Overview

• NTT West reported a communications equipment failure from about 3:45 p.m. on Sept. 16 that made landline calls difficult across Kyoto and Osaka and parts of Hyogo, leaving at least an hour when 119 calls did not connect.
• Kyoto City Fire Department publicized mobile contact numbers and urged in‑person reports at stations, with fire engines patrolling to alert residents during the outage.
• The Japan International Exposition Association said Sept. 13 drew 218,130 general visitors, the Expo’s highest daily total, with cumulative attendance reaching 19,009,393 through that date.
• The Nagoya High Court Kanazawa branch ruled for plaintiffs from Kanazawa and Toyama on Sept. 17, finding the 2013–2015 reductions to welfare benefit standards unconstitutional in second‑instance decisions.
• Ōbu City launched an early‑morning on‑campus childcare pilot at two elementary schools this term, using Silver Human Resources Center staff to supervise students before classes begin.