A video report has been released from the All Tokyo Photographers Federation covering its New Year special studio swimsuit photo shoot held on January 18th, 2026.

Two foreign nationals have been arrested and indicted for allegedly smuggling an illegal drug known as “zombie cigarettes” into Japan through Kansai Airport, marking the first time a case involving the substance has been uncovered in Osaka, authorities said on January 20th.

The handheld digital pet “Tamagotchi,” first released in 1996, is marking its 30th anniversary with a special event now being held in Tokyo. The anniversary celebration is taking place in Roppongi, where visitors can immerse themselves in the world of Tamagotchi through themed rooms, including areas where fans can meet popular characters, as well as a lineup of cute, photogenic food inspired by the franchise.

Today, we explore the January performances by young actors at the Asakusa Kōkaidō in Tokyo! (Kabuki In-Depth)

One of Japan’s largest fishing events, the “Tsurifes” fishing festival, opened in Yokohama on January 16th, drawing a record turnout of more than 250 related companies from across the country.

Newly arrived in London, all Lili wants is directions. Instead, she's offered charcoal-stained bread from a rude man. Will she ever find her feet? (Netflix Anime)

Hiroshi Kume, a leading figure in Japanese television as both a program host and news anchor, has died at the age of 81, his agency announced. His wife, Reiko, said he “remained true to himself to the very end,” while fellow performers including Tetsuko Kuroyanagi expressed their sorrow at his passing.

Let's have a look at the performances by Ichikawa Danjūrō XIII this January at the Shinbashi Enbujō in Tokyo! (Kabuki In-Depth)

An illumination artwork under construction for the annual Kobe Luminarie light festival was found toppled at the venue in Kobe on the morning of January 11th, apparently after being hit by strong winds, with no injuries reported and organizers saying the event will proceed as scheduled.

An exhibition tracing the history of popular idol group AKB48 through its stage costumes is being held at the Daimaru Umeda department store in Osaka, marking 20 years since the group’s formation.

Geiko and maiko gathered on January 7th for a traditional work-opening ceremony known as the “shigyo-shiki” at the Kaburenjo theater in Gion Kobu, one of Kyoto’s five historic hanamachi, marking the formal start of their professional year.

Tourism industry leaders gathered in Naha to mark the start of the new year, as Okinawa’s visitor numbers continue to climb to unprecedented levels. The number of tourists entering Okinawa in fiscal 2025 is expected to exceed 10 million for the first time, setting a new record. With further growth anticipated, executives across the sector shared their outlook for 2026.

Tsukuyomi is a virtual space of hopes and dreams. The curtain rises on a stage on which young girls share fleeting encounters. (Netflix Anime)

In many parts of the world, digital entertainment didn’t arrive through living-room consoles or high-end computers—it arrived in a pocket.

Oriental Land, which operates Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, announced on January 6 that the combined cumulative number of visitors to the two parks has reached 900 million.

The Tokyo Fire Department held its annual New Year firefighting ceremony, known as the dezome-shiki, a traditional event aimed at promoting fire prevention and disaster preparedness, during which firefighters demonstrated ladder-climbing techniques that date back to the Edo period and reflect the city’s historic fire brigade culture.

The Hankyu Takarazuka Line is notable for having an unusually large number of stations named after shrines and temples, a feature that reflects a distinctive approach to railway-led urban development in Japan.

Japan’s professional baseball business continues to evolve, with teams increasingly adopting aggressive strategies to expand revenue beyond the game itself.

The Philippines and Southeast Asia have created a vibrant sporting scene where heat, noise, and passion rise together like steam from a street court at dusk.

Today, we have a look at a masterpiece of the jidaimono ("history play") genre in kabuki, Hōgen Sanryaku no Maki ("Kiichi Hōgen and the Book of Strategy"), first performed in kabuki in 1731, at the Kado no Shibai in Osaka. (Kabuki In-Depth)

Kickstart your year of anime:
Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku Season 2
Love Through a Prism
Cosmic Princess Kaguya!
Record of Ragnarok III
100 METERS
ONE PIECE Whole Cake Island (Netflix Anime)

The draw for Japan’s year-end Jumbo Lottery, offering a combined top prize of 1 billion yen including front and back prizes, was held on December 31 at Tokyo Opera City in Shinjuku, with around 1,000 spectators watching anxiously as the numbers were revealed.

In this third video in the series, we explore the kabuki world during the final months of the year 1925. (Kabuki In-Depth)

Actor Ryo Yoshizawa spoke about the global reception of his latest film Kokuho, its bid for the Academy Awards, and what he believes defines true success, in an interview following a screening in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Japan’s flagship luxury cruise ship Asuka II, measuring 241 meters in length and featuring 436 guest rooms, made a port call at Osaka Port, offering a rare glimpse inside one of the world’s most acclaimed cruise liners. The vessel has been ranked first for 31 consecutive years in the Cruise Ship of the Year reader poll conducted by Cruise magazine, standing out among roughly 300 ships worldwide.