Comiket 2025 was held twice at Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake, with the summer edition (C106) taking place on August 16–17 and the winter edition (C107) on December 30–31. (Japan explorer)

The Japanese marriage market for middle-aged and older adults is booming, fueled by a sharp increase in late-life divorces. At venues such as the legendary Maharaja Roppongi disco in Tokyo, once a symbol of youthful exuberance, around 100 men and women in their 50s and 60s gathered recently for a marriage party.

Japan’s Only Luxury Hotel with a Race Track – Hyatt Fuji Speedway Hotel Review & Super Formula Experience. Welcome to Japan’s one-of-a-kind luxury hotel where you can watch professional motorsports right from your room. (Paolo fromTOKYO)

McDonald's Japan announced it will impose purchase limits on the second phase of its Pokémon-themed Happy Meal campaign, starting tomorrow. For the first three days, each group will be limited to a maximum of three sets.

GPT5, the latest model from OpenAI, was released last week, drawing attention for its higher accuracy and its deliberate reduction in human-like empathy. The move has sparked debate over the trade-off between performance and warmth in AI interactions.

Paypay, a leading smartphone payment service, has begun preparations for a stock market listing in the United States. On August 14th local time, the company confidentially filed documents related to an initial public offering (IPO) with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

A university student in Tokyo has been arrested in connection with the theft of goods from the official store at the Expo site, bringing the total number of suspects in the case to six.

Japan’s gross domestic product for the April to June period rose at an annualized rate of 1.0%, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of growth.

A research team from the Okinawa Churashima Foundation and the University of Tokyo has announced the discovery of a new coral species named Ryukyu Coral. The coral was collected in 2013 during a deep-sea survey off the east coast of Okinawa’s main island.

During the Obon holiday, Shinjuku’s Kabukicho To-Yoko area has drawn large numbers of young people, prompting Tokyo authorities to issue warnings.

The Nikkei Stock Average rose for the second consecutive day to reach a new record, surpassing 43,000 yen for the first time on August 14th. The rally was fueled by expectations of a U.S. interest rate cut as early as next month and relief that the worst-case scenario from planned Trump tariffs had been avoided.

Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, which decided to change coaches mid-season, held its first training session under new head coach Shingo Shibata, 40, as it begins its push to return to the J1 league within a year.

McDonald's Japan has issued an apology over the controversy surrounding its Pokémon card promotion in Happy Meals following reports of bulk purchases for resale purposes, as well as instances of food being abandoned or discarded.

Tokyo's Nikkei surpassed its previous all-time high set in July 2024 when trading resumed this week, a move attributed to eased trade concerns, a weaker yen, and investor momentum driven by fear of missing out.

The Nikkei Stock Average closed at a record high of 42,718 yen on August 12th, surpassing the previous peak of 42,224 yen set on July 11th last year for the first time in over a year. The benchmark index gained more than 1,100 yen at one point before ending the day 897 yen higher than last Friday’s close.

A recent in-depth report captured the crucial moment when illegal drug smuggling was foiled at Haneda Airport, Japan’s primary international gateway. With the rise of inbound foreign visitors, airport customs has become an important line of defense against smuggling.

This week, we have a look at the August kabuki performance at the Kabuki-za theatre in Tokyo. (Kabuki In-Depth)

Ever wondered how Japanese indie musicians are breaking out beyond Japan? In this article, we’ll explore how platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and TikTok—along with targeted tools—are helping them reach global fans.

Tokyo, which is a world within a whirl of activity, presents a unique mix of old and new. The city has here the serene shrines that have stood for centuries and the modern skyscrapers that shoot up to the sky; also, it has traditional culture and high-tech trends.

Many families struggle to maintain a regular diary of their daily lives, especially during the summer break, which is a particularly challenging time. Support organizations like Kids Door, which deliver food to children in need, are seeing an increase in requests for help.

We start off the vlog with breakfast at Iki Espresso, a favorite brunch spot of mine. I've taken a few groups of friends who visit from Manila and it never disappoints. (Heidi Sarol)

As generative AI becomes more widespread, reports of sexual deepfake abuse are increasing around the world. Behind the surge are websites that use artificial intelligence to transform ordinary photos into fake nude images and videos—often without the subject’s consent.

A groundbreaking study by Toshitaka Suzuki, a leading figure in animal linguistics, has revealed that birds use their songs not merely to chirp but to communicate specific information, such as the presence of predators or the location of food—functioning as a true form of language.

An increasing number of South Korean men are traveling to Japan to find Japanese wives, with some making repeated trips each year until they meet a potential partner. Behind this trend lies a mix of cultural expectations and economic pressures.

The iconic stick-shaped chocolate snack Pocky has been officially registered as a three-dimensional trademark, marking a major milestone for manufacturer Ezaki Glico.