MOUNT KOYA TEMPLE LODGING OPERATORS UNDERREPORTED OVER YEN100 MIL IN INCOME : SOURCE - OSAKA JAPAN

MOUNT KOYA TEMPLE LODGING OPERATORS UNDERREPORTED OVER YEN100 MIL IN INCOME : SOURCE - OSAKA JAPAN

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OSAKA

Several religious corporations operating temple lodgings on Mount Koya, a UNESCO World Heritage site in western Japan, have failed to report a total of more than 100 million yen in income, sources familiar with the matter said.

The Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau uncovered the undeclared income in audits conducted in fiscal 2025 ended March, with around 60 million yen in additional taxes to be imposed on the entities, the sources said.

While income related to religious activities, including offerings and monetary donations, is tax-exempt for religious corporations in Japan, income from commercial operations such as lodging and restaurant businesses is subject to taxation.

The bureau audited more than 10 of the roughly 50 such operators to examine how the businesses were being run, according to the sources.

Mount Koya is a major center of the Shingon school of Buddhism. Its temple lodgings, known as shukubo, traditionally accommodated monks and worshippers but are now also widely used by tourists, including visitors from overseas.

Mount Koya was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2004 as part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii mountain range.

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30% OVER OF UNMARRIED PEOPLE IN JAPAN DO NOT WANT CHILDREN: SURVEY TOKYO JAPAN

30% OVER OF UNMARRIED PEOPLE IN JAPAN DO NOT WANT CHILDREN: SURVEY TOKYO JAPAN

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TOKYO

More than 30 percent of unmarried people aged 18 to 34 in Japan do not wish to have children, the highest percentage since comparable data became available in 2002, a government survey showed Friday, raising concerns that the country's already low birthrate could decline further.

According to the survey by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, the average number of children desired was 1.30 for male respondents and 1.36 for female respondents, both record lows.

Among unmarried men, 33.0 percent said they did not want any children, up 9.8 percentage points from the previous survey in 2021, while the figure for women rose 8.8 points to 32.4 percent. In the previous survey, the average number of children desired was 1.56 for both men and women.

An institute official said diversified lifestyles and values, as well as financial concerns, may be contributing to the decline in the desire among young people to have children.

The findings come as Japan continues to grapple with a falling birthrate despite government efforts to reverse the trend. The number of births has fallen sharply from 2.09 million in 1973, at the height of the country's second baby boom.

The institute has conducted surveys on birth and marriage trends roughly every five years since 1940. The 2025 survey received valid responses from 6,756 unmarried people and 5,024 married couples on their views about marriage and having children.

Among married couples, the ideal number of children averaged 2.18, while the number they planned to have averaged 1.95, falling below two for the first time.

The most common reason cited for not having their ideal number of children was that "raising and educating children costs too much," according to the survey.

Among couples who married in the past five years, 20.2 percent said they had met online, including through dating apps, almost double the figure in the previous survey.

The figure was about the same as the 20.9 percent who met through work and the 20.2 percent who met through friends or siblings.

The survey also found that 24.0 percent of unmarried men and 21.5 percent of unmarried women said they do not intend to ever marry.

Some 42.3 percent of men and 36.7 percent of women said they had never dated a member of the opposite sex.

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CHINA TO HIKE VISA FEES FOR JAPAN NATIONALS AROUND 7-FOLD NEXT WEEK - BEIJING CHINA

CHINA TO HIKE VISA FEES FOR JAPAN NATIONALS AROUND 7-FOLD NEXT WEEK - BEIJING CHINA

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BEIJING

The Chinese Embassy in Tokyo said Friday that entry visa fees for Japanese nationals will be hiked around sevenfold next week, after the Japanese government raised single-entry visa fees for foreigners fivefold in July.

On next Monday, single-entry visa fees for Japanese citizens will rise from 2,250 yen to 16,750 yen, while those for multi-entry visas will increase from 7,500 yen to 50,250 yen, the embassy said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press conference that the arrangement has been made "based on a principle of reciprocity."

Tokyo recently raised its visa fees for the first time since 1978 amid inflation and the yen's depreciation against other major currencies.

In November 2024, China restarted its unilateral visa-free arrangement for short-term Japanese visitors following a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing stays of up to 30 days. Between 2003 and 2020, China allowed Japanese nationals to visit without visas for up to 15 days.

Japan currently requires all Chinese visitors to obtain visas regardless of the length of stay.

