As tensions surrounding Iran intensify and global markets grow increasingly volatile, attention is turning to how the Bank of Japan will respond at its upcoming monetary policy meeting and what the developments could mean for stock prices and the yen.

JR East raised fares across all of its service areas on March 14th, marking the first fare hike since the company’s privatization and the first major increase in about 40 years, excluding adjustments tied to consumption tax increases.

An exhibition aimed at promoting Japanese women artists internationally is currently being held at a gallery in Tokyo’s Omotesando district, drawing attention to the persistent gender gap in the global art world.

Japan plans to release petroleum reserves as early as March 16 in response to surging crude oil prices driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East, with the government also aiming to keep the nationwide average gasoline price at around 170 yen per liter.

The number of young doctors entering cosmetic medicine immediately after completing their initial medical training is rapidly increasing in Japan, raising concerns within the healthcare industry about the future of medical care and the training of physicians.

A fierce debate has erupted in western Japan over plans to extend the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture to Shin-Osaka, as competing route proposals, political rivalries, and local opposition have thrown the decades-long project back into uncertainty.

Nissan Motor, U.S. ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies, and autonomous driving developer Wayve announced on March 12th that they will collaborate on a self-driving taxi business.

A rapidly advancing technology known as remote sensing—used to observe and analyze Earth from space—is opening new possibilities for predicting disasters and understanding environmental changes.

In the vertical cities of Tokyo and Osaka, your visual presentation is more than just a personal choice; it is a non-verbal form of omotenashi—the Japanese art of hospitality and respect.

A container ship owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines that had remained in the Persian Gulf following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz was found to have sustained damage, although no injuries were reported among the crew.

Asahi Group Holdings announced its financial results for January through September 2025 on March 10th after delaying the release due to a system failure, reporting a 26.2% year-on-year decline in net profit to 102.8 billion yen.

Concerns are growing over a new system being considered by Ibaraki Prefecture that would offer rewards to people who report information leading to the arrest of foreign nationals working illegally, with critics warning the measure could deepen social divisions and encourage discrimination.

The Japanese government has approved a bill to revise the Immigration Control Act that would raise the maximum fee for foreigners applying for permanent residency from 10,000 yen to 300,000 yen, while under the current law the maximum fee charged for residence-related procedures is capped at 10,000 yen.

The Japanese government approved a bill on March 10th to revise the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act to establish an electronic travel authorization system called JESTA that would screen foreign visitors before they arrive in Japan.

The government has instructed domestic oil reserve bases to prepare for a possible release of stockpiled crude as tensions surrounding the Middle East raise concerns about energy supply and the broader industrial impact, including disruptions to ethylene production used in food packaging.

As university entrance examinations reach their final stage, with national and public universities beginning their second-round tests on February 25th, many applicants and their families are grappling with the issue of “double payments” of admission fees, prompting the education ministry to consider reviewing the system.

JTB on March 10th unveiled to the media the details of a special viewing tour for Japan’s games in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), held at Tokyo Dome.

A blast of midwinter-like cold returned to the Kanto region, bringing rare March snowfall as Utsunomiya recorded its heaviest snow in 21 years for the month, while snow also fell in central Tokyo.

Japan posted a current account surplus of 941.6 billion yen in January, marking the 12th consecutive month in the black, according to preliminary balance of payments data released by the Finance Ministry on March 9th.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Motegi held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi and condemned attacks on civilian facilities in Gulf countries as well as actions threatening navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, urging Iran to halt such activities.

Real wages in Japan turned positive for the first time in 13 months in January, rising 1.4% from a year earlier after accounting for inflation, according to data released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei Stock Average closed sharply lower on March 9th, falling 2,892 points from last week’s close to finish at 52,728, marking the third-largest decline in its history amid a surge in global crude oil prices tied to tensions involving Iran.

A day after a woman in her 70s was injured when a cherry tree collapsed at the same park, another tree was found toppled in Kinuta Park in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward on March 8th.

Sake brewed aboard the International Space Station returned from orbit and arrived at Kansai International Airport on March 6th, marking a milestone in a Japanese initiative aimed at eventually producing alcohol on the Moon.

Once known as a “3K” job—dangerous, demanding and poorly paid—the taxi industry in Japan has long struggled with labor shortages, but drivers’ incomes have improved significantly in recent years, rising by roughly 40 percent compared with 2020 during the COVID-19 downturn.