The stage play Daigyakuten! Sengoku Warlords Honored, a fantastical period drama blending impersonations, songs, and slapstick comedy, opened on September 20th at the Meijiza Theater in Tokyo.

Princess Aiko, the eldest daughter of the Emperor and Empress, attended an event marking Horse Day, where she enjoyed hands-on experiences with horses.

Average rents in Tokyo’s 23 wards have climbed to record levels, creating a situation where even student districts are no longer affordable for students.

A street in Tokyo’s Roppongi district was blanketed with white foam on September 22nd after a truck exiting a building’s parking area struck fire safety equipment, triggering sprinklers that released firefighting foam across the road.

The Emperor, Empress and their daughter Princess Aiko attended the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships together as a family on September 21st at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

Long-term interest rates in Japan, which influence fixed mortgage rates, rose to their highest level in 17 years as the yield on 10-year government bonds briefly reached 1.665 percent in trading on September 22nd, the highest since 2008.

Nissan Motor unveiled an experimental vehicle equipped with autonomous driving technology powered by generative AI, showcasing a system that allows hands-free driving even on ordinary roads.

The contrast between driving in Japan and the USA can catch many travelers off guard. Americans can start driving at 16, while Japanese drivers must wait until they're 18 to get a license.

The Akasaka Hikawa Festival, a traditional event dating back to the Edo period, reached its final day in Tokyo’s Akasaka district with sixteen portable shrines parading through the streets, filling the area with lively chants and large crowds of spectators.

JR’s online reservation systems, long operated separately by different regional companies, will be linked together for the first time in an effort to eliminate the inconvenience faced by passengers when booking tickets across multiple areas.

The Consumer Affairs Agency announced that Ajinomoto and Inglewood are suspected of engaging in stealth marketing practices in connection with their frozen home-delivery meal brand, "Aete." The companies allegedly asked individuals to post on social media in exchange for free products and later republished those posts on sales sites.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved making the erectile dysfunction drug Cialis available without a prescription, opening the way for its sale as Japan’s first over-the-counter treatment for the condition.

Former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi announced her candidacy in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election, set to be officially declared next week, unveiling a platform centered on bold “growth investment.” Her policy package also incorporates some opposition proposals, signaling an openness to potential collaboration.

The Unko Museum, a popular interactive attraction that has drawn more than two million visitors worldwide, opened in Okinawa on September 21st at Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom. The colorful and pop-themed venue seeks to overturn the traditional perception of unko (poop) as dirty, instead presenting it as something fun and cute.

Artificial intelligence is no longer seen only as a tool but increasingly as a partner in people’s daily lives. The rapid evolution of AI has led more users to form emotional bonds with conversational systems.

The Bank of Japan decided on September 19th to maintain its policy interest rate at 0.5 percent, marking the fifth consecutive meeting without a rate change. The decision, backed by a majority of the Policy Board, comes as the central bank monitors the impact of U.S. tariffs known as the “Trump tariffs.”

Household financial assets have reached a record high, driven by rising stock prices and the expansion of NISA investment programs.

A research group including Okayama University of Science announced in the British scientific journal Nature on September 17th that they have discovered the world’s oldest fossil of a pachycephalosaur, a dinosaur recognized for its thick, dome-shaped skull and often called the “headbutting dinosaur.”

Seven-Eleven Japan has completed a large-scale overhaul of the store system used by about 21,000 outlets nationwide, five years after the project was conceived. The new system represents a major step in digital transformation, replacing the company’s traditional infrastructure with a cloud-based model designed to enhance efficiency and service.

Stormy weather swept through parts of Kanto on the afternoon of September 18th, with Ibaraki Prefecture reporting around 20 cases of damage from violent winds and other impacts.

The iconic Red Gate of the University of Tokyo, long seen as a symbol and goal for aspiring students hoping to "walk through the gate," is now closed due to seismic safety concerns.

For decades, Japan has enforced some of the toughest cannabis laws in the world. A single joint can mean years behind bars, and public figures caught with even trace amounts often see their careers vanish overnight.

Think you’ve tried all the foods in Tokyo? Think again! In this video, Stephanie is going to try all the WILDEST menu you could think of – from crocodile and kangaroo meat to insect dishes… Yes, you read it right. So, whether you’re a curious traveler, an adventurous eater, or just here to watch us squirm… (Japan by Food)

Persistent extreme heat has upended familiar elements of summer life in Japan, with long-standing traditions such as morning glory observation homework and radio exercises disrupted by high temperatures.

Record-breaking summer heat is placing Japan’s homeless in life-threatening conditions. Cans left in the sun reach temperatures above 50°C, while makeshift tents and shacks quickly become unbearable. Many are forced to adapt with creative measures such as fishing for food, recycling scrap metal, or even building solar-powered cooling systems.