Mari Yamaguchi

Four railway workers, including a supervisor, were killed when a Tokyo-bound Spacia express train struck them at Shin-Kanuma Station on the Tobu Nikko Line in Tochigi Prefecture. The workers were performing herbicide spraying and had not cleared the track as the train approached. Six other workers and about 50 passengers were unharmed. Authorities and Tobu Railway are investigating why the warning and lookout procedures failed; train services were suspended for several hours before resuming.

Record-breaking rainfall in eastern Japan, particularly Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo, caused widespread flooding, road and rail disruptions, landslide warnings, and power outages affecting 68,000 homes. One person died in Ichikawa, while two people were rescued from a flooded vehicle in Kashiwa. Authorities advised nearly 220,000 residents to seek safer shelter as the Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest-level heavy-rain warning for 14 municipalities. The deluge followed a tropical storm that had already caused injuries, fallen trees, and blackouts across northeastern Japan.

Hiroshima commemorated the 81st anniversary of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing with a ceremony attended by about 50,000 people and representatives from roughly 120 countries and regions. Mayor Kazumi Matsui condemned nuclear deterrence and the use of force, warning that they could lead to renewed cycles of violence. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi endorsed a realistic approach to preventing nuclear use but avoided reaffirming Japan’s three non-nuclear principles amid speculation that her hawkish government may revise them. Atomic bomb survivors remain concerned about growing support for nuclear weapons, Japan’s dependence on the U.S. nuclear umbrella and the fading memories of an aging survivor population.

A record heat wave across South Korea, North Korea and Japan has caused widespread illness, deaths, disruption and animal fatalities. South Korea reported thousands of heat-related illnesses, deaths among people and livestock, and record temperatures, prompting President Lee Jae Myung to call the crisis a national disaster; baseball games were canceled after spectators collapsed. North Korean officials advised people to stay cool and consume foods including dog meat, while Japan reported more than 18,000 heat-related hospital transports and the deaths of three lions at a Tokyo zoo. Heat has also complicated earthquake relief efforts in southwestern Japan.

Japan is prioritising domestically developed combat drones and artificial-intelligence-enabled warfare capabilities as it responds to China’s expanding military presence, concerns about a potential Taiwan conflict and North Korean missile development. Four companies have been selected for a rapid drone-development programme, while Toshiba and Pro Drone are pursuing a joint project. The initiative is intended to support coastal defence, compensate for Japan’s shrinking military-age population and strengthen its underdeveloped defence industry, though reliance on Chinese imports in the commercial drone market presents a major challenge. Japan is also expanding missile deployments, defence funding and international weapons partnerships, including frigate cooperation with Australia and potential agreements with New Zealand and the Philippines.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited Kumamoto Prefecture after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake killed 38 people and injured 114, while residents began clearing debris amid temperatures expected to approach 40°C. More than 46,000 households remained without water, fuel shortages persisted and over 8,500 people were staying in crowded shelters, raising concerns about heat-related illness and inadequate sanitation. Temporary housing construction began in Uki and Hikawa. Separately, Habita acknowledged instructing two employees to return to a collapsed Aeon Mall to secure sales proceeds before a gas-related explosion, which killed them; the company apologized to one victim's family. The disaster destroyed about 700 homes and damaged more than 11,300 buildings.

Japan ended the search-and-rescue operation at the collapsed Aeon Mall in Kashima after accounting for all missing people, including five survivors and seven fatalities recovered from the debris. The magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture killed at least 34 people, injured more than 100 and caused extensive damage, while rescue efforts continued elsewhere, including at a Nippon Paper Industries factory where nine employees died. Nearly 70,000 homes lacked fresh water, fuel shortages and extreme heat threatened evacuees, and more than 9,000 people remained in crowded shelters. Authorities continued delivering water, food, portable toilets, air conditioners and partitions as officials assessed widespread building damage and infrastructure disruptions.

Punch, an orphaned Japanese macaque who became famous after clinging to an orangutan plushie, is celebrating his first birthday with thousands of messages from fans in Japan and abroad. After six months of special care, he joined about 50 other monkeys and gradually became more socially integrated, though his viral images brought tens of thousands of visitors to the Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden. Fans say his struggle to survive and gain acceptance inspired them, while zoo staff are showcasing his development in a birthday exhibit.

Japan expressed concern after a Chinese Luyang III-class destroyer reportedly conducted live-fire drills about 180 kilometers southwest of Okinotori, within Japan’s claimed Exclusive Economic Zone, during broader Chinese-Russian naval activity. Japanese officials warned that the exercise could threaten nearby vessels and highlighted expanding Chinese-Russian military cooperation around Japan. China said its military partnership with Russia supports sovereignty, security, and regional stability, rejected what it called speculation and smearing, and disputed Japan’s claim that Okinotori qualifies as an island entitled to an EEZ. Japan’s Joint Staff said the drills did not violate international law but marked the first time it had publicly disclosed such activity in the area.

