JAPAN MARKS 2 YEARS SINCE DEVASTATING NOTO QUAKE AS LOCALS REBUILD LIVES - KANAZAWA, ISHIKAWA

JAPAN MARKS 2 YEARS SINCE DEVASTATING NOTO QUAKE AS LOCALS REBUILD LIVES - KANAZAWA, ISHIKAWA

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KANAZAWA, Ishikawa

Japan on Thursday marked two years since a powerful earthquake rocked the Noto Peninsula in central Japan, killing over 200 people and severely damaging tens of thousands of houses, with locals hopeful that recovery will continue to progress.

A memorial service hosted by Ishikawa Prefecture was held in the hard-hit city of Wajima. Participants observed a moment of silence for the victims at 4:10 p.m., the time the magnitude-7.6 quake occurred on New Year's Day in 2024.

At the start of the new year, Masahiro Omukai, 52, was among families visiting the city's Juzo Shrine to make wishes in the morning as snow fell.

"Above all, our hope is to live peacefully and safely. I hope it will be a year in which those suffering from the disaster can spend time with smiles," he said.

In Suzu, another hard-hit city, residents gathered at a scenic coastal spot with a view on Mitsuke Island, where they watched the sun rise.

"The sadness of losing (loved ones) is deepening as time passes," said a woman in her 70s, who lost three relatives in the disaster and currently lives in temporary housing nearby. "I hope I can move a step further this year."

Recovery efforts have been taking place in parts of Ishikawa Prefecture and work to rebuild Wajima's landmark marketplace, which was reduced to ashes by a fire following the temblor, are also under way, with plans in the works to construct a huge roof over stores in the area.

But some 18,000 people are still residing in temporary housing in Ishikawa Prefecture, while an acceleration of population decline in municipalities in the Noto area is triggering concerns over its impact on industry, education and elderly care.

According to an official tally as of Dec. 25, 228 people in Ishikawa Prefecture died as the direct result of the quake and 470 other fatalities across Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama prefectures have been blamed on deteriorating health linked to the quake, including some cases associated with the stress of evacuation.

After the Noto disaster once again highlighted the importance of anti-seismic buildings, a Kyodo News survey found that 90 percent of prefectures across Japan have stepped up support to enhance the quake safety of houses, such as by increasing subsidies.

The survey, conducted between November and December, covered prefectures which, along with the central government and municipalities, offer subsidies to home owners and others to improve quake resistance.

A total of 43 prefectures said they enhanced their support after the Noto quake, including Aomori, Shizuoka and Miyazaki prefectures.

When asked the reasons behind the increased support, the northeastern prefecture of Yamagata cited the higher interest in quake-proof homes after the Noto quake, and Tochigi, north of Tokyo, said it took note of factors that could make aging owners reluctant to renovate their homes at a time when they face higher material costs.

Meanwhile, four prefectures -- Iwate, Akita, Saitama, and Okinawa -- said they have not enhanced support on the grounds that there were no such requests from municipalities. But Iwate and Saitama said they are considering doing so in the future.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the nationwide rate of quake-resistant housing stood at approximately 90 percent as of 2023. About 5.7 million homes are estimated to lack sufficient seismic resistance.

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PACIFIST JAPAN HAS SLOWLY TRANSFORMED FROM EXCLUSIVELY SELF-DEFENSE TO A MILITARY BUILDUP - TOKYO JAPAN

PACIFIST JAPAN HAS SLOWLY TRANSFORMED FROM EXCLUSIVELY SELF-DEFENSE TO A MILITARY BUILDUP - TOKYO JAPAN 

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TOKYOJapan is barreling forward with efforts to significantly boost its military capabilities to stand up to China’s growing threats by doubling annual arms spending. The goal comes as Tokyo’s main ally, the United States, pushes for more military assistance in Asia and a military hawk and ultra-conservative takes over Japan's leadership.

Japan says it is still a peaceful nation and the buildup is necessary for a more self-reliant military that can better deter China. But Beijing and other critics see Japan as deviating from its postwar peace pledge, pointing to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statement soon after taking office that any Chinese military action against Taiwan could be grounds for a Japanese military response.

