Starbucks Coffee Japan has announced the release of two new beverages, "Hanami Dango Frappuccino" and "Hanami Sakura Cream," available at Starbucks locations nationwide (with some exceptions) starting from Thursday, February 15, encapsulating the Japanese cherry blossom viewing experience.

SoftBank, a leading mobile operator in Japan, and Nvidia, a major American semiconductor company, are poised to establish a new industry group aimed at commercializing technology that distributes AI processing using mobile phone base stations. Approximately 10 companies worldwide, including telecommunications giants Ericsson and Nokia, are set to participate, with the goal of standardizing the technology globally.

A research group from the University of Tokyo and others has announced that squid, which are known to eject ink to confuse predators and escape, also use the ink in a courtship behavior to make themselves more conspicuous and appeal to females.

When ordering a drink at Starbucks Coffee, what kind of cup do you choose? Some people opt for the in-store mugs or glasses, while others bring their own tumblers from home. But what if you want to take your drink out and find carrying a tumbler inconvenient? Well, there's a new option available: "borrow a cup."

This month, it was revealed that a Japan Airlines passenger plane entered a taxiway different from the one instructed by air traffic controllers at San Diego Airport in the United States and crossed the stop line before the runway, prompting another passenger plane to go around during its landing attempt. Japan Airlines had also experienced an incident in November of last year at Seattle Airport in the United States, where a plane mistakenly entered a runway.

The yen weakened to the mid-150s against the dollar in the foreign exchange market, reaching a level last seen in November, approximately three months ago.

PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE, a seven-member dance and vocal group under LDH JAPAN, is currently making waves on TikTok with their track "Just Like Dat feat. JP THE WAVY," released on January 19th. The song, produced by JP THE WAVY, a leading solo rapper in Japan's hip-hop scene, features a dynamic beat and a unique sound that blends WAVY's individuality with the characteristic style of LDH.

On the final day of the three-day weekend, Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu City was bustling with visitors eagerly awaited Minnie's parade, marking the 40th anniversary celebrations of Tokyo Disney Resort drawing to a close. Many had booked hotels to fully enjoy the park over the holiday.

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) has initiated a trial at Ikebukuro Station and other locations, employing avatar robots remotely operated by station staff to assist passengers with ticket purchases and other inquiries.

In an effort to streamline the distribution of subsidies to low-income households, Japan's Digital Agency has commenced the provision of a new system that allows both residents and local governments to complete procedures entirely online.

The Hilltop Hotel in Chiyoda, Tokyo, cherished by esteemed literary figures like Yasunari Kawabata, Yukio Mishima, and Shōtarō Ikenami as their regular retreat, closed its doors on Monday for last time.

As Japan faces a critical shortfall of over 20,000 drivers, the bus industry has embarked on a novel initiative to address the issue: hire more women.

A group including a venture company originating from Meiji University has succeeded in producing a special breed of pigs, developed in the United States for the purpose of organ transplantation in humans, using cloning technology.

Tsuyoshi Domoto of the popular duo KinKi Kids made an appearance on their regular radio program "KinKi Kids Donnan Mon Ya!", where he spoke about the current state of his hearing. "The doctors have told me it won't return," said Domoto, referring to the sudden hearing loss he experienced in 2017.

Nissan Motor Co. has commenced the limited sale of "Michi-Bento," a lunchbox specifically designed for long drives. The project is supervised by the popular culinary expert, Mr. Kouken Tetsu. We had the opportunity to sample the "Michi-Bento (Western Japan Edition)" provided by Nissan and here is our review.

Actor Tsuyoshi Muro showcased his exceptional communication skills during his appearance on NHK General's travel and variety program "Tsurube's Family Toast," which aired on Monday, charming even the cows.

Last month, the Akutagawa Prize was awarded to "Tokyo Compassion Tower," making Kudan Rie a topic of global discussion due to her unique acceptance speech, revealing that about 5% of the novel utilized text generated by AI.

On the April 11th broadcast of "Beat Takeshi's TV Tackle" (TV Asahi), Beat Takeshi suggested measures to prevent the persistent problem of illegal dumping of hard rubbish. The program highlighted the issue of illegally dumped cars and boats moored without permission on the banks of the Mamagawa River, leading to a debate among the studio guests.

The first-ever "Dream Girls Cup," a women's sumo tournament supported by former yokozuna Hakuho's Miyagino stablemaster, was held in Tokyo, stirring excitement with participants from the earthquake-stricken area of Ishikawa Prefecture on the Noto Peninsula.

Tokyo has initiated a demonstration experiment using helicopters to address and identify the challenges facing the commercialization of "flying cars."

The Japan women's basketball team has clinched its spot in the Olympics for the third consecutive time, setting the stage for a thrilling participation in the Paris Games.

Former Nogizaka46 member Kana Nakada updates her Instagram on the 11th, showcasing off-shots from the 10th issue of "Young Magazine."

Convenience store chain Lawson is currently running a campaign called the "Lawson Extra Serving Challenge," where selected products are being sold with approximately 47% more content at the same price. The second phase of the campaign begins today, February 12, and tomorrow, February 13, with the introduction of more generously portioned products.

Himeka, a hostess at CLUB RAISE, part of the Ace Group in Kita-Shinchi, Osaka, updated her Instagram on February 11th to announce that she will be taking on the role of president of the company starting February 15th.

As winter approaches, a spotlight is cast on diabetes, a condition affecting millions, and the innovative measures being adopted to combat it.