Japan has enacted a law criminalizing public damage, defacement or removal of its national flag, with penalties of up to two years in prison or a 200,000-yen fine. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the governing Liberal Democratic Party say the measure protects respect for the flag, while opposition lawmakers and constitutional experts warn that its vague wording could intimidate protesters, artists and government critics. The law’s treatment of acts such as burning, crossing out or livestreaming flag-related activity remains uncertain. The measure is especially sensitive because the hinomaru and the rising-sun flag are associated with Japan’s imperial wartime history and conflicts across East Asia.

Japan is preparing revisions to its Imperial House Law that would preserve male-only succession, allow distant male-line descendants to be adopted into the imperial family, and let princesses retain their status after marrying commoners. Critics argue the policy excludes the popular Princess Aiko, reinforces patriarchal discrimination and places intense pressure on male royals and their future wives to produce sons. With only a small number of men remaining in the imperial family and no children among its 16 adults, historians and former officials warn that the succession system is increasingly unstable and may be difficult to sustain.

Japan's experimental RV-X reusable rocket completed a brief first test flight at JAXA's Noshiro Testing Center, lifting off, hovering, moving horizontally and landing safely. The test advances Japan's effort to reduce launch costs and compete with SpaceX and other countries in the commercial space market. JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are developing the rocket as a possible lower-cost successor to the single-use H3 series, with higher-altitude tests planned. The effort also has national-security significance for Japan, which is seeking a stable and commercially competitive space-transport capability amid advances by China and international cooperation with France and Germany.

Haruki Murakami’s 352-page novel The Tale of KAHO went on sale in Japan after a midnight launch at a Tokyo bookstore attended by enthusiastic fans. It is his first full-length novel centered on a lone female protagonist, Kaho, a picture-book author whose life takes a bizarre turn after a blind date. The book expands four stories originally published in Shincho magazine, and readers are particularly interested in Murakami’s portrayal of female perspective, emotions and lookism. The novel is currently available only in Japanese, with no translation plans announced.

China has detained two Japanese citizens accused of violating Chinese laws by allegedly smuggling items linked to rare earths, according to officials in both countries. Japan says the individuals are healthy and that the case remains under investigation, while China urged Japanese citizens and businesses to follow its regulations. The detainees reportedly work for a major Japanese machinery manufacturer. The case follows China’s restrictions on dual-use exports to Japan and comes amid worsening relations over Taiwan and other disputes.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said inspectors will regain access to Iran’s nuclear facilities under a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. The inspections are central to verifying plans to dilute Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile and assessing its nuclear capabilities after the conflict with Israel. US Vice President JD Vance also said Iran had agreed to readmit inspectors, although conflicting statements from Washington and Tehran remained. The inspection process is expected to form a key part of a 60-day effort to negotiate a lasting agreement and end the war.

Japan's H3 rocket successfully returned to flight from Tanegashima Space Center, reaching its target orbit and reportedly deploying six small satellites. The mission introduced the H3-30 configuration, which uses three liquid-fuel engines without boosters to reduce costs and improve competitiveness against SpaceX. The success followed two earlier H3 failures and a lengthy grounding, helping protect Japan's commercial space ambitions, national-security plans and a planned 2028 Mars mission. JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries aim to increase launches to six to eight annually.

Yohei Kono, the former Japanese chief cabinet secretary who issued a landmark 1993 apology acknowledging the Japanese military’s role in coercing “comfort women,” has died at 89. His apology and the later 1995 Murayama statement were regarded as important steps toward confronting Japan’s wartime atrocities and improving relations with China and South Korea. Japanese conservatives, particularly during Shinzo Abe’s leadership, criticized attempts to preserve or defend the apology, while Kono warned that denying historical facts would damage Japan’s reputation. He remained active in efforts to stabilize Japan-China relations until his death.

Japan has restarted reactor No. 6 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, but the move is intensifying concerns about the country's limited spent-fuel storage capacity. Cooling pools at several plants could fill within five years, while Japan's long-standing nuclear-fuel recycling program has stalled and left a large plutonium stockpile. The government is considering a feasibility study for permanent radioactive-waste disposal on the remote, government-owned island of Minamitorishima, but residents, activists and experts question the proposal's safety, environmental impact and political motivation. Temporary measures such as transferring fuel between reactors and using dry-cask storage may provide short-term relief, but Japan still lacks a credible permanent disposal strategy for both routine spent fuel and waste from the Fukushima disaster.

A wandering bear that prompted panic and the closure of all city-run schools in Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, was captured and tranquilized on private property after several days of sightings. No one was injured. Officials used a drone to track the animal and are investigating whether more than one bear was involved. The incident reflects Japan’s growing bear encroachment into populated areas, amid an aging and declining human population and a national plan for systematic culls.

Tropical Storm Jangmi brought heavy rain, flooding risks and major transport disruptions to the Tokyo region, with flights cancelled, trains suspended or delayed, and more than 5,000 homes losing power. Authorities urged residents near rivers and in vulnerable areas to move to higher ground after the storm produced up to 50 centimeters of rain in parts of central Japan. Jangmi had earlier struck Okinawa, causing slight injuries to 15 people, before making landfall in Wakayama and weakening as it moved inland.

A bear injured four people, including three factory employees and an elderly woman, in Fukushima, northeastern Japan. None of the injuries was life-threatening, but the bear remained at large near an industrial compound, prompting a police response and the closure of two nearby schools. Japan has recorded more than 230 bear attacks and 13 deaths in 2025, the highest annual figures on record. Authorities attribute the increasing encounters partly to bear encroachment into areas with aging and declining populations, and are expanding culling, trapping, monitoring and public-safety measures.

