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Channel: News On Japan

Hotel Prices Surge in Osaka Just 17 Days Before Expo Opening

With only 17 days until the Osaka-Kansai Expo opens, excitement is building as pavilion details continue to be announced, including features from the Japan Gas Association and exhibits showcasing...

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Cherry Blossoms Bloom in Osaka Three Days Earlier Than Last Year

The Osaka District Meteorological Observatory announced on March 27th that cherry blossoms have begun blooming in Osaka, marking an opening three days earlier than last year. (News On Japan)

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Fuji TV Announces Major Leadership Overhaul

Fuji Television announced a sweeping overhaul of its management structure on March 27th, including the retirement of longtime executive Hisashi Hieda, who served on the board for 41 years. (News On Japan)

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Surge in Japanese Women Wearing Men's Suits

A growing number of women in Japan are choosing men’s-style suits for both comfort and practicality, reflecting a broader shift toward genderless fashion. From school uniforms to police attire,...

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How AI Can Truly Create Value?

In a special NewsPicks program, experts from Laboro.AI, including CEO Tetsuo Shiibashi and senior solution designer Tatsuru Shiratori, explored how artificial intelligence can go beyond efficiency to...

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Children Explore Ainu Culture Through Dance

A cultural event at JR Asahikawa Station on Friday introduced children to traditional Ainu dance, aiming to preserve the heritage of Japan’s indigenous people. (News On Japan)

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Fukuoka Airport International Terminal to Reopen After Major Renovation

The international terminal at Fukuoka Airport, which had been undergoing expansion and renovation, will reopen on March 28th. (News On Japan)

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AI Technology to Produce Branded Wagyu

A project using artificial intelligence to produce branded wagyu beef is set to begin at Hokkaido University, aiming for a more sustainable and labor-efficient livestock industry. (News On Japan)

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AI-Generated Ghibli-Style Images Spread on Social Media

ChatGPT's new image generation feature, released by U.S.-based OpenAI, is fueling a trend on social media where users are creating illustrations in the style of Studio Ghibli, raising concerns over...

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Japan's Fish Stocks Dwindle

Japan’s beloved seafood is now in crisis. Compared to five years ago, catches of Pacific saury have dropped by 80%, Japanese flying squid by 55.5%, mackerel by 50%, and yellowtail by 13%. (News On Japan)

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Prince Hisahito to Rent Apartment Near University of Tsukuba

The Imperial Household Agency announced that Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of the Akishino family, who will begin his studies at the University of Tsukuba this spring, will have a private apartment...

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'Craft Beer Project Uses AI to Capture the Spirit of Each Generation

A vibrant new line of craft beer has been created through an unusual collaboration: generative AI working hand-in-hand with seasoned brewmasters. (News On Japan)

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Japan Pavilion Opens at Expo

An opening ceremony was held Saturday for the Japan Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. As the host country's main exhibit, the pavilion is positioned as the symbolic "face" of the Expo, welcoming...

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Kinosaki Marine World Welcomes Rare White Crab

A rare pure white snow crab is now on display at Kinosaki Marine World in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture. (News On Japan)

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Shinmoedake Eruption Alert Raised to Level 3 as Volcanic Activity Increases

The eruption alert level for Mount Shinmoedake, part of the Kirishima mountain range on the border of Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures, has been raised to Level 3, or "entry restrictions," due to...

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Sukiya Closes Most Stores After Insect and Rat Contamination

Sukiya, one of Japan's leading beef bowl restaurant chains, announced it will temporarily close nearly all of its stores after an insect was found in a food item served at one of its outlets. (News On...

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Tokyo's Cherry Blossoms Bloom Early This Year

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced on March 30th that cherry blossoms (Somei-Yoshino) in central Tokyo have reached full bloom, one day earlier than the historical average and five days earlier...

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79 Public High Schools in Osaka Fall Short of Enrollment

The Osaka Prefectural Board of Education has decided to move the general entrance exam date for public high schools to March 1st, starting three years from now. (News On Japan)

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Police Ease Recruitment Requirements to Attract Mature Applicants

The Fukuoka Prefectural Police will introduce a new recruitment track for working adults starting next fiscal year, easing both age and physical fitness requirements as part of broader efforts to...

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'Princess Procession' Draws Crowds in Hamamatsu

A traditional spring event known as the 'Himesama Dochu' (Princess Procession) was held in Hamamatsu City, drawing large crowds along the route. (News On Japan)

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Kyoto's Miyako Odori Returns with Final Rehearsal

Kyoto’s signature spring event, the "Miyako Odori," held its final rehearsal on March 31st ahead of its official opening. Performed by around 50 geiko and maiko at the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater, the...

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Death Toll Could Reach 298,000 in Nankai Trough Megaquake

The Japanese government has released an updated damage forecast for a potential Nankai Trough megaquake, estimating that up to 298,000 people could die in the worst-case scenario. This projection...

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Tour Bus Carrying Over 20 Foreign Tourists Crashes in Hokkaido Tunnel

A tour bus carrying over 20 foreign tourists collided with a van inside the Tokiwa Tunnel on the Dōō Expressway on March 31st, sending several people to the hospital. (News On Japan)

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Solaria Plaza Reopens with AI Fashion Advisor

As part of the Tenjin Big Bang redevelopment project, a wave of new commercial spaces is transforming the Tenjin area in Fukuoka. In response, Solaria Plaza is undergoing its first major renovation in...

