Society
Society Popular Articles
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M4.9 Earthquake Hits Tokyo, Neighboring Prefectures
M4.9 earthquake hits Tokyo, neighboring prefectures, on Friday evening.
...December 12, 2025
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High School in Kyoto Says Students Shoplifted during Recent School Trip to Bali, Indonesia
KYOTO — Otani Junior and Senior High School in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, posted an announcement on...
December 9, 2025
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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
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‘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
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NTT Tower in Aomori Prefecture Damaged by Earthquake; Risk of Collapse Prompts Evacuation
HACHINOHE, Aomori — A steel tower atop a building in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, was damaged in...
December 11, 2025
General News
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Sightings of Asian Black Bears Increasing in Shimonoseki, Stoking Fears of Spread to Kitakyushu
As damage caused by bears worsens across eastern Japan, particularly in the Tohoku region, Asian ...
December 14, 2025
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Funeral Held for Feline Stationmaster ‘Nitama,’ with 500 Fans Attending to Bid Farewell
A funeral was held for feline stationmaster Nitama at Kishi Station on Wakayama Electric Railway ...
December 14, 2025
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Number of Japanese Workers at U.N. Agencies Hits Record
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The number of Japanese workers at U.N. agencies as of the end of 2024 was 97...
December 14, 2025
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Japan Govt Vows All-Out Push to Resolve North Korea’s Abduction Issues
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Japanese government on Saturday reaffirmed its commitment to resolving t...
December 14, 2025
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Japanese Hibakusha Group Meets with American Woman Who Witnessed Attack on Pearl Harbor
HONOLULU — A delegation from a hibakusha group in Nagasaki Prefecture met with an American woman ...
December 13, 2025
Crime & Courts
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Sapporo Man Defrauded of ¥122 Mil. by Men Claiming to Represent Fukushima Police
SAPPORO — A man in his 50s in Sapporo was defrauded of a total of ¥122 million by men claiming to...
December 13, 2025
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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
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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
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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
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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
Imperial Family
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Japan’s Princess Aiko Attends Ceremony for Chiba University’s School of Nursing
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Princess Aiko on Sunday attended a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversa...
December 14, 2025
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Yomiuri Survey Finds 69% ‘Favor’ Female Emperor, While 68% ‘Worried’ About Stable Succession
A recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey found that 69% of respondents were in favor of revising the Imper...
December 14, 2025
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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
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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
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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
Obituaries
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Japanese Film Director Masato Harada Dies at 76
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japanese film director Masato Harada, known for socially conscious works inc...
December 14, 2025
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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
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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
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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
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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
Social Series
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Coronavirus
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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
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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
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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
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¥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
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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
Noto Peninsula Earthquake
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
JN Popular Articles
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Japan’s Hopes for Seafood Exports Shot Down in China Spat
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Essential Services Shortage to Hit Japan’s GDP By Up to ¥76 Tril. By 2040
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Japan to Charge Foreigners More for Residence Permits, Looking to Align with Western Countries
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Japan Exports Rise in October as Slump in U.S. Sales Eases
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Japan GDP Down Annualized 1.8% in July-Sept.
JN TOP STORIES
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Govt to Abolish Support for New Mega Solar Plants in Reversal of Policy in Place Since 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake
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Heirs to Kyoto Talent: Successor Preserves Traditional Japanese Sweets with New Ingredients
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Yamaguchi: Sculpture Modeled After ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ Weapon Appears in Ube
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Hyogo: Anime Fans Step Inside Real High School of ‘Haruhi Suzumiya’ Ahead of School’s Closure
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Japan’s Princess Aiko Attends Ceremony for Chiba University’s School of Nursing
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Sightings of Asian Black Bears Increasing in Shimonoseki, Stoking Fears of Spread to Kitakyushu
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Higa Makes History as First Japanese to Win Asian Tour Order of Merit
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Funeral Held for Feline Stationmaster ‘Nitama,’ with 500 Fans Attending to Bid Farewell
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Yomiuri Survey Finds 69% ‘Favor’ Female Emperor, While 68% ‘Worried’ About Stable Succession