The Sapporo Regional Meteorological Observatory announced that Mount Meakan in eastern Hokkaido, where eruption alert level 2 is in place, had experienced an eruption. (News On Japan)

Three employees of a delivery-only restaurant in Tokyo’s Edogawa Ward were sprayed with what appeared to be pepper spray on Wednesday morning, leaving them with minor injuries. Police are searching for two masked suspects who fled the scene. (News On Japan)

Aichi Prefectural Police have begun testing the use of small body-worn cameras to record enforcement activities. (News On Japan)

Japan’s digital life moves at lightning speed. With one of the world’s highest rates of internet penetration, a dense public Wi-Fi network, and a tech-savvy population, millions of people log into bank accounts, stream media, shop, and work remotely every day. (News On Japan)

Ine, a small fishing town in northern Kyoto Prefecture known for its traditional wooden boat houses, has recently become a social media sensation, drawing a record number of visitors. (News On Japan)

Average rents in Tokyo’s 23 wards have climbed to record levels, creating a situation where even student districts are no longer affordable for students. (News On Japan)

Princess Aiko, the eldest daughter of the Emperor and Empress, attended an event marking Horse Day, where she enjoyed hands-on experiences with horses. (News On Japan)

Is high quality a curse? Reports in South Korea that Hitachi is considering selling its white goods business have drawn attention, raising questions about the future of Japanese appliances. (News On Japan)

Japan decided not to recognize Palestine as a state during a high-level meeting in New York aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even as about 10 other countries declared recognition. (News On Japan)

Osaka’s landmark Shochikuza Theater in Dotonbori will close in May next year due to aging facilities, raising concerns about the future of the entertainment culture that has defined the district for centuries. (News On Japan)

The administrative chief of Riyadh Province in Saudi Arabia, the host of the next World Expo in 2030, held discussions with Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and other officials to seek advice and share expertise on organizing the global event. (News On Japan)

To prevent excessive smartphone use, the Toyoake City Council in Aichi Prefecture passed an ordinance on September 22nd that sets a daily usage limit of two hours during free time outside of work, study, and housework. (News On Japan)

Spa Resort Hawaiians, a sprawling tropical-themed facility in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, has long been cherished as “Japan’s Hawaii.” The indoor resort, which features Japan’s tallest water slide with a 40-meter drop, attracts about one million visitors each year as a family-friendly theme park. (News On Japan)

Although most people visiting cemeteries during the autumn equinox in Japan are accustomed to cremation as the standard form of burial, a growing number of sites are now offering traditional ground burials. The shift reflects rising demand, particularly from foreign residents, and increasingly from Japanese as well. (News On Japan)

The practice of supporting one’s favorite idols or characters, known as 'oshikatsu,' has grown into a massive market in Japan, with private research estimating spending to have reached 3.5 trillion yen this year. As demand expands, a wide range of specialized goods is driving the trend, with transparent tote bags -- known as 'ita-bags' -- emerging as a standout product. (News On Japan)

A street in Tokyo’s Roppongi district was blanketed with white foam on September 22nd after a truck exiting a building’s parking area struck fire safety equipment, triggering sprinklers that released firefighting foam across the road. (News On Japan)

With just three weeks remaining until the closing of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, a growing problem has emerged: many visitors holding tickets cannot enter the venue, creating what is being called the issue of "dead tickets." (News On Japan)

A tear gas spray accident at an elementary school in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture on September 22nd left 13 children hospitalized, though all are conscious and suffered only minor injuries. (News On Japan)

A shopping street in Gifu City was the scene of an unusual theft when a man stole six anime-related novels from a café storefront in just 20 seconds. (News On Japan)

Utagaki 歌垣, a wholesome Japanese festival that’s not at all inappropriate. (Linfamy)