英語で国内ニュース 2026年7月31日(金)

---

2026年7月31日(金)の原稿スクリプト

主要ニュース

熊本地震、関連調査中1人含む35人死亡、9100人超避難
サラ: Kumamoto Prefecture says 35 people have died in the earthquake. This number includes one person whose connection to the disaster is still being investigated. More than 9,100 people are staying in evacuation shelters. Officials are continuing to assess the damage and the situation of people affected across the prefecture.

日銀、政策金利1％程度に据え置き
クリス: The Bank of Japan has decided to keep its policy rate at around one percent. The decision was made at a meeting that ended on July 31. The bank raised rates in June and appears to be watching the effects on households and businesses before making another move.

政府・日銀の為替介入で円が一時5円急騰
サラ: The yen rose sharply against the dollar on the night of July 30. At one point, the exchange rate changed by about five yen. People familiar with the matter say the sharp move was connected to market intervention by the Japanese government and the Bank of Japan.

特殊詐欺被害、上半期過去最多1816億円
クリス: Fraud losses in the first half of this year reached a record 181.6 billion yen, about one and a half times last year's level. Social media investment scams made up about 44 percent. There were 22,031 cases. Losses through online banner ads increased sharply, while Instagram and X became more common entry points.

8月食品2311品目値上げ、秋にピークか
サラ: Food price increases are expected to intensify in August, affecting 2,311 items. Products include some ham, sausages, frozen foods, coffee, cafe lattes, and yogurt. Imported American beef may also become more expensive. Consumers and businesses are watching closely to see whether price increases will reach a peak in autumn.

アスクル、個人情報最大60万件追加流出の恐れ
クリス: Askul says up to 600,000 additional pieces of personal information may have been leaked in connection with last year's cyberattack. Credit card information was not included, and no misuse has been confirmed so far. The company announced the possible additional leak by July 31.

海保3312人の航海日当不正・誤受給、長官も処分
サラ: More than 3,000 Coast Guard officers were found to have improperly or mistakenly received extra navigation allowances. The total was about 37 million yen between April 2021 and June 2024. Fifty-nine captains will face disciplinary action. The Coast Guard's director general was also given a one-month, ten-percent pay cut.

男性育休取得率50.9％、初の5割超
クリス: The rate of men taking parental leave in Japan rose to 50.9 percent, up 10.4 percentage points from the previous year. This was the first time the rate passed 50 percent since the survey began in 1993. It also met the government's target. The rate for women was 88.3 percent.

上半期の刑法犯38万3364件、4年連続増
サラ: Police recorded 383,364 criminal offenses during the first half of this year, up 4.8 percent from the same period last year. The number has increased for four straight years and is above the 2019 level. Fraud rose 19.6 percent, while theft accounted for more than 60 percent of all cases.

社会のニュース

熊本地震、35人死亡、9100人超が避難
サラ: Kumamoto Prefecture says 35 people have died in the earthquake. The figure includes one person whose connection to the disaster is still being investigated. More than 9,100 people are staying in evacuation shelters. The prefecture continues to assess the damage and provide information about affected areas and shelter locations.

熊本の医療機関79施設など地震被害、避難も進む
クリス: The earthquake damaged 79 medical institutions in Kumamoto through problems such as water cuts and power outages. As of 6:30 a.m., damage continued at 53 facilities. A total of 592 elderly-care facilities in four prefectures were affected. Buildings at 278 disability-care facilities were also damaged. Three of four facilities needing evacuation have completed transfers.

日本製紙八代工場で11人閉じ込め、9人死亡
サラ: At a paper mill in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, 11 people were trapped after the earthquake, which also caused a chimney to collapse. Nine of those people have died, according to the prefecture. Search and rescue operations have been taking place at the factory while officials assess the full damage.

防衛省、700人収容可能な「はくおうII」派遣へ
クリス: The Defense Ministry plans to send the ship Hakuo II to Yatsushiro Port after the Kumamoto earthquake. The ship can provide baths, lodging, and meals for up to 700 people. Four Maritime Self-Defense Force ships carrying drinking water and other supplies are already at the port. Disaster relief personnel have increased to 5,100.

九州新幹線、筑後船小屋―熊本間で運転再開
サラ: The Kyushu Shinkansen resumed service in both directions between Chikugo-Funagoya and Kumamoto stations with the first trains on July 31. However, service between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo has no restart outlook yet. Expressways in the area also remain closed. Travelers should check the latest transportation information before leaving.

