https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/ NIPPON TV NEWS 24 JAPAN is the English news service of Nippon Television Network. We provides a selection news videos on what is happening in Japan. en_US Copyright 2026 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:55:00 +0900 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Sources said multiple religious corporations at Koyasan in Wakayama Prefecture underreported income earned from revenue-generating businesses such as temple lodgings during last fiscal year.Tax authorities found about 100 million yen in unreported income and imposed about 60 million yen in additional taxes.In one case, authorities found that family members of the chief priest at Soujiin temple used income earned from temple lodging for personal purposes.Religious corporations are exempt from taxation on income related to religious activities, but profit-making operations including temple stays are subject to taxation.The number of foreign tourists visiting Koyasan, a mountain that is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, has surged in recent years, driving accommodation prices higher. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021jimbkyv27fgcynav.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021jimbkyv27fgcynav.html SOCIETY Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:55:00 +0900 S/ Yanagisawa Masashi, University of Tsukuba Professor / It is a tremendous honor and delight to be recognized in this way. I am very happy that the field of basic sleep research itself was able to receive this award. I truly hope that sleep research will gain momentum from here on.Professor Yanagisawa Masashi of the University of Tsukuba won this year’s Lasker Award for basic medical research.Lasker Awards of the United States are often regarded as a stepping stone to the Nobel Prize.Yanagisawa is known as a leading authority in sleep research.He discovered orexin, a chemical messenger in the brain that regulates sleep and wakefulness cycles.The award recognized that his discovery of orexin helped uncover the mechanism behind narcolepsy and led to the development of new treatments for sleep disorders.Attention is now focused on whether Yanagisawa will be selected for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, scheduled to be announced in Sweden in October. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021fpli2ph60rrrjwkz.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021fpli2ph60rrrjwkz.html SOCIETY WORLD Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:16:00 +0900 Crown Princess Kiko, the wife of Crown Prince Fumihito of Akishino, turned 60 on September 11.On the occasion of her birthday, she responded in writing to questions from the Imperial Household press club.On turning 60, considered a milestone age in Japan, Kiko wrote that she hopes to cherish the present moment, continue to learn, build connections with others and take on new challenges.She also said she has come to feel strongly about encouraging young people who will lead society in the future.The crown princess said that during public engagements with her children, Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito, she listens to their opinions and at times learns from them.She wrote that she feels heartened when she watches over Kako and Hisahito as they discuss matters before undertaking activities together.Concerning Hisahito, who turned 20 earlier in September, she said that when he returns to their residence in Tokyo, he talks enthusiastically about his life in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, where he attends university.Kiko expressed gratitude that her son is gaining experience with the support of those around him.As for revisions made recently to the Imperial House Law, she said that she accepts them as a fact.The crown princess limited her comments on the matter, saying only that she spoke to Kako and Hisahito about the law revision.She said she wants to watch over her children while wishing for their happiness. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/202195sfuto7suu7j8el.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/202195sfuto7suu7j8el.html SOCIETY Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:13:00 +0900 The state funeral for Norway’s late King Harald V was held in Oslo on September 9. Japan’s Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko attended the event.The imperial couple walked alongside new King Haakon VIII, royalty from various countries and world leaders in a procession of about 1.2 kilometers.At the funeral service held at Oslo Cathedral, the crown prince and princess sat along with European monarchs and royal family members.During the service, a one-minute moment of silence was observed, followed by prayers and hymns.After the funeral and burial services, the Japanese couple exchanged greetings with King Haakon, Queen Dowager Sonja and new Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra at the royal palace. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021ezadcdbvokxxe8vf.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021ezadcdbvokxxe8vf.html SOCIETY WORLD Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:26:00 +0900 On September 9, 1996, Sophia University student Kobayashi Junko was murdered at her home in Tokyo’s Katsushika Ward, and the house was set on fire.Thirty years later, the case remains unresolved.On September 9, her father Kenji and others laid flowers at the scene.S/ Kobayashi Kenji, Father of victim / I reached my 80th birthday. Will the case be solved first or will my life end first? DNA is the ultimate form of personal information, and I hope it can be utilized in criminal investigations under a properly managed system.Tokyo police have released a 3D image of a suspicious man seen near the scene and are once again calling for information from the public. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021oqe9h5no33bt2ydf.