Chronology of Shiga Prefecture’s major news headlines for January–December 2025. To be posted on a continuing basis until the chronology for this year is completed.
Compiled by Philbert Ono, updated: April 7, 2025
January 16, 2025: For the 165th anniversary of the shocking assassination of Chief Minister Ii Naosuke in 1860, the family heads of the Ii family (井伊直岳, 18th family head), Shimazu family from Kagoshima (島津忠裕, 33rd family head), and Arimura family from Mito, Ibaraki (有村 國俊) visited Seiryoji Temple in Hikone today to pray at the Ii Clan’s grave.
Near Sakuradamon Gate at Edo Castle in Edo/Tokyo, Naosuke was on his way to work at Edo Castle when he was ambushed and killed by 17 ronin masterless samurai formerly belonging to the Mito Clan and one ronin formerly from the Satsuma Clan. Arimura Jizaemon, formerly from the Satsuma Clan, famously beheaded Naosuke and carried away the head.
During the Ansei Purge, Naosuke had purged Mito Clan samurai, resulting in their grudge against Naosuke. Since 1968, Hikone and Mito established a Friendship City agreement to dispel hard feelings. In Nov. 2009, the head of the Ii family visited and prayed at the graves of the purged Mito samurai.
On this occasion, Hikone and Kagoshima city established a mutual exchange agreement (交流連携協定) signed by both mayors in Hikone and witnessed by the heads of the three families descended from those involved in Naosuke’s assassination.
January 22, 2025: The Harie Shozu-no-Sato Committee (針江生水の郷委員会) has been awarded the Furusato-zukuri Taisho award (Hometown Development Award, ふるさとづくり大賞) by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The Committee has been working for the past 20 years to preserve the Harie area known for its natural springs (kabata) used by individual homes. It has guided a total of about 100,000 visitors to Harie. The award is given to individuals and groups working to improve their hometowns. A total of 19 groups and two individuals were so awarded in 2025.
February 1, 2025: As of today, the population of Shiga Prefecture fell below 1.4 million for the first time in 16 years (since 2008). The population has dropped to 1,398,972 people. Back in 1970, the population of Shiga was slightly below 900,000. It increased every year until it hit the peak population of 1,417,499 in 2013. It has since declined slightly most every year.
Compared to last year (2024), only Kusatsu, Moriyama, and Omi-Hachiman saw an increase (very slight) in population. All the other cities and towns in Shiga saw a decrease in population, especially in northern Shiga (Takashima, Nagahama, Maibara, Ryuo, and Taga.
Compared to 10 years ago, Shiga’s population declined by only about 15,000. This is a lot smaller than other Kansai prefectures such as Kyoto which declined by 90,000, Osaka by 70,000, Nara by 90,000, Wakayama by 90,000, and Hyogo which lost a whopping 210,000 residents.
By the year 2050, Shiga’s population is projected to decline to about 1.22 million.
February 7, 2025: Hashimoto Shohei (36, 橋本翔平), Kusatsu Elementary School teacher in Kusatsu, is fired today for embezzling ¥1.62 million from savings accounts created for 5th grade class trips and 6th grade school excursion bus fares. The money was contributed by the students’ parents. He was in charge of the savings. He used the stolen money to repay debts and personal expenses. He has confessed to his crimes and returned the money in full.
February 7, 2025: Otsu is no longer No. 1 for the amount spent for coffee consumption in 2024. It’s No. 2, and Kobe is No. 1. Otsu was No. 1 for three years in a row until 2023. The average amount spent by households in Otsu for coffee in 2024 was ¥9,799.
February 20, 2025: In Moriyama, a large shopping center called Hazui Town Moriyama fully opens with Super Hazui supermarket joining electronics store Joshin and DIY home center store.
February 20, 2025: Groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new Biwako Culture Hall (琵琶湖文化館) to be constructed next to Otsu Port. It will replace the old, castle-shaped Biwako Culture Hall built in 1961 and closed since 2008. It housed important Buddhist art. The new hall/museum will be four stories high and shaped like a boat. Slated to open in Dec. 2027.
However, Otsu households spent the most in Japan on milk and sports drinks! No. 1 in Japan. Either they love milk or milk prices in Otsu are higher than average.
February 28, 2025: After over 130 years, ekiben homemade bento maker Izutsuya (井筒屋) in Maibara Station has stopped selling their beloved ekiben box lunches from today. It had a small bento stall in the concourse selling bento made with local ingredients such as Omi-gyu beef, Omi rice, and lake fish. The demise of ekiben started when train windows could no longer be opened on train platforms where bento and money could change hands. The infiltration of 7-Eleven into train stations has also been a factor.
March 18, 2025: Shiga Prefectural Azuchi Castle Archaelogical Museum (安土城考古博物館) reopened after major renovations with new exhibits including a CG video introducing Azuchi Castle by Oda Nobunaga.
March 24, 2025: Lago, confection maker Taneya’s new Otsu store, opened in Nagisa Park on the shore of Lake Biwa. almost like La Collina in Omi-Hachiman, the Lago store-cafe is within a lakefront park. Proving to be very popular with limited edition confections and the cafe. Lago means “lake” in Italian.
March 25, 2025: In 2024, Shiga police received 125,448 emergency calls (dial 110), 6,211 fewer than in 2023. Some 46,808 of the calls reported accidents and traffic violations, and 27,481 calls reported suspicious persons or vehicles. About 10 percent of the calls were by mistake or prank calls numbering 12,994. It’s an average of 343 calls to the police every day in Shiga.
