Blossoming Pink and White, Sweet Fragrance Marks the Arrival of Spring at Jonangu Shrine
The shidare ume, or weeping plum, is in full bloom at Jonangu Shrine in Kyoto, with visitors enjoying the sweet fragrance and beautiful scenery.
Starting today, the Budget Committee will hold debates on zero consumption tax on food products and security
The Japanese Budget Committee will begin discussions on the government's budget proposal, focusing on issues like zero consumption tax on food and security measures.
Pakistani Military Bombs Afghan Capital; Large-scale Military Clashes at the Border
The Pakistani military conducted airstrikes on military bases controlled by the Taliban in Kabul, Afghanistan, following a series of cross-border attacks, leading to significant military clashes.
Former Niigata Governor Ryuichi Yoneyama is eager to run in the gubernatorial election in May: 'I will reach a conclusion by April'
Ryuichi Yoneyama, the former governor of Niigata, expresses his desire to run in the upcoming gubernatorial election scheduled for May 14, despite losing in the recent House of Representatives election.
Japan is a harsh country for low-income workers: The reality depicted by the 'Wong Curve' - Is the burden equitable?
A new national discussion in Japan centers around taxation and social insurance burdens on low-income workers, highlighted by the 'Wong Curve.'
Kobe University to Establish Major Course for Data Science Human Resource Development from 2027
Kobe University plans to introduce a specialized graduate program focused on data science beginning in April 2027 to meet the growing demand for skilled data analysts.
Kim Jong-un does not mention China or Russia at the party congress – Insights into North Korea’s foreign policy from Toshiji Hiraiwa
Kim Jong-un's recent remarks at the party congress exclude mentions of China and Russia, focusing more on a pragmatic approach towards South Korea and implying a cautious stance in relation to the U.S.
Small town Australian becomes 'accidental expert' in sumo wrestling
Katrina Watts, a 73-year-old from Murwillumbah, Australia, unexpectedly became a sumo wrestling commentator after initially being captivated by the sport while living in Japan.
First outbreak of swine fever this year, all 2,000 pigs to be culled at a farm in Maebashi, Akagi Mountain southern slope
The first outbreak of swine fever in Japan this year has been confirmed at a farm in Maebashi, where all 2,000 pigs will be culled.
Completed Dakar Rally despite three fractures: The only Japanese rider, Shinya Fujiwara
Shinya Fujiwara, the only Japanese participant in the recent Dakar Rally, completed the race despite suffering three fractures during the challenging event.
Dancing to the Beat of Cat-Eye Agricultural Policy: Delays in Delivery and Rice Milling, Still No 'Stocked Rice' Arriving
Customers are lining up to buy stocked rice despite delays in delivery and processing caused by agricultural policy changes in Japan.
"It's Your Fault That Rice Prices Are So High" Continued Harassment Calls, Disposal Company is a Reseller?
A rice procurement company in Akita Prefecture, Japan, has been facing harassment calls blaming them for rising rice prices due to an incident involving unfulfilled rice stock contracts.
Granting 'Comprehensive Coordination Authority' to the National Intelligence Agency, Government Policy to Aggregate and Analyze Information
The Japanese government plans to grant comprehensive coordination authority to the National Intelligence Agency for centralized information collection and analysis from various ministries.
US-Iran Talks Conclude, Prospects for Continuation Amid Trump's Threat of Attack
US-Iran negotiations ended without an agreement, but there are prospects for further discussions as tensions continue, particularly with Trump's military threats.
Debating Between AIs: 'Realizing Human Greatness' - Popular Course at University of Tokyo for Educators
A popular online course offered by the University of Tokyo teaches educators and parents about the usage of generative AI, attracting significant participation from educators, students, and parents alike.
Gold bars appear in Osaka with a clear request: modernize the pipes
Osaka received an anonymous donation of 21 kilos of gold bars dedicated to improving its aging water pipe infrastructure.
Hillary Clinton Denies Relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, Testifies Before House Committee
Hillary Clinton denied any personal relationship with Jeffrey Epstein while testifying before the House Oversight Committee.
CM Yogi distributed chocolates to Japanese children
Indian Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath distributed chocolates to children from Japan during a recent event.
World Economic Forum President Announces Resignation Amid Epstein Investigation
The President of the World Economic Forum, Borge Brende, announced his resignation due to an investigation into his connections with the late Jeffrey Epstein, who was implicated in sex crimes.
Japan to provide US$41 million in grant assistance to Ukraine
Japan has committed to providing $41 million in grant assistance to Ukraine as part of the Emergency Recovery Programme.
Will India's Economy Soon Surpass Japan's?
India's economy is poised to potentially surpass Japan's, bolstered by its large population and younger demographic, as India's GDP approaches that of Japan's amid currency fluctuations.
Baffling pictures show abandoned Japanese 'love hotel' with spaceship beds and boxing ring
A Reddit user shares astonishing images of an abandoned Japanese 'love hotel' featuring uniquely themed rooms, including one with a spaceship-shaped bed and a boxing ring.
Mika Salo's Direct Words on Kalle Rovanperä
Kalle Rovanperä is learning the ropes of Japan's Super Formula cars, facing challenges and significantly different performance levels compared to his previous experiences in the Oceania formula series.
Carney to leave for overseas trade trips, starting with India
Prime Minister Mark Carney embarks on a 10-day international trade mission to India, Australia, and Japan, following a significant speech at Davos advocating for cooperation among middle powers.
Challenge for the Shogi Master Title: Playoff Between Takumi Nagase and Tetsuro Itoh
The playoff for the challenge to the Shogi Master title will feature Takumi Nagase and Tetsuro Itoh after both players ended the final round of the A-Class rankings with equal records.
