Crackdown on Cyclists Using Mobile Phones

A fire broke out on April 14th at an abandoned ryokan in Hannan City, Osaka Prefecture, which has become known online as a "ghost spot." Authorities suspect arson, possibly by trespassers.

A Peruvian man detained at the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau has been awarded 110,000 yen in compensation by the Osaka District Court, which ruled on April 16th that keeping him handcuffed for an extended period was illegal.

An 80-year-old man who calls himself an Expo enthusiast was arrested on April 14th for obstructing operations at the entrance gate of the Osaka-Kansai Expo after falsely claiming that he had a bomb in his backpack.

A group of teenagers were taken into custody by police in a late-night sweep in Tokyo's Kabukicho district, including a runaway girl who had traveled from Hyogo Prefecture.

Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has released its latest population estimate, showing that Japan's total population, including foreign residents, stood at 123,802,000 as of October 1st last year, a decrease of 550,000 from the previous year. This marks the 14th consecutive year of population decline.

A total of 72 people reported symptoms of food poisoning after eating boxed lunches from a catering shop in Tochigi Prefecture, with one person confirmed dead. Local authorities have identified the cause as a norovirus outbreak.

Cherry blossom season is drawing to a close in Ise, Mie Prefecture, but this year, the picturesque scene around the city's famed Isuzu River is missing a key element: water.

Kyoto’s scenic Philosopher’s Path has become the center of a growing debate, as local residents remain divided over whether the gravel trail should be fully paved.