Kumamoto quake victims hit by crimes
World 15:28 10/08/2026YATSUSHIRO, KUMAMOTO PREF. -- Police are increasing vigilance in Kumamoto Prefecture, following reports of scam attempts targeting local residents affected by a major earthquake that jolted the southwestern Japan prefecture last month.
Japan makes public-private efforts to revive shipbuilding
World 15:17 10/08/2026TOKYO -- Japan's public and private sectors are stepping up joint efforts to revive the nation's struggling shipbuilding industry.
Play space for children set up at Kumamoto quake shelter
World 15:11 10/08/2026YATSUSHIRO, KUMAMOTO PREF. -- A space for children to play was set up at an evacuation shelter in Kumamoto Prefecture after a powerful earthquake that struck the southwestern prefecture on July 28 forced nurseries and after-school care services to suspend operations.
Many Indonesians named after Japanese anime characters
World 16:38 08/08/2026JAKARTA -- A number of Indonesians have names inspired by Japanese manga and anime, with 16 people, for example, confirmed to be named 'Doraemon,' the name of an earless robotic cat and a lead character of the blockbuster anime series with the same title, it has been learned.
Donations to quake-hit Kumamoto reach 4.3bn yen
World 15:54 07/08/2026KUMAMOTO -- The prefectural government of Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, has said that monetary donations from at home and abroad, including through Japan's 'furusato nozei' tax incentive-backed program, have reached 4,321.3 million yen following the July 28 major earthquake that struck the prefecture.
Kirin to acquire leading Canadian supplements maker
World 15:44 07/08/2026TOKYO -- Kirin Holdings Co. said Friday it will make Canada's leading dietary supplements maker Jamieson Wellness Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary.
Bears cast shadow over northeastern Japan's summer festivals
World 15:50 06/08/2026SENDAI, MIYAGI PREF. -- Frequent bear sightings in human settlements are casting a shadow over three major festivals in the Tohoku northeastern Japan region that are a symbol of Japanese summer.
Japan and Southeast Asia: Deepening trust and strengthening people-to-people exchanges
World 14:36 05/08/2026The shared future of Asia and Japan
Japan to require above-average incomes for permanent residency
World 11:47 05/08/2026TOKYO -- Japan's Immigration Services Agency on Tuesday released a draft revision to its guidelines on permanent residency permits mandating applicants to maintain an income exceeding the average for Japanese households.
Child sexual deepfakes more than double in Japan in 1st half
World 11:32 05/08/2026TOKYO -- Cases involving artificial intelligence-generated sexual deepfakes targeting children more than doubled in number in Japan in the first half of 2026, the National Police Agency said Monday.
Japan to add 5-year stay period for type 2 foreign workers
World 11:28 05/08/2026TOKYO -- Japan's Immigration Services Agency released a draft ministerial ordinance Tuesday to introduce a five-year period of stay for holders of Type 2 specified skilled foreign worker status from early January next year after seeking public comments.
1 week on, over 12,000 homes found damaged by Kumamoto quake
World 12:06 04/08/2026HIKAWA, KUMAMOTO PREF. -- More than 12,000 residential buildings have been found damaged by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, a week ago, with over 8,000 people being forced to stay at evacuation shelters.
