A procession of elaborately decorated yamahoko floats took place on July 24th in central Kyoto as part of the latter half of the Gion Festival, known as the Ato-matsuri. The parade featured 11 floats, each adorned with luxurious decorations, making their way through the streets on a route opposite to that of the earlier procession held on July 17th. (News On Japan)

Isawa Onsen in Yamanashi Prefecture, once known as the "inner sanctum" of the Tokyo metropolitan area for its popularity among group travelers from the capital, is undergoing a quiet transformation. Easily accessible from Tokyo in about 90 minutes by express train, the area has long been home to traditional ryokan inns with Japanese-style architecture and koi-filled courtyards. However, many of these ryokan are now under new ownership, with a significant portion—an estimated one-fourth—believed to be controlled by foreign capital, mainly from China. (News On Japan)

Four women have been arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police for allegedly engaging in prostitution solicitation, known as "tachinbo" or street soliciting, near Okubo Park in Shinjuku's Kabukicho district, targeting foreign tourists. (News On Japan)

Japan’s impact on Major League Baseball is no longer a budding phenomenon—it is a thriving pipeline of world-class talent that continues to evolve and impress. (News On Japan)

The world's relationship with fossil fuels is changing rapidly, and carbon taxes are increasingly crucial in reshaping how we consume energy. (News On Japan)