A growing sense of fatigue with dating apps is prompting a shift back to face-to-face encounters, with a new “presentation-style” matchmaking format gaining attention as friends take on the role of introducing potential partners.

SoftBank, NEC, Honda, and Sony Group have jointly established a new company aimed at developing domestically produced artificial intelligence, as Japan seeks to regain competitiveness in the rapidly advancing global AI sector.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will withdraw from Antarctic research vessel operations after nearly six decades, with private-sector entities expected to take over following the retirement of the icebreaker Shirase in fiscal 2034.

The Japanese government approved a bill on April 10th to revise the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, aiming to classify crypto assets such as Bitcoin as financial products subject to regulation.

The number of people in Japan planning overnight domestic trips during the Golden Week holidays is expected to rise 1.7% from the previous year to 23.9 million, according to estimates by JTB, as higher prices drive growing demand for shorter trips closer to home.

A growing shortage of products derived from naphtha is beginning to affect everyday industries, as instability surrounding supply routes linked to tensions involving Iran raises concerns across Japan’s economy.

SoftBank has launched a new service enabling smartphones to connect directly to SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, aiming to ensure reliable communication even during disasters.

Humanoid AI robots, evolving at an astonishing pace, are now demonstrating not only remarkable athletic ability but also increasingly delicate and humanlike movements, as the latest generation of machines begins to move closer to everyday life.

In November 2025, a major development shook Japan’s food service industry when U.S. financial giant Goldman Sachs acquired all shares of BK Japan Holdings, which runs Burger King’s Japan operations, for 80 billion yen.

Members of the globally renowned hard rock band Deep Purple paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on April 10th during their visit to Japan.

Heavy oil prices have doubled over the past six months, placing mounting pressure on Japan’s green tea producers and transport sectors as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on April 10th that the government will release an additional 20 days’ worth of national oil reserves in an effort to ease supply bottlenecks.

Honda announced it will launch a new compact electric vehicle designed to appeal to dedicated car enthusiasts, with sales set to begin in late May.

A bill to reduce passport application fees is expected to pass the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, paving the way for lower costs for travelers.

A 49-year-old former plumber was arrested on suspicion of theft after allegedly stealing metal plumbing valves from a public park restroom in Soka, Saitama Prefecture, on April 8th.

SoftBank said it will effectively raise monthly mobile fees by up to 550 yen, following similar moves by NTT Docomo and KDDI, meaning all three major carriers in Japan have now implemented price increases.

Tokyo DisneySea in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, was unveiled to the media on April 8th ahead of its 25th anniversary event “Sparkling Jubilee,” with the park transformed under a unified theme color for the first time in its anniversary celebrations.

A record number of companies went bankrupt due to labor shortages, spotlighting AI and avatar solutions showcased at the EC and Store Week Spring exhibition held at Tokyo Big Sight on April 8th.

Emperor Naruhito sowed rice seeds on April 9th in a traditional ceremony aimed at promoting agriculture, held at a seedbed near the Biological Laboratory within the Imperial Palace grounds.

Japanese cosmetics brands are drawing renewed attention as global beauty standards, as a Tokyo-based experiential tour beginning on April 8th invites leading influencers from Europe and beyond to explore Japan’s distinctive skincare philosophy and cultural approach to beauty.

Japan’s House of Representatives Commission on the Constitution convened on April 9th for its first round of deliberations since the ruling party’s landslide victory in the February lower house election, with lawmakers beginning discussions on potential constitutional revisions.

Mizuho Bank announced on April 9th that it will raise its long-term prime rate, a benchmark for corporate lending, by 0.2 percentage points to 3% annually, reflecting the recent upward trend in interest rates, with the change set to take effect on April 10th.

As temperatures rise, concerns about body odor return, drawing attention to a lesser-known scientific field that examines the invisible gases emitted from human skin, with Tokai University professor Yoshika Sekine leading research that could even help detect disease and stress levels.

The winner of the 2026 Japan Booksellers Award, in which bookstore staff across the country vote for the book they most want to sell, was announced on April 9th, with Ryo Asai, 36, receiving the top prize for the novel "In the Megachurch," published by Nikkei Publishing.

SoftBank has applied for a capital alliance with Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, according to sources familiar with the matter, following the utility’s call for external partnerships as part of its management restructuring plan.

Japan tightened its "Business Manager" visa requirements in October 2025, prompting growing concern among foreign restaurant owners who fear the changes could force them out of business.