The 17th World Scallop Fishing Championship took place in Toyoura, Hokkaido, a town known for its thriving scallop farming industry.

Fukuoka Airport is set to undergo a major transformation with the addition of a large-scale commercial complex, announced on March 5th. The new facility, scheduled to open in the summer of 2027, will enhance the airport’s role as a gateway to both domestic and international destinations.

A trade exhibition featuring domestically caught fin whale meat, harvested under Japan’s resumed commercial whaling program, was held in Fukuoka. Fin whale meat is known for its mild flavor and rich fat content.

In response to cases where female customers were burdened with excessive debts and coerced into prostitution, the Japanese government approved an amendment to the Entertainment Business Law during a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

The Nagoya High Court has ruled that Japan’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, upholding a lower court decision in a case filed by a same-sex couple from Aichi Prefecture.

A tense phone call reaches the JR East Shinkansen Command Center. The message is clear: a bomb has been planted on the Tokyo-bound Hayabusa No. 60. If the train’s speed drops below 100 km/h, it will explode immediately...

An abandoned hospital in Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture, has become a well-known "haunted spot," drawing unwanted attention and raising concerns among local residents. Fresh footprints in the snow indicate frequent trespassing, despite the lack of any official visitors.

A surge in the resale of 'Manhole Cards,' collectible cards featuring designs of local manhole covers distributed for free by municipalities, has angered collectors and local governments. Some cards are being resold for as much as 100,000 yen, prompting concerns over fairness and the original intent behind the initiative.

The Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA) and PDT Partners have officially signed an agreement, with Masaki Suzuki and an FSA representative jointly signing the deal. The partnership will focus on financial regulation, capital operations, technological innovation, and corporate social responsibility, aiming to enhance market transparency and drive internationalization.

Japan has agreed to invest up to 20 billion dollars in low-carbon energy projects in Vietnam. This comes amid a regional push to reach carbon neutrality in the coming decades.

Japan’s rice prices have been steadily climbing, with the cost of a 5-kilogram bag rising from 2,430 to 3,297 yen last year and further increasing to 3,949 yen this year, putting pressure on household budgets. To curb these rising prices, the government has decided to release its rice reserves.

The number of cases involving fraudulent home inspection scams by unscrupulous renovation companies reached a record high in 2024, according to a report by the National Police Agency.

Sekisui House, a major homebuilder headquartered in Osaka, has been found to have underreported its tax obligations related to consumption tax deductions on payments to subcontractors.

Shimadzu Corporation has launched the world's first optical lattice clock, which measures time using the oscillation frequency of atoms trapped by lasers. The clock boasts an unparalleled accuracy, with an error of just one second over 10 billion years.

A key experiment aimed at realizing the long-sought dream of fusion energy is set to begin at the National Institute for Fusion Science in Toki, Gifu Prefecture.

Steller’s sea eagles have arrived off the coast of Rausu, Hokkaido, near the World Natural Heritage site of Shiretoko, seeking a winter refuge. These birds, designated as a national natural treasure, typically breed in Russia’s Far East and can span over two meters when spreading their wings.

A day after a coupling failure caused a Tohoku Shinkansen train to separate mid-run, some train services remain suspended, continuing to affect travel.

A wildfire that erupted in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, on February 26th has now entered its second week, with firefighters struggling to contain the flames.

Imagine, for example, that you are bored, and thinking, man, I wish I had someone cool to talk to. Enter Crush On AI, the AI chatbot platform that’s kind of like a friend, but one you can have a little something something with if you’re in the mood.

Japan has renewed its bid to have calligraphy recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, following a decision by the Cultural Affairs Council. If accepted, it would become Japan’s 24th registered cultural heritage.

In Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, workers are carrying out the annual removal of straw mats wrapped around pine trees.

Nagasaki University and other institutions unveiled a new system on March 4th that allows medical students to practice patient interviews with AI-generated virtual patients.

Heart failure is emerging as a major public health crisis in Japan, with experts warning of a "heart failure pandemic" by 2030 due to aging demographics and rising lifestyle-related diseases. In response, a medical startup originating from the University of the Ryukyus is developing AI-powered technology that could transform early detection and diagnosis.

On March 1st, public high schools across Hokkaido held their graduation ceremonies, but at Nemuro High School, a special surprise awaited the students. Singer GACKT made an unexpected appearance to celebrate the graduates and offer them words of encouragement.

The historic buildings of Hashima Island, commonly known as Gunkanjima, are facing a risk of collapse due to ongoing deterioration, it was revealed on March 3rd. The island, part of the "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution," a UNESCO World Heritage site that marks its 10th anniversary this summer, has seen its structures degrade significantly over time.