Ronald McDonald House Breaks Ground in Kyoto

Sep 16, 2026 | News On Japan

KYOTO - A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Kyoto City on September 15 for Ronald McDonald House Kyoto, a residential facility where children undergoing medical treatment will be able to stay together with their families.

The facility is designed to provide a home-like place for children facing illness and their families while they receive medical care away from home.

It is expected to serve children receiving treatment at Kyoto University Hospital and University Hospital, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, along with their families.

The house will be built near Kamo Ohashi Bridge, a location intended to provide convenient access to both hospitals.

The three-story facility will have 18 rooms.

Construction costs of about 800 million yen are being covered by donations from companies, organizations and individuals.

Construction is scheduled to begin in September, with the facility aiming to open during 2027.

Once completed, Ronald McDonald House Kyoto will become the 13th such facility in Japan.

Source: YOMIURI

Typhoon No. 31 Forecast to Approach Japan's Pacific Islands

Typhoon No. 31 (In-fa) has intensified into a very strong storm over the western Pacific, with the Japan Meteorological Agency reporting at 3:45 a.m. on October 27 that the typhoon was nearly stationary near the Marshall Islands, carrying maximum sustained winds of 45 meters per second and gusts reaching 60 meters per second, as forecasts point to a possible approach toward Japan's Ogasawara Islands on October 31.

Japan Faces Further Travel Disruption as Storm Moves East

Travel disruption continued into Tuesday, October 27, as Japan began recovering from heavy rain and rough seas caused by the remnants of Typhoon No. 30, with ferry cancellations confirmed in Nagasaki Prefecture and railway operators monitoring the effects of overnight rainfall in central and eastern Japan.

Controversial Penalty Decision Ends Tokyo High School Soccer Match

A controversial penalty shootout decision during the Tokyo qualifiers for Japan's National High School Soccer Championship on October 24 has sparked debate after a team that believed it had secured victory was forced to continue playing and eventually lost, raising questions about whether a hole in the goal net contributed to an incorrect ruling.

Kanagawa Maglev Station Platform Unveiled for First Time

The underground platform of the planned Kanagawa Prefecture Station on Japan's Chuo Shinkansen maglev line was opened to the public for the first time on October 24, offering visitors a rare glimpse of the high-speed railway project under construction in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, with demand for the tour exceeding available places by approximately 12 times.

Japan's Terra Drone Supplies Weapons to Ukraine as Russia Warns of Retaliation

Japanese drone manufacturer Terra Drone has delivered interceptor drones to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense for the first time, prompting Russia to threaten retaliatory measures on October 21, as Japan considers expanding domestic drone production and strengthening its coastal defenses through thousands of unmanned aircraft.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Education NEWS

How Families Are Turning Overwork Deaths Into Court Cases

In Japan, excessive overtime work could lead to a presumed cause of death. Lots of workers have logged very high overtime hours. Families no longer accept compensation as the end of the matter and have started taking employers to court instead. These cases have started to decide what a company must know about its staff hours, and what it must do once it knows.

Police Video Exposes Threats Behind Illegal Jobs

Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department has released a warning video highlighting the dangers of illegal part-time jobs advertised on social media, showing how young people can be drawn into organized crime through promises of easy money before being threatened with violence if they attempt to escape.

Japan Worker Shortage Puts Paper Teachers in Spotlight

Local governments across Japan are stepping up efforts to recruit people who hold teaching licenses but are not working in schools, known as "paper teachers," as a worsening teacher shortage has seen the national ratio of applicants to available elementary school teaching positions fall from 12.5 in fiscal 2000 to just 2 in 2025.

Chinese Parents Turn to Japan for a Better Education

A growing number of Chinese families are moving to Japan to escape their country's fiercely competitive education system, attracted by a more relaxed learning environment and better quality of life, as Japan's foreign resident population reaches a record 4.28 million and universities report a sharp increase in Chinese students seeking to build their futures in the country.

Record Low 28.2% of Japanese Parents Want a Second Child

The proportion of parents in Japan who want a second child has fallen to a record low of 28.2%, according to a survey by major life insurer Meiji Yasuda, highlighting growing financial pressures, demanding work schedules and concerns about the future that are making it increasingly difficult for families to consider having more children.

Japan Casino School to Train Dealers for MGM Osaka

Japan Casino School has announced plans to launch a new training course in April 2027 to prepare casino dealers for MGM Osaka, the operator of the integrated resort under construction on Yumeshima, Osaka, with a target of training 500 dealers annually ahead of the facility's opening.

Adult Developmental Disorder Diagnoses Surge in Japan

An increasing number of adults in Japan are being diagnosed with developmental disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as greater awareness encourages people to recognize lifelong difficulties and seek support through discussion groups and personal accounts.

90 Ninjas Compete for Japan's Top Title

Around 90 self-proclaimed ninjas from across Japan gathered in Koka, Shiga Prefecture, for the 43rd All-Japan Ninja Championship, competing in traditional ninja-inspired challenges including shuriken throwing, castle wall climbing, and running across water to claim the title of Japan's top ninja.

< 2 3 4 5 >