Unused hotel linens, such as sheets, were transformed into wedding dresses for a sustainability-themed fashion show held on Sunday.
The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming society and becoming an indispensable part of daily life. How should we engage with AI and learn to coexist with it? Author Keiichiro Hirano and philosopher Akiko Suzuki, an emeritus professor at Kyoto University, exchanged views on this pressing issue.
Konishiki, a former sumo wrestler and current television personality, held a press conference at a hospital in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, on December 23rd, revealing that he had been suffering from kidney failure.
Honda and Nissan Motor Co. reported on December 23rd to government authorities that they have entered full-scale discussions on a management merger, according to senior officials in the economic ministries.
The Athletics Awards, an annual ceremony organized by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations, was held on December 19th in Tokyo. Haruka Kitaguchi, who became the first female athlete to win the annual MVP award for two consecutive years, expressed her mixed emotions during the event.
The operating company of 'Kinryu Ramen' in the bustling district of Minami, Osaka, announced on Thursday that the iconic giant dragon sign was being removed as part of the process to rebuild the aging store.
The Japanese giant salamander, one of the world’s largest amphibians and often referred to as a 'living fossil,' is facing a conservation crisis.
JR Kyushu High-Speed Ferry is planning to withdraw from the Japan-Korea high-speed ferry business following the revelation that it concealed water leakage incidents while operating the high-speed ferry 'Queen Beetle,' which runs between Hakata and Busan, South Korea.
Kyodo News has announced disciplinary measures for six staff members, including its editor-in-chief, following a mistaken report that Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Akiko Ikuina visited Yasukuni Shrine in August two years ago.
Junichi Inamoto, a former midfielder for the Japan national soccer team and a player for Nankatsu SC in the Kanto League Division 1, announced his retirement on December 4th during a press conference held in Tokyo.
Japanese macaques at the Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden in Yunokawa Onsen, Hakodate, Hokkaido, began their annual enjoyment of open-air baths on December 1st.
Saga Prefecture has appointed Godzilla, the iconic monster from the special effects film series, as its tourism ambassador in celebration of the character's 70th anniversary this November.
A special lighting ceremony was held on November 20th at Ueno Toshogu Shrine, located in Ueno Park, Taito Ward, Tokyo. The event featured a unique lighting design created by renowned lighting designer Motoko Ishii.
NVIDIA has thrown its weight behind Sakana AI, a Tokyo-based startup rapidly gaining traction in the booming generative AI field. Since ChatGPT's debut in November 2022, industry giants like Google and Meta have entered the fray, intensifying the competitive landscape.
Manhole covers featuring characters from Riyoko Ikeda’s popular manga The Rose of Versailles were unveiled on November 11th at three locations within Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture.
During the regular Diet session in 2024, the Japanese government amended the Basic Law on Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas for the first time. The Basic Law was promulgated in 1999 and is the so-called ‘constitution of agricultural policy’ in Japan. (East Asia Forum)
Snow was spotted on the Shizuoka side of Mount Fuji's (3,776 meters) summit on the morning of October 6th, confirmed by a Kyodo News reporter.
To ensure trust in currency, the Mint Bureau in Kita Ward, Osaka, held its annual 'Grand Test for Manufactured Currency' on October 28th, where officials checked whether coins meet the designated weight standards, a tradition that has been ongoing since 1872, marking its 153rd occurrence this year.
Archery athlete Takaharu Furukawa, who competed in six consecutive Olympic Games and won a silver medal in the individual event at the 2012 London Olympics, announced on October 21st that he would retire from competition after the All-Japan Championships, which begin on October 25th at Tokyo Yumenoshima Park Archery Field.
Sanriku Railway, a third-sector company operating along the coast of Iwate Prefecture, began offering the 'Awabi Train' and 'Matsutake Train' services on October 6th, featuring luxurious bento boxes filled with locally sourced abalone and matsutake mushrooms.
A Japanese festival was held in Jakarta on September 14th to provide participants with an opportunity to experience and deepen their understanding of Japanese culture.
The Japan Shogi Association celebrated its 100th anniversary on Sunday, hosting a commemorative ceremony in Tokyo, along with the unveiling of a newly completed Shogi Hall.
Japan's Ministry of the Environment announced on the 3rd that the mongoose, an invasive species known for preying on rare native species and disrupting the ecosystem on Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, has been officially eradicated.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said Monday she is against the planned acquisition of United States Steel Corp. by Japan's largest steelmaker, promising to build an economy that is good for working-class people, as her race for the White House against Donald Trump heads into the final stretch. (Kyodo)
Naoya Inoue, the unified super bantamweight champion of the four major boxing organizations, held an open training session at the Ohashi Gym in Yokohama on August 21st. Inoue is set to defend his titles against former world champion TJ Doheny of Ireland on September 3 at Ariake Arena.