Elementary and junior high school teachers in Japan still work the longest hours among their peers worldwide, according to an OECD report released on Tuesday. While the 2024 results by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showed working hours had fallen by around four hours per week compared with the previous survey in 2018, Japan’s teachers still far exceeded their global counterparts. (News On Japan)

A bear entered a supermarket in Numata City, Gunma Prefecture on Tuesday night, attacking two male customers before escaping to the south. (News On Japan)

Two police officers from the Hyogo Prefectural Police have been arrested for possessing marijuana, admitting they kept it for personal use. (News On Japan)

Footage filmed near the Harumi Flag Apartments in Tokyo shows groups of motorcycles revving their engines loudly into the night at a nearby intersection, disrupting the peace of families living in the new residential complex built on the former site of the Tokyo Olympic Athletes’ Village. (News On Japan)

Police have arrested a 43-year-old former employee of Tsuda College in Kodaira, western Tokyo, on suspicion of property damage after he allegedly took a female student’s shorts from a locker and defiled them with bodily fluid. (News On Japan)

Amid growing expectations for Liberal Democratic Party leader Sanae Takaiichi’s economic policies, stock and bond markets have seen significant movements. The question now is how her inflation-relief measures will shape people’s daily lives once implemented. (News On Japan)

Household spending in Japan rose 2.3% in August from a year earlier, marking the fourth consecutive month of increase, according to data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. (News On Japan)

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) under President Takaichi has finalized its executive appointments, marking the start of a new leadership structure. In the afternoon, the party is scheduled to begin coalition talks with its junior partner, Komeito. (News On Japan)

The Nikkei Stock Average climbed again on October 7th, setting another record high amid growing expectations surrounding the Liberal Democratic Party’s new leader, Sanae Takaichi. The benchmark index at one point rose more than 500 yen, marking the second consecutive day it reached an intraday record. (News On Japan)

The Tokyo District Court on October 6th sentenced former Mitsubishi UFJ Bank assistant branch manager Yukari Yamazaki to nine years in prison for stealing about 400 million yen worth of gold bars and cash from a bank safe deposit vault. (News On Japan)

Toyota Motor Corporation announced that the planned tender offer (TOB) for its founding company, Toyota Industries, will be delayed from the original schedule of December to February 2026 or later due to pending antitrust procedures. (News On Japan)

The Naha District Court’s Okinawa branch has ordered a group of former youths and their parents to pay more than 4 million yen in damages to Okinawa Prefecture over a riot that took place three years ago when a crowd surrounded the Okinawa Police Station and destroyed vehicles and other property. (News On Japan)

Former U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media to congratulate Japan following the selection of its first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, writing that "Japan has just elected its first female Prime Minister, a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength.” While Trump did not name Takaichi directly, his post came as she assumed leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and was set to be formally elected as prime minister. (News On Japan)

Train services on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line remained suspended throughout the day on October 6th following a derailment the previous night, leaving commuters and students stranded and forcing many to queue for hours for replacement buses. In areas along the line, long lines formed at bus stops, and rental electric kick scooters quickly ran out as residents searched for alternative transport options. (News On Japan)

A hotel construction plan in the rural wasabi-growing area of Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, has sparked strong opposition from local residents who fear it will damage the landscape and threaten the region’s iconic wasabi fields. (News On Japan)

Reskilling, the process of acquiring new skills to adapt to social and technological changes -- often referred to as “relearning” -- is attracting growing interest among Japan’s older population. (News On Japan)

Zines — short for “magazines” — are small, handmade booklets that allow individuals to express themselves freely without going through traditional publishers. Unlike commercial magazines, zines are self-funded and created entirely by individuals. Across Japan, zine fairs are drawing large crowds and fueling a quiet but powerful publishing trend. (News On Japan)

A tearful Kusama Richard Keita of the idol group Aぇ! Group was released from the Mita Police Station in Tokyo on October 6th around 2 p.m., wearing a black suit and bowing deeply as he apologized. With his voice trembling, he said, “I sincerely apologize for the trouble I have caused,” lowering his head for about ten seconds. (News On Japan)

The Resort Shirakami is a remarkable train because it’s available for those with JR Rail Passes! Just make a seat reservation. It takes you through some super scenic areas of Japan’s has a dining car and cafe, entertainment and more! (ONLY in JAPAN * GO)

The Nikkei Stock Average surged by more than 1,900 yen at one point on the Tokyo market on October 7th, setting a new intraday record high. It was the first time in history the index has climbed into the 47,000 range, surpassing the symbolic 46,000 mark. (News On Japan)