Tsunami advisories issued briefly for northern Japan
World 22:35 12/12/2025TOKYO -- Japan issued tsunami advisories for the Pacific coast of Hokkaido and Aomori, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures from northern to northeastern Japan after another offshore earthquake shook the regions late Friday morning.
Nearly half of Japanese familiar with loneliness, isolation
World 19:04 12/12/2025TOKYO -- Almost half of Japanese nationals feel familiar with loneliness and isolation, a government survey showed Friday.
Japan unveils measures to tackle mass oyster deaths
World 18:56 12/12/2025TOKYO -- Japan's Fisheries Agency and others announced measures Thursday to address the mass deaths of farmed oysters in the western prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama and Hyogo, all facing the Seto Inland Sea.
World's 1st autonomous passenger ship to start service in Japan
World 17:37 11/12/2025OKAYAMA -- Japan's Nippon Foundation said Wednesday that a regular passenger ferry using autonomous navigation technology will begin commercial operations by the end of next March at the earliest.
Japan to mandate steps against customer abuse in October 2026
World 16:56 11/12/2025TOKYO -- Japan's labor ministry has decided to enforce on October 1, 2026, a revised law obliging companies to prepare measures against customers' harassment of their employees through abusive behavior.
Japan eyes raising departure tax to 3,000 yen
World 16:55 11/12/2025TOKYO -- The Japanese government and the ruling parties are considering increasing the so-called departure tax from the current 1,000 yen per person to 3,000 yen starting in fiscal 2026, informed sources said Wednesday.
How Japan’s railway innovation went global - The shared future of Asia and Japan
World 13:33 11/12/2025A four-legged, dog-like robot moves nimbly around and inside railcars on the production line. Equipped with high-sensitivity sensors, this “digital watchdog” inspects railcar surfaces for irregularities and defects, taking over duties previously performed by human workers. The scene unfolds at Hitachi Rail’s railcar manufacturing facility in Maryland, on the East Coast of the United States, which began full-scale operations on September 8.
Many in Japan urged to stay ready to evacuate after Aomori quake
World 16:41 10/12/2025TOKYO -- Japan on Tuesday advised citizens in a wide area to stay ready to evacuate anytime because another big earthquake may strike following the one that occurred off Aomori Prefecture in the northeastern region Monday night.
Startup tests drone delivery over railroad in Fukushima
World 16:29 10/12/2025Minamisoma, Fukushima Pref., -- Japanese startup Eams Robotics Co. tested a delivery service using a drone that flew over a railroad track in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on Tuesday.
Japanese girl, 15, becomes youngest Muay Thai pro
World 17:56 09/12/2025BANGKOK -- A 15-year-old junior high school girl from the northeastern Japan city of Yamagata has become the youngest-ever professional Muay Thai competitor in Thailand, where the martial art is a national sport.
Fewer firms go public in Japan in 2025
World 17:55 09/12/2025TOKYO -- Fewer companies are going public in Japan in 2025 than in the previous year apparently because stock prices fell sharply in early April amid concerns about high U.S. tariffs.
Demand grows for housing loans of up to 50 years in Japan
World 17:55 08/12/2025TOKYO -- Housing loans with repayment periods of up to 50 years, far longer than the standard 35-year term for long-term mortgages, are gaining popularity in Japan particularly among people in their 20s.
