Japan Records Record Battery Fires Alongside Record Tax Revenues in Fiscal 2025

Japan recorded 36,760 fire or smoke incidents caused by lithium-ion batteries during garbage disposal and collection in fiscal 2025, the Environment Ministry said Friday. The total rose 13,692 from the previous year and marked a record high. The ministry released the survey results on July 3 after conducting it in May.

Responses came from 1,537 of Japan’s 1,741 municipalities as of June 10. Mobile power banks caused the most incidents, followed by heated tobacco products. In April 2025 the ministry had issued a notice urging better sorting and collection of such batteries.

In a separate report the same day, the Finance Ministry said general-account tax revenues reached ¥84.22 trillion in fiscal 2025, up 12.0 percent from ¥75.23 trillion the year before. The increase of roughly ¥9 trillion was the largest on record and extended a streak of six consecutive annual highs. Income-tax revenue climbed 19.1 percent to ¥25.26 trillion.

Consumption-tax revenue hit a record ¥26.03 trillion, up 4.0 percent. Corporate-tax revenue also reached a record ¥21.75 trillion, up 21.4 percent. The gains reflected higher wages, stronger corporate earnings and increased consumption amid inflation.

Nontax revenue exceeded initial and supplementary budget plans by ¥988 billion. Unused funds under the fiscal 2025 budgets totaled ¥2.10 trillion. The government therefore reduced bond issuance by ¥3 trillion from the initial plan.