Overview
- Urasoe’s city council approved an ordinance cutting Mayor Tetsuji Matsumoto’s salary by 20% for six months and Deputy Mayor Katsuya Higa’s by 10% for three months starting in January after a cost-calculation error drove the multipurpose sports facility’s budget over by more than ¥1 billion.
- The council vote passed 17–8, with leaders citing administrative responsibility for the overrun tied to an estimation mistake in the public works project.
- Asahikawa East Police on December 27 began a one-month pedestrian-only restriction on about 1.2 kilometers of town road near Biei’s “Christmas Tree” attraction, and the first day proceeded without major disruptions.
- Nemuro Subprefectural Bureau announced a special program for Northern Territories Day on February 7 that will feature former island residents and high school students in a radio broadcast and online stream marking 80 years since the end of the war.
- Sports and travel notes: boxer Marina Lorito lost a WBO atomweight title bout by split decision in Bern, Marco Schwarz won the men’s super-G World Cup race in Livigno, crowds filled JR Obihiro Station as year-end homecomings picked up, and the 104th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament opens December 28 at the National Stadium with Waseda Jitsugyo facing Tokushima Municipal.