TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The ruling coalition losing its majority in Japan's House of Representatives election has been selected as the top domestic news story of 2024 by senior editors of Kyodo News and its member or subscriber newspapers and broadcasters.

(1) Japan's ruling bloc loses lower house majority

Japan's ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito party lost its majority in the lower house election in October, dealing a heavy blow to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

The ruling bloc is seeking policy-by-policy deals with the Democratic Party for the People, which saw its seats in the 465-member House of Representatives more than quadruple from seven.

(2) M7.6 Noto quake kills nearly 500

Nearly 500 people were killed in the powerful earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula and surrounding areas in central Japan on New Year's Day.

The quake-hit Noto also experienced unprecedented rainfall in September, delaying recovery efforts underway since the quake.

(3) Japan's atomic bomb survivor group wins Nobel Peace Prize

Japan's leading organization of atomic bomb survivors, Nihon Hidankyo, won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize in October, marking a milestone for the group that has campaigned over the years for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Terumi Tanaka, 92, co-chair of the organization, said in December during the award ceremony, "I am infinitely saddened and angered that the 'nuclear taboo' threatens to be broken," referring to Russia's nuclear threats and a member of the Israeli government suggesting the use of nuclear arms.

(4) Kishida resigns, takes responsibility for political funds scandal

In August, then Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced he would not run in the LDP's leadership race, citing responsibility for a slush funds scandal in the party. The decision paved the way for his departure as premier after three years in power.

Shigeru Ishiba won the party contest in September, becoming Japan's 102nd prime minister in the days that followed.

(5) Man wins landmark acquittal in 1966 quadruple murder retrial in Japan

The Shizuoka District Court acquitted Iwao Hakamata, former professional boxer, in a high-profile retrial in September, decades after he was sentenced to death over a 1966 quadruple murder, saying investigators had fabricated evidence.

The ruling was finalized in October after prosecutors did not appeal the acquittal in the retrial.

(6) Ex-Hyogo governor reelected despite power abuse scandal

Former Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito secured reelection in November's gubernatorial election in western Japan, held after he lost his position over power abuse accusations, defeating former Amagasaki Mayor Kazumi Inamura.

(7) Japan issues 1st-ever emergency information on Nankai Trough megaquake

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its first advisory in August about the increased risk of a massive earthquake around the Nankai Trough, stretching from central to southwestern Japan along the Pacific coast.

(8) BOJ ends negative rate policy, shifts from unprecedented monetary easing

The Bank of Japan scrapped its negative interest rate policy in March in a major overhaul of the central bank's unprecedented monetary easing framework of the past decade that aimed to end deflation. It was the first rate increase in 17 years.

(9) Police to go undercover to tackle "dark part-time work" crime wave

The National Police Agency will launch undercover investigations next year into "dark part-time work," such as theft and fraud often carried out by individuals recruited online, a growing social issue highlighted by numerous cases nationwide.

(10) JAL jet collides with coast guard plane at Tokyo airport, 5 dead

A Japan Airlines airplane collided with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft on a runway at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Jan. 2, igniting both planes and killing five coast guard members, while all 379 passengers and crew on the commercial flight escaped without life-threatening injuries.