News in Japan - August

GEJET

Trillions for rebuilding Tohoku go unused

Japan city votes to destroy tsunami ship landmark

Fukushima clean-up turns toxic for Japan's Tepco

Foreign nuclear experts blast TEPCO over lack of transparency

TEPCO says it was reluctant to worry public over toxic water leak

High-Level Cesium Found Deep Underground at Fukushima N-Plant

Fukushima evacuees allowed to stay home overnight

Fukushima plant may have leaked huge amount of radioactive tritium

Exclusive: Japan nuclear body says radioactive water at Fukushima an 'emergency'

Tokyo Electric can’t stop radioactive flow at Fukushima plant

Japan ponders freezing Fukushima ground to stop leaks

Workers at Fukushima plant suffer radiation

Fukushima plant spilling contaminated water into the sea 'for years'

NRA approves TEPCO's reactor decommission plan

TEPCO: Largest ever tank leak since crisis

Japan's Fukushima nuclear crisis deepens, China expresses 'shock'

Leaking tank at Fukushima plant has no water gauge

Fukushima operator to seek foreign advice on toxic water

Japan formally raises Fukushima water leak to INES Level 3 incident

Japan

Fuji erupted 43 times in 2,000 years

One dead, two missing in ‘unprecedented’ west Japan rain

Rescue operations under way in Yamaguchi, Shimane prefs

Local downpours stoke concern

Floods, Landslides Turn Deadly in Japan

Sakurajima volcano erupts in Japan

Heavy rain in northern Japan; too little in south

How giant tunnels protect Tokyo from flood threat

E-map eyed for Nankai earthquake aftermath

Japan launches new emergency disaster warning system

Netherlands

Exceptionally high amount of deaths due to swimming in natural waters (Dutch)

Heavy rain leads to local trouble in the North (Dutch)

Drones help people suffering from heart attacks (Dutch)

USA

Human Activity Muddies Causes of Texas Floods

Social

Grandma on Feeding Tube Without Consent Symbolizes Japan

Japan's Aso refuses to resign over Nazi comment

Richard Wilkinson: How economic inequality harms societies

Few foreigners tempted by points system

Prove you’re Japanese: when being bicultural can be a burden

The rich really are different: Their bodies contain unique chemical pollutants

Sheryl Sandberg: Gender equality won't happen unless men speak up

Hikikomori: Why are so many Japanese men refusing to leave their rooms

Japan's Population Drops for 4th Straight Year

Other areas

Wellington shaken by severe earthquake

Planning by Postcode: How Prepared Are Cities for Climate Change?

Pakistan floods affect 300,000: officials

Future flood losses in major coastal cities

Future Flood Losses in Major Coastal Cities: Costly Projections

Russia’s Far East hit by biggest floods in 120 years

Floods leave at least 107 dead in China

Dams Destabilize River Food Webs: Lessons from the Grand Canyon

Highlights: 

Saturday classes could be restarted

The current five-day school week began on a once-a-month trial basis in September 1992, and was increased to twice a month in fiscal 1995. The five-day school week was fully implemented in fiscal 2002. However, education experts have blamed the five-day school week for deteriorating scores among students. They also said students are not spending their Saturdays as initially envisioned, such as participating in community activities.

Weather agency to develop new radar

The Japan Meteorological Agency plans to develop a new weather radar within the next five years to more accurately forecast torrential rain and tornadoes, agency officials said Tuesday.

The agency plans to request ¥995 million for the project in the fiscal 2014 budget, the officials said.

The plan follows heavy rain that hit the Chugoku and Tohoku regions this summer and a powerful tornado in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, in May 2012.

Torrential rain and tornadoes can occur with the buildup of cumulonimbus clouds. The envisioned new phased array radar, which comprises a number of small antennas lined up to emit radio waves, is able to record the movement of such clouds every 10 seconds, according to the officials.