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Even members of Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party were not happy with the slogan. Source link

The government on Friday adopted a bill slashing or fully eliminating the cost of university tuition for families with three or more dependent children. The bill for revising the law to support university studies will be submitted to the current session of parliament and take effect in April if enacted. Eligible households are those with three or more dependent children attending universities, junior colleges, technical colleges or vocational schools. The bill envisions annual tuition aid of up to ¥540,000 per student for public universities and ¥700,000 for private universities, as well as admission fee aid of ¥280,000 for public universities and ¥260,000 for private universities. This would reduce out-of-pocket costs for public schools to zero in principle while heavily cutting expenses for private schools. The current university tuition aid program for households with three or more dependent children only covers those with an annual income of up to ¥6 million ($39,500). The bill calls for removing the income cap. As a result, the number of eligible students is seen rising significantly from the current figure of around 120,000. The government included free university tuition for such families in its strategy for tackling the declining birthrate, adopted by the Cabinet in December 2023. Source link

Inflation in Japan might be tougher to tame than expected, putting real wage growth at risk and possibly becoming a drag on much-needed household consumption. “Although the Bank of Japan forecasts a slowdown in food price growth and overall inflation from the second half of 2025, it’s important to keep in mind that this may not actually happen,” said Saisuke Sakai, chief economist at Mizuho Research & Technologies. Japan struggled with deflation for decades and kept rates at or near zero for years to get prices rising again. They are now increasing and are becoming an issue for workers, who are finding their wages barely growing or actually declining month to month on a real basis. Source link

Paris and Los Angeles – Rarely has a film fallen from favor so quickly: After gaining a record number of Oscar nominations for a foreign-language movie, narco-musical “Emilia Perez” has become embroiled in scandal linked to past social media posts by star Karla Sofia Gascon. Gascon, the first transgender woman Oscar nominee for best actress, has seen her path to glory seriously compromised by her posts about Islam, U.S. anti-racism protests and even the Oscars themselves, which she called an “ugly gala.” From being a symbol of diversity embraced by Hollywood, she has risked alienating left-leaning members of the Academy who decide the Oscar winners — despite her apologies and insistence that she is “not a racist.” Hollywood trade outlets reported that distributor Netflix, which was banking on “Emilia Perez” for its first best picture Oscar, had dropped the 52-year-old from its campaign and distanced itself from the best actress nominee. A Netflix web page promoting the film “for your awards consideration” contained an image of Zoe Saldana, the movie’s best supporting actress nominee. Contacted by AFP, Netflix declined to comment. Source link

Shibuya is where people meet — “Hachiko at 6,” “Under Tsutaya at 3,” “See you outside 109.” And for a few days in February, it’s also where art will meet technology. Now in its sophomore year, the Dig Shibuya digital art festival runs from Feb. 8 to 11, with activities and exhibitions popping up across Tokyo’s trendiest neighborhood — including the iconic Shibuya Scramble Crossing as well as Miyashita Park, Shibuya Parco, Tower Records and Shibuya Sakura Stage, the latter of which opened less than a year ago. Dig Shibuya is the brainchild of the Shibuya Creative Tech Executive Committee, the Japan Arts Council and the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and is being held in partnership with Shibuya Ward and supported by a number of local associations and organizations. Its aim is to feature a diverse array of participating artists who are united by keen technology acumen and an eye for stimulating visuals. Source link

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Cabinet approved a bill Friday designed to allow the government to invest in Tokyo-based Rapidus, which aims to build the world’s first 2-nanometer semiconductor manufacturing plants in Chitose, Hokkaido, through quasi-government entities. The bill comes nearly three months after the Ishiba government announced that it wants to provide ¥10 trillion ($650.9 billion) in funding by fiscal 2030 for AI- and semiconductor-related facilities and equipment, including ¥4 trillion in financial support, a portion of which is expected to help Rapidus’ operation. If the bill clears parliament, the government will be allowed to issue public bonds to cover the financial resources required for measures to ensure the stable chip production of cutting-edge semiconductors at Rapidus through March 2031. Source link

LeBron James poured in 42 points to join Michael Jordan as the only 40-year-olds to score 40 points in an NBA game as the host Los Angeles Lakers notched a 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night. James also grabbed a season-best 17 rebounds to go with eight assists and six 3-pointers in an epic performance as the Lakers won their fourth straight game and 10th in their past 12. Jordan scored 43 points for the Washington Wizards against the New Jersey Nets on Feb. 21, 2003, four days after his 40th birthday. James turned 40 on Dec. 30. Source link

