News On Japan

Kyoto’s Gion Celebrates Spring

KYOTO, Feb 19 (News On Japan) - Kyoto’s annual Miyako Odori, a spring tradition in the Gion Kobu district, is set to return with geiko and maiko performing in stunning asagi-colored costumes.

On February 19th, performers gathered for a costume fitting, revealing this year’s attire for the dance, which has been held each spring since 1872. The theme for this year’s performance, titled ‘Miyako Fuzei Shikinoirodori’ (Kyoto’s Seasonal Elegance), highlights Kyoto’s famous landmarks and changing seasons. The outfits, in a bright blue-green asagi shade, are adorned with motifs of clamshells and seasonal flowers.

Maiko Katsuwa expressed her dedication to the event: "I will do my best in practice, learn as quickly as possible, and give my all from rehearsals to the final performance at the end of April."

This year marks the 151st Miyako Odori, which will run from April 1st to April 30th.

Source: YOMIURI

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Scholars affiliated with the Science Council of Japan formed a symbolic human chain in front of the National Diet building on May 8th, calling for revisions to the government’s proposed reform bill targeting the council’s structure, as deliberations enter their final phase in the Diet.

Across Japan, road collapses have been occurring with increasing frequency, often blamed on aging infrastructure. In one recent incident in Ashioshi, Saitama Prefecture, a truck was swallowed by a gaping sinkhole.

Two men who were arrested for forcibly entering an elementary school in Tachikawa City, Tokyo, and assaulting staff members have been identified as friends of a student's mother. One of the suspects denies the charges, claiming he was only brushing people off after being restrained.

Cherry blossoms have begun to bloom in Wakkanai and Kushiro, marking the near completion of Japan's cherry blossom front for 2025.

As many in Japan returned to work or school on May 7th following the Golden Week holiday, a growing number are reporting post-holiday fatigue and sleep deprivation—conditions that experts warn may point to deeper sleep-related issues.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

An 86-year-old man was arrested for attempting to burglarize an apartment shortly after his release from prison, admitting he had spent 200,000 yen on horse racing the same day he was freed.

With China's economy mired in a prolonged downturn and pressure from U.S. tariffs persisting since the Trump era, a growing number of Chinese citizens are seeking to leave their country. Among the favored destinations, Japan—and in particular, Osaka—is seeing a surge in Chinese immigrants. What lies behind this trend?

As many in Japan returned to work or school on May 7th following the Golden Week holiday, a growing number are reporting post-holiday fatigue and sleep deprivation—conditions that experts warn may point to deeper sleep-related issues.

A 61-year-old woman was arrested and sent to prosecutors on May 4th in Togo, Aichi Prefecture, for allegedly throwing a bird carcass into her neighbor’s yard, in what police say was part of a long-running neighborhood dispute. Security footage captured the entire incident.

A car plunged into the sea from a wharf in Hakodate Port, Hokkaido on May 4th, and an elderly man rescued from the vehicle was later confirmed dead.

A drunken man caused a disturbance at a popular ramen chain in Kanagawa Prefecture on May 2nd, kicking toward the kitchen area and shouting demands over a large serving he claimed he was denied.

A fire broke out before dawn at a ryokan in the Kinosaki Onsen hot spring district in Hyogo Prefecture, engulfing the building and spreading to nearby stores. While all guests were safely evacuated, a male employee was taken to hospital.

A wooden church in Kasamatsu, Gifu Prefecture collapsed on Saturday evening, after years of delayed demolition plans due to financial constraints.