A self-driving bus operating at the Osaka-Kansai Expo made contact with a curb on July 22nd, prompting a temporary halt to autonomous operations. No injuries were reported. (News On Japan)

Marking the 30th anniversary of Marine Day as a national holiday, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines opened a massive automobile carrier to the public in Tokyo on July 21st. Measuring roughly 200 meters in length, the vessel runs on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and can transport about 7,000 vehicles. (News On Japan)

Voter turnout in the July 20th Upper House election rose significantly, with the nationwide average reaching 58.51%, up 6.46 points from the previous election's 52.05%, according to figures released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. (News On Japan)

In the Upper House election held on Sunday, veteran politician Muneo Suzuki, who ran under the banner of a "final battle," made a dramatic turnaround that surprised even his supporters. (News On Japan)

Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shota Imanaga are redefining Major League Baseball through talent, discipline, and cultural resonance. (News On Japan)

A mobile battery being used to charge a smartphone caught fire inside a JR Yamanote Line train on the evening of July 20th, injuring five passengers and temporarily suspending services on multiple lines, including the Yamanote and Saikyo lines. (News On Japan)

The world’s largest obstacle race took place on July 19th at the foot of Mt. Fuji. The Spartan Race, held in the city of Susono in Shizuoka Prefecture, brought together participants from across Japan to compete on a 5-kilometer course packed with 20 obstacles. Racers pushed their physical limits as they raced against the clock. (News On Japan)

To tackle the growing issue of overtourism, authorities in Biei, Hokkaido, have banned parking around the scenic "Seven Stars Tree" for one month starting July 18th. (News On Japan)

What would you do if the rent in your neighborhood doubled in just a few years? That scenario is already unfolding in northern Okinawa, where the opening of Jungle Leisure Okinawa is driving unexpected changes in the local housing market. (News On Japan)

The results of the House of Councillors election held on July 20th have been finalized, with the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito winning a combined total of 47 seats, falling short of the 50 needed for a majority in the upper chamber. (News On Japan)

Rapidus, the company leading Japan's drive to domestically produce next-generation semiconductors, announced on July 18th that it has successfully confirmed the operation of a prototype 2-nanometer chip. (News On Japan)

Nissan Motor will shut down its historic Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture by the end of fiscal 2027, closing a facility that helped launch the Datsun Bluebird in 1961 and played a pivotal role in Japan’s personal car boom. (News On Japan)

A bear culled on July 18th in the southern Hokkaido town of Fukushima has been confirmed through DNA testing to match hair found on the clothing of a man who died on July 12th. (News On Japan)

More than 100 people a day have been seeking treatment for injuries or health issues at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which marked its third month in operation in mid-July. With sweltering summer heat bearing down on the venue, visitors have been turning to on-site clinics for urgent care. (News On Japan)

The Nepal Pavilion, the only facility that had remained closed since the start of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, finally opened on July 19th, more than three months after the event began. (News On Japan)