Submarine communication cable to connect Japan, other Asian nations
World 17:54 14/01/2026TOKYO -- NTT Data Group Corp., Sumitomo Corp. and JA Mitsui Leasing Ltd. said Tuesday they have established a company to construct and operate a submarine communication cable connecting Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.
Bear sightings in Japan continue into 2026
World 17:30 14/01/2026TOKYO -- Bears continue to be spotted near people in Japan after the turn of the year, even though they are usually in hibernation at this time of the winter season.
Japan to boost aid for games, anime as new pillar of growth
World 17:26 13/01/2026TOKYO -- The Japanese government will step up support for the overseas expansion of content industries such as games and anime, while also investing further in related human resources development.
Amphipod species with panda-like coloring discovered in Wakayama
World 17:11 13/01/2026WAKAYAMA -- Two new amphipod species with black-and-white coloring patterns like a giant panda have been found in the town of Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan.
Japan's Saga University to launch cosmetics faculty
World 16:56 13/01/2026SAGA -- Saga University will launch a new faculty in April to study the science of cosmetics comprehensively, the first such faculty by a Japanese national or public university.
Record 15 nations join GSDF's New Year jump drill
World 19:59 12/01/2026FUNABASHI, CHIBA PREF. -- A record 15 countries took part in a New Year's jump training simulating island defense that was conducted at a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force facility in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, on Sunday.
Tokyo audio firm head murder possibly linked to bonus cut
World 16:23 12/01/2026TOKYO -- The suspect in the murder of the president of an audio equipment-related company in Tokyo suggested that a bonus cut had led him to attack the victim, investigative sources told Jiji Press on Sunday.
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.
