The head of the Japanese Olympic Committee has announced he will step down when his term expires in June.
Japan's government has approved revisions to its child abuse prevention law following a series of high-profile abuse cases in which victims have died.
Japan's government has decided to invite heads of state and representatives from 195 nations to the new Emperor's enthronement ceremony in October.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190319200000_english_1.mp3
Key words : head of the step down expire
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_41/
The head of the Japanese Olympic Committee has announced he will step down when his term expires in June.
JOC President Tsunekazu Takeda is under formal investigation by French authorities for his role in alleged bribery in connection with Tokyo's successful bid for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.
Takeda told a JOC board meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday that he feels badly about the confusion he has caused. He said he believes the JOC should be entrusted to a leader from the next generation as it enters a new age.
Takeda is also resigning as a member of the International Olympic Committee.
French prosecutors say a judge has been considering whether to indict Takeda since December for allegedly approving payments of about 2 million dollars to a consulting firm in Singapore.
Takeda maintains his innocence. But his refusal to answer questions at a news conference in January fueled calls for his resignation.
The IOC has expressed concerns that the scandal could negatively affect the Tokyo Games.
Takeda said preparations for the Olympics and Paralympics are going smoothly, and he sincerely wants them to succeed.
Takeda may hope to minimize the impact of the scandal on the 2020 Games by retiring.
But the head of the host country's Olympic committee stepping down under a cloud of unresolved bribery allegations is itself unusual.
Key words : leading candidate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_40/
The leading candidate for new president of the Japanese Olympic Committee appears to be Senior Executive Board Member Yasuhiro Yamashita.
Yamashita won a gold medal in men's judo in the open-weight category at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He is favored to be the next president by many on the JOC and the Tokyo Games organizing committee.
The president will be elected from the members of the new executive board to be chosen in June.
Another strong candidate is Senior Executive Board Member Kohzo Tashima, who is also president of the Japan Football Association.
Key words : government approved victim
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_14/
Japan's government has approved revisions to its child abuse prevention law following a series of high-profile abuse cases in which victims have died.
The draft bill, approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday, bans parents from physically punishing children.
It requires lawyers and doctors to be stationed at child welfare centers so they can share their expertise.
The bill also outlines plans to increase the number of consultation centers.
Professionals offering support and counseling to victims of domestic violence will be asked to help detect child abuse in its early stages.
The government's bill also calls for a review of a part of Japan's civil code that gives parents the right to "discipline" their children.
It includes plans to conduct studies on the licensing of child welfare workers, including the possibility of national government-issued licenses.
The government hopes to pass the bill during the current Diet session.
Japan's National Police Agency says the number of child abuse cases hit an all-time high last year.
A 5-year-old girl died in Tokyo last March after her parents allegedly neglected to feed her and provide medical care.
In January, a 10-year-old girl was found dead at her home in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo. Her parents have been arrested on suspicion of abuse.
Key words : Tamaki
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_28/
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has demanded that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suspend landfill work for the relocation of a US military base within the southern prefecture. The prime minister asked the governor for his understanding of the relocation project, while agreeing to continue dialogue with the prefecture.
Abe met with Tamaki on Tuesday in Tokyo and discussed relocation of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, to the less-populated Henoko district in Nago City.
Tamaki reiterated that a majority of votes cast in last month's prefectural referendum opposed the relocation project. He called for the suspension of landfill work in waters off Henoko for about a month to allow for more discussion.
Abe replied that the relocation work began after various consultations and is aimed at avoiding potential dangers to the heavily populated area around the Futenma base.
Tamaki also told Abe that an endangered species of dugong was found dead on Monday in waters off the northern coast of the prefecture. Tamaki asked Abe to suspend the landfill work to allow for further investigation.
The prime minister expressed regret over the discovery and said he is ready to discuss the relocation issue with the prefecture.
The Governor told reporters after the meeting that he would like to see the ongoing work at Henoko stopped to allow for further negotiations. He added that he is hoping for a prompt reply from the central government.
Key words : Japan planning
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_30/
Japan is planning to develop medium and long-range cruise missiles. They would be used to strengthen its defense capabilities in remote southwestern islands and nearby areas of the Pacific.
Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya disclosed the plan at a news conference on Tuesday.
He said foreign warships are now equipped with long-range anti-aircraft weapons. Iwaya said he wants to see longer-range missiles deployed on Japan's fighters in order to secure the safety of Self-Defense Force personnel.
Iwaya added that research and development of cruise missiles is already underway.
The Defense Minister indicated that domestic cruise missiles are intended for use on new fighter jets that will replace the F2 fighter, which will be retired in the 2030s.
In December 2017, the government announced its decision to equip Japanese fighter aircraft with foreign-made, long-range cruise missiles.
Key words : average land
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_39/
Average land prices throughout Japan rose for the fourth straight year. In rural areas, prices of residential land were up for the first time in 27 years.
The land ministry figures are as of January 1 and cover about 26,000 locations throughout the country.
Average prices of all residential, commercial and industrial land surveyed rose 1.2 percent from a year earlier.