Eight captive-bred crested ibises were released into the wild in Hakui, Japan, decades after the species disappeared from the country. The birds originated from a successful conservation programme on Sado Island, whose population has grown to about 500 since releases began in 2008. Chinese breeding support was crucial to the recovery, and further releases are planned. The event also offered a symbol of hope for the Noto region as it rebuilds after the 2024 earthquake. South Korea’s earlier ibis reintroduction is cited as a comparable conservation success.

Japan is giving Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. an unusually high-profile welcome during his four-day state visit as Tokyo seeks to deepen relations with a key defense partner and arms customer amid concerns about China’s regional military activity. Japan and the Philippines are expected to advance negotiations on Abukuma-class destroyers, TC-90 aircraft and other weapons, while pursuing a military intelligence-sharing pact and expanding joint exercises with the United States. The visit also highlights Japan’s postwar shift toward permitting lethal weapons exports, the durability of bilateral ties beyond Marcos’ presidency, and planned cooperation on energy security and oil reserves.

Japanese nurse and mountaineer Naoko Watanabe became the first Japanese woman to climb all 14 of the world's peaks above 8,000 meters, completing the feat on China’s Mount Shishapangma in October 2024. She has also climbed K2 three times, a record recognized by Guinness World Records. Despite these achievements, Watanabe says climbing is primarily about adventure, personal well-being and experiencing people and cultures rather than accumulating records. She plans to lead amateur trekkers to Pakistan’s Nanga Parbat base camp in June, encouraging them to enjoy the scenery and travel at their own pace. Her nursing experience has helped her make critical decisions during dangerous expeditions, including turning back near the summit of Everest when weather conditions threatened her safety.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has launched a 15-member panel of diplomatic, defense and economic experts to review the country’s security strategy, defense budget and funding needs amid heightened military activity by China, North Korea and Russia. The initiative supports her push to accelerate Japan’s military buildup, including preparation for prolonged conflicts and new forms of warfare such as drone operations. Her government recently removed restrictions on lethal-weapons exports, a move welcomed by the United States and defense partners but criticized by pacifists in Japan and China. Japan has already reached its target of raising defense spending to 2% of GDP, and the panel may recommend further increases.

The United States praised Japan for increasing defense spending, expanding missile capabilities, and revising its postwar restrictions on lethal weapons exports. Japan approved a U.S. request to ship Japanese-produced Patriot interceptors made under an American license, although the timing and destination of the missiles prompted speculation about possible support for Ukraine. Japanese officials said shipments would be planned to avoid weakening national defenses, while critics questioned the policy and argued Japan must further strengthen its capabilities amid pressure from China. The changes mark a major shift from Japan’s traditional self-defense-only posture and deepen the country’s military integration with the United States.

Japanese police arrested a 64-year-old South Korean man accused of obstructing an annual spring festival at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine by displaying political banners, including messages condemning convicted war criminals and asserting a claim over an island disputed by Japan and South Korea. The arrest occurred as imperial messengers were due to deliver offerings from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who sent a religious ornament rather than visiting the shrine, while more than 100 right-wing lawmakers prayed there. Yasukuni remains a source of tension with China and South Korea because it honors Japan’s war dead alongside convicted World War II war criminals.

A preliminary magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s northern Sanriku coast, prompting tsunami alerts and evacuation advisories for more than 128,000 residents across Iwate and other northern prefectures. Waves measuring up to 80 centimeters were recorded at ports in Iwate, while authorities warned of waves reaching 3 meters and possible aftershocks for about a week. No major injuries, damage, or abnormalities at nuclear facilities had been reported, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the tsunami threat had passed. The event revived memories of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 22,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.

China’s embassy in Japan says it received threats against Chinese diplomatic missions and Chinese people, including a letter threatening attacks and a social-media bomb threat. Acting Ambassador Shi Yong accused Japanese authorities of failing to investigate or respond effectively, although security around the embassy was later increased after a Japanese army officer allegedly entered the compound with a knife. The incidents come amid worsening China-Japan relations following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments that Chinese military action against Taiwan could prompt a Japanese military response.

Yutaka Matsushige, star of the long-running Japanese series “The Solitary Gourmet,” says the program’s simple depiction of a man enjoying meals alone can transcend language and ethnic differences. The show, based on a manga by Masayuki Kusumi and Jiro Taniguchi, has developed a large following across Asia and recently entered its 11th season. Matsushige also directed and wrote a film adaptation, filmed in Japan, South Korea and Paris, and hopes the series can promote understanding amid global tensions. He jokingly proposed Nicolas Cage or George Clooney for a Hollywood remake.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi welcomed Deep Purple to her office in Tokyo, expressing admiration for the band she has followed for more than 50 years. A former keyboardist and drummer in Deep Purple cover bands, Takaichi presented drummer Ian Paice with signed Japanese-made TAMA drumsticks and joked about playing “Burn” after arguments with her husband. The visit offered a lighthearted respite amid Japan’s strained relations with China, fallout from the war in the Middle East and rising domestic prices. Takaichi also linked the meeting to her government’s strategy of promoting cultural content.

