Tsunami Warnings in Japan After 8.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Russia
n 8.8-
magnitude
earthquake struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday morning. The most powerful quake worldwide since the 2011 Tohoku disaster, it led to tsunami warnings for the coasts of Hokkaido and Honshu. There were also advisories for Shikoku,
Kyushu
and Okinawa. According to the Japan Meteorological
Agency
(JMA), waves of up to 3 meters are expected in affected regions. People have been advised to move away from coastal areas and rivers for their safety.
List of Contents:
Citizens Warned To 'Immediately Evacuate to Higher Ground or Safe Buildings'
Japanese Nuclear Power Plants Suspend Work Schedule
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Citizens Warned To 'Immediately Evacuate to Higher Ground or Safe Buildings'
'Those near the coast should evacuate immediately to higher ground or safe buildings in the areas covered by the tsunami warning from Hokkaido to Wakayama Prefecture,'
said
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi. 'Please be aware that after the initial wave, second and third waves of tsunamis can be even higher.'
Tsunami waves flooded parts of the Russian port town of Severo-Kurilsk, which has a population of around 2,000. The first waves, at 30-centimeters-high, reached Nemuro on Hokkaido's east coast after 10 a.m. Japan time. A 40-centimer-high tsunami was observed in Tokachi. Foreign tourists visiting the country have been advised to ask locals for help to find shelter and other assistance. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba
said
the government 'will put in our best effort in order to avoid any damage to the public.'
Japanese Nuclear Power Plants Suspend Work Schedule
Japanese nuclear power plants along the Pacific coast suspended their work schedule following the tsunami alert. So far, no injuries or abnormalities have been reported. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which suffered major damage from the magnitude 9.1 earthquake and tsunami in 2011 said about 4,000 workers are currently taking shelter on higher ground on the plant complex. Its release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea has also been suspended.
According to the US Geological Survey, the shallow quake struck at a depth of 19.3 kilometers. It was centered around 126 kilometers east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city along Russia's Avacha Bay. It is the strongest to hit the region since 1952. On Telegram, Kamchatka governor Vladimir Solodov
described
the quake as 'serious and the strongest in decades of tremors.'
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The Mainichi
4 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Living in Japan -- an exchange student's view: Time and seasonality (Pt. 2)
When I came to Japan, I brought with me a stack of various academic interests: U.S.-Japan relations, democratization, constitutional law, and political thought. As a student of international relations, I was more than eager to understand Japan's role on the world stage. My coursework was nothing less than full of theories of power, global structures, policy, and diplomacy. But being here, I gained a perspective extending beyond geopolitics. I also carried with me expectations others had told me about studying abroad: that my time here would be fast and exciting. Telling others I came to Tokyo to study, there was this sense that my time was limited. "Make the most of it," I was told. "You only have a year. Go everywhere, try everything, make it count." Things like taking photos at shrines, eating ramen, going shopping at Donki (as the discount store Don Quijote is familiarly known), playing at Tokyo Disneyland, traveling as much as possible, and experiencing the curated fantasy of Japan sold in study abroad brochures -- maybe to some, studying abroad should feel like an extended vacation with classes added in. It was expected I would return home with souvenirs and some insight into global and regional diplomacy. Instead, what has changed me the most during my time here has not been what I saw or what places I ticked off a checklist, but what I learned to notice. I marked time not by my deadlines or upcoming holidays, but instead by an awareness of the rhythm of the seasons, or "kisetsukan" in Japanese. Seasonality in Japan and the US Coming from California, where winters are marked by a few days' rain and the rest of the year is sunny and mild, the only indicators I had of the change of time were consumer events and holidays: the arrival of summer vacation, Halloween