Society

Emperor’s New Year Message: A Year to Move Forward With Hope

TOKYO, Jan 01 (News On Japan) - The Imperial Family welcomed the New Year on January 1, with the Emperor releasing a message through the Imperial Household Agency expressing his hopes that the year ahead will be one in which people in Japan and around the world can move forward with hope.

Reflecting on the 80th anniversary of the end of the war last year, the Emperor said he had once again been reminded of the preciousness of peace and the importance of passing those memories on to future generations.

On New Year’s Day, the Emperor and Empress attended the traditional New Year’s Greeting Ceremony at the Imperial Palace, which was broadcast in full. The annual ceremony is an occasion in which members of the Imperial Family receive New Year greetings from representatives of the government, including the prime minister.

At around 11 a.m., the Emperor and Empress received congratulations from representatives of both houses of the Diet in the Matsu-no-Ma hall of the Imperial Palace. The Emperor said he was truly pleased to celebrate the start of the new year together and added that he prayed for the happiness of the people and the continued development of the nation.

The Empress, Princess Kiko and Princess Aiko attended the ceremony wearing tiaras, while Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of Crown Prince Akishino, took part for the first time following his coming-of-age ceremony in September last year.

Prince Hisahito is also scheduled to make his first appearance at the New Year’s public greeting at the Imperial Palace on January 2.

Source: TBS

Heavy Snow And Bitter Cold Persist Along Sea Of Japan Coast

Intermittent snowfall has continued across areas along the Sea of Japan coast under the season’s strongest cold wave, and Fukui Prefecture issued a special weather alert on January 24th warning of significant heavy snow, with forecasters expecting conditions to worsen again through January 25th.Snowfall intensified around Fukui Prefecture overnight on January 22nd, with even low-lying areas in Hokuriku recording above-average snow depth for this time of year.

Japan Heads Into Snap Election

The Japanese government decided at a Cabinet meeting on January 23rd to dissolve the House of Representatives, with the Lower House set to be formally dissolved at a plenary session later in the day, effectively launching the election campaign.

Japan Astronaut Shares Aurora Footage

Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui has drawn widespread attention for a series of posts showcasing breathtaking views from space, including a video of the aurora that he shared on January 12th shortly before returning.

Inbound Tourists to Japan Top 40 Million for First Time

Japan welcomed more than 40 million foreign visitors in 2025 for the first time, setting a new annual record, even as arrivals from China fell sharply in December.

Straw Serpent Bites Heads in Kyoto

A traditional New Year event known as “Jaduna” was held in Miyazu, Kyoto Prefecture, with local residents praying for a year of good health and protection from illness.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Cabinet Office Car Triggers Deadly Crash in Central Tokyo

A six-vehicle pileup at a busy intersection in Akasaka, Minato Ward, left nine people dead or injured after a Cabinet Office vehicle is believed to have entered the intersection at high speed more than a minute after the traffic light had turned red, investigators said.

Brazilian Tour Guide Arrested for Running Modified GT-Rs

A Brazilian national who runs a guide company has been arrested on suspicion of operating sightseeing tours for foreign visitors using illegally modified sports cars, police said.

Emperor Attends Annual Review Of Japan’s Elite Guards

Japan’s Imperial Guard Police, a little-known force tasked with protecting the Imperial Family and guarding key palace facilities, is marking its 140th anniversary this year, with attention turning to the frontline officers who train daily for emergencies and operate with what they describe as a readiness to risk their lives.

Crackdown on 'Zombie Cigarettes' in Osaka

Two foreign nationals have been arrested and indicted for allegedly smuggling an illegal drug known as “zombie cigarettes” into Japan through Kansai Airport, marking the first time a case involving the substance has been uncovered in Osaka, authorities said on January 20th.

Grave Closures Increase in Japan

A growing number of families in Japan are choosing to close down their family graves, driven by factors such as fewer descendants to inherit burial plots and the difficulty of maintaining graves far from where they now live.

Tattooed Assailant Gets 5 Years

A man accused of stealing items from a convenience store and assaulting an employee who chased after him, causing injuries, has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Abe Shooter Gets Life Sentence

Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, who was charged with murder and other crimes over the shooting death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was sentenced to life in prison on January 21st in a lay judge trial at the Nara District Court, in line with prosecutors’ request after proceedings that spanned 15 hearings since October 2025. Yamagami showed no change in expression as the life sentence was handed down.

Sparks From a Kotatsu Spread to Futon

A building in Owariasahi, Aichi Prefecture, was engulfed in intense flames on January 18th after firefighters received a call shortly after 5 p.m. reporting that a house was on fire.

< 2 3 4 5 >