A viral image of Mount Fuji, a red pagoda and cherry blossoms has drawn more than 10,000 foreign visitors a day to Fujiyoshida, causing traffic jams, litter, trespassing and severe crowding. The city cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival and introduced additional security and vehicle restrictions, while residents remain divided between those seeking a return to quieter conditions and businesses benefiting from the tourism boom. The disruption reflects Japan’s wider overtourism challenge as the government aims to increase inbound visitors from 40 million to 60 million by 2030.

A Japanese national detained in Iran since January has been released on bail from Evin Prison, although Japan is pressing for a full release. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed the development, while Japan’s ambassador verified the detainee’s good health. The person is widely believed to be an NHK journalist arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and transferred to Evin Prison. The release followed talks between Japanese and Iranian foreign ministers, while British nationals Lindsay and Craig Foreman remain detained at the prison on espionage charges.

Tokyo’s cherry blossom viewing season has been overshadowed by safety concerns after two aging Somei Yoshino trees collapsed in parks, following an earlier incident that injured a passerby. Officials say tree deterioration is driven by age, fungal growth, heat and dry conditions, while an expert warns that tilting, low-trunk flowering and mushrooms can signal danger. Tokyo has inspected hundreds of trees, felled some and installed warning signs, but officials acknowledge that most measures remain temporary. The incidents have intensified debate over replanting, visitor safety and the effects of climate change, while many people continue to visit the blossoms cautiously.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called for a ceasefire, de-escalation and the restoration of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during Macron’s visit to Tokyo. The leaders agreed to expand cooperation in defense, rare-earth development, nuclear energy and space, including a defense road map, a rare-earth project and collaboration on fast-reactor and nuclear-fuel recycling technology. Their discussions took place amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of France and his demand that countries relying on the Strait of Hormuz help keep it open. Macron and Takaichi are also scheduled to visit a Japanese space-debris-removal company before Macron travels to South Korea.

Japan and Indonesia agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security, critical minerals, nuclear power, liquefied natural gas and supply-chain resilience amid uncertainty caused by the war involving Iran. A March 15 agreement envisages Japanese expertise and possible development-bank funding for a nuclear plant in Indonesia, while Indonesia is seeking Japanese help processing rare earths and expanding renewable and nuclear energy. Japan is diversifying supplies and releasing oil reserves as it faces heavy dependence on Middle Eastern oil and imported LNG.

Japan has deployed upgraded Type-12 land-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometers at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto, marking a significant expansion of its strike-back capability. A hypersonic glide vehicle has also been deployed at Camp Fuji, with further missile and hypersonic-weapon deployments planned through March 2028. Japan intends to add U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles to its destroyers as it increases defense spending in response to concerns about China's military activity, particularly around Taiwan and the southwestern Japanese islands. Local residents oppose the deployments, warning that they could escalate regional tensions and make their communities targets.

A man armed with a knife fatally stabbed a woman believed to be a Pokémon store employee in Tokyo’s Sunshine City shopping complex before stabbing himself. Both were taken to hospital in critical condition and later died. Police are investigating the incident as murder; shoppers and nearby employees fled or secured their stores while children were among the customers present.

China lodged a formal protest with Japan after a man claiming to be a Japanese Self-Defense Forces officer allegedly scaled the wall and entered the Chinese Embassy compound in Tokyo. The suspect was reportedly detained and handed to police; no injuries were reported. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian demanded a thorough investigation, punishment, an explanation and preventive measures, while Japanese authorities and the Ground Self-Defense Force said they were investigating. The incident comes amid worsening China-Japan tensions following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments about a possible Chinese military action against Taiwan.

Micro-drones sent into Unit 3 of Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant captured the first clear footage of the bottom of its reactor pressure vessel since the 2011 meltdown. The video shows a large hole, damaged internal structures and hanging deposits believed to be melted nuclear fuel debris. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings also collected radiation data and created a three-dimensional map to support future investigations and the development of removal technology, a process expected to take decades.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is traveling to Washington for talks with President Donald Trump that are expected to focus heavily on the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, rather than primarily on trade and China. Japan has no current plans to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, citing constitutional and legal constraints, but may consider limited missions after a ceasefire. Takaichi is expected to emphasize Japan's military buildup, cooperation on missile defense and Indo-Pacific security, while seeking to protect energy supplies and maintain ties with Iran. The leaders are also expected to discuss a $550 billion Japanese investment package involving U.S. energy, advanced manufacturing and possible rare-earth development.

Shigeaki Mori, a Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor and historian, has died at 88. After discovering that 12 American prisoners of war were among those killed in the 1945 bombing, Mori spent more than 40 years researching their identities and contacting their families. His work led to U.S. confirmation of the deaths, earned him the Kikuchi Kan Prize, and was recognized by Barack Obama during the former president's 2016 visit to Hiroshima.

Two boats carrying 21 people, including 18 Kyoto high school students visiting the Henoko area for a peace education program, capsized off Okinawa. A 17-year-old student and the captain of one boat died, while two others were injured. The Japan Coast Guard is investigating; officials said a wave advisory was active, but there was no evidence of a collision. The accident occurred near Henoko, the contested relocation site for the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, a project opposed by many Okinawans because of concerns about accidents, noise, pollution and crime.

