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Jessica Speed
National Route 226 in the city of Kagoshima is seen covered in debris from a landslide on Friday morning.
JAPAN
Jun 21, 2024
Warnings of heavy rain, flooding and landslides issued for Kagoshima
The Meteorological Agency said there is a risk of rain-induced disasters due to the formation of linear rain bands driven by an active seasonal rain front.
The greater Tokyo area saw heavy rainfall on Tuesday, with the weather agency urging caution.
JAPAN
Jun 18, 2024
Officials urge caution as Tokyo faces heavy rain
The Meteorological Agency has warned of the risk of floods and landslides.
The iAEON app allows users to view their shopping history and save e-receipts on their smartphones to facilitate returns and act as proof of purchases.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 14, 2024
Aeon to roll out e-receipts nationwide
Customers can opt for e-receipts instead of paper ones when shopping by using the group’s iAEON app at participating stores.
Amid the rising popularity of saunas, the Consumer Affairs Agency is urging users to exercise caution following a spike in the number of sauna-related accidents.
JAPAN / Society
Jun 7, 2024
Japan's consumer watchdog warns of accidents in the sauna
Users are urged to exercise caution to avoid severe injuries amid a spike in accidents as saunas become more popular.
The Saitama Institute of Technology is aiming to nurture engineers knowledgeable in self-driving vehicles.
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2024
Technology institute to launch Japan's first autonomous driving major
The Saitama Institute of Technology will introduce the major next April, aiming to nurture engineers knowledgeable in self-driving vehicles.
One-on-one personal training programs have grown in popularity following the COVID-19 pandemic, but this increase in demand has not come without risks.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2024
Over 40% of gym injuries in Japan caused by personal training, survey shows
Demand for personal training programs have grown in recent years due to a rise in health consciousness following the COVID-19 pandemic.
SLIM's photo of 10 lunar rocks. Photos taken by SLIM have already contributed to understanding about the moon’s surface.
JAPAN / Science & Health
May 29, 2024
Japan’s moon lander stops responding in the dark
The Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon, also known as SLIM, did not respond to a signal sent to it by Japan's space agency on Monday evening.
LignoSat, the world's first wooden satellite, unveiled at Kyoto University in Kyoto on Tuesday
JAPAN / Science & Health
May 29, 2024
Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry unveil world's first wooden satellite
LignoSat is developed with the aim of combating space clutter and promoting more environmentally friendly space activity.
Complaints regarding overcharging for pest extermination services have been on the rise, especially among young adults, a survey has found.
JAPAN
May 23, 2024
Surge in young Japanese consumers overcharged for pest control services
The National Consumer Affairs Center warns consumers to be wary of suspiciously low-cost pest control services and advertisements found online.
A toddler tries to pull an electric kettle cord. Parents can often recognize the dangers within their own home, but may not be as vigilant when visiting new places during the holidays.
JAPAN / Society
May 10, 2024
Indoor child safety warnings issued for caregivers in Japan
Parents can often recognize the dangers within their own home, but may not be as vigilant when visiting new places during the holidays.
Masashi Okada (right), project manager of the H3 rocket for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Mayuki Niitsu, Mitsubishi Heavy industries' H3 rocket project manager, in front of a rocket core at a Mitsubishi plant in Tobishima, Aichi Prefecture, on March 21
JAPAN
Apr 26, 2024
Japan’s space agency sets June 30 as third launch date for H3 rocket
The rocket will carry the Daichi-4 satellite, which is designed for high-resolution Earth observation.
Yukio Kasaya (center), who won a ski jumping gold medal at the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics, stands on the podium with silver medalist Akitsugu Konno (left) and bronze medalist Seiji Aochi in Sapporo in February 1972.
MORE SPORTS / Ski jumping
Apr 26, 2024
Yukio Kasaya, Japan's first Winter Olympic gold medalist, dies at 80
Kasaya led a historic podium sweep for Japan at the 1972 Olympics and was joined by Akitsugu Konno, who took silver, and Seiji Aochi, who earned bronze.
An image of the lunar surface taken Tuesday by Japan's moon lander, which has survived three lunar nights
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 25, 2024
Japan's moon lander survives third lunar night
SLIM successfully reestablished communication and was continuing to take snapshots and probe the lunar surface, JAXA said.
Shohei Ohtani has been overwhelmingly voted as the “dream boss” for people who started working in April, according to a survey.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 24, 2024
New workers name Shohei Ohtani as 'dream boss' for two years running
Announcer Asami Miura and 16th-century warlord Oda Nobunaga also featured in a survey on ideal bosses in the entertainment, sports and historical spheres.
Satoshi Harada from the Meteorological Agency explains about the magnitude 6.6 earthquake during a news conference early Thursday.
JAPAN
Apr 18, 2024
No link to Nankai Trough quake seen after temblor in Shikoku
There was no tsunami from the quake and reports suggested only minor injuries and damage.
Entrepreneurs Yusaku Maezawa (second from right) and Takafumi Horie (third from right) attend a study session on fake social media ads and investment scams at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo on April 10.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Apr 17, 2024
Police warn against investment scams on social media
Scammers are posing as prominent businesspeople to increase credibility and to lure victims into "get rich quick” schemes.
The international departure lobby at Haneda Aiport in Tokyo on April 29, 2023, at the start of the Golden Week holidays.
BUSINESS
Apr 11, 2024
Golden Week travel plans near pre-pandemic levels as overseas bookings surge
This year's Golden Week marks the first since the government downgraded COVID-19’s classification to the same level as the seasonal flu.
In fiscal 2022, the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan fielded 4,024 inquiries concerning online game microtransactions made by students of elementary, junior high and high schools without the knowledge of their parents.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 9, 2024
Watch out for microtransactions in kids' online games, parents urged
Watchdog reports surge in complaints of children racking up unauthorized charges on smartphones using their parents' payment credentials.
This year's survey, conducted from May 2023 to February 2024 and released last week, amassed responses from 4,000 children (2,000 boys and 2,000 girls) starting elementary school in April, along with 4,000 parents.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 8, 2024
Cake shop worker remains dream job for many children starting school
"Police officer" and "athlete" were the second and third most popular choices, according to annual survey by a school bag material manufacturer.
Of 26 fires attributed to pets activating gas or induction heating stove controls, 19 were caused by cats, the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) said.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 8, 2024
The cat did it: Warnings issued for pet-related household fires
Most of these incidents were caused by cats and dogs — and even a baby goat — triggering gas and induction heating stoves while their owners were away.

Longform

Akira Oishi (left) and Shinichi Okanobori have taken on the responsibility of surveying the flora and fauna of Mount Tenran and Mount Tonosu in Saitama Prefecture.
Inside Japan's 100-year project to monitor its deteriorating biodiversity