U.S. President Donald Trump called on Japan to "step up" its role in addressing tensions in the Middle East during a Japan-U.S. summit held on March 19th, as Iran’s ambassador to Japan also expressed expectations for Tokyo to play a constructive diplomatic role, placing renewed focus on Japan’s unique position between the two sides. (News On Japan)

The subsidization of private school tuition is causing a rapid increase in under-enrollment at public high schools in Osaka Prefecture. (News On Japan)

A deer believed to have wandered from Nara Park into Osaka was finally captured on March 26th after several days of roaming city streets, bringing an end to a widely followed incident that had raised concerns over public safety and animal welfare. (News On Japan)

Sony and Honda have decided to halt their jointly developed electric vehicle project, with their joint venture Sony Honda Mobility announcing on March 25th that it will cancel the development and launch of its new EV, the "AFEELA 1," as a reassessment of Honda’s EV strategy made it difficult to continue utilizing Honda’s technology and production support, ultimately leading to the conclusion that commercialization would be unfeasible. (News On Japan)

A massive steel pipe that suddenly emerged from underground in Osaka’s Umeda district was finally cut and removed on March 24th, bringing the two-week-long incident closer to resolution and paving the way for traffic restrictions to be lifted as early as March 25th. (News On Japan)

Japan’s technical intern training program, designed to allow workers from developing countries to gain skills while working in Japanese companies, has been plagued by workplace violence, low wages, and long working hours, prompting the government to introduce a new system from 2027 that could mark a turning point in how the country engages with its growing foreign workforce. (News On Japan)

Railway operators across Japan’s Kanto region have launched a new service allowing passengers to travel using contactless credit card payments, enabling seamless transfers across multiple rail lines operated by 11 companies and covering more than 700 stations. (News On Japan)

Kirishima has been reinstated to the rank of ozeki, declaring his ambition to reach even greater heights, as the Japan Sumo Association unanimously approved his promotion during a rankings meeting and extraordinary board session held on March 25th at Edion Arena Osaka in Naniwa Ward, Osaka, ahead of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, which opens on May 10th at Ryogoku Kokugikan. (News On Japan)

Japan’s first cargo-only shinkansen began operations on March 23rd, aiming to significantly expand transport capacity and help address a growing shortage of truck drivers. (News On Japan)

A government and Tokyo metropolitan task force held its first joint meeting with private-sector participants on March 25th to discuss countermeasures for a potential large-scale eruption of Mount Fuji that could blanket central Tokyo in volcanic ash and severely disrupt daily life. (News On Japan)

Seibu & Sogo announced that it will close its Seibu Shibuya store in September, bringing an end to the 58-year history of what was once a symbol of the district and marking the disappearance of traditional department stores from Shibuya. (News On Japan)

Italian furniture exports to Japan have grown steadily for over a decade, but this growth has not been driven by aggressive retail expansion. (News On Japan)

Reports of cherry blossoms blooming continued to arrive from across Japan on March 24th, with Kofu City in Yamanashi Prefecture declaring the nation’s earliest full bloom, marking the long-awaited start of the spring viewing season. (News On Japan)

Two men were arrested and indicted after allegedly racking up nearly 950,000 yen in unpaid food and drink charges at a girls bar in Suita, Osaka, while each had only a small amount of cash in their possession. (News On Japan)