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
Dec 06
The Japanese government approved 13.2 trillion yen ($121 billion) worth of public stimulus spending on Thursday, with the economy due for a total infusion of 26 trillion yen if private-sector and other outlays are factored in.
(Nikkei) Dec 06
The Niigata District Court on Wednesday sentenced a 25-year-old man to life in prison for the sexual assault and murder of a 7-year-old schoolgirl last year. (Japan Times) Dec 04
A welfare ministry panel said Tuesday that forcing children to sit extensively in the formal Japanese style known as seiza will be recognized as a morally unacceptable form of punishment under a new law that will enter into force next April. (Japan Today) Dec 03
An 80-year-old man was killed Sunday when the light car he was driving the wrong way along the Kanetsu Expressway in Gunma Prefecture collided with an oncoming car. (Japan Today) Dec 01
The main stadium of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been completed. (NHK) Nov 29
A man pleaded guilty Thursday to murdering a passenger and trying to kill two others in a random knife attack on a shinkansen last year. (Japan Times) Nov 28
A senior member of Japan's largest organized crime syndicate was shot dead Wednesday in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture by a man armed with a submachine gun and a handgun amid a possible gang feud, police said. (Japan Today) Nov 28
People spending long hours at gaming have a tendency to experience adverse effects at school or work and develop physical or mental problems, a Japanese national health institute's survey showed Wednesday. (Japan Today) Nov 28
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have visited ancestral mausoleums to report the completion of rites signifying the Emperor's enthronement. (NHK) Nov 26
A man has been arrested on suspicion of defacing the Ryo-an-ji temple that has been listed a World Heritage site in Kyoto. The 44-year-old suspect allegedly scribbled graffiti using an oil-based ink pen. (NHK)