author

 
 

Meta

Yukana Inoue
Sensoji Temple, a popular tourist location, in Tokyo on Jan. 18
JAPAN / Society
Jan 26, 2024
Japan aims to direct Asian tourists to places less traveled
The tourism body is attempting to direct visitors to places outside Tokyo in order to prevent over-tourism, specifically by appealing to “light repeaters.”
Police officers hold a traffic safety lesson for e-scooter users in December 2022 in Tokyo's Meguro Ward.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jan 24, 2024
E-scooter traffic violations rise fourfold in Japan
Reports of traffic violations totaled 1,879 in the month of December, a significant increase from the 405 cases reported in July of last year.
According to Hitoshi Matsumoto’s lawyer, he is suing Bungei Shunju, the publisher of the Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine over an article that was published in the magazine and online on Dec. 27.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jan 23, 2024
Comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto sues publisher over sexual assault article
The Downtown member is suing Bungei Shunju, the publisher of the Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine, for defamation.
The gallery and judges for the trial of Yuki Endo over a 2021 murder case, in Kofu District Court in Yamanashi Prefecture on Thursday
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jan 18, 2024
In first, 'specified juvenile' handed death sentence over Kofu murder
It is the first time a defendant age 18 or 19 at the time of a crime has been given the death penalty following the lowering of the age of adulthood.
The Somei-Yoshino sample cherry tree used to declare the official start of the cherry blossom season in Sapporo comes into bloom on April 15, 2023, the earliest blossoming since record-keeping began in 1953.
JAPAN / Society
Jan 12, 2024
Japan's 2024 cherry blossom season expected to arrive earlier than usual
Due to higher-than-usual temperatures in November and December, western and eastern Japan will most likely see cherry blossoms bloom early.
A Japan Airlines aircraft taxis past the wreckage of the company's passenger jet that collided with a Japan Coast Guard plane on Jan. 2, at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN
Jan 9, 2024
Japan unveils new safety measures following Haneda Airport collision
The plan includes changes to how orders should be sent out from the control tower.
Kotaro Seki, CEO of Ellange, in front of the truck that he uses to collect nets from fisheries
JAPAN / Society / OUR PLANET
Jan 7, 2024
Trash into treasure: Can fishing net waste be the future of fashion?
A pair of Japanese startups are looking to solve a problem for the nation's fisheries: What to do with old fishing nets.
Tsumugi-nen is artificial intelligence talent agency Pictoria's most popular AI Vtuber that has garnered thousands of fans through her content, including streaming for five days straight — something a human can not do.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jan 5, 2024
Is AI a friend or foe of the Japanese entertainment industry?
While proponents tap the technology's potential, others are worried about the possibility of losing their jobs.
A member of the Air Self-Defense Force searches for survivors at the site of a collapsed building in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Friday.
JAPAN
Jan 5, 2024
Rescue operations in quake-hit Ishikawa brace for bad weather
Poor weather conditions have already hindered efforts to find those still buried under collapsed buildings.
A man inspects what remains of his liquor shop which was burnt down by a fire, in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2024
Death toll rises in Ishikawa as rescue effort continues amid poor weather
Rain and snow might lead to landslides where the ground is loose as a result of continuing quakes.
Firefighters inspect collapsed wooden houses in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Tuesday, a day after a major 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in the prefecture.
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2024
Ishikawa quake rescue efforts ramp up as crucial time window narrows
Over 33,000 people are staying in evacuation centers with limited access to electricity and water.
A collapsed building in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Tuesday following Monday's earthquake
JAPAN
Jan 2, 2024
Dozens killed as Japan assesses damage from massive quake
The Monday afternoon quake led to the collapse of multiple buildings, caused landslides and sparked a large-scale fire in a popular tourist area.
The torii gate at Ono-Hiyoshi Shrine in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, collapsed after a powerful earthquake hit the area Monday.
JAPAN
Jan 1, 2024
Strong quake prompts tsunami warning for Japan's western coast
Residents were said to be trapped in collapsed buildings following the quake, which measured a 7 on Japan's intensity scale — the highest level.
Kazuhisa Yokoyama, the head of sales at Takashimaya, apologizes during a news conference in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Society
Dec 27, 2023
Takashimaya apologizes over damaged Christmas cakes
The pricey ¥5,400 cakes were meant to be delivered frozen, but many arrived melted, lopsided or crumbled.
Fire fighters put out a fire at a disposal site for oversized trash in Koto Ward, Tokyo, in November.
JAPAN / Society
Dec 26, 2023
Tokyo residents urged to hold on to large waste due to disposal site fire
Operations at the facility in Koto Ward were suspended following the fire, and the alternative facility handling the extra waste is nearing capacity.
Children take part in Christmas activities in Tokyo's Minato Ward on Saturday.
JAPAN / Society
Dec 25, 2023
Japan to open nursery places to all children by fiscal 2025
At the moment, typically only children from families where both the parents are working are admitted to day care.
University of Tokyo students attend their graduation ceremony in the capital's Bunkyo Ward on March 24.
JAPAN / Society
Dec 22, 2023
Japan to expand subsidized college tuition for large families
Free college tuition will be offered to at least one child in a family with three or more children, regardless of its income.
Ride-sharing apps (clockwise from bottom) Uber, Grab, Didi and Ola Cabs are seen on a smartphone display.
JAPAN / Society
Dec 20, 2023
Japan to partially lift ban on ride-hailing services from April
Drivers will be allowed to operate in specific areas at certain times under the guidance of taxi companies when there is a lack of rides available.
A screenshot of the website for "The One Piece"
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Dec 19, 2023
'One Piece' series to be remade on Netflix
Titled "The One Piece," the show is set to be released on streaming services. The release date is yet to be determined.
Seihan Mori, chief priest of Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, writes "zei" (taxes), which was chosen on Tuesday as the kanji of the year.
JAPAN
Dec 12, 2023
Talk of taxes spurs choice for Japan’s kanji of the year
The choice came as tax hikes and cuts were heavily covered in the news and discussed among policymakers.

Longform

Rows of irises resemble a rice field at the Peter Walker-designed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.
The 'outsiders' creating some of Japan's greenest spaces