Liberal Japan

Top Ten News Stories in Japan as of 11 pm last night (From Kyodo News) …

[Note: I will not be doing top ten news tomorrow as I will be on holiday. Also, the following day I will be reviewing election coverage, so again might not have time to do top ten news. I hope to resume this feature, if possible, Tuesday morning.]

1. World wide simultaneous stock reevaluation feared. At one point Friday Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Nikkei index of 225 stocks was down 500 points breaking the 17,200 level. At closing time it was still down 418.28 points for the day at 17,283.81. The TOPIX was also down 37.47 points. This is following a day of heaving selling and stock decline on Wall Street the previous day due to problems in the US subprime loan market. (English link.)
Japanese story: 東証、一時５００円超下落　世界同時株安の懸念再燃

2. The Abe government faces judgement time. The House of Counsellors election will be held on the 29th of this week-end. This will be the first large scale election that Shinzo Abe has faced since taking office 10 months ago. It is widely being viewed as a referendum on his policies, including educational reform, and public employee system reform. Points of contention are the pension funds and the “politicians and money issue.”
Japanese story:「安倍政治」に審判　参院選、２９日に投開票

3. Using different tactics Abe and Ozawa frantically pitch voters. Abe has been paring down his speeches from 20 minutes to 15, so he can go out and shake hands. He has also been walking shopping promenades shouting his name and shaking as many hands as he can. Yet while Abe has been visiting shopping promenades to appeal to urban voters, Ozawa has been visiting rural districts and giving speeches at city halls, casting the election as a battle between the LDP and the DPJ.
Japanese story: 戦術変えて必死の訴え　効果にらみ首相と小沢氏

4. Gasoline prices on the way up. Nippon oil has raised the price of gasoline at its stations by ¥4.10 per leader. If the price continues to increase it may exceed a previous high record set in 1987. Other companies are also rising the price of their oil to prepare for summer demand.
Japanese story: 店頭ガソリン最高値更新へ　新日石、８月は４円１０銭上げ

5. N. Korea eyes power plant refurbishment as reward for denuke steps. North Korea has floated power plant refurbishment and enhancement of its oil storage capacity as potential rewards for denuclearization steps it is to take in a key six-party deal reached in February, diplomatic sources said Friday. … Under a Feb. 13 deal, North Korea is to declare all its nuclear programs and dismantle all existing nuclear facilities as the second stage of its denuclearization, in exchange for aid equivalent to 950,000 tons of heavy fuel oil … (English link.)
Japanese story: 火力発電所改補修求める　エネルギー支援で北朝鮮

6. Students occupy red mosque again in Pakistan.
Japanese story: 神学生がモスク再び占拠　パキスタン、再開直後

7. Two year old boy dies of heat exhaustion. In Kita-Kyushu a boy was discovered to be suffering heat stroke in a small kindergarten van. The van had returned from a park visit at one o’clock in the afternoon, and for reasons unclear at this time, they boy appears to have stayed in the bus. He was discovered at 5 o’clock and rushed to the hospital. He died on the way there. His death is now under investigation.
Japanese story: 熱中症か、２歳男児死亡　遠足帰りの保育園の車で
Update: English article now on-line.

8. Elderly displaced by earthquake. Niigata is facing a shortage of facilities for helping elderly people. The current facilities they have for people who need special care are currently at 150% capacity, but there are still those who need to be transferred to such facilities. There are still many older people in ordinary shelters that cannot be properly cared for there.
Japanese story: 高齢者の施設入所が増加　地震被災地、定員の１・５倍

9. Depopulation occurring already. While Japan’s population is uncertain in the future as the population continues to age, and not enough children are being born to maintain them, there are already problems in many local rural areas where people are facing population crunches. Three ministries are teaming up with NPOs to try and find a way to solve the problem. No specific plans were mentioned, but many surveys are being taken to assess the problem.
Japanese story: 過疎地の集落維持に本腰　山林管理、住民の足確保へ

10. South Korean hostage crisis continues in Afghanistan.
Japanese story: タリバン、女性数人を移動　交渉継続、人質監視緩和か