Commercial land prices in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya and their surrounding areas rose 5.1 percent. Those in rural areas saw an increase of 1 percent.
Residential land prices gained 0.6 percent on average nationwide. In rural areas, they edged up an average 0.2 percent for the first gain since 1992.
Low mortgage rates and tax cuts pushed up demand for homes in areas with good transportation links.
Commercial land prices saw an average 2.8 percent gain on the back of hotel construction to meet demand from surging tourist numbers.
Higher office rents also helped.
The biggest price increases in both residential and commercial land were recorded in the northern town of Kutchan, Hokkaido, home to the Niseko ski resort.
Prices there jumped 50 percent or more. Demand is high for hotels as well as for housing for foreigners and people who work at the resort.
Key words : team of
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190318_28/
A team of investigators into how a Japanese real-estate leasing company built substandard apartment buildings has found building materials were improperly substituted on the orders of the company's founder.
Thousands of apartments built by Leopalace 21 between 1993 and 2001 were found to have failed government fire and noise standards. The company has asked around 7,700 residents of buildings at particularly high risk to move out.
The team of three lawyers appointed by the company conducted interviews with architects and developers. Its interim report says materials for inner and outer walls differed from those specified in plans. The substitutions were made at the direction of the company's founder and then president, who quit in May 2006.
The report says the company was under pressure to complete buildings quickly before large numbers of students and workers were to move in the spring.
The report says the problem was not limited to specific company departments, but was widespread and systematic. It says the team needs to investigate further before determining whether the changes in building materials were deliberate.
At a news conference on Monday, a senior company official said officials did not check whether the changes in materials as ordered by the founder were illegal.
The team will start interviewing executives to determine their responsibility, and will suggest measures to prevent further irregularities. It plans to compile a final report by late May.
Key words : government decided to invite
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_24/
Japan's government has decided to invite heads of state and representatives from 195 nations to the new Emperor's enthronement ceremony in October.
The decision was made on Tuesday by a government panel in charge of setting protocols for the Imperial succession.
The panel agreed on procedures for Emperor Akihito's abdication ceremony on April 30. Crown Prince Naruhito will accede to the throne the following day.
The panel also decided on the details of a May 1 ceremony for the new Emperor to inherit the Imperial Regalia and Seals. It's the first in a series of ceremonies to mark the Crown Prince's accession.
Leaders from 195 nations will be invited to the "Sokuirei-Seiden-no-gi" ceremony planned on October 22. During the rite, the new Emperor proclaims his enthronement to the people of Japan and the world.
The guests will also be invited to attend a court banquet, held over the course of four days.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife will host a separate banquet on October 23. Kyogen play actor Nomura Mansai will serve as advisor for the party's attractions. He is tasked with presenting Japan's traditional performing arts in a way that is both understandable and enjoyable for the international guests.
Abe told the panel that the government will do its best to prepare for the events so the nation can smoothly mark a historic milestone.
Key words : British is still
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_12/
British Prime Minister Theresa May's government is still without parliamentary approval on a Brexit deal after the House of Commons Speaker blocked a third vote on her plan.
The speaker's surprise move has thrown May's government into further confusion with only 11 days left before the nation is due to leave the European Union.
Speaker John Bercow issued a statement on Monday, saying the deal cannot be voted on again in the same session without substantial changes.
Members of parliament have voted May's plan down twice. May plans to meet with EU officials on Thursday to ask for an extension to the planned March 29 withdrawal date.
A motion for the three-month extension was approved last Thursday by members of parliament.
May wanted her plan to be passed before her meeting with EU officials so they will approve the three-month extension.
Junior Brexit minister Kwasi Kwarteng said the short extension could be fine if Parliament reaches a deal before Thursday, and if not, the extension would probably need to be longer.
Key words : cyclone
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_15/
Floods caused by a cyclone and heavy rainfall have devastated swathes of southeastern Africa, leaving more than 300 people dead.
The United Nations and other aid organizations are rushing to provide food, medicine and other necessary goods to the stricken areas.
Heavy rainfall hit the region earlier this month, ahead of Cyclone Idai making landfall in Mozambique last Thursday.
Damaged areas span Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa. A total of 308 people have so far been confirmed dead, according to government figures.
In Beira, a Mozambican port city, two rivers flooded and submerged most of the city. Footage showed some people being rescued after being stranded on tree branches.
Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi said the scope of disaster was extensive, with concerns that the final death toll could rise to more than 1,000.
Key words : environment ministry reuse
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_29/
Japan's Environment Ministry has decided to begin experiments to capture carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and reuse it as fuel.
Japan has already implemented various measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions . But issues remain on how to contain CO2 already dispersed in the air.
The plan is to capture a large amount of carbon dioxide and convert it into natural resources.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, is calling for environmental initiatives including capturing greenhouse gases to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050.
Switzerland, the United States, and Canada have so far taken the lead in applying the techniques.
The ministry will start the technological experiments as early as next month.
After going through verification tests, the ministry plans to establish the technology and develop it for large-scale practical use by fiscal 2022.
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