Shigeaki Hinohara, honorary head of St Luke’s International Hospital, died aged 105 on July 18th. Hinohara studied medicine at Kyoto Imperial University and began working at St. Luke’s in Tokyo in 1941. During World War II, he treated many people injured by the air raids there. Hinohara was well known for his significant contribution to healthcare in Japan. He had long advocated the importance of preventive medicine and introduced the comprehensive check-ups called “ningen dock.” Following the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995, he led a medical team that saved many victims’ lives. Hinohara always encouraged senior citizens to maintain an active social life and avoid illness by having fun. He himself continued seeing patients until after he turned 100.

On June 23rd, the UK held a referendum to ask its people whether it should leave the European Union. Prime Minister David Cameron called the referendum due to growing public frustration over EU policies on economics and immigration. The poll drew a turnout of over 70 percent. According to the results, about 17.4 million people voted to leave while around 16.1 million chose to stay. Cameron, a remain supporter, has resigned following the result. New leader Theresa May is Britain’s second female prime minister. The UK intends to start formal negotiations for exiting the EU under her leadership. The UK’s decision marks a critical point for the future of the EU. According to media reports, several other member countries also have groups that are calling for withdrawal. Meanwhile, various non-member countries are eager to join, largely to help address their economic and immigration issues.

An artificial intelligence recently defeated the world’s top professional Go player in a match held in Korea. Developed by a Google company, AlphaGo won four out of the five games played. Go originated in China thousands of years ago. Although its rules are simple, there are many more possible moves than other board games such as chess. It also requires intuition and feel. This complexity has made it difficult for computers to master. AlphaGo’s success reportedly depended on a new AI technology called deep learning. The technology allows it to learn like a human brain, using examples and experience to make better moves. AlphaGo’s victory surprised many people and raised interest in both Go and AI. Rapid advances in AI technology mean it could soon be used to address various problems in society. This includes major challenges in the medical and industrial fields.

On April 1st, the Japanese retail electricity market was fully opened to new entrants. Previously, regional power companies were exclusively permitted to sell electricity to households. However, other companies can now enter the market and consumers can choose their power provider. This means they could select a company that prioritizes solar, wind or other renewable energy sources. If consumers want to switch their supplier, they must first change their meter to a new type. However, they can still use the existing wiring. The competitive system is expected to lower electricity bills and lead to a wider variety of service options. There are some concerns about the reliability of new providers and possible contractual problems. However, the government is requiring all retailers to register their services and fully explain contracts. Customers will also be protected if their supplier unexpectedly ceases operation.

More than 100 migrants recently tried to cross from France to the UK via the Channel Tunnel. The attempt stopped train services overnight. The incident is only one part of Europe’s on-going refugee and migrant crisis. Large numbers continue to arrive from countries such as Syria after fleeing conflict. Many have crossed the Mediterranean at great risk. The UN says over 168,000 people arrived in September, with 700,000 expected this year. Although EU leaders have been discussing solutions, their opinions are split. This delay has created chaos in many areas. Even in countries that are actively accepting migrants, public opinion is sharply divided. It is now clear a global effort will be required to address the crisis. Japan has announced financial assistance of approximately 800 million dollars. However, some say the government should be more proactive in accepting migrants.

In August, Kamakura City Library posted a tweet inviting students with suicidal feelings to spend some time there. The message drew an enormous public response. According to the media, the message was posted by a librarian who suffered from bullying as a student. She deliberately sent the tweet just before the beginning of the new semester when suicides usually increase. It was intended for students with serious anxiety about their treatment at school. Many people were touched by the message and it was retweeted tens of thousands of times. However, the tweet has caused controversy among education officials as it appears to support avoiding school. Most people have interpreted the library’s action as an attempt to reach children at risk. The library continues to send messages such as “we want to be your place.” It has also released information on a special book selection featuring lessons about life.

In late May, the Japan Pension Service revealed unauthorized access to its system had resulted in leaks of personal data. According to a government announcement in early June, over 1.2 million records may have been leaked. The hackers probably gained access via a virus attached to an e-mail. The organization set up a special telephone service to answer inquiries. It is also warning people to be alert for signs of fraud. Media reports say the incident could affect the future of the My Number system. The system is due to be introduced for the management of social welfare and tax procedures. Each user is assigned a unique number, which may be linked to sensitive information such as bank and medical records. Illegal access and cyber-attacks have rapidly increased in frequency in recent years. Many people are concerned about the security of the important personal information held by government systems.

In early May, a baby girl was born to Prince William and Princess Kate. The news has delighted many people in the UK and around the world. Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana is fourth in line to the throne. Under a legal revision in 2013, royal succession is unaffected by gender. Prince William has taken paternity leave from his work at a private company. The royal couple have been praised for their hands-on approach to parenting. As well as lifting the mood of British people, Princess Charlotte is expected to boost the economy. According to some media reports, she may have more impact than a prince. A female royal is usually the center of attention and strongly influences fashion. After the delivery, the royal couple presented Princess Charlotte to the media and public. They were greeted with loud cheers of celebration.

The Japanese government has created a new public holiday called Mountain Day, to be celebrated from 2016. The introduction of the holiday follows lobbying by the Japanese Alpine Club and other groups. According to these organizations, Japan’s mountains are an important part of its culture and should be recognized. The legislation required for the holiday was supported by both government and opposition parties. However, politicians may have more practical reasons for backing the law. Many office workers tend not to take time off even if they have a paid vacation. National holidays make it easier for them to take leave from work. The Abe government has said it wishes to improve the work-life balance of employees. Previous administrations have also promoted limits on overtime. From 2016, Japan will have 16 national holidays, the most of any G8 country.