Japan likely to pass bill to raise immigration fees
World 17:08 29/04/2026TOKYO -- Japan's House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill to raise the ceiling on fees for immigration procedures, making it likely to be enacted during the current parliamentary session ending in July.
15% of hospitals in Japan report sexual abuse
World 17:07 29/04/2026TOKYO -- Sexual abuse of patients has occurred at 15.5 pct of hospitals and other medical facilities in Japan, a government survey found.
Toyota-backed startup begins 'flying car' test flights in N.Y.
World 18:23 28/04/2026NEW YORK -- Joby Aviation Inc., a U.S. startup backed by Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp., said Monday that it has begun demonstration flights of its so-called flying cars in New York.
99 accused in Japan in international child pornography crackdown
World 15:56 28/04/2026TOKYO -- Japanese police have taken action against 99 people aged 14 to 72 years in the country as part of an international crackdown on online child pornography, the National Police Agency said Monday.
Strong quake hits Hokkaido in northern Japan
World 16:53 27/04/2026TOKYO -- A strong earthquake rocked the Tokachi region in the northernmost Japan prefecture of Hokkaido on Monday morning, measuring up to upper 5, the fourth-highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale.
Iwate wildfires spread further to 1,600 hectares
World 16:53 27/04/2026MORIOKA, IWATE PREF. -- Wildfires in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Iwate have spread further, scorching about 1,600 hectares by 6:00 am Monday.
Japan reviews dual pricing for tourist sites
World 16:37 27/04/2026TOKYO -- Experts commissioned by the Japan Tourism Agency met on Monday to launch a review of dual pricing for tourist sites, in which charges for nonresidents, including inbound tourists, are set higher than those for residents.
Japan to protect celebrity voices against AI use
World 17:37 26/04/2026TOKYO -- An expert panel under Japan's Justice Ministry agreed Friday that the voices of individuals should be protected under publicity and portrait rights, amid a rise in the unauthorized use of celebrities' voices by generative artificial intelligence.
Japan to launch H3 rocket June 10
World 17:37 26/04/2026TOKYO -- The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, said Friday that it will launch an H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 10.
Zoom ordered to pay damages for violating Japan firm's trademark
World 17:37 26/04/2026TOKYO -- Tokyo District Court on Friday ordered U.S. videoconferencing technology firm Zoom Video Communications Inc. and its sales agent in Japan to pay a total of about 182 million yen in damages for violating the trademark of Japanese electric musical devise developer Zoom Corp.
Honda to cease automobile sales in S.Korea at end of 2026
World 16:34 24/04/2026TOKYO -- Honda Motor Co. has said it will terminate its automobile sales in South Korea at the end of this year.
Karst plateau in western Japan named UNESCO Global Geopark
World 16:01 24/04/2026TOKYO -- Mine-Akiyoshidai, a karst plateau in western Japan, has been designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
