A fire broke out near Haneda Airport in Tokyo’s Ota Ward around 9:10 a.m. on Monday at a demolition site, with black smoke seen rising from the area, according to the Tokyo Fire Department. (News On Japan)

Photos of cult founder Shoko Asahara, whose real name was Chizuo Matsumoto and who was executed for his role in the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack, are being displayed alongside childhood pictures of his son in facilities linked to Aleph, the successor group to Aum Shinrikyo, according to findings by the Public Security Intelligence Agency (PSIA). (News On Japan)

Asahi Group Holdings said on September 29th that a cyberattack had caused a major system failure which has yet to be restored and shows no signs of resolution, with the impact now spreading across its operations even as the company stressed that no leaks of personal information or customer data have been confirmed. (News On Japan)

In a September opinion poll conducted by TV Tokyo and the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, former Minister of State for Economic Security Takaichi was the frontrunner with 34% when respondents were asked who they believed should be the next Liberal Democratic Party president. (News On Japan)

Five candidates vying for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency held a debate with high school students, emphasizing long-term strategies for Japan’s economy and other policy areas. (News On Japan)

Ohnosato claimed his fifth career championship at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on September 28th at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan, prevailing in a playoff against fellow yokozuna Hoshoryu after both finished with 13 wins and 2 losses. (News On Japan)

A man kidnapped and believed to have been murdered in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, has led investigators to a broader case, with police announcing the arrest and indictment of two additional suspects on charges of abandoning a body. (News On Japan)

Osaka is preparing to close the curtains on the Kansai Expo, and a larger-than-usual fireworks display called the "Expo Thanks Fireworks" was staged to express gratitude to everyone involved in the event. (News On Japan)

FamilyMart has put Shohei Ohtani at the center of its latest push, casting the global baseball star in a nationwide TV campaign tied to a revamped onigiri line. During a two-hour shoot in Los Angeles in December, Ohtani—whom President Kensuke Hosomi describes as soft-spoken and “sun-bright”—sampled 19 rice balls and even asked to take the leftovers home. (News On Japan)

A toy trade fair was held in Osaka ahead of the year-end shopping season, bringing together 84 manufacturers from Japan and abroad who showcased products ranging from educational toys to collectibles. (News On Japan)

Japan and South Korea marked the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations with the opening of the annual Japan-Korea Exchange Festival in Tokyo over the weekend, drawing large crowds to enjoy food, cultural exhibits, and student exchanges. (News On Japan)

The Emperor and Empress arrived in Shiga Prefecture on September 28th to attend the opening of the 79th National Sports Festival and observe related events. (News On Japan)

The stone walls of the Takeda Castle ruins in Hyogo Prefecture emerged above the clouds as they were illuminated by the morning sun. (News On Japan)

A 24-year-old entrepreneur is drawing attention with a new business model that relies on goats to provide weed control, a service that could also help sustain life in depopulated communities. (News On Japan)

A 43-year-old man was attacked by a bear while walking his dog in a park in Sapporo’s Nishi Ward on Friday night, prompting authorities to close the area and heighten patrols. His injuries are not life-threatening. (News On Japan)

A 10-vehicle collision on Route 36 in Eniwa, Hokkaido, on Thursday morning left two women with minor injuries and set off a dramatic police pursuit, as the driver suspected of causing the crash abandoned his car and fled on foot before being arrested several kilometers away. (News On Japan)

Animal Welfare Week, which began on September 20th, is casting a spotlight on the growing trend of supporting shelter dogs through so-called "oshi-katsu," or fan activities, with a system now in place that connects adoption matching with financial contributions. (News On Japan)

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race entered its fifth day on September 26th, with Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi forced to apologize after his campaign team was found to have requested supportive online posts from backers. (News On Japan)

The Supreme Court’s Second Petty Bench, presided over by Chief Justice Akira Ojima, ruled on September 26th that the current system for apportioning seats in the House of Representatives is constitutional, despite a maximum disparity of 2.06-to-1 in the value of votes cast in last October’s general election. (News On Japan)

Parents of a young girl victimized in a voyeurism case at a swimming school in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, have filed for mediation, seeking stronger measures to prevent recurrence. (News On Japan)