A Japanese Self-Defence Forces' helicopter crashed in the country's southern prefecture of Oita, a local TV broadcaster reported on Friday. ( read original story ...)
Tokyo’s controversial Yasukuni Shrine picks ex-admiral as chief priest
Japan's Yasukuni Shrine has picked a former military commander as its chief priest in a move that could stir controversy over a site that other Asian nations see as a symbol of Japan's wartime ... ( read original story ...)
Japan unions will unveil results of wage talks, presaging shift at central bank
Japan's largest trade union group is due to announce results of this week's annual wage talks on Friday, with expectations for a rise of more than 4%, which would be the biggest boost since the early ... ( read original story ...)
Japan launches bullet train service to a region that ‘guidebooks rarely mention’
Japan is launching a new high-speed bullet train, or shinkansen, extension on Saturday that will make an under-the-radar prefecture more accessible to travelers. ( read original story ...)
Mystery in Japan as dangerous streptococcal infections soar to record levels
Health officials racing to identify cause of rise in streptococcal toxic shock syndrome – known as the ‘flesh-eating disease’ – which has a 30% fatality rate ... ( read original story ...)
A Japanese court says denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, but it can’t change the law
A Japanese high court has ruled that denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and called for urgent government action to address the lack of any law allowing for such unions ... ( read original story ...)
Is the all-you-can-eat KFC buffet in Tokyo really as good as they say it is?
Did you know KFC has an all-you-can-eat buffet in Japan? In fact, it doesn’t just have one, it has three, with one in Tokyo, one in Nagoya, and one in Osaka, the latter of which was the first to open ... ( read original story ...)
Tokyo cruise ship pier sees heavy traffic amid post-COVID tourism
An increasing number of cruise ships are visiting Tokyo as tourism rebounds to pre-pandemic levels, with a docking facility in the capital operating at full capacity after years of limited service to ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s ‘shunto’ wage negotiations hit fever pitch this week. Here’s why they matter
Market speculation reached fever pitch this week as corporate giants announced robust negotiated wage gains that in some instances exceeded what unions petitioned for. ( read original story ...)
Cat that escaped after fall into vat of chemicals in Japan prompts health warning
A cat that made a daring escape after falling into a vat of hazardous chemicals at a factory in Japan over the weekend has prompted city officials to issue a public health warning. What happened: The ... ( read original story ...)
Japan Just Took One Step Closer to Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage
A Japanese high court has found that current restrictions on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional, in a ruling that advocates say represents a significant, if symbolic, step forward for LGBTQ+ ... ( read original story ...)
In countering China, U.S. sees a growing role for Japan
The United States’ alliance with Japan is evolving to counter an increasingly “untethered” China, Washington’s envoy to Tokyo told NBC News in an exclusive interview this week.“They have been more ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional, high court says
Japan's bar on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, the high court in the northern region of Sapporo said on Thursday, the first such ruling by an appeals court on a matter that has divided the ... ( read original story ...)
Bleach Anime Celebrating 20th Anniversary With Special Event
The Bleach anime series will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a special event in Yokohama. The event is scheduled to start on April 26, 2024 at the Yokohama Landmark Tower. [Thanks, ... ( read original story ...)
Lower house of Japan’s parliament passes bill to promote LGBTQ+ awareness, but not guarantee rights
The powerful lower house of Japan's parliament passed a bill Tuesday to promote understanding of LGBTQ+ issues amid protests by activists who say last-minute revisions by Prime Minister Fumio ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s ban on same-sex marriage found ‘unconstitutional’ for second time by courts
Japanese civil code rules that limit marriage to those of the opposite sex are "unconstitutional" and "discriminatory", the high court in the northern city of Sapporo said in its ruling, but dismissed ... ( read original story ...)