Front page. Regarding Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s “Beni Koji” food supplement, which is a food with functional claims, public health centers have received complaints from people in at least 31 prefectures about possible health hazards from people who appear to have taken the supplement or related foods. This was revealed in an interview with the local government on the 31st. More than 130 people received consultations, of which 17 resulted in hospitalization. There was also one death reported. Symptoms such as malaise, nausea, and renal dysfunction were noticeable.
Second page. [Washington] The U.S. government has invited Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yun Seok-Yeong to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit to be held in Washington in July, and is making arrangements to hold a trilateral summit meeting. This was revealed on the 31st from diplomatic sources. It will also show off the unity of NATO and Japan and South Korea in order to strengthen deterrence against China, which is increasing its hegemonic behavior, and North Korea, which is improving its nuclear and missile technology.
Third page. Due to health hazards surrounding Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s supplements containing Benikouji, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and Wakayama Prefecture on the 31st conducted an on-site inspection of the subsidiary’s factory in Kinokawa City, Wakayama Prefecture, based on the Food Sanitation Act. . We inspected the production line and other facilities at the relocated location of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s Osaka factory, which had been manufacturing raw materials. A total of five people have died because they appear to have taken the supplement, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is urgently investigating the cause.
Breaking News. Kendai Takasaki wins first high school baseball tournament.
The final day of the high school baseball tournament was held on the 31st at Koshien Stadium, where Takasaki Health and Welfare University Takasaki (Gunma) defeated Hotoku Gakuen (Hyogo) 3-2, winning the tournament for the first time in the spring/summer Koshien tournament. Gunma Prefecture’s first victory in spring. Hotoku Gakuen finished second in the previous tournament, failing to reach the top for the third time.
Hagi Okan is a highway that connects San’in and Sanyo. The approximately 53-kilometer road, which runs in a nearly straight line from Hagi City on the Sea of Japan side of Yamaguchi Prefecture to Hofu City on the Seto Inland Sea side, was frequented by patriots at the end of the Edo period, such as Shoin Yoshida, and many historic sites remain. Shinzo Shirakami (77) of the “Yamaguchi Hagi Okan Storyteller’s Association,” which tells the history of the area, says, “You can think about the people of that time. If you know the history, you can see the future.” talk about The Hagi Okan was built during the Edo period for the purpose of sankin kotai. Along the road, which winds through bamboo forests and steep mountain paths, there are teahouses where people could rest, as well as monuments commemorating samurai who lost their lives in conflicts over feudal politics.
Of the approximately 10 pine trees in Komoto, Iwaizumi-cho, Iwate Prefecture that withstood the tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the last remaining tree has fallen. The prefecture confirmed this on the 5th of this month, which appears to be the result of a blizzard. It was beloved by local residents as a “pine tree of hope for the future” that learned from the earthquake.
According to the prefecture, this black pine is approximately 18 meters tall. Before the earthquake, there was a tidewater forest in the area, but most of it was washed away by the tsunami. The remaining pines gradually withered, and only one remained standing since around 2015.
The town was hit by heavy snow and strong winds late last month. The pine tree was broken near the base, and it is possible that the damage caused by the tsunami also caused rot. Homare Ohara, director of the Forestry Office of the Miyako Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry Promotion Center, which manages the plant, said, “We would like to consider ways to utilize it in some way.”
The Japan ICOMOS National Committee, an advisory body for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), recently reported on the remains of a railway discovered last fall at a planned construction site for a public facility in Mojika Ward, Kyushu City, Kitakyushu. Therefore, we submitted a request to the city asking for its current location to be preserved. It appears to be an inn associated with the first Moji Station, which opened in the Meiji period. In January of this year, the city announced its plan to cut out one of the Buddha ruins and relocate it to another location before proceeding with construction.