Police rearrested a taxi driver in Kawasaki on Thursday for violating the animal welfare law after he allegedly killed a wild pigeon he had captured. According to the Metropolitan Police Department’s safety division, Hiroshi Tsuji, 49, has admitted to the allegations, saying, “It didn’t show me any affection, so I abused it. I purged it out of love.” Tsuji is suspected of killing the pigeon at his home in Kawasaki sometime between June and August last year by using a whip and his hands to hit the pigeon and using scissors to slit its neck. He caught the pigeon along the bank of the Tama River in Tokyo’s Kunitachi City sometime between April and June of last year, according to the safety division. It is believed he initially gave the bird food and water but began abusing it when it showed no affection in return. Tsuji created an account on X last August under the name Mirai Aoshima and began uploading videos of him abusing the pigeon. Police had received over 100 reports regarding the account as of January, which also features videos of other birds being abused. Tokyo police initially arrested Tsuji in January on charges of creating and using an electronic or magnetic record without authorization after he used a false name while attempting to purchase a parrot at a pet shop in the capital. Translated by The Japan Times Source link

One person has died and four more have been seriously injured due to heavy snow in parts of Japan, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. A powerful cold air mass, the strongest of the season, continued on Thursday, with conditions particularly harsh in Niigata and northern Tohoku. Eight houses in Hokkaido have sustained partial damage. The prolonged cold spell has already driven snowfall totals past seasonal averages in many areas. As of 10 a.m. Friday, the Meteorological Agency reported 3.92 meters of snow at Sukayu Onsen in Aomori Prefecture, 3.24 meters in the village of Okura in Yamagata Prefecture and 3.2 meters in the city of Uonuma in Niigata Prefecture. More snowfall is expected through Saturday as another wave of frigid air moves in. The Meteorological Agency warns that heavy snow could reach areas that rarely experience a significant accumulation, including the plains of the Kinki and Tokai regions, as well as Shikoku. Snow in the city of Toyama on Wednesday | Alexander Howell-Jackson Beyond snowfall, strong winds are expected to cause blizzards and hazardous coastal conditions. Marine forecasts indicate worsening conditions nationwide, with high waves and rough seas anticipated. Residents in affected areas are advised to be cautious of blizzards, avalanches and the risk of accumulated snow falling from rooftops. Transportation disruptions are expected to continue. NEXCO West Japan warned of potential road closures going into Saturday and urged drivers to avoid unnecessary travel. Air travel is also affected. ANA canceled 30 domestic flights on Friday, including routes to Shonai Airport in Yamagata Prefecture, affecting approximately 2,230 passengers. JAL warned that additional cancelations may follow depending on weather conditions throughout the day. Source link

Abu Dhabi – Defending champion Elena Rybakina edged out Ons Jabeur in a deciding-set tie-break on Thursday to reach the semifinals of the Abu Dhabi Open. The world number five, whose coach Stefano Vukov remains suspended for allegedly breaching the WTA tour’s code of conduct, beat Jabeur 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4). Kazakh Rybakina missed two match points in the 12th game of the third set but kept her cool to see off the challenge of three-time Grand Slam finalist Jabeur. “It’s not easy,” Rybakina said. “The first (match) point, she played really well and the second one, I just rushed and made a mistake. “But I knew that it was a tough match no matter what, and I just needed to fight and play point by point.” The 2022 Wimbledon champion will next face Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic for a place in the final. Bencic reached her first WTA Tour semifinal since returning from maternity leave with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Marketa Vondrousova in a repeat of the Tokyo Olympics final won by the Swiss. “I was really worried that the speed of the ball and the speed of how the girls are serving now, and returning and everything, would be maybe a bit too much, or a little bit too early for me,” Bencic, who gave birth to her daughter last April, said. “But I’m also someone that plays fast, and I’m happy to see it’s not such a big difference.” American world No. 51 Ashlyn Krueger also made the semifinals courtesy of a 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 victory against Leylah Fernandez. Krueger will next face Linda Noskova after the Czech youngster’s 6-4, 6-3 win over Poland’s Magda Linette. Source link