Odakyu Electric Railway unveiled images of its next-generation Romancecar limited express train on November 10, revealing a striking blue-green design featuring enormous circular windows that will allow passengers to enjoy panoramic views from ceiling to floor when the new trains enter service in March 2029.
Japanese actress Rikka Ihara, who rose to fame through a viral high school dance performance, celebrated the release of her 2027 calendar at an event in Tokyo on November 7, revealing that the entire photo shoot took place in Kyoto and demonstrating the lightning-fast movements that she believes best represent her busy year.
SoftBank Group has announced plans to invest $1 billion in a major artificial intelligence infrastructure project in Malaysia, joining Singapore-based technology giant Grab and a local energy company in a $1.85 billion initiative aimed at developing one of Asia's largest AI infrastructure networks.
A 26-year-old yakuza member suspected of sending young women he met in Tokyo's Kabukicho entertainment district to Cambodia to work as telephone scammers has been arrested for the eighth time, this time on suspicion of conspiring with two women to defraud a man in his 30s of 9.5 million yen.
A 31-year-old Chinese national has been arrested in Tokyo on suspicion of operating an illegal mobile phone base station that forced more than 10,000 smartphones onto a 2G network in less than two hours, allowing phishing messages to be sent to unsuspecting users in busy shopping districts including Ginza, Shinjuku and Shibuya.
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party reprimanded former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and three other lawmakers on November 9th for leaving the House of Representatives before a vote on legislation to reduce the consumption tax on food, as party leaders sought to prevent further defections that could jeopardize the bill's passage through the upper house.
Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed at 58,775.50 on Monday, November 9, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Tokyo time, rising 1,340.73 points, or 2.33%, from Friday's close, as investors returned to equities following last week's sharp selloff, with widespread gains across banking, automotive, retail and semiconductor-related shares helping the benchmark record its first advance in six trading sessions.
Kyoto's Shin-Kyogoku Shopping Street, a bustling 500-meter arcade with more than 150 years of history, is home to some of the city's oldest restaurants, seven Buddhist temples and a Shinto shrine, while a recently rediscovered 90-year-old restaurant manual has revealed unusual dishes and the philosophy of a pioneering Western-style restaurant.
Artificial intelligence is moving beyond computer screens and into factories and logistics centers, where robots capable of interpreting their surroundings and making independent decisions are emerging as a potential solution to Japan's chronic labor shortages, with Japanese unicorn startup Mujin and industrial robot manufacturer Yaskawa Electric leading efforts to develop the next generation of intelligent machines.
Princess Aiko, the only daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, attended an event in Tokyo aimed at raising awareness and encouraging support for crime victims and their families, becoming the first member of the Imperial Family to participate in the gathering.
Japan's stock market is expected to open higher on Monday, November 9, after the Nikkei 225 plunged 9.25% last week to close at 57,434.77 on Friday, November 6, with a rebound in US technology shares and stronger overnight futures pointing to an initial recovery, although investors face another potentially volatile week dominated by inflation data, corporate earnings and uncertainty over the outlook for artificial intelligence investment.
The Tokaido Shinkansen resumed normal-speed operations across its entire route at 8:57 a.m. on November 8th after a magnitude 5.7 earthquake disrupted rail services across central Japan, with JR Central reporting delays to 29 bullet trains affecting approximately 17,000 passengers, while Meitetsu restored services across its entire network by 9:15 a.m. following widespread morning suspensions.
Typhoon No. 32, which formed near the Mariana Islands at noon on November 7th, is forecast to develop into a strong typhoon by the afternoon of November 9th before approaching Japan's Ogasawara Islands, with strong winds, heavy rain and dangerous waves expected early next week, according to an update issued at 4 p.m. on November 7th.
A bear cub charged toward a family standing outside their home in Ome, western Tokyo, on November 3rd, rushing straight toward the front door moments after a high-pitched cry was heard from nearby bushes, in an encounter that left the resident shaken.
A Japanese slang term describing children hooked on the instant stimulation of short videos and social media has been nominated for the country's 2026 New Words and Buzzwords Awards, highlighting growing concerns about declining attention spans and the pressure to consume digital content at ever-increasing speeds.
FamilyMart will introduce its first do-it-yourself Christmas cake for the 2026 holiday season, allowing customers to decorate their own cakes as the convenience store chain seeks to attract demand for affordable, at-home celebrations.
A government bill to reduce Japan's consumption tax on food from 8% to 1% for two years starting in April 2027 was approved by the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Affairs on November 6, with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party securing a majority in favor of the legislation.
Municipalities across Japan are raising the cost of designated garbage bags as waste disposal expenses increase, with one town in Hokkaido proposing a 4.5-fold price hike from 385 yen to 1,735 yen for a pack of 10 bags, while growing pressure on incineration facilities is prompting debate over whether more cities should introduce paid household garbage collection.
The Japanese government approved the allocation of 10 billion yen from its fiscal 2026 general account reserve funds on November 6 to strengthen cybersecurity measures, including inspections of vulnerabilities in government computer systems and upgrades to security equipment.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index plunged 3,643 points, or 5.96%, to close at 57,435 on Friday, November 6, 2026, marking its fifth consecutive daily decline and one of the largest point losses in its history, as a global selloff in technology stocks spread across the Tokyo market and raised concerns about the sustainability of artificial intelligence investment and corporate valuations.
Japan's inflation-adjusted wages rose 2.2% in September from a year earlier, marking the ninth consecutive month of growth and the longest sustained increase in about a decade, as slower price increases helped boost workers' purchasing power.
Japanese agricultural technology startup Oishii Farm is seeking to transform global food production through artificial intelligence, robotics and fully controlled indoor farming, having succeeded in mass-producing Japanese strawberries in the United States and now joining forces with leading Japanese manufacturers to develop plant factories for export worldwide.
East Japan Railway (JR East) opened its Haneda Airport Access Line construction site to the media on November 6, offering a glimpse of a major underground railway project that will connect Haneda Airport directly with central Tokyo, with services scheduled to begin in fiscal 2031.
A former host club worker in Tokyo's Kabukicho entertainment district and a recruiter have been arrested on suspicion of exploiting a woman's romantic feelings to persuade her to work at sex establishments, with police alleging that the former host promised they could travel together if she helped him earn enough money.
A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after allegedly attacking seven women in a series of unprovoked incidents near Jimbocho intersection in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on October 17, with the assaults occurring at four locations over approximately 15 minutes.