The internet is full of companies promising to write perfect essays for students. Some deliver quality work. Others take your money and disappear. Or worse, they send plagiarized content that could get you in serious academic trouble. (News On Japan)

The Okinawa Island-wide Eisa Festival, the largest event of its kind in the prefecture, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year after growing from its postwar origins into one of Okinawa’s most representative cultural events. (News On Japan)

Once considered a relic of the Showa era, the abacus is experiencing a revival across Japan. Children once again gather in classrooms, repeating the familiar call of "13 yen, 25 yen, 81 yen," as they practice calculations that many thought had been replaced by digital tools. Demand is spreading so quickly that production centers in Hyogo Prefecture are struggling to keep pace. (News On Japan)

Long-distance love has become almost ordinary in today’s hyper-connected world, but that doesn’t make it easy. (News On Japan)

Japan has developed a unique credit environment shaped by its cultural values, aging population, and long-standing financial traditions. (News On Japan)

The benchmark land prices, a key reference point for real estate transactions, were released on September 16th. While many tourist areas across the country saw increases, Osaka is experiencing a particularly notable trend. (News On Japan)

Applications for the University Entrance Common Test scheduled for January next year opened on September 16th, with the process shifting for the first time to an online system as the standard method. (News On Japan)

A tour of the large-scale redevelopment site around Shibuya Station in Tokyo was held on September 15th, Respect for the Aged Day, organized by Tokyu, JR East, and Tokyo Metro. About 20 participants, including elementary and junior high school students from Shibuya Ward, visited the construction site, which includes the planned East Exit 4th Floor Skyway set to open in 2030. (News On Japan)

A foreign visitor was filmed hanging from a torii gate at a popular scenic spot in Ikeda, Osaka, known as the ‘Sky Torii,’ where the city can be seen through the frame of the gate. The footage shows a man doing pull-ups on the sacred gate while another person filmed the act on a smartphone. (News On Japan)

Sapporo Rainbow Pride was held over the weekend in central Sapporo, bringing together around 900 participants in a show of support for a more inclusive society that embraces sexual diversity. (News On Japan)

Naoya Inoue, the unified world super bantamweight champion across four organizations, successfully defended his titles on September 14th at IG Arena in Kita Ward, Nagoya. The victory marked his 26th consecutive win in world championship bouts, tying the all-time record. (News On Japan)

A fire broke out on Sunday night in the Shishibone area of Edogawa Ward, Tokyo, engulfing six homes and injuring one man who lived in the house where the blaze started. (News On Japan)

MRO Japan, which handles aircraft maintenance at Naha Airport, marked its 10th anniversary on September 12th with a commemorative ceremony. (News On Japan)

An initiative to reuse soil generated during decontamination work in Fukushima Prefecture after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident has started at central government ministries in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo. (News On Japan)

A woman was injured when a large tree collapsed on a cycling course at Komazawa Olympic Park in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, on September 15th. (News On Japan)

The number of foreigners living in Japan has reached a record 3.67 million. Some have realized long-held dreams of working in the country, such as a Polish woman who became an animator, while others are keeping traditions alive, like a French rickshaw puller in Kanazawa. What kind of work do these residents do, and how much do they earn? (News On Japan)

A male company employee was arrested after allegedly molesting a woman multiple times on a train, with the victim herself chasing him down and restraining him. (News On Japan)

More than half of new employees now say they prefer a seniority-based pay system, reflecting a growing desire for stability among younger generations. Surveys show a sharp increase in those favoring traditional frameworks such as lifetime employment and seniority-based promotion, signaling a shift in mindset among workers once considered open to frequent job changes. (News On Japan)

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced it will provide up to 536 billion yen in subsidies to support mass production of next-generation semiconductor memory by Micron Technology, a major U.S. chipmaker, at its plant in Hiroshima. (News On Japan)

The Emperor and Empress, accompanied by Princess Aiko, visited a care facility in Nagasaki Prefecture where survivors of the atomic bombing reside, as part of events marking 80 years since the end of World War II. (News On Japan)