Japan This Week8 Nov 2024

Nov. 8, 2024: Customer harassment crackdown, Mount Fuji light rail, bike law penalties, new train safety measures and missing student update

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.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(105)

Oct. 31, 2025 | Japan’s foreigner problem: Kimi Onoda and the politics of coexistence

When Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister on Oct. 21, one of her new cabinet pick's stood out. Kimi Onoda was appointed minister for economic security and the “Cool Japan” strate...

31 Okt 202514min

Oct. 24, 2025 | Trial of Shinzo Abe's assassin

The trial of Tetsuya Yamagami — the man who assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — has begun in Japan. But this case is about more than guilt or innocence. It exposed disturbing ties between...

25 Okt 202513min

Oct. 3, 2025 | Why stalking cases in Japan keep ending in tragedy

Stalking cases in Japan are becoming harder to ignore. Women are being targeted, threatened and, in too many cases, killed — even after going to the police for help. In this edition of Japan Today Sp...

3 Okt 20258min

Sept. 26, 2025 | Why nuisance YouTubers are causing outrage in Japan

A rise in obnoxious and aggressive content creators is sparking outrage across Japan — from graveyard stunts and sushi sabotage to harassment on public trains. Japanese media now calls them “nuisance ...

26 Sep 20259min

Sept. 19, 2025 | Why Japan's 'lost generation' is still losing

Japan’s “lost generation” came of age during the employment ice age of the 1990s and early 2000s. Promised stable jobs after graduation, they instead faced hiring freezes, temporary contracts and deca...

19 Sep 20258min

Sept. 12, 2025 | Why bear attacks are surging in Japan

Bears are showing up in Japanese towns, supermarkets, even airport runways — and the number of bear attacks is now higher than anywhere else in the world. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we ...

12 Sep 202510min

Sept. 5, 2025 | Why So Many People Go Missing in Japan

Japan’s missing persons: Who disappears and why Every year, around 90,000 people are reported missing in Japan. Most are found quickly, but many vanish by choice — some turning to resignation agencie...

5 Sep 20259min

Aug. 28, 2025 | Japan’s hostage justice: Guilty until proven innocent

Japan’s justice system has a conviction rate of 99.9%. Critics say that figure isn’t proof of prosecutorial skill but the result of a system known as “hostage justice” — prolonged detention, repeated ...

29 Aug 202513min