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Updated: 19 min 15 sec ago

Former Princess Mako Komuro Has First Child in U.S.

May 30, 2025 - 20:18
Mako Komuro, the eldest daughter of the Akishino family and now living in the United States, has given birth to her first child, the Imperial Household Agency announced on May 30th. The agency stated that the birth was disclosed during a press conference after some media reports surfaced, despite their intention to allow Komuro to live in a quiet environment following her departure from the Imperial family. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Debt-Ridden Son and Rough Girlfriend Connected to Father's Murder

May 30, 2025 - 06:54
The body of an 87-year-old man who served as the chairman of a civil engineering and construction firm was found buried beneath a pile of soil at a materials storage yard in Kitakyushu on May 20th, prompting an ongoing investigation that now includes possible murder charges. The police arrested the chairman’s son the following day, and on May 23rd, also arrested a woman acquainted with the son, believing the two had conspired to abandon the body. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Cylinder Marked November 1964 Found at Site of Tokyo Explosion

May 30, 2025 - 04:45
A gas cylinder recovered from the scene of an explosion in Tokyo’s Edogawa Ward bore a stamp indicating it was manufactured in November 1964, according to investigative sources. The blast, which occurred on May 27th at a construction site, injured 10 people. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Foreign Tourist Punches Car, Makes Threatening Gestures in Asakusa

May 30, 2025 - 04:26
A visiting family in Tokyo’s Asakusa district was left shaken after witnessing a sudden outburst by a foreign tourist who punched their car and made aggressive gestures in the middle of the road. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Man Admits to Dropkick Assault and Robbery in Osaka

May 30, 2025 - 04:24
A trial opened on May 29th at the Osaka District Court for 28-year-old Kazuya Nagaya, who is accused of seriously injuring a man by kicking him from behind and stealing his bag in Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture. Nagaya admitted to the charges, stating, "No doubt, it’s exactly as you said." (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Ancient Wall Carvings Reveal Burial Secrets of Japanese Nobility

May 30, 2025 - 04:17
Japan’s largest known cluster of horizontal tombs lies in the southeastern Osaka city of Kashiwara, where more than 160 cave tombs have been confirmed in what is now known as Takai Horizontal Tomb Park. Including uninvestigated areas, the total may exceed 200 burial chambers. (News On Japan)
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Debate Over Euthanasia in Japan Reignited by ALS Murder Case

May 29, 2025 - 04:55
"Please let me die with dignity." This was a social media post believed to have been written by a woman suffering from ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease, before she was killed in 2019 at her own request. The case, in which two doctors were arrested and tried, ignited a national debate on euthanasia in Japan—specifically, the ethical and legal implications of assisting the terminally ill to end their lives. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Japanese Nationals Held in Cambodia Over Suspected Phone Scam Ring

May 29, 2025 - 02:12
More than 20 Japanese nationals have been detained by authorities in northwestern Cambodia on suspicion of being involved in a special fraud operation based in a local building. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Four Bar Staff Arrested for Ripping Off Disabled Man

May 28, 2025 - 15:04
Tokyo police have arrested four more suspects in connection with an extortion scheme that used a matchmaking app designed for people with disabilities to lure victims to a bar and demand excessive payments. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Two-Year Neighbor Feud Escalates in Ehime

May 28, 2025 - 01:53
In the town of Tobe in Ehime Prefecture, a woman was caught on camera shouting loudly, "What’s your problem? Come out! Come out now!" while throwing an object into her neighbor's yard. A man living next door has filed a complaint, saying the harassment has been ongoing for two years. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Sacred Tree Linked to Ryoma Sakamoto Collapses at Kyoto Shrine

May 27, 2025 - 14:03
An 850-year-old sacred tree with ties to Ryoma Sakamoto has collapsed at Takenobu Inari Shrine in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, damaging parts of the shrine's main and auxiliary buildings. No injuries were reported. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Unauthorized Drone Filming at Tokyo Skytree by Foreign Videographer

May 26, 2025 - 22:05
An unauthorized drone flight that came dangerously close to Tokyo Skytree has drawn sharp public criticism and is now under review by authorities for potential violations of Japan's aviation laws. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Wandering Youth in Kego Area Face Loneliness

May 26, 2025 - 06:16
At night, Kego Park in central Fukuoka becomes a gathering place for youth with nowhere else to go—teenagers and young adults who have lost their footing at home or in school. The area has come to be known as "the Kego scene." (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Citizens Perplexed by Unreadable Intersection Signs in Himeji

May 26, 2025 - 00:43
Faded and illegible intersection signs are causing confusion and concern among residents in Himeji, a city in Hyogo Prefecture known for its iconic Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site. With around 520,000 residents and high vehicle traffic, the deteriorating condition of road signage is becoming a serious issue, especially in areas frequented by tourists. (News On Japan)
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Calls Grow in Japan to Shield Children from Inappropriate Online Ads

May 26, 2025 - 00:33
Children increasingly face exposure to inappropriate online ads even when accessing seemingly harmless websites such as cooking or game guides. In one notable case reported in March, users who opened a recipe site to cook with their children were startled by sudden sexually suggestive advertisements. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

A Generational Shift in Mobile Messaging Culture

May 26, 2025 - 00:25
Emojis have evolved into a shared shorthand for emotion and intent, shaping not only how people text, but how they relate to one another online. Now, as NTT Docomo prepares to retire its original emoji set after 26 years, it marks the end of a uniquely Japanese chapter in the global story of digital expression. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Japan's population crisis reaches tipping point

May 25, 2025 - 08:48
Japan has been struggling to cope with a combination of anaemic economic growth and a shrinking population for over 30 years. 2025 marks the tipping point when the rising costs outstrip the country's capacity to pay for them. (Financial Times)
Categories: Japan News

Japan Abolishes Hard Labor

May 24, 2025 - 15:35
A sweeping change to Japan’s penal system is set to take place in June with the abolition of the dual sentencing system of prison labor (chōeki) and imprisonment without labor (kinko), which will be replaced by a unified custodial sentence known as kōkin-kei. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

The 10 Reasons Why Foreigners Should Not Marry Japanese Women

May 24, 2025 - 04:22
Japanese women are often admired internationally for their beauty and kindness, particularly during the dating phase, when many present themselves as sweet, supportive, and attentive partners. Foreign men are often captivated by this image, but many are unprepared for the transformation that can occur after marriage and especially after children. (Japanese Comedian Meshida)
Categories: Japan News

Aichi Woman Cleared After Dumping Bird Carcass in Neighbor’s Yard

May 23, 2025 - 23:11
A 61-year-old woman from Togo Town, Aichi Prefecture, who had been arrested on suspicion of illegally discarding a bird carcass in the yard of a neighboring house, has not been prosecuted. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

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