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, 15 May 2026 20:31:00 +0900 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss On May 15, at around 8:22 PM, a strong earthquake with a Magnitude of 6.3 struck north-eastern Japan.The Japan Meteorological Agency said the temblor registered lower 5 in the seismic intensity scale of up to 7 in Ishinomaki,Tome and Osaki of Miyagi Prefecture.Agency informationAccording to the agancy, there is no risk of tsunami.気象庁によりますと午後８時２２分ごろ、地震がありました。この地震による津波の心配はありません。震度５弱を観測したのは、石巻市、登米市、大崎市、震度４を観測したのは、盛岡市、大船渡市、花巻市、遠野市、一関市、陸前高田市、などです。 https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021mn78sg6c02nrrx62.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021mn78sg6c02nrrx62.html SOCIETY Fri, 15 May 2026 20:31:00 +0900 The cruise ship “Nippon Maru” brought its 35-year history to a close on May 10.The vessel arrived at the Port of Yokohama after its final voyage.Since entering service in 1990, the “Nippon Maru” has carried more than 600,000 passengers and sailed roughly 5.3 million kilometers — the equivalent of circling the Earth 133 times.Uchida Koichi, Nippon Maru Captain / We have embarked on countless voyages to share unforgettable moments with our guests time and again. Well done, Nippon Maru. We will never forget you. Thank you, Nippon Maru.Passenger / This was the final voyage and we really wanted to be part of it, so we made a reservation. Nippon Maru, thank you for everything over the years.The traditions and expertise built up over decades of service will be carried on by new vessels, including the “Mitsui Ocean Sakura.” https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/20214a80ddgzjygytrvs.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/20214a80ddgzjygytrvs.html SOCIETY Fri, 15 May 2026 17:31:00 +0900 Police arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of robbery and murder on May 14, in connection with a deadly home invasion in Kaminokawa Town, Tochigi Prefecture.According to investigators, the suspect, who identifies himself as a high school student, allegedly conspired with at least two accomplices to break into the home with the intent to commit robbery.Police say the intruders searched the house for valuables before the suspect allegedly stabbed the 69-year-old resident multiple times in the chest and other areas with a weapon, killing her.The victim was transported to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.Her eldest son, who lives at the residence, suffered injuries to his right arm and other parts of his body. Her second son, who lives separately, also sustained injuries, including wounds to the head.Following the incident, police officers patrolling the area spotted the 16-year-old suspect walking near the scene and took him into custody.The arrested teenager reportedly told investigators that someone from his grade was among the group, and that he was invited to join the group.The teenager also reportedly said that “the others fled the scene in a car,” leading police to suspect that a luxury imported vehicle bearing Utsunomiya license plates may have been used as a getaway car.According to investigators, there had been a series of suspicious incidents in the area prior to the attack, including burglaries at the victim’s home and a relative’s house early April, as well as reports of suspicious people and vehicles.On May 7, a 41-year-old man was arrested after allegedly riding in a suspicious vehicle fitted with stolen license plates.While no direct connection has been confirmed, police are searching for several individuals believed to have fled the scene and are investigating the possibility that the crime was carried out by Tokuryu, loosely organized criminal groups. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/20215gf7kox52yr8gl43.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/20215gf7kox52yr8gl43.html SOCIETY Fri, 15 May 2026 17:27:00 +0900 At the construction site of a newly built home, work was still underway.Reporter“This is a house that’s scheduled to be handed over in July, but construction work is still ongoing, and the scaffolding hasn’t even been removed yet.”There are only about two months left until the planned handover. The contractor says work that should normally have already been completed is facing major delays.Blue tapes can still be seen everywhere in the house.Reporter“The upper section has already been filled in, but the lower section has been left open because there aren’t enough materials.”What’s causing the problem?KURASU Homebuilder CEO “As tensions in the Middle East continue to affect naphtha supplies, orders for construction materials have gradually been suspended, and some products are no longer available at all.”As concerns grow over supplies of petroleum-derived naphtha due to tensions in the Middle East, this construction company says it has been struggling since last month to secure building materials made from naphtha.The materials that arrived on this day will allow to work for now, but they still fall short of the amount needed.Some parts of the construction may not be completed on time, potentially affecting the scheduled July handover.And that’s not all.KURASU Homebuilder CEO“Price hikes are already guaranteed. We’ve been told that petroleum-based products will go up by 30, 40, even 50 percent. It’s really becoming a major headache. We honestly don’t know what’s going to happen from here.”The impact is spreading across the entire construction industry.Umano Erika NTV Reporter“This is a newly built condominium currently under construction. Buyers have reportedly been notified that there is a possibility the handover could be delayed.”This high-rise condominium in Tokyo. Residents are not scheduled to move in until August next year — more than a year ahead.However, the developer, Mitsui Fudosan, notified buyers that shortages of construction materials and other supplies could delay the handover date.Several other real estate companies have issued similar notices as well, although all say