Japan’s transformation into one of the world’s major defense spenders has developed over decades and raises the question of whether the ongoing buildup is a violation of its pacifist constitution.

Here is a closer look.

After World War II, Japan was not supposed to have a military.

During the 1945-1952 U.S. occupation, American officials wanted to stamp out the militarism that led to Japanese aggression across Asia before and during the war.

Under Article 9 of the U.S.-drafted 1947 constitution, Japan renounced the use of force to settle international disputes, and the right to maintain land, sea and air forces for that purpose.

The U.S. changed its mind about Japanese militarism when the Korean War started in 1950. Japan became an ally, not a threat, leading to the creation of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in 1954. Article 9 is now widely seen as the legal basis for Japan to have a sufficient military to defend itself.

Japan has since repeatedly stretched the definition of self-defense, allowing overseas dispatches of its troops as part of international peacekeeping operations, though mostly avoiding combat missions.

A big change came in 2014, under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who wanted Japan to have a normal military. Abe newly interpreted Article 9 as legalizing collective defense. The following year, a security law allowed Japan to use force if the United States or other friendly nations come under enemy attack, even if Japan is not being attacked.

This was Abe’s attempt to have a normal military without formally changing the constitution.

Takaichi angered China by giving a hypothetical example of such a situation, a deviation from former leaders’ strategic ambiguity.

The flap with Beijing escalated in December when Chinese aircraft locked their radars, considered possible preparation for firing missiles, on Japanese planes during Chinese aircraft carrier drills near southwestern Japan.

Two Chinese aircraft carriers also were spotted in June operating near the southern Japanese island of Iwo Jima for the first time. This led to worry in Tokyo about Beijing’s rapidly expanding military activity far beyond its borders and in areas around islands claimed by both countries.

Takaichi’s cabinet last week approved a record defense budget plan. It exceeds 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) for the coming year and aims to fortify its strike-back capability and coastal defense with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals.

In Beijing later that day, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian criticized the Takaichi government for accelerating the pace of its military buildup and expansion, and added: “Japan is deviating from the path of peaceful development it has long claimed to uphold and is moving further and further in a dangerous direction.”

China, which spends a huge amount on its own defense, may also see Takaichi as a defender of Japanese wartime aggression. Before taking office, she was a regular at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan’s 2.5 million war dead, including convicted war criminals. Victims of Japanese aggression, especially China and the Koreas, see visits to the shrine as tantamount to a lack of remorse about Japan’s wartime past.

Takaichi stayed away from Yasukuni in 2025 and sent a religious ornament marking the Aug. 15 anniversary of Japan’s defeat as a personal gesture instead of praying at the shrine.

A fundamental change came in December 2022 when former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government adopted a security strategy stating the need for Japan to acquire strike-back capability with long-range missiles, a major break from Japan’s self-defense-only policy.

The strategy names China as Japan’s biggest strategic challenge and calls for a more offensive role for Japanese troops under its security alliance with the U.S as the allies work more closely together.

Masahiro Sakata, former head of the Cabinet Legislative Bureau, described the move as “the death of Article 9.”

After the war, Japan long prioritized economic development over defense while relying largely on the U.S. by hosting about 50,000 American troops who also serve the region.

Japan maintained a defense spending cap of 1% of GDP until the annual defense budget started to rise under Abe’s nearly decade-long leadership, to about 1.1%. Takaichi is certain to achieve a 2% target by March, two years earlier than planned, and is expected to push for more spending in coming years as Japan is under growing pressure after NATO adopted a new target of 5%.

Takaichi’s revised security and defense policy would aim to further bolster Japan with unmanned combative weapons and long-range missiles. It is expected to scrap remaining restrictions on arms exports to promote the development of Japan’s defense industry and cooperation with friendly nations.

Japan has long banned arms exports but has significantly eased restrictions in recent years and is now developing next-generation fighter jets with the UK and Italy while finalizing a deal to sell frigates to Australia. Japan also will to provide support for construction and maintenance for U.S. warships.

A government-commissioned panel has proposed Japan consider developing a nuclear submarine to achieve a more long-distance deterrence capability, a controversial idea for a country that has long maintained non-nuclear principles.

