The Japan Meteorological Agency is urging caution due to the ongoing snowfall and potential blizzards caused by a winter pressure pattern and strong cold air aloft. Snow is expected to continue from northern to western Japan, particularly along the Sea of Japan, with significant accumulations predicted. The agency warns of potential traffic disruptions and other impacts.
Over the next 24 hours, snowfall is expected to reach up to 60 cm in the Tohoku region, 50 cm in Kanto-Koshin and Niigata, 40 cm in Gifu, and 30 cm in Hokuriku. These amounts are likely to increase further, prompting warnings from authorities.
During their meeting, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar discussed maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law, with China's increasing maritime activities in mind. They also agreed to collaborate on Asia's decarbonization efforts, supply chain resilience, and disaster response.
Nippon Ishin no Kai proposed implementing free high school tuition starting April 2024 without income restrictions, along with free childcare for ages 0-2 and free school lunches from April 2025. The ruling parties acknowledged the need for free tuition but highlighted practical challenges, including funding and legal revisions, delaying immediate implementation.
The wildfires near Los Angeles are estimated to cause economic losses between $52 billion and $57 billion (approximately 8.2 to 9 trillion yen). The affected area includes some of the most expensive real estate in the U.S., and over 9,000 structures have been destroyed or damaged.
Several Japanese government websites, including those of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, were found to have security vulnerabilities. In one case, a domain previously used by the ministry was temporarily redirected to an online casino advertisement site. Most issues have since been corrected.
Former Prime Minister Suga emphasized the importance of strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance and building a close relationship where leaders can communicate freely and frequently. He highlighted the need for both countries to work together to enhance regional peace and stability.
During the New Year's lecture event, the Emperor and Empress listened to a lecture by Professor Takeda Sachiko, an expert in clothing history. She discussed how clothing in ancient East Asian states served as a visual marker of status, ethnicity, and political expression, emphasizing its role in social and political contexts.
The Tokyo stock market saw a slight decline as investors sought to secure profits ahead of the U.S. employment statistics release. The Nikkei average dropped by 193.33 points to 39,411.76, with cautious sentiment also influenced by the Federal Reserve's cautious stance on additional rate cuts.