Society

Japan Emperor Harvests Rice In Boots

TOKYO, Sep 10 (News On Japan) - Emperor Naruhito harvested rice on September 10th in a paddy field within the Imperial Palace grounds.

At around 3:30 p.m., wearing a long-sleeved shirt, long trousers and rubber boots, the Emperor worked in the paddy at the Biological Research Institute on the palace grounds.

Bending at the waist, he used a sickle to cut 20 clumps in total from two varieties: the table-rice cultivar "Nihonmasari" and the glutinous rice "Mangetsumochi."

The crop was raised from seed sown by the Emperor in April and seedlings he transplanted in May.

Rice cultivation at the palace was begun in 1927 by Emperor Showa and has been passed down from the Emperor Emeritus to the current Emperor.

According to the Imperial Household Agency, the Emperor values rice cultivation—central to Japan’s agrarian culture—and undertakes the work with care.

The harvested rice will be offered at the Niinamesai harvest festival in autumn.

Source: TBS

Japan Braces for Strong Winds and Heavy Rain as Major Typhoon Approaches

As of 9 p.m. on October 10, Typhoon No. 23 (Nakri) was nearly stationary north of Minami-Daito Island, with forecasts indicating that it will change course eastward and approach the seas east of Amami-Oshima by the morning of October 11. Meteorologists warn that from October 12, the typhoon is expected to advance eastward along the Pacific coast of western and eastern Japan, bringing the risk of strong winds, heavy rainfall, and dangerous conditions along coastal regions.

LDP-Komeito Coalition Collapses

Komeito leader Saito informed Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Takaichi on October 10 that his party intends to withdraw from their coalition, bringing an end to a political partnership that has lasted 26 years, including periods when the LDP was in opposition. Leaders and secretary-generals of both parties met in the Diet at 1:45 p.m. on October 10 to discuss whether to continue the alliance, with Komeito insisting during the meeting that strengthening regulations on corporate and organizational political donations be accepted as a condition for maintaining the coalition.

Deadly Tick-Borne Virus Detected in Tokyo Dog for First Time

Tokyo has confirmed its first case of a dog infected with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a potentially fatal disease transmitted by ticks. It is the first time an animal infection has been recorded in the capital.

Why Are Bear Attacks Increasing Across Japan?

Bear attacks are intensifying across Japan, with fatalities in fiscal 2025 already matching the record high set in 2023. Experts warn that the rise reflects not only an increase in bear numbers but also changes in human society that have blurred the line between mountain habitats and residential areas.

Typhoon No. 22 Leaves Hachijo Island Devastated with Roofs Torn Off and Roads Blocked

Typhoon No. 22, classified as a very strong system, made a direct hit on the Izu Islands, leaving widespread damage across the region. On Hachijo Island, located about 300 kilometers south of Tokyo, the storm brought record-breaking rainfall and violent winds, leaving residents stunned by the destruction.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

'Papa Katsu' Cop Indicted for Indecent Acts With Underage Girls

An officer of the Osaka Prefectural Police has been arrested and indicted for allegedly committing indecent acts against a girl he met through “papa katsu,” a practice in which older men provide financial support to younger women in exchange for companionship.

'The True Story of Empress Kojun' Released

Japan's Imperial Household Agency has released The Official Record of Empress Kojun, chronicling the life of Empress Kojun, wife of Emperor Showa and grandmother of the current Emperor.

Typhoon No. 22 Leaves Hachijo Island Devastated with Roofs Torn Off and Roads Blocked

Kyoto’s Pine Trees Wrapped in Straw to Guard Against Winter Pests

In Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, workers carried out the traditional practice of “komo-maki,” wrapping straw mats around pine trees to protect them from harmful insects as the autumn season deepens. The activity takes place each year around “Kanro” (Cold Dew), one of the 24 solar terms marking the seasonal transition toward winter.

Two Hyogo Police Officers Arrested for Possessing Marijuana

Two police officers from the Hyogo Prefectural Police have been arrested for possessing marijuana, admitting they kept it for personal use.

Bear Breaks Into Gunma Supermarket

A bear entered a supermarket in Numata City, Gunma Prefecture on Tuesday night, attacking two male customers before escaping to the south.

Bosozuku Rattle Tokyo's Harumi Flag Apartments

Footage filmed near the Harumi Flag Apartments in Tokyo shows groups of motorcycles revving their engines loudly into the night at a nearby intersection, disrupting the peace of families living in the new residential complex built on the former site of the Tokyo Olympic Athletes’ Village.

University Ex-Employee Arrested for Spraying Bodily Fluid on Female Student’s Shorts

Police have arrested a 43-year-old former employee of Tsuda College in Kodaira, western Tokyo, on suspicion of property damage after he allegedly took a female student’s shorts from a locker and defiled them with bodily fluid.

< 2 3 4 5 >