Latest news with #TakaharuNishi
The Mainichi
4 days ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
Southwest Japan's Saga Pref. to trial model project to accept foreign truck drivers
SAGA -- The Saga Prefectural Government on June 5 announced it is preparing to launch a model project aimed at accepting foreign truck drivers through a public-private partnership, describing it as the first such initiative in Japan. The prefecture will propose a supplementary budget earmarking 5 million yen (about $34,790) for the project during a prefectural assembly meeting to be convened June 12. According to the prefectural government, the initiative responds to local calls to utilize foreign personnel amid labor shortages in the distribution industry. The prefecture will handle support for visa applications and collaborate with the local trucking association, driving schools, and the Saga Prefecture International Relations Association to provide driving training and lifestyle support. The model project plans to accept three individuals from Thailand, a country with which Saga has established connections through film location shoots, with operations expected to begin in April 2026. The model will be used to evaluate challenges and other aspects of the initiative. Additionally, in the June supplementary budget proposal, the prefecture plans to allocate 13 million yen (around $90,000) for strategies to increase travel to and from Taipei and Shanghai, coinciding with increased flights at Kyushu-Saga International Airport, alongside existing measures to promote inbound tourism. (Japanese original by Takaharu Nishi, Saga Bureau)
The Mainichi
28-05-2025
- The Mainichi
Japan elementary school teacher sacked for allegedly possessing 500 child porn videos
SAGA -- A 37-year-old teacher at an elementary school in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, was handed disciplinary dismissal May 27 for allegedly possessing about 500 child pornography videos, the prefectural education board announced the same day. The education board determined that the teacher's action constituted discreditable conduct stipulated in the Local Public Service Act. According to the board, the teacher had received videos from multiple individuals he met on social media since around January 2024. He also distributed videos to multiple people, although none were reportedly self-produced. The issue came to light when he reported to the school that he had been questioned by the police. He was quoted as saying, "I sincerely apologize to the children and guardians who were hurt by my inappropriate actions." This is apparently the first disciplinary action related to child porn in the prefecture in at least the past five years. (Japanese original by Takaharu Nishi, Saga Bureau)
