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Farmers spray herbicide at a rice farm in Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, in June.
JAPAN
Nov 1, 2025

Japan 2026 staple rice production seen falling to 7.11 million tons

The country's staple rice production is forecast to fall 370,000 tons from 2025, the agriculture ministry has said.
Executives of six ruling and opposition parties discuss scrapping the add-on levy for gasoline during their meeting in the parliament building on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 2, 2025

Japan sees no stable funding for costly policy plans

Six ruling and opposition parties broadly agreed Friday to scrap the add-on levy for gasoline on Dec. 31 and for gas oil on April 1 next year.
Screenwriter Kankuro Kudo will be one of the recipients of Japan's Medal with Purple Ribbon for autumn 2025.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2025

Screenwriter Kudo and others to receive Japan's medals of honor

Kudu produced many hits, including "Amachan," an NHK drama series that became a social phenomenon when it aired in 2013.
Internal affairs minister Yoshimasa Hayashi
JAPAN / Society
Nov 3, 2025

Japan looks to boost 'connected population' in bid to revitalize regions

Internal affairs minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is considering to develop a registration system to serve as a "passport" for nonresidents to participate in regional support activities.
Game designer Yuji Horii, known for the Dragon Quest series
JAPAN / Society
Nov 3, 2025

Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii recognized in Japan autumn honors

The government released a list of 3,963 people recognized for this year’s autumn honors on Monday.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Saturday. Takaichi said she is prepared to “act boldly” to create a breakthrough and resolve the abductions issue with North Korea “without ruling out any options.”
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 3, 2025

Takaichi says she told North Korea of desire for summit with Kim

The new Japanese leader’s remarks echo those of her predecessors and come as time runs out for families of Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang decades ago.
A highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak has been confirmed at a poultry farm in the city of Tainai, Niigata Prefecture, authorities said Tuesday.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Nov 4, 2025

Japan confirms third bird flu outbreak of season

A total of 630,000 egg-laying chickens at a poultry farm in Niigata will be culled.
Influenza outbreaks began in Japan in late September, earlier than usual, amid increased cross-border travel.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Nov 4, 2025

Japan's flu season began in September, earlier than usual amid tourism surge

Basic measures — such as washing hands, wearing masks in crowds and frequent ventilation — are effective in preventing infection.
A test launch of an upgraded Type 12 ground-launched antiship guided missile
JAPAN
Nov 5, 2025

Japan to deploy ground-based long-range missiles at four sites

The Defense Ministry plans to field ground-launched missiles in Hokkaido, as well as Shizuoka, Kumamoto and Miyazaki prefectures.
Women hold toys depicting Myaku-Myaku, the official character for the 2025 Osaka Expo, during a media day ahead of the event's public opening day in Osaka in April.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 5, 2025

ChatGPT nickname and Trump tariffs nominated for Japan’s buzzword of 2025

Words and phrases related to the election of Japan’s first female prime minister and the country’s bear problem also made the list of nominations.
JAPAN / Explainer
Jul 21, 2023

Bike, scooter, taxi? Here are your options for nonrail transit in Japan

Here's a rundown on your options and how best to utilize them — whether your a tourist or long-time resident.
SOCCER / Women's World cup
Jul 21, 2023

Nadeshiko Japan's Women's World Cup glory now distant memory

Japan begins its latest World Cup campaign against Zambia on Saturday, but is ranked 11th now and no longer among the favorites.
JAPAN
Jul 20, 2023

Akie Abe wraps up Taiwan trip, continuing late husband's legacy

Akie Abe traveled to the self-ruled island to continue her husbands legacy of reorienting Japan’s policy toward Taiwan.
An intensive care unit of the city children's hospital, damaged by a Russian military strike, in Kherson, Ukraine, on Jan. 1
JAPAN
Aug 1, 2023

Ukrainians take home medical skills acquired in Japan

In response to Russia's prolonged invasion of Ukraine, Juntendo University in Tokyo set up a system to continue providing support in line with the requests of Ukrainians in Japan.
Yuna Kato says relatives have tried to steer her away from careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jul 30, 2023

Japan on a mission to attract more women into STEM fields

In the IT field alone, the country is looking at a shortfall of 790,000 workers by 2030, largely due to a severe underrepresentation of women.
Japan might change because of you or your actions, but it will not change for you.
COMMUNITY / Voices / Black Eye
Jun 19, 2023

A note to people of color interested in living in Japan

When asked about what life is like here for people of color, columnist Baye McNeil summed it up with a story about sitting on a crowded train.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 26, 2023

Can Japan prevent crimes from happening on trains?

