Japan's major retailers are experimenting with new store formats as rising living costs drive demand for cheaper groceries and changing consumer habits force companies to seek new sources of growth, with Don Quijote launching its food-focused Robin Hood discount chain and FamilyMart opening a next-generation flagship store combining convenience shopping with fashion, lifestyle goods and exclusive products. (News On Japan)

The underground platform of the planned Kanagawa Prefecture Station on Japan's Chuo Shinkansen maglev line was opened to the public for the first time on October 24, offering visitors a rare glimpse of the high-speed railway project under construction in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, with demand for the tour exceeding available places by approximately 12 times. (News On Japan)

Japan has chosen a small, irregularly shaped moon orbiting Mars rather than the planet itself for its latest space exploration mission, taking advantage of Phobos' extremely weak gravity and lack of atmosphere to make collecting extraterrestrial samples and returning them to Earth far easier and less expensive, while potentially unlocking secrets about the history of Mars and the origins of water and organic materials in the solar system. (News On Japan)

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi marked the first anniversary of her administration on October 21 with approval ratings still above 60%, supported by her forceful political messaging and extensive use of social media, although growing dissatisfaction over rising prices and the slow delivery of economic policies is beginning to weaken support, particularly among younger voters. (News On Japan)

Japan marked the final Sunday of October with traditional autumn events across the country on October 25, including a spectacular water discharge drill at the World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture, a seasonal salmon feast in Miyagi Prefecture, and a parade of northeastern Japan's most famous festivals in Tokyo, despite widespread rain caused by a stationary autumn rain front. (News On Japan)

A 20-year-old US Marine stationed in Okinawa was indicted on October 25 on charges of robbery and murder after allegedly strangling a woman to death at a hotel in Naha and stealing her backpack containing a wallet and other belongings. (News On Japan)

Japan's revised Imperial House Law took effect on October 24, allowing female members of the Imperial Family to retain their royal status after marriage and permitting the adoption of male descendants from former imperial family branches, marking the first substantive amendment to the law's main provisions since its enactment in 1947. (News On Japan)

A fire broke out at a warehouse believed to belong to Kurosawa Film Studio in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, shortly after midnight on October 23, prompting the dispatch of 40 emergency vehicles after a report that a battery was burning, with witnesses describing explosion-like sounds and vibrations strong enough to shake nearby windows. (News On Japan)

Typhoon No. 31 (In-Fa) formed near the Marshall Islands at 3 a.m. on October 24, marking the first time in 13 years that the annual typhoon count has reached 31, with forecasts indicating the storm could strengthen significantly and shift westward toward the Mariana Islands next week, although no immediate impact on Japan is expected. (News On Japan)

Four dead fawns with missing body parts have been discovered around Kofukuji and Todaiji temples in Nara between August and October, prompting Nara Prefecture to hold an emergency press conference on October 23 after experts determined that wild animals were unlikely to have caused the injuries, raising suspicions that humans may have deliberately harmed the young deer. (News On Japan)

Japanese drone manufacturer Terra Drone has delivered interceptor drones to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense for the first time, prompting Russia to threaten retaliatory measures on October 21, as Japan considers expanding domestic drone production and strengthening its coastal defenses through thousands of unmanned aircraft. (News On Japan)

A critical security flaw discovered in PHP, a programming language used by an estimated 70% of the world's web systems, has triggered widespread disruptions across Japan since October 21, forcing banks, restaurant chains, government agencies and other businesses to suspend online services as a precaution against potential cyberattacks. (News On Japan)

Japan's financial markets suffered another sharp setback on October 22 as heavy selling in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related stocks sent the Nikkei 225 down 1,713.40 points, or 2.65%, to 62,907.84, its lowest closing level since July 30. (News On Japan)

A wave of copper thefts has struck public facilities across Japan, with thieves stripping metal from bridges, park shelters and shrines, including a park known as a popular anime pilgrimage site, while police in Nagano Prefecture have made arrests following a series of similar incidents. (News On Japan)

Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department has released a warning video highlighting the dangers of illegal part-time jobs advertised on social media, showing how young people can be drawn into organized crime through promises of easy money before being threatened with violence if they attempt to escape. (News On Japan)

Japan's trade deficit nearly doubled in the first half of fiscal 2026 to 2.8184 trillion yen, driven largely by surging crude oil prices following turmoil in the Middle East, while the value of oil imports from the United States increased nearly ninefold as Japan sought alternative sources of supply. (News On Japan)

Three national anthem mix-ups occurred on the same day at the ongoing Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, with Iran's anthem mistakenly played during medal ceremonies for Chinese Taipei and Mongolia, while South Korea's anthem was played instead of China's before a women's sitting volleyball match. (News On Japan)

A growing wave of cyberattacks across Japan has raised concerns over the possible use of Chinese-developed artificial intelligence in hacking operations, with personal information belonging to tens of thousands of police employees potentially exposed and major companies forced to suspend online services, while cybersecurity experts warn that slow decision-making within Japanese organizations is allowing damage to spread. (News On Japan)

Tokyo stocks rebounded on October 21, with the Nikkei 225 closing 545.82 points higher at 64,621.24, a gain of 0.85%, as stronger U.S. equities, renewed buying in technology shares and encouraging Japanese export figures helped the market recover from two consecutive sessions of losses. (News On Japan)

Japan is considering whether to introduce nuclear-powered submarines as part of a broader review of its national defense strategy, with Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi signaling on October 9 that the government would not rule out any options as it seeks to strengthen deterrence against growing regional threats, although legal restrictions, technological challenges, high costs, and demanding crew requirements present formidable obstacles. (News On Japan)