Japan Today -- May 20
Japanese authorities raised the volcanic alert level for Mt Hakone on Sunday and warned people not to approach the crater, as seismic activity has been increasing in the popular hot-spring resort area near Tokyo.
As the weather agency's alert level was raised to 2 on a 5-point scale for the first time since 2015, some roads were closed and ropeway operations were suspended.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said it decided to raise the level from 1 after the number of volcanic earthquakes increased to 45 on Saturday, compared with zero the previous day. On Sunday, the number reached 48 as of 3 p.m.
The agency warned of a possible eruption and volcanic cinders as fumarolic activity has been intensifying in areas around Owakudani, about 80 kilometers southwest of Tokyo.
気象庁は箱根山で噴火が起きる可能性があるとして、19日未明に噴火警報を出して警戒レベルを引き上げました。 気象庁によりますと、箱根山では18日午前5時ごろから芦ノ湖の西側を震源とする火山性の地震が増え始め、19日午前3時までに46回の地震を観測しています。
News sources: Japan Today, ANNnewsCH
Aug 22
A Shinkansen bullet train made an emergency stop after one of its doors opened while speeding through northeastern Japan.
(NHK) Aug 22
Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 50-year-old man over the alleged abduction of a middle school girl in order to molest her last month, reports TBS News (Aug. 21). (tokyoreporter.com) Aug 21
Japan's Prince Hisahito has paid a courtesy call on the King and Queen of Bhutan. (NHK) Aug 19
Anime fans from around the world continue to visit Kyoto to mourn the victims of the arson attack on a famous animation studio one month ago. (NHK) Aug 10
A male patient attacked nurses with a knife at a hospital in Ehime Prefecture, western Japan, on Friday, police said. (Kyodo) Aug 10
Japan's Imperial Household Agency says Empress Emerita Michiko has been diagnosed with a relatively early stage of breast cancer. Agency officials say that it's unlikely that the cancer has spread to other organs.
(NHK) Aug 09
Japan's transport ministry has officially decided to introduce new flight routes to and from Tokyo's Haneda Airport to start March 29 next year.
(NHK) Aug 08
There has been a minor eruption on Mount Asama in the central part of Japan. The eruption occurred shortly after 10 p.m. on Wednesday.
(NHK) Aug 07
A government panel decided Tuesday to end Saturday delivery for standard mail to deal with a labor shortage at Japan Post Co and a drop in demand due to increased use of the internet.
(Japan Today) Aug 04
Japan hanged two death-row inmates Friday morning, the Justice Ministry said, in the country's first executions this year. (Japan Today)