参議院は審議で衆議院を支える【Upper House supports Lower through deliberation】
In Japan’s bicameral parliament, the Lower House takes the lead in legislating. It can be dissolved, snap elections can be held, and its lawmakers have shorter terms, reflecting the voice of the people. The Upper House reconsiders, fine-tunes, and votes on bills passed by the Lower.
日本の最高裁がツイッター社にツイート削除を命令【Japan’s Supreme Court to Twitter: Delete tweets】
In the first ruling of its kind, Japan’s top court ordered Twitter Inc. to delete 14 posts about a man’s arrest record. He was arrested for trespassing eight years ago. The court overturned a lower court decision stating that the public’s right to know outweighs the man’s right to privacy.
最大手の飲食店評価サイトに賠償責任【Top restaurant review site found liable for damages】
A court ordered the operator of Tabelog, a popular website that rates restaurants based on aggregated user reviews, to pay 38.4 million yen in compensation to a Korean barbeque chain. The plaintiff claimed Tabelog’s proprietary algorithm automatically downgrades chain restaurants, and that its monthly customers fell by over 5,000 as a result.
マスク着用の常識は政府の方針転換後も変わらず【Masks remain norm despite government policy shift】
The government recently stated that people do not need to wear masks outdoors, though they are still recommended on trains. However, many Tokyoites continue wearing them everywhere, citing habit and concern about fitting in. Meanwhile, runners and other sports aficionados are among the most eager to shed their masks.
事務的ミスが町の大きな頭痛の種に【Clerical error causes major headaches for town】
A 24-year-old man in a town in Yamaguchi Prefecture accidentally received ¥46.3 million yen in COVID relief funds due to an error by municipal staff. About 90% of the money, which the man said he used on overseas online casinos, has been recovered. He was arrested on charges of wire fraud.
ネット上の中傷投稿に母親が苦悩【Abusive online posts cause mother pain】
The mother of a girl who went missing from a campsite in 2019 suffered a torrent of online abuse accusing her of being behind the disappearance. She nonetheless continued posting messages on the internet seeking information about her daughter’s whereabouts until the child was confirmed dead in mid May.
レッドカード付きMVP【MVP with red card】復刻版
France captain Zinedine Zidane, whose name will forever be remembered with “The Head-butt”, was chosen the most valuable player of the 2006 World Cup after his team’s loss to Italy in Sunday’s final. During the last game of his career, Zidane was red-carded for slamming his head into an opponent’s chest.
観光船運営会社の社長が過失致死を認める【Head of tour boat operator admits lethal negligence】
The president of a company running cruise vessels in Hokkaido acknowledged that an accident last month could have been averted if safety protocols, such as keeping in regular contact with the captain, had been followed. Twenty-six people were on board, and all are confirmed dead or still missing.
より多くの日本人労働者が転職や移住を検討【More Japanese workers eyeing job changes, relocation】
Experience with remote work, the erosion of Japan’s lifetime employment system, and desires for meaningful lives are contributing to a rise in workers quitting, changing jobs, or considering doing so. There are also signs of an exodus from major cities, with Tokyo’s population dropping for the first time since 1996.