A blast of midwinter-like cold returned to the Kanto region, bringing rare March snowfall as Utsunomiya recorded its heaviest snow in 21 years for the month, while snow also fell in central Tokyo.

Japan posted a current account surplus of 941.6 billion yen in January, marking the 12th consecutive month in the black, according to preliminary balance of payments data released by the Finance Ministry on March 9th.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Motegi held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi and condemned attacks on civilian facilities in Gulf countries as well as actions threatening navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, urging Iran to halt such activities.

Real wages in Japan turned positive for the first time in 13 months in January, rising 1.4% from a year earlier after accounting for inflation, according to data released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei Stock Average closed sharply lower on March 9th, falling 2,892 points from last week’s close to finish at 52,728, marking the third-largest decline in its history amid a surge in global crude oil prices tied to tensions involving Iran.

A day after a woman in her 70s was injured when a cherry tree collapsed at the same park, another tree was found toppled in Kinuta Park in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward on March 8th.

Sake brewed aboard the International Space Station returned from orbit and arrived at Kansai International Airport on March 6th, marking a milestone in a Japanese initiative aimed at eventually producing alcohol on the Moon.

Once known as a “3K” job—dangerous, demanding and poorly paid—the taxi industry in Japan has long struggled with labor shortages, but drivers’ incomes have improved significantly in recent years, rising by roughly 40 percent compared with 2020 during the COVID-19 downturn.

A cherry tree more than 10 meters tall toppled in a Tokyo park on March 7th, pinning a woman in her 70s beneath its branches and leaving her with minor injuries.

An 83-year-old yakuza boss has been arrested on suspicion of collecting protection money by forcing a restaurant owner to purchase a decorative rake known as a kumade.

The sight of Punch, a baby monkey often seen clutching an orangutan plush toy as a substitute mother, has captured widespread attention, but the animal’s growing popularity has also led to the emergence of fraudulent social media accounts soliciting donations in his name.

Japan’s national team began its World Baseball Classic campaign with a commanding victory on March 6th, defeating Taiwan 13-0 in a seven-inning mercy-rule game in Group C of the first round at Tokyo Dome.

Japan was once known as a “vending machine superpower,” but the number of machines across the country continues to decline as rising prices and changing consumer habits drive people away from drink vending machines.

A small rocket launched by Japanese space venture Space One was destroyed mid-flight on March 5th after aborting its mission shortly after liftoff from a private launch facility in Wakayama Prefecture.

A compelling matchup has been added to the boxing card as WBC bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue is set to defend his title against WBC bantamweight No. 3 contender Kazuto Ioka at Tokyo Dome on May 2.

A nationwide ranking of Japanese dialect expressions whose usage can be difficult to understand has been released, highlighting regional words with meanings that often surprise people unfamiliar with local speech, including the Yamanashi dialect word "waniwani," which asks the question: would you know what it means?

SSP Pharmaceutical launched a new service on March 5th that allows working women to consult AI mentors about career-related concerns.

Aichi Prefecture has resumed discussions on attracting an integrated resort (IR) facility that would include a casino, a plan drawing renewed attention from residents of Tokoname City, the proposed host area.

An Iranian man studying at a Japanese language school said he came to Japan about two years ago with the dream of starting a trading company, but he has been unable to contact his family in Iran since his homeland came under attack.

Mitsui & Co. announced on March 6th that it has invested in a startup involved in nuclear fusion technology as the trading house seeks to take part in the commercialization and industrial development of fusion power generation.

Prime Minister Takaichi met with UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber and conveyed Japan’s condemnation of Iran over attacks targeting civilian facilities in neighboring countries.

Members of the idol group Sakurazaka46, including Morita Hikaru, appeared as presenters at the AnimeJapan 2026 “Manga Fans Want to See Animated Ranking 2026” award ceremony held in Tokyo on March 4th.

As pollen season reaches its peak and spring approaches, a new survey shows that people in Japan are planning to spend less on cherry blossom viewing this year, while the trend of enjoying "solo hanami" is rapidly gaining popularity.

Japan offers a travel experience unlike any other. Ancient temples stand beside neon city streets, high-speed trains connect distant regions with precision, and local cuisine surprises at every corner.

A man has been referred to prosecutors by the Metropolitan Police Department for failing to attend a mandatory safety course after being cited for traffic violations while riding an electric scooter.