Latest news with #landministry
CNA
5 days ago
- Climate
- CNA
'Never seen before' rains lash southern Japan
TOKYO: Japan's weather agency issued a special heavy rain alert for the southern region of Kagoshima on Friday (Aug 8), warning "lives are at risk". The deluge follows a period of punishing heat in many parts of Japan, with a national record temperature of 41.8°C. Kagoshima "is seeing heavy rains that it has never experienced before", an official of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) told a press conference. "Lives are at risk ... We ask that you secure your safety by moving to buildings located even slightly away from streams or cliffs, or to buildings less prone to flooding," he said, noting that dangerous conditions may already exist in affected areas. The JMA official also urged residents to evacuate without waiting for orders from municipalities. A land ministry official warned in the same press conference about the risks of rivers bursting their banks. More than 490mm of rain fell over 24 hours through 4.40am (3.40am, Singapore time) in one area of Kagoshima - its largest recorded downpour, according to Kyodo News. Kirishima, a city in Kagoshima, told residents to evacuate or take alternative measures following the JMA's special warning - the highest on its five-scale system. "Rivers are swelling, posing a risk of flooding, or flooding may have already occurred over the levees," the city said on its website.
NHK
28-05-2025
- Business
- NHK
Japanese govt. to look into condo purchases by foreigners
Japan's land ministry is planning to conduct its first-ever survey on purchases of condominiums by foreign nationals for investment. Some analysts believe that the purchases are behind rising condo prices, particularly in Tokyo. But the Japanese government lacks data to gain a clear picture of the situation. Prices of new units have been soaring in the capital, averaging over 100-million yen, or more than 690 thousand dollars. The land ministry will analyze condo registry information received from the Justice Ministry. Registries do not indicate buyers' nationality. But the land ministry says it will examine the owners' home addresses to determine whether they are foreign nationals. The ministry plans to look into registry information going back several years covering about 110-thousand transactions annually. It will use the information to determine the rate of purchases by non-Japanese citizens and whether the trend is rising or falling. Real estate purchases by people from abroad are legal. But speculation, such as reselling properties after holding them for short periods, can inflate prices if the practice becomes widespread. The risk is that residents may find buying their own homes unaffordable. The ministry plans to use the survey results to study future housing policies.