and Christmas, fireworks during New Year's Eve, a day off of school for Memorial Day weekend, or Black Friday sales after Thanksgiving in November. In contrast, I can recall each season of my life in Japan not by what exams I had coming up or what holiday I was desperately awaiting, but by my surroundings. I remember the illuminations during Christmas time and the carp banners in May. I remember what months I started seeing more tour groups in Harajuku and when the humidity started to rise again. I noticed the arrival of autumn leaves, cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, the rainy season, and the sound of cicadas. At my university's ikebana club, each week I could see the little ways in which the world changed through what we used for that week's arrangements: carnations, curly willow branches, blooming peonies, wreaths of evergreens. I began to notice that people I talked to would mention a particular flower blooming, or say things like, "It's starting to feel like summer." Living here, I started to anticipate these shifts too -- learning, slowly, to see time differently. It's how nature, meals, and feelings are tied to the shifting rhythms of the year. I think I gained a very different sense of "seasonality" that I didn't have at home. Time, politics, and cultural understanding Japan, from my perspective as an international student, essentially gave me a new clock to leave with. I came to Japan to study diplomacy, borders, and macro-politics. As a student of global affairs, I often study overarching global systems and fast-changing events. But what I learned living in a foreign culture has informed my thinking in a different way. It didn't just give me a new perspective on Japan; it helped me recognize how America's emphasis on productivity and consumption shapes even how we experience time. It has reminded me that culture is as essential to international understanding as policy is. Sometimes, it can even come down to just learning how another society eats, moves, marks time, and finds meaning. In our time of accelerated globalization, where cultural exchange is often reduced to tourism and superficial fusion, learning to inhabit the temporality of another place -- its rhythms, its rituals, its markers of change -- seems to be one of the most intimate and transformative forms of cross-cultural understanding and exchange to me. (By Kacey "Kei" Douglas) Profile: Kacey "Kei" Douglas is originally from San Francisco, California. She has been studying international relations, political science, and economics in Japan since 2024. She is currently participating in a study abroad exchange program between her home university in California and her host university in Tokyo. Her interests are in the Asia-Pacific region, comparative politics, and constitutional law. (This is Pt. 2 of a series. Subsequent parts will be published intermittently.)
SoraNews24
12 hours ago
- SoraNews24
What's the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Don Quijote in Japan?
Donki is a must-visit for tourists buying souvenirs, but locals have a different eye for what to find in store. If you've ever been to Japan, chances are you've stopped by a branch of Don Quijote. This retail chain is so massive that its operators, Pan Pacific International Holdings (PPIH), exceeded two trillion yen (US$13.26 billion) in sales for 2025, making it the third largest Japanese retailer, behind AEON Group at number two and Seven & i Holdings at number one. ▼ Don Quijote ('ドン・キホーテ') As the largest operating brand within PPIH, Don Quijote is a big money-maker, and it owes a lot of its success to inbound tourists, who use the store as a one-stop shop to purchase everything from viral beauty products to sake and sweets and even edible 10-yen coins. With so many varied products spread out throughout the store, though, trying to find what you want can be an overwhelming experience, so our team of local reporters have come together today to share their top recommendations for what to buy at the chain with just 1,000 yen. These recommendations reveal another side to Don Quijote that a lot of tourists don't see, as locals have a different eye for goods, so let's take a look at what they found for us, starting with… ▼ Yoshio's 'Cheap groceries using the app coupons! Set' Peyangu sauce yakisoba: 99 yen Mount Rainier café latte: 99 yen Maruchan yakisoba for 3 servings: 138 yen Farm Morning Yogurt Fresh Milk: 88 yen Kettle barley tea 650 millilitres: 59 yen Chocoball Caramel: 69 yen Chocoball Strawberry: 69 yen Monster Energy Ultra Violet: 128 yen CalorieMate chocolate flavor: 129 yen Plastic