The first Moji Station was the easternmost station of the Kyushu Railway Company, Kyushu’s first private railway, and opened in 18991. In 1914, the city was moved to the west side and a new station building was built. This is the current station building of JR Mojiko Station, and it is also designated as an important cultural property of the country. The red bricks of the garage ruins, the good state of preservation of the foundation, and the historical relationship with surrounding facilities have been evaluated as “deserving of national history* designation.” The preservation of the ruins is requested, and if an immediate decision cannot be made, a decision will be made for consideration. We requested that a committee be established.
And here’s again the Indonesian newsletter! This time with really important news!
KPU OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES PRABOWO-GIBRAN WINNER OF 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION!
Presidential candidate number 2 Prabowo Subianto met his vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, at Prabowo’s residence, Jalan Kertenagara, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Friday (23/2/2024).. The two discussed future steps after voting for the 2024 presidential election. General Election Commission (KPU ) has completed the national recapitulation of the votes for the 2024 Presidential Election. The KPU has determined that pair number 2 Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka will be the winners of the 2024 Presidential Election. The results of the 2024 Presidential Election are determined based on the KPU minutes number 218/PL.01.08- BA/05/2024. The results of the 2024 presidential election were announced immediately after the KPU completed the national recapitulation and plenary meeting on Wednesday (20/3/2024). The results of the national KPU recapitulation consist of votes obtained in 38 provinces and 128 overseas election committees (PPLN). The total national valid votes were 164,227,475. Based on the KPU recapitulation results, Prabowo-Gibran was ahead with 96,214,691 valid votes out of the total national valid votes.
The following are the national vote results for the 2024 presidential election: 1. Anies-Cak Imin 40,971,906 votes 2. Prabowo-Gibran
96,214,691 votes 3. Ganjar-Mahfud 27,040,878 votes The Prabowo-Gibran pair is ahead in 36 provinces. Meanwhile, the Anies-Cak Imin pair excelled in 2 other provinces. Thus, the KPU declared that the Prabowo-Gibran candidate pair had won the 2024 presidential election.
Breaking News. Bellagio Opera wins Horse racing/Osaka Cup.
The 68th Osaka Cup horse racing event was held on the 31st with 16 horses running on the 2,000 meter turf course at Hanshin Racecourse, with Bellagio Opera taking first place. 2nd place was Rosham Park, 3rd place was Rouge Evaille.
Front page. April marks the start of the 2024 fiscal year. Companies will continue to raise the prices of goods and services due to the prolonged depreciation of the yen and labor shortages, and co-payments will be introduced for vaccinations related to the new coronavirus. For some elderly people, various insurance premiums may be raised. Although wage increases are progressing mainly at large companies, the headwinds for household finances are likely to become stronger. Overtime regulations for truck drivers and doctors will also be strengthened.
Second page. Due to the health hazard issue surrounding Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s supplements containing Benikouji, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the City of Osaka announced on the 30th that the company’s Osaka factory (Yodogawa Ward, Osaka City), which manufactured the raw material, was ordered to comply with the Food Sanitation Act. ) was inspected on-site. The factory was closed in December of last year, but a total of five people have died, apparently due to ingesting the supplements.In light of the increasing damage, we checked the raw material manufacturing process and sanitation control system. Full-scale investigation into the cause will be carried out.
Third page. [Los Angeles ] A man in his 20s who recruits participants and distributes the dividends in California, where sports betting is illegal, responded to an interview with Kyodo News on the 30th. He testified that “anyone can easily become a gambler” by registering on a dedicated site, and asserted that “gambling is a culture.” However, some people are unable to escape and have financial problems, and support groups for addicts are sounding the alarm.
Front page. Amid delays in understanding the actual situation of “home-based evacuees” who were affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake and are living in their homes rather than in evacuation centers, efforts are being made to understand the actual situation of the disaster victims through food assistance. The food bank organization in Iwate plays a central role in collaborating with the local government in Noto. Learning from the experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake, where some survivors were confused by sudden on-site inspections, we are providing support as a gateway to building relationships of trust.
