An AI-powered service that allows users to easily search for lost items is gaining traction across Japan, as railway operators and other transportation services adopt new technology to streamline the recovery process.

Natto, a traditional Japanese staple often eaten with rice, is gaining popularity not only in Japan but increasingly overseas, with exports rising sharply as global consumers embrace its health benefits.

The number of people apprehended nationwide for cannabis-related offenses, including possession and use, reached a record 6,832 over the past year, with more than 70 percent of those involved aged 20 or younger, highlighting the growing spread of the drug among younger generations, according to data compiled by the National Police Agency.

Prolonged tensions involving Iran are beginning to affect medical sites, while in South Korea, the spread of misinformation has triggered panic buying and shortages of garbage bags, highlighting the broader ripple effects of global instability.

Three individuals, including the operator of a Tokyo-based outcall sex service, were arrested for allegedly providing locations for prostitution to Vietnamese women believed to have entered Japan on short-term visas, authorities said.

From April 1, broccoli has been newly designated as a “specified vegetable” by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, marking the first addition to the category in years as authorities move to stabilize supply and prices of a staple increasingly central to Japanese diets.

The Japanese government is stepping up efforts to expand overseas markets for fashion and cosmetics as part of its broader Cool Japan strategy, with discussions held on March 31st to review progress toward its goals.

As the new fiscal year began on April 1st, companies across Japan welcomed fresh employees with distinctive entrance ceremonies while some firms drew attention by offering sharply increased starting salaries.

As Japan’s fiscal year draws to a close on March 31st, a range of systems and services are being phased out, including the so-called “3G mobile network service” once synonymous with traditional feature phones known as “garakei,” which officially ended on March 31.

KDDI announced the results of an investigation into an accounting fraud involving its subsidiaries, revealing that 99.7% of revenue in its advertising agency business was generated through fictitious transactions.

The Japan Shogi Association is considering new rules to address concerns raised by female players who have effectively been forced to forfeit matches due to pregnancy and childbirth, with a review committee presenting its interim report on March 31st.

Artificial intelligence capable of thinking and acting independently is rapidly spreading, marking a shift from systems that simply respond to questions to those that actively perform tasks, with developers and business leaders now exploring whether these AI agents can become indispensable partners in everyday life.

A series of revised laws, including measures to make high school tuition free, were enacted in the Diet on March 31st, the final day of the fiscal year, with the changes set to take effect from April 1st.

The government approved a basic policy at a Cabinet meeting on March 31st aimed at securing shelters for residents in the event of armed attacks, with a focus on promoting the use of private underground facilities such as shopping malls and parking areas, which are considered to offer high levels of safety.

Prime Minister Takaichi announced that a task force has been established under Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akazawa, who has been appointed minister in charge of securing the stable supply of critical materials, as Japan moves to respond to the worsening situation in the Middle East.

JR East is set to enter the QR code payment market under the name “teppay,” as competition intensifies following the withdrawal of services such as LINE Pay, raising questions over whether the railway operator can carve out a position while differentiating the service from its widely used Suica platform.

Visiting a restaurant is no longer just about eating, as immersive dining experiences that transport customers into entirely different worlds the moment they step inside are rapidly gaining popularity.

The Hokkaido Shinkansen marked its 10th anniversary on March 26, as a town in southern Hokkaido known for its deep ties to tunnel construction put forward a bold proposal to build a second undersea tunnel to help achieve faster travel between Sapporo and Tokyo.

A month has passed since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, and while Japan holds oil reserves equivalent to roughly eight months of domestic consumption, concerns are growing that rising crude prices and supply disruptions could begin to affect everything from plastic bottles to medical IV tubes.

A new type of fraud exploiting multi-function copy machines at convenience stores has been reported across Japan, where victims are deceived into printing fake legal documents and handing over money.

Japan’s benchmark stock index plunged sharply at the start of the week, at one point dropping more than 2,800 points, as surging crude oil prices driven by tensions surrounding Iran rattled markets and raised fresh concerns over the stability of alternative energy supply routes.

Long-running tensions surrounding Iran are expected to push up household electricity bills, with Japanese power companies bracing for higher costs this summer as crude oil prices remain elevated, even as Japan has shifted its energy mix toward renewables, now accounting for more than 20% of total power generation following the Great East Japan Earthquake.

A growing private credit market tied to the AI boom is emerging as a hidden source of concern for investors, with commentators on TV Tokyo's financial program Morning Satellite warning that the risk may be receiving less attention than it deserves as markets focus instead on Middle East tensions and rising crude oil prices.

Japan’s oil supply is facing what experts describe as the largest crisis in its history, as global competition for energy intensifies following the attack on Iran, triggering widespread disruptions across logistics networks and medical services.

A fire was reported on March 28th at Haneda Airport Terminal 1 and 2 Station on the Keikyu Line, where railway sleepers caught fire shortly before midnight, leading to a temporary suspension of services across the entire Airport Line, although no injuries were reported.