Killings of journalists at a record high last year, with two-thirds involving Israel
In 2025, a record 129 journalists were killed globally, with two-thirds of those fatalities linked to Israeli actions, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Kim Jong Un Shows Confidence in Economic and Personnel Achievements as 'Most Significant in 30 Years'
At the recent Workers’ Party Congress, Kim Jong Un touted the economic achievements of North Korea over the past three years as the most significant in three decades, showcasing a change in tone from previous admissions of failure.
A New Iron Lady? Japan's Prime Minister Bravely Changes the Country's Traditional Politics
Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faces a complicated diplomatic landscape with China amidst rising tensions over Taiwan.
First Tripartite Consultation in the 11th Re-trial Request for the Nabari Poisoned Wine Incident
The 11th retrial request for the Nabari poisoned wine incident led to its first tripartite consultation involving the Nagoya High Court, the Nagoya High Public Prosecutor's Office, and the defense team.
CM Yogi rides Japan's high-speed train, elated by its speed
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath experienced the world's most advanced linear maglev train in Japan, impressing upon him the potential for revolutionary changes in future transportation.
A Hasty Start for the 'National Conference': Only One Opposition Party Attends, Distrust in Government Leadership
Only the opposition party 'Mirai' attended the inaugural meeting of the 'National Conference' launched by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, reflecting growing criticism of the government's agenda.
Reemployment and Significant Salary Reduction Considered 'Unreasonable'; Payment Order Issued to Driving School Following High Court Review
A high court in Nagoya deemed the significant salary reduction for reemployed former driving instructors unreasonable and ordered the school to pay the difference, marking a key decision in employment law regarding post-retirement employment.
Thirty Years of Pokémon
The Pokémon franchise, celebrating its 30th anniversary, has become a global phenomenon with numerous characters and multimedia expansions.
Social Security 'National Conference' Starts, Discussing Zero Consumption Tax on Food - Major Opposition Parties Do Not Participate
The inaugural meeting of the 'Social Security National Conference' took place, discussing the potential for a zero consumption tax on food, but only one opposition party participated amidst concerns from others.
CM Yogi spoke about India-Japan relations
CM Yogi stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated active efforts to strengthen India-Japan relations, which is a significant step towards better cooperation between the two countries.
Japan presented a robot monk that gives spiritual advice using AI
Researchers in Japan have introduced 'Buddharoid,' a robot monk powered by artificial intelligence that can offer spiritual advice based on Buddhist texts.
Gumma's Three-Person Death Accident, Defendant Appeals Against First Instance Ruling Recognizing Dangerous Driving
The defendant in a tragic accident in Gumma that resulted in the deaths of three people has filed an appeal against a 20-year sentence for dangerous driving.
Birth rate in Tokyo increases for the first time in nine years due to extensive measures against declining birth rates, while nationwide numbers continue to decrease
Tokyo has seen an increase in its birth rate for the first time in nine years, attributed to various local government initiatives, although nationwide figures continue to decline.
Why are living people lying in coffins... a shocking reason comes to light
In Japan, a new trend called 'Coffin Meditation' is emerging where people lie in coffins for meditation to achieve peace and an understanding of mortality.
The ‘gift scandal’ in Japan: controversies over Prime Minister Takaichi's gifts to party members
A controversy has arisen in Japan regarding Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's decision to give gifts to members of her party as a token of gratitude for their electoral success.
Shohei Ohtani joins Samurai Japan, eager for batting practice on the field
Shohei Ohtani has joined Samurai Japan and is keen to participate in batting practice ahead of upcoming exhibition games.
The Communist Party Faces Bitter Pill After 56 Years: Halved Representation in the House of Representatives, Questions Only in the House of Councilors
The Japanese Communist Party faced a significant setback in the recent election, losing half of its seats in the House of Representatives and only able to pose questions in the House of Councilors during a recent parliamentary session.
Chubu Electric President Promises to 'Promptly Submit' Data on Fraud Following Regulatory Committee's Indication
Chubu Electric's president acknowledged the insufficient documentation during a press conference and pledged to provide necessary records regarding the fraudulent data concerning earthquake motion standards used for the Hamaoka nuclear power plant.
Plaintiffs 'merely take the regulator's judgment at face value' - Request to suspend operations at Shikoku Electric's Ikata Nuclear Power Plant rejected
The Yamaguchi District Court has dismissed a request from local residents to suspend the operations of the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant, leading plaintiffs to criticize the reliance on the nuclear regulator's safety judgments.
Cancellation Regulations to Become Stricter After Matching Established - Spot Work Association
The Spot Work Association in Japan has announced stricter cancellation regulations following matching agreements to combat last-minute cancellations by companies.
The Power of Numbers: the Rise of Factions and the Change in Direction by the Prime Minister
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is witnessing a resurgence of factionalism, driven by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's stance on past funding issues.
Chinese Officials Target Takagi for Influence Operations, Seek Advice from ChatGPT
A report reveals that Chinese officials attempted to influence political opinion in Japan by targeting politician Sanae Takagi and consulting ChatGPT, which ultimately refused to provide assistance.
CM Yogi's big meeting in Japan
The meeting aims to enhance communication and collaboration among various stakeholders in regional creation and value promotion.
Approval of Business Integration Between Hino and Mitsubishi Fuso, with Conditions to Maintain Competition
The Japanese Fair Trade Commission has approved the integration of Hino Motors and Mitsubishi Fuso, setting conditions to mitigate market concentration risks.
Leaving room for dialogue with the US administration, North Korea emphasizes 'hostile' relations with South Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un highlighted a willingness for dialogue with the US while reinforcing 'hostile' relations with South Korea during the recently held Workers' Party Congress.