Tokyo-Osaka bullet train services to be cut 20 percent

Apr 17, 2020 | News On Japan

Apr 17, 2020 (NHK) - The operator of Japan's Tokaido Shinkansen line says it will cut the number of its train services linking Tokyo and Osaka by about 20 percent due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Central Japan Railway Company President Kaneko Shin made the announcement at a news conference in Tokyo on Thursday.

Kaneko said the reduction in the bullet train services will start on April 24, and continue until at least May 6. This is the date when the month-long state of emergency declared by the government over the outbreak is scheduled to end.

The railway company normally operates 378 train services a day on the Tokaido Shinkansen line connecting Tokyo and Osaka. The suspension will affect about 80 of them.

The company says it saw the number of passengers on the Tokaido line in the first week of April plunge by 80 percent from the same period last year. It says the number fell by 90 percent in the following week.

Sapporo's Snow-Clearing Tram Makes Early Winter Debut

Sapporo deployed its distinctive Sasara snow-clearing tram for the first time this season early on November 7th, the second-earliest deployment in 10 years, after snowfall reached 8 centimeters at 4 a.m., prompting a vehicle to leave its depot to clear snow from the city's streetcar tracks.

Putin Places Japan Tobacco Under Russian Control

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree placing the Russian operations of Japan Tobacco (JT) under the temporary management of a local company, effectively stripping the Japanese tobacco giant of control over its business in the country and prompting a formal protest from Tokyo demanding that the measure be immediately withdrawn.

Bears May Know When Astringent Persimmons Become Sweet

Bears preparing for winter hibernation may be able to determine when astringent persimmons have lost their bitterness and become suitable to eat, according to research by the University of Hyogo, which suggests that prioritizing the removal of sweet persimmon trees could help prevent bears from entering residential areas.

Japan's Tax Relief Plan Sparks Debate Over Middle Income Threshold

Japan's government is facing growing pressure from opposition lawmakers to clarify who will qualify for a new financial support program and how much they will receive, as deliberations on legislation to reduce the consumption tax on food and introduce payments for low- and middle-income earners enter their final stages in the House of Representatives.

Chaos at Narita Airport as Smartphone Catches Fire

A smartphone caught fire at Narita Airport's Terminal 1 shortly after 7:30 a.m. on November 4th, prompting the dispatch of 10 fire trucks and other emergency vehicles before the blaze was extinguished about 30 minutes later, with no injuries reported.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Man Charged With Stealing 451 Shoe Insoles

A 35-year-old unemployed man has been indicted in Toyama Prefecture on November 6 for allegedly breaking into a junior high school and stealing insoles from students' indoor shoes, with police seizing 451 insoles from his home and investigating suspected thefts at more than 30 schools across the prefecture.

Man Arrested for Assaulting Seven Women in 15 Minutes in Tokyo

A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after allegedly attacking seven women in a series of unprovoked incidents near Jimbocho intersection in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on October 17, with the assaults occurring at four locations over approximately 15 minutes.

Couple Arrested for Secretly Filming Women at Bathhouses

A married couple from Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, has been arrested on suspicion of secretly filming women changing clothes and bathing at public bathing facilities, with police saying the pair carried out around 100 illicit recordings and earned approximately 5 million yen by selling the footage online.

Kabukicho Host Promises Romantic Getaway to Lure Woman

A former host club worker in Tokyo's Kabukicho entertainment district and a recruiter have been arrested on suspicion of exploiting a woman's romantic feelings to persuade her to work at sex establishments, with police alleging that the former host promised they could travel together if she helped him earn enough money.

Mother Sentenced to Eight Years for Killing Two Children in Ibaraki

A 42-year-old mother accused of killing her two children at their apartment in Ibaraki Prefecture in July 2023 was sentenced to eight years in prison by the Mito District Court on November 5th, after judges ruled that her ability to stop herself from committing the crime had been severely impaired by her mental condition, resulting in a sentence 10 years shorter than prosecutors had requested.

Saitama Police Officer Critically Injured After Seizing Gun and Shooting Himself

A 37-year-old police sergeant from the Saitama Prefectural Police Department was left unconscious and in critical condition after grabbing a handgun from another officer and shooting himself in the head at a waste treatment facility in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, on November 4.

Tokyo Police Pay Tribute to Fallen Canine Officers

A memorial service was held at a cemetery in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward on the morning of November 4 to honor police and security dogs that served in criminal investigations, disaster rescue operations, and other police duties, with 11 dogs newly laid to rest since late September 2025.

18-Year-Old Arrested Over Street Racing Posts

An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of obstructing police operations in Osaka after allegedly using a social media account called Shorinji Racing to post messages suggesting plans for reckless driving, prompting officers to increase patrols and security measures.

< 2 3 4 5 >