News
ODDS and EVENS | Japan Soccer Squad Continues Ascent in the Global Pecking Order
4+ hour, 41+ min ago (921+ words) In soccer, international friendlies can boost a team's confidence while providing opportunities to evaluate its overall strengths and weaknesses. For Japan, the world's 18th-ranked men's national team squad, beating England 1-0 was a notable achievement on Monday, March 31. Even if it…...
Two Young Japanese Designers Turn Heads at Rakuten Fashion Week
14+ hour, 39+ min ago (558+ words) (Courtesy of the Global Fashion Collective) On March 17, the Global Fashion Collective, a Canadian-based organization formed in 2017 to cultivate the future of global fashion talent, held a show within the Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo. The showcased designers included Ao Miyasaka,…...
Japan Airlines to Raise Fuel Surcharges Amid Rising Costs
1+ day, 15+ hour ago (175+ words) All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) aircraft. On April 1, it emerged that All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) plan to sharply increase fuel surcharges on international flights from June." The hike will coincide with the peak…...
Punch the Macaque: What's Happened Since the Fame?
1+ day, 18+ hour ago (670+ words) Punch with a stuffed orangutan (from the official X account of Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden) Videos of a Japanese macaque named Punch went viral on social media, showing him cuddling a stuffed orangutan as a surrogate mother after…...
Gamer's World | GDC and PAX East Reveal Two Sides of the US Game Business
2+ day, 8+ hour ago (1000+ words) These two events showed two very different glimpses at the Western game business in 2026. PAX was a reminder of the past few years of endless layoffs and turmoil in the US in particular, while PAX reminded us of why we…...
Ogasawara Emerges as the Next Air Defense Frontline
2+ day, 11+ hour ago (592+ words) As part of efforts to strengthen surveillance and monitoring along the Pacific coast, the Japanese government is considering establishing an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the Ogasawara Islands, located South of Tokyo." An ADIZ is airspace established beyond a…...
Off the Beaten Track on the Noto Peninsula
2+ day, 18+ hour ago (710+ words) At Yuttari Park in the town of Wakura Onsen on the Noto Peninsula, the first cherry blossoms are in bloom. "These trees are always early," explains Yoshio Sato. The 86-year-old farmer then points at several large buildings along the seaside…...
Cyclists Using Smartphones While Riding Could Now Face Fines of Up to $75
3+ day, 9+ hour ago (634+ words) A new blue ticket system allowing police to impose traffic fines on cyclists aged 16 and older will take effect on April 1. The move is aimed at strengthening enforcement and encouraging compliance with traffic rules. In principle, police will continue to…...
Tokyo's Cherry Blossoms Reach Peak Earlier than Usual
3+ day, 13+ hour ago (139+ words) Cherry blossoms along the Meguro River at their best viewing time. The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that the blossoms in central Tokyo have reached full bloom. March 30, Meguro Ward, Tokyo Tokyo's cherry blossoms reached full bloom on March 28, according to…...
Mr. Men Little Miss Store Opens in Tokyo's Pop-Culture Hub
3+ day, 18+ hour ago (1047+ words) The vibrant Takeshita Street in Harajuku has a colorful new addition. Sanrio's flagship store dedicated to Mr. Men Little Miss opened in February, offering visitors an uplifting space filled with a diverse selection of items featuring unique characters. Mr. Men…...