Trains are often targeted for attacks because they offer the most familiar, everyday setting. Railway companies are now exploring ways to bolster security.
Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and his Sri Lanka counterpart, Ali Sabry, during a joint news conference in Colombo on Saturday
BUSINESS
Jul 29, 2023

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka invites Japan to resume investment

The South Asian island nation is working to restructure its massive debt to continue a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
Paris' Japan Expo, a gathering for fans of Japanese pop culture, says it attracts 250,000 attendees per day.
CULTURE
Jul 30, 2023

In France, Japonisme has turned into Japanmania

Through architecture, fashion, culinary arts and even sports, aspects of Japanese culture are attracting a large portion of France’s population.
SOCCER / Women's World cup
Jul 30, 2023

Plenty of respect as Nadeshiko Japan prepares to face Spain

Japan and Spain have been two of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup's standout teams and both have already qualified for the last 16 out of Group C.
An inside page of The Japan Times from 1973 carried a story about the discovery of some old Japanese chess pieces.
JAPAN / History / Japan Times Gone By
Aug 1, 2023

Japan Times 1973: 8 'oldest' shogi pieces found in castle's ruins

An ancient discovery and moments that mark the atomic bombings fill past August pages of Japan Times.
Foreign entertainers are now permitted to work in event venues with a capacity of more than 100 people — including standing-only establishments — that sell food and drinks.
JAPAN / Society
Aug 1, 2023

Japan loosens requirements for entertainer visas

Entertainers earning more than ¥500,000 or more per day are now able to stay for up to 30 days, an increase from 15 days.
The government may sell stakes in some major firms, including NTT, to fund its growing defense spending.
BUSINESS
Aug 3, 2023

Raising the stakes: Japan may sell shares to fund defense spending

Selling government stakes in some of Japan's biggest firms won't be straightforward, given the need for consensus and changes to laws.
Australian Ambassador to Japan Justin Hayhurst (center) walks beside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) during the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima in May.
JAPAN
Aug 3, 2023

Tokyo-Canberra ties key to Indo-Pacific’s future: Australian envoy

"We’ve never been more important to each other," says Justin Hayhurst, Australia’s new Ambassador to Japan.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Aug 3, 2023

Japan's vision of nuke-free world in focus ahead of anniversaries

The tension between Tokyo's lofty goals and realpolitik necessities has made any move toward nuclear disarmament largely elusive.
Shinjiro Atae, a J-pop idol who came out publicly as gay during a recent fan event, with his stylist and makeup artist in the afternoon prior to his announcement, in Tokyo on July 25.
JAPAN / Society
Aug 3, 2023

In Japan, LGBTQ celebrities fuel impetus for change

Celebrities coming out as LGBTQ can have a big impact in Japan and fuel change. But such announcements are rarely made easily.
JAPAN
Aug 4, 2023

Seiichi Morimura, 90, who exposed Japan's wartime atrocities, dies

In a book, he detailed gruesome biological experiments on people at a secret Imperial Army site in occupied China before and during World War II.
Japan midfielder Hikaru Naomoto (right) and Spain's Aitana Bonmati compete for the ball during their Group C match at the Women's World Cup at Wellington Stadium on July 31.
SOCCER / Women's World cup
Aug 4, 2023

Nadeshiko Japan taking momentum into Women's World Cup knockout stage

Japan stormed through the group stage at the Women's World Cup with three dominant wins, and playmaker Yui Hasegawa says it is vital that it maintains that level of performance against Norway in Saturday's last 16 clash.
JAPAN / Society
Aug 4, 2023

Foreign minors born, raised in Japan to be eligible for residency

The move comes in response to a controversial revision to the asylum law that was passed earlier this year.
Ater Jimmie Husen
LIFE / Food & Drink
Aug 6, 2023

On plates, Sweden and Japan are a natural pair

Swedish and Japanese cuisine are not natural allies, but diners in Japan don’t seem to care when they taste this unique fusion for themselves.

Longform

Once smoky, male-dominated spaces, today's net cafes, like Kaikatsu Club, are working to make their operations more attractive to women customers.
The second life of Japan's net cafes