Japan sets sail on rare earth hunt as China tightens supplies
World 10:10 12/01/2026SHIZUOKA, Japan - 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 supply.
Japan's Suwa to go on 1st space mission around 2027
World 17:14 09/01/2026TOKYO -- Japanese astronaut Makoto Suwa will make a long-term stay at the International Space Station around 2027, marking his first space mission, science minister Yohei Matsumoto told a press conference Friday.
Japan govt seeks legal recognition for use of maiden names
World 17:06 09/01/2026The Japanese government and ruling coalition plan to submit a bill to this year's ordinary session of parliament that would give legal force to the use of maiden names in daily life by people who have changed surnames upon marriage.
Japan reverses rice output boost policy; prices still high
World 17:54 08/01/2026The government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has effectively walked back the previous administration's policy of expanding production of rice, Japan's staple food, under pressure from farming groups.
Tuition elimination program fuels fears for public high schools
World 17:41 08/01/2026TOKYO -- Japan's program to effectively eliminate high school tuition from fiscal 2026 is heightening concerns among public high schools that a shift toward private education will increase further.
Japan sees record 47,000 Asian black bear sightings in April-November
World 17:35 08/01/2026TOKYO -- Asian black bear sightings in Japan from April to November 2025 totaled 47,038, marking the highest figure since comparable data became available in fiscal 2009, according to the Environment Ministry.
Japan launches campaign to encourage children to talk about problems
World 17:10 07/01/2026TOKYO -- Volunteers from Japan's Children and Families Agency have launched an awareness-raising campaign to alleviate the anxiety of children who struggle to talk about their problems with adults.
Japan traffic deaths hit record low in 2025
World 17:01 07/01/2026TOKYO -- Traffic accident deaths in Japan fell to a record low in 2025, dropping 116, or 4.4 pct, from the previous year to 2,547, the National Police Agency said Tuesday.
Facility dogs comfort hospitalized children in Japan
World 18:42 06/01/2026TOKYO -- Some medical institutions in Japan have begun introducing facility dogs to accompany hospitalized children during treatment and rehabilitation, easing the anxiety of being away from their families.
Japan to tackle problematic 'minpaku' lodgings
World 18:41 06/01/2026TOKYO -- Japan aims to step up actions against the operators of 'minpaku' private lodging services found to be causing disturbances in surrounding areas, Jiji Press has learned.
Strong magnitude-6.2 earthquake strikes Japan's Chugoku region
World 15:32 06/01/2026An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 hit the western Chugoku region of Japan on Tuesday, followed by a series of sizeable aftershocks, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Japan to draw up action plan to reduce clothing waste
World 17:59 05/01/2026TOKYO -- Japan's Environment Ministry plans to compile by March an action plan aimed at reducing large amounts of clothing waste from households.
