Join Jeff Richards and Kamasami Kong for a special year-end episode of Japan This Week as they recap the biggest news stories that shaped Japan in 2024.

From the devastating Noto Peninsula Earthquake to Shohei Ohtani's record-breaking year, the impact of rising prices, a surge in tourism and even the Kanji of the Year selection, we’re wrapping up the year in a jam-packed episode.

🎙️ Main Stories Covered

(0:09 - 1:19) Introduction

(1:21 - 5:36) Noto Peninsula earthquake

(5:40 - 9:01) Rising prices & economic challenges

(9:04 - 15:14) Record-breaking tourism boom & overtourism issues

(15:17 - 17:38) "Yamibaito" crime trend

(17:41 - 22:12) Shohei Ohtani’s golden year & interpreter scandal

(22:14 - 25:33) Kanji of the Year: "Kin" (Gold)

What are your thoughts on the top stories of 2024? Share your views in the comments!

➡️ What are your thoughts on the top stories of 2024? Share your views in the comments!

✨ Thanks for tuning in all year long! We’ll be back in 2025 with more weekly recaps and exciting updates to the Japan This Week podcast and the Japan Today YouTube channel.

#Japan2024 #JapanNews #ShoheiOhtani #KanjiOfTheYear #JapanToday #Overtourism #RisingPrices #NotoEarthquake #JapanCrime #Yamibaito #DarkPartTimeWork #EarthquakeJapan #JapanThisWeek

Welcome to Japan This Week for Dec. 13, 2024! This week we cover:

🎖️ (0:57 - 3-48) NATIONAL: Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Japanese atomic bomb survivors

https://japantoday.com/category/national/japanese-survivor-of-atomic-bomb-recalls-its-horrors-in-nobel-peace-prize-acceptance-speech

⚖️ (3:51 - 6:59) CRIME: Forced suicide case involving workplace bullying shocks Japan

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/4-men-arrested-for-coercing-co-worker-to-walk-into-path-of-train-making-it-look-like-suicide

🎭 (7:01 - 9:35) ENTERTAINMENT: Beloved actress Miho Nakayama found dead at 54

https://japantoday.com/category/entertainment/japanese-actress-nakayama's-death-ruled-accident-while-bathing

🍻 (9:37 - 14-01) BUSINESS: Record bankruptcies for Japan’s iconic izakaya pubs

https://japantoday.com/category/business/tough-times-for-japanese-pubs-as-izakaya-bankruptcies-come-at-highest-rate-in-more-than-a-decade

✈️ (14:04 - 16-28) NATIONAL: JAL pilots fail alcohol test delaying a Melbourne-Tokyo flight

https://japantoday.com/category/national/2-jal-pilots-consume-alcohol-before-flight-cause-3-hour-delay

Get the latest headlines, hear reader reactions and stay updated on Japan’s top stories.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe and follow us wherever you listen to podcasts!

🎧 Listen now and join us next week for our year-end recap of Japan’s biggest stories in 2024!

First, a survey reveals nearly 90% of Chinese respondents have unfavorable views of Japan due to issues like the Senkaku Islands dispute and the Fukushima water release.

We also discuss Japan’s record-breaking warm autumn, which has delayed the country's iconic fall foliage.

In other news, Japan transitions to integrating health insurance cards into the MyNumber system, sparking debate about privacy and security.

Plus, a bear creates chaos in an Akita supermarket before a tragic end and an Australian woman faces six years in prison after being tricked into smuggling drugs.

(0:53 - 3:39) NATIONAL: Negative views of Japan in China

https://japantoday.com/category/national/nearly-90-of-chinese-view-japan-negatively-2nd-highest-level-poll

A survey finds 87.7% of Chinese respondents view Japan negatively, citing territorial disputes, wartime history and environmental issues. Social media's role in amplifying these views is explored.

(3:40 - 6:12) NATIONAL: Japan’s warmest autumn on record

https://japantoday.com/category/national/Japan-experiences-warmest-autumn-on-record

This year marked the hottest autumn in 126 years, with delayed fall foliage and extended tourist seasons in Kyoto. Scientists link the warming trend to climate change.

(6:29 - 9:14) NATIONAL: Health insurance cards integrated with My Number system

https://japantoday.com/category/national/Health-insurance-cards-to-no-longer-be-issued-as-info-will-be-integrated-with-My-Number-cards

Japan stops issuing standalone health insurance cards, moving toward integrating personal data with the controversial MyNumber system, sparking concerns over privacy and security.

(9:33 - 11:28) NATIONAL: Bear intrusion in Akita supermarket

https://japantoday.com/category/national/bear-killed-after-2-day-rampage-through-northeast-japan-supermarket

A bear's two-day rampage in a northeast Japan supermarket ends tragically, raising questions about urban wildlife management.

