A new experiential attraction centered on the “kawaii” aesthetic will open this weekend along Takeshita Street in Tokyo’s Harajuku district, with the facility unveiled to the media ahead of its launch.

Japan byFood and Shizuka travel to Tokamachi, just two hours from Tokyo, to explore how a single local ingredient becomes traditional kimono dye and handmade soba. (Japan by Food)

The average asking price for newly built small detached homes in January rose 4.7 percent from the previous month to 61.54 million yen across the Tokyo metropolitan region’s four prefectures, according to a real estate research firm, marking a new high since surveys began in April 2014 and pushing prices above 60 million yen for the first time.

There is already a clear Asia relocation trend in 2026. Thousands of Brits and Americans are making the decision to live in some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, including China, or picking a cultural hub like Japan.

A large exhibition showcasing the latest capsule toys, which continue to evolve in both quality and concept, has opened as the market for the products is projected to triple in size, reflecting a surge in popularity led mainly by women.

JR East and Japan Airlines have signed a partnership agreement aimed at regional revitalization and revealed they will consider integrating tickets in the future.

KDDI has delayed the release of its financial results as it investigates suspected improper transactions at its subsidiaries, announcing that BIGLOBE and G-Plan may have recorded fictitious sales totaling up to approximately 246 billion yen and that about 33 billion yen may have been diverted outside the companies.

Japan's 51st House of Representatives election was held on February 8 with ballots counted the same day, delivering a sweeping victory for the Liberal Democratic Party, which significantly increased its strength from before the official campaign and secured more than two-thirds of the 465 seats in the chamber on its own, surpassing 310 seats and achieving a landslide win.

Amid deepening labor shortages, AI and robots are undergoing rapid and remarkable advances, raising a pressing question for businesses and workers alike: are they a threat that will take jobs, or partners that expand human potential?

A man suspected of a hit-and-run drove a high-end sports car into a police patrol car, leaving five people injured.

Today, we consider the revival of a fascinating masterpiece at the New National Theatre in Tokyo, led by the Otowaya and Yorozuya guilds! (Kabuki In-Depth)

With three days remaining until voting and ballot counting in the Lower House election, Saitama’s 2nd district centered on Kawaguchi City has drawn national attention as a frontline in Japan’s foreign resident policy debate, where multiple candidates are calling for stricter controls.

A prolonged spell of dry weather has led to water shortages and even a “red river” in parts of Japan, with farmers and public facilities sounding alarms as reservoirs shrink and temperatures climb in the Kanto region.

The Engel coefficient reached its highest level in 44 years in Japan, highlighting growing pressure on household budgets as food costs climb.

Kirin Holdings announced it will sell its U.S.-based group company that produces the bourbon whiskey Four Roses to a major American wine company for up to about 120 billion yen, as the Japanese brewer reviews its business structure and accelerates expansion into health science and related sectors amid a growing shift among younger consumers away from alcohol.

Toyota Motor announced on February 6 that President Koji Sato will become vice chairman and executive officer Kenta Kon will be promoted to succeed him, with the changes taking effect on April 1, marking the first leadership change in three years since April 2023 while Chairman Akio Toyoda will remain in his post.

The death toll from heavy snowfall across Japan reached 38 as of February 5th, with rising temperatures that day increasing the risk of falling snow in hard-hit regions, while forecasters warned on February 6th that the strongest cold air mass of the season is now moving in, bringing the threat of rapidly increasing snowfall and possible snow even in Tokyo over the weekend.

The Tokyo High Court on February 5th dismissed an appeal by the state in a lawsuit over the remains and hair of Matsumoto Chizuo, a former death row inmate and leader of the Aum Shinrikyo cult, and ordered the government to hand them over to his second daughter.

Seven-Eleven has launched a new service in collaboration with female members of Generation Z, raising the question of what a convenience store can offer beyond food and drinks.

A popular pizza shop from Japan is expanding to New York in what local media are calling the beginning of a “Tokyo-style pizza era,” with strong attention already building ahead of its official opening this spring.

High-resolution 3D images created from aerial photographs taken after the Great East Japan Earthquake have revealed how large-scale fires spread in the aftermath of the tsunami, showing that in Yamada Town, Iwate Prefecture, debris left behind by the waves covered wide areas of the town and rendered roads ineffective as natural firebreaks, allowing flames to expand unchecked.

IBM Japan, founded in 1937 as the Japanese arm of the global technology company IBM, has evolved from a maker of calculating machines and personal computers into a technology firm focused on solving social challenges, developing innovations ranging from AI systems that replicate skilled human judgment in fields such as food processing and mobility support for people with visual impairments to quantum computing technologies aimed at accelerating innovation and addressing long-term societal needs.

The three major Japanese banking groups posted consolidated net profits exceeding 1 trillion yen each for the April–December 2025 period, supported by improved interest margins following interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan and steady corporate demand for funds.

Hokkaido’s signature winter event, the Sapporo Snow Festival, opened on February 4th across three venues in Sapporo, including Odori Park in the city’s central district, featuring more than 200 large-scale snow and ice sculptures that will be on display through February 11th as the festival marks its 76th edition.

A prolonged slide in the yen is no longer being felt only through higher import prices, but is increasingly reshaping decisions by workers, investors, and foreign laborers, raising questions about Japan’s economic direction as the country heads toward a House of Representatives election.