Category: Japan

Asia

Japanese Woman Gives Birth to 7th Child as Birth Rate Hits Record Low—Her Message to Women Goes Viral

A Japanese author and former political candidate has captured widespread attention after announcing the birth of her seventh child, turning a deeply personal family milestone into a broader conversation about Japan’s worsening demographic crisis. Kotoe Hashimoto announced on X on Aug. 29 that she had given birth to her seventh child. She thanked the doctors, midwives and nurses involved in the delivery and later said that both she and the newborn were healthy. Her post quickly spread online, wi

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Asia

Tokyo’s Shinjuku Moves to Ban More Than Half of Vacation Rentals — And Existing Airbnb-Style Homes Could Be Next

TOKYO, Japan — One of Tokyo’s most popular tourist districts is preparing for a major crackdown on vacation rentals, with more than half of Shinjuku’s short-term accommodations potentially facing closure under proposed new restrictions. Shinjuku, home to the bustling Kabukicho entertainment district and one of the world’s busiest railway hubs, is planning to prohibit private lodging businesses, commonly known in Japan as minpaku, in residential neighborhoods and areas near schools. The tougher

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Asia

Japan Demands Russia Remove 15-Metre WWII Monument Depicting Soldier Destroying Chrysanthemum Symbol

TOKYO — Japan has demanded that Russia remove a towering new World War II monument in the far eastern city of Khabarovsk, escalating a fresh diplomatic dispute over a sculpture depicting a Soviet soldier destroying a stone marker bearing a chrysanthemum crest — a symbol closely associated with Japan and its Imperial family. The Japanese government says the monument is unacceptable and damaging to Japanese public sentiment. Russia, however, has shown no sign of backing down. The dispute has no

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Asia

Japan Burns Through $79.6 Billion in a Month to Defend the Yen — But Can It Keep Fighting?

Japan has suffered the largest monthly drop in its foreign exchange reserves on record, after authorities deployed unprecedented firepower to defend the weakening yen. Government data released Monday showed that Japan's foreign reserves fell by $79.6 billion, or 6.18%, in August, dropping to $1.208 trillion from $1.287 trillion in July. The sharp decline came after Tokyo carried out another massive round of dollar-selling and yen-buying intervention to support its currency. Record Interventio

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Asia

Japan’s ‘Cockroach-Free’ Island Is Losing Its Biggest Advantage — And Global Warming May Be to Blame

SAPPORO, Japan — For decades, Hokkaido had something that many residents considered one of the greatest benefits of living on Japan's northernmost main island. The cold kept the cockroaches away. Or at least, that was what many people believed. Now, that reputation is being challenged. As temperatures rise, winters become milder and homes become warmer and better insulated, experts are warning that cockroaches may be gaining a stronger foothold in Hokkaido — a region once widely considered t

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Asia

Japan Dominates Asia Triathlon Para Championship in Subic Bay — Six Golds Reported as Philippines Hosts Asian Para Stars

SUBIC BAY, Philippines — Japan once again made a powerful statement in Asian para-triathlon, reportedly collecting six gold medals at the 2026 NTT Asia Triathlon Para Championships in Subic Bay, according to the Philippine News Agency. The championship was held Sunday, September 6, at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, bringing together elite para-triathletes from across Asia for one of the region's major continental competitions. The event was organized by Triathlon Philippines in cooperation with

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Asia

She Asked Police for Help Before She Was Killed in Tokyo — Now Her Ex-Boyfriend Has 20 Years in Prison, But One Question Remains

TOKYO — A South Korean man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in Japan for stalking and killing his former girlfriend in Tokyo, bringing a closely watched case to a legal conclusion — but leaving difficult questions about stalking, police intervention and how quickly relationship violence can escalate. The Tokyo District Court on September 4 sentenced Park Yong-jun, 31, after finding him guilty of murder and violating Japan's anti-stalking law in the September 2025 killing of Bang Ji-won,

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Asia

Japan Airlines Buys Into Korean Air’s Parent as Alliance Deepens — But the Timing Could Reshape a Brewing Hanjin KAL Power Contest

Japan Airlines Buys Into Korean Air’s Parent as Alliance Deepens — But the Timing Could Reshape a Brewing Hanjin KAL Power Contest SEO Meta Description: Japan Airlines has reportedly acquired an undisclosed stake in Korean Air parent Hanjin KAL while expanding its strategic alliance with Korean Air ahead of the December Asiana merger, raising questions about Hanjin Group’s shareholder balance. SEO Keywords: Japan Airlines Korean Air partnership, JAL Hanjin KAL stake, Korean Air Asiana merger,

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Asia

Japan’s Prince Hisahito Turns 20—But His Birthday Comes as the Imperial Throne Faces a Major Succession Question

TOKYO — Japan’s Prince Hisahito has reached a major milestone, turning 20 on Sunday, September 6, as attention increasingly focuses on his future role in the country’s centuries-old imperial institution. The son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, Hisahito is second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, behind his father, and is currently the youngest member of Japan’s Imperial Family. His 20th birthday comes at a particularly significant moment for Japan’s monarchy, as the countr

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Asia

Japan Is Preparing for Emperor Akihito’s Funeral — But His Final Wish Could Change Imperial Tradition

Japan is preparing for a major change in one of its most sensitive imperial traditions. The Imperial Household Agency is considering a significantly smaller funeral ceremony for Emperor Emeritus Akihito, following his long-standing wish to minimize the disruption his funeral could cause to ordinary people. Akihito, 92, is not reported to have any major health problems. The discussions are therefore advance planning, not an announcement of an imminent funeral. Japanese media reports say the age

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