The Japan News

April 19, 2025

Fukuoka: International Terminal Opens After Refurbishment Work; New Facilities Include Expanded Duty-Free Section

FUKUOKA — The international terminal building at Fukuoka Airport has opened after expansion and refurbishment work was recently completed.

The Japan News

April 19, 2025

Kagawa: Renovation of Kyukamura Resort Enhances Panoramic Views of Seto Inland Sea; Preparing for Increase in International Tourists

SAKAIDE, Kagawa — The Sanuki Goshikidai Kyukamura National Park Resort, nestled on the scenic Goshikidai plateau in Kagawa Prefecture, has r...

The Japan News

April 19, 2025

CARTOON OF THE DAY (April 19)

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The Japan News

April 19, 2025

Japan Tourism: Wakasa Railway in Tottori Pref. Evokes Showa Era, with 23 Facilities Built around Time of Its Opening in 1930

At Wakasa Railway in Tottori Prefecture, 23 facilities built around the time of its opening in 1930, such as wooden station buildings and ma...

The Japan News

April 19, 2025

Shiga: Pictures of Cats Mourning Buddha’s Death Created at Temple; Cats Are Not Usually Depicted in Such Images

NAGAHAMA, Shiga — A temple in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, has created pictures featuring cats mourning the death of Buddha that have visitor...

The Japan News

April 18, 2025

Neko Pitcher

The fastballing feline is showing his best stuff on our online pitcher’s mound! His turn in the rotation comes every Saturday in the print e...

The Japan News

April 18, 2025

Setouchi Triennale 2025 Opens Across Seto Inland Sea Islands; Hundreds of Art Pieces to Go on Display

The Setouchi Triennale 2025, a contemporary art festival held once every three years on 11 islands and other venues across the Seto Inland S...

The Japan News

April 18, 2025

CARTOON OF THE DAY (April 18)

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The Japan News

April 18, 2025

Cherry Blossoms Start to Bloom at Tatehana Park in Hachinohe in Aomori Pref.; Peak Expected Next Week

HACHINOHE, Aomori — Someiyoshino cherry blossoms of a specimen tree were confirmed to be blooming on Wednesday at Tatehana Park in Hachinohe...

The Japan News

April 17, 2025

Ito Marine Town Celebrates 50 Million Visitors; ‘Gateway to Izu’ Commemorates Milestone With Traditional Dance Performance, Free Sweets

ITO, Shizuoka — A ceremony was held on March 29 at the Ito Marine Town roadside rest area in Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, to commemorate the fa...

The Japan News

April 17, 2025

Akita Sake Brewery Welcomes Sake Enthusiasts into Cellar as Part of Katagami City Event

KATAGAMI, Akita — Sake enthusiasts flocked to Kodama Brewing Co., a Japanese sake brewery in Katagami, Akita Prefecture, as it opened its ce...

The Japan News

April 17, 2025

Cherry Blossoms Welcome Spring in Japan’s Yamagata Pref.; Colorful Season Excitedly Embraced in Snowy Region

YAMAGATA — The bitterly cold winter has come to an end, heavy snowfall is no longer a concern and cherry blossoms have reached their peak in...

The Japan News

April 17, 2025

Terraced Paddies Reflect the Sky in Chiba Pref.; Flooded Paddies Being Prepped for Rice Planting

Terraced rice paddies reflect the sky in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture, on Wednesday. The Oyama Senmaida paddies are among the 100 most scenic...

The Japan News

April 17, 2025

CARTOON OF THE DAY (April 17)

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The Japan News

April 16, 2025

Late-Blooming Cherry Blossoms in Top Form in Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture

YAMANASHI — Someiyoshino cherry blossoms are at their best on the shores of Lake Kawaguchi in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture. Due to...

The Japan News

April 16, 2025

Mid-20th Century Shopping Street in Tokyo Soon to be Demolished; Shops, Atmosphere Evokes Nostalgic Feelings

Lined with various stores and evoking memories of the Showa era (1926-1989), a shopping street in Tokyo’s Katsushika Ward is slated to be de...

The Japan News

April 16, 2025

Cherry Blossoms Start to Blooming in Akita, Japan

Someiyoshino cherry trees started blooming in Akita, the Akita Meteorological Office announced Tuesday.

