Overview
- The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed a shallow magnitude 5.6 earthquake off Amami Ōshima on Dec. 30, with JMA-intensity 4 in Tokunoshima and no tsunami warning.
- Following a Supreme Court-led review, family courts in six Chubu jurisdictions have designated at least 50 juvenile case files for special preservation through November, effectively preventing routine disposal.
- A Dec. 30 collision near Machu Picchu left one train driver dead and at least 30 people injured, including two Japanese nationals, according to local and embassy reports.
- Hokkaido coverage details an accelerating shift of young physicians into cosmetic surgery, exacerbating specialty and regional imbalances in medical care.
- Ban'ei Tokachi reported a single-day record ¥9.46 billion in betting ticket sales on Dec. 30, surpassing last year’s year-end mark.