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Funding Shock Hits U.S. Public Media as Japanese Authorities Tighten Oversight

The day’s developments show funding decisions driving immediate consequences for media and public services through assertive oversight.

Overview

  • On January 5, the CPB board formally voted to dissolve after the Trump administration halted federal funding that supports NPR, PBS and more than a thousand local stations.
  • The Hokkaido Transport Bureau on January 7 ordered use-stop sanctions on 15 light vans at eight Japan Post offices over failures in required alcohol checks for delivery staff.
  • Tomakomai police said special-fraud losses for January–November 2025 rose about 5.5 times to 35.5 million yen, with scams impersonating police and prosecutors targeting a wide age range.
  • A special investigative report made public on January 7 found former Fukui governor Tatsuji Sugimoto lacked leadership awareness regarding sexual harassment and recorded explicit messages.
  • Firefighters in Ebetsu battled a late-night blaze that began at a residence and motorcycle shop and spread to three nearby buildings, with authorities reporting no injuries.