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INFLUENZA CASES IN JAPAN RISE 1.87-FOLD FROM PREVIOUS WEEK: GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN

INFLUENZA CASES IN JAPAN RISE 1.87-FOLD FROM PREVIOUS WEEK: GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN  

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TOKYO

Japan's health ministry said Friday that the number of influenza cases reported by about 3,000 designated medical institutions nationwide averaged 3.29 per facility in the week from Aug 31, up 1.87-fold from the previous week.

A total 12,299 people were reported infected, marking the 11th consecutive weekly increase, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Among elementary, junior high and high schools in the country, five were fully suspended, another 34 had grade-level closures and 128 classes were shut, up between three and five-fold from the previous year.

By prefecture, Okinawa reported the highest rate of infection with 10.34 people per medical facility, followed by 6.13 in Niigata and 5.87 in Kanagawa.

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JAPAN PLANS TO ADD AVIATION SECTOR TO NEW FOREIGN WORKER PROGRAM - TOKYO JAPAN

JAPAN PLANS TO ADD AVIATION SECTOR TO NEW FOREIGN WORKER PROGRAM - TOKYO JAPAN 

@Jr_Paku Midin Channel

TOKYO

The Japanese government has proposed adding the aviation sector to its new foreign-worker training and employment program set to start in April 2027, as the country seeks to secure labor in industries facing severe worker shortages.

The planned expansion, presented to a panel of experts, would bring the number of industries covered by the program to 18, already including nursing care, agriculture and accommodation. The government hopes to approve the framework at a cabinet meeting in December.

The Employment for Skill Development program, which will replace the country's controversial technical intern training program for foreigners, encourages foreign workers to transition to the Specified Skilled Worker status after working for three years in principle, allowing them to work in Japan for longer periods.

The government would allocate 300 of the 4,900 slots available in the aviation sector under the Type I Specified Skilled Worker status to the new program, according to the Immigration Services Agency.

Eligible jobs in the sector would include airport ground handling, such as cargo loading.

The panel also discussed the food service sector, where the government has effectively halted new admissions under the Type I Specified Skilled Worker program since April as the number of workers nears the 50,000 cap.

The suspension has forced some businesses to revise plans to hire foreign workers, raising concerns about labor shortages in the industry.

The government said it had seen "no major change in economic conditions" warranting a higher limit and will maintain the current quota of 50,000 workers through the end of fiscal 2028.

The restriction was introduced after the number of foreign workers with Type I status in the food service industry reached roughly 46,000 at the end of February.

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JAPAN PLANS TO ADD AVIATION SECTOR TO NEW FOREIGN WORKER PROGRAM - TOKYO JAPAN

JAPAN PLANS TO ADD AVIATION SECTOR TO NEW FOREIGN WORKER PROGRAM - TOKYO JAPAN

@Jr_Paku Midin Channel

TOKYO

The Japanese government has proposed adding the aviation sector to its new foreign-worker training and employment program set to start in April 2027, as the country seeks to secure labor in industries facing severe worker shortages.

The planned expansion, presented to a panel of experts, would bring the number of industries covered by the program to 18, already including nursing care, agriculture and accommodation. The government hopes to approve the framework at a cabinet meeting in December.

The Employment for Skill Development program, which will replace the country's controversial technical intern training program for foreigners, encourages foreign workers to transition to the Specified Skilled Worker status after working for three years in principle, allowing them to work in Japan for longer periods.

The government would allocate 300 of the 4,900 slots available in the aviation sector under the Type I Specified Skilled Worker status to the new program, according to the Immigration Services Agency.

Eligible jobs in the sector would include airport ground handling, such as cargo loading.

The panel also discussed the food service sector, where the government has effectively halted new admissions under the Type I Specified Skilled Worker program since April as the number of workers nears the 50,000 cap.

The suspension has forced some businesses to revise plans to hire foreign workers, raising concerns about labor shortages in the industry.

The government said it had seen "no major change in economic conditions" warranting a higher limit and will maintain the current quota of 50,000 workers through the end of fiscal 2028.

The restriction was introduced after the number of foreign workers with Type I status in the food service industry reached roughly 46,000 at the end of February.

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HAMAOKA NUCLEAR PLANT RESTART APPLICATIONS TO BE WITHDRAW: SOURCE - TOKYO JAPAN

HAMAOKA NUCLEAR PLANT RESTART APPLICATIONS TO BE WITHDRAW: SOURCE - TOKYO JAPAN

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TOKYO

Chubu Electric Power Co plans to withdraw its applications for regulatory screening to restart reactors at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in central Japan, a government source said, in a rare move for a utility in the resource-poor country.

