Production of Japan’s familiar 50cc motorized bicycles — a popular choice for short trips and errands — will come to an end in October, prompting a surge in demand as consumers scramble to purchase the last available models. (News On Japan)

A growing number of people are choosing to forgo traditional family graves, and a new type of burial site designed in the shape of ancient Japanese burial mounds has become so popular that more than 6,000 people are now on the waiting list. (News On Japan)

The Osaka-Kansai Expo, set to close on October 13, has generated a powerful wave of economic activity both inside and outside its grounds, with the organizing association projecting an operational surplus of 23 to 28 billion yen. At the center of this success story is Noguchi, owner of Tonkatsu Noguchi, the only individually operated restaurant at the Expo, whose eatery has become one of the most sought-after dining experiences at the event, fully booked every day and requiring advance reservations. (News On Japan)

The six-month Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai, themed "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," featuring participation from 158 countries and regions, will come to a close on Monday, with total attendance surpassing 25 million people. (News On Japan)

A 26-year-old man died after being run over by a traditional yagura float during a procession in the Okada district of Sennan, Osaka, on the morning of October 11, with emergency services receiving a call shortly after 7 a.m. reporting that he had been struck by the wheels during the local Yagura Festival. (News On Japan)

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that satellite images from the Himawari-9 weather satellite are currently unavailable due to a communication failure. While some functions have been restored through the backup satellite Himawari-8, key nighttime observation data such as infrared imagery remain inaccessible. (News On Japan)

Join me as I provide detailed feedback on a beautiful sunset landscape painting by Misaki-san from Kumamoto. She shared how she and her children were captivated by the ever-changing colors of the evening sky, exclaiming "Beautiful! Beautiful!" This heartwarming story inspired today's critique session. (Watercolor by Shibasaki)

A 23-year-old woman was arrested on the afternoon of October 12th in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, after she allegedly slashed the neck of an 83-year-old man with a knife inside a residential home, leading to his death shortly after. (News On Japan)

The abrupt collapse of the long-standing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)–Komeito coalition ahead of the upcoming prime ministerial vote has thrown Japanese politics into flux, complicating the path for Takaichi to take office and intensifying behind-the-scenes maneuvering among all major parties. Takaichi, who visited the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) headquarters earlier this week, was met with criticism over remarks describing an opposition figure as “damaged goods,” a sign of heightened tensions just two days before Komeito’s dramatic departure from the coalition. (News On Japan)

Police have arrested six people, including 51-year-old Reo Yagi, on suspicion of taking a university student to Cambodia to participate in a special fraud scheme. (News On Japan)

A woman riding a bicycle was killed after being dragged about 250 meters by a truck following a collision at an intersection in Osaka’s Fukushima Ward, with police arresting the driver at the scene. (News On Japan)

As bear sightings in Hokkaido’s urban areas surge beyond expectations, Tamaki Yasuo, head of the brown bear control unit of the Hokkaido Hunters’ Association’s Sapporo branch, warns that the situation is becoming increasingly difficult to manage and that humans cannot predict what might trigger a bear to panic. (News On Japan)

Police in Sapporo are searching for a man who set fire to the back of a woman's blouse at around 1 p.m. on the platform of Odori Station on Sapporo's Tozai Line on October 4th. (News On Japan)

Mazda, the automaker synonymous with Hiroshima — a prefecture of 2.7 million people — is fighting to reinvent itself from within as the global automobile industry undergoes a once-in-a-century transformation. The company is launching a five-year internal reform to reshape its corporate culture and stay competitive amid the global shift to electric and eco-friendly vehicles. (News On Japan)

Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department held a community event in Suginami Ward on October 11 to raise awareness and prevent special fraud schemes that continue to target residents. (News On Japan)

The Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki reaffirmed on October 11 that his party will not cooperate with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) in unifying opposition candidates for the upcoming prime minister designation vote in the next extraordinary Diet session. (News On Japan)

With just three days left until the Osaka-Kansai Expo closes, total attendance had surpassed 28 million as of October 10th, and the venue remained packed on October 11th as visitors continued to pour in for the final weekend. (News On Japan)

The number of foreign residents in Japan has reached a record high of nearly 4 million, according to the Immigration Services Agency. As of the end of June, 3,956,619 foreign nationals were living in the country, an increase of about 190,000 from the end of 2024, marking the highest total on record. (News On Japan)

Welcome to Kagoshima — Japan’s southern gem where samurai history, active volcanoes, and amazing local food come together! (TabiEats)

An officer of the Osaka Prefectural Police has been arrested and indicted for allegedly committing indecent acts against a girl he met through “papa katsu,” a practice in which older men provide financial support to younger women in exchange for companionship. (News On Japan)