Nipponica

Japan's antitrust watchdog on Tuesday announced guidelines under a new law to regulate monopolistic practices in the smartphone app market, mainly targeting U.S. tech giants Apple Inc. and Google LLC.

The core of the guidelines issued by the Japan Fair Trade Commission is a ban on discriminatory treatment of app stores not operated by the two platform companies. If more app stores compete and lower the commissions they charge developers, app prices for users could also fall, analysts said.

Somewhere in Cupertino, a rich executive is crying.

Emperor Naruhito met with Micronesian President Wesley Simina at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday.

During the 30-minute talks, the emperor voiced sorrow over the loss of numerous lives in the Oceanian island country during World War II, which ended 80 years ago, according to the Imperial Household Agency.

Japan does have some level of engagement with their former Pacific colonies, but there could be a chance to strengthen their ties with the US wavering with the Compacts of Free Association with Micronesia, the Marshalls, and Palau.

Japan recorded the highest ever temperature of 41.2 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, beating the previous high of 41.1 C marked in 2018 and 2020. Authorities are strongly urging people to take precautions to avoid risks of heatstroke.

The mercury hit the above-human temperature of 41.2 C in the city of Tanba, Hyogo Prefecture, at 14:39, while two cities — Fukuchiyama in Kyoto and Nishiwaki in Hyogo — also recorded extremely high temperatures of 40.6 C and 40 C, respectively.

Meanwhile, another weather disaster on the other side of the country.

A 1.3-meter-high tsunami was observed at Kuji Port in Kuji, Iwate Prefecture, at 1:52 p.m. on Wednesday, following a massive earthquake near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday morning.

Largest wave to hit Japan so far. Still not over yet but it looks like we got lucky today.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning and advisory for the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Okinawa in Wednesday morning. The estimate of maximum wave height is now expected to be 3 meter.

One-meter tsunami is expected to reach to Tokyo at 11:30 a.m., 3-meter tsunami to Kujukuri in Chiba at 10:30 a.m. and 1-meter tsunami to Osaka at 0 p.m.

The Finance Ministry on Tuesday upgraded its economic view on Okinawa Prefecture, reflecting robust vehicle sales and an increase in Japanese and foreign tourists.

Any good news about my old home is welcome. Okinawa during the pandemic was a quiet place so it is good that things are picking back up.

Energy company Eneos will soon launch a pilot initiative with printing group Toppan Holdings to recycle discarded paper into bioethanol, part of an effort to find a stable supply of the decarbonized fuel.

The field test is due to take place in early 2027. If successful, the companies aim to commercialize the technology as soon as fiscal 2030.

Cool tech, but the real money maker is to somehow convert all the waste plastic bags and packaging in this country into something useful.

Americans expressed mixed views on whether the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were justified, a survey by a U.S. research group showed Monday, signaling a possible change in the country's prevailing view that the attacks were necessary to bring a quick end to World War II.

The nationwide survey, conducted by Pew Research Center, revealed that 35 percent of American adults think using nuclear weapons in 1945 was justified, while 31 percent thought otherwise. A third said they are not sure.

The troubling thing here is that if you combine the 'pro-nuke' cohort with the 'dunno' one, it is still a clear majority that are either clueless or in support of mass civilian death.

For the January-June first half, tax-free sales totaled 285.7 billion yen, down 14.6%.

Some of the declines may have been exaggerated by a drop in tourism from Hong Kong and other mainly Chinese-speaking countries due to rumors of an imminent earthquake, which turned out to be groundless.

But industry officials caution that the slowdown may not be temporary and are redoubling their efforts to attract foreign shoppers amid global economic headwinds. Economists warn that the impact of Trump's tariffs -- on Friday the baseline 10% rate is set to go up -- will further raise consumer anxiety around the world.

Putting the Hong Kong earthquake hoax to one side, this is an example of actions having consequences. There is a slow anti-tourist movement growing in Japan and this is a natural and obvious result.

While I do understand the dislike of some tourist behavior and overcrowding, one also has to factor in the benefits of it, not just monetary but also in boosting Japan’s soft power. If the anti-tourism sentiment continues and increases, Japanese may have a quieter and less crowded country, but also a weaker and poorer one as well.

Support is growing within the Japan Innovation Party for the prospect of forming a coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito.

Support for joining the coalition is largely emerging from Osaka, the party’s home turf. JIP leader Hirofumi Yoshimura, who is also the governor of Osaka Prefecture, said Tuesday: “It’s important to establish a secondary capital, given the need to correct the ‘one-city dominance’ of Tokyo and handle national crisis management and economic growth.”

Such an arrangement with the LDP and Komeito could have a short term gain and allow the JIP to move closer to their Osaka Domination goal. But, looking longer term, if the LDP slide continues, they will be dragged down with them.

Also Wakkanai is really feeling left out of this second capital discussion.