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Shizuoka Prefecture and JR Tokai signed an agreement to begin building the Chuo Shinkansen maglev line section in Shizuoka. JR Tokai will hold local briefings before starting construction, which is expected to take over 10 years. The deal includes environmental measures and a suspension clause for unforeseen issues.
Japan will increase caps on out-of-pocket medical expenses by 4% to 38% depending on income, starting August 2026, with a second hike in August 2027. For middle-income patients, the monthly cap rises from ¥80,000 to about ¥86,000. These are the first changes for the working generation since 2015.
Japan's Upper House passed a bill criminalizing desecration of the national flag, with penalties of up to two years in prison or a fine of ¥200,000. The law, pushed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's right-wing agenda, prohibits publicly damaging, removing, or defacing the flag in ways that cause extreme discomfort. It takes effect in early August and exempts miniature flags on food, art, manga, anime, video games, and AI-generated works.
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama warned of possible currency market intervention on Friday, using the phrase 'decisive action' that signals direct market entry. However, yen bears remained undeterred, keeping the yen near its lowest level in four decades.
India's Ministry of External Affairs dismissed former Japanese minister Hideki Makihara's allegations that India caused delays in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, calling them factually incorrect. The ministry confirmed that discussions with Japan have progressed well and that the first section from Surat to Bilimora will open in August 2027.
India and Japan agreed to start Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train operations with an Indian high-speed train first, while Japan's E10 Shinkansen will follow after 2030. The first section between Surat and Bilimora is expected to launch in 2027.
Kyoto Animation held a memorial service on Saturday for the 36 victims of the 2019 arson attack at its No. 1 studio. About 140 people attended, including bereaved families and company president Shinichiro Hatta, offering silent prayers and flowers.
A 94-year-old woman in Hino, Tokyo, is leading opposition to a massive data center planned near her home, reflecting growing unease in cramped urban Japan. The global AI-driven data center boom has sparked similar pushback elsewhere, including new rules in New York and Australia.
The Bank of Japan is expected to raise its economic growth forecast at its July meeting while leaving the policy rate unchanged. Officials will discuss increasing the growth projection from 0.5% for the year ending March 2027 and may revise their downside risk assessment.
This commentary argues that Japan's mountain rescue crisis is misattributed to foreign tourists, when in fact locals account for most incidents. It contends that unprepared hikers, particularly on Mount Fuji, pose a growing safety problem that requires better education and regulation rather than scapegoating.