Second page. On the 30th, the Ministry of Defense held a ceremony to commemorate the inauguration of the first surface-to-ship missile regiment on the main island of Okinawa at the Ground Self-Defense Force Katsuren Branch Camp in Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture. Equipped with Type 12 surface-to-ship guided missiles, it is tasked with attacking enemy ships from land. Together with troops already deployed on Miyako Island within the prefecture, they will be keeping an eye on the strait between the main island and Miyako, where Chinese military vessels frequently pass through.
Third page. JR Hokkaido’s Ikutora Station (Minamifurano Town, Hokkaido), which was the filming location for the 1999 movie “Poppoya,” starring the late actor Ken Takakura, will be closed after only 31 days. This is because the Nemuro Line between Furano and Shintokuma, which includes this station, will be discontinued. Almost a quarter of a century has passed since the movie was released, but many people continue to visit the station every day to get a glimpse of the station.
Fourth page. Astronaut Koichi Wakata (60), who is retiring from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) at the end of this month, held a press conference in Tokyo on the 29th and said that he will continue to work in a private capacity as a manned pilot with an eye on exploration of the moon and Mars. He expressed his intention to devote himself to space activities. “The private sector will be the key in the future.As one of the pioneers, I want to contribute to sustainable development.”
Front page. On the 29th, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical announced the death of one person who appears to have taken a supplement containing Benikoji, bringing the total number of suspected deaths to five. At a press conference held in Osaka, it was announced that approximately 800 people who complained of poor health would be compensated for hospital expenses and other expenses. As a result of the analysis, “buberuric acid” derived from blue mold was detected in the supplement ingredients. There is a possibility that this is the causative agent, and we will proceed with verification with the National Institute of Health Sciences.
Second page. On the 29th, five major domestic banks announced the mortgage interest rates that will apply in April. Although the Bank of Japan decided to end its negative interest rate policy, the rate hikes were small, and four banks, including Bank of Mitsubishi UFJ, left their floating interest rates unchanged, and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank lowered them. This will avoid increasing the burden on those who took out variable rate mortgages in April, but if the Bank of Japan moves to raise interest rates further in the future, there is a possibility that variable interest rates will rise.
Third page. The government of Japan announced on 29th the basic policies and technical guidelines regarding the establishment of shelters where residents evacuate in the event of an armed attack were published. Targets remote islands where the only means of evacuation is by plane or ship. Five municipalities in the Sakishima Islands of Okinawa Prefecture are subject to this requirement, which requires the formulation of a resident evacuation plan and the implementation of training exercises. In anticipation of an amphibious invasion or ballistic missile attack, the facility will be designed as a shelter where people can stay for about two weeks.
Fourth page. On the 29th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced the new destinations for the introduction of the “Japanese version of ride sharing,” in which ordinary drivers transport passengers using private cars for a fee, in Sapporo, Sendai, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka. It was announced that eight areas, mainly urban areas, would be recognized. The government will use data from ride-hailing apps to ascertain the status of taxi shortages, and will indicate the upper limit on the number of taxis allowed to operate in each area and the time of day in April, starting in May. Requirements for introduction in other areas are also indicated.
Horse racing. Tastiera is the favorite. (Initial information in No. 40850.)
Front page. On the 29th, the Children and Family Affairs Agency announced an estimate of the average monthly collection amount for each type of medical insurance for the “Child and Childcare Support” system, which is added to public medical insurance premiums in order to secure financial resources to counter the declining birthrate. . In fiscal 2028, when the system is established, the largest burden per person will be 950 yen for civil servants who join mutual aid associations. Employees of large companies follow with 850 yen. The lowest rate is 350 yen for people over 75 years old.
Second page. On the 29th, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical announced that it had newly confirmed the death of one person who appears to have taken a functional food supplement containing “Red Koji.” The bereaved family contacted me on the 28th. He reportedly died after developing kidney disease. There were a total of five deaths suspected to be related to supplements. Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Keizo Takemi announced at a press conference on the 29th that preparations are underway to establish a call center to respond to inquiries from general consumers and business operators. Agriculture Minister Tetsushi Sakamoto said, “The first priority is to prevent the damage from spreading.I hope they will do their best to quickly recover the waste.”
