Emojis have evolved into a shared shorthand for emotion and intent, shaping not only how people text, but how they relate to one another online. Now, as NTT Docomo prepares to retire its original emoji set after 26 years, it marks the end of a uniquely Japanese chapter in the global story of digital expression. (News On Japan)

Japan has been struggling to cope with a combination of anaemic economic growth and a shrinking population for over 30 years. 2025 marks the tipping point when the rising costs outstrip the country's capacity to pay for them. (Financial Times)

A sweeping change to Japan’s penal system is set to take place in June with the abolition of the dual sentencing system of prison labor (chōeki) and imprisonment without labor (kinko), which will be replaced by a unified custodial sentence known as kōkin-kei. (News On Japan)

Japanese women are often admired internationally for their beauty and kindness, particularly during the dating phase, when many present themselves as sweet, supportive, and attentive partners. Foreign men are often captivated by this image, but many are unprepared for the transformation that can occur after marriage and especially after children. (Japanese Comedian Meshida)

A 61-year-old woman from Togo Town, Aichi Prefecture, who had been arrested on suspicion of illegally discarding a bird carcass in the yard of a neighboring house, has not been prosecuted. (News On Japan)

A gang leader arrested in connection with the theft of 172 Rolex watches valued at approximately 280 million yen has been released without indictment, Osaka prosecutors announced. (News On Japan)

A 22-year-old man known for repeatedly posting nuisance videos on TikTok, was arrested by Osaka police on suspicion of confining a female gas station employee in a car on May 19th in Hirano Ward after he and an accomplice allegedly lured her into the vehicle under false pretenses as part of another stunt. (News On Japan)

A growing number of foreign nationals are converting their overseas driver's licenses into Japanese licenses through a process known as gaimen kirikae—a system that has come under scrutiny due to apparent loopholes and increasingly lax enforcement. (News On Japan)

A growing number of so-called men’s concept cafes in Osaka are drawing scrutiny for blurring the line between themed entertainment and unlicensed adult services. In one case, a cafe was found offering a single drink for 1.65 million yen, underscoring the escalating concerns around financial exploitation and regulatory loopholes. (News On Japan)

A man walked straight out of the building, eyes fixed ahead. He was identified as 54-year-old Taniguchi, the manager of a private massage parlor, and is among nine people arrested on suspicion of illegally soliciting customers for prostitution on the streets of Gotanda, Tokyo. (News On Japan)

"I was stabbed in the chest with cooking chopsticks." That’s how A, a man in his 40s living in Shikoku, describes the abuse he endured from his ex-wife about 15 years ago. "Things like that happened all the time. It felt like hell," he recalls. (News On Japan)

A bronze mirror kept at Atori Shrine in the village of Atori has been identified as the largest seidōkyō, or ancient bronze mirror, ever found in Japan, according to a recent joint announcement by the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties and the Nara National Museum. (News On Japan)

A first-year female student at a correspondence high school in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, was arrested on Wednesday morning after stabbing three of her classmates with a kitchen knife during a break between classes. (News On Japan)

Following what appears to be a violent domestic incident, the bodies of a man and a woman were found inside a residence in Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture, with a five-year-old girl discovered alive but suffering from stab wounds to her back. Authorities believe the two adults had been dead for several days by the time police arrived. (News On Japan)

Four years ago, a Sri Lankan woman named Wishma died after repeatedly complaining of illness while detained at a Nagoya immigration facility. The government has admitted to possessing 295 hours of video footage documenting her condition leading up to her death—but has only disclosed five hours of it to the bereaved family. (News On Japan)

A man has been arrested for stealing a hanging scroll regarded as a "masterpiece of ghost paintings" from a temple in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture. (News On Japan)

A 15-year-old junior high school student arrested for fatally stabbing an 84-year-old woman on a street in Chiba City was found to have purchased 'monkshood' seeds of the highly toxic plant aconite before the incident, according to police. (News On Japan)

A Peruvian man has been arrested for a hit-and-run incident after driving the wrong way on the Shin-Meishin Expressway and triggering a four-car accident that left four women injured. (News On Japan)

A 70-year-old man fell from a high-rise apartment building in Osaka and struck a cyclist on the sidewalk below, resulting in the deaths of both men. (News On Japan)

Four elementary school boys were injured in a hit-and-run incident in Misato City, Saitama Prefecture, and police have arrested a Chinese national who was riding in the vehicle, suspecting he knowingly accompanied a drunk driver. (News On Japan)