Society

Japan Falls to 55th in Global Happiness Ranking

Mar 21 (News On Japan) - Japan ranked 55th in the latest World Happiness Report, released on March 20th to coincide with the International Day of Happiness. Finland secured the top position for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Denmark and Iceland, with Nordic countries dominating the upper ranks due to strong welfare and education systems.

Costa Rica and Mexico made their first-ever appearances in the top 10. The United States, at 24th place, marked its lowest ranking ever, with researchers linking the rise in solitary dining—up nearly 50% in the past two decades—to declining happiness levels.

While Japan's ranking dropped compared to last year, making it the lowest among G7 nations, it remained ahead of South Korea and China in Asia.

Ukraine ranked 111th, and Afghanistan remained at the bottom for the second consecutive year, with conflict-affected countries showing consistently low happiness scores.

Source: TBS

Japan to Issue Bicycle Blue Tickets from April 2026

The Japanese government will begin issuing blue tickets for bicycle traffic violations in April 2026, with fines including 5,000 yen for ignoring stop signs and up to 12,000 yen for riding while using a smartphone.

Woman Arrested for Drunk Driving After Eating Alcohol-Filled Chocolate

A 26-year-old woman was arrested in the early hours of April 24th in Kasuya Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. While admitting to the offense, she claimed, "I ate chocolate that contained alcohol."

Naked Man Tied to 20 Crimes in 90 Minutes, One Dead, Several Injured

A man found wandering naked in Saitama Prefecture has been arrested after a string of violent incidents, including a fatal hit-and-run and an attempted abduction, unfolded within roughly 90 minutes on April 21st.

Osaka Expo Attendance Tops One Million

The total number of visitors to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai surpassed one million on April 23rd, just 11 days after the event began. Despite being a weekday, the venue remained crowded, with long lines forming at popular pavilions such as the one from the United States.

Toyota Unveils Lexus ES and New EV at Shanghai Motor Show

At the Shanghai Motor Show, which opened to the press on April 23rd ahead of its public run from April 27th to May 2nd, Toyota Motor Corporation revealed a series of new models, including a new electric vehicle, as it works to regain ground in the increasingly competitive Chinese market.

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Naked Man's Rampage Ends in School Break-In

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