Japan In Focus
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Bullet Train Bento Features Herring, Salmon, Squid to Celebrate Hokkaido Shinkansen’s 10th Anniversary
SAPPORO — To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train services in March...
December 20, 2025
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Kochi: Hopes Rise For Shoebill Baby Birth; Pair Seen Enacting Courting Rituals
KONAN, Kochi — Expectations are high for the birth of a baby shoebill at a zoo in Kochi Prefectur...
December 20, 2025
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Kumamoto: Trams to Continue Accepting IC Cards after Strong Opposition from Riders
KUMAMOTO — Nationwide transport IC cards will continue to be accepted on Kumamoto City trams afte...
December 20, 2025
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Kyoto: Police Try to Dissuade Shoplifters with Photos of Officers’ Eyes
KYOTO — The Fushimi Police Station in Kyoto Prefecture has launched a unique initiative to preven...
December 20, 2025
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Ikumi Tea Drama Draws Sellout Crowd, Honors Global Legacy in Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture
SHIMADA, Shizuoka — About 80 people packed into the former Ikumi Elementary School in Shimada, Sh...
December 20, 2025
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The Art of Making ‘Japan Blue’; Founded in 1914, Nogawa Senshoku Kogyo Continues Making Dye for Popular Color Using Traditional Techniques
HANYU, Saitama — Thirteen jars of indigo dye are lined up beneath the factory floor. Each jar con...
December 15, 2025
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Heirs to Kyoto Talent: Successor Preserves Traditional Japanese Sweets with New Ingredients
KYOTO — Cacao beans with a thick coating of mitsu sugar syrup shine like jet-black gemstones.
...December 15, 2025
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Yamaguchi: Sculpture Modeled After ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ Weapon Appears in Ube
UBE, Yamaguchi — A massive sculpture modeled after the left hand of a humanoid weapon seen in the...
December 14, 2025
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Hyogo: Anime Fans Step Inside Real High School of ‘Haruhi Suzumiya’ Ahead of School’s Closure
NISHINOMIYA, Hyogo — A high school in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, said to be the inspiration f...
December 14, 2025
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Nagasaki: Potato Harvesting Event Connects Villagers to 19th-Century French Priest
NAGASAKI — Sweet potatoes that were first cultivated over 100 years ago by a French missionary ha...
December 13, 2025
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Designer Apples with Stencil Designs Auctioned Off with Highest Bid Reaching ¥150,000
HIROSAKI, Aomori — Apples with kanji characters and other seasonal good luck designs for New Year...
December 10, 2025
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Tokyo ‘Secret Base’ Preserves Idol Boom of Showa Era; Izakaya Offers Nostalgic Tunes, Specialty Cocktails at Retro Prices
Candies, Kyoko Koizumi and Masahiko Kondo to name a few — about 900 vinyl records by these idol s...
December 8, 2025
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Kumamoto: Public Bath Refurbished as Library Where You Can Chat, Take Photos
NANKAN, Kumamoto — A library renovated from a beloved municipal public bath opened for visitors i...
December 6, 2025
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Shiga: World Karuta Championship Held at ‘Holy Ground’ Shrine with 12 Teams Participated
OTSU — The world karuta championship, using the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu poetry anthology, was held a...
December 6, 2025
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Nagasaki: Flame of Sasebo Jazz Reignited Thanks to Young Talent
SASEBO, Nagasaki — A powerful harmony of saxophones, drums, bass, piano and trombone fills the ai...
December 6, 2025
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Sanrio to Open Museum in Yamanashi Pref. Dedicated to Founder, Exhibits Include Hello Kitty, Other Characters
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Autumn Foliage Surrounds Visitors to Tokyo’s Showa Kinen Park
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My Daughter No Longer Speaks to Me, But I Want to See Her and My Grandchild
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Kumamoto: Public Bath Refurbished as Library Where You Can Chat, Take Photos
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Frozen Vegetables: Demand Rises for Convenient, Tasty Domestic Produce
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Samurai Japan’s New Uniforms for 2026 World Baseball Classic Unveiled
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Southeastern Taiwan Shaken by Magnitude 6.1 Earthquake, No Immediate Reports of Damage
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Japan’s Mitsubishi to Begin Procuring Gallium in Kazakhstan to Secure Rare Metal Critical for Manufacturing Semiconductors
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Japanese Govt AI Basic Plan Urges Development of Trustworthy AI, Domestic Development of AI Models
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Toki Crested Ibis Raised in Tokyo Surpass 100, Make Significant Contribution to Reintroduction Project on Sado Island
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Japan to Cut Passport Fees by Up to 7,000 Yen
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Masashi ‘Jumbo’ Ozaki, Japan’s Top Rated Pro Golfer with 133 Career Wins, Dies of Cancer at Age of 78