Local
The Mainichi
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reshuffled her Cabinet on Thursday for the first time since taking office last year, retaining
The Tokyo
All News
safety
News in Easy English: Japanese backpack can become life jacket
TAMBA, Hyogo -- A bag maker in Tamba, Hyogo, has made a backpack. It can become a life jacket in an emergency.Read the full English articleRead the or
Local
Tokyo stocks rise after Fed's rate hike, upside capped by AI, chip shares
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks rose Thursday as uncertainty over the outlook for the economy eased after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its key intere
News
The Mainichi News Quiz: We have to pay how much for imported mackerel now?
How closely have you been following events in Japan? Try The Mainichi News Quiz for Sept. 17 to test your news knowledge. Ready?According to trade sta
News
15 years after Kii Peninsula floods, safer 'new settlements' lead recovery
TOTSUKAWA, Nara -- Typhoon Talas, the 12th typhoon of 2011, made landfall in western Japan in September that year, bringing torrential rain to the mou
News
Japanese cruise operator unveils new ship Mitsui Ocean Sakura
YOKOHAMA -- Mitsui O.S.K. Lines' cruise subsidiary unveiled its new Japan-registered cruise ship, Mitsui Ocean Sakura, to reporters on Sept. 16. The v
business
Japan ranks 117th in gender equality, with no clear effect from first female PM
TOKYO -- Japan ranked 117th among 145 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2026 released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Sept. 16, up one pl
safety
Olympic skateboarder Aoki referred to prosecutors over marijuana
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Police on Thursday referred a case involving Yukito Aoki, a skateboarder who represented Japan at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, to pros
Local
Tokyo Game Show opens with more exhibitors from overseas, new entrants
CHIBA, Japan (Kyodo) -- The Tokyo Game Show kicked off Thursday, marking its 30th anniversary with the expanded presence of exhibitors from overseas a
News
Editorial: Japan's tax reform outline fails to address concerns over consumption tax cut
The Japanese government has adopted a tax reform outline centered on a consumption tax reduction. It plans to submit related bills to an extraordinary
News
Asian Games return to Japan after 32 years amid soaring costs, struggle for relevance
NAGOYA -- Japan will host the Asian Games for the first time in 32 years when the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games open Sept. 19. Athletes from 45 countries a
Local
BOJ set to raise policy rate at 2-day meeting to counter inflation risks
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Bank of Japan is expected to raise its policy interest rate to a 31-year high of 1.25 percent from 1 percent at a two-day policy
Local
Mickey, villains and costumed guests celebrate Halloween at Tokyo Disney Resort
URAYASU, Chiba -- A Halloween event kicked off at Tokyo Disney Resort here on Sept. 16, bringing villain-themed parades and a festive atmosphere fille
Local
Japan household assets hit record 2,519 tril. yen on rising stocks
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Financial assets held by households in Japan rose to a record 2,519 trillion yen ($16 trillion) at the end of June, up 11.0 percent f
safety
Ex-Asahi Kasei employee arrested over leaking semiconductor trade secrets
NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- A former employee of major Japanese chemical company Asahi Kasei Corp. was arrested Thursday on suspicion of leaking confidential in
Local
Sumo: Kotozakura suffers 1st loss as Aonishiki beaten for 2nd straight day
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Kotozakura lost his perfect record after five days and fellow ozeki Aonishiki was beaten for the second straight day at the Autumn Gr
Local
Tokyo area condo prices down 5.4% in Aug. for 1st drop in 5 months
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The average price of a new condominium in Tokyo and its three surrounding prefectures fell 5.4 percent from a year earlier to 97.70 m
News
Why Japan’s Temples Are Going Broke — and How They’re Adapting To Survive
A thousand-year-old shrine becoming insolvent is a striking sign of the times. Last month, Tada Shrine in Kawanishi, Hyogo Prefecture, filed for civil rehabilitation with the Kobe District Court — Japan’s rough equivalent of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection — becoming just the th...
safety
Smog scuppers Japan force helping fight Indonesia wildfires
Indonesia has been battling wildfires for weeks in parts of Borneo and Sumatra, which have blanketed parts of the country in toxic haze.
News
Japan’s 3 Surviving Ninja Manuals: What Real Shinobi Actually Studied
Back in mid-June, 131 people took the Koka-ryu Ninja Certification Exam in Koka, Shiga Prefecture, one of the centers of Japan’s ninja culture. The test, devised as a way to promote the local heritage of Japan’s famous spy-assassins, awarded extra points for costumes and shuriken...
News
Ahead of myriad challenges, Takaichi retains key ministers in Cabinet reshuffle
The prime minister also brought in a member of the Japan Innovation Party for the first time, a sign of the party's growing importance.
News
Lodging woes hit host Japan ahead of Asian Games opening
Issues arose after organizers expected 15,000 athletes and officials for the Games, only for numbers to increase as new sports were added.
Local
Typhoon could approach Japan sometime during 5-day holiday period
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan could see the approach of a typhoon during a five-day holiday period starting this weekend, with the weather agency announcing
Local
Foreign visitors to Japan in August fall 9.6% to 3.10 million
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The number of foreign visitors to Japan in August fell 9.6 percent from a year earlier to 3.10 million, government estimates showed W
Local
New 'democratic reform' party to be launched after opposition split
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's main opposition party officially split Wednesday, paving the way for some of its members to form a new party for "democratic
News
Families of Chinese wartime forced laborers sue 6 Japan firms
SHIJIAZHUANG, China (Kyodo) -- Fifty family members of Chinese wartime forced laborers filed a lawsuit Wednesday against six Japanese companies with a
News
Japan records fewer new HIV carriers and AIDS patients in 2025
The number of new HIV carriers fell by 38 to 624, the lowest in 20 years, while that of AIDS patients dropped by 66 to 266.