University of Tokyo's Red Gate Faces Collapse
The iconic Red Gate of the University of Tokyo, long seen as a symbol and goal for aspiring students hoping to "walk through the gate," is now closed due to seismic safety concerns. (News On Japan)
View ArticleJapan Approves Over-the-Counter Erectile Dysfunction Drug
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved making the erectile dysfunction drug Cialis available without a prescription, opening the way for its sale as Japan’s first over-the-counter...
View ArticleFree Meals For Posts Put Ajinomoto Under Stealth Marketing Probe
The Consumer Affairs Agency announced that Ajinomoto and Inglewood are suspected of engaging in stealth marketing practices in connection with their frozen home-delivery meal brand, "Aete." The...
View ArticleTakaichi Announces Candidacy for LDP Leadership
Former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi announced her candidacy in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election, set to be officially declared next week, unveiling a platform centered on...
View ArticleAI Haiku App Brings Fresh Inspiration to Poetry Lovers
An experimental event introducing a unique AI-based haiku experience was held at Fukuoka Institute of Technology in Fukuoka City, where participants tested an application that reviews and refines their...
View ArticleFour Japan Rail Companies to Link Online Reservation Services
JR’s online reservation systems, long operated separately by different regional companies, will be linked together for the first time in an effort to eliminate the inconvenience faced by passengers...
View ArticleBear Attacks Surge as Fatality Rate Reaches 24%
Fatal bear encounters are rising sharply across Japan, with injuries and deaths reported at a pace matching the worst year on record. Experts warn that both stricter population control and preventive...
View ArticleAkasaka Hikawa Festival Reaches Climax
The Akasaka Hikawa Festival, a traditional event dating back to the Edo period, reached its final day in Tokyo’s Akasaka district with sixteen portable shrines parading through the streets, filling the...
View ArticleKasumi Celebrates Crab Season
The Kasumi Crab Festival, celebrating the start of the red snow crab fishing season, was held in Kami Town, Hyogo Prefecture, drawing large crowds eager to enjoy the freshly caught delicacy. (News On...
View ArticleOsaka High Court Upholds Don Juan of Kishu's Will
A will left by Kosuke Nozaki, the wealthy businessman known as the 'Don Juan of Kishu,' declaring that his entire estate of about 1.3 billion yen be donated to Tanabe City has again been recognized as...
View ArticleMikoshi Splashes into Sea in Wakayama Festival
Katsuura Hachiman Shrine in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, held its annual festival on September 21st, drawing tourists with the spectacular "Underwater Purification" ritual in which carriers of...
View ArticleTaiwan University Launches Abe Shinzo Research Center
A ceremony was held in Taipei on September 21st to mark the establishment of the Abe Shinzo Research Center at National Chengchi University, dedicated to studying the former prime minister’s diplomatic...
View ArticleBriham Goes Full Circle On Debut Solo Album
Climb on the rooftop of the Golden Pavilion to find out the mystery of the Full Circle. (News On Japan)
View ArticleNo Deaths on Mount Fuji This Summer for First Time in Three Years
Shizuoka Prefecture saw no fatalities from mountaineering accidents this summer for the first time in three years, while deaths from water-related accidents increased sharply. (News On Japan)
View ArticleTurning Frozen Tuna Into a New Energy-Saving Business
Frozen tuna stored at minus 60 degrees Celsius are now being used as a new tool in electricity demand control. By temporarily shutting down refrigeration units and using the fish itself as a cooling...
View ArticleParents and Children Learn Road Safety With Goggles Simulating Drunk Driving
A traffic safety class was held in Osaka’s Miyakojima Ward as police aim to reduce accidents, which typically rise from autumn through the end of the year. (News On Japan)
View ArticleEmperor, Empress and Princess Aiko Attend World Athletics in Tokyo
The Emperor, Empress and their daughter Princess Aiko attended the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships together as a family on September 21st at the National Stadium in Tokyo. (News On Japan)
View ArticleEnvironment Minister Calls for Restraint on Mega-Solar Project
Environment Minister Keiichiro Asao has expressed his view that construction of large-scale solar panel projects in the Kushiro Wetlands of Hokkaido should be restrained. (News On Japan)
View ArticleNissan Unveils AI-Powered Prototype Car
Nissan Motor unveiled an experimental vehicle equipped with autonomous driving technology powered by generative AI, showcasing a system that allows hands-free driving even on ordinary roads. (News On...
