Japanese Sake 'BON' at JPY1.1 Million: Aged Brew Targeting Ultra-Affluent

A local metalworking factory in Tochigi Prefecture has developed a high-performance pot called the "Explosive-Speed Boiling Cooker" that is gaining popularity among outdoor enthusiasts. The pot features 108 protrusions on its base that significantly improve heat conductivity, allowing water to boil much faster than with ordinary pots.

Daihatsu has unveiled a new model of its Move mini vehicle, featuring sliding doors as its standout characteristic—an increasingly essential feature in Japan's family car market.

Parenting and household management can become overwhelming when balancing the everyday routines of meal preparation, playtime, and household chores. Families over time have adjusted to living in more compact spaces with fewer items and have come to realize the importance of organization more than ever before.

Japan’s super-long-term government bond yields—covering 30- and 40-year maturities—have climbed sharply in recent months, reaching their highest levels in years. The upward momentum has also pushed up 10-year yields, which are commonly used as a benchmark in financial markets.

To protect workers from customer harassment, such as unreasonable demands from clients or business partners, the revised Comprehensive Promotion of Labor Measures Law and related legislation were passed and enacted in the Upper House on June 4th. The revision mandates that all companies implement measures against so-called "customer harassment" (kasuhara). It also requires the disclosure of data such as the ratio of women in management positions, aiming to promote a society where women can thrive.

Japan’s men’s beauty market is experiencing rapid growth, reaching 972 billion yen in 2024—an increase of 58.7 billion yen from the previous year—according to a survey by Hot Pepper Beauty. The market, once considered a niche segment, is now being driven by a growing awareness among men of all ages about skincare, grooming, and appearance.

Three major convenience store chains will soon begin selling government stockpiled rice in small packages of 1 to 2 kilograms. FamilyMart will start selling rice harvested in 2021—classified as old stock—at 20 locations in Tokyo and Osaka starting June 6th. The rice will be priced at 360 yen per kilogram, excluding tax, with plans for a nationwide rollout.

Mitsubishi UFJ Bank and other institutions are moving to revise rules on the use of safe deposit boxes following a string of thefts, with the Japanese Bankers Association now working toward a ban on storing cash in these boxes.