The Japanese government has established a plan to secure sufficient oil through early next year by utilizing alternative routes and procurement methods, as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt global energy flows, prompting full-scale efforts from May to secure alternative sources of crude oil.

A man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of obstruction after allegedly spreading a liquid and setting it on fire at the Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Tokyo on April 3rd.

A new ordinance imposing fines on littering and mandating trash bin installations at businesses took effect in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward on April 1st, as authorities seek to tackle a surge in street garbage following a rebound in tourism.

Toyota Motor has begun selling two vehicle models manufactured at its U.S. plants in Japan, marking a shift toward so-called "reverse imports" as part of efforts to improve trade relations between Japan and the United States.

Posts using vegetable and broccoli emojis—commonly seen on social media—are in fact coded messages referring to cannabis, as authorities warn that such disguised posts are contributing to a rapid increase in drug use among young people.

A private survey released on April 3rd found that roughly one in five high school students in Japan has encountered information believed to be linked to so-called “dark part-time jobs” on social media, as job listing platforms and authorities move to counter the spread of such illicit recruitment using artificial intelligence.

A coalition of more than 40 countries, including the United Kingdom and Japan, issued a joint statement regarding the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively blocked, calling for the restoration of stable maritime operations along one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.

The Japanese government approved a bill to revise the Civil Code on April 3rd, paving the way for wills to be created using computers and smartphones instead of requiring handwritten documents.

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.