View ArticleLong-Term Interest Rates in Japan Rise to 17-Year High
Long-term interest rates in Japan, which influence fixed mortgage rates, rose to their highest level in 17 years as the yield on 10-year government bonds briefly reached 1.665 percent in trading on...
View ArticleJapan's First Ordinance Limits Smartphone Use to Two Hours a Day
To prevent excessive smartphone use, the Toyoake City Council in Aichi Prefecture passed an ordinance on September 22nd that sets a daily usage limit of two hours during free time outside of work,...
View ArticleEnd of an Era in Dotonbori as Shochikuza Shuts Doors
Osaka’s landmark Shochikuza Theater in Dotonbori will close in May next year due to aging facilities, raising concerns about the future of the entertainment culture that has defined the district for...
View ArticleExploring Wakayama’s Remote Islands
Wakayama Prefecture, home to the largest number of remote islands in the Kansai region, offers travelers a mix of uninhabited and inhabited islands, breathtaking coastal scenery, and fresh seafood...
View ArticleShock in Gifu Shopping Street as Anime Novels Stolen in 20 Seconds
A shopping street in Gifu City was the scene of an unusual theft when a man stole six anime-related novels from a café storefront in just 20 seconds. (News On Japan)
View ArticleExpo Faces Dead Ticket Problem
With just three weeks remaining until the closing of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, a growing problem has emerged: many visitors holding tickets cannot enter the venue, creating what is being called the issue...
View ArticleRoppongi Road Covered in White Foam After Truck Accident
A street in Tokyo’s Roppongi district was blanketed with white foam on September 22nd after a truck exiting a building’s parking area struck fire safety equipment, triggering sprinklers that released...
View Article3.5 Trillion Yen Economic Boon From Oshikatsu
The practice of supporting one’s favorite idols or characters, known as 'oshikatsu,' has grown into a massive market in Japan, with private research estimating spending to have reached 3.5 trillion yen...
View Article28 Billion Yen Debt Pushes Fukushima's Hawaiians Resort Into Foreign Hands
Spa Resort Hawaiians, a sprawling tropical-themed facility in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, has long been cherished as “Japan’s Hawaii.” The indoor resort, which features Japan’s tallest water slide...
View ArticleRiyadh Governor Meets Governor Yoshimura to Discuss Expo 2030
The administrative chief of Riyadh Province in Saudi Arabia, the host of the next World Expo in 2030, held discussions with Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and other officials to seek advice and...
View ArticleJapan Postpones Recognition of Palestinian State
Japan decided not to recognize Palestine as a state during a high-level meeting in New York aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even as about 10 other countries declared recognition....
View ArticleHitachi Considers Selling Its White Goods Division
Is high quality a curse? Reports in South Korea that Hitachi is considering selling its white goods business have drawn attention, raising questions about the future of Japanese appliances. (News On...
View ArticlePrincess Aiko Attends Horse Day Event
Princess Aiko, the eldest daughter of the Emperor and Empress, attended an event marking Horse Day, where she enjoyed hands-on experiences with horses. (News On Japan)
View ArticleRising Rents in Tokyo Drive More Young People Back Home
Average rents in Tokyo’s 23 wards have climbed to record levels, creating a situation where even student districts are no longer affordable for students. (News On Japan)
View Article'Boat Houses Are Not Tourist Attractions'
Ine, a small fishing town in northern Kyoto Prefecture known for its traditional wooden boat houses, has recently become a social media sensation, drawing a record number of visitors. (News On Japan)
View ArticleHoshino Resorts Opens LUCY to Promote Nature Tourism
Inbound tourism to Japan rose nearly 20% from January to August 2025 compared with a year earlier, though most visitors continue to flock to major cities, raising concerns about overtourism. (News On...
