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Woman Reports Molestation on Hankyu Train via Chatbot

Kyoto police have presented certificates of appreciation to two Hankyu Railway staff members for their prompt response to a molestation report, which led to a swift arrest. (News On Japan)

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Japan's Oldest Burger Chain Dom Dom Rebounds

Founded in 1970, Dom Dom Hamburger was Japan’s first homegrown hamburger chain. At its peak, it operated 400 outlets nationwide. However, since the 2000s, its popularity declined sharply, leading to a...

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JDI Slump Exposes Limits Of State-Backed Revival

Japan Display (JDI), formed in 2012 through the merger of Hitachi, Toshiba, and Sony’s small and medium-sized LCD panel businesses, was once celebrated as the “Hinamaru LCD” and symbolized Japan’s...

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Police Target Drift Racers

Police have conducted a major crackdown at Yokohama’s Daikoku Parking Area, a popular gathering spot for street racers, uncovering dozens of illegally modified cars and confronting drivers who offered...

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Quantum Computer Begins Operation at RIKEN

A state-of-the-art IBM quantum computer, one of the world’s most advanced models and the first of its kind installed outside the United States, has begun operation at RIKEN in Kobe, where it will be...

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US Marine Gets 7 Years for Sexual Assault in Japan

A court in Japan has sentenced a US marine to seven years in prison after finding him guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in Okinawa last year. (News On Japan)

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Letting Workers Pick Their Own Boss Helps Improve Job Satisfaction

In Japan's evolving work culture, a new approach is quietly taking root: letting employees choose their own bosses. One Tokyo company has gone as far as organizing a full-scale election to select its...

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World’s Largest Butterfly Fossil Found In Shinonsen

A fossil on permanent display at a museum in Shinonsen, Hyogo Prefecture, has been identified as a new species and confirmed to be the world’s largest butterfly fossil. (News On Japan)

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Saitama Tops National English Rankings for Sixth Year

Saitama City has quietly emerged as Japan's undisputed leader in English education, with its junior high school students ranking first nationwide for six consecutive years. The secret lies in the...

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Low-Income Children Face Hunger During Summer Vacation

A recent survey by a nonprofit organization providing food assistance to low-income single-parent households has revealed that during summer vacation, when school lunches are unavailable, one in three...

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Former Abe Faction Officially Dissolves After Political Funds Scandal

The former Abe faction of the Liberal Democratic Party has officially dissolved after submitting a dissolution notice as a political organization to the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications....

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Fuji Media Wins Shareholder Battle

Fuji Media Holdings convened its annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday morning, as the company moves to rebuild governance and restore advertiser confidence after a series of scandals involving...

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Over 400 Earthquakes in 6 Days Rattle Tokara Islands

More than 400 earthquakes have been recorded over six days in the Tokara Islands of Kagoshima Prefecture, unsettling residents and particularly affecting children, some of whom say they are now afraid...

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Six Arrested over Modified Lamborghini

A Lamborghini sports car modified to shoot flames from its exhaust was fraudulently passed through vehicle inspection without proper testing, leading to the arrest of six people including a custom shop...

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Angola Pavilion Reopens at Osaka Expo

The Angola Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo reopened on June 26th, marking its first day of operations in roughly two months after remaining closed since the day after the event opened. (News On Japan)

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Death Penalty Carried Out for Killing Nine in Zama

A man convicted of murdering nine people in one of Japan's most disturbing serial killing cases was executed on June 27th. Takahiro Shiraishi, 34, had been sentenced to death for robbery, rape, and...

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Two Arrested for Scamming School Lunches with Cheap Foreign Chickens

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested two men, including an executive of a meat distribution company, on suspicion of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act by selling imported chicken...

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Japan Ranks Lowest Among G7 for Gender Pay Gap

Some of Japan’s leading companies are stepping up efforts to tackle the gender pay gap, even as the country continues to rank the lowest among G7 nations on this issue. A new corporate ranking...

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SoftBank to Launch Flying Base Station

SoftBank announced on June 26th that it will begin pre-commercial services next year for its airborne mobile base station known as HAPS (High Altitude Platform Station), with plans to expand the...

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Am I Being Arrested? Victim Speaks Out

A woman identifying herself as a pianist has spoken out after losing her entire savings to a sophisticated scam involving fake arrest warrants and impersonated officials. (News On Japan)

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H2A Rocket’s Final Launch

H2A Rocket No. 50, the final unit of Japan’s long-running flagship launch vehicle series, was successfully launched in the early hours of June 29th from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima...

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Fans Weep as Pandas Depart Japan

Four giant pandas from Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, departed Japan on June 28th to return to China, drawing heartfelt goodbyes from staff and fans. (News On Japan)

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Japan’s Best Fireworks Artist Dazzles Osaka Sky at Expo

Omagari’s renowned fireworks, crafted by Japan’s top pyrotechnician, lit up the night sky above Osaka on June 28th as part of the Japan Fireworks Expo held during the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025. (News On...

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Socrates Reborn at Shibuya AI Event

In a quiet bar in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward, the bartender isn’t just a good listener—he’s a recreation of the great philosopher Socrates, powered by artificial intelligence. (News On Japan)

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Kabukicho Billboards Forced to Cover Up

As neon lights continue to dazzle late into the night in Tokyo's Kabukicho district, a noticeable change has emerged as many host club billboards have been partially covered with tape or white paper...

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Final Run for Famed Twilight Express

The Twilight Express, a luxury overnight train that ran 1,500 kilometers between Osaka and Sapporo, continued to delight passengers on its final run after 25 years of service to Japan’s northernmost...

