theTokyoBill Japan news brief

theTokyoBill Japan news brief, December 2 2024

In this episode: “That woman” Shiori Ito’s work appreciated outside of her own country; Polar Bear Peace turns 25; Japan to provide security assistance to near-Asian nations; Next-generation solar cells in development; Food prices to rise in 2025

Duration:: 5m
Broadcast on:: 02 Dec 2024
Audio Format:: other

A short (3-5 min.) English language news brief; stories from in and around Japan.

Music is Motivate by Wavecont, care of Pixabay.com.

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Welcome to the Tokyo Build, a short news brief on recent events in and around Japan. In 2017, young journalist Shori Ito accused TV journalist Nodiyuki Yamaguchi of raping her, sparking Japan's #MeToo movement and leading to threats in online trolling. She relocated to London and worked on a documentary and memoir with filmmaker Anna Akpilin, titled Black Fox Diaries, delving into the legal battle and Japan's outdated rape laws. Following screenings at a number of international film festivals, Ito aims to screen the film in Japan, depicting her investigative skills and emotional struggles. The documentary, featuring hotel security footage of Yamaguchi with an incapacitated Ito, has resonated with audiences worldwide, encouraging others to share their stories and raising awareness about sexual assault. Ito plans to continue spreading awareness of sexual assault despite anticipating negative judgment from her countrymen. As a piece, Japan's oldest bottle-fed polar bear is turning 25 this week. She was raised by zookeepers after being separated from her mother and has been adored by visitors at Tobey's Zoological Park. Zookeeper Atsuhiro Takayichi has cared for peace since birth, isolated from her mother since mauling her brother to death. Takayichi raised peace in his own home to protect her from loneliness, while keeping her away from his own family to protect her from human-curious diseases. Tobey Zoo will celebrate her birthday with a frozen cake with apples, her favorite tree. Japan plans to provide defense equipment to the Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia and Djibouti as part of its official security assistance to similarly aligned countries. The Official Security Assistance, or OSA, grant aid for fiscal 2024 will total 5 billion yen with specific equipment earmarked for each country based on their security needs. Japan aims to help recipient countries strengthen their defense capabilities in response to security concerns, particularly China's assertive military actions in the Asia-Pacific region. The Philippines, in particular, is set to receive radar equipment to address China's increasing military presence in the South China Sea due to territorial disputes. The Japanese government plans to generate 20 gigabytes of electricity, equivalent to the output of 20 nuclear reactors using thin and bendable perovskite solar cells by fiscal 2040. The industry ministry considers next-generation solar cells key in expanding renewables to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Since Japan is a major producer of iodine, a primary material for perovskite solar cells, it can create a stable supply chain for economic security. The introduction of perovskite solar cells in Japan has been hindered by challenges such as durability and cost competition. With full implementation not expected until the 2030s. Consumers in Japan will face higher grocery bills as food makers plan to increase prices on almost 4,000 items between January and April next year. Research firm Taekoku Data Bank found the back prices go rise on over 1,000 items in January alone, with a continued upward trend throughout the year. Price hikes are attributed to increased raw material costs, distribution expenses, and higher personnel costs. By year end 2024, 12,520 food items are expected to see price increases, down about 60% from the previous year. Liquor and beverage products, bread products, and processed foods will be among the items with higher prices come early 2025. This has been the Tokyo Build. These stories and more you can read at thetokobill.com. I've been and remain Tokyo Build. Thank you for listening and take care. [Music] [MUSIC PLAYING]