Japan has requested Washington ensure protection through the extended deterrence of nuclear weapons. A number of officials recently expressed support for Japan’s nuclear possession, which has led to criticism from Japanese atomic bomb survivors and other pacifist groups.

Japan stands by its three non-nuclear principles of not possessing, not producing and not allowing its presence, according to Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, although he said Japan is considering all options for a possible new submarine.

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RECORD LOW 363 MILLION NEW YEAR POSTCARDS DELIVERED ON JANUARY 01, 2026 - TOKYO JAPAN

RECORD LOW 363 MILLION NEW YEAR POSTCARDS DELIVERED ON JANUARY 01, 2026 - TOKYO JAPAN 

@Jr_Paku Midin Channel

TOKYO

Japan Post Holdings said Friday that a record low number of New Year greeting postcards (nengajo) were delivered nationwide on Jan 1, marking the 17th consecutive year of decline.

Japan Post said about 363 million postcards were delivered, only 74% of last year's number.

Nengajo are postcards that Japanese people send to their friends and business acquaintances as a form of greeting at the end of the year. All nengajo postcards have lottery numbers on them, and the holders of the winning numbers can receive various prizes, which include some expensive items like travel tickets and electronic devices.

However, in this digital age, many people consider sending postcards as old school and prefer to send and receive nengajo by email or by some SNS apps, and even to attach a video clip to the nengajo.

Another factor in the declining number is a recent hike in postal rates.

In an effort to attract younger generations, Japan Post partnered with Google to offer a service on its website that uses generative AI to create New Year's cards.

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EMPEROR AND HIS FAMILY GREET NEW YEAR WELL-WISHERS - TOKYO JAPAN

EMPEROR AND HIS FAMILY GREET NEW YEAR WELL-WISHERS - TOKYO JAPAN 

@Jr_Paku Midin Channel

TOKYO

Emperor Naruhito and his family waved to a crowd of flag-waving New Year’s well-wishers gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Friday.

Standing with his wife Empress Masako and the rest of the royal family, he wished a happy new year to people lined up below the palace balcony, some shouting, “banzai" — Japanese for "long live.”

The annual New Year’s appearance by the emperor and his family draws huge crowds to the palace’s usually cloistered grounds in central Tokyo.

People stand in long lines, weathering the cold, for each of the five appearances during the day, as the imperial family remains relatively popular.

The emperor does not have political power but holds symbolic significance for Japan. He and his family are longtime advocates for peace, although World War II was fought in the name of Naruhito’s grandfather Hirohito.

In a statement released in advance, Naruhito noted that last year marked 80 years since the end of that war. He stressed the importance of the message of peace, given that war and strife continued in parts of the world.

“I deeply feel it’s important to continue with efforts among people for dialogue, trying to deepen mutual understanding, so we can build a world of peace,” he said in the statement.

In both the statement and comments Friday, he spoke about recent natural disasters such as earthquakes, heavy rainfall and snow, and forest fires.

In 2024, the annual appearance was canceled because of a New Year’s Day quake in the Noto Peninsula, a coastal area in central Japan, which killed hundreds of people. In 2021 and 2022, it got canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Princess Aiko, the imperial couple's only child, appeared with her parents at this year’s greeting, as did other relatives. She is at the center of a national debate about rules allowing only men to inherit to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

The presence of Naruhito’s nephew, Hisahito, also drew attention, as he now takes part in adult imperial events and is a possible heir to the throne. He is second in line after his father, the emperor’s brother.

Akihito, Naruhito’s father and emperor emeritus who abdicated in 2019, was also there with his wife Michiko, the emperor’s mother.

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JAPAN NEARS 10% FOREIGN POPULATION YEARS AHEAD OF OFFICIAL FORECASTS - TOKYO JAPAN

JAPAN NEARS 10% FOREIGN POPULATION YEARS AHEAD OF OFFICIAL FORECASTS - TOKYO JAPAN

@Jr_Paku Midin Channel

TOKYO

Japan is moving toward a 10 percent foreign population far faster than official projections, with dozens of municipalities already crossing the threshold and one village reporting that more than a third of its residents are foreign nationals.

