Overview
- Government announced a new Disaster Agency to be established in 2026, prioritizing the central headquarters and outlining the need for at least two regional bases in areas such as Hokkaido and Tohoku.
- The first inter-ministerial meeting on securing essential imports convened to address risks to supplies like LNG and wheat, with a policy direction targeted by next summer.
- The Health Ministry reported a record 3,770 fiscal 2024 cases of abuse against people with disabilities, including three family-related deaths, attributing part of the rise to increased reporting.
- Chiba prosecutors indicted Sumiyoshi-kai leader Osamu Ogawa and three executives for theft and home intrusion over an alleged ¥50 million burglary at the former chairman’s residence; separate intimidation-related allegations were dropped for lack of evidence.
- The government opened a sub-ministerial taskforce on sex-difference healthcare to expand access to specialized care for women’s health issues such as menstruation and menopause.