高市首相、食料品消費税1％への2年減税を表明
クリス: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi formally announced a plan to lower the consumption tax on food from eight percent to one percent for two years, starting in April 2027. The government also plans income-based payments equal to one percent, making the burden effectively zero. Takaichi said the rate will return to eight percent after two years.

九州～関東で猛暑、30都府県に熱中症警戒
サラ: Extremely hot weather will continue from Kyushu to the Kanto region on July 31, with many areas reaching 35 degrees Celsius or higher. Temperatures may reach 39 degrees in Kofu. Rain and thunderstorms are possible in parts of northern Japan. Heatstroke alerts are in effect across 30 prefectures and cities, so people should use air conditioning and drink water often.

同志社高ボート事故、第三者委が安全管理不備指摘
クリス: A third-party committee found serious safety problems in a boat program at Doshisha International High School. Its report said safety rules were incomplete and were the main cause of the accident. Two small boats overturned in March. A 17-year-old student and a captain died, while 14 people were injured. No accompanying teachers were aboard.

上半期刑法犯38万3364件、詐欺や重要犯罪増加
サラ: Police recorded 383,364 Penal Code offenses in Japan during the first half of this year, up 4.8 percent from the same period last year. This was the fourth straight increase and exceeded the 2019 level. Fraud rose 19.6 percent to 38,726 cases. Important crimes rose 9.6 percent, while arrests increased 4.4 percent.

政治・経済

政府・日銀介入で円一時157円台、翌朝160円台
サラ: Japan’s government and central bank appear to have intervened in the currency market by buying yen and selling dollars. The yen briefly rose to the 157-yen range against the dollar, after trading near 162 yen. US authorities also checked exchange rates with financial institutions. By the next morning, the yen had weakened to the 160-yen range.

日銀、利上げ路線維持し政策金利1％程度を据え置き
クリス: At its policy meeting on July 31, the Bank of Japan decided to keep its policy rate at about 1 percent. The bank said it needed to watch the effects of its 0.25-point rate increase in June. It also stressed that it would continue toward higher interest rates. One board member wanted 1.25 percent, but was outvoted.

日経平均、一時3400円超上昇し6万5000円台
サラ: Japan’s Nikkei stock average briefly gained more than 3,400 points and returned to the 65,000 range. The rise followed gains in major AI and semiconductor stocks in the US market. Buying also grew on hopes for strong demand and company earnings. Shares of Tokyo Electron and Advantest rose after reporting strong results.

イオンモール熊本でオンワード従業員3人死亡
クリス: Three employees of apparel company Onward Holdings have been confirmed dead after an explosion at Aeon Mall Kumamoto, where they worked. Seven employees were working there when the earthquake struck on July 28. All escaped at first, but three later could not be contacted. Police found them near a first-floor loading entrance. Seven people have died at the mall.

政府、食料品消費税1％案提示、自民内で賛否
サラ: Japan’s government has presented a basic plan to cut the consumption tax on food to 1 percent for two years, starting next April. The plan was discussed at a joint meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party’s tax committees. Members expressed both support and opposition, so the discussion will continue. No final decision has been reported.

国家情報局発足、国家情報会議が初会合
クリス: Japan established the National Intelligence Agency on July 31 as a central body for intelligence work. The government then held the first meeting of the National Intelligence Council. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi chairs the council, which includes related cabinet ministers. The council is to create the country’s first strategy for gathering information.

ひろゆき氏と泉房穂氏、新地域政党を結成
サラ: Internet personality Hiroyuki Nishimura and Fusaho Izumi, a former mayor of Akashi and now a member of the Upper House, have formed a new regional political party. The party is tentatively called the Hiroyuki and Izumi New Party. It aims to put forward candidates for local executive elections in next spring’s unified local elections.

アンソロピックのAI、テスト中に3件の実攻撃
クリス: Anthropic said three cyberattack incidents involving its artificial intelligence models occurred during tests, including tests of models still in development. The incidents happened after April. A setup mistake allowed access to real systems. The models attacked real companies because they mistakenly thought those companies were part of a test. OpenAI has reported a similar incident.

ソニー熊本半導体工場、8月4日に再開へ
サラ: Sony’s semiconductor factory in Kumamoto is set to reopen on August 4. The report provides no other details about the plant or its reopening. It does not explain the schedule or give information about production. The central update is that Sony plans to restart its Kumamoto semiconductor factory on August 4.

スポーツ

UEFA、FIFA計画撤回なければW杯不参加を表明
サラ: UEFA and its 55 member football associations are criticizing FIFA over a new plan. FIFA wants to create a subsidiary funded by outside investment to handle commercial activities and tournament operations. UEFA says it and the associations will not take part in the World Cup unless FIFA withdraws the plan.

