Uragawa Elementary School in Tenryu Ward, Hamamatsu City, closed its doors after 151 years, marking the end of an era for the Uragawa district. Established in 1874, the school was the last remaining elementary school in the area, where there were once four. (News On Japan)

Gaza authorities announced on March 24th that two journalists were killed in an Israeli military strike. (News On Japan)

Once a pioneering force in Japan’s convenience store sector, 7-Eleven is now facing a clear slowdown. Although the company introduced many groundbreaking services over the years—such as hot oden by the register and in-store ATMs—it has failed to produce a major hit in over a decade. (News On Japan)

"My horoscope tells me about my strengths and weaknesses, the best and worst parts of my personality, how my day is going, and who I am most connected with... it can even help me make smart decisions, like whether to date Todd." (News On Japan)

Meitetsu announced on March 24th its long-term redevelopment plan for the area in front of Nagoya Station, which includes the construction of two new skyscrapers matching the height of the iconic Spiral Towers in nearby Sasashima. (News On Japan)

The graduation ceremony at Kyoto University was held on March 24th, where graduating students appeared in their customary creative costumes. (News On Japan)

Weather officials say cherry blossoms have started blooming in Tokyo. The event occurred on the same date as the seasonal average and five days earlier than last year. (NHK)

After being severely damaged in the Noto Peninsula earthquake, the Notojima Aquarium in Nanao City has fully reopened for the first time in approximately 15 months, marking a symbolic step in the region’s recovery. (News On Japan)

Starbucks is replacing its paper straws with biomass plastic straws, beginning a nationwide rollout on March 24th. (News On Japan)

In a striking finding from one of the world's longest-living nations, dementia has overtaken all other causes of death in Japan. (News On Japan)

For Japanese people living on the mainland, including myself, Okinawa is an ideal vacation destination. (Video Street View Japan)

With just three weeks remaining until the start of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, several pavilions held preview events on Sunday. (News On Japan)

Japan is facing a pivotal moment in pension reform as the government prepares to revise its system for the first time in five years. With a shrinking workforce and an aging population, the pension system is under pressure, prompting new proposals that could impact millions. (News On Japan)

As the number of vacant houses across Japan continues to rise—now estimated at 9 million—a unique group in Kobe is tackling what many consider a lost cause: severely dilapidated homes, or 'haioku.' (News On Japan)

A civic group in Usa City, Oita Prefecture, that collects and analyzes materials from the Pacific War has released twelve pieces of footage showing U.S. air raids and kamikaze attacks. (News On Japan)

The foreign ministers of Japan, China and South Korea have agreed to promote future-oriented cooperation in tackling common issues, and accelerate arrangements to hold a trilateral summit in Japan as early as possible. (NHK)

Japan’s world-renowned rail system is often symbolized by the Shinkansen, the original high-speed rail that revolutionized travel when it began in 1964. It now runs hundreds of trains daily with unmatched safety—over 6.5 billion passengers have traveled on it without a single fatality. (Wendover Productions)

The Japanese government on March 21st released a report outlining countermeasures for volcanic ash in the event of a Mount Fuji eruption, including a four-stage evacuation plan based on ashfall volume. (News On Japan)

The Japanese government on March 21st released a report outlining countermeasures for volcanic ash in the event of a Mount Fuji eruption, including a four-stage evacuation plan based on ashfall volume. (News On Japan)

Japan's household financial assets reached a record 2,230 trillion yen ($15 trillion) at the end of December last year, driven by growing use of the tax-free NISA investment accounts and rising stock prices. (News On Japan)