Visitors to the Osaka-Kansai Expo will not be allowed to bring large luggage, such as suitcases, into the venue. Organizers are urging attendees to store their bags at hotels or train stations before arrival.

The annual Otomo Festival took place on February 6th at Kamikura Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. The event saw men clad in white robes, each carrying a flaming torch, racing down the shrine’s steep stone steps in a centuries-old tradition.

A meeting was held on February 5th to discuss the redevelopment of the Futenma Air Station site, a project led by Okinawa Prefecture and Ginowan City. Experts, local residents, and stakeholders exchanged opinions, with discussions centering on the creation of a new revitalization hub anchored by a large-scale park.

As new condominium prices continue to rise in Japan, homeownership is becoming increasingly challenging for many buyers. As a result, many potential buyers are turning to the used condominium market in search of more affordable options.

Discussions on making high school tuition free have been gaining momentum in the Japanese Diet, with negotiations intensifying among the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), and Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party).

The highly anticipated Mononoke: The Movie - Chapter Two: Fire Rat is set for a nationwide theatrical release in Japan on March 14, 2025. Following the fierce battle against the Mononoke Karakasa, the Medicine Seller (Hiroshi Kamiya) returns to the inner chambers of the Ōoku (the women’s quarters of the Edo shogunate).

Located off the coast of Takehara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Ōkunoshima—popularly known as "Rabbit Island"—is home to hundreds of wild rabbits. Every year, thousands of tourists visit the island to interact with the animals, but few are aware of its somber past as a former poison gas manufacturing site.

Despite its widespread popularity, strawberry production in Japan is facing a crisis. Harvest yields have been declining year by year, largely due to the aging farming population and a shrinking number of cultivators.

University students in Okinawa have organized a mock wedding themed around LGBTQ+ marriage.

The average price per Valentine's Day chocolate stands at 418 yen, marking a 5.8% increase from 2024, according to Teikoku Databank, with chocolates from international brands averaging 435 yen per piece, 35 yen higher than Japanese brands.

Nissan’s CEO has informed Honda’s president of the company’s decision to terminate merger discussions. Why did the planned alliance between Japan’s second- and third-largest automakers break down?

Japan’s real wages declined for the third consecutive year in 2024, failing to keep pace with rising prices, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Kobe Airport will begin operating international charter flights on April 18, connecting the city with five destinations, including Seoul, Shanghai, and Taiwan. The announcement comes as preparations for a new terminal continue ahead of the Osaka-Kansai Expo.

Nagoya’s Sakae district, one of Aichi Prefecture’s major commercial areas, is undergoing extensive redevelopment to create a more vibrant urban space and replace aging buildings.

Panasonic Holdings has announced plans to dissolve its core subsidiary, Panasonic Corporation, and split it into three separate companies as part of its business restructuring efforts.

A recent Cabinet Office survey on gender equality revealed that 43.3% of respondents who changed their surname after marriage wanted to continue using their maiden name in the workplace. This marks a 4.2-point increase from the previous survey conducted two years ago.

An exhibition featuring opulent Hina dolls, once commonly displayed during the Showa era, is currently being held in Miyoshi City, Aichi Prefecture.

Honda has proposed making Nissan a subsidiary as part of ongoing discussions on a potential business integration, according to sources.

A 55-year-old demolition worker has been arrested on suspicion of violating Hokkaido’s Public Nuisance Prevention Ordinance after entering a convenience store wearing only stockings on his lower body and exposing himself to a female clerk.

The 75th Sapporo Snow Festival kicked off on February 4th, drawing large crowds from both Japan and abroad to one of Hokkaido’s most iconic winter events.

Aichi Prefecture’s Konomiya Shrine in Inazawa is famous for its Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Festival), which will be held on February 10th this year. However, a similar festival has been held for over 70 years at Hoko-in Temple in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture.

A newly built public toilet in a remote village in Nara Prefecture has become the subject of controversy—not for its design, but for its staggering cost of nearly 1 billion yen.

Bhutan has introduced an artificial intelligence system called 'AI Buddha,' developed by Kyoto University and other institutions, to provide life advice and guidance based on Buddhist scriptures.

Colorectal cancer has become the most common cancer in Japan, with its prevalence increasing due to the growing influence of Western dietary habits. However, advances in medical technology are enhancing early detection.

Costco announced on February 3rd that it will raise the annual cost of its Gold Star membership by 440 yen to 5,280 yen, while the Executive membership, which offers a 2% rebate on purchases, will increase by 660 yen to 10,560 yen, starting May 1st.