The Supreme Court’s Second Petty Bench, presided over by Chief Justice Akira Ojima, ruled on September 26th that the current system for apportioning seats in the House of Representatives is constitutional, despite a maximum disparity of 2.06-to-1 in the value of votes cast in last October’s general election.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) announced on September 25th that it will withdraw its "Africa Hometown" project, with President Akihiko Tanaka explaining at a press conference that widespread misunderstanding had created excessive burdens for local governments.
Nearly 18 years have passed since journalist Kenji Nagai was shot dead while covering a protest in Myanmar, and new analysis has revealed that his final words were recorded on the video camera he held until the very end.
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru delivered a general debate speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 24th, where he underscored the need to expand the Security Council and questioned whether the UN is fulfilling the role originally expected of it.
Japan decided not to recognize Palestine as a state during a high-level meeting in New York aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even as about 10 other countries declared recognition.
The administrative chief of Riyadh Province in Saudi Arabia, the host of the next World Expo in 2030, held discussions with Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and other officials to seek advice and share expertise on organizing the global event.
To prevent excessive smartphone use, the Toyoake City Council in Aichi Prefecture passed an ordinance on September 22nd that sets a daily usage limit of two hours during free time outside of work, study, and housework.
Environment Minister Keiichiro Asao has expressed his view that construction of large-scale solar panel projects in the Kushiro Wetlands of Hokkaido should be restrained.