Third page. [New York] On the 28th, the North Korea Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council (15 countries) rejected a resolution to extend by one year the term of the “Expert Panel” (8 members) that monitors the situation under the North Korea Sanctions Committee. ruzzia, a permanent member of the Security Council that deepens military cooperation with North Korea, exercised its veto. The expert panel’s activities are expected to cease when its current term expires on April 30th. The system for monitoring the sanctions situation will be weakened. After the invasion of Ukraine, ruzzia, which receives arms support from North Korea, has prioritized its own interests, exacerbating the dysfunction of the Security Council.
Fourth page. The American Major League Baseball officially opened in the United States on the 28th, and Otani of the Dodgers participated in the first home game against the Cardinals in Los Angeles as the “No. 2 designated hitter” and was the first batter in the right field of the first inning. He was active with 2 hits and 1 run in 3 at bats, including a double on the wing line.
Kaiun-Suisan front page. With the implementation of overtime work regulations based on the Work Style Reform Act on April 1st, there are concerns about a shortage of truck drivers responsible for medium- and long-distance transportation in the logistics field. There is. Companies have begun to seriously pursue reforms such as joint delivery that increases the loading rate of cargo platforms to transport cargo more efficiently, and “modal shifts” that use trains and ships. There are also moves to look forward to the use of “ships.”
KS second page. On the 27th, in response to the accident in which the Tourist boat “KAZU I” sank off the coast of Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, the local town of Shari and the Hikari Association announced that they would centrally manage the risks of the various nature experience activities that take place in the surrounding area, and then conduct a It was agreed that a system would be launched to disseminate information on dangers, etc., depending on the location, to temporary customers via the Internet. An agreement was reached at the final meeting of the study council formed by the tourism association, the Koishi Light Boat Council, and others. The final report is expected to be issued by the middle of next month.
Front page. In connection with the sudden death of a 25-year-old Takarazuka Revue actor, parent company Hankyu Hanshin Holdings (HD) signed an agreement with the bereaved family on the 28th, acknowledging the power harassment of the woman by upperclassmen and providing compensation. announced. On the same day, HD Chairman Kazuo Kado and others directly apologized to the bereaved family, and a significant number of the senior students who had engaged in power harassment submitted written apologies to the bereaved family. He admitted to 14 counts of harassment.
Second page. Budget for 2024 was announced on 28th. Prime Minister Kishida touts his track record of wage increases and his desire to completely overcome deflation, and is looking ahead to the dissolution of the House of Representatives at the end of the Diet session in June. Politics in Liberal Democratic Party Countries Funding Party Implicated in slush fund scandal Next week, the government will attempt to rebuild the government by punishing members of the party. However, the headwinds do not seem to be abating, and a difficult path awaits in deciding whether to abolish Christianity. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan will be on the offensive in April’s by-election for the third House of Representatives on a hidden agenda. With the House of Representatives election in mind, he is aiming to form alliances with opposition parties such as the Japan Restoration Party.
Third page. On the 28th, the Transport Safety Commissioner Association released an investigation report into the derailment of the Tohoku Shinkansen in March 2022 in Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures due to an earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of 6+. It was pointed out that a “rocking derailment” appeared to have occurred, in which the train, which had stopped due to the earthquake, shook violently, causing the wheels to lift up and ride over the rails. He called for measures to prevent derailments, saying, “Shinkansen trains that run at high speed must ensure maximum safety.”
Horse racing. Tastiera is the favorite.
Horse Racing, 68th Osaka Cup (31st, Hanshin 11R 2000m Turf).
The order of the sixteen horses (GI) was decided on the 29th. ②Last year’s number 3 was placed in the slot. The favorite is the Derby horse Tastiera. Arima Kinen ended up in 6th place due to the disadvantage of being caught in the final straight.
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