2+ hour, 32+ min ago  (891+ words) April 3, 2026 at 17:59 JST The same cherry tree-lined area of Tokyo's Ueno Park in 2002, left, and in 2026 (Jin Nishioka) Behind a number of Japan's beloved sakura viewing sites are volunteer groups taking steps to ensure the cherry trees in their neighborhoods'flourish…...

2+ hour, 40+ min ago  (507+ words) By YOSUKE FUKUDOME/ Staff Writer April 3, 2026 at 17:51 JST The Aeon Supercenter in Kurihara, Miyagi Prefecture, now offers a safe place for residents to exercise following a jump in bear encounters. (Yosuke Fukudome) KURIHARA, Miyagi Prefecture'A deadly surge in bear encounters…...

12+ hour, 31+ min ago  (1374+ words) April 3, 2026 at 08:00 JST not the end of the world yet another dandelion--Pippa Phillips (Greensboro, North Carolina) city park strollpassersby take selfies to postnarcissus bloom--Raj K. Bose (Honolulu, Hawaii) gaps in the tinesa perfectly zengarden--Lorraine A Padden (San Diego,…...

1+ day, 7+ hour ago  (351+ words) By TAKASHI YOSHIDA/ Staff Writer April 2, 2026 at 13:18 JST Tourists arrive at Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture in March. (Takashi Yoshida) Japan's two biggest airlines plan to raise fares for international flights from around June or July, reflecting the surge in…...

1+ day, 5+ hour ago  (70+ words) March 30, 2026 at 08:00 JST MILWAUKEE--Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox and Chase DeLauter of the Cleveland Guardians have accomplished something in the last week that had been done only twice before. [Read More] Summer updates: ANA to refit its…...

1+ day, 6+ hour ago  (75+ words) By KOICHIRO YOSHIDA/ Staff Writer March 30, 2026 at 13:21 JST An array of "hanami" (cherry blossom viewing) picnics are sprawled out beneath Yoyogi Park's Somei-yoshino cherry trees at peak bloom in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward on March 29. (Koichiro Yoshida) Summer updates: ANA to…...

2+ day, 7+ hour ago  (94+ words) By KOJI ODE/ Staff Writer April 1, 2022 at 19:15 JST Sumire Nakamura, a 2-dan go player, speaks at a news conference on March 31. (Koji Ode) Thirteen-year-old go prodigy Sumire Nakamura broke another record by becoming the youngest professional player to qualify to…...

2+ day, 3+ hour ago  (1005+ words) April 1, 2026 at 16:48 JST NARITA, Chiba Prefecture'Narita International Airport Corp. (NAA) is eyeing land expropriation for expansion, a move that may require delicate negotiations with residents to avoid a repeat of the chaos that erupted over similar measures. The airport operator…...

2+ day, 3+ hour ago  (370+ words) April 1, 2026 at 17:25 JST Japanese actor Tomohisa Yamashita, center, receives the Chevalier medal at a ceremony in Tokyo's Minato Ward on March 31. (Kazuhiro Nagashima) Japanese actor Tomohisa Yamashita was awarded the Chevalier rank of France's Order of Agricultural Merit on March…...

2+ day, 8+ hour ago  (65+ words) March 27, 2026 at 14:09 JST The doctor's name is Kyojo. He is exceptionally skilled, deeply compassionate, and endowed with a strong sense of justice, loyalty and moral courage. [Read More] Summer updates: ANA to refit its long-haul flights with new seats Spring…...