Emperor wishes 2023 to be year of hope amid pandemic, war

A manager of a men's concept cafe in Tokyo's Akihabara district has been arrested on suspicion of violating the Employment Security Act by introducing female customers to illegal men's massage parlors to pay off high bills.

A Japanese man has been detained at a Thai airport for attempting to smuggle over 200 more scorpions, spiders, and other insects than he declared.

Osaka has topped the 'Japan Urban Power Rankings' for the fourth consecutive year. Conducted by Mori Building's think tank, the ranking evaluates 136 cities across Japan in six categories, including economy, culture, and environment.

Osaka's Minami district, a prominent entertainment area in western Japan, is experiencing a significant shift in its host club industry. Every night, patrons and hosts engage in strategic interactions, but recently, a noticeable change has emerged: an influx of host clubs from Tokyo's Kabukicho district.

Japan's total population stood at 124.88 million as of January 1 this year, a decrease of over 530,000 from the previous year, further accelerating the trend of a declining birthrate and aging population.

The number of raccoons captured in Tokyo is on the rise. These animals, increasingly making homes in residential areas, have even been found raising their young in attics.

The last three 'UFO-style' traffic lights in Japan, which appear to hover like UFOs, will be removed by the end of this month due to aging.

In an effort to curb street solicitation, commonly known as "tachinbo," in Osaka's Umeda district, police and local authorities have decided to install new street lights and implement other measures. This decision aims to address the issue of illegal prostitution activities that have led to over 20 arrests in the past year.