Japan commemorated the 15th anniversary of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster, which killed more than 22,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged to accelerate recovery while promoting reactor restarts and nuclear power, reversing Japan’s post-disaster phase-out policy. Although infrastructure has largely been rebuilt, many residents have not returned and local communities and economies remain weakened. Cleanup at Fukushima Daiichi continues to face severe radiation risks, delays in removing melted fuel and public resistance to plans for reusing contaminated soil.

Fifteen years after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear accident, innkeeper Tomoko Kobayashi is working to revive Odaka, a former textile town where only about one-third of the pre-disaster population has returned. She reopened her inn, conducts radiation surveys and collaborates with citizen monitors who map contamination and test local food. Although radiation levels have declined and TEPCO has advanced decommissioning work, hundreds of tons of melted fuel remain at the plant and removal could take decades. Local monitors continue to challenge official assurances that Fukushima is safe, noting persistent contamination, restrictions on agricultural products and growing pressure to stay silent.

Japan is preparing to deploy upgraded Type-12 long-range land-to-ship missiles at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto by the end of March, with a second deployment planned at Camp Fuji later in the year. The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-produced missiles have a range of about 1,000 kilometers, enabling them to reach mainland China, compared with 200 kilometers for the original model. The deployment has drawn protests from local residents and criticism from Kumamoto's governor over the lack of notification. Japan has accelerated its military buildup across the southwestern islands as tensions with China over Taiwan increase, while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government plans further defense-policy changes, expanded unmanned and long-range weapons capabilities, and an easing of restrictions on lethal arms exports.

Japan and Canada agreed to deepen cooperation on defense, economic security and energy supplies amid concerns that the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel could disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Ministers Sanae Takaichi and Mark Carney endorsed diversifying energy resources, strengthening supply chains, expanding trade and investment, and launching dialogues on economic security and cyber policy. The countries will also negotiate a defense pact to facilitate military visits and exercises and increase cooperation between their arms industries. Separately, Japan’s governing coalition proposed ending restrictions on lethal weapons exports, signaling a further shift away from the country’s postwar pacifist policies.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that a second Japanese national is being detained in Iran and said both detainees are safe. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi requested their early release from Iran’s ambassador. The Committee to Protect Journalists identified the first detainee as NHK Tehran bureau chief Shinnosuke Kawashima, who it said was arrested by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and transferred to Evin Prison.

Punch, a Japanese macaque abandoned by his mother at Ichikawa City Zoo, is showing signs of successfully integrating with the other monkeys. After initially relying heavily on an orangutan plush toy for comfort and to develop his clinging ability, he is now climbing on, sitting with, receiving grooming from and being hugged by adult monkeys. He still sleeps with the toy, but zoo staff regard his reduced dependence on it as a positive sign and hope he will eventually sleep alongside the troop.

Emperor Naruhito expressed concern that the emotional and social scars of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster remain unhealed, despite progress in rebuilding infrastructure. He emphasized restoring livelihoods and communities, preserving disaster lessons for younger generations and listening to affected residents. The remarks also included hopes that his daughter, Princess Aiko, will contribute to international peacekeeping, although Japan's male-only succession rules prevent her from becoming monarch and would require her to relinquish royal status if she marries a commoner.

An anonymous donor gave Osaka’s Waterworks Bureau 21 kilograms of gold bars valued at 560 million yen, or about $3.6 million, to help repair and replace aging water pipes. Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama said the city would honor the donor’s request. Osaka recorded 92 water-pipe leaks beneath city roads in the fiscal year ending March 2025 and needs to renew 259 kilometers of pipes, with a two-kilometer replacement estimated to cost about 500 million yen. Concerns about infrastructure safety intensified after a fatal sinkhole in Saitama was linked to a damaged sewer.

Sanae Takaichi is expected to be formally reappointed as Japan’s prime minister after her Liberal Democratic Party won a lower-house supermajority. She plans to use the mandate to expand military capabilities and arms exports, tighten immigration rules, promote traditional family and imperial succession policies, and take a harder line toward China, including over Taiwan. Her immediate priorities include cutting food sales taxes and addressing rising prices, although economists warn that increased spending could worsen inflation and Japan’s debt burden. Takaichi must also manage relations with Donald Trump, meet pressure for greater defense spending and investment in the United States, and respond to criticism that proposed security and social policies could threaten civil rights.

Exit polls indicate that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition with the Japan Innovation Party is likely to win a majority in Japan's 465-seat lower house and could secure more than two-thirds of the seats. Such a result would give Takaichi broad control over parliamentary committees and allow her to pursue an agenda centered on economic investment, stronger military capabilities, expanded weapons exports, tougher immigration rules and anti-espionage measures. The projected victory comes despite the LDP's recent funding and religious scandals and a hastily called election held amid snowfall. The fragmented opposition is expected to lose substantial ground, while the far-right Sanseito is projected to make significant gains. Critics warn that Takaichi's rapid election strategy prioritizes political survival and that her proposed security and immigration policies could threaten civil rights and worsen tensions with China.

