Japanese wrestlers who showed their game even in the running Bullet train which was packed with passengers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-parker-solar-probe-gets-closest-to-sun-spends-two-days-in-solar-storm-watch-637628">NASA's Parker Solar Probe gets 'closest' to Sun, spends two days in solar storm. Watch</a></p>

<p>The event organisers did a makeover of the train carriage and converted it into a wrestling ring. Organisers touted the event as the first-ever of its type where the wrestlers in the competition were blowing punches inside the running bullet train.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The train was running between Tokyo and Nagoya during the game. Nozomi Shinkansen train was running at high speeds of up to 285 kilometres per hour when Japanese wrestlers Minoru Suzuki and Sanshiro Takagi were fighting inside the train.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/cornell-university-develops-insect-sized-robot-that-can-lift-22-times-its-body-weight-637525">Cornell University develops insect-sized robot that can lift 22 times its body weight</a></p>

<p>The audience comprised all the passengers who watched the wrestling while cheering the players.</p>

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<p>There were other fighters as well who gave their special appearances in the game. The winner who emerged from the game was the 55-year-old Minoru Suzuki. The interesting match went on for about 30 minutes.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Train carriage rented&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The event organiser DDT Pro-Wrestling rented out the whole carriage of the bullet train to arrange for the match. The 75 available tickets quickly sold out in just 30 minutes. However, there were protocols set ahead of the fight. The wrestlers were asked to refrain from damaging any part of the train interior, media reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/use-of-drones-submarines-by-narco-gangs-in-ecuador-a-worrying-trend-637645">Use of drones &amp; submarines by Narco-gangs in Ecuador a worrying trend</a></p>

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<p>Some participants took the train back to their homes afterwards but without the wrestling match this time.</p>

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Interesting visuals caught the attention of netizens as they watched the world's first wrestling match organised on a Japanese bullet train. A video of the fight is now going viral on social media platforms.

Interesting visuals caught the attention of netizens as they watched the world's first wrestling match organised on a Japanese bullet train. A video of the fight is now going viral on social media platforms. So how was the event organiser, DDT Pro-Wrestling, able to pull off this astonishing feat? Aisle was the ring for wrestlers when they hit punches at each other and tackled each other in this fascinating and first-of-its-kind game. The match which took place on Monday (September 18) saw the participation of professional Japanese wrestlers who showed their game even in the running Bullet train which was packed with passengers. Also Read | NASA's Parker Solar Probe gets 'closest' to Sun, spends two days in solar storm. Watch The event organisers did a makeover of the train carriage and converted it into a wrestling ring. Organisers touted the event as the first-ever of its type where the wrestlers in the competition were blowing punches inside the running bullet train. The train was running between Tokyo and Nagoya during the game. Nozomi Shinkansen train was running at high speeds of up to 285 kilometres per hour when Japanese wrestlers Minoru Suzuki and Sanshiro Takagi were fighting inside the train. Also Read | Cornell University develops insect-sized robot that can lift 22 times its body weight The audience comprised all the passengers who watched the wrestling while cheering the players. × There were other fighters as well who gave their special appearances in the game. The winner who emerged from the game was the 55-year-old Minoru Suzuki. The interesting match went on for about 30 minutes. Train carriage rented The event organiser DDT Pro-Wrestling rented out the whole carriage of the bullet train to arrange for the match. The 75 available tickets quickly sold out in just 30 minutes. However, there were protocols set ahead of the fight. The wrestlers were asked to refrain from damaging any part of the train interior, media reports said. Watch | Use of drones & submarines by Narco-gangs in Ecuador a worrying trend × Some participants took the train back to their homes afterwards but without the wrestling match this time. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Watch | Wrestlers pull punches in running Japanese bullet train

<p>It may look photoshopped, but it's not. The rare and unique photo of a macaque riding a deer for fun in a forest is winning hearts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is titled "Forest Rodeo" and was taken on Japan's Yakushima Island.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Photographer Atsuyuki Ohshima captured the photo in which one monkey's fun side is quite evident. The macaque can be seen lounging on the deer's back as both of them look&nbsp;into the camera.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While posting the image on Instagram, Ohshima noted that the&nbsp;photo was taken just after the monkey catapulted itself onto a sika deer, using a tree as a springboard.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/experts-sceptic-over-purported-alien-bodies-made-no-sense-635982">Experts sceptic over purported 'alien' bodies: 'Many elements made no sense'</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>This isn't a rare happening as&nbsp;several incidents have been reported in the past when macaques were seen riding sika deer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2017, a study published a report on mating behaviour between a male Japanese macaque and a female sika deer on Yakushima Island, Japan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/india-jumps-seven-places-in-digital-quality-of-life-index-survey-now-at-52nd-place-635974">India jumps seven places in Digital Quality of Life Index survey, holds 52nd place</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Although Japanese macaques are known to ride deer, in one case, an individual showed clearly sexual behaviour towards several female deer. The study mentioned that some tried to escape whilst others accepted the mount.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The image taken by Ohshima was one of 16 commended photos in this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Natural History Museum in London creates and produces Wildlife Photographer of the Year.&nbsp;</p>

