Overview
- The government confirmed Prime Minister Takaichi will hold a Jan. 19 evening news conference at the Kantei to explain reasons for an expected early dissolution of the lower house ahead of the Jan. 23 Diet session.
- The Fukuoka High Court approved a settlement with the state that expands hepatitis B lawsuit relief to include patients with re-recurrence, covering about 160 people nationwide.
- Chiba University Hospital reported Phase 1 results using iPS-derived natural killer T cells in head and neck cancer: tumors shrank in 2 of 8 patients and growth was suppressed in 3, with safety confirmed in this early-stage study.
- Tokyo police and firefighters are investigating a Jan. 15 blaze in Yoyogi Park that burned tents and trees; a body was found at the scene, and the tent is believed to have been used by a person experiencing homelessness.
- Hokkaido police reported nine backcountry incidents through Jan. 15, resulting in one death and five injuries, and urged people to enter mountain areas in groups and to exercise caution.