(12:14 - 15:45) CRIME: Australian woman sentenced for drug smuggling

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/japanese-court-convicts-australian-who-says-she-was-tricked-into-smuggling-drugs

Donna Nelson, who claims to have been tricked in an online romance scam, receives six years in prison for unknowingly smuggling amphetamines into Japan.

From defense updates to weasel crime, here’s your weekly roundup of the biggest and quirkiest stories from Japan Today for Nov. 29, 2024.

In this episode, we explore:

(0:59 - 4:55) POLITICS: Japan-U.S missile deployment

https://japantoday.com/category/politics/u.s.-to-deploy-missile-units-to-japan-islands-in-taiwan-contingency

Japan and the U.S. gear up for Taiwan contingencies, with missile units on Japan's islands and the Philippines. Russia warns of retaliation.

(4:58 - 7:42) CRIME: High-profile crash saga ends

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/93-year-old-driver-in-fatal-tokyo-crash-dies-in-prison

The convicted bureaucrat behind the high-profile 2019 accident that killed two people dies in prison.

(7:45 - 12:37) CRIME: Tragic suicide case update

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/girl-who-jumped-off-building-roof-killing-herself-and-pedestrian-below-to-be-prosecuted

Police recommend charges in a heartbreaking case where a teenage girl’s suicide also claimed the life of an innocent bystander.

(12:39 - 16:41) NATIONAL: Tokyo lost & found

https://japantoday.com/category/national/tokyo-police-care-for-lost-umbrellas-keys-flying-squirrels

How Tokyo police meticulously care for lost items, from everyday objects to exotic animals.

(16:45 - 19:55) NATIONAL: Shoe-stealing weasel

https://japantoday.com/category/national/stolen-shoe-mystery-solved-at-japanese-kindergarten-when-security-camera-catches-weasel-in-the-act

A kindergarten mystery goes viral as a furry thief is caught in the act but remains at large.

🚨 This week’s top Japan news stories 🚨

A tourist vandalizes the sacred Meiji Jingu Shrine torii gate 🏯

Prime Minister Ishiba faces backlash for APEC summit gaffes 🌏

Pit bull attacks spark safety concerns and calls for stricter regulations 🐕

An Australian woman claims she was tricked into smuggling drugs for love 💔

Harassment culture in Japan: Exploring 44 unique types of "hara" 🎤

Tune in for this week’s biggest and most surprising stories from Japan! 🇯🇵

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:58 Tourist crimes at sacred sites 🏯

5:42 PM Ishiba’s APEC Summit blunders 🌏

8:34 Pit bull attacks spark controversy 🐕

13:06 Australian woman’s drug smuggling case 💔

17:15 The rise of "hara" harassment terms in Japan 🎤

Don’t forget to like 👍, subscribe 🔔, and leave your thoughts in the comments!

In this edition, we cover the latest in Japanese politics, including Shigeru Ishiba’s re-election as prime minister after a rare runoff vote, a record number of women elected to Japan's parliament and the impact of a tragic car accident that has reignited concerns about elderly drivers. We also dive into a controversial crime story involving social media and victim-blaming and wrap up with results from our latest reader poll on whether Donald Trump's re-election is good news for Japan.

POLITICS: Shigeru Ishiba re-elected in runoff vote [1:01 - 3:55]

POLITICS: Women in Japanese politics: Record wins, but still a minority [3:55 - 8:11]

NATIONAL: Kagoshima car accident sparks elderly driver debate [8:11 - 11:29]

CRIME: Sexual assault case in Saitama [11:29 - 14:55]

READER POLL: Is Donald Trump’s re-election good for Japan? [14:55 - 18:13]

Results show 57% of readers think Trump’s re-election is not good for Japan, with 33% in favor and 10% undecided.

Welcome to another episode of Japan This Week, your weekly roundup of trending news stories from Japan Today for Nov. 8, 2024.

In this week's episode:

NATIONAL: Customer harassment crackdown (1:01 - 5:40)

Japan's service industry workers are facing increasing abuse from customers. Major companies like Ito-Yokado are implementing manuals and training to handle "kasuhara" and support employee well-being.

NATIONAL: Mount Fuji light rail (5:41 - 8:13)

Yamanashi Prefecture has proposed a light rail system to Mount Fuji's fifth station to manage tourist traffic and cut emissions. The project, which would run alongside the Fuji Subaru Line, is projected to cost over ¥148.6 billion (USD$960 million) and generate significant revenue. Local opposition, however, may shape the final decision.

CRIME: New cycling law penalties in Japan (8:14 - 12:50)

Revised cycling laws came into effect on Nov. 1, imposing stricter penalties for distracted or impaired riding. Jail time and hefty fines now await those caught cycling while using mobile devices or riding under the influence.

CRIME: JR West's new train safety measures (12:51 - 16:10)

In response to recent knife attacks, JR West is equipping trains with special blade-resistant umbrellas. These umbrellas are designed to help crew protect passengers and facilitate safer evacuations during emergencies.