Sanae Takaichi's charisma, work ethic and popularity with younger voters have strengthened Japan's long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party ahead of a lower-house election. The first woman to serve as Japan's prime minister, she has followed Shinzo Abe's nationalist agenda while advocating greater military spending, patriotic education and traditional family values. Her positions on Taiwan, same-sex marriage, imperial succession and married couples' surnames have drawn criticism, particularly from feminists, but supporters praise her leadership and authenticity. Expected electoral gains could enable her to move Japan further right on security, gender and immigration.

TSMC plans to manufacture 3-nanometer semiconductors at its second plant in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture, expanding the country’s role in advanced chip production for AI, robotics and autonomous vehicles. The announcement came during a meeting between TSMC Chairman and CEO C.C. Wei and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who presented the project as important to Japan’s economic security. TSMC is also expanding in the United States, while Japan is providing substantial subsidies to domestic chipmaker Rapidus. The company expects strong AI-related demand and plans to raise 2026 capital spending to $52 billion–$56 billion.

Japan has successfully retrieved rare-earth-rich seabed sediment near Minamitorishima at a depth of nearly 6,000 meters, which officials describe as a world first and an initial step toward domestic production. The effort aims to reduce Japan’s dependence on China, which controls much of the global supply of heavy rare earths used in defense equipment and electric vehicles. Japan still needs to analyze the sediment and demonstrate commercially viable mining, separation, and refining processes, while tensions with China over Taiwan and restrictions on dual-use exports have heightened supply-chain concerns.

A Pokemon card event scheduled at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine was canceled after strong criticism from China. The Pokemon Company apologized, saying the privately organized children’s event had been mistakenly posted on its official website and should not have been held. Chinese state media condemned brands that appear to disregard Japan’s wartime history. The incident comes amid worsening Japan-China relations following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments about possible Japanese involvement if China attacks Taiwan.

The Tokyo District Court ordered North Korea to pay four survivors of the 1959–1984 repatriation program 22 million yen each, finding that they were lured to North Korea by false promises and then deprived of freedom for decades. The ruling followed a 2023 Tokyo High Court decision affirming Japan’s jurisdiction and recognizing violations of the plaintiffs’ fundamental rights. Enforcing the judgment will be difficult because Japan and North Korea have no diplomatic relations and Pyongyang did not participate in the case. Survivors and rights advocates urged Japan to help victims and their families, pursue accountability for Chongryon and seek ways to recover damages.

Twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei will leave Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo for China, ending Japan’s half-century with pandas and dimming hopes of an immediate replacement. Their departure has drawn large crowds and threatens businesses around the zoo, with an estimated annual economic loss of about 20 billion yen. The story places the development in the context of worsening Japan-China political, trade and security tensions, including disputes over Taiwan and the East China Sea. China’s control of overseas panda loans underscores how the animals have long served as instruments of diplomacy.

The restart of Unit 6 at Japan’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant was suspended just hours after beginning because of a control-rod malfunction. Operator TEPCO said there was no immediate safety risk and is investigating, but the timeline for resuming operations is unclear. The world’s largest nuclear plant had remained inactive since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, which severely damaged TEPCO’s reputation and left the company responsible for an estimated ¥22 trillion cleanup. Japan is turning increasingly to nuclear power to meet electricity demand, and the reactor’s planned output would supply more than one million households in the Tokyo region.

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings is preparing to restart reactor No. 6 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, the first TEPCO-operated reactor to resume production since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The restart could supply enough electricity for more than one million households and supports Japan's shift back toward nuclear power amid rising energy demand and costly fossil-fuel imports. However, TEPCO's record at Fukushima, earlier safeguarding violations at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, earthquake risks and doubts about evacuation routes continue to fuel local opposition. TEPCO has spent more than 1 trillion yen on safety measures, but the reactor's restart remains a major test of public confidence in Japan's nuclear policy.

Tetsuya Yamagami is due to be sentenced for the 2022 assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Nara. Yamagami pleaded guilty and said he targeted Abe because of his links to the Unification Church, which he blamed for his family’s hardships. Prosecutors seek life imprisonment, while his lawyers request no more than 20 years. The case exposed ties between the church and Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, contributing to investigations, the dissolution of the church’s Japanese branch and new restrictions on religious donation solicitations, while also prompting changes to protection for political figures.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung staged an unusual K-pop drumming performance in Nara after a summit focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation. The leaders said their shared rhythm symbolized hopes for closer ties and reaffirmed plans for continued dialogue and shuttle diplomacy. The performance included BTS's “Dynamite” and “Golden” from Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters, whose commercial success and Golden Globe wins are also highlighted.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is visiting Japan for a summit with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi focused on trade, China, North Korea, U.S. alliances and rebuilding trust. The leaders are seeking closer cooperation despite longstanding disputes over Japan’s colonial rule of Korea, while also navigating pressure from Beijing and Washington. Lee is pursuing Japanese support for South Korea’s entry into the CPTPP and discussing trilateral security cooperation with the United States, although Fukushima-related import concerns remain an obstacle. The summit may also address humanitarian efforts to recover the remains of Korean forced laborers killed in a 1942 Japanese mining accident.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Nara for their first full summit, seeking to strengthen bilateral ties as tensions between Japan and China grow. The talks are expected to cover trade, China, North Korea, defense spending and the unpredictable diplomacy of Donald Trump. Both governments support closer Japan–South Korea–United States cooperation, while Lee is expected to maintain a neutral position between Tokyo and Beijing. Although historical disputes over Japan’s colonial rule, forced labor and wartime sexual slavery remain sensitive, the leaders are expected to emphasize forward-looking relations and may discuss cooperation on identifying Korean forced laborers who died in a 1942 mining accident in Japan.