bag: 3 yen Total: 951 yen 'Don Quijote has the 'Majica app', and by registering for free, you can use coupons, which are generally valid for one purchase per coupon and per store. These coupons give you fantastic discounts so they're worth getting, especially if you're looking to buy food and drink as they can end up being cheaper than what you'd get at a supermarket.' Yoshio was the only one of our reporters who used the Majica app, and everyone was surprised by the cheap prices and number of items he was able to buy as a result. ▼ Takashi Harada's 'Resist the Heat Set' Gatsby Ice Deodorant Spray Cold Ocean: 603 yen Donki limited EX strongest cool Gatsby paper facial cleanser: 383 yen Total: 986 yen 'This summer, a nationwide heatwave is predicted, so I want to prepare well against the heat. I bought deodorant spray and facial cleansing sheets, the latter of which are a special Don Quijote exclusive with an intense cooling effect. Please try them out if you're curious!' Harada revealed two top finds from Don Quijote's drugstore section, showing his seasonal sensibilities and fondness for practicality. ▼ Takemichi Furusawa's 'Don Quijote Snacks 5-Item Set' Dodonto Pudding: 298 yen Canister Potato Chips (sour cream): 159 yen Strong Carbonated Water 500ml (lime): 89 yen Fruit Juice Konjac Jelly (apple): 118 yen Puni Character Gummies (Donpen): 259 yen Total: 996 yen 'I put together a snack set using Don Quijote's private brand 'Jonetsu Kaku' ('Passion Price'). I chose gummies and jelly drinks for a quick sugar boost during work and I also picked up carbonated water and potato chips for a light snack. Getting a hefty 5-item snack package for 996 yen is a pretty good deal in my book so I highly recommend trying it ifyou can!' Furusawa was one of the few team members to bet big on snacks, and by opting for the 'Jonetsu Kaku' line he was able to get a lot for his money's worth. ▼ Yuichiro Wasai's 'The Ultimate 2-Top Rice Companions' Jonetsu Kaku Garlic Sesame: 431 yen Jonetsu Kaku Korean seasoned seaweed 12 packs: 474 yen Total: 905 yen 'Have you heard of Don Quijote's 'Garlic Sesame'? It became so popular it was sold out for a while, and many people got hooked on it. I'm no exception; in my house, it's a starter player among furikake (rice toppings). Additionally, Korean seasoned seaweed. You might think it's an ordinary product, but this is 'Made in Japan' Korean seaweed. With 12 packs included, it's cost-effective and obviously goes great with rice. The two items come to just over 900 yen. It doesn't reach 1,000 yen, but I couldn't think of a better combination at Don Quijote.' Wasai bought rice companions based on a 'daily use' concept. These seem to be carefully chosen favorite products. ▼ Masanuki Sunakoma's 'Extra Thick MAX Set!' Japan-made fireworks – Extra Thick MAX: 769 yen Long-lasting lighter: 219 yen Total: 988 yen 'I was surprised that my 1,000 yen budget could get me both fireworks and a lighter at Don Quijote! The Extra Thick MAX is a Niagara-style extra thick spark firework, burning for about 30 seconds for maximum satisfaction. What more would you need for some summertime fun? ' Masanuki surprised everyone with his find as a 30-second burn time for commercial fireworks is impressively long. Nobody, however, was surprised that he opted to play with fireworks, because that's how he likes to roll. ▼ Go Hatori's 'The Ultimate Nine Liters of Carbonated Water!' Jonetsu Kaku Don Quijote's Strongest Carbonated Water 1,000 millilitres (99 yen each) × 9 bottles Total: 962 yen 'Recently, I've been hooked on carbonated water. It's refreshing and tasty with zero calories and no fat, so you can drink as much as you want while dieting or trying to lose weight! Normally, I buy it at a local supermarket for about 68 yen per 500 millilitres, but at Don Quijote, a litre costs 99 yen, which is a great deal. On top of that, it's labeled as the 'strongest carbonation' so I decided to go all-in on it — I probably won't need to buy carbonated water for a while…' Go Hatori's purchase is a great reminder to go all in when you have a love for something, even if it's carbonated water. ▼ Mr Sato's 'Unbelievable Price! Jonetsu Kaku Pasta Set' Jonetsu Kaku just-mix pasta sauce (Peperoncino): 194 yen Jonetsu Kaku just-mix pasta sauce (Tomato and basil): 194 yen Jonetsu Kaku quick boil bundled spaghetti: 323 yen Jonetsu Kaku oil sardines (×2): 128 yen × 2 Total: 967 yen 'Don Quijote is famous for the so-called 'unbelievable prices' of its own-brand, Jonetsu Kaku. Recently, they've been focusing on food with many creative gems like this quick boil spaghetti that cooks in just three