A national research institute has estimated that foreigners will account for 10.8 percent of Japan's population by 2070. But an analysis of Basic Resident Register data shows the shift is already well under way at the local level. As of January, 27 municipalities had foreign resident ratios above 10 percent, led by the village of Shimukappu in Hokkaido at 36.6.

The trend suggests the nationwide transition could arrive much earlier than forecast, raising questions about how daily life will change in a country long defined by demographic homogeneity.

In Tobishima in central Japan's Aichi Prefecture, a community of 4,713 overlooking Ise Bay, foreign residents numbered 501 as of January, accounting for 10.6 percent of the population.

On weekday evenings, foreign workers in uniforms cycle through the village. On weekends, nearly half the passengers on local buses are foreign nationals.

Residents say the increase has accelerated over the past few years. Many foreign workers are employed at factories under Japan's technical intern training or "specified skills" programs, filling labor shortages at small and midsize businesses. Others work in used car sales.

Reactions among residents vary.

A 54-year-old female farmer said foreign residents cheerfully help with garden work and work hard, while a 78-year-old male farmer said he has noticed no particular problems despite their rapid increase.

Others remain cautious. Some residents complain that foreign drivers ignore traffic rules. A 75-year-old self-employed woman said she appreciates their labor but worries the number of people unfamiliar with Japanese customs will grow, while an 83-year-old woman said the sudden changes in her surroundings leave her feeling uneasy.

Near Nagoya Port, beyond a stretch of warehouses and factories, the Tobishima Seisakusho manufacturing plant operates amid quiet farmland. The company produces parts for refrigeration and cooling equipment. Four of its 21 employees are Vietnamese nationals working under technical internship or specified skills visas.

Company president Hideki Ito, 73, said their presence is essential. "They're a valuable asset, a treasure," he said. "If they were to quit, the company couldn't survive."

Young Japanese moving to urban areas

Ito said younger Japanese residents have moved to cities, leaving local employers struggling to recruit. Even when Japanese workers are hired, some leave within a year.

"Considering the company's future, having young Japanese workers would be much more preferable, but that's simply not feasible. We had no choice," said Ito.

The company began accepting Vietnamese workers in 2017 after hearing of their diligence through word of mouth and gradually increased their numbers. Pay and bonuses are almost the same as for Japanese employees, he said.

The four workers live together on company premises. Nguyen Manh Ha, 28, has worked at the company for about six years. He sends 120,000 to 150,000 yen a month to his family in Vietnam, spending about 20,000 to 30,000 yen on himself. "I enjoy my work," he said. "If possible, I would like to work in Japan forever."

Population data compiled as of the beginning of the year from the Basic Resident Register for 1,892 municipalities shows that high concentrations of foreign residents are clustered in industrial and tourist areas, as well as communities with long-established foreign populations.

Shimukappu, home to the Tomamu resort area, recorded 582 foreign residents out of a population of 1,590. Five other municipalities had foreign resident ratios above 20 percent, including the Hokkaido village of Akaigawa, the town of Kutchan in Hokkaido, Ikuno Ward in Osaka, and the town of Oizumi in Gunma Prefecture.

In contrast, two villages -- including Nishimeya in Aomori Prefecture -- reported zero foreign residents.

According to statistics, the number of foreign residents nationwide stood at 3.76 million at the end of 2024, up 350,000 from the previous year, the largest annual increase on record.

Until the 1960s, Japan's foreign population generally hovered around 600,000. Numbers rose more clearly after a 1990 revision of the Immigration and Refugee Act allowed people of Japanese descent to live in Japan as permanent residents. After falling following the global financial crisis and again during the COVID-19 pandemic, the foreign population is now in its third expansionary phase.

The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research projects Japan's total population will fall below 87 million by 2070. Its latest forecast assumes the foreign population will grow by about 160,000 people a year until around 2040, pushing the foreign share above 10 percent by 2070.

Current trends are outpacing that projection. Since 2022, the foreign population has been increasing by about 300,000 a year, reaching 350,000 in 2024. In July, then Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki said Japan should assume the foreign population will exceed 10 percent by around 2040 -- roughly 30 years earlier than the institute's estimate.

