THE JAPAN NEWS
 
A train to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Seto Ohashi bridge, which links the major islands of Honshu and Shikoku across the Seto Inland Sea, gets ready to depart from JR Okayama Station as Okayama Gov. Ryuta Ibaragi, second from right, and others signal its departure on...

More

JAPAN TODAY
 
OITA - A massive landslide engulfed four houses in a tourist town in the southwestern prefecture of Oita early Wednesday morning, leaving six people unaccounted for and severing a road leading to the site, local authorities said.
A mountain slope collapsed behind a group of houses a...

More

JAPAN TODAY
 
TOKYO - On January 5, as Tokyo's commuters were struggling back to work after their long New Year break, blaring sirens from every phone pierced the sleepy atmosphere: "strong" earthquake coming.
The message delivered via the country's alert system, part of its much-hyped J-Alert me...

More

THE JAPAN NEWS
 
Master director Isao Takahata passed away on Thursday at age 82, leaving significant footprints as a pioneer who had successfully elevated animation — something that had been considered entertainment for kids — to a form of culture representing Japan by tirelessly pursuing how an...

More

JAPAN TODAY
 
TOKYO - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has asked South Korean President Moon Jae In to visit Japan before the planned summit between North and South Korea in late April, Japanese government sources said Tuesday.
He made the request during phone talks with Moon on March 16, but South Kore...

More

THE JAPAN NEWS
 
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has done it again.
The Angels’ two-way slugger homered in his second straight home game Wednesday, blasting a two-run shot off AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in the fifth inning of Los Angeles’ series finale against Cleveland.
Ohtani hit a th...

More

JAPAN TODAY
 
TOKYO - The government decided Friday to stage a ceremony in October next year to mark Crown Prince Naruhito's accession to the throne, but said female imperial family members will not attend one of the key enthronement rituals.
The enthronement ceremony for the new emperor, now 58,...

More

JAPAN TODAY
 
TOKYO - Japan's ruling parties agreed Tuesday to impose weekly and monthly restrictions on the number of visits residents of the country can make to casinos, as lawmakers attempt to prevent problem gambling.
In their talks on a bill that will allow casino gambling in Japan, the Libe...

More

THE JAPAN NEWS
 
A nebuta float with a framework of bamboo instead of wire has been brought to life and exhibited at the Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse in Aomori. The bamboo nebuta measures about 2.3 meters high, 4.5 meters wide and 2.2 meters deep, and is constructed from 300 bamboo sticks each measurin...

More

JAPAN TRENDS
 
JR West has announced that a special Hello Kitty version of the Shinkansen bullet train will be in operation this summer.
Sanrio’s immensely popular cat character will decorate a 500 Series Shinkansen train. So far only concept art images are available but, needless to say, it adhe...

More