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November 21, 2024
 

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Yukana Inoue
Kenshi Koba, chairman of the Takarazuka theater group, bows his head in apology during a news conference in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 14, 2023
No link to bullying in Takarazuka theater actress's suicide: panel
Although there was no evidence of harassment in the all-female musical theater troupe, the actress was most likely under immense pressure, the panel said.
Tokyo retained third behind London and New York in this year's Global Power City Index (GPCI) report.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 9, 2023
Tokyo remains third in global power index despite downturn
Among other Japan cities, Osaka ranked 37th while Fukuoka placed 42nd in the index.
The family grave of Toshihide Matsumoto is dismantled in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture. An increasing number of Japanese people are opting to permanently close their family graves as traditional family structures continue to change.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 9, 2023
Graying Japan faces a grave problem
Services designed to help people move or scatter their ancestors' ashes and close up family graves are experiencing increased demand.
The ¥100,000 financial aid comes hand-in-hand with consultation support that encourages expecting mothers to attend meetings in their municipalities throughout their pregnancy where they can ask for advice and information on childbirth.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 9, 2023
Japan's cash handouts for pregnant women to be made permanent in 2025
The plan entails handing out a total of ¥100,000 to all residents of Japan who are pregnant.
From convenience stores and pizza franchises to makers of mattresses and whisky, businesses are looking to cash in on the popularity of "Godzilla Minus One."
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Nov 8, 2023
Latest Godzilla movie is a beast at the Japan box office
Boosted by mammoth marketing campaign, "Godzilla Minus One" racks up over ¥1 billion in opening weekend.
The words of encouragement that star player Shohei Ohtani gave his teammates before their final game against the United States during the World Baseball Classic in March were among those nominated on Thursday to be the buzzwords of the year.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 2, 2023
Japan's 2023 buzzwords reflect light and dark sides of the year
From the year's scandals to its champions, the annual list of buzzword candidates highlights the nation's hope, fears and diversions.
The Nihon University football club dormitory in Tokyo
JAPAN / Society
Oct 31, 2023
Nihon University staff downplayed drug use problem, report says
The report shows how the university’s system of governance led to the delay in taking action against the American football team’s culture of drug use.
Takuya Matsunaga (right), who lost his wife and daughter in a 2019 crash in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district, attends a news conference on Friday along with his father-in-law, Yoshinori Uehara.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 27, 2023
Ex-Japan bureaucrat ordered to pay damages over fatal 2019 crash
Kozo Iizuka had already been sentenced to five years in prison, after the car he was driving crashed into Mana Matsunaga, 31, and her daughter Riko, 3.
Major supermarket chain Daiei opened a checkout-free, walk-through store in the CeeU Yokohama mall on Friday.
BUSINESS / Tech
Oct 27, 2023
At new Japan supermarket outlet, high tech runs the store
The system replaces cash registers with a network of cameras, weight sensors and a smartphone app.
A poster for Uber displayed at a Tokyo subway station reads: "Meeting inbound demand together with Japan's taxis." It also notes that its service is used in 71 countries.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 26, 2023
Japan weighs allowing ride-hailing amid taxi industry opposition
The taxi industry is opposed to any change, arguing that allowing ride-hailing is just a temporary fix that will take jobs from taxi drivers.
An AI-generated model is featured in Ito En's latest green tea brand commercial.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 19, 2023
Beverage company Ito En taps AI actress for TV commercial
The commercial is receiving mixed reviews from netizens, with some praising the quality of the tech while others worry about job loss.
The majority of tourists in Japan tend to stay in Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto, resulting in overcrowding in popular tourist spots and a strain on transportation systems.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 18, 2023
Japan unveils new overtourism countermeasures
The tourism ministry unveiled its overtourism prevention plan, summarizing the various efforts that have begun to be made in areas around the nation.
Ayuko Kato, minister in charge of child policies, talks to children in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 17, 2023
Japan resumes babysitter discount coupon program amid high demand
The babysitter coupon system was implemented in 2016 as part of the government’s efforts to offer financial aid to working families with children.
Booking.com has issued a statement on their website apologizing for “updates to their payment system” that are causing issues for some of their partners, including many hotels in Japan.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 15, 2023
Japanese hotel owners plan to sue Booking.com over payment failure
Hotel owners say that over the past few months, Booking.com has failed to promptly transfer customer payments to hotels.
Shogi player Sota Fujii holds a card that says "eight titles," in the city of Kyoto on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 12, 2023
Sota Fujii becomes first player to win all eight major shogi titles
The 21-year-old took the Oza crown, having won Game 4 to finish the best-of-five match against 31-year-old Takuya Nagase.
Ayuko Kato, minister in charge of child policies, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 4, 2023
Children's agency chief Ayuko Kato vows to tackle falling birthrate
One of the aims of the agency is to help implement the Children's Future Strategy, a plan that was announced as a way to reverse the declining birthrate.
A meeting to discuss how to prevent the use of kiken drugs (hazardous drugs), is held at the health ministry on Friday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 29, 2023
As drug use rises in Japan, government eyes prevention plans
The ministry reported that by the end of August, around 300 stores in the country were found to be selling quasi-legal products known as “kiken drugs.”
The University of Tokyo ranked 29th in the latest World Universities Rankings, up from 39th in last year’s report.
JAPAN / Society
Sep 28, 2023
Japanese universities move up in global rankings
The overall improvement is due to a change in methodology by Times Higher Education.
Tsushima Mayor Naoki Hitakatsu addresses the city's municipal assembly on Wednesday, announcing his decision not to take part in the government's preliminary survey to assess the suitability of a location as a nuclear waste disposal site.
JAPAN / Society
Sep 27, 2023
Tsushima mayor turns down request for nuclear waste site survey
The mayor expressed his decision at a municipal council meeting, saying that “there is not enough consensus building among citizens.”
Yahoo News is currently the most popular news portal site in Japan, with the highest number of partnerships with news providers.
BUSINESS / Tech
Sep 26, 2023
Yahoo News considers reviewing contracts with news providers
The announcement follows a report by the JFTC last week that warned that the platform's operator, Yahoo Japan, may be in a superior bargaining position.
Ishiba delays meeting with Trump, citing legal restrictions
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba waves upon arrival for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, in Callao, Peru, on Friday.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Rising sex tourism exposes loopholes in Japan's anti-prostitution law
While financial misfortunes during the COVID-19 pandemic may have driven some women to work the streets, others simply want more money to spend — or want to pay off their debts — at host clubs.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

mission sustainability vol.12 : Kose Corp.Kose takes pride in creating beauty in the world
mission sustainability vol.12 : Kose Corp.Kose takes pride in creating beauty in the world

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