Japan's labor shortage is expected to intensify. The working-age population aged 15 to 64 is projected to decline by 15 million between 2020 and 2040.

Even a sudden reversal in the falling birthrate would not be sufficient to offset the shortfall. While automation and artificial intelligence offer some relief, reliance on foreign labor is expected to continue.

The rapid demographic shift is fueling political debate. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's coalition government with the Japan Innovation Party has called for tighter controls on foreigners. In a policy speech, she said illegal activity and rule-breaking by some of them had created public anxiety and a sense of unfairness.

Others argue coexistence is unavoidable. Tsukasa Sasai, a demography professor at Fukui Prefectural University, said Japan can no longer function without foreign residents.

"Japan is already a society that cannot survive without coexistence with foreigners," he said. "Creating an environment where foreigners can successfully establish themselves as part of the workforce would offer significant benefits to Japanese society."

As more municipalities pass the 10 percent mark, questions about how Japan accepts and integrates foreign residents are shifting from long-term projections to immediate policy choices.

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RESOURCE - POOR JAPAN TO STEP UP EFFORTS TO SECURE IMPORTS OF LNG, WHEAT - TOKYO JAPAN

RESOURCE - POOR JAPAN TO STEP UP EFFORTS TO SECURE IMPORTS OF LNG, WHEAT - TOKYO JAPAN 

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TOKYO

The Japanese government pledged Friday to compile measures by next summer to secure imports of essential items, including liquefied natural gas and wheat, at the first meeting on the issue attended by relevant ministers.

With Japan heavily reliant on imports of energy and food, there is growing concern that crises overseas could disrupt supplies, prompting the government to consider steps such as diversifying supply chains and boosting stockpiles.

The government will also address how to broaden and stabilize maritime transport, which accounts for about 99.5 percent of Japan's total trade volume, at the ministerial gathering headed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara.

The government's top spokesman said at a regular press conference he had told the meeting that "with next summer as a target, we aim to compile policy guidelines to strategically support the foundations of people's livelihoods."

To that end, he said he had instructed relevant officials in each field to "proceed with concrete measures," adding that "the government as a whole will thoroughly address the matter."

If existing shipping routes were blocked during a crisis, shortages could extend beyond energy and food to medicines and sanitary products, with potentially serious consequences for medical services, the government warned.

In its 2022 national security strategy, the government vowed to work to ensure access to crucial resources to sustain economic activity during emergencies, but concrete action has lagged.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a hawk on national defense, served as economic security minister for around two years from 2022. She became Japan's prime minister in October.

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JAPAN HOUSEHOLDS 'HIDDEN ASSETS' ESTIMATED AT YEN 90.5 TRILLION: TOKYO SURVEY

JAPAN HOUSEHOLDS 'HIDDEN ASSETS' ESTIMATED AT YEN 90.5 TRILLION: TOKYO SURVEY

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TOKYO

Japanese households have an estimated 90.53 trillion yen ($579 billion) worth of "hidden assets" or unused goods left untouched for more than a year, a recent survey by online flea market operator Mercari Inc. showed.

Fashion items make up 33.6 percent of the total, followed by hobby and leisure goods, including toys and outdoor gear, at 22.2 percent, and books, music and game items at 21.2 percent, according to the survey of 2,400 people conducted in October.

The sum was calculated based on average transaction prices on the Mercari app.

In particular, people in the Chubu region, which includes Nagoya, had the highest amount of hidden assets at an average of 898,765 yen per person, followed by the Kinki region, which includes Osaka, at 805,086 yen. The two regions are known to have relatively larger homes and higher incomes.

The survey, which also asked respondents about their plans to get rid of unused goods, also found nearly 10 trillion yen worth of items may be discarded by the end of 2025.

"There is more value lying dormant in daily life than people realize," said Naoko Kuga, senior researcher at the NLI Research Institute who oversaw the survey. "If people can manage goods like financial assets, it can create more room for household budgets."

