On December 24, 2025, Lexus added a new model, the RZ600e, to its battery electric vehicle RZ series, marking the culmination of an unconventional development partnership that is challenging long-held assumptions in automotive engineering.
A new disposal system that uses microorganisms to break down culled bears is drawing attention in Hokkaido, as Japan faces a growing challenge not only in preventing bear attacks but also in handling the remains after animals are killed.
In September last year, the sudden acquisition of Spa Resort Hawaiians — long known as “Japan’s Hawaii” — sent shockwaves through the industry. The buyer was Fortress Investment Group, a U.S. investment firm that also made headlines two years ago with its purchase of Sogo & Seibu. How a foreign fund plans to rebuild one of Japan’s most iconic resort facilities is now drawing close scrutiny, as management, former hula dancers, and local residents watch the transformation unfold.
In response to growing calls for more places to smoke, Osaka City has announced plans to install 63 new smoking areas, including around JR Fukushima Station, after enforcing a citywide ban on smoking in public streets.
The Japanese government is preparing to end support for new large-scale solar power projects starting in fiscal 2027, as policymakers move to revise the framework used to promote renewable energy in the years following the Fukushima Daiichi accident.
Condominium prices in Osaka are rising at a pace that shows no sign of slowing, with units exceeding 100 million yen becoming increasingly common as the city records the world’s fastest rate of condo price growth among major metropolitan areas.
Japan’s nuclear policy, forced into a turning point by the catastrophic accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, has undergone a sweeping shift as the country moves from a nationwide shutdown of reactors to a steady resumption of operations.
A 1.2-meter bear was shot and killed just before noon on November 8th at a hot spring inn in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture, after entering the building overnight and causing extensive damage.
The number of people killed in bear attacks across Japan in 2025 has risen to nine—the highest ever recorded—prompting urgent responses from both the government and local authorities as incidents continue to spread from forests to residential areas.
Former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, who served as Japan's 81st prime minister and led the country through major events including the 1995 Kobe earthquake, passed away on the morning of July 14th at a hospital in Oita City. He was 101 years old.
Mazda, the automaker synonymous with Hiroshima — a prefecture of 2.7 million people — is fighting to reinvent itself from within as the global automobile industry undergoes a once-in-a-century transformation. The company is launching a five-year internal reform to reshape its corporate culture and stay competitive amid the global shift to electric and eco-friendly vehicles.
A woman riding a bicycle was killed after being dragged about 250 meters by a truck following a collision at an intersection in Osaka’s Fukushima Ward, with police arresting the driver at the scene.
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture around 9:30 a.m. on October 7th, registering a maximum intensity of 4 on the Japanese seismic scale. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, there is no risk of a tsunami caused by this tremor.
Japan has entered the autumn travel season, with visitors across the country enjoying colorful foliage, seasonal foods, and cultural traditions.
In Yame, Fukuoka Prefecture, the centuries-old tradition of the Yame Fukushima Lantern Puppets was held through September 23rd, continuing a cultural practice that dates back to the Edo period.
Spa Resort Hawaiians, a sprawling tropical-themed facility in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, has long been cherished as “Japan’s Hawaii.” The indoor resort, which features Japan’s tallest water slide with a 40-meter drop, attracts about one million visitors each year as a family-friendly theme park.
An initiative to reuse soil generated during decontamination work in Fukushima Prefecture after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident has started at central government ministries in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo.
A growing number of bear sightings and attacks are alarming communities across Japan, with 55 people injured nationwide as of the end of July. The figure matches the pace of incidents recorded in 2022, the worst year on record, underscoring the urgency of countermeasures.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings reported a net loss of 857.6 billion yen for the April to June 2025 quarter, driven by newly booked special losses totaling 903 billion yen.
Tsunami warnings along Japan’s Pacific coast prompted widespread temporary closures of convenience stores, restaurants, factories and logistics operations on July 30th.
Kansai Electric Power announced on July 22nd that it has resumed geological surveys in Mihama, Fukui Prefecture, as part of plans to construct a new nuclear reactor—marking a major policy shift after a 14-year freeze following the Fukushima Daiichi disaster.
Dancing in a flowing white costume, HARUKA from Ōkuma, Fukushima Prefecture made her solo debut on the night of July 18th at Spa Resort Hawaiians, a major leisure complex in Iwaki, Fukushima.
A bear culled on July 18th in the southern Hokkaido town of Fukushima has been confirmed through DNA testing to match hair found on the clothing of a man who died on July 12th.
Japan's Environment Ministry on July 19th transported soil generated during decontamination efforts in Fukushima Prefecture—following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster—to the front garden of the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo's Nagatacho district.
A professional women’s golf tournament scheduled to begin on July 17th in Miyagi Prefecture was canceled after a bear was spotted on the course, as bear-related incidents continue to mount in northern Japan.