A Kobe University professor has solved one of the most perplexing unsolved problems in applied mathematics, opening the door to technologies once thought impossible. Kenjiro Kimura, who also serves as CEO of Integral Geometry Science, proved a global inverse problem in wave scattering theory—a feat no one had accomplished before—and used it to develop what is being called the world's first non-invasive internal imaging technology. (News On Japan)

Yame City has signed a cooperation agreement with the Kyushu University Urban Research Center to promote regional revitalization through ESG evaluation—a method of quantifying environmental, social, and governance efforts—aiming to enhance export capabilities and build a more sustainable society. (News On Japan)

An electric school bus has been introduced for a special needs school in Kitakyushu, with the city holding an unveiling ceremony at city hall to mark the occasion. (News On Japan)

“You have cancer and need to undergo surgery immediately.” Cathy Allen will never forget the look on the doctor’s face when he marked the distribution of a “tumor” on her chest CT scan. (News On Japan)

As ultraviolet radiation reaches stronger levels with the onset of summer, the number of days with intense UV readings has doubled over the past 30 years. While people often remember to protect their skin, experts are warning that protection for the eyes is equally essential—and often forgotten. (News On Japan)

Refund troubles are mounting across Japan over a now-defunct English camp program promoted through elementary schools, with a former staff member revealing that unpaid debts linked to the operation could total billions of yen. Run by a general incorporated association based in Sendai called the Miyagi Reconstruction Support Center, the international exchange program—where local children interacted with foreign students—was abruptly canceled without refunding participation fees. (News On Japan)

A 27-year-old Chinese national enrolled at Kyoto University’s graduate school has been arrested for impersonating another person to take the TOEIC English proficiency exam, in what police suspect may be part of an organized cheating scheme. (News On Japan)

For much of Japan’s history, particularly in rural areas, a now-banned tradition called yobai—or “night crawling”—was a common courtship practice. Until the early 1900s, it was socially accepted for young men to sneak into women’s homes at night for consensual sex, with variations depending on the region. (News On Japan)

Japan’s policy to provide free high school tuition for both public and private schools is expanding options for families who once gave up on private education due to cost. However, in Osaka, where this policy was implemented ahead of other regions, even prestigious public high schools are now struggling to fill seats. (News On Japan)

Firefighters selected from Kasuga, Onojo, and Nakagawa in Fukuoka Prefecture demonstrated their rescue techniques on May 16th ahead of an upcoming skills competition designed to test emergency response capabilities. (News On Japan)

Many Japanese people agree that Japanese is a difficult language, especially for foreigners. They point out the complexity of homonyms, kanji characters, multiple writing systems (hiragana, katakana, kanji), and the different intonations that can change meaning—for example, the word "hashi" can mean either "bridge" or "chopsticks" depending on pronunciation. Even native speakers find this confusing. (News On Japan)

In this video, watercolor artist Shibasaki brings an adorable Shiba Inu to life using acrylic gouache. From the initial pencil sketch to layering warm colors and creating soft, fluffy fur, you'll see every step of the process – almost entirely uncut! (Watercolor by Shibasaki)

A bill to revise the Kyūtoku Law, aiming to improve the treatment of Japan's public school teachers by gradually raising the salary supplement in place of overtime pay from 4% to 10%, was approved by the Lower House Committee on Education on Wednesday after ruling and opposition parties agreed on revisions. (News On Japan)

A lawsuit over the right to education in Japanese Sign Language concluded at the Sapporo High Court on May 13th, with a junior high school girl using the language in court to state that "Japanese Sign Language is my identity." (News On Japan)

A growing number of people report experiencing physical and mental fatigue after Japan's Golden Week holiday, a phenomenon often referred to as "May sickness." (News On Japan)

A century after the 1925 Kita-Tajima Earthquake, the city of Toyooka is hosting a special exhibition to preserve the memory of the disaster and its aftermath. (News On Japan)

In this video we examine the lives of the famed "Seven Spears of Shizugatake," valiant warriors who would go on to become some of the most significant names of the late Sengoku period. (The Shogunate)

Most people overlook this one color. It seems dull at first glance—but once you use it, it completely transforms your artwork. (Watercolor by Shibasaki)

The Tokyo District Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former vice president of Nihon University who sought damages over alleged power harassment by board chairperson Mariko Hayashi in the wake of a drug scandal involving the university’s American football team. The court ruled on May 9th that Hayashi’s conduct did not constitute power harassment. (News On Japan)

Scholars affiliated with the Science Council of Japan formed a symbolic human chain in front of the National Diet building on May 8th, calling for revisions to the government’s proposed reform bill targeting the council’s structure, as deliberations enter their final phase in the Diet. (News On Japan)