Half of Elementary School Students Suffer Hay Fever

TOKYO, Feb 24 (News On Japan) - About half of elementary school students are experiencing symptoms of hay fever, with approximately one-fourth finding it difficult to concentrate on their studies, according to a survey conducted by Rohto Pharmaceutical.

The survey targeted about 7,000 parents ahead of the full onset of the hay fever season.

The average age at which elementary school students develop hay fever symptoms is 5.8 years old. Approximately 25% of the students surveyed reported that they could not concentrate on their studies, including during classes.

Source: テレ東BIZ

Typhoon No. 26 Brings Heavy Rain and Strong Winds to Okinawa

Typhoon No. 26 was located over the Bashi Channel as of 9 a.m. on November 12th, moving north at a speed of about 10 kilometers per hour. Moist air from the storm is feeding into a stationary front near Okinawa, leading to the development of rain clouds and prompting warnings for heavy rainfall in Okinawa and the Amami region.

Mother of 12-Year-Old Thai Girl Caught In Prostitution Gets Arrest Warrant

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has obtained an arrest warrant for the mother of a 12-year-old Thai girl who was illegally employed at a massage parlor in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward, on suspicion of violating the Child Welfare Act.

Suica Penguin to Retire in 2026

JR East announced on November 11th that it will retire the beloved Suica penguin mascot at the end of fiscal 2026, marking the 25th anniversary of the Suica transportation IC card service, and will introduce a new character from fiscal 2027.

Bear Attacks Car in Hokkaido

A series of bear encounters across Japan is causing growing alarm, with several prefectures reporting aggressive behavior and issuing emergency shooting orders. In one incident last week in Hokkaido, a bear charged at a car and growled as it pursued the vehicle, forcing the driver to reverse to escape, with claw marks later found on the hood.

Japan Mulls Vouchers to Ease High Food Prices

The government is moving to include the use of “okome-ken,” or rice vouchers, in its upcoming package of economic measures. The vouchers can be used to purchase rice and other food items and have already been distributed by several municipalities as part of local initiatives to offset rising living costs.

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From Rock Bottom to Farming

After a painful divorce that nearly tore his family apart, Kenji Kataoka quit his stable job and began a new life as a sweet potato farmer in Kōka, Shiga Prefecture. The single father has spent the past two years working the fields while caring for his teenage son, Sōshi, who stopped attending school in elementary years. As the family faces its second harvest season, small changes begin to appear in their lives.

Japan’s Largest Shogi Tournament for Children Draws 2,500 in Osaka

Japan’s largest shogi tournament for children in elementary school and younger was held in Osaka on November 9th.

Japanese Lacquer Faces Crisis as Production Declines

A shortage of domestically produced lacquer, essential for restoring Japan’s cultural properties, has reached a critical point. For centuries, lacquer—or urushi—has been integral to traditional crafts and national treasures, but production has fallen sharply.

Mass Food Poisoning Strikes High School Dormitory in Hokkaido

A mass food poisoning incident has been confirmed at a high school dormitory in Shiraoi, a town in Hokkaido’s Iburi region, where 63 students suffered symptoms such as diarrhea and stomach pain after eating meals prepared at the facility.

Japan Helps Bring the World’s Largest Egyptian Museum to Life

The Grand Egyptian Museum, which opened on November 1st near the Giza Pyramids outside Cairo, marks one of Egypt’s most ambitious cultural projects in decades—built with extensive Japanese financial and technical support totaling about 84.2 billion yen in yen loans.

FamilyMart Introduces Online Sign Language Interpreting

FamilyMart has introduced an online sign language interpreting service ahead of the first-ever Deaflympics to be held in Japan.

Calculating Risk and Responsibility: The Life of an Actuary

In the 18th installment of the series “Paths for Science Students,” Mitsubishi UFJ Trust Bank’s Eguchi offered a detailed look into the little-known but vital world of actuaries—professionals who apply mathematics, probability, and statistics to assess financial risks in pensions and insurance.

Japan to Introduce Free High School Education Next Year

The Liberal Democratic Party, Nippon Ishin no Kai, and Komeito have reached an agreement on the framework for Japan’s new free high school tuition program, which will begin in fiscal 2026. Under the plan, tuition support for private full-time high schools will be capped at 457,000 yen, while correspondence courses will have an upper limit of 337,000 yen.

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