China-Japan relations ended a tense week with no clear improvement. Beijing defended new export controls on dual-use goods, while Chinese state media condemned what it called Japan’s renewed militarism after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi raised the possibility of intervention in a Taiwan conflict. Japan reported delays affecting exports such as sake and processed food and warned that existing Chinese rare-earth controls were seriously disrupting global supply chains, though it did not announce retaliation. China simultaneously highlighted closer ties and new trade agreements with South Korea. Historical tensions and diplomatic hostility remain, despite continued official relations and a small conciliatory gesture from China over the death of a former Japanese ambassador.

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority has scrapped the safety screening for reactors 3 and 4 at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant after confirming that operator Chubu Electric Power fabricated seismic data that understated earthquake risks. The regulator may inspect the company’s headquarters, while Chubu’s president has apologized and promised an independent investigation. The decision threatens Japan’s efforts to restart reactors to lower energy costs and emissions amid continuing public concern following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Japan is rapidly expanding its military capabilities and defense spending in response to China’s growing regional activity and U.S. pressure for stronger allied defenses in Asia. The shift builds on decades of reinterpretations of Article 9, including Shinzo Abe’s 2014 move toward permitting collective defense and Fumio Kishida’s 2022 decision to acquire long-range strike-back capabilities. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government plans a defense budget exceeding 9 trillion yen, expanded missile and unmanned-weapons capacity, fewer arms-export restrictions, and closer defense-industrial cooperation with the UK, Italy, Australia, and the United States. China says Japan is abandoning its peaceful postwar path, while Japanese pacifists and atomic-bomb survivors oppose proposals such as nuclear submarines and possible nuclear possession.

Hundreds of Allied POWs, including Dutch, American, British and Australian prisoners, were held in brutal Japanese camps in Nagasaki when the United States dropped the Fat Man atomic bomb on 9 August 1945. Prisoners endured forced labor, malnutrition and abuse; at least eight died directly in the bombing at the camp closest to ground zero, while others suffered severe injuries and radiation exposure. Families, survivors and researchers are now documenting these overlooked experiences and promoting reconciliation between former POW communities and Japanese atomic-bomb survivors. The article also notes the limited recognition extended to former POWs through Japan’s survivor-certification system and continued efforts to bring the history into public view.

Japan’s Cabinet approved a record defense budget exceeding 9 trillion yen for fiscal 2026, a 9.4% increase aimed at reaching the country’s target of defense spending equal to 2% of GDP. The plan prioritizes long-range Type-12 missiles, coastal surveillance, imported and domestically developed drones, and a new system known as SHIELD. The expansion responds to China’s growing military activity and worsening tensions over Taiwan, while Japan also plans to deepen defense cooperation with Britain, Italy, Australia and the United States. The budget requires parliamentary approval and will be funded partly through higher corporate, tobacco and income taxes, although longer-term funding remains uncertain.

Former Emperor Akihito celebrated his 92nd birthday in stable health after medication improved a condition involving insufficient blood flow to the heart. He continues researching goby fish and visiting a biology laboratory, while marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with Empress Emerita Michiko through moments of silence and visits to historically significant places. Akihito remains known for efforts to acknowledge Japan's wartime suffering and victims.

Japan's H3 rocket failed to place the Michibiki 5 navigation satellite into its planned orbit after the second-stage engine shut down prematurely, and JAXA could not confirm whether the satellite separated or where it ended up. The incident is the rocket's second failure after its 2023 debut, following six successful flights, and comes after a recent launch abort caused by a ground-system abnormality. The failure delays Japan's plans to expand its Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, reduce reliance on U.S. GPS, and develop a cost-competitive launch capability important to national security. JAXA and the Japanese government have launched an investigation and pledged to restore confidence in the program.

Japan has lifted its megaquake advisory for the northeastern coast one week after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck offshore Aomori, followed by a magnitude 6.9 tremor. Officials said the probability of a larger earthquake has decreased but stressed that the danger has not disappeared and urged residents to remain prepared. The quakes caused more than 40 mostly minor injuries, damaged homes and generated tsunami waves of up to 70 centimetres, though no tsunami damage was reported. Experts warn that the Japan and Chishima trenches remain capable of producing magnitude-8 or larger earthquakes and tsunamis exceeding 10 metres, with an unruptured section near Iwate still considered a potential source of major seismic activity.

Thousands of visitors queued at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo to see twin pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei before they return to China in late January, leaving Japan without pandas for the first time in over 50 years. Their departure comes amid sharply deteriorating Japan–China relations following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments about a possible military response to a Chinese blockade of Taiwan, subsequent Chinese restrictions and military activity, and canceled cultural exchanges. Japanese officials and zoo staff expressed hope that panda diplomacy will continue and that new pandas may eventually be loaned to Japan, while the zoo plans to promote other animals in the interim.

