People aged 20 climbed the stairs of one of Japan's tallest buildings on Monday in an annual event to celebrate reaching the age of majority. ( read original story ...)
Japan sets sail on rare earth hunt as China tightens supplies
A Japanese mining ship departed on Monday for a remote coral atoll to probe mud rich in rare earths, part of Tokyo's drive to curb its reliance on China for critical minerals as Beijing tightens ... ( read original story ...)
Braving the cold: Tokyo’s New Year’s ritual of ice baths, in photos
Participants gather at the Teppuzu Inari Shrine in Tokyo to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual. This is a photo gallery curated by AP ... ( read original story ...)
Japan PM Takaichi may call early election, coalition partner says
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may call an early general election, the head of her party's coalition partner said on Sunday, after media reported she was considering a February vote. It would be the first time for the conservative Takaichi, ( read original story ...)
Tokyo’s Mad Car Customizers Don’t Disappoint At This Year’s Auto Salon
The Tokyo Auto Salon is the 3rd biggest car tuning show behind SEMA and Germany's Essen. See this mix of carmaker concepts and bonkers hotrods that only Tokyo can do. ( read original story ...)
Japan’s quirky retro park in Osaka still looks like it’s the summer of 1970
In 1970, Osaka hosted an iconic world event that led to the development of this park, which still houses retro installations and historic museums. ( read original story ...)
Things to do in Yokohama: A 3-day guide to Japan’s laid-back port city
Set along Tokyo Bay, Yokohama offers a softer, more spacious counterpoint to the capital's constant momentum. If you're researching things to do in Yokohama, this port city rewards visitors with a ... ( read original story ...)
Fire breaks out near Osaka’s landmark Tsutenkaku Tower; no injuries
The operator of the 108m tower said the outdoor observatory and other facilities were unaffected by the incident. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com. ( read original story ...)
Officials roll out innovative vending machines to sell items destined for the garbage: ‘We are working to reduce loss’
If you live in an area with programs like this, consider checking these vending machines out. Officials roll out innovative vending machines to sell items destined for the garbage: 'We are working to ... ( read original story ...)
South Korea-Japan summit set for Jan. 13 in Japanese PM’s hometown
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will visit Japan for a two-day, one-night trip starting Jan. 13, the presidential office said Thursday. ( read original story ...)
Japan’s greater oversight of foreign investments unlikely to interrupt M&A boom
Japan's plan to give authorities the power to order foreign investors to retroactively divest acquisitions is aimed at sheltering major firms and supply chains, though it is unlikely to curtail ... ( read original story ...)
Intense snowfall covers Sapporo during winter storm in Japan
On January 8, 2026, in Sapporo, Japan, @jtfb shared a video capturing intense snowfall blanketing the area. In the video, dense snow falls on city streets under overcast skies, with temperatures ... ( read original story ...)
Toyota’s big mid-engined performance car Tokyo reveal was definitely a surprise
Rather than a mid-engined sports car concept, the Toyota sub-brand unveiled a customized Daihatsu Kei truck. It was one of two builds, "fighting" a separate build from Daihatsu, part of a booth themed around inter-Toyota rivalries. ( read original story ...)
More diplomatic and economic tensions surface between China, Japan as a bumpy week ends
A week in which longtime tensions between neighbors China and Japan ratcheted up economically and politically is drawing to a close with no sign of improvements. ( read original story ...)
Japan to explain stance on China’s export controls in US next week, finance minister says
Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Friday she would meet her counterparts in the United States next week to discuss rare earths supplies, and repeated Tokyo's condemnation of China ... ( read original story ...)
Fire breaks out in shopping district near famous Osaka sightseeing spot
A fire was reported on the morning of Jan. 9 in a shopping district near a popular tourist attraction in this west Japan city.A passerby made･･･ ... ( read original story ...)