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It may look photoshopped, but it's not. The rare and unique photo of a macaque riding a deer for fun in a forest is winning hearts. It is titled "Forest Rodeo" and was taken on Japan's Yakushima Island.

It may look photoshopped, but it's not. The rare and unique photo of a macaque riding a deer for fun in a forest is winning hearts. It is titled "Forest Rodeo" and was taken on Japan's Yakushima Island. Photographer Atsuyuki Ohshima captured the photo in which one monkey's fun side is quite evident. The macaque can be seen lounging on the deer's back as both of them look into the camera. While posting the image on Instagram, Ohshima noted that the photo was taken just after the monkey catapulted itself onto a sika deer, using a tree as a springboard. Also read: Experts sceptic over purported 'alien' bodies: 'Many elements made no sense' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Atsuyuki Ohshima (@atykosm) × This isn't a rare happening as several incidents have been reported in the past when macaques were seen riding sika deer. In 2017, a study published a report on mating behaviour between a male Japanese macaque and a female sika deer on Yakushima Island, Japan. Also read: India jumps seven places in Digital Quality of Life Index survey, holds 52nd place Although Japanese macaques are known to ride deer, in one case, an individual showed clearly sexual behaviour towards several female deer. The study mentioned that some tried to escape whilst others accepted the mount. The image taken by Ohshima was one of 16 commended photos in this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. The Natural History Museum in London creates and produces Wildlife Photographer of the Year. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Macaque seen riding deer in Japanese forest. Know what's behind this behaviour

<p>Vacations can be exciting and stressful at the same time. The experience of having some time off from work, to just relax and enjoy yourself is made stressful by&nbsp;the arrangements — the stay, the food and what you'll wear in particular.</p>

<p>Anywhere you're travelling to hotels, bed and breakfasts, motels take care of the first two things, but the third thing for many of us remains a bother. To make it easier and also help the planet, Japan Airlines has introduced a year-long pilot of a service that provides its passengers the ease of booking a selection of clothes. Here's how it works.</p>

<h2><strong>No stress to shop or pack</strong></h2>

<p>For passengers travelling by Japan's flagship carrier, their vacations can now include the option to rent a selection of clothes. As per a BBC report, they can choose various options, including clothing type, season, style, and pickup and return dates.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/talk-about-keen-ear-dogs-can-listen-to-hooman-chatter-even-when-its-snoozing-finds-study-635361">Talk about keen ear! Dogs can listen to hooman chatter even when snoozing, finds study</a></strong></p>

<p>Users will receive their selected clothes at their hotel upon arrival. This service will only cost them about $34 to $48 for the rental period.</p>

<p>The service, called 'Any Wear, Anywhere,' started in July of this year and will run till August 2024.</p>

<p>Miho Moriya, who works for Sumitomo, the Japanese company handling reservations, deliveries, and laundering, came up with the idea. She says that what inspired her to come with this was her own dread about luggage.</p>

<p>"I love travelling and I've been to many foreign countries, but I've always dreaded dragging around luggage or doing laundry abroad," she said.</p>

<p>Moriya says it took "many tries" to find an airline that would support her idea, and once it got approved, the implementation was pushed back due to the pandemic. Over time, she hopes to expand this service to other airlines within the OneWorld Alliance and eventually worldwide, contributing to sustainable travel practices.</p>

<h2><strong>How would it help the planet?</strong></h2>

<p>To begin with, it should help cut down on holiday shopping. Many people tend to shop, especially for their vacations. These clothes often end up sitting in their wardrobes once the holiday is over.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-sleeping-late-at-night-study-warns-about-major-risk-of-type-2-diabetes-in-night-owls-635588">Sleeping late at night? Study warns about major risk of type 2 diabetes in night owls</a></strong></p>

<p>Clothes under the Any wear, Anywhere service are either pre-owned or sourced from company overstock. Furthermore, they will be cleaned and reused, which helps make the service sustainable.</p>