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Ruling Party Resists Donation Ban as Budget Clears Final Hurdle

Japan's national budget for the new fiscal year is now set to pass within the current fiscal term, following an unusual set of deliberations in the Diet on March 28th. (News On Japan)

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New Recruits Across Japan Mark First Day as Working Adults

Japan's new fiscal year began on April 1st, with companies across the country holding entrance ceremonies to welcome new employees. (News On Japan)

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Comedy Duo Ends Role Supporting 2025 Expo

Downtown, the popular comedy duo, has stepped down as official ambassadors for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, according to an announcement by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition. (News On Japan)

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Sekisui House Holds Entrance Ceremony at Grand Green Osaka

The new fiscal year began on April 1st, with companies across the Kansai region holding entrance ceremonies to welcome new employees. (News On Japan)

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Japan's Imperial Household Launches YouTube Channel

The Imperial Household Agency launched an official YouTube channel on April 1st to introduce the activities of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. (News On Japan)

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Tokyo Police Launch Specialized Unit for Lone Offenders

A special unit dedicated to investigating "lone offenders"—individuals who commit acts of terrorism without belonging to any specific organization—has been established for the first time in Japan...

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Tokyo Starts Mandatory Solar Panels for New Houses

Tokyo has made it mandatory to install solar panels on newly built houses starting April 1st, as part of its broader effort to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. (News On Japan)

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Rocket and Space Museum Opens in Kushimoto, Wakayama

A museum dedicated to rockets and space has opened in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, home to Japan's first private rocket launch site. (News On Japan)

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Economic Outlook Dims for Japan's Industrial Giants

The Bank of Japan's March Tankan survey, a key quarterly economic report, showed that business sentiment among large manufacturers has deteriorated for the first time in four quarters. (News On Japan)

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Osaka Expands Indoor Smoking Ban

From April 1st, a new regulation took effect across Osaka Prefecture requiring all restaurants with a customer seating area larger than 30 square meters to become entirely smoke-free indoors—unless...

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Japan to Tighten Screening of Foreign Investments

The Japanese government approved a cabinet ordinance on April 1st to introduce a new pre-screening system for foreign companies investing in Japan. The revised regulation will take effect on May 19th....

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SoftBank to Invest Up to 6 Trillion Yen More in OpenAI

SoftBank Group has announced plans to make an additional investment of up to 40 billion dollars, or approximately 6 trillion yen, in OpenAI, the U.S.-based developer of ChatGPT. (News On Japan)

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Fire Destroys Barn in Hokkaido, Killing All 20 Cattle Inside

A fire broke out on the morning of April 2nd at a farm in Kamishihoro, a town in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido, killing approximately 20 cattle housed in a barn. (News On Japan)

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Next-Gen Semiconductor Project Kicks Off in Hokkaido

The prototype line for next-generation semiconductors developed by Rapidus is now ready, as a nationwide initiative to boost Japan's chip industry takes a major step forward in Hokkaido. (News On Japan)

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Water Show to be Held Every Night at Osaka Expo

'Parade of Blue and the Night Rainbow' is a water and air spectacle show scheduled to be held during the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo. (News On Japan)

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Cherry Blossom Season Overshadowed by Rising Prices

Cherry blossoms are now in full bloom. On April 2nd, crowds gathered along the Okawa River in Osaka to enjoy the hanami season. While spring typically lifts spirits, this year’s celebrations come with...

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Number of Carpenters Shrinks to a Third Over 40 Years

A deepening labor shortage in Japan’s construction industry is beginning to impact homebuyers, with some experiencing delays of more than six months before construction can even begin due to a lack of...

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Japanese Citizenship Restored to Filipina Woman Left Behind After War

As Japan marks 80 years since the end of World War II, Angelita Oshiro, an 86-year-old second-generation Japanese woman living in Davao on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, was finally...

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Osaka Paints Roads Yellow to Curb Prostitution

In response to a sharp rise in women soliciting prostitution on the streets of Osaka's Kita entertainment district, police and local authorities implemented countermeasures last year. But how effective...

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11-Story Complex to Be Built at Fukuoka Airport

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new multi-purpose complex directly connected to the domestic terminal at Fukuoka Airport. (News On Japan)

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Perfume Performs 3D Dance with IOWN Technology

Perfume delivered a dazzling dance performance at the NTT Pavilion, showcased in a groundbreaking 3D live experience at the Expo site. (News On Japan)

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Exploring the Mystery of Okinawa's Royal Tomb

Shuri Castle, a symbol of Okinawa's Ryukyu heritage, suffered extensive damage in a devastating fire in October 2019 that destroyed the main hall and many other structures. The cause of the blaze...

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Japan's Tuition-Free High School Program Expanded Nationwide

The Japanese government has decided to expand its tuition-free high school program this spring. Public high school tuition is now completely free regardless of household income, and starting next...

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Japan's Elite Ranger Training Suspended Nationwide

The Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) has suspended the training of new Ranger personnel across most units for the remainder of the current fiscal year, JNN has learned. This is the first long-term...

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AI Deepfake Porn Using Graduation Album Photos Spreads Across Japan

A growing number of cases have emerged in Japan involving AI-generated deepfake pornography created using photos from school graduation albums, with some victims targeted through threats to share the...

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Luxury Campers Make Comeback in Japan

Over 20,000 people attended the Camping Car Show held last month in Osaka over two days, reflecting a growing interest in campers across Japan. What is driving this renewed popularity? (News On Japan)

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