Twin giant pandas born at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, will return to China in late January, leaving Japan without pandas for the first time since China began lending them in 1972. Their parents returned to China last year, and prospects for replacement pandas are uncertain amid worsening Japan-China relations. Tensions have grown after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan’s military could become involved in a Taiwan contingency, followed by Chinese restrictions on tourism and exchanges, canceled cultural events, and a military confrontation involving aircraft near southern Japan.

Shiori Ito’s Oscar-nominated documentary Black Box Diaries has finally premiered in Japan after a prolonged delay caused largely by legal disputes over the use of interviews and footage without consent. The film recounts Ito’s allegation that former TBS journalist Noriyuki Yamaguchi raped her in 2015, her struggle to obtain a police investigation, and the institutional barriers she encountered. Japan’s Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that Ito was subjected to non-consensual sex and ordered Yamaguchi to pay damages, while dismissing his countersuit. Ito has apologized for using unauthorized material and altered or removed identifying details, but maintains that some footage is essential to telling her story. The limited Tokyo release received an encouraging audience response, with Ito and distributor Toei Agency hoping it will lead to screenings at more Japanese theaters.

American playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris was released from Japanese police custody three weeks after his arrest at Okinawa’s Naha Airport on suspicion of smuggling 0.78 grams of MDMA. Authorities have not disclosed whether he was released on bail or left Japan, and prosecutors have not confirmed whether the investigation was dropped or remains active. Harris is known for the Tony-nominated play Slave Play and appearances or production roles in Emily in Paris, Gossip Girl and Euphoria.

Japan issued an advisory after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off Aomori, warning that the risk of a magnitude 8 or larger quake is elevated for the following week, although officials stress that the advisory is not a prediction and estimate the probability at about 1%. The affected area includes Hokkaido and the Sanriku coast, where the Japan and Chishima trenches have generated major earthquakes. Authorities are urging residents to prepare emergency bags, secure furniture, discuss evacuation plans and remain calm. A future Hokkaido-Sanriku megaquake could produce a tsunami of up to 30 metres, kill nearly 200,000 people and cause as much as 31 trillion yen in economic damage. The advisory follows Japan's experience with the 2011 disaster and the confusion and panic triggered by a separate Nankai Trough advisory in 2024.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has gained a devoted following through her repeated “work, work, work” mantra, distinctive style, and status as the country's first female prime minister. Her black Hamano Grace Delight Tote and pink Mitsubishi Jetstream pen have triggered a surge in demand, while younger women have adopted the label “Sana-katsu” to describe their support. Takaichi has clarified that her rhetoric was not intended to promote overwork, despite reporting that she sleeps as little as two hours a night while also caring for her recovering husband. Analysts view her as an unconventional role model for women, although her staunchly conservative positions on gender, surnames, and male-only imperial succession may limit her appeal beyond style and personality.

Princess Aiko's popularity has intensified calls to amend Japan's male-only Imperial House Law so she could become emperor. Supporters argue that excluding women threatens the survival of an already shrinking royal family and reinforces gender inequality, while conservative politicians defend male-line succession as part of Japan's national identity. With only Prince Hisahito representing the younger generation of eligible male heirs, experts warn that the monarchy faces a critical long-term crisis. Japan has previously had eight female monarchs, but the current prohibition dates from the modern legal system established in the late 19th century.

The Tokyo High Court ruled that Japan’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriage is constitutional, reversing a lower-court decision and rejecting damages sought by eight plaintiffs. The ruling is the first defeat for marriage-equality advocates among six related high-court cases, all of which are expected to be appealed to Japan’s Supreme Court. Plaintiffs condemned the decision but vowed to continue fighting, while the conservative government and Liberal Democratic Party maintain that civil-law marriage is limited to opposite-sex couples. Japan remains the only G7 country without legal recognition or binding protections for same-sex couples.

Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, may soon face pressure over whether to enter the male-only sumo ring to present the Prime Minister’s Cup. Her conservative views on gender and traditional family structures, along with concern about alienating right-wing voters, make her unlikely to challenge the practice. Critics argue that excluding women is outdated and has no clear basis in ancient sumo tradition, citing the sport’s historical evidence of female participation and controversies including the 2018 removal of women providing emergency medical aid. The Japan Sumo Association continues to defend the rule, while an expert review launched after the 2018 incident has yet to produce a decision.

Japan’s Cabinet approved a 21.3 trillion yen ($135.4 billion) stimulus package featuring energy subsidies, a gasoline-tax cut, child cash payments and rice or other food vouchers to ease the impact of rising prices and support economic growth. The plan also aims to offset pressure from U.S. tariffs and raise GDP by an estimated 24 trillion yen, although Japan’s economy contracted at an annualized rate of 1.8% in the July–September quarter. The spending has intensified concerns about Japan’s already severe public debt, while bond yields have risen and the yen has weakened. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s minority coalition must secure parliamentary approval for a supplementary budget by year-end, and opposition lawmakers and experts question whether the measures will produce lasting relief or instead fuel further inflation.