Wisata menonton lumba-lumba liar yang populer di Semenanjung Noto dihentikan sementara karena dampak gempa bumi, tetapi para pemandu wisata tanpa kenal lelah berusaha untuk melanjutkannya kembali. Satomi Sakashita memulai tur mengamati lumba-lumba pada tahun 2005, menarik hampir 4.000 peserta setiap tahunnya sebelum pandemi. Namun, gempa bumi membuat keberlangsungan wisata ini menjadi tidak menentu.

A new series of the mega-hit work that sold over 46 million copies, "The Silent Don: Another Final Chapter," depicting the world 10 years after "The Silent Don," will be released on February 15th.

The Kitakyushu edition of the travel guidebook series "The Globe-Trotter's Guide" was released on February 1st, marking a first as it dedicates an entire edition to a single city rather than a prefecture or region. This pioneering edition focuses exclusively on a city, featuring about 400 pages of detailed information on Kitakyushu’s attractions, gourmet spots, and local celebrities like the flamboyantly dressed Miyabi who gained international attention last year.

In an innovative approach to expansion, fast-food chain Burger King is set to launch the "Let's Build Burger King" campaign, inviting the public to assist in identifying vacant properties suitable for new outlets. Contributors whose suggestions lead to a new store will be rewarded with 100,000 yen.

The highly anticipated film "Path of Justice" has been announced to hit theaters on Saturday, April 27, 2024. With a substantial running time of 158 minutes, this Japanese production promises to deliver an impactful cinematic experience.

Festival Salju Sapporo telah dimulai, dan para wisatawan telah menikmati pemandangan pahatan es dan salju di Taman Odori dan beberapa lokasi lainnya.

A heavy snow warning has been issued in Tokyo as snow began to fall across the 23 wards of Tokyo in the afternoon, leading to multiple accidents. Japan's Meteorological Agency says, "The peak of the heavy snow is expected to end late tonight, but caution is advised across a wide area tomorrow morning due to expected low temperatures, snow accumulation, and road icing, which could cause transportation disruptions."

Multi-talented artist Hiroyuki Oizumi, known for his work as an actor, singer, and host, held his live "50th Birthday Celebration! Recital Tour Final" on February 2nd at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan. This marked Oizumi's first-ever performance at Budokan, thrilling the 13,000 attendees. "Budokan is indeed intimidating," he commented excitedly.

The "Study Shogi" beginner's shogi set is now available for purchase on Rakuten for 4,950 yen ⇒ 3,920 yen (tax included). This is the shogi set that even the young Shogi sensation, Sota Fujii Ryuo & Meijin, reportedly used as a child, designed for beginners to easily start playing and quickly learn the rules while having fun.

As concerns mount over aging infrastructure across Japan, six major companies including JR West, the NTT Group, and megabanks have decided to launch a new business to support local governments, by encouraging cooperation between multiple municipalities and assisting with fundraising.

This spring's labor negotiations will see labor unions of three major steel companies, members of the Basic Industry Workers' Federation, compile a policy proposal demanding wage increases of about 30,000 yen per month, which amounts to a base pay raise equivalent and marks the highest level in nearly 50 years.

Makoto Ojiro, known for "Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia," has launched a new manga series titled "Hoshino-kun, Shitagatte!" in the February 5th issue of "Weekly Big Comic Spirits" 2024 No. 10, published by Shogakukan. The story begins with Hoshino, a member of the baseball club, encountering a crying girl while picking up baseballs. It is described as an "absolute obedience" romantic comedy between a "kind-hearted but slightly timid boy" and a "mysterious and elusive girl."

The musical "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" featuring the fifth generation members of Nogizaka46 as the main cast is set to be performed in Tokyo this April. This musical is based on Naoko Takeuchi's manga "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon," which was serialized in "Nakayoshi" magazine (Kodansha).

At the 66th Grammy Awards held on the 5th (Japan time) at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, American singer Taylor Swift, who won one of the major categories, 'Album of the Year,' mentioned her upcoming world tour performance in Tokyo during her acceptance speech.

A special new installment of "Eyeshield 21," titled "Eyeshield 21 BRAIN×BRAVE," has been released for free on Jump+. This new one-shot celebrates the 21st anniversary of "Eyeshield 21," the popular manga series created by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by Yusuke Murata. Fans of the series can now enjoy this festive one-shot at no cost on the Jump+ platform.

In December 2023, Chef Tomoyoshi Wakiya, known as the "Iron Chef of Chinese Cuisine," opened an entirely new type of Chinese restaurant in Ginza. At 65, the master of Chinese cuisine continues to embrace challenges, though he reflects on his past saying, "I was never outstanding in anything, just an ordinary person without any particular dreams." His path in culinary arts was determined by his father, a fortune teller, who believed "Tomoyoshi is accompanied by the god of food."

Tokyo Disneyland is set to host the second installment of its special event series, "Disney's Party Palooza," from April 9 (Tuesday) to June 30 (Sunday), titled "Donald's Quacky Duck City." The second phase of "Disney's Party Palooza" features Donald Duck as the star. The event series, themed around having fun and playing with friends, derives its name from the combination of "Pal," meaning friends, and "Palooza," signifying a lively party.

Yuichi Nakamaru of the pop group KAT-TUN appeared on the "Majissuka" segment of the Nippon Television network show "Shuichi," broadcast on the 4th (every Sunday morning from 7:30 am). He engaged in a special conversation with Gosho Aoyama, the creator of "Detective Conan." Aoyama revealed behind-the-scenes stories of "Detective Conan," a manga series that began serialization in Weekly Shonen Sunday in 1994 and is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024.

Annually, Osaka attracts around 10 million foreign tourists, boasting popular destinations like Osaka Castle and Universal Studios Japan. A follow-up at the tourist information centers in Osaka reveals these hotspots are just the beginning for travelers.

In the aftermath of the Noto Peninsula earthquake, a French chef who once earned a Michelin star has been providing disaster relief cooking in Suzu City, Ishikawa. Norio Kawamoto, currently a restaurant owner in Kanazawa, has taken to the home economics classroom of a school turned evacuation center to prepare a variety of colorful meals for the displaced.

Yui Sakurai, a member of the rising idol group FRUITS ZIPPER, is set to release her first photobook titled 'YUi' on February 20th. The announcement comes after the group's recent success, including winning the Best New Artist Award at the "Japan Record Awards" broadcasted on TBS on December 30, 2023, and their upcoming two-day solo concert at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan in May this year.

In an unusual move, the Japanese Embassy in the United States has issued a statement confirming that popular singer Taylor Swift will be able to attend the Super Bowl in Las Vegas the day after her concert in Tokyo.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, 29, made a highly anticipated appearance at the team's Fan Fest, receiving a warm welcome amidst loud cheers from a stadium adorned in Dodger blue. Ohtani shared his feelings on donning Dodgers' colors: "Seeing the blue, it feels like a stark contrast to the Angels' red. It’s finally hitting me that I’ve made the move."

The 45th Yokohama Film Festival Awards Ceremony took place today, February 4th, at the Kannai Hall in Kanagawa, with Ren Meguro (Snow Man) and Mayu Hotta ascending the stage as recipients of the Best New Artist Award. Ren Meguro, who won the Best New Artist Award at the 45th Yokohama Film Festival for his roles in "My Happy Marriage" and "The Wax and Wane of the Moon," expressed his gratitude, "I'm truly happy to receive this award at a film festival that was started by local movie enthusiasts. Thank you very much."

The Sapporo Snow Festival has commenced, with tourists already enjoying the ice and snow sculptures at Odori Park and other locations.