Jun 04 (VICE) - Motherboard goes to Japan to visit the Henn-na Hotel, which is staffed almost entirely by robots. Our host Ben Ferguson meets some of our future android companions and talks to CEO Hideo Sawada about his vision to replace human workers with machines.
On February 2nd, Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in Chiba Prefecture held its annual Setsubun ceremony, with actors and sumo wrestlers joining the traditional bean-throwing ritual on the day before spring begins.
As the Lunar New Year holiday brings an influx of tourists from across Asia, Japan is experiencing a significant rise in inbound visitors. With attractions catering to Chinese-speaking tourists and picturesque winter landscapes drawing crowds to snow-covered regions, efforts to achieve a full post-pandemic recovery in inbound tourism are gaining momentum.
A massive sinkhole swallowed a truck in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, on January 28, with dramatic footage capturing the moment the road suddenly gave way.
Hokkaido is taking steps to address overtourism issues as large numbers of foreign visitors arrive during the Lunar New Year holiday.
The hydrogen fuel cell ship "Mahoroba," designed to connect central Osaka with the Expo venue in Yumeshima in approximately 60 minutes, was unveiled to the media ahead of its commercial launch during the Expo period.
Ahead of Setsubun on February 2nd, maiko and geiko gathered at Kyoto’s Yasaka Shrine to perform a traditional bean-scattering ritual.
A large crowd gathered in Tokyo's Akihabara district on January 30th, leading to chaos as customers rushed to secure a chance to buy a highly sought-after Nvidia graphics card.
The Japanese government is set to nominate the "Asuka-Fujiwara Palaces" in Nara Prefecture for UNESCO World Heritage status, aiming for registration next summer.
Shinji Aoba, the defendant sentenced to death in the first trial for the Kyoto Animation arson-murder case that claimed 36 lives, has withdrawn his appeal, finalizing the death sentence.
The annual 'Midwinter Endurance Tournament' was held at Tsurumi Mountain, standing 1,300 meters above sea level in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture.
Gifu Police have announced that what was initially reported as a stabbing incident in Gifu City was, in fact, an act of self-harm by the victim.
Tokyo police are investigating a shocking case involving the disposal of a woman’s remains on the shores of Izu Oshima. The arrested suspect, 45-year-old Sōtatsu Yanase, who operates a tatami shop, has admitted to dismembering the body of his partner, Shizuka Takase, 37, using farm tools before disposing of her bones on the beach.
We got Exclusive access inside a Japanese female prison to show you first hand how life is like for these inmates and what they are doing on the inside to rehabilitate themselves for when they leave. (Japanese Food Craftsman)
