Bird flu outbreak confirmed in Japan’s Iwate Prefecture
World 16:33 21/02/2026MORIOKA, IWATE PREF., -- The prefectural government of Iwate, northeastern Japan, said Saturday that it has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm in the town of Kanegasaki.
5 killed in temple fire in Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture
World 16:12 21/02/2026YAMAGUCHI -- A fire at a Buddhist temple and two nearby buildings in the city of Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, in the small hours of Friday resulted in the deaths of five people, according to local police and fire authorities.
Vietnamese woman dies while climbing mountain in Japan: media
Vietnam News 14:31 21/02/2026A Vietnamese woman died after being found unconscious near the summit of a mountain in western Japan, local authorities said, as police investigate the circumstances of the incident.
Japan to ban use of power banks on airplanes
World 21:02 19/02/2026TOKYO -- Japan's transport ministry plans to ban the use of power banks on airplanes as early as April, it was learned Wednesday.
Syrian man arrested for allegedly abandoning body in western Japan
World 18:07 19/02/2026OTSU, SHIGA PREF. -- Japanese police arrested a 22-year-old Syrian man on Wednesday on suspicion of abandoning a woman's body in a wooded area in Maibara, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan.
A-bombed Hiroshima castle main tower to close in March
World 18:28 18/02/2026HIROSHIMA -- The main tower of Hiroshima Castle will close on March 22 due to aging, marking the end of public access inside the building after it was destroyed by the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing and restored as a symbol of reconstruction of the western Japan city.
Japan convenience store chain Lawson to enter India
World 18:26 18/02/2026TOKYO -- Japanese convenience store chain Lawson Inc. will expand into India, seeing high growth potential in the world's most populous country, officials have said.
Japan's economy limps back to scant growth in Q4, raises test for Takaichi
World 12:05 16/02/2026Japan's economy limped back to meagre growth in the fourth quarter, significantly missing market expectations in a key test for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government as cost-of-living pressures drag on confidence and domestic demand.
Thailand, Japan expand footprint in Vietnam’s consumer M&A market
Economy 12:13 15/02/2026Thailand and Japan emerged as the leading sources of foreign capital in Vietnam’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market in 2025, with investors from the two countries particularly active in consumer-focused deals.
Japan, Britain, Italy vow cooperation on fighter jet
World 17:40 14/02/2026TOKYO -- Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi held talks separately with his counterparts from Britain and Italy in Munich, southern Germany, on Friday, confirming cooperation toward joint development of a next-generation fighter jet.
Weakened satisfaction likely to drive excessive drinking
World 17:40 14/02/2026KYOTO -- A weakening of a mechanism that produces a sense of satisfaction after drinking could lead to excessive alcohol consumption, a team of Japanese and other researchers has found.
Japan approves muscular dystrophy drug price of 300mn yen
World 17:39 14/02/2026TOKYO -- An advisory panel to Japan's health minister decided Friday to allow public health insurance coverage for a gene therapy for muscular dystrophy beginning February 20 and set the drug's official price at about 304.97 million yen.
