Society

M4.9 Earthquake Hits Tokyo, Neighboring Prefectures

M4.9 earthquake hits Tokyo, neighboring prefectures, on Friday evening.

December 12, 2025

NHK Drama Actress Non Creates Kokeshi-Shaped Lanterns to Ward Off Cold in Iwate Pref.

Visitors to Kuji, Iwate Prefecture, can enjoy a special exhibition featuring kokeshi doll-shaped ...

December 12, 2025

‘Bear’ Takes Top Spot as Japan’s Kanji of the Year, Reflecting Year of Bear Sightings, Attacks (Update1)

The kanji for bear was announced as kanji of the year for 2025 on Friday.

December 12, 2025

Tsunami Advisory Lifted; Earthquake with Estimated Magnitude of 6.7 Strikes Northern Japan (Update1)

A tsunami advisory for Hokkaido and the Tohoku region was issued on Friday following a magnitude ...

December 12, 2025

Passenger Plane Bound for Akita Lands at Hakodate Due to Mechanical Problems; Propeller May Have Frozen

SAPPORO — A passenger plane bound for Akita from Sapporo diverted due to mechanical problems and ...

December 12, 2025

Japanese Police Rush to Retrieve Toy Guns Capable of Firing Live Ammunition

Police are rushing to round up toy guns that can fire live ammunition, urging owners of toys to c...

December 9, 2025

Police Use AI to Identify 18,500 ‘Dark Part-Time Job’ Recruiting Posts, System Significantly Expands Deterrence Efforts

The Metropolitan Police Department has used artificial intelligence to automatically detect posts...

December 8, 2025

Baby’s Head Found in Refrigerator at Adult Entertainment Establishment in Tokyo’s Kinshicho

A baby's head was found inside a refrigerator at an adult entertainment establishment in Tokyo’s ...

December 7, 2025

Ex-Teacher Indicted for Possessing Deepfake Child Pornography

NAGOYA — A former male teacher in Nagoya was indicted Friday for allegedly possessing sexually ex...

December 6, 2025

Sexual Deepfakes Face First Crackdown; Nagoya Teacher Referred to Prosecutors, Indicted

NAGOYA — A male elementary school teacher in Nagoya has been referred to prosecutors for allegedl...

December 5, 2025

Japan’s Empress Turns 62, Reaffirms Pledge to Peace

The Empress turned 62 on Tuesday and reaffirmed her pledge to peace, with this year marking 80 ye...

December 9, 2025

Japan’s Princess Aiko Turns 24, Expands Scope of Official Activities

Princess Aiko, the only daughter of the Emperor and the Empress, turned 24 on Monday.

December 1, 2025

Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino Stresses Importance of Peace as He Turns 60

Crown Prince Akishino stressed the importance of thinking about peace, during a recent press conf...

November 30, 2025

Japan’s Prince Hitachi, Brother of Emperor Emeritus, Turns 90

Prince Hitachi, the younger brother of the Emperor Emeritus and uncle of the Emperor, turned 90 o...

November 28, 2025

Japan’s Princess Aiko Returns From Laos, Expresses Thanks for Warm Hospitality

Princess Aiko, the daughter of the Emperor and the Empress, has returned home from her first offi...

November 22, 2025

Frank Gehry, the Most Celebrated Architect of His Time, Dies at 96

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Frank Gehry, who designed some of the most imaginative buildings ever construc...

December 6, 2025

Tom Stoppard, Sparkling Playwright Who Won an Oscar for ‘Shakespeare In Love,’ Dies at 88

LONDON (AP) — British playwright Tom Stoppard, a playful, probing dramatist who won an Academy Aw...

November 30, 2025

Mayor Yutaka Ota of Azumino, Nagano Pref., Passes Away at 69; Had Recently Started Second Term in Office

Mayor Yutaka Ota of the city of Azumino, Nagano Prefecture, 69, passed away on Friday.

He...

November 28, 2025

Dharmendra, Iconic Bollywood Actor and Indian Cinema’s ‘He-Man,’ Dies at 89

NEW DELHI (AP) — Dharmendra, one of Indian cinema’s most popular stars whose versatile performanc...

