Rising tensions in the Middle East, triggered by an attack on liquefied natural gas facilities in Qatar, are not only driving up oil prices but also raising concerns over a potential helium shortage that could disrupt MRI diagnostics and strain hospital operations in Japan. (News On Japan)

A deer believed to have come from Nara Park has remained in a park in central Osaka, prompting city officials to urge residents to keep their distance as they monitor the situation. (News On Japan)

The breeding season for the Oriental stork, a nationally designated Special Natural Monument, has begun, with chicks being born one after another in Hyogo Prefecture. (News On Japan)

A long-held perception that overnight highway buses are inexpensive but exhausting is being challenged, as a regional bus operator in Japan moves to redefine long-distance travel with the country’s first fully flat sleeper seats. (News On Japan)

The Imperial Palace’s Inui Street opened to the public for its annual spring viewing on March 21st, drawing around 18,000 visitors under clear skies as cherry blossoms began to bloom across Tokyo. (News On Japan)

One of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has been released and returned to Japan on March 22nd, while diplomatic efforts continue to secure the release of the remaining individual. (News On Japan)

A festival celebrating the Kurdish New Year, known as "Newroz," was held in Saitama City on March 23rd, drawing around 1,500 participants, although tensions briefly escalated as individuals calling for the exclusion of foreigners gathered at the venue. (News On Japan)

Breaking news: The Japanese government has reportedly decided to remove blurring from adult content. (Japanese Comedian Meshida)

A surge in fuel prices is set to hit travel demand during Japan’s major holiday period, with airlines across Asia moving to raise fares and impose higher fuel surcharges, while in Japan, domestic carriers are maintaining current surcharge levels for now but are expected to implement significant fare increases from June onward, particularly during the peak summer travel season. (News On Japan)

As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East intensify, raising fears of potential disruptions to key oil shipping routes and production facilities, concerns over a prolonged crude oil supply shortage are deepening, with knock-on effects already emerging in Japan as businesses reliant on fuel—particularly heavy oil for industrial and commercial use—begin to face procurement difficulties, forcing some to suspend operations temporarily. (News On Japan)

Japan and the United States advanced economic discussions during their latest summit, agreeing on a new round of large-scale investment exceeding 11 trillion yen, though questions remain over whether the deal will ultimately serve Japan’s national interests. (News On Japan)

President Trump defended his decision not to give advance information about the timing of his attack on Iran to Japan — citing Tokyo’s 1941 surprise raid that killed 2,403 Americans at Pearl Harbor. (New York Post)

A pregnant woman who fell onto the tracks at an unmanned station in Nishio, Aichi Prefecture, was rescued by five local high school students, later reuniting with them after safely giving birth to her child. (News On Japan)

A nostalgic era of Japan’s once-ubiquitous feature phones is coming to a close, with 3G mobile communication services set to end at the end of March, prompting a final wave of device upgrades and intensifying competition among telecom carriers to secure remaining users. (News On Japan)

Japan’s largest labor union group UA Zensen announced that part-time workers secured a record-high average wage increase of 6.92% in this year’s spring labor negotiations as of today, marking the highest level ever recorded for this stage of the talks. (News On Japan)

Cherry blossoms bloomed in Tokyo on March 19th, arriving five days earlier than the seasonal average and marking the start of the spring season in the capital. (News On Japan)

The situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy transport, is growing increasingly complex, with U.S. President Donald Trump urging Japan to assist in securing the waterway while Iran signals it may allow passage depending on negotiations, and as prospects for a swift resolution fade, Japanese industries including automobiles, ethylene, and polyvinyl chloride resin have begun scaling back production. (News On Japan)

Hakuba Village in Nagano Prefecture, long regarded as a mecca for skiing and snowboarding and crowded with inbound tourists during winter, has faced a persistent challenge in attracting visitors during the quieter summer months. (News On Japan)

North Safari Sapporo, a private zoo in Minami Ward, Sapporo, which closed in September 2025 over unauthorized development, remains home to hundreds of animals as its operator disputes a planned removal order while emphasizing animal welfare concerns. (News On Japan)

A donkey pulls a handcart while a man walks quietly beside it, as former newspaper reporter Kotaro Takada, 36, and his partner, an 8-year-old male donkey named Kusatsune, make their way along the Sea of Japan coast on a 900-kilometer journey from Yakumo in southern Hokkaido to Chiba, selling handmade "donkey salt" produced using deep-sea water from the Sea of Japan. (News On Japan)