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26 INJURED AND 2 DEAD IN 67-VEHICLE EXPRESSWAY PILEUP IN GUNMA - MAEBASHI, GUNMA JAPAN

26 INJURED AND 2 DEAD IN 67-VEHICLE EXPRESSWAY PILEUP IN GUNMA - MAEBASHI, GUNMA JAPAN

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MAEBASHI, Gunma

A massive pileup involving 67 vehicles on Friday left two people dead and 26 others injured, five of them seriously, on an expressway in Gunma Prefecture northwest of Tokyo, police said.

The pileup occurred on the outbound lane of the Kan-etsu Expressway in Minakami at around 7:30 p.m. after vehicles likely skidded on the icy surface as snow fell, according to the police. Twenty vehicles caught fire, taking more than seven hours to extinguish.

The deadly sequence began when a truck crashed into another truck that had stopped on the road after a single-vehicle accident, triggering collisions stretching over about 300 meters.

A 77-year-old woman from Tokyo, who was in the rear seat of a car driven by her family, died, while a body was found in the driver's seat of a large truck. Twenty-one people suffered minor injuries.

A section of the expressway was subsequently closed, with a row of badly damaged vehicles, some charred beyond recognition, clogging the outbound lane. The suspension is unlikely to be lifted at any point on Saturday, the operator said.

At that time, drivers had been instructed to slow to 50 kilometers per hour due to snow.

A heavy snow warning was issued for Minakami until 8:20 p.m. on Friday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

A driver in his 60s said his truck hit the median after swerving to avoid a car ahead of him. He also heard explosions four times behind him.

"The ice made it difficult for me to control the steering wheel," he said. "I feared for my life."

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JAPAN'S YEAR-END HOMECOMING RUSH PEAKS AS LONG YEAR-END HOLIDAY BEGINS 2025 - TOKYO JAPAN

JAPAN'S YEAR-END HOMECOMING RUSH PEAKS AS LONG YEAR-END HOLIDAY BEGINS 2025 - TOKYO JAPAN 

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TOKYO

Japan's year-end homecoming travel rush peaked on Saturday, with major train stations and airports crowded from the morning as families with suitcases queued on platforms, kicking off a holiday stretch of up to nine days.

With the year drawing to a close, after rising prices weighed heavily on daily life nationwide, many travelers said the long holiday offers a rare chance to relax and spend quiet time with family.

At Tokyo Station, a 78-year-old company employee returning to Osaka Prefecture from a solo posting near the capital said prices rose across the board this year, making life tough, but he was "looking forward to seeing my grandchildren."

He clutched bags of sweets in both hands for his grandchildren, while a 40-year-old worker from Osaka traveling to Hiroshima Prefecture said at Shin-Osaka Station that a job change had marked a fresh start and he wanted to reassure his parents.

Crowds also filled Tokyo's Haneda airport as travelers checked bags and carried gift boxes for relatives. A 25-year-old woman said her year-end trip to Hiroshima Prefecture is an annual routine, adding, "I want to visit a shrine and take it easy with my family."

A 45-year-old female public servant left for Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, with her spouse and two daughters to visit a 101-year-old grandfather, saying they were "looking forward to enjoying teppanyaki together."

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WOLF RECAPTURED AFTER ESCAPE CAUSES CHAOS AT TOKYO ZOO - TOKYO JAPAN

WOLF RECAPTURED AFTER ESCAPE CAUSES CHAOS AT TOKYO ZOO - TOKYO JAPAN

@Jr_Paku Midin Channel

TOKYOA zoo in western Tokyo was forced to close for much of Sunday after a wolf escaped from its enclosure, though the facility operator confirmed it had been recaptured inside the park later in the day.

According to the Tama Zoological Park in Hino, a zoo attendant spotted the wolf on a public pathway after the facility's opening time of 9:30 a.m.

The European wolf was recaptured at around 2:20 p.m. after being located in a bushy area.

Visitors were forced to flee to safety inside buildings and other areas. No injuries have been reported.

The zoo initially stopped allowing visitors to enter for safety reasons, but later announced it would not reopen on the day.

Tama Zoological Park, which opened in 1958, houses some 260 species from inside Japan and overseas, according to its website.

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