News

Japan's new family registration system allows individuals from Taiwan to list Taiwan as their place of origin, sparking a strong reaction from China which claims Taiwan as its own territory. This change coincides with the introduction of phonetic readings in hiragana above kanji characters to aid pronunciation.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba apologized for giving gift certificates to newly elected lawmakers, sparking criticism from opposition parties who called it a violation of the Political Fund Control Law and indicative of a problematic culture within the LDP. The incident has raised concerns about transparency and accountability within the party.

A study by JAMSTEC, the University of Tokyo, and Hokkaido University reveals that climate change has led to a sharp increase in endangered Japanese eel larvae reaching rivers in Hokkaido, offering a potential boost to the species' conservation efforts. However, further research is needed to understand the long-term impact and ensure the sustainable management of this valuable species.

Nissan has appointed Ivan Espinosa, currently the company's chief planning officer, as its new CEO, effective April 1, 2024. Espinosa, who joined Nissan in 2003, has extensive experience in the automotive industry and will play a key role in leading the company through its transition to electric vehicles.

More than 1,000 people have applied to run as candidates for the new regional political party Saisei no Michi in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election, with the party aiming to field up to 60 candidates across all 42 electoral districts. The party, founded by Shinji Ishimaru, a former mayor of Akitakata in Hiroshima Prefecture, will not set specific policy goals for the campaign and will limit its assembly members to two terms in office.