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...
View ArticleCherry 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)
View ArticleFuji 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)
View ArticleSurge 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,...
View ArticleHow 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...
View ArticleChildren 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)
View ArticleFukuoka 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)
View ArticleAI 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)
View ArticleAI-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...
View ArticleJapan'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)
View ArticlePrince 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...
View Article'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)
View ArticleJapan 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...
View ArticleKinosaki 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)
View ArticleShinmoedake 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...
View ArticleSukiya 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...
View ArticleTokyo'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...
View Article79 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)
View ArticlePolice 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...
View Article'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)
View ArticleKyoto'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...
View ArticleDeath 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...
View ArticleTour 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)
View ArticleSolaria 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...
View ArticleRuling 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)
View ArticleNew 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)
View ArticleComedy 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)
View ArticleSekisui 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)
View ArticleJapan'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)
View ArticleTokyo 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...
View ArticleTokyo 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)
View ArticleRocket 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)
View ArticleEconomic 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)
View ArticleOsaka 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...
View ArticleJapan 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....
View ArticleSoftBank 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)
View ArticleFire 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)
View ArticleNext-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)
View ArticleWater 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)
View ArticleCherry 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...
View ArticleNumber 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...
View ArticleJapanese 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...
View ArticleOsaka 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...
View Article11-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)
View ArticlePerfume 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)
View ArticleExploring 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...
View ArticleJapan'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...
View ArticleJapan'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...
View ArticleAI 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...
View ArticleLuxury 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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