Japanese Govt. Considers 50% Increase In 5-year Defense Budget

Japanese govt. considers 50% increase in 5-year defense budget

Japanese government officials have agreed on a plan to set total defense spending for the next five fiscal years at 40 to 43 trillion yen, or around 300 billion dollars.

They discussed the appropriate amount after Prime Minister Kishida Fumio instructed ministers to raise the annual defense and other related budgets to 2 percent of the country's gross domestic product in fiscal 2027.

Tokyo Consumer Inflation Hits 40-year High

Tokyo consumer inflation hits 40-year high

Consumer prices in Tokyo have been rising this month at their fastest pace in four decades. City residents were hit especially hard by soaring costs for food, electricity and gas.

The internal affairs ministry says the consumer price index for November rose 3.6 percent from a year ago in the capital's 23 wards. That was the highest figure since April 1982.

Consultations For Jobless People At Year End

Consultations for jobless people at year end

A support group including lawyers is providing consultations in Tokyo to people who have lost their jobs or part of their income because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Consultation sessions began from 10 a.m. on Tuesday in Okubo Park situated in Shinjuku's Kabukicho entertainment district.

Year-end Gift Sales Booming

Year-end gift sales booming

Every December people across Japan prepare to head back to their hometowns to spend the New Year holidays with family. But this time, many will be staying put to avoid potentially spreading the coronavirus. To make up for it, people are spending big on gifts to send to their families and friends instead.

Traditionally, people in Japan send gifts known as "Oseibo" as a show of appreciation for the year that's passed. Department store officials say sales of fine wine and meat are booming, lifting holiday gift sales beyond last year's levels.

'mitsu' Chosen As Kanji Of The Year

'Mitsu' chosen as Kanji of the Year

An annual event choosing the kanji, or Chinese character, that best summarizes this year's atmosphere in Japan has been held.

The kanji of 2020 chosen through a contest is read as "mitsu" meaning "close" or "dense." The character was used in the government's anti-coronavirus campaign of avoiding the Three C's: closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings.

Narita Temple Gets Year-end Dusting

Narita temple gets year-end dusting

A major Buddhist temple in the city of Narita near Tokyo has been spruced up for the New Year.

About 40 monks and staff members wearing masks gathered in the main hall of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple shortly after 5:00 a.m. and began dusting Buddhist statues and altar ornaments with brushes and cloths.

Science Council's Future To Be Decided By Year-end

Science Council's future to be decided by year-end

Japan's Science and Technology Policy Minister Inoue Shinji says the government plans to decide its policy on the country's leading academic body by the year-end.

Inoue was speaking to reporters after he received reform proposals for the Science Council of Japan from the main governing Liberal Democratic Party on Friday.

Mt. Takao To Be Closed For New Year Sunrise

Mt. Takao to be closed for New Year sunrise

One of Tokyo's most popular spots for viewing the first sunrise of the year will be closed on New Year's Day, due to precautions against the spread of coronavirus infections.

Mount Takao in western Tokyo usually attracts large crowds of people hoping to observe the year's first sunrise from the summit.

Nikkei 225 Closes At Highest For Year

Nikkei 225 closes at highest for year

Tokyo's benchmark stock index rose sharply on Tuesday, closing at its highest of the year. Investors bought shares after a long weekend that delivered good news about coronavirus vaccines.

The Nikkei Stock Average ended the day at 26,165, up 2.5 percent from Friday's close. Buy orders were placed almost across the board from the opening.

Most Firms Won't Celebrate Year End Or New Year

Most firms won't celebrate year end or new year

The surge in coronavirus cases across Japan is putting a damper on plans for the festive season, with many bosses say they won't throw parties for their employees this year.

A research firm surveyed more than 10,000 companies about their plans to celebrate the end of 2020 and the start of 2021.

Japan's 10-year Cancer Survival Rate At 58.3%

Japan's 10-year cancer survival rate at 58.3%

Data released by a group of researchers show the average 10-year survival rate of cancer patients in Japan stands at 58.3 percent.

The group analyzed data samples of more than 94,000 people who were diagnosed with cancer at 21 cancer treatment institutions across the country between 2004 and 2007.