A man has been arrested for stealing a hanging scroll regarded as a "masterpiece of ghost paintings" from a temple in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture. (News On Japan)

Although the government released 210,000 tons of reserve rice into the market, only about 10 percent has reached supermarkets and restaurants, equivalent to the nation’s average daily rice consumption. (News On Japan)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has decided to waive basic water charges for all ordinary households in the city this summer, covering approximately 8 million households. (News On Japan)

With rice prices continuing to hover at historically high levels and empty store shelves becoming more common, the Japanese government is under increasing pressure to implement consumer- and producer-friendly policies. In response, authorities are revising the bidding system for releasing reserve rice stocks, aiming to make it more accessible to smaller wholesalers. (News On Japan)

With rice prices continuing to hover at historically high levels and empty store shelves becoming more common, the Japanese government is under increasing pressure to implement consumer- and producer-friendly policies. In response, authorities are revising the bidding system for releasing reserve rice stocks, aiming to make it more accessible to smaller wholesalers. (News On Japan)

Starting in 2027, the number of giant snow sculptures produced by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) for the Sapporo Snow Festival will be reduced from two to one, due to increasing demands on personnel for disaster response and winter training. (News On Japan)

A group of around 220 Ainu from across and beyond Hokkaido performed traditional dances at the Osaka-Kansai Expo on May 17th, conveying the Ainu spirit of mutual support and the importance of diversity and coexistence. (News On Japan)

In Okinawa, the construction industry is exploring the potential of 3D printing as a solution to pressing labor shortages and to reduce project timelines. A demonstration event showcasing this emerging technology was held in the prefecture for the first time. (News On Japan)

A 15-year-old junior high school student arrested for fatally stabbing an 84-year-old woman on a street in Chiba City was found to have purchased 'monkshood' seeds of the highly toxic plant aconite before the incident, according to police. (News On Japan)

A Peruvian man has been arrested for a hit-and-run incident after driving the wrong way on the Shin-Meishin Expressway and triggering a four-car accident that left four women injured. (News On Japan)

In Harajuku, Tokyo’s trendsetting district, animal cafes are rapidly multiplying along the bustling Takeshita Street, drawing large crowds of foreign tourists. (News On Japan)

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the final phase of a major redevelopment project around Shibuya Station, where Tokyu Corporation and JR East plan to construct two new complex buildings at Shibuya Scramble Square and develop a pedestrian deck connecting the station's east and west sides. (News On Japan)

Cases of online securities accounts being hijacked via computers and smartphones are rapidly increasing, with individual investors seeing their carefully built portfolios vanish in unauthorized trades—often involving unfamiliar Chinese stocks. (News On Japan)

A 70-year-old man fell from a high-rise apartment building in Osaka and struck a cyclist on the sidewalk below, resulting in the deaths of both men. (News On Japan)

Two foreign tourists were rescued by helicopter on May 13th after becoming stranded due to the cold on Mt. Yotei in Kutchan, Hokkaido’s Shiribeshi region, where snow still remains at higher elevations. (News On Japan)

Agriculture Minister Taketaka Eto of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party stated during a speech in Saga City on May 18th that he has never purchased rice, explaining, "I receive a lot from supporters—enough that I could practically sell it. That's how much is in my household pantry." (News On Japan)

Rafting season has begun on the Kitayama River, which flows along the borders of Wakayama, Mie, and Nara prefectures, drawing tourists eager to experience its thrilling rapids. (News On Japan)

Japan doesn’t just offer a glimpse of its own culture, it holds up a mirror to ours - subtly exposing how much we long for coherence, respect, and a sense of shared responsibility. (Retro Japan)

Four elementary school boys were injured in a hit-and-run incident in Misato City, Saitama Prefecture, and police have arrested a Chinese national who was riding in the vehicle, suspecting he knowingly accompanied a drunk driver. (News On Japan)

U.S. investment fund Dalton Investments has issued a statement criticizing Fuji Media Holdings for rejecting its proposed board nominees, calling the move "regrettable" and stating it "does not appear to have been seriously considered." (News On Japan)