An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.5 struck northeastern Chiba Prefecture early on October 29, 2026, with the Japan Meteorological Agency recording a maximum seismic intensity of 5 lower in Yokoshibahikari.
The Digital Agency released survey results on its Gen'nai government AI tool and launched a prototype app to help officials draft Diet answers, citing time savings but mixed feedback.
The Japan Pension Service says ongoing system upgrades at local governments nationwide may slow the verification of residence and income data needed to process pension claims, adding roughly one to two weeks to normal processing times.
The National Tax Agency has opened public comment on a draft plan to formally designate 'Japanese Whisky' as a protected geographic indication for distilled spirits.
Hokkaido's prefectural government has launched a dedicated website offering seminars, lawyer consultations and multilingual posters to help businesses prevent customer harassment, following a national law change.
Japan's health ministry revoked the labor dispatch and job placement licenses of Mie-based company INC after its conviction under the Immigration Control Act disqualified it from holding such licenses.
Japan's Immigration Services Agency is accepting public comments on a draft ministerial ordinance to revise enforcement regulations under the immigration law, with submissions due by late November 2026.
The Japan Meteorological Agency released a detailed report on the record-breaking rainfall caused by Typhoon No. 25, which struck from September 19 to 22, 2026.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says 2025 global averages of CO2, methane and nitrous oxide all hit record highs, with CO2 and N2O increasing faster than their long-term average.
Japan's health ministry is accepting public comments until November 24, 2026 on draft ministerial ordinances that would update National Health Insurance rules following amendments to the Health Insurance Act.
Japan's Digital Agency has updated its list of national qualifications that can be processed online via Mynaportal, newly including doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and other medical licenses.
Japan's education ministry is seeking public comments on a draft policy for publishing and adopting textbooks that include digital formats, with submissions open until November 8, 2026.
The Japan Pension Service has closed its Hirara and Ishigaki pension offices in Okinawa Prefecture from October 23 because of Typhoon No. 30, with reopening to be announced on its website.