NATIONAL: Update on missing German student (16:11 - 20:22)

The body of 21-year-old German student Claudio Worm, who went missing in Wakayama, was found off the coast of Wakayama City. Police were unable to determine the cause of death due to damage to the body.

Welcome to another episode of Japan This Week, your weekly roundup of trending news stories from Japan Today for Nov. 1, 2024.

This week, we dive into the aftermath of Japan's recent general election, which has left the ruling coalition in disarray and no party with a majority. We also explore the heated controversy around Tokyo's Jingu Gaien Park redevelopment, where trees are being cut down to make way for skyscrapers. Next, we discuss the tragic murder of a young woman at a "girls' bar" in Tokyo, shedding light on Japan's nightlife and safety concerns. Finally, Meta (Facebook and Instagram’s parent company) faces legal action in Japan over fake ads featuring celebrity endorsements for shady investment schemes. Plus, we check in on a Japan Today poll about the upcoming U.S. presidential election and how it could impact Japan. Join us for these stories and more from Japan Today!

POLITICS: Japan’s political turmoil after election [1:51 - 5:55]

Summary of Japan's recent election results, where Prime Minister Ishiba’s ruling coalition lost its majority.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito's loss of seats and impact on Japan’s political landscape.

Rising yen concerns due to political uncertainty and potential leadership changes.

Japan Today reader comments: the need for change, fresh faces in Japanese politics and public reaction to political scandals.

NATIONAL: Tree-cutting controversy in Tokyo’s Jingu Gaien Park [5:56 - 9:43]

Developers led by Mitsui Fudo-san have begun cutting trees in the historic Jingu Gaien Park to make way for skyscrapers and a new baseball stadium.

Environmentalists and local Tokyo residents protest the loss of green space, pointing out that Tokyo already has limited parks.

Tokyo Governor Yuiko Koike’s support for the redevelopment despite being a former environment minister.

Japan Today reader comments: Japan’s struggle to balance development with preserving nature and the city’s lack of accessible green spaces.

CRIME: Tragic murder at a Tokyo "girls' bar" [9:44 - 13:12]

A shocking murder at a girls' bar in Shimbashi where a 49-year-old man fatally stabbed an 18-year-old bar employee.

Details on the suspect and the victim’s prior financial disputes; background on girls' bars in Tokyo’s nightlife scene.

Japan Today reader reactions: harsh punishment and stronger safety measures in nightlife areas.

BUSINESS: Meta sued in Japan over fake ads with celebrity endorsements [13:13 - 17:50]

Meta (Facebook and Instagram) is facing lawsuits in Japan over fraudulent investment ads with fake celebrity endorsements.

Well-known Japanese figures, including billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, were featured in these misleading ads.

Plaintiffs argue that Meta failed to prevent these scams and ignored requests to remove the false ads.

Japan Today reader comments: online ad scams and the need for greater regulation of social media advertising.

JAPAN TODAY READER POLL: U.S. presidential election’s impact on Japan [17:51 - 18:23]

Results from a Japan Today poll asking readers who they believe would be a better U.S. president for Japan: Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. (Cast your vote in the link above.)

Insights from readers on how U.S. foreign policy under different leaders might affect Japan, particularly in terms of security and trade.

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In this episode, we cover the rise of organized crime and robberies in the Kanto region driven by social media apps, Japan's nuclear energy resurgence to tackle carbon emissions and a spike in used smartphone sales as consumers push back on constant new releases.

Plus, we discuss efforts to find Claudio Worm, a missing German tourist, and give listeners insight into Japan's current crime trends and tech landscape.

CRIME: Criminal part-time work (0:48 - 3:06)

Social media apps are being used to recruit individuals for illegal activities, such as home invasions. A series of violent robberies in the Kanto region has led to around 30 arrests.

NATIONAL: Nuclear energy and carbon emissions (3:06 - 5:52)

As part of its effort to reduce carbon emissions, Japan is restarting its nuclear power plants with new safety measures in place. We discuss the pros and cons of nuclear energy in Japan's energy strategy.

BUSINESS: Used smartphone trend (5:52 - 15:12)

Sales of used smartphones in Japan are booming as consumers grow tired of yearly new device releases and rising prices. Is the second-hand tech market Japan's next big trend?

BUSINESS: Pay raises (15:12 - 19:18)

Wage increases remain difficult for Japan's small- to medium-sized businesses, despite government recommendations for companies to do so.

NATIONAL: Missing German tourist PSA (19:18 - 22:13)

A 21-year-old German tourist, Claudio Worm, is missing in Wakayama Prefecture. Find out how you can help.

In this episode, Jeff covers election season in Japan, growing tensions between Taiwan and China, an atomic bomb survivors' group receiving the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, a cross-dressing man causing a stir at a Nagoya bathhouse and readers' thoughts on odd Japanese car names. Tune in for a mix of serious news and lighter, quirky topics with commentary from readers.

Question of the week (answer in the comments): As the only nation attacked with nuclear weapons, should Japan join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)?