that no delays have been officially confirmed at this point.Concerns were also raised at a construction industry trade show held in Tokyo.StoJapan Sales Manager“With the situation becoming what it is, we’re seeing a surge in last-minute demand, and supply conditions have become extremely tight. So many materials are becoming difficult to procure that construction projects as a whole are being delayed. We’re really wondering whether things are going to be okay.”The shortage of insulation materials made from naphtha is reportedly affecting not only new construction projects, but renovation work as well.And here’s the industry’s honest sentiment…SUGAR VILLAGE CEO“Whenever we meet with others in the industry, all we hear is how exhausted and overwhelmed everyone is. The industry wants the government to figure out somehow and restore distribution back to normal.”A growing sense of crisis is spreading across construction sites.So how does the government view the situation?Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru“At this point, we have not received reports indicating any immediate supply problems involving petroleum-related products, and we recognize that Japan as a whole has secured the necessary supply volume.”Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru emphasized that the government is identifying the causes of distribution bottlenecks involving paint and housing equipment and is working to resolve them one by one.With the situation in the Middle East still uncertain, how far will the impact on housing spread? https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021ftz7w7qz322jwgma.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021ftz7w7qz322jwgma.html ECONOMY SOCIETY Fri, 15 May 2026 16:57:00 +0900 Ben Horowitz / Andreessen Horowitz is currently based exclusively in the United States, but I’m pleased to announce that we will be opening our Japanese office this summer.Ben Horowitz, the co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, made the remarks on May 14 during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae.Andreessen Horowitz is one of the leading U.S. venture capital firms, known for investments in major technology companies including Meta Platforms and X Corp.The company plans to establish its first overseas office in Japan this summer and aims to focus on supporting and developing Japanese entrepreneurs over the next three to four years.Prime Minister Takaichi welcomed the announcement, saying that Japan had gained “a truly reliable partner” in advancing the Takaichi administration’s growth and economic security strategies through expanded investment and support for entrepreneurship. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021goba5h2n0o1495x7.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021goba5h2n0o1495x7.html ECONOMY SOCIETY WORLD Fri, 15 May 2026 13:48:00 +0900 SoftBank Group posted a record net profit for fiscal 2025 on May 13, with earnings surpassing 5 trillion yen for the first time.According to the company’s consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending March 2026, net income totaled 5.022 trillion yen, up 4.3 times from the previous year and marking a record high.The multinational investment holding company said the figure represented the largest profit ever reported by a Japanese company.The strong performance was driven by robust investment gains, particularly from the company’s Vision Fund, which focuses on AI-related firms. Total investment gains topped 7.2 trillion yen.The company reported major returns from its investment in OpenAI, the U.S.-based developer of the generative AI chatbot ChatGPT.Profits related to the investment in OpenAI exceeded 6.7 trillion yen. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021e5y9tflbr2l4t95t.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021e5y9tflbr2l4t95t.html ECONOMY SOCIETY Fri, 15 May 2026 13:43:00 +0900 Japanese government sources say arrangements are being made for Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae to visit Britain and Italy for talks with the countries' leaders prior to attending the Group of Seven summit, scheduled in France in mid-June.In January, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni separately visited Japan for talks with Takaichi.At the time, Starmer invited Takaichi to Chequers, the UK prime minister's official country residence near London.But one of the sources said the Japanese leader's visit to London remains fluid as there is increasing pressure for Starmer to resign after Britain's ruling Labour Party suffered a major defeat in local elections.This will be the first visit to Europe by a Japanese prime minister since July 2024 when then Prime Minister Kishida Fumio traveled to Germany.Sources said that by visiting countries other than France in conjunction with the G7 summit, Japan aims to demonstrate its presence in Europe.Through the visits, Japan is also hoping to deepen discussions on cooperation in economic security areas such as strengthening supply chains for products like critical minerals and on the Middle East situation. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021ps8um64k7xt14wdv.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021ps8um64k7xt14wdv.html ECONOMY POLITICS SOCIETY WORLD Thu, 14 May 2026 14:25:00 +0900 Police say they have arrested a 16-year-old boy from Tokyo for allegedly discharging what appears to be a spray inside a JR Tokaido Line train that was traveling through Kanagawa Prefecture.The teenager is suspected of obstructing business operations after his action caused delays of more than two hours in train operations on May 10.Police believe the boy sprayed something when the train made its stop at Yokohama Station.At Kawasaki Station, the next stop, passengers complained of symptoms such as sore throat, and a couple in their 30s and their 1-year-old daughter were taken to hospital.Police said the boy has admitted to the allegations.Through investigations such as checking security camera footage, police found that the arrested teen was on the train in question along with five other individuals. