Foreign workers in Japan hit record 2.57 million
World 17:43 30/01/2026TOKYO -- The number of foreign workers in Japan as of the end of October 2025 jumped 11.7 pct from a year before to 2,571,037, hitting a record high for 13 years in a row amid the country's labor shortages, the labor ministry said Friday.
Japan man suspected of involvement in Laos child prostitution blog
World 17:34 30/01/2026TOKYO -- Tokyo police have arrested a 61-year-old man for allegedly registering a fake address to rent an internet server, with the suspect also believed to be involved in a blog suggesting child prostitution in Laos, it was learned Thursday.
420mn yen robbed in Tokyo; similar assault follows
World 17:03 30/01/2026TOKYO -- A group of Japanese and Chinese people were robbed of an estimated 423 million yen in Tokyo on Thursday night, quickly followed by an assault on a different group also carrying a lot of cash.
Suicides in Japan fall below 20,000 for 1st time in 2025
World 17:41 29/01/2026TOKYO -- The number of people who died by suicide in Japan in 2025 came to 19,097, standing below 20,000 for the first time since the statistics began in 1978, preliminary government data showed Thursday.
Japan police conduct 13 undercover probes into 'dark' jobs
World 17:37 29/01/2026TOKYO -- Japanese police conducted 13 undercover investigations into so-called dark part-time jobs through last month, National Police Agency sources said Thursday.
2 pandas arrive in China from Japan
World 17:56 28/01/2026CHENGDU, CHINA -- Twin giant pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, arrived in Sichuan Province in southwestern China on Wednesday after leaving Tokyo's Ueno Zoo the previous day.
Vietnam becomes indispensable partner for Japan: consul general
Ho Chi Minh City 17:03 28/01/2026Japanese Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Ono Masuo affirmed that Vietnam has achieved strong development and become an indispensable partner of Japan while attending a ceremony marking the 66th birthday of Emperor Naruhito of Japan on Tuesday in the Vietnamese city.
Tokyo police arrest head of major sex worker scouting group
World 17:06 27/01/2026TOKYO -- Tokyo police have arrested the 40-year-old leader of Natural, one of the largest illegal sex worker scouting groups in Japan, for allegedly making a payment to gangsters in 2023.
Last 2 pandas in Japan leave for China
World 17:05 27/01/2026TOKYO -- The last remaining giant pandas in Japan, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei of Tokyo's Ueno Zoo, departed for China on Tuesday afternoon in a move that will leave Japan with no giant pandas for the first time in about half a century.
Chubu Electric HQ inspection starts over N-plant data fraud
World 17:47 26/01/2026NAGOYA -- Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority on Monday began an on-site inspection of Chubu Electric Power Co.'s headquarters over earthquake risk data fraud linked to the firm's Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan.
Japan content piracy, fake goods cause 10.4 trillion yen in damage
World 17:46 26/01/2026TOKYO -- Online piracy and counterfeit products related to Japanese anime, games and other content caused estimated damage of 10.4 trillion yen in and outside the country in 2025, an industry ministry survey showed Monday.
Japan plans stricter rules to address foreigner-linked issues
World 17:29 23/01/2026TOKYO -- The Japanese government adopted a package of measures Friday to address problems related to foreign nationals, including planned stricter rules on their acquisitions of Japanese land and nationality.
