📢 Japan’s Biggest Stories in January 2025 | BOJ Rate Hike, Kyoto Tourist Tax, Record Heat, Osaka Smoking Ban & $1.4M Tuna Auction

🔥 This week, we’re doing things differently! We’re recapping the biggest news stories from January 2025—from the Bank of Japan's interest rate hike to Kyoto's crackdown on over-tourism, record-breaking heat, a smoking ban ahead of the Osaka Expo, and a jaw-dropping tuna auction bid. Plus, some important updates about the future of Japan This Week—so stick around!

⏰ Timestamps:

(0:00) Welcome to Japan This Week! 📢

(1:27 - 3:17) BOJ raises interest rates to a 17-year high 📈

(3:20 - 5:13) Kyoto increases hotel taxes to curb over-tourism 🏨

(5:16 - 6:57) Japan logs its hottest year on record—again! 🔥

(7:00 - 9:00) Osaka expands public smoking bans ahead of Expo 2025 🚭

(9:03 - 10:56) A massive tuna auction bid kicks off the new year 🐟💰

(10:59 - 11:48) Podcast update: What's next for Japan This Week? 🎙️

(11:48 - 13-06) New shows coming soon: Japan Today Spotlight & Japan Yesterday 🔍🎧

🔔 Don’t miss our latest deep dive!

Check out our Japan Today Spotlight video covering the Fuji TV-Masahiro Nakai scandal and the fallout shaking Japan’s entertainment industry. Watch here:

https://youtu.be/WKGGoNXl74k

💬 What do you think about Kyoto's new tourist tax? Is it fair? Let us know in the comments!

👉 SUBSCRIBE for more insights on Japan’s top stories!

🔗 Read more at Japan Today:

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🎯 #JapanNews #JapanToday #BOJ #Overtourism #KyotoTravel #OsakaExpo2025 #ClimateChange #TunaAuction #Tokyo #JapanBusiness #JapanCulture

In this episode of Japan This Week, we dive into some of the hottest stories making headlines in Japan. From scandals shaking up the entertainment industry to icy New Year rituals at Shinto shrines across the country, we've got it all covered.

Timestamps:

(0:00 - 1:00) INTRO

(1:04 - 3:53) ENTERTAINMENT: Dozens more firms pull ads from Fuji TV over Masahiro Nakai sex scandal

https://japantoday.com/category/entertainment/dozens-of-firms-pull-ads-from-japanese-network-over-sex-scandal-linked-to-its-staff-and-celebrity

One of Japan's most famous TV networks, Fuji TV, is facing major backlash after allegations emerged of a cover-up involving a 90-million-yen ($575,000) sexual assault settlement with entertainer Masahiro Nakai. Sponsors are pulling out, and the entertainment industry is under fire once again.

(3:33 - 6:24) POLITICS: 'Japan First' mindset key for Ishiba in dealing with to Trump

https://japantoday.com/category/politics/japan-first-mindset-key-for-ishiba-in-dealing-with-trump-ex-aide

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba navigates the complexities of U.S.-Japan relations under Donald Trump’s renewed leadership. With high stakes on defense spending, trade, and investments, can Ishiba strike the right balance?

(6:28 - 9:25) CRIME: 7-Eleven to enhance security amid rise of solo workers at night

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/7-eleven-to-enhance-security-amid-rise-of-solo-workers-at-night

Japan’s convenience store giant 7-Eleven introduces stricter security measures for overnight shifts amid labor shortages and rising crime. Learn how these changes will impact workers and customers.

(9:29 - 12:26) NATIONAL: PM Ishiba visits Osaka Expo venue to inspect process of preparations

https://japantoday.com/category/national/pm-ishiba-visits-osaka-expo-venue-to-inspect-progress-of-preparations

The Osaka World Expo faces lukewarm local interest, complicated ticketing systems, and countries pulling out. Is the event set to flop before it even begins?

(12:30 - 14:26) NATIONAL: Japanese bathe in icy water at Tokyo shrine to purify soul

https://japantoday.com/category/national/ap-photos-japanese-bathe-in-icy-water-at-a-tokyo-shrine-to-purify-their-souls

Take a look at Japan’s centuries-old New Year tradition of ice-cold purification rituals at Shinto shrines. Discover the meaning behind this chilling practice.

(14:29 - 15:48) OUTRO

Catch the current Japan Today Spotlight episode, where we explore how Donald Trump’s re-election could impact Japan. And stay tuned for our next Spotlight episode, which takes a deep dive into the Fuji TV and Masahiro Nakai scandal.

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Welcome to a brand-new season of Japan This Week!

Join host Jeff Richards for your weekly Friday roundup of the biggest and quirkiest stories from Japan Today for the week of Jan. 17, 2025.

This episode focuses on the rise in closings of beloved ramen shops to Coming-of-Age Day celebrations across the country. Plus, an increasing number of suicides that injure or kill innocent bystanders, a former Green Beret speaks out about Japan's penal system and opens up about helping Carlos Ghosn escape and the growing misuse of Japan's emergency number "110" — this episode covers the biggest headlines you need to know.

Timestamps:

(1:17 - 4:57) BUSINESS: Record number of Japan ramen eateries went bankrupt in 2024

--> A record number of ramen shops have shut down in 2024 due to soaring costs for ingredients and utilities. What’s next for Japan's favorite comfort food?

(5:00 - 9:03) NATIONAL: Coming-of-Age Day ceremonies held across Japan

--> Young adults across Japan don colorful kimono and celebrate a milestone with traditional and fun events.

(9:06 - 11:21) NATIONAL: Teenager falls from building in Tokyo, killing himself, injuring passerby

--> A tragic suicide leap in Shibuya results in the death of a teenager and injuries to a pedestrian.

(11:24 - 14:18) CRIME: Ghosn accomplice calls for inmates to be treated humanely in Japan

--> Former U.S. Green Beret Michael Taylor speaks out about the harsh conditions he endured in Japanese prison after helping Carlos Ghosn escape.

(14:21 - 17:18) NATIONAL: Over 9.63 mil calls made to 110 from Jan-Nov in 2024

--> Over 9 million non-emergency calls were made to Japan’s 110 emergency number in 2024, highlighting a growing misuse of the system.

📰 Visit Japan Today for daily news updates from Japan.

🎙️ Stay Connected:

Subscribe for weekly episodes of Japan This Week to stay updated on Japan’s biggest—and smallest—stories. Don’t forget to like, comment, and hit the notification bell!

Listen & Watch Here:

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Follow Us:

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#JapanThisWeek #RamenShops #ComingOfAgeDay #MichaelTaylor #CarlosGhosn #JapanNews #Tokyo #JapaneseCulture

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.