Chubu Electric said the same day that it had received a report from a committee investigating the utility's intentional adjustment of seismic data used in the restart screening to meet regulatory requirements.

Chairman Satoru Katsuno has told people close to him that he intends to resign over the scandal, sources close to the matter said.

President Kingo Hayashi is slated to hold a press conference in Nagoya on Monday to explain the report's contents and the company's response. Attention will focus on why the misconduct occurred, whether there was organizational involvement and who bears management responsibility.

The utility may have concluded that continuing the screening would be difficult as the reliability of data forming the basis for the restart review had been undermined. The restart applications have been under regulatory review for more than 10 years.

Chubu Electric announced the irregularities on Jan. 5. In disclosing that it had received the report, the firm said, "We once again offer our deepest apologies from the bottom of our hearts for causing strong public distrust."

According to a report Chubu Electric submitted to the Nuclear Regulation Authority in March, the irregularities included intentionally adjusting data to make them consistent with a seismic motion level that would pass the screening.

The applications for restart screening of the No. 3 and 4 reactors were filed with the regulator between 2014 and 2015.

The utility has been hit by a series of scandals, such as document falsification disclosed in August involving cost claims related to decommissioning work at the Hamaoka plant's Nos. 1 and 2 reactors, as well as overcharging customers for electricity.

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MAN ARRESTED FOR SPRAYING SUBSTANCE AT TEACHERS DURING TOKYO SCHOOL CULTURAL FESTIVAL - TOKYO JAPAN

MAN ARRESTED FOR SPRAYING SUBSTANCE AT TEACHERS DURING TOKYO SCHOOL CULTURAL FESTIVAL - TOKYO JAPAN 

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TOKYO

A man has been arrested on suspicion of spraying a substance in the faces of two male teachers at a high school in Higashiyamato City, Tokyo, on Saturday.

The incident occurred while the school was holding a cultural festival, TV Asahi reported. A teacher called police at around 11:30 a.m. after being sprayed.

According to police, Teppei Soeta, 28, was spotted attempting to secretly film a girl and was detained by teachers. He sprayed a substance at the teachers in an attempt to get away but was detained.

The two male teachers who were sprayed sustained minor injuries, police said.

A small camera was found concealed in a plastic bottle among Soeta's belongings, police said.

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18-YEAR-OLD FATHER ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING 2-MONTH-OLD SON BY PLACING PLASTIC BAG OVER HIS HEAD - FUKUYAMA, HIROSHIMA JAPAN

18-YEAR-OLD FATHER ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING 2-MONTH-OLD SON BY PLACING PLASTIC BAG OVER HIS HEAD - FUKUYAMA, HIROSHIMA JAPAN

@Jr_Paku Midin Channel

FUKUYAMA, Hiroshima

Police in in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, on Saturday arrested an 18-year-old father on suspicion of killing his two-month-old son at their home.

Police said the father, who is a company employee, is accused of placing a plastic bag over the infant's head between 5:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Friday, and laying him face down, causing the baby to die, Kyodo News reported. Police quoted the father as saying, "I didn't mean to kill him. He was making a noise crying, and I thought doing that might make him quiet."

The baby’s mother called 119 at around 1:30 p.m. and said the infant appeared to be dead. The baby was taken to hospital where he was confirmed dead due to respiratory failure, police said.

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"COCKROACH-FREE" HOKKAIDO FACES RISE IN INSECTS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE - HOKKAIDO SAPPORO JAPAN

"COCKROACH-FREE" HOKKAIDO FACES RISE IN INSECTS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE - HOKKAIDO SAPPORO JAPAN  

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SAPPORO

Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, long known for its reputation as being largely cockroach free, may begin to see more of the insects as factors including warmer temperatures spurred by climate change create ideal environments for cockroaches to thrive.

Experts are already urging people to brace for an influx in cities including Sapporo amid increases in the number of well-insulated homes and shipments from warmer areas in Japan, which are thought to contribute to the trend.

Despite the widely held belief, Hokkaido has been home to some species of the pests, especially those more resilient to colder climates.

"Their numbers are definitely lower compared to (the main island of) Honshu," said Hiroshi Nishino, assistant professor at Hokkaido University. "They have also gone unnoticed due to being nocturnal and difficult to spot."