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021bs5d57n4ruvwz97k.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021bs5d57n4ruvwz97k.html SOCIETY Tue, 12 May 2026 17:00:00 +0900 According to informed sources, snack manufacturer Calbee plans to change the package design of some of its products to black and white.The sources say the move comes as the procurement of ink and other materials used for packaging has become unstable due to ongoing unrest in the Middle East.Affected products include the company's mainstay potato chips which normally come in packages featuring colors such as orange and yellow.Calbee has informed retailers that the change will apply to shipments starting on May 25.Other major snack makers have also indicated that they may need to consider reducing ink usage and making design changes on packages to ensure a stable supply of products going forward.Meanwhile, a tanker carrying about 45,000 kiloliters of crude oil from Azerbaijan arrived at a refinery in Yokohama on May 12.According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the amount is equivalent to roughly 10 percent of Japan's daily domestic consumption.The shipment was procured by major oil distributor ENEOS. Since the Middle East situation began to deteriorate in late March, Japan has been working to secure routes that do not pass through the Strait of Hormuz and alternative crude oil supplies from the United States and other regions.This is the first time during this period that crude oil from Azerbaijan has been delivered to Japan.The government says it has secured enough petroleum through the turn of the year, but the industry ministry reports that it has received more than 2,300 inquiries from businesses regarding supply bottlenecks and related issues.Of those, about 1,500 cases concern requests for measures to address difficulties in obtaining products such as paint thinner and lubricating oil. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021ayk9qfq7knwudls3.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021ayk9qfq7knwudls3.html ECONOMY POLITICS SOCIETY WORLD Tue, 12 May 2026 16:49:00 +0900 Police and Yokohama city officials say a sinkhole was confirmed shortly after 5 a.m. on May 8 on a narrow road in a busy area near the west exit of JR Yokohama Station.The cave-in initially covered an area of about 4 meters and was roughly 15 centimeters deep but expanded in both size and depth the following day.Private construction work was being carried out near this road.Officials believe a retaining board, which was intended to prevent soil from flowing out from the road, tilted and allowed the soil beneath the road to wash away, causing the collapse.They said no impact on nearby buildings or water pipes has been confirmed, but traffic restrictions were placed on the road.There were no immediate prospects for restoration. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021eg65fpeim7hf6x5u.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021eg65fpeim7hf6x5u.html SOCIETY Mon, 11 May 2026 18:02:00 +0900 Fire department officials said they received an emergency call shortly after 4:30 p.m. on May 10 that spray appears to have been discharged inside a train traveling through Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture.The train was heading toward Tokyo on the JR Tokaido Line.A couple in their 30s and their 1-year-old daughter complained of symptoms such as sore throat and headache.They were taken to hospital, but all were reported to have mild symptoms.Officials said an inspection of the train stopped at JR Kawasaki Station found no irritating substances or toxins.In addition, police could not find any signs of any spray being dispersed when they checked security camera footage.As multiple passengers reported noticing a smell similar to pepper, police and fire department officials are investigating the circumstances further. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021a7wlq9q3ha9iyksb.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021a7wlq9q3ha9iyksb.html SOCIETY Mon, 11 May 2026 16:58:00 +0900 A new research council on national strength will soon be launched within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.Founding members include party heavyweights and lawmakers who competed against Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae in last year's party leadership race.The new group will be nicknamed JiB, which stands for...S/ Takaichi Sanae, Prime Minister / Japan is back.S/ Takaichi Sanae, Prime Minister / Japan is back.JiB is an abbreviation of "Japan is Back," a phrase frequently used by Takaichi.S/ Takaichi Sanae, Prime Minister / Japan is back.The phrase was also seen on gifts presented to US President Donald Trump.JiB is scheduled to be launched on May 21.The group's objectives include deepening understanding of key policies such as constitutional revision and supporting the Takaichi administration.Participants say that bringing in a wide range of influential party figures and potential successors to Takaichi is expected to help stabilize the party's foundation and pave the way to a long-term administration. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/20218d4uk9j55bqayvkv.