<p>Additionally, with travellers leaving their luggage at home, the aircraft will be lighter and thus help save on fuel and emissions.</p>

<p>This initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions by lowering the weight carried on JAL's aeroplanes. It is estimated that saving about 22 pounds (10 kg) in luggage equates to approximately 16.5 pounds (7.5 kg) saved in emissions.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
As per CNN, reducing weight is a proven way to save fuel and carbon emissions. Previously, Qantas airlines redesigned its tableware for first and business class to be about 11 per cent lighter. This move, as per the company, helped it start saving 1.1 million pounds (535 metric tonnes) of fuel per year.&nbsp;</p>


Vacations can be exciting and stressful at the same time. The experience of having some time off from work, to just relax and enjoy yourself is made stressful by the arrangements — the stay, the food and what you'll wear in particular.

Vacations can be exciting and stressful at the same time. The experience of having some time off from work, to just relax and enjoy yourself is made stressful by the arrangements — the stay, the food and what you'll wear in particular. Anywhere you're travelling to hotels, bed and breakfasts, motels take care of the first two things, but the third thing for many of us remains a bother. To make it easier and also help the planet, Japan Airlines has introduced a year-long pilot of a service that provides its passengers the ease of booking a selection of clothes. Here's how it works. No stress to shop or pack For passengers travelling by Japan's flagship carrier, their vacations can now include the option to rent a selection of clothes. As per a BBC report, they can choose various options, including clothing type, season, style, and pickup and return dates. Also read | Talk about keen ear! Dogs can listen to hooman chatter even when snoozing, finds study Users will receive their selected clothes at their hotel upon arrival. This service will only cost them about $34 to $48 for the rental period. The service, called 'Any Wear, Anywhere,' started in July of this year and will run till August 2024. Miho Moriya, who works for Sumitomo, the Japanese company handling reservations, deliveries, and laundering, came up with the idea. She says that what inspired her to come with this was her own dread about luggage. "I love travelling and I've been to many foreign countries, but I've always dreaded dragging around luggage or doing laundry abroad," she said. Moriya says it took "many tries" to find an airline that would support her idea, and once it got approved, the implementation was pushed back due to the pandemic. Over time, she hopes to expand this service to other airlines within the OneWorld Alliance and eventually worldwide, contributing to sustainable travel practices. How would it help the planet? To begin with, it should help cut down on holiday shopping. Many people tend to shop, especially for their vacations. These clothes often end up sitting in their wardrobes once the holiday is over. Also read | Sleeping late at night? Study warns about major risk of type 2 diabetes in night owls Clothes under the Any wear, Anywhere service are either pre-owned or sourced from company overstock. Furthermore, they will be cleaned and reused, which helps make the service sustainable. Additionally, with travellers leaving their luggage at home, the aircraft will be lighter and thus help save on fuel and emissions. This initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions by lowering the weight carried on JAL's aeroplanes. It is estimated that saving about 22 pounds (10 kg) in luggage equates to approximately 16.5 pounds (7.5 kg) saved in emissions. As per CNN, reducing weight is a proven way to save fuel and carbon emissions. Previously, Qantas airlines redesigned its tableware for first and business class to be about 11 per cent lighter. This move, as per the company, helped it start saving 1.1 million pounds (535 metric tonnes) of fuel per year.

Japan Airlines is asking passengers to travel without clothes. Here's why

Japan and claim pole position as the world's Premier Car exporter this year the ship signals the end of a road long dominated by European, American, Japanese and South Korean auto Giants. China surge in automobile exports is powered by a blend of turbocharged factors, domestic manufacturers led by the Electric Vehicle boom and not just keeping pace with their global rivals but also overtaking them.

China to race past Japan in automobile exports

<p>Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has picked a woman as foreign minister and appointed as defence minister a politician who has worked to build ties with Taiwan, in Wednesday's new cabinet line-up.</p>

<p>The choices, among 11 new faces and five women, spotlight a focus on gender equality and a stronger line on defence as Kishida battles sagging ratings, with his term as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) set to end next year.</p>

<p>Both ministers face the task of navigating ties with China that soured after&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;began releasing into the Pacific Ocean treated radioactive water from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant, angering its neighbour.</p>

<p>Kishida said the new defence minister will be Minoru Kihara, a pro-Taiwan politician who has visited the democratically-governed island in the past and belongs to a&nbsp;Japan-Taiwan interparliamentary group.</p>

<p>"I do think this sends a message that&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;is seeking stability in Taiwan alongside the United States," said security expert Takashi Kawakami at Takushoku University in the capital.</p>

