News
Wrestling: Paris Olympic gold medalist Sakurai announces retirement
2+ hour, 5+ min ago (178+ words) April 3, 2026 (Mainichi Japan) KOCHI (Kyodo) -- Japan's Paris Olympic wrestling gold medalist Tsugumi Sakurai on Friday announced her retirement from competition to move into coaching. The 24-year-old from Kochi Prefecture won the women's 57-kilogram class at the 2024 Summer Games after winning…...
Japan Photo Journal: Baby boom at draft horse farm in Hokkaido
3+ hour, 35+ min ago (190+ words) Japan Photo Journal: Baby boom at draft horse farm in Hokkaido" Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser....
Japan PM Takaichi, France President Macron strike 'Dragon Ball' pose after talks
10+ hour, 46+ min ago (222+ words) Japan PM Takaichi, France President Macron strike 'Dragon Ball' pose after talks" Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your…...
Fans bid farewell as curtain falls on Osaka theater once popular with day laborers
11+ hour, 23+ min ago (288+ words) April 3, 2026 (Mainichi Japan) OSAKA -- The Shinsekai Kokusai Gekijo theater here, known for its hand-painted movie signs and bold taglines such as "Theater disappears!! A furious battle of the hopeless," closed its doors on March 31 after nearly a century in business....
Ex-apprentice alleges modern 'slavery' in Kyoto geisha world
15+ hour, 9+ min ago (994+ words) April 3, 2026 (Mainichi Japan) TOKYO (Kyodo) -- When Kiyoha Kiritaka left Kyoto's geisha district in 2016, she says she was escaping what she now calls "a system of slavery," exposing a darker reality behind one of Japan's most celebrated traditions. Kiritaka entered the…...
Renovated Edo-Tokyo Museum reopens after 4 years with life-size Ginza clock tower exhibit
2+ day, 4+ hour ago (275+ words) April 1, 2026 (Mainichi Japan) TOKYO -- After about four years of major renovations, the Edo-Tokyo Museum in the capital's Sumida Ward reopened March 31 to long lines of visitors eager to explore its transformed exhibits. The renewal features a full-scale re-creation of the…...
News in Easy English: New bicycle fines in Japan worry parents who carry children
1+ day, 10+ hour ago (170+ words) April 2, 2026 (Mainichi Japan) TOKYO -- In April, Japan started using the "blue ticket" system for bicycles. This means police can give fines for some bicycle rule violations. Some parents are worried because they use bicycles to carry their children every day....
'Guilty consumption' booms in Japan as stressed youths seek indulgent comfort foods, drinks
1+ day, 14+ hour ago (284+ words) April 2, 2026 (Mainichi Japan) TOKYO -- In today's high-stress society, more Japanese people are turning to indulgent comfort foods and drinks as a reward for themselves. So-called "guilty" gourmet items -- rich meals that ignore calorie, fat and sugar levels -- are driving a…...
Japan FY 2025 auto sales fall 0.9% on weak Nissan, Honda, 1st drop in 4yrs
2+ day, 2+ hour ago (256+ words) April 1, 2026 (Mainichi Japan) TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Auto sales in Japan for the year ended March 2026 edged down 0.9 percent from a year earlier to 4.53 million units, marking the first decline in four years, industry data showed Wednesday. The drop reflected weak sales…...
Japan actor Hirosue to return from break after being fined over car crash
1+ day, 13+ hour ago (158+ words) April 2, 2026 (Mainichi Japan) TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Actor Ryoko Hirosue said Wednesday she will resume her activities this spring after taking time off following a car accident caused by negligent driving, for which she was fined 700,000 yen ($4,400). On her official website, Hirosue,…...