Kanako Takahara

Tokyo

Editor and Reporter at The Japan Times

editor/reporter for Japan Times, an English-language daily in Japan. hobbies include tennis, movies.

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Articles

Former yokozuna Hakuho to leave sumo association

5 days ago | japantimes.co.jp | Kanako Takahara |Karin Kaneko

Retired former yokozuna Hakuho, a native of Mongolia who is now known as Miyagino oyakata, or stablemaster, will quit the Japan Sumo Association, the association said Monday. His departure comes more than a year after his stable closed down over a physical abuse incident involving one of its wrestlers. Quitting the JSA means the former yokozuna will no longer be part of the sumo wrestling world as a stablemaster, a role responsible for training and mentoring junior wrestlers.
Stockpiled rice shipped within three days, set to hit shelves next week

1 week ago | japantimes.co.jp | Kanako Takahara

The first batch of the government's stockpiled rice sold through no-bid contracts was delivered to buyers Thursday, just three days after the agriculture ministry started accepting purchases from major retailers through the program, with the grain expected to hit shelves as soon as Monday. The rapid shipment is in sharp contrast with previous arrangements using auctions, under which it took months to sell and ship 310,000 metric tons of rice in phases.
With latest move, farm ministry sets sights on ¥1,800 for a 5-kg bag of rice

1 week ago | japantimes.co.jp | Kanako Takahara

The agriculture ministry will start selling older batches of stockpiled rice to smaller retailers and rice shops through no-bid contracts, which are likely to be sold at an even lower price: a 5-kilogram bag of rice produced in 2021 is expected to carry a price tag of ¥1,800 ($12.50).
At least 19 retailers applied for no-bid contracts for rice, Koizumi says

1 week ago | japantimes.co.jp | Kanako Takahara

At least 19 retailers have applied for the government's no-bid contract procedure to purchase stockpiled rice, farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Tuesday, raising hopes of rice prices finally going down. Koizumi said during a news conference that the ministry is planning to sign contracts with retailers that have applied by Wednesday and hand them the stockpiled rice as early as Thursday.
Bags of rice at half price will hit stores by early June, Koizumi says

1 week ago | japantimes.co.jp | Kanako Takahara

Farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Monday revealed the details of a no-bid contract procedure, in which the government will sell 300,000 metric tons of stockpiled rice to major retailers, with the goal of halving what consumers are paying at supermarkets for the grain by early June. The government will sell 200,000 tons of rice produced in 2022 and another 100,000 tons harvested in 2021 to retailers at ¥11,556 ($81) for a 60-kilogram bag of unpolished rice.
Onosato set for yokozuna promotion after clinching Emperor’s Cup

2 weeks ago | japantimes.co.jp | Kanako Takahara

Ōzeki Onosato is certain to become sumo's next yokozuna after he beat Kotozakura for his 13th consecutive win at the Summer Basho on Friday, clinching the Emperor’s Cup. The title marks the second in a row for the Nishonoseki stable wrestler and the fourth overall.
Japan considers toughening rules on driver's license conversions

2 weeks ago | japantimes.co.jp | Karin Kaneko |Kanako Takahara

Two recent high-profile traffic accidents involving foreign nationals have prompted the National Police Agency to consider revising the rules on converting a foreign driver's license into a Japanese one. The agency revealed the decision Wednesday during a Liberal Democratic Party committee meeting on foreign residents amid concerns that the system for converting a license is too easy.
Amid labor shortage, Japan approves guidelines to upskill foreign workers

2 months ago | japantimes.co.jp | Kanako Takahara

The government on Tuesday approved guidelines for a refurbished plan to support development of foreign workers into skilled workers, expected to kick off in 2027, in hope of resolving Japan’s chronic labor shortage. The new initiative replaces the current foreign trainee program, which has often been criticized for bad working conditions and participants being used as cheap labor.
Police may be able to use fake IDs to investigate yami baito

Dec 5, 2024 | japantimes.co.jp | Kanako Takahara

The government is considering allowing investigators to create fake ID cards to infiltrate crime groups that solicit accomplices on social media for high-paying illegal work, known as yami baito, which has been linked to a series of nationwide burglaries, a top government spokesman said Friday. “The government is considering new investigative measures, including allowing investigations under disguised identification,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said in a news conference.
What constitutes fatal dangerous driving in Japan?

Dec 5, 2024 | japantimes.co.jp | Kanako Takahara

When a 50-year-old man in Oita died after the car he was driving was hit by another vehicle that was driven at 194 kilometers per hour on a street with a 60 kph speed limit, his bereaved family was certain that the suspect would be charged with dangerous driving. To their surprise, prosecutors indicted the young driver of the other vehicle on a more lenient charge of negligent driving resulting in death, which carries up to seven years in prison.