A cherry tree more than 10 meters tall toppled in a Tokyo park on March 7th, pinning a woman in her 70s beneath its branches and leaving her with minor injuries.

An 83-year-old yakuza boss has been arrested on suspicion of collecting protection money by forcing a restaurant owner to purchase a decorative rake known as a kumade.

The sight of Punch, a baby monkey often seen clutching an orangutan plush toy as a substitute mother, has captured widespread attention, but the animal’s growing popularity has also led to the emergence of fraudulent social media accounts soliciting donations in his name.

Japan’s national team began its World Baseball Classic campaign with a commanding victory on March 6th, defeating Taiwan 13-0 in a seven-inning mercy-rule game in Group C of the first round at Tokyo Dome.

Japan was once known as a “vending machine superpower,” but the number of machines across the country continues to decline as rising prices and changing consumer habits drive people away from drink vending machines.

A small rocket launched by Japanese space venture Space One was destroyed mid-flight on March 5th after aborting its mission shortly after liftoff from a private launch facility in Wakayama Prefecture.

A compelling matchup has been added to the boxing card as WBC bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue is set to defend his title against WBC bantamweight No. 3 contender Kazuto Ioka at Tokyo Dome on May 2.

A nationwide ranking of Japanese dialect expressions whose usage can be difficult to understand has been released, highlighting regional words with meanings that often surprise people unfamiliar with local speech, including the Yamanashi dialect word "waniwani," which asks the question: would you know what it means?

SSP Pharmaceutical launched a new service on March 5th that allows working women to consult AI mentors about career-related concerns.

Aichi Prefecture has resumed discussions on attracting an integrated resort (IR) facility that would include a casino, a plan drawing renewed attention from residents of Tokoname City, the proposed host area.

An Iranian man studying at a Japanese language school said he came to Japan about two years ago with the dream of starting a trading company, but he has been unable to contact his family in Iran since his homeland came under attack.

Mitsui & Co. announced on March 6th that it has invested in a startup involved in nuclear fusion technology as the trading house seeks to take part in the commercialization and industrial development of fusion power generation.

Prime Minister Takaichi met with UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber and conveyed Japan’s condemnation of Iran over attacks targeting civilian facilities in neighboring countries.

Members of the idol group Sakurazaka46, including Morita Hikaru, appeared as presenters at the AnimeJapan 2026 “Manga Fans Want to See Animated Ranking 2026” award ceremony held in Tokyo on March 4th.

As pollen season reaches its peak and spring approaches, a new survey shows that people in Japan are planning to spend less on cherry blossom viewing this year, while the trend of enjoying "solo hanami" is rapidly gaining popularity.

Japan offers a travel experience unlike any other. Ancient temples stand beside neon city streets, high-speed trains connect distant regions with precision, and local cuisine surprises at every corner.

A man has been referred to prosecutors by the Metropolitan Police Department for failing to attend a mandatory safety course after being cited for traffic violations while riding an electric scooter.

Five people have been arrested after repeatedly performing dangerous drift driving on a road in Tokyo’s Ota Ward, sending up clouds of white smoke in the middle of the night and drawing police scrutiny.

The Japanese government is considering the use of chartered aircraft to evacuate its citizens from the Middle East as tensions in the region escalate, with around 8,000 Japanese nationals currently staying across several countries.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has announced plans to draw up guidelines for the introduction of a so-called dual pricing system that differentiates between foreign visitors and local residents.

Police plan to arrest a Japanese doctor in his 60s who lives in the United States and is suspected of spraying an oil-like liquid at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in Chiba Prefecture in 2015, with the suspect expected to arrive in Japan as early as March 4th, investigators said.

Large amounts of what appear to be illegally dumped garbage line the roadside at the Tokyo Metropolitan Kirigaoka Danchi in Kita Ward, where a decline in residents has left fewer eyes to monitor the sprawling public housing complex that first opened in the 1950s.

PayPay’s market capitalization is expected to exceed 2 trillion yen as the company prepares for a listing on the U.S. Nasdaq exchange.

A report session for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s "Be Smart Tokyo" project, an initiative aimed at improving the quality of life of residents through the power of digital technology as part of the broader goal of creating "Smart Tokyo," was held on March 4th.

The Osaka Loop Line, which circles central Osaka, has 19 stations and runs for about 21 kilometers. Despite its circular design, surprisingly few trains actually operate in a full loop. During daytime hours, only about one in three trains runs the complete circuit, while destination boards often display locations such as Nara or Wakayama—names that seem out of place on a circular urban railway.