The Japan News

April 16, 2025

Azaleas Started to Bloom at Nezu Shrine in Tokyo; Visitors Enjoy Viewing about 100 Varieties of Brightly Colored Plant at ‘Bunkyo Azalea Festival’

Azaleas are starting to bloom at Nezu Shrine in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo.

The Japan News

April 16, 2025

CARTOON OF THE DAY (April 16)

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The Japan News

April 15, 2025

Cherry Blossoms Begin to Bloom 5 Days Later Than Last Year in Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture

KITAKAMI, Iwate — Someiyoshino cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom in Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture, a local group said Monday.

The Japan News

April 15, 2025

CARTOON OF THE DAY (April 15)

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The Japan News

April 15, 2025

Yamagata’s Cherry Blossoms Are Now in Full Bloom, Four Days Earlier than Usual, Four Days Later than the Previous Year.

YAMAGATA — Cherry blossoms have come into full bloom in Yamagata, the Yamagata Meteorological Office announced Monday. It was four days earl...

The Japan News

April 14, 2025

Giant Cherry Blossom Tree Resembling Waterfall Draws Visitors to Fukushima Pref. Town; Tree Believed to be Over 1,000 Years Old

FUKUSHIMA — A giant cherry blossom tree that resembles a pink waterfall is now in full bloom, captivating the hearts of visitors to the town...

The Japan News

April 14, 2025

Body of Nursery School Teacher Found on Miyagi Coast; Possible Murder Case as Body Shows External Injuries to Chest

The Miyagi Prefectural Police received a call from a passer-by at around 10:10 on Sunday morning reporting that a person had been found lyin...

The Japan News

April 14, 2025

Peruvian Author Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel Literature Laureate, Dies at 89

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel literature laureate and a giant of Latin American letters for many decades, has...

The Japan News

April 14, 2025

58,000 Elderly People Died Alone at Home in Japan in 2024

Tokyo, April 14 (Jiji Press)—The National Police Agency has said that 58,044 elderly people living alone died at home in Japan in 2024, disc...

The Japan News

April 14, 2025

2025 Expo Osaka: Expo Opens amid Challenges, Hopes

Osaka, April 13 (Jiji Press)—Challenges and hopes marked Sunday’s opening of the 2025 World Exposition in the western Japan city of Osaka.

The Japan News

April 13, 2025

More Foreign Tourists Flock to Anime Sites Across Japan

A growing number of foreign tourists are visiting locations featured in Japanese anime.

The Japan News

April 13, 2025

Charming Cat-Themed Wooden Benches Unveiled in Onomichi, Hiroshima, Enhance City’s Feline-Friendly Image

ONOMICHI, Hiroshima — Three new wooden benches featuring cat-inspired designs have debuted in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, widely known a...

The Japan News

April 13, 2025

2025 Expo Osaka: Expo Venue Exclusively Uses Cashless Payments; Visitors Advised to Refrain from Bringing Large Baggage

As the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo kicked off, visitors should be aware of numerous guidelines for the event. One regulation is that cash is not...

The Japan News

April 13, 2025

Baby Capybaras ‘High’ and ‘Ball’ Popular at Shizuoka Zoo; Two More Cute Companions Not Yet Named

HIGASHI-IZU, Shizuoka — Four baby capybaras born at Izu Animal Kingdom, a zoo in Higashi-Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, are attracting the attent...

The Japan News

April 13, 2025

Ehime Castle Town Turns Traditional Japanese Houses into Hotels to Preserve Townscape, Attract Tourism

OZU, Ehime — The city of Ozu in Ehime Prefecture, which retains the atmosphere of a castle town from the Edo period (1603-1867), is becoming...

The Japan News

April 13, 2025

2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo Opens, Draws Crowds; Visitors Flock to Attractions

OSAKA — The 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo opened to the public on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay on Sunday with many visitors floc...

The Japan News

April 13, 2025

Expo 2025 Osaka: Osaka-Kansai Expo Kicks off Amid Lingering Concerns; Test Run Revealed Issues with Long Lines, Risk of Heatstroke

OSAKA — The 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo opened on Sunday with operational issues coming to light during a rehearsal just before the launch. It is...

