Tokyo International News Agency

The International Energy Agency (IEA) announced on the 20th the coordinated release volumes from national oil reserves by its member countries to address the ongoing energy crisis. Concurrently, it proposed an unprecedented 10-point emergency plan aimed at significantly reducing oil consumption. According to reports by Nikkei, the country-specific release volumes published by the IEA show Japan committing 79.8 million barrels, accounting for approximately 20% of the total, making it the second largest contributor after the United States, which committed 172.2 million barrels. Japan and the U.S. together account for about 60% of the total release, highlighting the significant contributions of both nations to the current energy crisis. Furthermore, the IEA presented a wide range of oil-saving measures for households, businesses, and governments. These include actively promoting telework (working from home), encouraging the use of public transportation, reducing speed limits on highways b...

Yamayoshi Seika, the manufacturer of popular snack foods like "Wasabeef," has announced a temporary halt to its factory operations, sending shockwaves among consumers. This unprecedented situation is attributed to difficulties in procuring heavy oil, which is essential for the manufacturing process, due to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East. On March 17, the company explained that as the Strait of Hormuz blockade prolonged, it became increasingly challenging to secure the heavy oil used as an energy source for its factories. Consequently, the company announced that there might be delays in supply or suspension of shipments for some of its products. In response to this news, numerous voices of surprise and sadness flooded social media, with comments such as "Finally, what we feared has come to pass," "I can't believe even Wasabeef is affected," and "It's too sad that heavy oil can't be procured." Concerned about the ...