English news for Sunday, October 11, 2026

Japan's health ministry^*1 is studying a big question. Should boys get the HPV^*2 vaccine^*3 as a routine vaccination^*4? On July 22, 2026, a group of experts^*5 at the ministry met to talk about it. They read a report on the history of the idea, the facts that are known, and the questions that are still open.

The vaccine has been approved^*6 for boys and men in Japan step by step. In December 2020, the government approved the 4-valent^*7 HPV vaccine to prevent anal cancer^*8 in men and women, and genital warts^*9 in men. In August 2025, it approved a newer vaccine, Silgard 9, for the same uses. This also covers the early changes in the body that can turn into anal cancer. Boys can get Silgard 9 from age 9. Boys from 9 to 14 years old get two or three shots^*10. Boys and men who are 15 or older get three shots.

The experts looked at what the vaccine does for the boys and men who get it. It is approved to prevent genital warts and anal cancer. It is not approved to prevent cancer around the throat or penile cancer^*11. For these two, there is only a little evidence^*12 so far. Can vaccinating boys also protect women from cervical cancer^*13? There is some evidence for this, but it is only indirect^*14. On safety, the experts said that a fair amount of evidence has been collected.

Money is also part of the question. In March 2024, the experts looked at giving three shots of the 4-valent vaccine to boys. They found that it works and is safe, to a fair degree. But the cost was a problem when they compared it with the benefit^*15. In May 2024, the experts agreed to look at the whole picture, including how the vaccine helps women too.

Now the experts will study the cost and the benefit of giving Silgard 9 to boys. They will look at it from the point of view of public health care^*16. They will also keep collecting data^*17 from Japan to make their calculations more exact.

1. *1 ministry: a part of the government that looks after one area, such as health
2. *2 HPV: a virus that can cause some kinds of cancer and genital warts
3. *3 vaccine: a medicine, usually given as a shot, that stops you from getting a disease
4. *4 routine vaccination: a vaccine that the government gives to everyone of a certain age as part of its regular program
5. *5 experts: people who know a lot about one subject
6. *6 approved: officially allowed by the government
7. *7 4-valent: working against four kinds of the virus
8. *8 anal cancer: cancer in the anus, the opening at the end of the bowel
9. *9 genital warts: small bumps on the skin of the sex organs, caused by a virus
10. *10 shots: injections of a medicine with a needle
11. *11 penile cancer: cancer of the penis, the male sex organ
12. *12 evidence: facts that show something is true
13. *13 cervical cancer: cancer in the cervix, the lower part of a woman's womb
14. *14 indirect: not showing the thing itself, only something connected to it
15. *15 benefit: the good that something does
16. *16 public health care: the health care that the government pays for
17. *17 data: facts and numbers that are collected for study

Wild storks^*1 are flying again in Japan. At the end of July 2024, there were 476 storks living in the wild. The number comes from the government of Hyogo, a prefecture^*2 in Japan, and a group there that works to bring storks back to the wild.

Many years ago, the story was very different. In 1971, the wild storks that raised chicks in Japan were all gone. There were no more wild storks making nests in the country.

In 2005, there were only six storks in the wild in Japan. Some of them were wild birds that had flown in from other places.

Since then, the number has grown to 476. Storks that raise chicks do not go far from their nests. They usually move around an area of about two to ten kilometers.

1. *1 storks: large white birds with long legs and a long beak that make big nests
2. *2 prefecture: a large area of Japan with its own local government, like a state

Okayama Prefecture^*1, in western Japan, has announced a big road race^*2 for people who use wheelchairs^*3 and people who do not. The 38th Okayama Kibi Kogen Wheelchair Friendship Road Race was set for Sunday, October 11, 2026, from 9:35 in the morning to 2:00 in the afternoon.

The race takes place in Kibi Kogen City, an area in the town of Kibichuo in Okayama Prefecture. The opening ceremony^*4 is held at the Kibi Kogen Rehabilitation Center^*5. The race is organized by a special committee^*6 for the event. The news came from the Welfare^*7 Consultation Center of the prefecture's disability welfare office on October 2.

The idea of the race is simple. People with disabilities^*8 and people without disabilities run on the same course. In this way, they can understand each other better and make friends. The race also helps runners become stronger and healthier.

There are three distances: a half marathon^*9, 10 kilometers, and 3 kilometers. Each distance has a wheelchair race and a race for runners on foot.

In total, 1,605 people signed up. There are 1,236 men and 369 women. Of these, 53 will race in wheelchairs, and 1,552 will run on foot.

Two special guests were invited to run. One is Tsutomu Sasa, who used to run for the Asahi Kasei track team^*10. The other is Mika Yoshikawa from the Panasonic women's track team.

About 770 officials^*11 and volunteers^*12 will help on race day.

1. *1 Prefecture: a large area of Japan with its own local government, like a state
2. *2 road race: a running race on normal roads, not on a track
3. *3 wheelchairs: chairs with wheels for people who cannot walk well
4. *4 ceremony: a short formal event, with speeches, to open or celebrate something
5. *5 Rehabilitation Center: a place that helps people get stronger again after an illness or injury
6. *6 committee: a group of people chosen to plan and run something
7. *7 welfare: help from the government for people who need care or support
8. *8 disabilities: problems with the body or mind that make some things hard to do
9. *9 half marathon: a running race of about 21 kilometers
10. *10 track team: a company's team of running athletes
11. *11 officials: people who run a race and make sure the rules are followed
12. *12 volunteers: people who help without being paid