Japan and the United States advanced economic discussions during their latest summit, agreeing on a new round of large-scale investment exceeding 11 trillion yen, though questions remain over whether the deal will ultimately serve Japan’s national interests. (News On Japan)

President Trump defended his decision not to give advance information about the timing of his attack on Iran to Japan — citing Tokyo’s 1941 surprise raid that killed 2,403 Americans at Pearl Harbor. (New York Post)

A pregnant woman who fell onto the tracks at an unmanned station in Nishio, Aichi Prefecture, was rescued by five local high school students, later reuniting with them after safely giving birth to her child. (News On Japan)

A nostalgic era of Japan’s once-ubiquitous feature phones is coming to a close, with 3G mobile communication services set to end at the end of March, prompting a final wave of device upgrades and intensifying competition among telecom carriers to secure remaining users. (News On Japan)

Japan’s largest labor union group UA Zensen announced that part-time workers secured a record-high average wage increase of 6.92% in this year’s spring labor negotiations as of today, marking the highest level ever recorded for this stage of the talks. (News On Japan)

Cherry blossoms bloomed in Tokyo on March 19th, arriving five days earlier than the seasonal average and marking the start of the spring season in the capital. (News On Japan)

The situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy transport, is growing increasingly complex, with U.S. President Donald Trump urging Japan to assist in securing the waterway while Iran signals it may allow passage depending on negotiations, and as prospects for a swift resolution fade, Japanese industries including automobiles, ethylene, and polyvinyl chloride resin have begun scaling back production. (News On Japan)

Hakuba Village in Nagano Prefecture, long regarded as a mecca for skiing and snowboarding and crowded with inbound tourists during winter, has faced a persistent challenge in attracting visitors during the quieter summer months. (News On Japan)

North Safari Sapporo, a private zoo in Minami Ward, Sapporo, which closed in September 2025 over unauthorized development, remains home to hundreds of animals as its operator disputes a planned removal order while emphasizing animal welfare concerns. (News On Japan)

A donkey pulls a handcart while a man walks quietly beside it, as former newspaper reporter Kotaro Takada, 36, and his partner, an 8-year-old male donkey named Kusatsune, make their way along the Sea of Japan coast on a 900-kilometer journey from Yakumo in southern Hokkaido to Chiba, selling handmade "donkey salt" produced using deep-sea water from the Sea of Japan. (News On Japan)

Authorities in Matsumae Town in southern Hokkaido conducted a brown bear response drill on March 18th, simulating a scenario in which a bear wanders into a residential area, as police, firefighters and local hunters worked together to confirm coordination procedures and response steps. (News On Japan)

Deer, one of Nara’s most enduring symbols and animals that have been protected for more than 1,300 years as sacred messengers of the gods, are now beginning to move beyond Nara Park and even beyond Nara Prefecture, raising new questions about what is driving the unusual migration. (News On Japan)

As cherry blossom season approaches, anticipation is building alongside the swelling buds, yet Japan’s beloved sakura are increasingly under threat from pests, aging trees, and disease, raising concerns about the future of the country’s most iconic spring symbol. (News On Japan)

The number of fatalities linked to last month’s Hadaka Matsuri, known as the Saidai-ji Eyo festival, in Okayama City has risen to two, after a man who had been in critical condition since the event died on March 17th. (News On Japan)

Japan’s nationwide average land prices across all uses rose for the fifth consecutive year as of January 1st, 2026, reflecting a gradual economic recovery, according to data released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. (News On Japan)

Japan's Environment Ministry has removed the red-crowned crane, a nationally designated Special Natural Monument, from its list of endangered species for the first time, citing a recovery in population driven by long-term conservation efforts, while also lowering the extinction risk classification of the crested ibis by one level as its numbers continue to rebound. (News On Japan)

JR East unveiled Japan’s first dedicated freight Shinkansen in Tokyo on March 17th, marking a new step in the use of high-speed rail for logistics. (News On Japan)

A new service enabling individuals to preserve their own cells for future medical treatment is set to launch in Japan, marking the country’s first offering of long-term iPS cell storage for personal use. (News On Japan)

Two boats carrying high school students on a peace study program capsized off the coast of Henoko in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, the planned relocation site for a U.S. military airfield, on March 16th, throwing a total of 21 people into the sea, all of whom were rescued, though a second-year female student and the male boat captain later died. (News On Japan)

Equipment including Japan’s first domestically deployed long-range missile launchers was unveiled ahead of its placement at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Camp Kengun in Kumamoto City, where it was shown to local officials including the governor and mayor. (News On Japan)