National
Catch 'em all: Pokemon hooks kids, parents and investors
Dressed up and ready for battle, around 10,000 Pokemon fans have descended on Yokohama in Japan this weekend, looking for fun but also collector's item cards potentially worth serious money. Since the launch of Pokemon cards in 1996 following the hit computer game of the same name -- meaning "pocket… Read
Nearly 30% of Japan prefectures saw crowds surpass pre-COVID levels
Nearly 30 percent of prefectures across Japan experienced crowds surpassing pre-coronavirus pandemic levels in the first half of this year, with local areas outpacing Tokyo, according to private sector data. Based on an analysis of major train stations in each of Japan's 47 prefectures, 13 locations, or 28 percent, recorded… Read
Japan sees heavy summer holiday traffic after COVID-19 downgrade
Travelers flooded airports and train stations in Tokyo and other cities in Japan on Friday to head to their hometowns in the first summer holiday season since the legal status of COVID-19 was downgraded to the same category as seasonal flu. Travelers lined up for security checks at Haneda airport… Read
Cancer-suffering doctor helping terminal patients die with dignity
A leading palliative care doctor, who himself is battling stage-4 cancer, continues to pursue his life's work of providing in-home support to terminally ill patients to allow them to live their final days with dignity. Fumio Yamazaki, 75, started his career as a doctor at a hospital in the 1970s… Read
Holidaymakers to boost spending as Japan growth at tipping point
Summer holidays without COVID-related curbs, higher bonuses and a travel demand comeback appear to signal consumers are ready to ramp up spending, in a boon to the Japanese economy. For the Bon holidays in mid-August, bookings for domestic flights offered by major Japanese airlines have returned to some 94 percent… Read
Japan's smoking rates continue to decline for men, women in 2022
Smoking rates for men and women in Japan continued to fall in 2022, a health ministry survey showed, highlighting increased health consciousness and the impact of a revised law to crack down on secondhand smoke. The male smoking rate dropped 3.4 percentage points from the previous survey in 2019 to… Read
Magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes Hokkaido
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Hokkaido in Japan on Friday, German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said. The quake's epicenter was 46 km (28.58 miles) below the Earth's surface, GFZ said. Read
Typhoon brings heavy rainfall to Japan's southwest as another nears
Typhoon Khanun moved past Japan on Thursday after bringing heavy rainfall to southwestern and western regions, as another typhoon approaching the country is set to hit eastern and western areas early next week, according to the weather agency. With Typhoon Khanun moving so slowly, linear rain bands, which can bring… Read
Japan holds junior high school 'summit' on abductions by N Korea
The Japanese government on Thursday launched a "summit" of junior high school students across Japan in order to bring greater attention to North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s. With only five of the 17 officially recognized abductees having been returned almost two decades ago and… Read
Chinese local authorities seized food imported from Japan: report
Authorities in the east Chinese province of Zhejiang seized food items from Japan that were being sold by a local company, Chinese media reported, after Beijing tightened controls on Japanese food imports in response to Tokyo's plan to begin releasing treated radioactive water into the ocean. The authorities in Jiashan… Read
