A Kansai-born Australian Shepherd named Ash, now seven years old, has been rigorously trained as a disaster rescue dog, working tirelessly to locate missing people in times of crisis. (News On Japan)

JR’s online reservation systems, long operated separately by different regional companies, will be linked together for the first time in an effort to eliminate the inconvenience faced by passengers when booking tickets across multiple areas. (News On Japan)

The Akasaka Hikawa Festival, a traditional event dating back to the Edo period, reached its final day in Tokyo’s Akasaka district with sixteen portable shrines parading through the streets, filling the area with lively chants and large crowds of spectators. (News On Japan)

Fatal bear encounters are rising sharply across Japan, with injuries and deaths reported at a pace matching the worst year on record. Experts warn that both stricter population control and preventive measures to keep bears away from human settlements are urgently needed. (News On Japan)