Recent decades have seen a drive to push more power to a local level in Japan, writes deputy editor Martin George. Local government in Japan has something
Authorities in Osaka, Wakayama and Nagasaki prefectures are now racing against the clock to overcome a variety of challenges in their plans to host casino-centered integrated resorts (IR).
A no-entry sign stands in March at a site where toxic herbicide was buried in Yakushima, Kagoshima Prefecture. (Tsuyoshi Takeda)
YAKUSHIMA, Kagoshima Prefecture Additional safety precautions are being called for to warn the public of nearly four tons of a toxic weedkiller long buried in Yakushima island, a World Natural Heritage site.
The herbicide containing extremely toxic dioxin was buried underground in a forest here half a century ago by the Forestry Agency.
Yakushima Mayor Koji Araki pledged to consider a response after a local assemblywoman pointed out the danger.
The weedkiller in Yakushima is part of a large cache buried across Japan, sparking calls for proper disposal.