News On Japan
May 21, 2025
Four years ago, a Sri Lankan woman named Wishma died after repeatedly complaining of illness while detained at a Nagoya immigration facility. The government has admitted to possessing 295 hours of video footage documenting her condition leading up to her death—but has only disclosed five hours of it to the bereaved family.
Image of Family Demands Full Disclosure of 295 Hours of Detention Footage

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has decided to waive basic water charges for all ordinary households in the city this summer, covering approximately 8 million households.

Following a wave of disturbing cases in which women were emotionally manipulated into debt and coerced into prostitution through exploitative tactics used by hosts, the revised Entertainment Business Act aimed at cracking down on abusive host club practices passed Japan's Lower House on Tuesday.


SOCIETY | May 21, 2025
Following a high-speed incident in which a vehicle drove the wrong way for more than 10 kilometers on the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Mie Prefecture, dashcam footage has revealed the near misses and chaos caused before the driver was finally arrested.
Image of New Dashcam Footage Shows Peruvian Man’s Wrong-Way U-Turn on Expressway

A man has been arrested for stealing a hanging scroll regarded as a "masterpiece of ghost paintings" from a temple in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture.

A 15-year-old junior high school student arrested for fatally stabbing an 84-year-old woman on a street in Chiba City was found to have purchased 'monkshood' seeds of the highly toxic plant aconite before the incident, according to police.

A 70-year-old man fell from a high-rise apartment building in Osaka and struck a cyclist on the sidewalk below, resulting in the deaths of both men.


A group of around 220 Ainu from across and beyond Hokkaido performed traditional dances at the Osaka-Kansai Expo on May 17th, conveying the Ainu spirit of mutual support and the importance of diversity and coexistence.
Image of Ainu Perform Traditional Dances at Expo

In Harajuku, Tokyo’s trendsetting district, animal cafes are rapidly multiplying along the bustling Takeshita Street, drawing large crowds of foreign tourists.

Starting in 2027, the number of giant snow sculptures produced by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) for the Sapporo Snow Festival will be reduced from two to one, due to increasing demands on personnel for disaster response and winter training.

Rafting season has begun on the Kitayama River, which flows along the borders of Wakayama, Mie, and Nara prefectures, drawing tourists eager to experience its thrilling rapids.

Japan doesn’t just offer a glimpse of its own culture, it holds up a mirror to ours - subtly exposing how much we long for coherence, respect, and a sense of shared responsibility. (Retro Japan)


A man accused of stalking and assaulting actress Haruna Kojima testified in court that he believed he might have a chance with her if he confessed his feelings directly.
Image of Chinese Fan Arrested for Assaulting Actress

A group of Japanese office workers known as the "Cheerimans" has advanced to the semifinals of the prestigious talent competition show Britain's Got Talent. The team, made up entirely of former members of the Waseda University cheerleading squad, is now aiming for the top prize on a global stage.

The Shōwa Era in HD: restored footage from the 80s -90S under the sound of the best City Pop Vibes. (TRNGL)

A palm tree collapsed near the venue of the Cannes International Film Festival in France on May 17th, seriously injuring a Japanese film industry professional in his 30s.

In this video, we have a look at the 1784 jidaimono dance-drama Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To ("Love's Snowbound Barrier Gate"). (Kabuki In-Depth)


Planning your Tokyo trip? Don’t miss these 5 incredible restaurants—from iconic sushi to Michelin-rated ramen—and the best part? You can reserve them all online through byFood, with no Japanese needed. (Japan by Food)

Although the government released 210,000 tons of reserve rice into the market, only about 10 percent has reached supermarkets and restaurants, equivalent to the nation’s average daily rice consumption.

A 27-year-old Chinese national enrolled at Kyoto University’s graduate school has been arrested for impersonating another person to take the TOEIC English proficiency exam, in what police suspect may be part of an organized cheating scheme.

In Okinawa, the construction industry is exploring the potential of 3D printing as a solution to pressing labor shortages and to reduce project timelines. A demonstration event showcasing this emerging technology was held in the prefecture for the first time.


BUSINESS | May 21, 2025
With rice prices continuing to hover at historically high levels and empty store shelves becoming more common, the Japanese government is under increasing pressure to implement consumer- and producer-friendly policies. In response, authorities are revising the bidding system for releasing reserve rice stocks, aiming to make it more accessible to smaller wholesalers.
Image of Japan Rethinks Rice Bidding System

Cases of online securities accounts being hijacked via computers and smartphones are rapidly increasing, with individual investors seeing their carefully built portfolios vanish in unauthorized trades—often involving unfamiliar Chinese stocks.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the final phase of a major redevelopment project around Shibuya Station, where Tokyu Corporation and JR East plan to construct two new complex buildings at Shibuya Scramble Square and develop a pedestrian deck connecting the station's east and west sides.

U.S. investment fund Dalton Investments has issued a statement criticizing Fuji Media Holdings for rejecting its proposed board nominees, calling the move "regrettable" and stating it "does not appear to have been seriously considered."

Toyota Group unions have secured the highest average wage increase since 2000, with 123 manufacturing unions achieving pay hikes averaging 16,430 yen and a 5.72% increase, according to the All Toyota Labor Federation, which represents about 362,000 members across 307 unions.