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/20218d4uk9j55bqayvkv.html POLITICS SOCIETY WORLD Mon, 11 May 2026 16:42:00 +0900 Adachi Yuuki, a 37-year-old man who first claimed his son’s disappearance and later arrested for suspicion of abandoning his 11-year-old son Yuki's body, tells Kyoto police that he was told from his son that “You are not a father.”Almost a month has passed since the missing boy’s body was found. Flowers and drinks were left at the scene on May 7th.11-year-old Adachi Yuki, who had been told to be missing in Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture, was later found dead in woods.Suspect“I killed him by strangling his neck with both hands.”Adachi Yuuki, the father who turnd into a suspect, 20 days after the arrest for abandoning his son’s dead body. On May6, he was arrested for suspicion of murder.He is alleged to strangle his son inside a public restroom near their home on the morning of March 23, leading the boy to die.At first, father told police and others that after driving Yuki to elementary school, he did not know where the boy had gone, but investigators now believe that after the father headed toward the school by car, he turned back without dropping the son off and killed him in a public restroom near their home.According to the judicial autopsy, the cause of death is now likely to have been suffocation.In addition, reports from investigative sources revealed that some kind of trouble occurred inside the car, and that is believed to have led to the killing.What happened between the two inside the vehicle?According to our reports, words spoken by father hinted about their relationship were revealed.At the questioning before his arrest, he is said to have said:Suspect“I was told I wasn’t the real father.”Regarding their parent-child relationship, there is information suggesting that the two did not get along well.YTV Reporter:“After killing the son Yuki, father first abandoned the body in these mountains behind the house. There is absolutely no sign of traffic around here.”After repeated searches following Yuki’s disappearance, his body was discovered last month in the woods within the city.During that time, the father continued to behave suspiciously.It is said that he used his own car multiple times to move Yuki’s body.From March 23 to the following day…First, the body was taken to the mountain behind the house.Next, it was moved to “the location where his backpack was found,” and then in the mountains where the shoes were found.Investigators believe that Several days later, the body was abandoned in the woods where later discovered, meaning the body was moved to at least four different locations.Police believe troubles involving the parent-child relationship could have escalated into the incident, and investigations continue for more details on motives that led to the crime. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021p1vh7ydel5rz1hpe.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021p1vh7ydel5rz1hpe.html Fri, 08 May 2026 19:10:00 +0900 On May 1, the Japanese government began its second round of releasing national oil reserves. This time, roughly 20 days' worth of oil for domestic consumption is scheduled to be released sequentially from 10 facilities across Japan, including Ibaraki and Kagoshima prefectures. The government has been releasing reserves since mid-March. As of April 28, a combined total of 211 days' worth of oil remained in national and private stockpiles. Government officials said they have been able to secure oil supply crossing into next year through the combination of reserve releases and alternative procurement methods. Amid difficulties procuring oil from the Middle East, a tanker carrying Russian oil has begun unloading in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture. The tanker had loads of crude oil produced at the Sakhalin-2 project in the Russian Far East. This is the first time Japan has procured Russian crude oil since the US attack on Iran. According to Taiyo Oil, which handled the unloading, this procurement was carried out at the request of the Japanese government. Crude oil produced at Sakhalin-2 for shipment to Japan is not subject to US or EU economic sanctions imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. An official of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry said Japan has coordinated with the United States and confirmed there are no risks involving the sanctions. Officials said the Russian crude oil will be refined into petroleum products such as gasoline and kerosene and distributed to the market in Japan. S/ Akazawa Ryosei, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister / I will not mention specific quantities at this time, but I have confirmed that there will be a steady additional supply of crude oil. Japan has also secured the United Arab Emirates' commitment to provide additional crude oil. On May 5, Japan's trade minister visited the UAE where he met with industry minister Sultan Al Jaber and asked for increased crude oil supplies to Japan as well as the replenishment and expansion of oil-producing countries' joint stockpile in Japan. Akazawa said he also proposed Japan's contributions, including on the financial front, toward future expansion of crude oil production and construction of alternative routes. The two sides agreed to proceed positively, with Akazawa saying he obtained the UAE's commitment to further increase crude oil supplies to the joint stockpile in Japan. The Japanese minister said he expects stable procurement to progress more smoothly moving forward. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021rtffg67qrdm1gayy.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021rtffg67qrdm1gayy.html ECONOMY POLITICS Thu, 07 May 2026 18:30:00 +0900 A Ground Self-Defense Force unit in Tokyo has withdrawn a new logo after it drew criticism online. The First Infantry Regiment of the GSDF’s First Division unveiled the logo for its 4th Company on X on April 29. The design showed an elephant in camouflage holding a gun, with a skull on its chest. After criticism, the regiment said on X on May 2 that it would stop using the logo. It explained the design was created to boost morale and a sense of belonging among members. But it said it should also consider how the public understands the unit and whether people can feel closer to it. The regiment is based at Nerima Camp in Tokyo and is mainly responsible for disaster relief and defense security operations in the capital’s 23 wards. https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021zg7dw7weqg2t7owv.html https://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/articles/2021zg7dw7weqg2t7owv.html Thu, 07 May 2026 18:24:00 +0900