schools
In tourist-weary Kyoto, U.S. college targets deeper ties between students and residents
Pepperdine University's new year-round Japan program aims to give students an immersive experience while they continue their usual areas of study.
The Tokyo
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Scottish teen chases judo dreams through unique Japanese homestay
Teenager Lexi Buchanan puts in around four hours of work each day, balancing weightlifting with sparring alongside university athletes.
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As Yokohama’s Green Expo nears, organizers draw inspiration from the past
From cutting-edge tech to lessons from the Edo Period, the six-month event will seek to help develop solutions to the planet's environmental crises.
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Joint Japan-U.S. military drill set to break new ground
The Keen Sword military exercises will see Japan deploy longer-range missiles, while the U.S. will send advanced weapons to Okinawa's Yonaguni Island.
government
Pay gap stokes fears of child care worker drain to big cities
CHIBA (Kyodo) -- Municipalities neighboring major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka are increasingly concerned about losing child care workers to better-
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Japan’s health ministry sets new guidelines for tie-up ads in movies and TV shows
The move came after a poster promoting support for cancer patients that the ministry created in a tie-up with a film drew criticism on social media.
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Japan to fall to 6th in world GDP rankings behind India, Britain: IMF
BANGKOK (Kyodo) -- The International Monetary Fund projects that Japan's nominal gross domestic product, measured in U.S. dollars, will be overtaken b
Local
Tokyo hosts 'sleep-off' comp as 65 snoozers battle for 2.22-million-yen prize
TOKYO -- An unusual contest testing how quickly and deeply people could sleep was held in the Japanese capital's Aoyama district on Oct. 5. The event,
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Japan's Kumamoto Castle lit up for autumn festival amid hopes for quake recovery
KUMAMOTO -- Kumamoto Castle in this southwestern Japan city's Chuo Ward is being illuminated after dark, with projection mapping, bamboo lanterns and
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The Mainichi News Quiz: What did pref. decide after huge demand for 'Ibaraki Passport'?
How closely have you been following events in Japan? Try The Mainichi News Quiz for Oct. 17 to test your news knowledge. Ready?What did the Ibaraki Pr
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Russia may seek prisoner swap after detaining Japanese journalist
Some say the detention of the reporter is linked to the handover to Germany this month of a Russian hacker detained in Japan in May.
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Takaichi to attend APEC in China if parliament allows
The APEC summit often serves as an opportunity for Japanese and Chinese leaders to meet, but questions remain amid a deep freeze in ties.
government
Central Japan inn takes kelp beyond the table with immersive experience
TOYAMA (Kyodo) -- At an inn in central Japan devoted to kombu, or Japanese edible kelp, guests can enjoy the seaweed in food and cocktails, soak in ko
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News in Easy English: Osaka Pref. helps cities plan for pets in disasters
OSAKA -- Many people in Japan think pets are family. In disasters, many people now leave home with their pets. But local governments have different ru
business
Japan economy broadly in line with outlook since Sept. meeting: BOJ chief
BANGKOK (Kyodo) -- Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said Friday that Japan's economic activity has developed broadly in line with the central bank's
Local
Japan PM Takaichi sends offering to war-linked Yasukuni shrine for autumn rite
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo, regarded by Japan's neighbors as a symb
government
Part of disused Kobe tunnel featured in 'Death Note' to become data center
KOBE -- The Kobe Municipal Government will lease about 3 kilometers of a massive disused tunnel in the mountains of Nishi Ward in this west Japan city
Local
London Kabuki shows readied with dazzling costumes, stage effects
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Audiences watching acclaimed young Kabuki actors Ichikawa Somegoro VIII and Onoe Tatsunosuke III perform on their first international
schools
Colored crosswalks spread as school-route safety measure in Japan
Colored pavement is gradually becoming more common on crosswalks along school routes across Japan, with the spaces between the white stripes painted i
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Now is the time for Japan’s most flavorful shiitake
The most popular mushroom in the country reaches peak flavor in two periods — one of which is happening right now.
business
Japan's Yamato Transport confirms 5.31 mil. customer records leaked
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Major Japanese parcel delivery company Yamato Transport Co. said Friday about 5.31 million customer data records, including names and
schools
Japan to raise youth awareness about Northern Territories
Such efforts will include attracting school trips to areas close to the islands and sharing relevant information on social media.
business
Yakuza acquitted of 2013 murder of Gyoza no Ohsho chain head
KYOTO (Kyodo) -- A Japanese court on Friday acquitted a yakuza gangster of the murder of the president of the company operating the Gyoza no Ohsho res
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IMF official welcomes Japan’s temporary tax cut plan
Rahul Anand, IMF assistant director and mission chief for Japan, said the approach was "a very welcome step."