minutes. While the taste is so-so, it's good enough for a quick lunch, and when you add the pasta sauce and sardines, you have a proper treat. Please try it out!' Mr Sato bought everything necessary to whip up a big and tasty pasta meal, and he says he'll be able to get four servings out of it, making it a great-value purchase. ▼ Ahiruneko's 'Passionate Cost-Cut Senbero Set' Jonetsu Kaku authentic lager beer: 164 yen (×6) Total: 957 yen (including the discount for the 6-item bulk purchase) 'When it come to the Jonetsu Kaku range, I'm a big fan of the Korean seaweed, but I decided to try something different this time, as these monochrome cans caught my eye. I decided to forego the snacks I'd usually buy for a night of drinking, which allowed me to splurge on six cans of beer to quench my summertime thirst.' Ahiruneko, or ' Mr Alcohol ' as he's known around the office, showed his love for a tipple is as strong as ever. ▼ Mariko Onabatake's 'Housewives Can't Resist Mitts Tock's Magic Set' Jonetsu Kaku daily clean kitchen sponges Floor wet sheets Floor dry sheets Disposable nonwoven fabric cleaner to remove water stains and soap scum Aluminum foil for frying pans Total: 990 yen 'I looked all over Don Quijote and my housewife instincts kicked in immediately when I spied the '3itz toc!' corner, where three items usually costing 220 yen each can be bought for a bargain price of 550 yen. 3itz toc includes consumables such as sponges, garbage bags, wipers, zip-lock bags, hooks, and clothespins, but this time, I focused on large quantities of cleaning goods so I can give my place a good summer clean!' ▼ '3itz toc!' Donki's '3itz toc!' is a little-known corner area that people tend to bypass, but given Mariko's bargain finds, we'll definitely be keeping a better eye out for the range in future. ▼ Seiji Nakazawa's 'Shibuya Cleaning Set' Jonetsu Kaku pipe cleaner 1,000 millilitres (two-pack, 278 yen) × 4 Kinoko no Yama (chocolate-covered cookies): 218 yen Total: 825 yen 'Don Quijote's Jonetsu Kaku brand is super popular, and I regularly buy the pipe cleaner at Don Quijote in Shibuya as it's super cheap. The famous 'Pipe Unish' brand usually costs around 317 yen per litre, but Jonetsu Kaku's is only 219 yen per litre. Plus, if you buy a set of two it's even cheaper, at 278, so you can save 160 yen, which is a fantastic deal.' As a man who believes you can never have too many pipe cleaners, Seiji was very pleased with his Don Quijote haul and was able to reward himself for his efforts with a box of chocolate to boot. ▼ P.K. Sanjun's 'Honestly What I Usually Buy Set' Jonetsu Kaku dental floss picks (white): 219 yen Jonetsu Kaku dental floss picks (black) × 2: 219 yen each Jonetsu Kaku canned sardines in water: 323 yen Total: 978 yen 'This time, I put together a set of things I usually buy at Don Quijote. Though unintentional, it all turned out to be Jonetsu Kaku products, which gives you an idea of just how reliable the brand is. Incidentally, Don Quijote's floss has the most fantastic flexibility so it's a must-buy, even for those visiting from overseas.' An interesting point to note here is the white floss actually contains 20 more pieces than the black, but the black seems to clean better. So there you have it — 11 bundles of items that you can purchase at Don Quijote for less than 1,000 yen. Locals really know how to make a little go a long way, so if you're on a tight budget, Donki is a great place to stretch your yen. It really does stock just about everything under the sun, so you never know what you might come across next time you're browsing the aisles! Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
20 hours ago
JAL Launches Premium Credit Card for Wealthy Travelers
News from Japan Economy Aug 1, 2025 16:28 (JST) Tokyo, Aug. 1 (Jiji Press)--Japan Airlines on Friday launched a credit card for affluent customers, offering higher frequent flyer points as well as exclusive services. The JAL Luxury Card carries an annual fee of 242,000 yen and targets business executives with annual card spending of 30 million yen or more. Cardholders will earn at least 1.25 pct in frequent flier mileage returns and gain access to perks including a 24-hour concierge service that can book restaurants overseas, a limousine shuttle service and exclusive exchange events. The launch is the result of cooperation with Japanese credit card companies Aplus Co. and Black Card I, the issuer of U.S.-based Luxury Card series for the wealthy. JAL also introduced a higher-tier version, JAL Luxury Card Limited, which carries an annual fee of 599,500 yen. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