November 25, 2025

Kataoka Kamezo, 64-Year-Old Kabuki Actor, Dies in Tokyo Fire

Kabuki actor Kataoka Kamezo, 64, died in a fire in Adachi Ward, Tokyo, on Monday.

The fir...

November 24, 2025

Social Media and Elections: Politics Today / Japan Needs to Prepare for Foreign Interference in Polls; Constitutional Reform Referendums a Likely Target

This is the third and final installment in a series that examines how political parties understan...

June 13, 2025

Social Media and Elections: Politics Today / Voters in Japan Might Be Influenced by Biased Information Online; Ruling, Opposition Parties in Talks About Strengthening Responses

“Take-home pay will end up increasing.”

June 12, 2025

Social Media and Elections: Politics Today / Political Parties Scrambling to Use Social Media Effectively After Elections Across Japan

The Diet has been unable to implement effective measures to address confusion caused by social me...

June 11, 2025

Social Media and Elections: Outdated System / Social Media’s Decisive Role in Mayoral Race Sparks Debate on Use of Internet in Campaigns

This is the final installment in a series of articles that examines the challenges faced by the n...

May 7, 2025

Social Media and Elections: Outdated System / Surrogate Candidates Threaten Fairness of Japan’s Elections, Causing Local Govts to Lose Patience

This is the fourth installment in a series that examines the challenges faced by the nation’s ele...

May 6, 2025

COVID-19 Cases up for 8th Consecutive Week in Japan; Omicron Subvariant Nimbus Accounts for About 40% of Infections

The number of people infected with COVID-19 has increased for eight consecutive weeks, driven by ...

August 16, 2025

60% of Special COVID-19 Loans in Arrears at End of 2024; Government Directs Local Authorities to Boost Support

A total of ¥241.3 billion in special government loans meant to mitigate the financial impact of t...

May 19, 2025

5 Years After Confirmation of First Coronavirus Infection, Japan Must Take Steps to Prepare for Next Pandemic

Wednesday will mark five years since the first novel coronavirus infection was confirmed in Japan...

January 13, 2025

¥468.5 Bil. Loaned to Households Due to COVID-19 is Now Uncollectable; Number May Increase with Further Defaults

Of the over ¥1.4 trillion loaned to households in financial distress due to COVID-19 through the ...

October 24, 2024

Long COVID Forces 50％ to Quit or Take Sick Leave From Job; Some Employers Dismiss Staff’s Needs, Say Illness Not Real

Many people suffering from so-called long COVID have been forced to quit their jobs or take sick ...

August 22, 2024

New Research Results Show 19 Square Kilometers of Land Underwent Liquefaction in Noto Peninsula Earthquake; Amount Thought to be Increased by Sand Blown in from Sea of Japan

Ground liquefaction caused by last year’s Noto Peninsula Earthquake is estimated to have damaged ...

November 25, 2025

Japan Experts Urge Preparations for ‘Compound Disasters’; 1 Year Since Torrential Rains Hit Quake-Battered Peninsula

TOKYO/WAJIMA, Ishikawa — Sunday marked one year since torrential rains devastated areas that had ...

September 21, 2025

Volunteers Harvest Rice from Terraced Paddies in Wajima; Crop Was Successful Despite Damage from Earthquake, Torrential Rains

WAJIMA, Ishikawa Prefecture — About 100 local residents and volunteer workers harvested rice at t...

September 18, 2025

118 Houses Left Damaged With No Known Owner After Noto Quake; Number Expected to Rise as Investigations Continue

KANAZAWA — At least 118 houses have been left damaged and with no known owner in six cities and t...

July 2, 2025

Mangaka Go Nagai Donates Works to Hometown Wajima; ‘Mazinger Z’ Creator Continues Support for Quake-Hit Area’s Recovery

WAJIMA, Ishikawa — Go Nagai, the creator of manga series such as “Mazinger Z” and “Devilman,” don...

July 2, 2025