<p>The choice of Kihara as defence minister is not an anti-China move, but indicates a closeness with Taiwan, he added.</p>

<p>China claims Taiwan as its own territory and will be sensitive to any shift in&nbsp;Japan's stance on the island.</p>

<p>Kihara will also oversee efforts to bolster&nbsp;Japan's military in a plan to double defence spending over the five years to 2027, and grapple with funding the buildup as tension rises in East Asia over China's military expansion and maritime disputes.</p>

<p>The new foreign minister is Yoko Kamikawa, a former justice minister who oversaw the execution of key members of the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult responsible for the deadly sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995.</p>

<p>The choice of Kamikawa, who has a master's degree from Harvard University, shows the government wants to ensure smooth ties with the United States, said Yu Uchiyama, a professor of politics at Tokyo University.</p>

<p>"She has plenty of experience, and I do think she will make significant contributions to strengthening ties with the United States," he said.</p>

<p>One political commentator said ministerial roles had diminished in importance, however, as summits increasingly become a forum for dialogue with China.</p>

<p>"Around the world, summit diplomacy has become mainstream," said Shigenobu Tamura, who previously worked for the LDP.</p>

<p>"Even if the foreign and defence minister posts change, there won't be any change or impact on&nbsp;Japan's diplomatic policy."</p>

<p>The cabinet reshuffle comes amid a dip in popularity for Kishida, following a string of scandals from data mishaps linked to government identity cards and the arrest of a vice minister on suspicion of graft.</p>

<p>About 43% of respondents disapproved of Kishida's leadership while 36% approved, a poll by public broadcaster NHK showed last week.</p>

<p>Kishida, who assumed office two years ago, retained both his finance and trade ministers, signalling there would be no major shift in economic policies.</p>

<p>The new cabinet's priorities include pulling together a fresh package of economic stimulus to cushion the squeeze on households from rising fuel bills, tackling the fallout from persistent inflation.</p>

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has picked a woman as foreign minister and appointed as defence minister a politician who has worked to build ties with Taiwan, in Wednesday's new cabinet line-up.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has picked a woman as foreign minister and appointed as defence minister a politician who has worked to build ties with Taiwan, in Wednesday's new cabinet line-up. The choices, among 11 new faces and five women, spotlight a focus on gender equality and a stronger line on defence as Kishida battles sagging ratings, with his term as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) set to end next year. Both ministers face the task of navigating ties with China that soured after Japan began releasing into the Pacific Ocean treated radioactive water from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant, angering its neighbour. Kishida said the new defence minister will be Minoru Kihara, a pro-Taiwan politician who has visited the democratically-governed island in the past and belongs to a Japan-Taiwan interparliamentary group. "I do think this sends a message that Japan is seeking stability in Taiwan alongside the United States," said security expert Takashi Kawakami at Takushoku University in the capital. The choice of Kihara as defence minister is not an anti-China move, but indicates a closeness with Taiwan, he added. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and will be sensitive to any shift in Japan's stance on the island. Kihara will also oversee efforts to bolster Japan's military in a plan to double defence spending over the five years to 2027, and grapple with funding the buildup as tension rises in East Asia over China's military expansion and maritime disputes. The new foreign minister is Yoko Kamikawa, a former justice minister who oversaw the execution of key members of the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult responsible for the deadly sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995. The choice of Kamikawa, who has a master's degree from Harvard University, shows the government wants to ensure smooth ties with the United States, said Yu Uchiyama, a professor of politics at Tokyo University. "She has plenty of experience, and I do think she will make significant contributions to strengthening ties with the United States," he said. One political commentator said ministerial roles had diminished in importance, however, as summits increasingly become a forum for dialogue with China. "Around the world, summit diplomacy has become mainstream," said Shigenobu Tamura, who previously worked for the LDP. "Even if the foreign and defence minister posts change, there won't be any change or impact on Japan's diplomatic policy." The cabinet reshuffle comes amid a dip in popularity for Kishida, following a string of scandals from data mishaps linked to government identity cards and the arrest of a vice minister on suspicion of graft. About 43% of respondents disapproved of Kishida's leadership while 36% approved, a poll by public broadcaster NHK showed last week. Kishida, who assumed office two years ago, retained both his finance and trade ministers, signalling there would be no major shift in economic policies. The new cabinet's priorities include pulling together a fresh package of economic stimulus to cushion the squeeze on households from rising fuel bills, tackling the fallout from persistent inflation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japan's new cabinet reflects PM Kishida's focus on foreign, defence and gender balance