While cockroaches are common in subtropical climates, those seen in Hokkaido are largely made up of three species including the Japanese cockroach, which is said to have existed on the northern island for over 100 years.

According to Shizuma Yanagisawa, deputy director of Ryuyo Insect Nature Observation Park in Shizuoka Prefecture and self-appointed "cockroachist," advanced heating systems and well-insulated homes have provided warm habitats through the winter for species that are more sensitive to cooler temperatures.

The rapid increase in online shopping and shipments from Honshu and areas farther south may also have brought cockroach eggs onto the island.

Sales of anti-cockroach products have risen in response. According to major Japanese pharmaceutical company Earth Corp., its insect repellant line has grown in Hokkaido, with those catering to cockroaches climbing by about six percent on average per year between 2017 and 2025.

"It is important to create an environment that discourages cockroaches such as not leaving food or dishes out for long periods of time, cleaning thoroughly and not hoarding objects in cardboard boxes," said Akihiro Kitaguchi from the marketing department of the company.

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KYOTO TEMPLE BANS VISITORS FROM WEARING KIMONO - KYOTO JAPAN

KYOTO TEMPLE BANS VISITORS FROM WEARING KIMONO - KYOTO JAPAN

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TOKYO

Seiraiin is a temple in Kyoto’s Gion district, founded some 600 years ago and known for its beautiful garden and dynamic white dragon painting on the ceiling of its main hall. Ordinarily, its traditional aesthetics would make it a perfect place to visit on a day of sightseeing while dressed in a kimono.

However, Seiraiin recently announced that would-be visitors wearing kimono are prohibited from entering the temple grounds.

▼ Seiraiin’s white dragon painting, which visitors are encouraged to view by lying on the tatami reed flooring and looking up at it.

The reason for the unexpected policy, announced in July, is one that’s becoming all too common in Kyoto: bad-mannered tourists. The temple says that it has been experiencing problems with people coming to take elaborate and invasive photos on the temple grounds. In addition to making it difficult for other visitors to use the temple’s facilities as intended (as a place to offer prayers and appreciate its art), the temple says there have been multiple instances of visitors entering restricted areas and causing damage to the temple while posing for photos, such as stepping into a raked rock garden or opening up a sliding door without permission and damaging it in the process.

None of the damage was caused as a direct result of wearing kimono, and the temple has said that its complaint is not with the practice itself of wearing the garment. However, the proportion of problematic photo-takers who wear kimono is large enough that the temple has apparently concluded that banning such attire is a necessary precaution against visitors for feel the importance of getting a cool photo of themselves to post on social media trumps being polite or preserving a cultural site.

In addition to kimono, Seiraiin also established a rule prohibiting the wearing of “Japanese-style clothing” and “costumes.” This doesn’t appear to have been a snap decision, either. Seiraiin is one of a number of sub-temples located within the perimeter of Kenninji Temple, which itself posted a statement on its website in November of last year reminding visitors that “Our temple is not a photo studio, theme park, or similar facility,” and that visitors displaying impolite or inappropriate behavior will be asked to leave.

The situation ties into many different points about Japanese cultural traditions and their places in modern society. To start with, Japan has no taboos against non-Japanese people wearing kimono, and most locals are happy to see foreigners taking a participatory interest in the country’s customs. It’s also largely understood and accepted that those with an interest in classical Japanese fashion often enjoy other traditional aesthetics as well, which is why kimono rental shops are often found in cities and neighborhoods with historic quarters, such as Kyoto.

And while Japan’s temples are, of course, religious institutions, even many Japanese visitors are drawn to them for their picturesque qualities or historic significance more than out of spiritual fervor. Many temples embrace the photogenic nature of their appeal, including Seiraiin, which has spaces where visitors can enjoy refreshments while looking out over its garden.

However, if there’s one rule that supersedes all others in Japanese culture, it’s to be considerate of others, and it’s a clear violation of that to treat a temple like it’s your private rented-out photo spot.

Seiraiin appears to be the only temple so far to have instituted a no-kimono rule, but with overtourism being something on the mind of just about every noteworthy destination in Kyoto, no doubt others are watching to see the results. Hopefully, if and when the situation improves, Seiraiin will feel comfortable walking back the restriction, but for now, this is a reminder for all travelers to avoid acting like selfish jerks and ruining things for everyone else.

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