1+ day, 8+ 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…...

14+ hour, 45+ min 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....

18+ hour, 44+ min 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…...

1+ day, 6+ 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…...

17+ hour, 15+ min 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,…...

1+ day, 17+ hour ago  (400+ words) April 1, 2026 (Mainichi Japan) KITAHIROSHIMA, Japan (Kyodo) -- Haruki Hosono became the 91st pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball to throw a no-hitter Tuesday as he struck out 12 to lead the Nippon Ham Fighters to a 9-0 victory over the Lotte Marines in the Pacific…...

1+ day, 8+ hour ago  (185+ words) April 1, 2026 (Mainichi Japan) KYIV (Kyodo) -- A Japanese drone technology company on Tuesday announced it has invested in a Ukrainian firm manufacturing and developing unmanned interceptor drones as their demand grows amid the Russian war in Ukraine and the U.S.-Israeli attack…...

1+ day, 8+ hour ago  (354+ words) April 1, 2026 (Mainichi Japan) TOKYO -- Bicycles are popular across generations in Japan, yet for many drivers they have long been considered "obstacles on the road" because of unpredictable movements and poor manners. The latest enforcement of traffic rules also requires drivers…...

1+ day, 11+ hour ago  (295+ words) April 1, 2026 (Mainichi Japan) TOKYO (Kyodo) -- ANA Holdings Inc. and Japan Airlines Co. are expected to raise fuel surcharges significantly on international flights from June, as aviation fuel prices surge amid the Middle East conflict, a source familiar with the matter…...

1+ day, 12+ hour ago  (606+ words) April 1, 2026 (Mainichi Japan) LONDON (Kyodo) -- Kaoru Mitoma scored the winner as Japan beat England for the first time in men's football on Tuesday, securing a memorable 1-0 victory at London's Wembley Stadium in an international friendly. In the final match before…...