Death Toll in Flood-Ravaged Kyushu Rises to 34, with Seven Still Missing – Fukuoka

The number of deaths in flood-hit southwestern Japan climbed to 34 Monday, with seven more people still unaccounted for, as volunteer workers helped rebuilding efforts on the last day of a long weekend. Some 2,700 Self-Defense Forces personnel and firefighters continued their search for the missing people, while around 9,000 volunteers worked over the three-day holiday weekend to clear mud and damaged furniture from houses.
But their work was temporarily suspended Monday as evacuation orders were issued to some 16,000 residents in about almost 6,000 households in the city of Asakura and the village of Toho, both in Fukuoka Prefecture, due to potential heavy rain. They were among the areas hit hardest by torrential rain that began July 5.

Saitama Teacher Tells Fourth-Grader to Jump Out Window after Classroom Disturbance – Saitama

A public elementary school teacher in Saitama Prefecture told a fourth-grader to jump out of a classroom window last week, prompting the boy to avoid going to school, the local board of education said Tuesday. The board quoted the homeroom teacher in his 40s as saying, “jump out the window” and “do not come here starting tomorrow.” The comments were made on Wednesday at Yamaguchi Elementary School in the city of Tokorozawa, the board said. The teacher also told the other students in the class that they could “have fun with 33 members starting tomorrow,” although the class actually has 34 students, it added.
The incident came to light after the mothers of other students in the class reported the comments to the school.

The board of education is considering disciplinary action for the teacher. An investigation by the school has found that the teacher kicked the same boy in the back in April in an act of corporal punishment. The teacher told the school that he made the remarks after a disturbance broke out in the classroom, the board said, adding that he admitted that his words were inappropriate and apologised to the boy and his guardians.

Tokyo Seeking 90,000 Volunteers to Guide Tourists during 2020 Games – Tokyo

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee aim to secure more than 90,000 volunteers to welcome visitors to Japan for the 2020 Games. The capital is pondering ways to attract and train volunteers to offer omotenashi, or Japanese hospitality.

For the Tokyo Games, two types of volunteer work are planned. One is for manning the venues, which includes guiding spectators at the event facilities and performing front desk jobs, while the other involves guiding visitors to airports, major train stations and sightseeing spots.

The metro government and the organizing committee plan to require volunteers to commit to at least 10 days of work in the venues and five days outside them, officials said. Recruiting will begin around summer 2018, followed by application screenings and interviews.

Security Cameras to be Installed on Kyushu Shinkansen in Run-Up to 2020 Olympics – Fukuoka

Kyushu Railway Co. said Wednesday it will install security cameras in its shinkansen running in Kyushu beginning in November to enhance security ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. The railway will introduce the cameras in passenger cabins and the decks of the 800 Series shinkansen connecting Hakata in Fukuoka Prefecture, the biggest railway station in Kyushu, and Kagoshima-Chuo Station. The operator plans to complete installation of the cameras on all of its 19 bullet trains by 2020, as well as on the N700 Series that connects to the Sanyo Shinkansen Line running in western Japan, it said.

Currently, on the N700 Series, cameras are only installed on the decks. They will be added to the passenger cabins from fiscal 2018, the company said. The railway hopes the introduction of the cameras, with continuous recording, will help prevent crimes such as molestation, officials said.