From spring 2026, passengers will be able to ride the entire Tokyo Metro network using contactless payments via credit cards or smartphones, without the need for tickets or transit IC cards.

Japan’s average life expectancy in 2023 saw a slight decline for women and remained unchanged for men, according to figures released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Isawa Onsen in Yamanashi Prefecture, once known as the "inner sanctum" of the Tokyo metropolitan area for its popularity among group travelers from the capital, is undergoing a quiet transformation. Easily accessible from Tokyo in about 90 minutes by express train, the area has long been home to traditional ryokan inns with Japanese-style architecture and koi-filled courtyards. However, many of these ryokan are now under new ownership, with a significant portion—an estimated one-fourth—believed to be controlled by foreign capital, mainly from China.

Takahiro Yasuno, an AI engineer and head of the newly formed political party Team Mirai, has won his first seat in the House of Councillors after the party secured over 2% of the vote in the proportional representation segment of the July election. The result marks a notable entry into national politics by a startup-oriented, tech-driven platform.

KADOKAWA is ramping up its global content strategy by spotlighting "wordless manga"—a genre that tells stories entirely through images, eliminating language barriers and appealing to a worldwide audience.

The theme park "Junglia Okinawa" opened on July 25th in Nakijin Village, Okinawa Prefecture. Set amidst lush natural surroundings, the park offers a sense of openness and adventure, featuring 22 attractions including the "Dinosaur Safari," where visitors can ride through the jungle while being chased by dinosaurs.

The AI Utilization Expo 2025 will take place on September 9th and 10th at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center's Hamamatsucho Hall, 5th floor.

A fire broke out in a 10-story apartment building in Higashi-Shinagawa, Tokyo, on the morning of July 24th, leaving six people with minor injuries. Authorities believe the blaze was triggered by a handheld fan that was charging at the time.

Japan's tallest wooden office building has been unveiled in Tokyo's Kyobashi district, jointly developed by Dai-ichi Life Insurance and Shimizu Corporation. The newly completed Dai-ichi Life Kyobashi Kino Terrace stands 12 stories tall at 56 meters and features a hybrid structure that combines timber and steel.

Japan’s Digital Minister Taira has expressed the need to consider legal measures in response to potential foreign interference in elections through disinformation campaigns on social media.

Filmed in the late 1980s, this report analyzes Japan's economic, financial, and industrial situation vis-a-vis the West. A look back at the final years of the Showa Era and the new challenges that were already looming on the horizon. (TRNGL)

A Chinese national enrolled in a graduate program at Kyoto University has been re-arrested for taking the TOEIC exam under another person's name, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police announced.

Japan's Public Security Intelligence Agency has officially recognized for the first time that the son of former death row inmate Shoko Asahara is in a leadership role within Aleph, the successor group to the Aum Shinrikyo cult.

Marking the 30th anniversary of Marine Day as a national holiday, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines opened a massive automobile carrier to the public in Tokyo on July 21st. Measuring roughly 200 meters in length, the vessel runs on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and can transport about 7,000 vehicles.

In the Upper House election held on Sunday, veteran politician Muneo Suzuki, who ran under the banner of a "final battle," made a dramatic turnaround that surprised even his supporters.

The Nikkei Stock Average opened at 39,864 yen on July 22nd, up 45 yen from the previous session, marking the first trading day after the Upper House election. The index subsequently climbed more than 400 yen at one point, recovering the psychologically significant 40,000-yen level.

Voter turnout in the July 20th Upper House election rose significantly, with the nationwide average reaching 58.51%, up 6.46 points from the previous election's 52.05%, according to figures released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Planning a trip to Japan sounds dreamy until you're knee-deep in browser tabs, comparing train schedules and wondering if squeezing in both Kyoto and Hakone is even feasible.

A mobile battery being used to charge a smartphone caught fire inside a JR Yamanote Line train on the evening of July 20th, injuring five passengers and temporarily suspending services on multiple lines, including the Yamanote and Saikyo lines.

What would you do if the rent in your neighborhood doubled in just a few years? That scenario is already unfolding in northern Okinawa, where the opening of Jungle Leisure Okinawa is driving unexpected changes in the local housing market.

The results of the House of Councillors election held on July 20th have been finalized, with the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito winning a combined total of 47 seats, falling short of the 50 needed for a majority in the upper chamber.

In this segment of Mōsate Wakaran—a series that revisits questions and lingering uncertainties from viewers of Mōsate and Mōsate Premium—we take a closer look at the recent meteoric rise of AI stocks.

Nissan Motor will shut down its historic Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture by the end of fiscal 2027, closing a facility that helped launch the Datsun Bluebird in 1961 and played a pivotal role in Japan’s personal car boom.

Today, we’re diving deep into one of Tokyo’s wildest hidden burger gems—Burger Factory, run by a passionate young Japanese couple with a love for American food culture.

Japan's Environment Ministry on July 19th transported soil generated during decontamination efforts in Fukushima Prefecture—following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster—to the front garden of the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo's Nagatacho district.