Fire Breaks Out at Nagoya's MIRAI TOWER

Sep 27, 2026 | News On Japan

NAGOYA - A fire broke out at the observation deck of Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER in central Nagoya on Saturday, prompting 30 visitors to evacuate, although no injuries were reported.

Police and firefighters received multiple emergency calls around noon reporting smoke coming from near the middle of the tower.

A total of 21 fire engines and other emergency vehicles were dispatched, and the blaze was extinguished about an hour and a half later.

According to authorities, the fire burned neon tubes used for electrical decorations at the tower's Sky Balcony observation deck as well as part of a wall in the elevator machinery room.

Thirty visitors who were inside the facility evacuated during the incident. No one was injured.

Police and fire officials are investigating the cause of the fire.

Source: FNN

Typhoon No. 32 Forecast to Intensify as High Waves Threaten Japan Islands

As of 6 a.m. on November 9, Typhoon No. 32 was moving northwest over waters south of Japan and north of Okinotorishima, with forecasts indicating it would intensify into a very strong typhoon by early November 10 before approaching the Ogasawara Islands later in the week.

Magnitude 5.7 Earthquake Shakes Central Japan

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan early on November 8th, registering an upper 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale in Aichi Prefecture and injuring at least 21 people, while damaging buildings and disrupting Shinkansen and conventional railway services across the region.

Railways Reopen Following Aichi Earthquake

The Tokaido Shinkansen resumed normal-speed operations across its entire route at 8:57 a.m. on November 8th after a magnitude 5.7 earthquake disrupted rail services across central Japan, with JR Central reporting delays to 29 bullet trains affecting approximately 17,000 passengers, while Meitetsu restored services across its entire network by 9:15 a.m. following widespread morning suspensions.

Putin Places Japan Tobacco Under Russian Control

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree placing the Russian operations of Japan Tobacco (JT) under the temporary management of a local company, effectively stripping the Japanese tobacco giant of control over its business in the country and prompting a formal protest from Tokyo demanding that the measure be immediately withdrawn.

Bears May Know When Astringent Persimmons Become Sweet

Bears preparing for winter hibernation may be able to determine when astringent persimmons have lost their bitterness and become suitable to eat, according to research by the University of Hyogo, which suggests that prioritizing the removal of sweet persimmon trees could help prevent bears from entering residential areas.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Seven-Year-Old Taken Into Custody Over Shorinji Racing

Police across Japan are struggling to contain a rapidly spreading social media trend known as "Shorinji Racing," in which children and teenagers shout "Shorinji" outside police stations and police boxes before running away, with Osaka police recording approximately 280 related incidents and taking around 50 minors aged between 7 and 16 into protective custody or questioning them.

350-Year-Old Deer Antler-Cutting Tradition Held in Nara Park

A traditional deer antler-cutting ceremony dating back some 350 years was held at Nara Park, where handlers chased and captured male deer before carefully removing their antlers to prevent injuries to visitors during the autumn mating season.

Man Charged With Stealing 451 Shoe Insoles

A 35-year-old unemployed man has been indicted in Toyama Prefecture on November 6 for allegedly breaking into a junior high school and stealing insoles from students' indoor shoes, with police seizing 451 insoles from his home and investigating suspected thefts at more than 30 schools across the prefecture.

Man Arrested for Assaulting Seven Women in 15 Minutes in Tokyo

A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after allegedly attacking seven women in a series of unprovoked incidents near Jimbocho intersection in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on October 17, with the assaults occurring at four locations over approximately 15 minutes.

Couple Arrested for Secretly Filming Women at Bathhouses

A married couple from Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, has been arrested on suspicion of secretly filming women changing clothes and bathing at public bathing facilities, with police saying the pair carried out around 100 illicit recordings and earned approximately 5 million yen by selling the footage online.

Kabukicho Host Promises Romantic Getaway to Lure Woman

A former host club worker in Tokyo's Kabukicho entertainment district and a recruiter have been arrested on suspicion of exploiting a woman's romantic feelings to persuade her to work at sex establishments, with police alleging that the former host promised they could travel together if she helped him earn enough money.

Mother Sentenced to Eight Years for Killing Two Children in Ibaraki

A 42-year-old mother accused of killing her two children at their apartment in Ibaraki Prefecture in July 2023 was sentenced to eight years in prison by the Mito District Court on November 5th, after judges ruled that her ability to stop herself from committing the crime had been severely impaired by her mental condition, resulting in a sentence 10 years shorter than prosecutors had requested.

Saitama Police Officer Critically Injured After Seizing Gun and Shooting Himself

A 37-year-old police sergeant from the Saitama Prefectural Police Department was left unconscious and in critical condition after grabbing a handgun from another officer and shooting himself in the head at a waste treatment facility in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, on November 4.

< 2 3 4 5 >