Concordia Financial Group, which will change its name to Yokohama Financial Group in October, is seeking to reinforce its identity as a strong regional bank group centered on Yokohama Bank. President Tatsuya Kataoka, who also serves as head of Yokohama Bank, discussed the strategy behind the rebranding, the group's structural reforms, and its ambitions for stronger financial performance during a joint interview with Nikkei Financial.

Every year, the “Salaryman Senryu” competition captures the mood of the times through humorous verse, and this year’s top ten results were announced on May 29th.

"Please let me die with dignity." This was a social media post believed to have been written by a woman suffering from ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease, before she was killed in 2019 at her own request. The case, in which two doctors were arrested and tried, ignited a national debate on euthanasia in Japan—specifically, the ethical and legal implications of assisting the terminally ill to end their lives.

Concerns are growing among Japanese students following reports that the U.S. government under the Trump administration has ordered a halt to new bookings for student visa interviews, potentially impacting those planning to study in the United States.

Prime Minister Ishiba met with Montenegrin Prime Minister Spajic in Tokyo on May 28th during the latter’s official visit to Japan, marking what both leaders described as a historic occasion.

Japan’s leading industrial and electronics firms are accelerating efforts to commercialize next-generation batteries, with Toyota, Toshiba, TDK, and China’s CATL unveiling advanced technologies that promise breakthroughs in performance, safety, and supply chain resilience.

NTT Docomo is set to acquire major online bank Sumishin SBI Net Bank as it prepares to enter the banking sector, marking a significant shift for the mobile carrier as it looks to catch up with rivals in the growing financial services space.

The newly announced price of 1,800 yen per 5 kilograms for low-cost rice has sparked strong interest across the Kansai region, with public agencies and retailers moving quickly to secure supplies amid growing consumer demand for affordable staple foods.

Naha is the gate city for Okinawa vacation. It's not a place with beautiful beaches, but it's great base for traveling across Okinawa main island and other islands. Naha also has charm that you can explore, without getting a rental car. (Tokyo Kenchan)

Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s first Digital Minister known for advancing civic participation through technology, visited Japan to share insights on digital democracy. At a Tokyo event, Tang joined University of Tokyo professor Yutaka Matsuo, a leading expert in artificial intelligence, and Katsuya Uenoyama, CEO of AI developer PKSHA Technology, for a wide-ranging discussion on how AI can reshape democratic systems.

Tokyo police have arrested four more suspects in connection with an extortion scheme that used a matchmaking app designed for people with disabilities to lure victims to a bar and demand excessive payments.

Japan’s first law dedicated specifically to artificial intelligence has been passed by the Upper House of the Diet, with the so-called AI Promotion Law formally enacted in May.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has temporarily halted new applications for discretionary contracts to purchase rice from government reserves, Agriculture Minister Koizumi announced on May 27th. The decision comes after applications for 2022-harvest rice reached the quota limit of 200,000 tons.

Mercari, a major player in Japan’s flea market app industry, announced new countermeasures this week to address the growing number of disputes occurring between buyers and sellers as more people turn to secondhand marketplaces.

Scallop prices are soaring across Japan as poor harvests send shockwaves through production areas and seafood retailers, with wholesalers and restaurants warning of a prolonged crisis brought on by a string of environmental disasters.

A historic ryokan in the Ureshino hot spring area of Saga Prefecture has turned its former banquet hall into a Japanese language school, aiming to secure its future by training foreign workers. Roughly 40 students from Nepal and Pakistan are currently enrolled, studying Japanese and etiquette while working part-time at the inn or nearby farms.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is once again accusing Japan of deliberately weakening the yen to boost its exports, claiming the government is guiding the currency downward in a move reminiscent of the 1985 Plaza Accord.

Japan’s net foreign assets hit a record high at the end of last year, but the country has fallen from the top global position for the first time in 34 years, according to data released by the Ministry of Finance.

Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi announced that 19 companies have applied to purchase a total of 90,824 tons of government reserve rice under a discretionary contract framework. He added that distribution could begin as early as May 29th, with sales expected to start in stores during the first week of June.

Nissan has unveiled the latest model of its proprietary hybrid system, e-POWER, by showcasing the updated Qashqai equipped with the technology. The company says it has significantly improved fuel efficiency during high-speed driving—an area that had previously been seen as a challenge.

A popular Japanese health management app known as Asken has removed a scoring anomaly that users affectionately dubbed the “Jiro Bug”—a glitch that awarded disproportionately high health scores to meals including Jiro-style ramen.

Emojis have evolved into a shared shorthand for emotion and intent, shaping not only how people text, but how they relate to one another online. Now, as NTT Docomo prepares to retire its original emoji set after 26 years, it marks the end of a uniquely Japanese chapter in the global story of digital expression.

As major corporations like Panasonic move to reduce headcounts, a quiet revolution is underway among Japan’s younger workers: the rise of quiet quitting.

Children increasingly face exposure to inappropriate online ads even when accessing seemingly harmless websites such as cooking or game guides. In one notable case reported in March, users who opened a recipe site to cook with their children were startled by sudden sexually suggestive advertisements.

As rice prices hit historic highs, the government is moving to counter rising costs by offering reserve rice to major retailers at a target price of around 2,000 yen for 5 kilograms, Agriculture Minister Koizumi announced on May 26th.