Society
Society Popular Articles
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Tsukiji Market Urges Tourists to Avoid Visiting in Year-End
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Tsukiji Outer Market in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, a popular tourist spot crowded...
December 15, 2025
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Israeli Tourists Refused Accommodation at Hotel in Japan’s Nagano Pref., Prompting Protest by Israeli Embassy and Probe by Prefecture
NAGANO — The Israeli Embassy sent a letter of protest to the Nagano prefectural government after ...
December 17, 2025
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Blizzard Hits Hokkaido, Disrupting Train and Flight Schedules
Due to a rapidly intensifying low-pressure system, Hokkaido experienced heavy snowfall and strong...
December 15, 2025
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Sharp Decline in Number of Chinese Tourists But Overall Number of Visitors to Japan Exceeds Previous Record
The growth rate of Chinese tourists to Japan in November was 3.0% year-on-year, a sharp decline f...
December 17, 2025
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Baby Infected with Measles Was on Flight from Hanoi to Narita, Says Tokyo Govt
An eight-month-old boy in Tokyo confirmed to have measles was on a flight from Hanoi to Narita on...
December 15, 2025
General News
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Zodiac Horse Appears in Ibaraki Pref. Park, with Visitors Pitching in to Form Delightful Artwork
A giant work of art featuring next year’s zodiac sign, the Horse, decorates the ground at Hitachi...
December 19, 2025
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Japan Govt Estimates Quake with Epicenter Directly Beneath Tokyo Area Could Result in 18,000 Deaths
If a magnitude 7 earthquake were to occur with its epicenter in the southern part of central Toky...
December 19, 2025
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Bus Bound for Hokkaido’s New Chitose Airport Catches Fire Wednesday, No Injuries
An airport shuttle bus bound for New Chitose Airport caught fire on the Hokkaido Expressway in Ch...
December 18, 2025
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Akita Nairiku Line Services Resume 4 Days after Train Derailment, Fall
AKITA — Akita Nairiku Line services resumed for a 61.2-kilometer section between Aniai and Kakuno...
December 18, 2025
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Sharp Decline in Number of Chinese Tourists But Overall Number of Visitors to Japan Exceeds Previous Record
The growth rate of Chinese tourists to Japan in November was 3.0% year-on-year, a sharp decline f...
December 17, 2025
Crime & Courts
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Court Hears Arguments on Weight of Yamagami’s Background in Sentencing; Will Rule on Whether Defendant Should Serve 20 Years or Life
How much weight should be given to a defendant’s upbringing and background when deciding on their...
December 19, 2025
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Shinzo Abe’s Shooter ‘Deserves Life in Prison’; Japan Prosecutors Demand Nara Court to Put Tetsuya Yamagami in Prison for Good (UPDATE 1)
Prosecutors on Thursday sought life in prison for the man charged with fatally shooting former Pr...
December 18, 2025
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16 Japanese Detained in Cambodia, Suspected of Being Involved in Fraud Cases
HANOI - Sixteen Japanese nationals suspected of being involved in fraud cases were detained by lo...
December 17, 2025
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2 Dead after Fire at Sauna Facility in Tokyo
Tokyo, Dec. 15 (Jiji Press)—A fire broke out at a sauna facility in the Akasaka district of Tokyo...
December 16, 2025
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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
Imperial Family
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Princess Aiko Hosts Diplomatic Guests from 16 Countries at Duck Netting Event in Saitama Pref.
Princess Aiko, the daughter of the Emperor and Empress, hosted a diplomatic delegation from 16 co...
December 18, 2025
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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
Obituaries
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‘General Hospital’ Star Anthony Geary of Luke and Laura Fame Dies at 78
Anthony Geary, who rose to fame in the 1970s and '80s as half the daytime TV super couple Luke an...
December 16, 2025
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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
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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Keidanren Chairman Yoshinobu Tsutsui Visits Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant; Inspects New Emergency Safety System
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Imports of Rare Earths from China Facing Delays, May Be Caused by Deterioration of Japan-China Relations
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Japan Pulls out of Vietnam Nuclear Project, Complicating Hanoi’s Power Plans
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Govt Aims to Expand NISA Program Lineup, Abolish Age Restriction
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Blanket Eel Trade Restrictions Rejected
JN TOP STORIES
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LDP, DPFP Reach Deal to Hike Taxable Income Threshold to ¥1.78 Mil.; Income Cap for Full Basic Deduction Will Also Rise to ¥6.65 Mil.
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Japan’s 10-Year Bond Yield Hits 1999 High as BOJ Hikes Rates; Tech Drives Nikkei Rally
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BOJ Gov. Ueda: Highly Likely Mechanism for Rising Wages, Prices Will Be Maintained
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Japan Mulls ¥1 Tril. Investment in AI as Country Said to Be Lagging Behind Other Countries in Area
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Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average JGB Yields Hit 2006 High as BOJ Hikes Rates
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Japan Govt Estimates Quake with Epicenter Directly Beneath Tokyo Area Could Result in 18,000 Deaths