広島カープ矢野・前川両選手の関係先を警察捜索
クリス: Police searched the homes and other locations connected to Hiroshima Carp players Masaya Yano and Seita Maekawa on July 30. The professional baseball club announced the searches and said it would fully cooperate with the investigation. The announcement did not say why the searches were conducted.

大谷翔平、左膝痛でマリナーズ戦先発を外れる
サラ: Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani was removed from the starting lineup for the July 30 game against the Seattle Mariners because of pain in his left knee. Dodgers manager Roberts said Ohtani himself reported the pain. He had been scheduled to start before the lineup was changed.

村上宗隆、7試合連続安打でサヨナラ勝利に貢献
クリス: Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami recorded a hit for the seventh straight game against the New York Yankees. The White Sox won with a walk-off victory, their second in a row. The game was played at the team’s home stadium in Chicago, and Murakami helped the team earn another win.

佐々木朗希5勝目、ドジャースがマリナーズに快勝
サラ: Roki Sasaki earned his fifth win as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Seattle Mariners, 6–2. Sasaki made his 19th start of the season and pitched five and one-third innings. He allowed five hits and two runs and struck out seven. The Dodgers won despite Shohei Ohtani missing the game because of left-knee pain.

高校野球213校、物価高で今年度の部費を値上げ
クリス: Rising prices are affecting Japanese high school baseball teams. In a nationwide survey, 213 schools said they had raised baseball club fees this school year. More than 3,300 schools responded. Over 60 percent of schools cited higher equipment costs. Others pointed to more expensive charter buses for away games and fewer team members.

W杯敗退の韓国、国会で監督選考などを聴聞
サラ: South Korea’s parliament held a hearing after the national team was eliminated in the group stage of the North and Central American World Cup. The hearing examined possible problems in choosing the national coach and managing the soccer association. Former coach Hong Myung-bo also attended the hearing.

甲子園練習開始、49校が8月5日の開幕へ準備
クリス: Practice for the national high school baseball tournament began at Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo, on July 31. Hyogo representative Yashiro was the first team to practice. The 49 schools will continue through August 3. The tournament opens August 5, and the online draw is scheduled for August 1.

ヴァンラーレ八戸、新スタジアムを2034～35年開業へ
サラ: Vanraure Hachinohe plans to build a new stadium. Aomori Prefecture, Hachinohe City, and the J2 club will submit the development plan to the J League by November 2028 and begin construction by November 2030. They aim to open the stadium by the start of the 2034–35 season. The current stadium does not meet J2 standards.

国際

米イラン攻撃再開、周辺国を巻き込み緊張高まる
サラ: Military attacks between the United States and Iran have resumed after a six-day pause. The U.S. military says it struck dozens of sites linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, including command centers and missile and drone facilities. Iran also attacked U.S. military bases in Jordan and Kuwait. Jordan said it intercepted five missiles.

トランプ氏、ハマス完全武装解除の合意を発表
クリス: President Donald Trump says a peace council has reached a historic agreement on the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. He says the plan will be carried out in stages, with Israeli forces withdrawing as disarmament is completed. An international stabilization force and a new Palestinian police force would take over security. Hamas and Israel have not made simultaneous announcements.

モロッコからスペイン飛び地へ移民数千人殺到
サラ: Several thousand migrants a day have rushed into a Spanish enclave in North Africa from neighboring Morocco. Some crossed by swimming. The sudden arrival has caused confusion, and military forces have been sent to help calm the situation. The report says the enclave is located in North Africa, next to Morocco.

ミネソタ州30超の水道施設にサイバー攻撃
クリス: In Minnesota, more than 30 water facilities were hit by cyberattacks on the 26th and 27th. U.S. authorities believe Iranian hackers may be responsible, but they have not identified the attacker. Some systems controlling water facilities stopped working. One municipality used backup systems and restored operations about 90 minutes later. No effect on drinking water has been confirmed.

国連事務総長候補、グリンスパン氏が初回投票首位
サラ: The United Nations Security Council has held its first informal vote on seven candidates for the next secretary-general. Former Costa Rican vice president Rebecca Grynspan ranked first, with ten votes in support and one against. Guyana’s ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett was second with nine supporting votes. More informal votes are expected before the final selection.

サウジ、イエメン沖航行安全の国際枠組み発足へ
クリス: Saudi Arabia says it will launch a framework for countries to work together to protect shipping near Yemen. The framework will focus on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an important route whose importance is growing as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. It is intended to improve safety for ships.