<p>Mount Fuji, once a peaceful pilgrimage site, is now witness to millions of visitors every year. The route is now filled with buses, supply trucks, noodle shops and fridge magnets. The authorities are now saying that number of hikers trekking on the world-famous volcano has reached a dangerous level ecologically.</p>

<p>"Mount Fuji is screaming," the governor of the local region said last week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>UNESCO added the "internationally recognised the icon of Japan" to its World Heritage List in 2013.</p>

<p>But as has happened in places such as Bruges in Belgium or Rio de Janeiro's Sugarloaf Mountain, the designation has been both a blessing and a curse.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Visitor numbers more than doubled between 2012 and 2019 to 5.1 million, and that's just for Yamanashi prefecture, the main starting point.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The stream of people does not trudge the mountain just during day. Even at night, long lines of people can be seen making their way up to see the sun rise in the morning.</p>

<p>The starting point is a car park. It can only be reached by taxi or buses.</p>

<p>Before the walkers set off for their trek, they can access a complex of restaurants, sovenier shops and more.</p>

<p>They are powered by diesel generators and the thousands of litres of water they use has to be brought up in lorries. Trucks also take all the rubbish down.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Masatake Izumi, a local official, told AFP that very high number of people has increased the risk of accidents.</p>

<p>Some people who climb at night "get hypothermia and have to be taken back to first aid stations" he said.</p>

<p>This week government ministers met to discuss measures to tackle what Kenji Hamamoto, a senior Japan Tourism Agency official, called "overcrowding and breaches of etiquette" across heavily touristed sites.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-foreign-minister-to-visit-war-torn-ukraine-to-discuss-reconstruction-634037">Japan's foreign minister arrives in war-torn Ukraine to discuss reconstruction</a></strong></p>

<p>Authorities announced last month that crowd control measures will be imposed if paths get too busy. If this happens, such measures will come into effect for the first time.</p>

<p>Yamanashi's governor Kotaro Nagasaki said last week Japan needed to take measures to ensure Mount Fuji did not lose its UNESCO designation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One solution, he said, could be constructing a light rail system to replace the main road leading to the main starting point for hikers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We firmly believe that with regard to Mount Fuji tourism, a shift from a quantity approach to a quality one is essential," Nagasaki said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Mount Fuji, once a peaceful pilgrimage site, is now witness to millions of visitors every year. The route is now filled with buses, supply trucks, noodle shops and fridge magnets.

Mount Fuji, once a peaceful pilgrimage site, is now witness to millions of visitors every year. The route is now filled with buses, supply trucks, noodle shops and fridge magnets. The authorities are now saying that number of hikers trekking on the world-famous volcano has reached a dangerous level ecologically. "Mount Fuji is screaming," the governor of the local region said last week. UNESCO added the "internationally recognised the icon of Japan" to its World Heritage List in 2013. But as has happened in places such as Bruges in Belgium or Rio de Janeiro's Sugarloaf Mountain, the designation has been both a blessing and a curse. Visitor numbers more than doubled between 2012 and 2019 to 5.1 million, and that's just for Yamanashi prefecture, the main starting point. The stream of people does not trudge the mountain just during day. Even at night, long lines of people can be seen making their way up to see the sun rise in the morning. The starting point is a car park. It can only be reached by taxi or buses. Before the walkers set off for their trek, they can access a complex of restaurants, sovenier shops and more. They are powered by diesel generators and the thousands of litres of water they use has to be brought up in lorries. Trucks also take all the rubbish down. Masatake Izumi, a local official, told AFP that very high number of people has increased the risk of accidents. Some people who climb at night "get hypothermia and have to be taken back to first aid stations" he said. This week government ministers met to discuss measures to tackle what Kenji Hamamoto, a senior Japan Tourism Agency official, called "overcrowding and breaches of etiquette" across heavily touristed sites. Also Read | Japan's foreign minister arrives in war-torn Ukraine to discuss reconstruction Authorities announced last month that crowd control measures will be imposed if paths get too busy. If this happens, such measures will come into effect for the first time. Yamanashi's governor Kotaro Nagasaki said last week Japan needed to take measures to ensure Mount Fuji did not lose its UNESCO designation. One solution, he said, could be constructing a light rail system to replace the main road leading to the main starting point for hikers. "We firmly believe that with regard to Mount Fuji tourism, a shift from a quantity approach to a quality one is essential," Nagasaki said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Overtourism overruns Mount Fuji in Japan

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