Fukuoka Prefectural Police have arrested six Japanese nationals believed to be members of the Philippines-based crime group ‘JP Dragon’ on suspicion of involvement in special fraud cases targeting people in Japan.

Typhoon No. 15 made landfall near Sukumo City in Kochi Prefecture in the early hours of September 5th before re-entering northern Wakayama Prefecture around 9 a.m. The storm then tracked eastward along the Pacific coast, unleashing record rainfall, tornado-like winds, and severe damage across wide areas of Japan.

A dreadlocked man with a muscular build has been arrested and indicted on charges tied to special fraud after allegedly posing as a police officer.

As poverty deepens in Japan, more children are eating alone and food inequality is widening, eroding the simple pleasure of dining out. In response, “children’s cafeterias” that provide meals and safe places to spend time are spreading nationwide; their number topped 10,000 last year, exceeding the count of public junior high schools.

A centuries-old temple in Osaka has become a hotspot for trespassing and online ghost-hunting rumors, following the absence of its head priest and the fallout from a criminal case involving its former leader.

Driving school fees in Japan have been steadily increasing. Over the past decade, the nationwide average has risen by about 15%. According to the Internal Affairs Ministry’s Consumer Price Index, as of July, the average cost for automatic transmission training in Tokyo stood at 335,078 yen.

Osaka Prefecture is introducing new AI-powered surveillance systems at ATMs to combat a surge in special fraud cases targeting the elderly. Beginning in August, residents aged 65 and over will be prohibited from using their mobile phones while operating ATMs under a new local ordinance—the first of its kind in Japan.

Dementia is expected to affect approximately 5.23 million people in Japan by 2030, or about one in seven elderly individuals. However, no fundamental cure has been established so far. In response, Sprink CEO Hiroki Aoyama is leveraging advanced AI to analyze brain health and help prevent dementia.

Fujifilm plans to put into practical use by fiscal 2028 an artificial intelligence system that automatically generates diagnostic reports based on medical images. The AI will analyze images, identify organs or potential diseases, and instantly draft reports that doctors can then review and edit as needed.

In the ongoing series on disaster preparedness, the focus this time is on how to make evacuation decisions. During heavy rains that threaten communities, timely evacuation information issued by local governments becomes the key to saving lives. In Fukuoka Prefecture, a pilot test of a new AI-powered system is underway to assist in making these difficult decisions.

A veterinarian in Mie Prefecture has died after treating a cat infected with Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), a disease transmitted by ticks and other vectors.

Mold is a common household issue that can have serious implications for both your health and your home's integrity.

The family of an elderly man who died after a key was discovered lodged in his throat while he was hospitalized in Osaka has filed a lawsuit against the hospital, alleging negligence in handling the object.

Mii-dera, located in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, spans a vast area equivalent to about ten Koshien Stadiums. Known for the "Evening Bell of Mii," one of Japan's three most famous bells, the temple grounds also house numerous national treasures and important cultural properties.

A series of regions across Honshu have officially entered the rainy season, with heavy rainfall prompting urgent alerts, especially in Kagoshima where flooding from an overflowing river has submerged homes up to thigh level.

The number of applications for public assistance in fiscal 2024 rose 3.2% from the previous year to 259,353, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. This marks the fifth consecutive year of increase.

Legionella bacteria have been detected in multiple locations at the Osaka-Kansai Expo site, prompting health and safety measures. According to the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, seawater collected on June 3rd from the Water Plaza, where water shows are held, was found to contain Legionella bacteria at 20 times the guideline limit.

Japan has officially abolished both penal servitude and imprisonment without labor, replacing them with a newly introduced 'custodial sentence' system. This marks the first major reform of the country's penal code since it was established in 1907.

Within the long history of Japanese television, few moments stand out as disturbingly vivid and ethically fraught as the events surrounding the death of Kazu Nagano in 1985.

Japan has been struggling to cope with a combination of anaemic economic growth and a shrinking population for over 30 years. 2025 marks the tipping point when the rising costs outstrip the country's capacity to pay for them. (Financial Times)

More people in Japan are using online chats today than ever before. These are not just quick messages sent to friends. They are longer, kinder conversations. Many users say they feel more relaxed, more open, and less lonely during these chats.

As workplaces reopen following the Golden Week holidays in Japan, agencies offering "retirement代行" (job-quitting proxy) services are reporting a surge in requests. These services, which inform employers of a worker's resignation on their behalf, are increasingly used by new employees—many of whom find themselves overwhelmed in their first year of work due to power harassment, excessive unpaid overtime, or discrepancies between job listings and actual duties.

A construction site in Nagoya has introduced an AI-based system that analyzes workers’ facial expressions to assess heatstroke risk in real time.

A 70-year-old man fell from a high-rise apartment building in Osaka and struck a cyclist on the sidewalk below, resulting in the deaths of both men.

Kobe is a city blessed by both the sea and the mountains. One of its most defining features is Mount Ichizan, part of the Rokko mountain range. Long known as the birthplace of modern mountaineering in Japan, this area is home to a variety of distinctive peaks. Nestled within one of them, in Kobe’s Chuo Ward, lies Juzenji Temple, a Zen temple with a history spanning over 950 years.