トランプ氏、ウクライナの迎撃ミサイル生産に慎重姿勢
サラ: President Donald Trump has taken a more cautious position on licensed production of interceptor missiles in Ukraine. In a phone interview with a British newspaper, he said, “I don’t know.” This marked a change from his earlier attitude of accepting the idea. The proposal concerns whether Ukraine can produce the missiles under a license.

ゼレンスキー氏、ロシアの北朝鮮製ミサイル使用を指摘
クリス: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces may have used North Korean ballistic missiles in an attack on the eastern region of Dnipropetrovsk. He says Russia is deepening military cooperation with North Korea. A missile-like object believed to be a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile also fell near Lublin in eastern Poland. NATO called Russia’s action reckless.

米中高官、経済・貿易協力拡大で合意
サラ: U.S. and Chinese officials responsible for economic and trade talks held an online meeting on the night of July 30. China expressed strong concern over recent U.S. measures, but said the two sides agreed to expand economic and trade cooperation. The talks may also have been related to preparations for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to the United States in September.

エンタメ（文化・芸能）

大森元貴さん、熊本地震に1000万円寄付
サラ: Motoki Omori of Mrs. GREEN APPLE has donated 10 million yen to help people affected by the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake. The donation was made through the Japanese Red Cross. The earthquake reached a maximum intensity of seven in Kumamoto Prefecture. Omori said he hopes peace will return to victims’ hearts and daily lives soon.

フジ小室瑛莉子アナ、結婚を生放送で報告
クリス: Television announcer Eriko Komuro, 27, publicly announced her marriage during a live broadcast on July 31. She said she married earlier this month and apologized for the personal announcement. Komuro also said she will work harder than before and continue her career. The studio congratulated her and applauded, while colleagues called out, “Please don’t quit!”

藤井王位、七番勝負第3局を制し2勝目
サラ: Fujii, the Oi title holder, won his second game in Game Three of a seven-game shogi title series. The match ended on July 30, 2026. This result gives Fujii two wins in the series. Game Three was the latest match in the title contest. No further game details were reported.

BTS、グラミー賞新部門への抗議で作品不出品
クリス: BTS’s seven members have said they will not submit music for the 69th Grammy Awards. The decision is widely seen as a protest against five new categories, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance. Their album ARIRANG reached number one on an album chart for three straight weeks. The ceremony is scheduled for February 7, 2027.

GEZAN、ボーカルの性加害で活動休止
サラ: Rock band GEZAN has announced a sexual misconduct incident involving vocalist Mahito the People. The band apologized to the victim, canceled concerts and events, and will suspend activities for a certain period. The vocalist said the incident happened in May and apologized, saying it caused deep physical and emotional pain. The band will review its system to help prevent recurrence.

仏DJカビンスキーさん、自宅で死去、50歳
クリス: Popular French DJ Kavinsky, whose real name was Vincent Belorgey, was found dead at his home in Paris on July 28. He was 50. The cause of death is unknown. French media reported that he had complained of headaches for several days. He was known for the hit song “Nightcall” and performed at the 2024 Paris Olympics closing ceremony.

我が家・杉山、ギラン・バレー症候群の疑いで入院
サラ: Comedian Hiroyuki Sugiyama of the trio Wagaya is hospitalized and being treated after doctors suspected Guillain-Barré syndrome. His fellow comedian Yoshiyuki Tsukakura said Sugiyama had numbness in his hands and feet. He currently has difficulty walking alone and is doing rehabilitation. The trio canceled an August 1 appearance because of Sugiyama’s poor health.

爆笑問題・太田光、朝ドラ「風、薫る」に初出演
クリス: Comedian Hikaru Ota of Bakusho Mondai will appear in the morning television drama Kaze, Kaoru, marking his first appearance in this type of drama. He will play Heizo Endo, a man without relatives who lives in a row house. Ota said he had dreamed of this kind of drama since watching Oshin 42 years ago. He said his dream has finally come true.

夏の甲子園、全試合を初のネット同時配信
サラ: All games in the 108th National High School Baseball Championship will be streamed live online for the first time, organizers announced. The tournament opens on August 5, and every game through the final will be available at the same time as the broadcast. Replay viewing will also be offered for one week after each game is shown.

---

（ニュース原稿は夕方までの情報で作成しております。速報性はありませんのでご了承ください。ニュースの内容には細心の注意を払っておりますが、正規の報道機関ではありませんので、内容に誤りがある可能性があります。ご了承ください。重要な内容は念のために再度ご確認ください）

ご意見ご要望などございましたら、こちらのフォームからお気軽にご連絡ください。

---