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.

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 synopsis and preview cuts for Episode 17 of the TV anime "The Apothecary Diaries," which will air on February 3rd (on Nippon Television Network, every Saturday from 24:55), have been unveiled. Set in the imperial harem full of rumors and conspiracies, the series follows the story of Maomao, a former apothecary girl (voiced by Aoi Yūki), and the stunning nobleman Jinshi (voiced by Takao Otsuka), who takes a liking to her, as they unravel a superb mystery.

Dengeki Online's serialized feature "Difficult-to-Read Kanji" challenges readers with a range of characters, from those so complex they're almost unimaginable, to seemingly simple ones that are surprisingly tricky to pronounce. The project is spearheaded by "Kyōji Yanagi," a humble calligrapher who lives with his cat. He'll continue to introduce kanji that might not be instantly readable, so let's all think about them together!

Rui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers led his team to victory against the Boston Celtics. Rui scored 15 points, making it his sixth consecutive game to score in the double digits.

Recently, a troubling issue has emerged in the nightlife industry: malicious host clubs coercing female clients into prostitution to pay off exorbitant debts. An investigation into the practices of these clubs reveals a disturbing pattern of psychological manipulation, often referred to as 'mind control.'

The manga volume "Seito Shidou no Yuri Sensei" by Okano Kuko was released today, February 2nd. The story follows Yuri Takeo Sensei, a high school student guidance counselor known to her students as "Gori-sensei" due to her intimidating appearance. Despite her fearsome reputation, Yuri Sensei has her own network of information and subtly supports the romantic endeavors of her students, acting as a cupid behind the scenes.

A Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) survey has revealed that half of the 140 regional railway operators are experiencing a shortage of train drivers, leading to an emergency meeting convened by 172 operators, including major companies, on Friday, February 2.

Amidst a backdrop of rising interest rates, calculations have shown that the cost of servicing Japan's national debt, including interest payments, is expected to increase by over 7 trillion yen in the next three years.

A 23-year-old boxer who suffered four knockdowns in a Japanese bantamweight title match last December has passed away two days after falling into a coma post-fight.

Tokyo's Ueno district has become home to one of the city's largest e-sports facilities, equipped with some of the fastest internet connections in the country, specifically designed for competitive computer gaming.

Konami Digital Entertainment has announced the establishment of an in-house studio, KONAMI animation, with the goal of venturing into the production of animated content. The tagline for KONAMI animation is "Adding KONAMI to ANIME," signifying the company's intent to pour all of its expertise in CG technology, know-how, and production environments, cultivated through years of video game development, into the realm of animation.

A video featuring the legendary active jockey Take Yutaka and his former rival, now trainer, Ebina Masayoshi made waves on social media on February 1st. This collaboration, part of Suntory's new commercial campaign for Coffee BOSS, showcases a unique blend of storytelling and music, with a glimpse into the enduring career of Take Yutaka, who has been in the saddle for 38 years.

The popular free-to-play online mahjong game "Mahjong Soul" has just launched a new event titled "The Wish of the White Dragon"! I, Neon, a Rank 3 mahjong expert currently in a bit of a rut, am already enjoying the game. It's not just mahjong; there's also an SLG (simulation game) element that adds to the excitement! The majestic lady at the top of the event page is the White Dragon herself. I wonder if she will make appearances elsewhere in the future...?

The Japan Nature Conservation Association revealed the results of its nationwide turtle survey on Thursday, February 1, with more than half the collected samples being the 'Red-Eared Slider,' as this invasive species continues to expand its habitat, while there are concerns over the declining population of the native Japanese Pond Turtle.

February 3rd marks Setsubun, traditionally associated with bean-throwing to ward off evil spirits. However, recent trends show an increasing number of people favoring the consumption of ehomaki, sushi rolls believed to bring good fortune.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! With Valentine's Day evolving from a tradition of women giving chocolates to men to an event enjoyed for oneself, brands that offer a unique world view and enjoyable visuals without necessarily being high-end chocolates have gained popularity. We've gathered three brands that will make you want to pick them up for yourself.

The final episode (Episode 12) of the anime "Heat the Pork Liver" will begin airing and streaming, from February 5th.