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021oqe9h5no33bt2ydf.html SOCIETY Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:04:00 +0900 On September 8, linear rainbands developed over Aichi and Gifu prefectures in central Japan, triggering a series of emergency alerts for record-breaking torrential rain during the evening commute hours.The Ueda River, which flows through the Aichi prefectural capital of Nagoya, swelled dramatically and overflowed its banks.Areas around the river were flooded, road surfaces were damaged across a wide range, and multiple vehicles became stranded.Downpours struck Nagoya, a major metropolis with a population of more than 2.35 million, flooding various parts of the city.Water erupted from multiple manholes across the area.Near Chikusa Station in Nagoya, rainwater flowed onto train tracks, submerging them completely.As the rain intensified in the evening, many people were stranded.The Nagoya municipal subway suspended service on all lines during the evening rush hour, while some JR sections were also temporarily halted.Train operations later resumed, but Nagoya got 104.5 millimeters of rain in the hour leading up to around 5 p.m., the highest hourly rainfall on record in the city.Authorities are warning people to remain alert as more rain is forecast. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021u9i3td2n5lucs6uh.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021u9i3td2n5lucs6uh.html SOCIETY Wed, 09 Sep 2026 16:58:00 +0900 Seven-Eleven Japan is collaborating with a major apparel company to sell fashion goods including everyday items such as socks and hair ties and seasonal products like scarves and gloves.They include T-shirts and sweatshirts featuring Hello Kitty.About 40 percent of customers at 7-Eleven stores are aged 50 and over, and expanding the customer base to younger generations has become a challenge.With the new lineup, the company hopes to attract women in their 20s to 40s.Seven-Eleven also says it aims to generate buzz among younger people on social media.Convenience store operators are increasingly focusing on apparel products.FamilyMart, which has already moved into the category, saw sales grow to about 20 billion yen last fiscal year, while Lawson has increased its selection of Muji clothing items by 1.7 times. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021tlp3215dziso3q7v.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021tlp3215dziso3q7v.html ECONOMY SOCIETY Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:28:00 +0900 Since August 21, Kura Sushi had been running a merch event in collaboration with Chiikawa, offering prizes such as figurines and teacups featuring designs of the popular characters.According to the major conveyor-belt sushi chain, the company launched an internal investigation after finding large numbers of the prizes listed on online resale marketplaces and discovered that an employee had embezzled the items.Kura Sushi said the event, scheduled through September 30, will be canceled starting September 6.S/ Customer / People who come for the event will be disappointed.S/ Customer / It’s upsetting because people who genuinely wanted the items won't be able to get them.Kura Sushi says it has also consulted police regarding the employee's embezzlement.The company said it is offering a 10 percent discount on all menu items on September 6 and 7 as an apology for canceling the event. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021xbh6bjuk5wci5u6g.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021xbh6bjuk5wci5u6g.html ECONOMY SOCIETY Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:57:00 +0900 Prince Hisahito turned 20 years old on September 6.On the occasion of his birthday, he visited the Imperial Palace in the late morning to greet Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, his uncle and aunt.The prince is a sophomore at the University of Tsukuba studying biology and has placed priority on academic work while also taking part in numerous official activities over the past year.In August, he traveled to Hiroshima alone for the first time and laid flowers at the memorial cenotaph for atomic bomb victims.He also delivered his first formal remarks at the Nippon Scout Jamboree.The prince has also broadened the scope of his activities as an adult member of the imperial family, including attending a state banquet at the Imperial Palace.Hisahito is the son of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko and is second in line to Japan’s Chrysanthemum Throne after his father. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021x47sy8c5ozhtevnq.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021x47sy8c5ozhtevnq.html SOCIETY Mon, 07 Sep 2026 13:49:00 +0900 The mayor of Kamisu in Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, held a news conference on September 3.S/ Kiuchi Toshiyuki (65), Kamisu Mayor / It is disappointing and regrettable that our argument was not accepted at all. I have been the son of a Japanese confectionery shop owner since I was born. When I was young, ours was the only Japanese sweet shop. There were no other candidates who ran from a Japanese confectionery shop.Kiuchi Toshiyuki expressed dissatisfaction after a court ruling invalidated his election victory. In the Kamisu mayoral election held last November, the only two candidates were Kiuchi and former Mayor Ishida Susumu.Each candidate received the exact same number of votes at 16,724.Based on legal provisions, Kiuchi won through a lottery drawing.Kiuchi comes from a family that operates a Japanese confectionery company with a history of over 120 years.He said local residents often call him by nicknames such as “Manjuya,” which means sweet bun shop, and “Toshi of Manjuya.”That led to the current dispute.Among the votes counted for Kiuchi were a ballot marked “Manjuya” and another that had “Dango-san,” or Mister rice-flour balls, written on it.Former Mayor Ishida raised an objection to these two ballots.S/ Ishida Susumu (68), Former Kamisu Mayor / Some people may understand who “manjuya-san” may refer to. However, it is not something that many people recognize as a substitute for a name. It is extremely unclear why the Kamisu election administration commission determined that “manju” and “dango” were valid.While the election administration commission of Kamisu city declared Kiuchi the winner, the commission of Ibaraki Prefecture did not recognize the two questionable ballots as valid and issued a ruling that voided his election victory.Kiuchi filed a lawsuit seeking the revocation of the prefectural election commission's decision.The Tokyo High Court deliberated on whether the ballots marked “Manjuya” and “Dango-san” were valid.The court came to the decision that the ballots do not clearly refer to Kiuchi.It found that the terms cannot be considered as identifiers customarily recognized throughout the entire city to refer to him as there were at least nine stores that mainly handle traditional Japanese sweets like manju and dango.The court ruled Kiuchi’s election invalid.Kiuchi appeared dissatisfied with the court’s decision.S/ Kiuchi Toshiyuki, Kamisu Mayor / I am arguing that I grew up being known as the son of the “manju” shop. People normally call me “Manjuya.” They do not call me “Kiuchi,” they call me “Manjuya.”Ishida also shared his thoughts.S/ Ishida Susumu, Former Kamisu Mayor / I believe the decisions by the prefectural election commission and the Tokyo High Court were appropriate. I hope to return to the post quickly. As the mayor who received even one vote more, I want to fulfill my accountability to the public and move city administration forward.Kiuchi says he is considering whether to appeal the high court’s ruling to the Supreme Court. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021a0c7evwoye9h70ph.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021a0c7evwoye9h70ph.html POLITICS SOCIETY Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:13:00 +0900 S/ Reporter / Flames are rising from a smokestack that is undergoing demolition work.According to the fire department, an employee called emergency services shortly before 6 p.m. on September 3 to report that a fire broke out during demolition work at Nippon Paper Industries’ Yatsushiro Mill in Kumamoto Prefecture.In the July 28 earthquake, nine workers died at the factory after an 80-meter-tall smokestack collapsed.Since late August, workers had been dismantling the broken upper section of another smokestack that is approximately 110 meters tall.This is one of three damaged smokestacks at the factory and had remained standing after the earthquake.There have been no reports of injuries resulting from the fire.Police and the fire department are investigating the cause of the blaze. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/20218ylp81bqep28ayrb.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/20218ylp81bqep28ayrb.html SOCIETY Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:28:00 +0900 Sushiro, a major conveyor-belt sushi chain, announced plans to open its first US location in New York this October. Prices will start at around 5 US dollars per plate.Sushiro’s first US location is set to open in the bustling Times Square area of Midtown Manhattan.The restaurant plans to offer more than 200 items, with prices starting at $5 per plate—approximately 800 yen—for staples such as tuna.The company says the customary tip in the United States will not be required. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/20212qo6x95tgi1lhxr8.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/20212qo6x95tgi1lhxr8.html ECONOMY SOCIETY WORLD Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:03:00 +0900 Firefighters and police entered a shopping district near the Geku, or Outer Shrine, of Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture on September 1 to investigate the cause of the fire that broke out on August 31 and assess the extent of the damage.The fire broke out in a shopping district at around 3:20PM, and prompted evacuation orders for hundreds of people in the surrounding area.The fire has still not been fully extinguished, more than 20 hours after it started.Most of the buildings in the shopping district were destroyed by the fire and are now barely recognizable.The Ise Grand Shrine, which enshrines Amaterasu-Omikami, the ancestral deity of the imperial family, is considered one of Japan’s most sacred and prestigious Shinto shrines.Firefighters who responded to the blaze said many of the buildings were old wooden structures that caught fire easily.They also said the corrugated metal roofing of the covered shopping arcade made it difficult for firefighting water to reach the flames.Evacuation orders were issued for 249 households, or 528 people, in the surrounding area.No injuries have been reported. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/202121c4lku11chwl4cw.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/202121c4lku11chwl4cw.html SOCIETY Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:29:00 +0900 A peach has been plucked off a tree.About 600 peaches just before harvest were stolen from this peach orchard in the city of Date in Fukushima Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo.The stolen peaches were valued at around 180,000 yen.The farmer noticed the theft on the morning of August 27 upon returning to the orchard after having finished work the previous day and gone home.The farmer filed a police report.Police are investigating the case as theft and have increased patrols in the surrounding area.Peaches ready for harvest have been targeted at other orchards as well.FarmerI wonder why they were gone. It makes me angry.At this peach orchard in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan, all the fruit were stripped from one of its 30 peach trees.The approximately 50 peaches were worth about 18,000 yen.The grower said the peaches had been left on the tree until just before harvest to maximize their sweetness when the theft occurred.Farmer As farmers, we make our living by selling fruit, so when something like this happens it makes life difficult. I want the stolen peaches returned.Police are investigating the incident as a theft case. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021ul73dj1q5vk52n3l.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021ul73dj1q5vk52n3l.html ECONOMY SOCIETY Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:39:00 +0900 In Fukui Prefecture in central Japan, 24-hour rainfall totals between August 29 and 30 set all-time records at five observation points.The prefectural government said overflowing and other damage was confirmed at 26 locations across 23 rivers.S/ Reporter / Are you okay with the flooding?As of 5 p.m. on August 30, the prefecture reported 14 cases of above-floor flooding and 80 cases of below-floor flooding.With additional reports of flooding coming in from the cities of Fukui and Sakai, officials say it will take time to assess the full extent of the damage.At least two people sustained injuries.In Sakai, a woman in her 30s caught her foot in an irrigation canal and broke her right ankle on August 30.On the night of August 29, a man in his 80s fell while going out to check on the rain and sustained facial abrasions.The meteorological observatory is urging residents to remain on alert for possible landslides. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/20214a83ev928tz09mod.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/20214a83ev928tz09mod.html NATURE SOCIETY Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:03:00 +0900