Kofukuji’s Five-Story Pagoda, a National Treasure in Nara, opened part of its large-scale restoration to the media with a demonstration of roof tile removal. The project includes examining whether some 60,000 tiles can be reused. (News On Japan)

A post-victory ritual of jumping into Osaka’s Dotonbori River resurfaced after the Hanshin Tigers clinched the league title, with 29 people entering the water despite police warnings and repeated appeals from the city to stop. (News On Japan)

The first hearing for former House of Councillors member Ohno Yasumasa and his secretary, charged with violating the Political Funds Control Act over an alleged slush fund tied to Liberal Democratic Party fundraising parties, was held at the Tokyo District Court on September 10th. Ohno pleaded not guilty, saying, "I have never committed a crime." (News On Japan)

A pillar at Kasuga Taisha, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Nara, was found defaced with blue Chinese characters that read ‘I love you forever,’ alongside what appear to be a man’s and a woman’s names. (News On Japan)

MUFG Bank will open its first new branch in roughly two decades, positioning the outlet for individual customers and emphasizing easy access to asset-management consultations. (News On Japan)

I often wander Tokyo’s streets at night, just as a quiet observer. The city feels alive, transient, and full of hidden stories, all of which are often washed away by daybreak. (Retro Japan)