The Japan News

April 13, 2025

2025 Expo Osaka: Event Also for Business Networking; Discovering Demand in Overseas Markets

World Expos bring together a large number of people from various countries over a six-month period, and the events have come to be seen as a...

The Japan News

April 13, 2025

Deep-Fried Turban Shell Is Crisp, Chewy and Soft in Each Bite

Turban shells are often cooked in their own shells or eaten raw. Kanako Wakimoto, the owner of a Japanese restaurant, cuts the organs and fl...

The Japan News

April 13, 2025

Frustrated That I See No Path to University, Having Cared for my Father in His Final Days

I’m a man in my early 20s. I live with my mother while working part-time. I was born and raised in a South American country and graduated fr...

The Japan News

April 13, 2025

4,000 Cherry Blossom Trees at Their Peak against Snow-Capped Mountains in Japan’s Matsumoto City

MATSUMOTO, Nagano — About 4,000 cherry trees were seen at their peak on Saturday on an ancient tomb against a view of the snow-capped Northe...

The Japan News

April 13, 2025

Cherry Blossom, Tulips, Snow-Capped Mountains Seen Together in Japan’s Toyama Pref.; Town’s ‘Spring Quartet’ Almost Complete

ASAHI, Toyama — Tourists on Saturday enjoyed the view of cherry blossoms and tulips in full bloom alongside the snow-capped Northern Alps in...

The Japan News

April 13, 2025

Enduring Verbal Abuse, Longing for Release from Full-Time Motherhood; Son Tells Me to ‘Go to Hell’

I’m a woman in my mid-40s who works in customer service. I live with my husband, two junior high school children and my father-in-law. I’m w...

The Japan News

April 12, 2025

Israel Plans to Display Ancient Stone from Jerusalem at Osaka-Kansai Expo; Palestinian Side Opposes Idea, to File Objection with Japan Govt

Israel plans to display an ancient building stone from the Old City of Jerusalem at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, which will open on Sunday in...

The Japan News

April 12, 2025

Cherry Blossoms in Full Glory at Japan’s Takato Castle Park; Deep Red Flowers Blooming on About 1,500 Trees

INA, Nagano – The famed Takato-kohigan cherry trees at Takato Castle Site Park in Ina, Nagano Prefecture, often hailed as the finest cherrie...

The Japan News

April 12, 2025

CARTOON OF THE DAY (April 12)

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The Japan News

April 12, 2025

Illuminated Usuzumi-Zakura Cherry Blossom Tree in Japan’s Gifu Pref. Leaves People in Awe

MOTOSU, Gifu — The cherry blossom tree Usuzumi-zakura, which is designated as a national natural monument, has reached full bloom in Motosu,...

The Japan News

April 12, 2025

Fukuoka: Circus Elephants Join Firefighting Drill at Shopping Mall in Kitakyushu

KITAKYUSHU — Two circus elephants joined local Kitakyushu firefighters in a drill on March 24.

The Japan News

April 12, 2025

Japan Spring Welcomes Visitors with Cherry Blossoms at Narita Airport; Koi Colorfully Contrast Pale Pink Petals

NARITA, Chiba – Weeping cherry trees are in full bloom at the garden in front of Narita Airport Terminal 1, offering a delightful first glim...

The Japan News

April 12, 2025

Osaka: Giant Version of Iconic Mascot Set Up in Dotonbori; Moving 3D Signboard Catches Eyes of Tourists

OSAKA — Kuidaore Taro, the iconic drumming mascot in Osaka’s Dotonbori area, can now be seen popping out of a giant sign on the newly renova...

The Japan News

April 12, 2025

Heirs to Kyoto Talent: Noh Masks Carver Gives Deep Expression to Face of Japanese Art Form

KYOTO — Noh mask carver Keiko Udaka is breathing new life into a block of wood from a 200-year-old Japanese cypress tree. In her quiet works...

The Japan News

April 11, 2025

Neko Pitcher

The fastballing feline is showing his best stuff on our online pitcher’s mound! His turn in the rotation comes every Saturday in the print e...

The Japan News

April 11, 2025

Tokyo Police on High Alert Ahead of Opening of Osaka-Kansai Expo; Officials Cautious over Possibility of Lone Offenders, Cyberattacks

Ahead of the opening Sunday of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, police authorities plan to mobilize more officers to boost security. As the event is s...