Hello and welcome to today’s news from Japan Daily News on June 4th, 2024. In Tokyo’s Minato Ward, a mother gave a speech on the 18th anniversary of a tragic elevator accident in which a high school student lost their life. The mother urged society to prioritize the protection of lives, stating that it was not just an isolated incident. Moving on to another tragic incident, a house fire in Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture, claimed the lives of a couple. The fire completely engulfed the house, and although the couple was rushed to the hospital, they unfortunately did not survive. The police are currently investigating the cause of the fire and trying to reach out to their relatives.

Switching gears, a chain of drugstores called Daikokudrug in Osaka has been accused of repeatedly selling duty-free goods to Chinese tourists suspected of reselling them. The Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau pointed out the inappropriate sales and imposed a total of 300 million yen in additional taxes on the two companies operating the stores. This incident sheds light on the issue of tax evasion through duty-free shopping.

Moving on to a serious breach of personal information, the Supreme Court disclosed that the email addresses of 900 individuals were leaked due to a mistake during a mass email sending. The mistake occurred when the addresses were visible to all recipients. The Supreme Court is currently investigating the matter and taking appropriate measures to address the breach.

In the imperial family, Her Imperial Highness Princess Yuriko of Mikasa, who holds the title of the oldest member of the royal family, celebrated her 101st birthday. Princess Yuriko is a prominent figure in the imperial household and her longevity is a cause for celebration.

Shifting focus to the automotive industry, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism plans to conduct an on-site inspection at the headquarters of Toyota Motor Corporation in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. This inspection is in response to the revelation that five automakers, including Toyota, engaged in misconduct related to obtaining type approvals necessary for mass production of vehicles. The ministry aims to gather detailed information and ensure compliance with regulations.

Lastly, residents of the Kanto and Koshin regions are advised to exercise caution as heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms is expected. The unstable atmospheric conditions may lead to landslides and flooding in low-lying areas. Stay alert and take necessary precautions to ensure your safety. And now for the weather. Today in Tokyo, the weather will be partly cloudy with a maximum temperature of 25°C and a minimum temperature of 17°C. There is a chance of patchy rain nearby throughout the day. The average temperature will be around 20°C. Visit JapanDailyNews.com for the news, yen exchange rates, and a daily Japanese proverb.