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Booking Scam Targets Wine Restaurants Across Japan

A growing wave of fraudulent restaurant bookings is raising alarm among small eateries across Japan, with multiple cases now reported beyond Tokyo. The scam involves a man falsely claiming to be a...

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Sapporo Braces for Crematorium Bottlenecks

As Japan enters a full-fledged "mass-death society," even cremation may be delayed by days. In Sapporo, the number of annual cremations is expected to reach approximately 32,800 by fiscal 2054....

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Next-Generation Neutrino Detector Unveiled in Gifu

A next-generation neutrino observation facility, the Hyper-Kamiokande, was unveiled to the media on June 28th in Hida City, Gifu Prefecture. Located 600 meters underground in the Kamioka area, it is a...

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Trump Again Slams Japan for Auto Trade Imbalance, Refuses Tariff Concessions

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again voiced strong dissatisfaction with Japan over automobile tariffs, a key issue in ongoing trade talks between the two countries, criticizing Japan for not...

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China Resumes Import of Japanese Seafood

China has announced the partial resumption of Japanese seafood imports for the first time in nearly two years, following a suspension imposed in response to the discharge of treated water from the...

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Online Gamers Caught in Fraud Scheme

Eleven users of online games operated by SEGA and Square Enix have been referred to prosecutors or arrested by Tokyo Metropolitan Police on suspicion of fraudulently obtaining in-game currency by using...

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Can Japan Become a Rare Earth Power?

Japan’s ambitions to become a rare earth powerhouse are gaining attention as China tightens its grip on global supply chains. Despite a mid-June agreement between the U.S. and China, rare earth...

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Gion Festival Begins with Sacred Ritual at Yasaka Shrine

The Gion Festival, one of Japan’s three major festivals, officially began in Kyoto on July 1st with the ceremonial ritual known as the Osendono Gi at Yasaka Shrine. (News On Japan)

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Land Prices Continue to Climb as Demand Shifts to Japan's Suburbs

Japan’s land values have risen nationwide for the fourth consecutive year, with the National Tax Agency releasing new roadside land prices on July 1st that show a continued upward trend driven by...

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T-Shirt Saying 'I Refuse To Be Interrogation' Confiscated

A man being held in detention has filed a lawsuit against Osaka Prefecture, claiming police violated his right to remain silent by confiscating a T-shirt bearing the phrase "I refuse to be...

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Ohtani’s Dog Decopin Featured in Rice Art

In Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, a rice field artwork featuring Decopin—the pet dog of Shohei Ohtani from Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers—has drawn attention, with the image created using...

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Don Quijote Opens First Unmanned Mini Store

Japan’s first fully unmanned mini store operated by major discount retailer Don Quijote opened on July 1st inside Osaka Electro-Communication University in Neyagawa City, Osaka Prefecture. (News On Japan)

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Tourism Surge Drives Land Prices Up in Hokkaido

Hokkaido's land price growth rankings have revealed Furano City as the top performer in the region, driven by a surge in foreign tourists. According to roadside land value data released on July 1st,...

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Trump Doubts Trade Deal with Japan, Hints at 30–35% Tariffs

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed doubts about reaching a trade agreement with Japan and hinted at the possibility of imposing tariffs of 30% to 35%. (News On Japan)

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Over 900 Earthquakes Recorded in Tokara Islands

More than 900 earthquakes have been recorded in the Tokara Islands in southern Kagoshima Prefecture since June 21st, with two magnitude 5-level tremors striking on July 2nd. The prolonged seismic...

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City Gas to Power Data Centers in Tokyo

Tokyo Gas Engineering Solutions announced on July 2nd that it will promote the adoption of power generation systems using city gas for data centers. Unlike traditional systems, these generators can be...

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Is Japan a Transit Point for Fentanyl?

A synthetic opioid so powerful it can kill with a single tablet is threatening to strain relations between Japan and the United States. Fentanyl, a drug originally developed as a medical anesthetic,...

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Mount Fuji's Yoshida Trail Opens

The Yoshida Trail on the Yamanashi side of Mount Fuji (3,776 meters) officially opened to climbers on July 1st. Under clear skies, hikers welcomed the season with cheers as the rising sun cast a...

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AI Emerges as Key Trend in Future of Broadcasting

The Kansai Broadcast Equipment Exhibition, currently underway at Osaka's Nanko district, is showcasing the latest visual and audio technologies driven by artificial intelligence. Among the highlights...

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Japanese Author Wins UK’s Top Mystery Award

Japanese author Akira Otani’s novel Baba Yaga’s Night has won the Dagger Award in the translated fiction category—marking the first time a Japanese writer has received the honor from what is widely...

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Tokara Islands Hit by Strong Quakes

A seismic swarm continues to rattle the Tokara Islands off Kagoshima Prefecture, where more than 1,000 earthquakes have been recorded since June 21st. A magnitude 5.5 quake reaching a seismic intensity...

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Five Raccoons Target Duck Family in Zama

In Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture, a family of ducks swimming peacefully at dusk drew the attention of five raccoons emerging from a canal and nearby brush, raising concerns among onlookers about a possible...

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Japanese Textbooks Featured at Turkmenistan Pavilion

At the Turkmenistan Pavilion near the East Gate, one of the most striking displays isn’t just the golden horses or traditional costumes—but a set of Japanese-language textbooks used in Turkmen schools....

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Unfounded Rumor of Major Disaster in Japan Spreads

A rumor predicting a major disaster in Japan this July has spread widely in Hong Kong, prompting a sharp drop in inbound tourism from the region and even flight suspensions. (News On Japan)

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