There’s a new story unfolding in Japanese sports -- one that you won’t always see in the headlines.

A 14-year-old junior high school student died after falling from a building in Tokyo’s Kabukicho district, and a man standing nearby was injured when she struck him as she fell. Police say the girl may have overdosed on over-the-counter medication before the incident.

A survey by popular smartphone app Simeji has revealed that the world’s most used emoji is a “confused face,” topping rankings in 13 out of 16 countries.

Police arrested two people, including bar manager Maoya Suzuki, on suspicion of violating Japan’s Anti-Prostitution Law after allegedly forcing a female employee at a girls’ bar into prostitution while monitoring her movements through GPS.

Japan’s largest technology exhibition, CEATEC, bringing together the latest advances in digital innovation, opens on October 14th with a strong focus on artificial intelligence designed to seamlessly integrate into everyday life.

An All Nippon Airways flight bound for Iwakuni was forced to return to Haneda Airport on the night of October 13th after a possible incident involving its landing gear and a runway light during takeoff.

A man accused of murdering four people in a brutal 2022 incident in the city of Nakano, Nagano Prefecture, was sentenced to death on October 14th, with the court rejecting arguments over his diminished mental capacity.

Production of Japan’s familiar 50cc motorized bicycles — a popular choice for short trips and errands — will come to an end in October, prompting a surge in demand as consumers scramble to purchase the last available models.

The first half of 2025’s paperback sales rankings are dominated by 'Comrade Girl, Shoot the Enemy,' a powerful debut novel by author Toma Aisaka that traces the brutal wartime coming-of-age of a Soviet girl turned sniper.

Yakult has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s best-selling lactic acid beverage brand in 2024, marking a new milestone for the iconic probiotic drink. The certification, announced at a presentation ceremony, celebrates the brand’s success across domestic and international markets.

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that satellite images from the Himawari-9 weather satellite are currently unavailable due to a communication failure. While some functions have been restored through the backup satellite Himawari-8, key nighttime observation data such as infrared imagery remain inaccessible.

People who belonged to a school sports club or athletic circle are significantly more likely to maintain regular exercise habits after graduation than those who did not, according to a new survey by the Japan Sports Agency.

Mazda, the automaker synonymous with Hiroshima — a prefecture of 2.7 million people — is fighting to reinvent itself from within as the global automobile industry undergoes a once-in-a-century transformation. The company is launching a five-year internal reform to reshape its corporate culture and stay competitive amid the global shift to electric and eco-friendly vehicles.

The abrupt collapse of the long-standing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)–Komeito coalition ahead of the upcoming prime ministerial vote has thrown Japanese politics into flux, complicating the path for Takaichi to take office and intensifying behind-the-scenes maneuvering among all major parties. Takaichi, who visited the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) headquarters earlier this week, was met with criticism over remarks describing an opposition figure as “damaged goods,” a sign of heightened tensions just two days before Komeito’s dramatic departure from the coalition.

Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department held a community event in Suginami Ward on October 11 to raise awareness and prevent special fraud schemes that continue to target residents.

The Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki reaffirmed on October 11 that his party will not cooperate with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) in unifying opposition candidates for the upcoming prime minister designation vote in the next extraordinary Diet session.

Hidden in Shibuya, Chillmatic is redefining Japanese craft burgers with aged beef and homemade pastrami that take flavor to another level a Japanese craft burger shop known for serving one-of-a-kind burgers made with aged beef and topped with irresistible homemade pastrami. (Paolo fromTOKYO)

Hitachi announced on October 10 that it will focus on developing “physical AI,” a form of artificial intelligence capable of perceiving and responding optimally to real-world conditions.

The number of foreign residents in Japan has reached a record high of nearly 4 million, according to the Immigration Services Agency. As of the end of June, 3,956,619 foreign nationals were living in the country, an increase of about 190,000 from the end of 2024, marking the highest total on record.

Japan's Imperial Household Agency has released The Official Record of Empress Kojun, chronicling the life of Empress Kojun, wife of Emperor Showa and grandmother of the current Emperor.

Tokyo has confirmed its first case of a dog infected with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a potentially fatal disease transmitted by ticks. It is the first time an animal infection has been recorded in the capital.

Fender, the US-based instrument maker, unveiled its first collaboration guitar with Godzilla on October 9 in Tokyo, featuring a special-edition “Godzilla Guitar” capable of reproducing the monster’s iconic roar.

Japan’s new administration under Liberal Democratic Party President Takaichi faces its first major diplomatic test: an inaugural summit with President Trump, expected on October 28. How that meeting unfolds—and how Takaichi responds if Trump presses Japan to lift defense outlays to 3.5% of GDP—will shape Tokyo’s security posture. With Beijing wary of Takaichi’s stance, the trajectory of Japan–China relations is also in focus.

Komeito leader Saito informed Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Takaichi on October 10 that his party intends to withdraw from their coalition, bringing an end to a political partnership that has lasted 26 years, including periods when the LDP was in opposition. Leaders and secretary-generals of both parties met in the Diet at 1:45 p.m. on October 10 to discuss whether to continue the alliance, with Komeito insisting during the meeting that strengthening regulations on corporate and organizational political donations be accepted as a condition for maintaining the coalition.

Sumitomo Life Insurance has reported that around 80% of households in Japan are being impacted by rising prices, with monthly living costs now about 9,600 yen higher than a year ago. The findings come from the company’s latest survey on household finances, which shows that inflation is putting significant pressure on family budgets.