The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
Japan child abuse cases hit new record 225,000 in FY 2023
TOKYO - The number of child abuse reports Japan's child welfare centers responded to reached a record-high 225,509 in fiscal 2023, government data showed Tuesday, with psychological abuse making up more than half.
The total rose 5.0 percent, or 10,666 cases, from fiscal 2022, marking the 33rd consecutive year of increases since records began, according to the revised figures compiled by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Children and Families Agency.
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Japan high court rules same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional
OSAKA - The Osaka High Court on Tuesday became the fifth high court in Japan to rule that the country's lack of legal recognition of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, but it upheld a lower court decision not to award damages.
The latest ruling, in line with those of the Sapporo, Tokyo, Fukuoka and Nagoya high courts, overturned the Osaka District Court's judgment that the effective ban on same-sex marriage was constitutional.
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Kyoto OKs hiking city lodging tax to up to 10,000 yen per night
KYOTO - The Kyoto city assembly approved Tuesday sharply raising the lodging tax for people staying at hotels and other accommodations in the ancient Japanese capital, with a maximum rate of 10,000 yen ($66.40) for stays costing 100,000 yen or more per person per night.
Until now, the highest tax rate was 1,000 yen for stays costing 50,000 yen or more. The city, heavily impacted by a surge of tourists in recent years, plans to charge the new rates to visiting guests from March 1 next year.
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Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church
TOKYO - A Japanese court on Tuesday ordered that the Unification Church, which has been criticized for soliciting financially ruinous donations from its members, be dissolved, following a request from the central government.
The order by the Tokyo District Court will deprive the controversial organization of its status as a religious corporation with tax advantages, although it will still be allowed to operate in Japan.
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Japan PM eyes "powerful" inflation-relief steps after budget enacted
TOKYO - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday that the government wants to implement "powerful" inflation relief measures as Japanese households grapple with rising prices, particularly for staple food rice.
Ishiba, also the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, told Tetsuo Saito, head of the Komeito party, the LDP's junior coalition partner, that the measures will come after parliament approves a draft budget for the next fiscal year starting April, Saito told reporters after his meeting with the prime minister.
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Trump says he will announce auto tariffs in "next few days"
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he plans to unleash additional auto tariffs in the "next few days," suggesting the announcement will be made earlier than initially planned.
Following an order from Trump, the White House said separately that a tariff of 25 percent may be imposed on all goods from any country that buys oil from Venezuela, starting on or after April 2.
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2026 Olympics to have AI-powered ice conditioning for skating events
TOKYO - Artificial intelligence helped maintain the conditions of the ice at figure skating and short track test events held last month in Milan, a year before the 2026 Winter Olympics.
According to the local organizing committee, AI analyzed the collected data and kept the ice in the right conditions after humidity and ice temperature were monitored by sensors installed around the rink.
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3 Japan airports to use unified gates for immigration, customs checks
TOKYO - Three major Japanese airports will introduce new electronic stands from April to streamline immigration and customs checks, government agencies said Tuesday, simplifying the current process requiring passports to be shown multiple times.
Japanese travelers returning to the country and foreign visitors will be eligible to use the technology, according to Japan Customs and the Immigration Services Agency. The gates are intended to improve convenience and shorten processing times.
Video: JR Sakurajima Station finishes renovation in preparation for the 2025 World Exposition