View ArticleMasked Attackers Spray Chemical in Tokyo, Injuring Three Before Fleeing
Three employees of a delivery-only restaurant in Tokyo’s Edogawa Ward were sprayed with what appeared to be pepper spray on Wednesday morning, leaving them with minor injuries. Police are searching for...
View ArticleSmall Eruption Confirmed at Mount Meakan, Hokkaido
The Sapporo Regional Meteorological Observatory announced that Mount Meakan in eastern Hokkaido, where eruption alert level 2 is in place, had experienced an eruption. (News On Japan)
View ArticleSpotting Future Winners in Japan's Shifting Stock Market
As the Tokyo Stock Exchange undergoes reforms with the introduction of new listing maintenance standards, attention is turning to how investors can identify promising growth stocks. (News On Japan)
View ArticleFirst Kyoto Conference Opens With Debate on AI Values
An international conference in Kyoto has brought together experts and industry leaders to debate the values that will shape society in the age of artificial intelligence. (News On Japan)
View ArticleFive Children Injured as 4-Meter Festival Float Overturns in Nagano
A festival float overturned at Ikeda Hachiman Shrine in Ikeda, Nagano Prefecture, on the night of September 23rd, injuring five children. (News On Japan)
View ArticleIshiba Calls for UN Security Council Reform
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru delivered a general debate speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 24th, where he underscored the need to expand the Security Council and...
View ArticleFerrari Launches Flagship Testarossa in Japan
Ferrari Japan unveiled the new plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV) ‘849 Testarossa’ in Tokyo on September 24th, carrying forward the name of the legendary Testarossa. (News On Japan)
View ArticleSapporo Warns Against Placing 10 Yen Coins in Coffins
Sapporo City has issued an unusual request, urging families not to place 10 yen coins in coffins before cremation, citing the risk of damage to cremation furnaces. (News On Japan)
View ArticleSapporo Court Rules Against Surgical Requirement For Gender Change
A transgender man living in Sapporo has won a landmark case after the Sapporo Family Court ruled that the legal requirement demanding surgical or hormonal changes to alter the appearance of one’s...
View ArticleLast Words on Video Revealed in Myanmar Journalist Nagai’s Shooting
Nearly 18 years have passed since journalist Kenji Nagai was shot dead while covering a protest in Myanmar, and new analysis has revealed that his final words were recorded on the video camera he held...
View ArticleTen Gang Members Arrested Over Kidnapping, Victim Still Missing
Police in Hyogo Prefecture have arrested gang affiliates over the abduction of a man in his 20s in Amagasaki, who remains missing, with investigators now moving toward re-arresting several suspects on...
View ArticleActor Hiroya Shimizu Released on Bail Following Drug Bust
The Tokyo District Court on September 24th approved the release on bail of actor Hiroya Shimizu, 26, who has been indicted for violating the Narcotics Control Act by possessing cannabis. (News On Japan)
View ArticleCamera Captures Train Colliding With Car, Killing 54-Year-Old Woman
A van trapped at a railway crossing in Kaizuka, Osaka Prefecture, was struck by an oncoming train on September 23rd, killing 54-year-old driver Sayuri Hirokawa, with the entire incident captured on a...
View ArticleJapan and Saudi Arabia Sign Entertainment Partnership Deal
Japan and Saudi Arabia announced a new memorandum of understanding for economic cooperation on September 24th at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, with a strong emphasis on expanding entertainment and content...
View ArticleSea of Clouds Over Lake Kussharo Heralds Winter
A sea of clouds spread across Lake Kussharo in Teshikaga, eastern Hokkaido, on Wednesday morning, creating a striking early sign of the coming winter. (News On Japan)
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