KDDI announced on October 28th that it will begin operating a new data center in late January 2026 at the site of the former Sharp factory in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture.

The Japan Mobility Show opened on October 29th, marking the start of Japan’s premier automotive exhibition, where foreign manufacturers are stepping up their entry into the country’s growing electric vehicle (EV) market.

More homebuyers in Japan are turning to ultra-long housing loans, with some mortgages now stretching as long as 50 years as buyers try to keep monthly payments down in the face of sharply higher construction costs.

Kyoto, long celebrated as Japan’s iconic autumn destination, is now facing a striking shift in its tourism landscape. In the city’s most famous spots, foreign tourists far outnumber Japanese visitors, raising questions about over-tourism and the city’s future balance between hospitality and livability.

A cosplayer dressed as a popular female character became the target of a malicious deepfake—his image was manipulated by generative AI to depict him in underwear. The victim, who is actually a man, said he was mistaken for a woman and found images of himself altered into R18 content circulating online.

Osaka City has decided to stop accepting new applications for “special zone minpaku” lodging facilities at the end of May 2026 following a sharp rise in neighborhood disputes over noise and garbage disposal.

Japan's nationwide consumer price index excluding volatile fresh food rose 2.9% in September from a year earlier, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry announced on October 23rd. The pace of increase slightly expanded from August’s 2.7%, maintaining close to a 3% growth rate amid continued price hikes in food and other daily necessities.

Once considered the “model of price stability” at the Japanese table, eggs are now facing another crisis. The price of eggs, a staple ingredient used daily across the country, has surged once again, prompting concern among both businesses and consumers.

Cold air brought Japan its lowest temperatures of the season on October 22nd, with even northern plains in Hokkaido blanketed by snow.

The number of foreign visitors to Japan surpassed 30 million in the fastest time ever, according to data released by the Japan National Tourism Organization. A total of 31.65 million people visited the country between January and September 2025, breaking the 30 million mark earlier in the year than ever before.

Temperatures soared past 30°C across parts of Kyushu and Okinawa on October 16th, with 90 locations recording midsummer-like conditions despite it being mid-October, while much of eastern Japan experienced a sharp autumn chill.

SoftBank is ramping up its ambitions in the artificial intelligence sector, committing vast sums of capital and striking major strategic deals as part of an aggressive bid to position itself at the center of the AI revolution.

Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly decided on October 14th to replace its traditional 18-karat gold member badges with gold-plated ones, in response to soaring gold prices that recently hit a record high.

There’s a new story unfolding in Japanese sports -- one that you won’t always see in the headlines.

Production of Japan’s familiar 50cc motorized bicycles — a popular choice for short trips and errands — will come to an end in October, prompting a surge in demand as consumers scramble to purchase the last available models.

Japan’s new administration under Liberal Democratic Party President Takaichi faces its first major diplomatic test: an inaugural summit with President Trump, expected on October 28. How that meeting unfolds—and how Takaichi responds if Trump presses Japan to lift defense outlays to 3.5% of GDP—will shape Tokyo’s security posture. With Beijing wary of Takaichi’s stance, the trajectory of Japan–China relations is also in focus.

Bear attacks are intensifying across Japan, with fatalities in fiscal 2025 already matching the record high set in 2023. Experts warn that the rise reflects not only an increase in bear numbers but also changes in human society that have blurred the line between mountain habitats and residential areas.

Collectors and growers in Australia have long been limited by availability. Import restrictions, shifting regulations, and supply gaps have made sourcing quality seeds a challenge.

Elementary and junior high school teachers in Japan still work the longest hours among their peers worldwide, according to an OECD report released on Tuesday. While the 2024 results by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showed working hours had fallen by around four hours per week compared with the previous survey in 2018, Japan’s teachers still far exceeded their global counterparts.

Household spending in Japan rose 2.3% in August from a year earlier, marking the fourth consecutive month of increase, according to data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

A hotel construction plan in the rural wasabi-growing area of Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, has sparked strong opposition from local residents who fear it will damage the landscape and threaten the region’s iconic wasabi fields.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media to congratulate Japan following the selection of its first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, writing that "Japan has just elected its first female Prime Minister, a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength.” While Trump did not name Takaichi directly, his post came as she assumed leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and was set to be formally elected as prime minister.

A Spanish tourist was attacked by a bear while visiting Shirakawa-go, the UNESCO World Heritage village in Gifu Prefecture known for its traditional thatched-roof houses, on October 5th. The incident adds to a growing number of bear encounters reported across Japan in recent weeks.

Nikkei stock prices soared on October 6th after Takaichi was elected as the new president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), with the benchmark index surging more than 2,100 yen at one point and surpassing the 47,000 range for the first time in history.

A string of so-called “honey trap” cases is drawing attention across Japan as schemes once limited to extortion have become increasingly violent, involving physical assaults and life-threatening intimidation.