A steam leak was detected early on May 8th at the Mihama Nuclear Power Plant's Unit 3 in Fukui Prefecture, prompting Kansai Electric Power to manually shut down the reactor. (News On Japan)

Japan’s real wages in March rose for the third consecutive month, supported by continued growth in base salaries and a slowdown in inflation, according to data released by the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry. (News On Japan)

Applications for Japan’s "Business Manager" residency status, which is granted to foreign entrepreneurs launching businesses in the country, have fallen by approximately 96% following the tightening of screening standards introduced in October last year. (News On Japan)

A massive swarm of honeybees suddenly appeared in Tokyo’s popular tourist district of Asakusa on May 3rd, causing alarm among restaurant owners, customers, and sightseers as the insects gathered around a busy izakaya near the heart of the area. (News On Japan)

Prime Minister Takaichi returned to Japan after visits to Vietnam and Australia during the Golden Week holidays, securing agreements with both nations to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals and enhance cooperation on energy security, as Tokyo seeks to counter China’s economic pressure and navigate instability in the Middle East. (News On Japan)

Koyasan, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Wakayama Prefecture that has seen a steady rise in visitors from both Japan and overseas in recent years, is urging worshippers to avoid wearing revealing clothing as the summer season approaches, as temple authorities seek to preserve the dignity and spiritual atmosphere of one of Japan’s most revered religious centers. (News On Japan)

The Nikkei 225 surged sharply in Tokyo trading on May 7th, rising more than 3,300 points to close at 62,833.84 yen, marking both the largest gain in its history and the first time the index has finished in the 62,000 range, as buying orders spread rapidly from the opening bell following the Golden Week holidays and continued to build throughout the session. (News On Japan)

Bear sightings are increasing across Japan earlier than usual this year, with multiple reports of unusually large and well-fed animals appearing near residential areas and tourist locations during the May holiday period, raising concerns over public safety and prompting calls for heightened caution. (News On Japan)

Typhoon No. 5 is expected to move westward into next week without significant development and is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression, with no impact anticipated for Japan. (News On Japan)

The remains of Ainu people held at the Natural History Museum in London were returned to Japan, marking the fourth case of repatriation of remains taken overseas. (News On Japan)

A nationwide effort to recover valuable resources is gaining momentum in Japan, where discarded personal computers are being transformed into a significant source of recycled gold. (News On Japan)

The final day of Golden Week on May 6th saw heavy congestion at Tokyo Station, where returning travelers crowded Shinkansen platforms, with unreserved seating on some lines exceeding 160% capacity. (News On Japan)

A piglet that had been brought to a police station in Ebino, Miyazaki Prefecture, as lost property in March has found a new home after no owner came forward within the designated holding period. (News On Japan)

Nearly 1,500 businesses, including restaurants, have come under scrutiny as authorities move to address a growing issue in Ameyoko, one of Japan’s busiest shopping streets, where eateries have been expanding onto public roads without permits, prompting a crackdown by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. (News On Japan)

A man in his 40s was injured after being attacked by a bear in a rice field next to an elementary school in Yurihonjo, Akita Prefecture, on May 5th, marking the first confirmed human injury from a bear in the prefecture in 2026, as sightings continue across tourist areas during the Golden Week holiday. (News On Japan)

Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has agreed with the Philippines to establish a bilateral framework to begin discussions on the export of Japanese destroyers and other defense equipment. (News On Japan)

A Japanese man believed to have been confined at a scam operation site in Phnom Penh was rescued following a police raid on May 4th, with local authorities identifying him as a victim of human trafficking. (News On Japan)

The number of vacant homes across Japan has surpassed 9 million—roughly double the figure from 30 years ago—yet efforts to address the issue are being held back by increasingly complex inheritance cases that make resolution difficult. (News On Japan)

A cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean with a Japanese passenger on board has become the center of a widening international health response, as multiple countries confirm infections linked to a rare strain of hantavirus capable of limited human-to-human transmission. (News On Japan)

A total of 58 gravestones at a cemetery in Tsukigata, Hokkaido, were found toppled on May 4th in what police suspect was a deliberate act of vandalism targeting a burial site for former prisoners dating back to the Meiji era. (News On Japan)