Transcript

Hello and welcome to today’s news from Japan Daily News on June 22nd, 2023. In today’s news, a fire broke out at the J-PARC nuclear facility in Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture. The fire originated from a power supply unit in the radiation control area but was quickly extinguished, and there were no injuries or leaks of radioactive materials reported.

Moving on to international news, Emperor Naruhito attended a banquet hosted by the royal family in Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. The visit to Indonesia continues to strengthen the diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In other news, a tragic incident occurred in Saitama Prefecture, where the body of a newborn baby was discovered buried in the Arakawa riverbed. The police have arrested a Vietnamese suspect believed to be the father of the child on suspicion of abandoning the body.

Meanwhile, in Kagawa Prefecture, a 37-year-old relative has been arrested for allegedly mixing a toxic substance, lead acetate, into powdered milk given to an infant. The baby suffered from lead poisoning and anemia but has since recovered. The police are investigating the motive behind this disturbing act.

Renowned sculptor Kiichi Sumikawa has passed away at the age of 91. Known for his series of works called ‘Forms with Curves’ that involved carving wood into curved shapes, Sumikawa also contributed to the design of the Tokyo Skytree.

In local news, the mayor of Yokosuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture, Katsuaki Kamiji, has apologized for his remarks made during a city council meeting. He expressed regret for his insensitive comments regarding the historical oppression of women and stated that he is considering retracting his statement.

In Hokkaido, the closure of Makomanai Park has been announced due to multiple reports of bear sightings. The park will remain closed until further notice, and local authorities have increased security measures in the surrounding area.

Lastly, in Okinawa, four ships belonging to the Chinese Coast Guard briefly entered Japanese territorial waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands. After approximately two hours, the ships left the area. The Japan Coast Guard continues to monitor the situation and has issued warnings to prevent further intrusions.

That’s all for today’s news. Stay tuned for more updates from Japan Daily News. And now for the weather. Today in Tokyo, the weather will be cloudy with a maximum temperature of 23°C and a minimum temperature of 21°C. There is a 0% chance of rain and the UV index is 5. And that’s all for today’s news. Thanks for listening to Japan Daily News.