🇯🇵 Japan · Policy & regulation, Health
11 storiesJapan transport ministry sets four-level flood risk plan for underpasses
Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism published guidelines on October 6 classifying underpasses nationwide into four flood-risk levels and calling for remotely operated or automatic barriers at the most dangerous s…
Russia denies plague after worker at Siberian institute dies of unknown pneumonia
A woman who worked at a plague-control research institute in Russia's Irkutsk region in eastern Siberia has died; Japanese outlets differ on whether she died on Oct 1 or Oct 2. Russian authorities say the cause was “pneumonia of unknown cau…
Citizen Medical Lecture wins newspaper association's regional contribution grand prize
The Japan Newspaper Association selected the “Citizen Medical Lecture” run by Nishi-Nippon Shimbun Area Group Kitafukuoka for its 2026 Regional Contribution Grand Prize. Eleven newspaper sales outlets have held the lectures with doctors as …
Japan audit finds ¥14.9bn in road repair subsidies used for ineligible work
Japan's Board of Audit found that about ¥14.9 billion in state subsidies for bridge and tunnel repairs went to work outside the subsidy programme's scope, in 469 contracts at 88 municipalities, according to Asahi Shimbun, Nishi-Nippon Shimb…
Russian woman at plague research institute dies; cause disputed
A woman in her 20s who worked at a plague control research institute in Russia's Irkutsk region died on October 2. Russian health authorities said on October 4 the cause was “pneumonia of unknown origin,” while speculation of plague infecti…
Shizuoka to charge for off-season Mt. Fuji helicopter rescues, aligning with Yamanashi
Shizuoka Prefecture will make climbers rescued by prefectural disaster helicopters during Mount Fuji's closed season pay for the rescue, Gov. Suzuki Yasutomo formally announced at the prefectural assembly. An ordinance is to be enacted with…
Fukushima's Futaba to lift evacuation order for two districts in December
Two districts in Fukushima Prefecture's Futaba Town are expected to have their evacuation orders lifted around December, which would let residents live there again after about 15 years and 9 months. It would be the first lifting in a “speci…
LDP approves bill to cut food consumption tax to 1% for two years
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party approved a bill at its general council on Oct 6 to cut the consumption tax on food to 1% for two years from next April, according to TBS NEWS DIG and NHK. The bill also includes an income-linked benef…
Japan minister: two Futaba districts may see evacuation orders lifted by December
Reconstruction Minister Hosono said on October 6 that the government will work with relevant ministries so that evacuation orders can be lifted in two districts of Futaba town, Fukushima Prefecture, possibly within December. The districts a…
Japan obesity society warns against weight-loss use of diabetes drug Mangiaro
The Japan Society for the Study of Obesity said on Oct 3 that using diabetes drugs such as Mangiaro (tirzepatide) for weight loss while sharply restricting food or carbohydrates has been linked to ketosis and ketoacidosis, which can be life…
UK weighs tariffs of up to 45% on Chinese EVs, in step with EU
Tokyo Shimbun, Nishi-Nippon Shimbun and Sankei Shimbun report that the UK government is considering strengthening tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, in step with the European Union, with a rate that could be around 45 percent. Sanke…