University of Tokyo plans first tuition hike in two decades

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Japan's renowned academic institution, the University of Tokyo, announced on Tuesday its intention to raise tuition fees for new students enrolling from April 2025, marking the first increase in 20 years. The annual tuition will rise by about 107,000 yen ($751) to 642,960 yen, a move prompted by declining state grants and aimed at enhancing educational facilities. President Teruo Fujii told the press that improving the educational environment is an

September 11, 2024

TEPCO resumes fuel debris retrieval at Fukushima nuclear plant

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (TEPCO) restarted efforts on Tuesday to extract a small amount of melted fuel from a damaged reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex, following a suspension last month due to technical issues. The operation, which aims to retrieve some of the estimated 880 tons of fuel debris from three affected reactors, had been halted on Aug. 22 after problems were discovered during preparations. TEPCO, the plant'

September 10, 2024

Japanese court expands benefits for Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - A Japanese district court ruled on Monday to extend health care benefits to 15 plaintiffs who experienced the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki outside the previously designated area, potentially impacting thousands of survivors. The Nagasaki District Court ordered local authorities to certify the 15 individuals as atomic bomb survivors, despite their location being beyond the officially recognized zone but within a 12-kilometer radius of the bomb'

September 10, 2024

Kishida expresses gratitude to Yoon, urges continued cooperation

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - Japan's outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida thanked Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for his hospitality during his final visit to Korea as premier, urging continued efforts to develop bilateral relations. Kishida, who is set to step down later this month, made the remarks on his social media platform X on Saturday, following his two-day visit to Korea. "I sincerely thank President Yoon and First Lady Kim," Kishida wrote. "I hope you

September 9, 2024

Fukushima peaches debut at London's Harrods

SEOUL, September 9 (AJP) - Peaches from Japan's Fukushima Prefecture made their retail debut in Britain, the Japan Times reported on Sunday. The fruit appeared on the shelves of London's luxury department store Harrods as part of a campaign by Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) to promote food from Fukushima and support the prefecture's recovery from the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent nuclear accident. The peaches were priced at £80 ($88) for a

September 9, 2024

Japan's Prince Hisahito comes of age, spotlighting succession concerns

SEOUL, Sept. 6 (AJP) - Prince Hisahito, second in line to Japan's Chrysanthemum Throne, turned 18 on Friday, becoming the first male imperial family member to reach adulthood in about 39 years, highlighting the dwindling number of heirs to the world's oldest monarchy, Kyodo News reported. The prince, nephew of Emperor Naruhito and son of Crown Prince Fumihito, joins a shrinking pool of adult royals as Japan's Imperial House Law restricts succession to males and requires

September 6, 2024

Japan to resume Fukushima debris removal trial

SEOUL, Sept. 6 (AJP) - Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (Tepco) announced plans on Thursday to restart a trial removal of highly radioactive debris from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant next week, following a previous attempt's suspension due to technical issues. The operation, crucial for the plant's decommissioning, aims to extract a sample of the estimated 880 tons of hazardous material remaining inside the facility, which experienced a meltdown

September 6, 2024

Japan grapples with rice supply concerns

SEOUL, Sept. 5 (AJP) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries convened a meeting on Wednesday with key stakeholders to address concerns over rice shortages in retail outlets, amid reports of dwindling inventories and consumer stockpiling, the Japan Times reported. The gathering, which included representatives from farming communities, agricultural cooperatives, wholesale distributors, and food manufacturers, aimed to assess current rice stocks and sales projecti

September 5, 2024

Biden expected to block Nippon Steel's U.S. Steel acquisition

SEOUL, Sept. 5 (AJP) - U.S. President Joe Biden is likely to reject Nippon Steel Corp.'s proposed $14.1 billion takeover of United States Steel Corp. due to national security concerns, according to media reports on Wednesday. The potential decision marks an unusual rebuff to a major Japanese company, given Japan's status as a key U.S. ally. It comes as the Biden administration faces increasing pressure to protect American manufacturing jobs ahead of the November presidential

September 5, 2024

Japan declares mongooses eradicated from heritage island

SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - Japan's Ministry of Environment announced on Tuesday that mongooses have been successfully eradicated from Amami-Oshima Island, a World Natural Heritage site in southwestern Japan. This marks the culmination of decades-long efforts to eliminate the invasive species that had been threatening native wildlife and damaging the island's ecosystem, Kyodo News reported. The ministry's review panel confirmed the eradication after analyzing data from camera

September 4, 2024