The new fiscal year began on April 1st, with companies across the Kansai region holding entrance ceremonies to welcome new employees. (News On Japan)

Japan's new fiscal year began on April 1st, with companies across the country holding entrance ceremonies to welcome new employees. (News On Japan)

Sukiya, one of Japan's leading beef bowl restaurant chains, announced it will temporarily close nearly all of its stores after an insect was found in a food item served at one of its outlets. (News On Japan)

The Trump administration announced on March 26th that it will impose an additional 25% tariff on imported automobiles and key auto parts. According to the proclamation signed by President Trump, the tariffs are set to take effect on April 3rd and will apply to all imported vehicles, including those from Japan. (News On Japan)

Fuji Television announced a sweeping overhaul of its management structure on March 27th, including the retirement of longtime executive Hisashi Hieda, who served on the board for 41 years. (News On Japan)

Rapidus, a company aiming to domestically produce next-generation semiconductors, plans to begin operating its prototype line for advanced chips in April. The company is accelerating development of 2-nanometer-class semiconductors, expected to be used in artificial intelligence (AI) applications. (News On Japan)

A luxury tower apartment under construction in Grand Green Osaka, located in front of Osaka Station, has drawn attention for its record-setting price tag of 2.5 billion yen. The media was recently granted first access to a completed unit inside the building. (News On Japan)

Japan’s economy, long characterized by stagnation and deflation, is now showing signs of a potential revival. (News On Japan)

Once a pioneering force in Japan’s convenience store sector, 7-Eleven is now facing a clear slowdown. Although the company introduced many groundbreaking services over the years—such as hot oden by the register and in-store ATMs—it has failed to produce a major hit in over a decade. (News On Japan)

Meitetsu announced on March 24th its long-term redevelopment plan for the area in front of Nagoya Station, which includes the construction of two new skyscrapers matching the height of the iconic Spiral Towers in nearby Sasashima. (News On Japan)

Starbucks is replacing its paper straws with biomass plastic straws, beginning a nationwide rollout on March 24th. (News On Japan)

As the number of vacant houses across Japan continues to rise—now estimated at 9 million—a unique group in Kobe is tackling what many consider a lost cause: severely dilapidated homes, or 'haioku.' (News On Japan)

Japan's household financial assets reached a record 2,230 trillion yen ($15 trillion) at the end of December last year, driven by growing use of the tax-free NISA investment accounts and rising stock prices. (News On Japan)

JR Hokkaido announced on March 19th that the JR Sapporo Station redevelopment, linked to the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension, will be delayed by six years, with full operations now set for fiscal 2034. (News On Japan)

Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced that as of January 1st, official land prices—a key real estate benchmark—rose 2.7% year-on-year, marking the fourth consecutive annual increase. (News On Japan)

The gender pay gap in Japan has reached its smallest level on record, as the average monthly salary for full-time workers posted its highest growth in 33 years, according to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. (News On Japan)

A single-family home in Yokohama for 3.8 million yen? A two-story 3LDK in Narashino, Chiba, for 9.8 million yen? What makes these properties so cheap? We investigated the reasons behind these bargain-priced homes. (News On Japan)

Watermelon farmers have expressed concerns over the potential impact of emergency pest control measures aimed at preventing the spread of the Segroulimibae fruit fly. (News On Japan)

The men's beauty market is expanding, with a growing number of middle-aged men investing in personal grooming. Over the past five years, the price of men's facial lotion has surged by 40%, reflecting the increasing demand. (News On Japan)

Drones may offer a solution to pressing social issues. A newly developed logistics drone, measuring three meters in length, is capable of transporting up to 40 kilograms of cargo and comes with a price tag of around 5 million yen. (News On Japan)