Category: Japan

Japan

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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Japan

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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Japan

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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Business

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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Japan

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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Entertainment

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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Entertainment

Vocaloid Has Found a Strange New Sound — And It’s Coming From the Internet’s Creepiest Corners

For years, Vocaloid has been associated with colorful virtual singers, futuristic pop and the unmistakable voice of Hatsune Miku. But a darker side of the culture is now emerging — one filled with empty corridors, endless rooms, distorted memories and the unsettling feeling that something is wrong. As the horror film “Backrooms” arrives in Japanese theaters, attention is turning to an unexpected connection: Vocaloid music has already become a soundtrack for the internet's growing fascination wi

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Business

China Tightens Its Mineral Grip — Now the U.S. and Japan Are Racing to Protect the Chips That Power the World

U.S. and Japan race for critical minerals as China tightens grip on chip supply chains The next major battle in the global technology race may not be fought inside a semiconductor factory — it may begin with the minerals needed to make the chips in the first place. The United States and Japan are accelerating efforts to build alternative supplies of critical minerals and rare earth materials as China's export controls continue to create uncertainty for semiconductor, defense, aerospace and oth

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China

Miss World 2026 Coronation Night Underway in Vietnam—Then the Philippines’ Asia Rose Simpson Makes the Cut

NHA TRANG, Vietnam — The highly anticipated Miss World 2026 coronation night has officially begun in Vietnam, with 111 delegates from around the world competing for the coveted blue crown in the pageant's 75th Anniversary Edition. The grand finale is taking place at April 2 Square in Nha Trang, where thousands of spectators are watching the outdoor spectacle unfold. The event marks the culmination of weeks of competitions, advocacy activities, cultural showcases and challenges involving contest

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Japan

Japan’s Beloved Izakayas Are Disappearing at a Record Pace — And the Real Reason Goes Beyond Rising Prices

Japan’s beloved izakaya pubs are facing one of their toughest periods in decades, with a record number of businesses collapsing as higher costs, weaker domestic drinking habits and changing consumer behavior squeeze small operators. The latest figures paint a troubling picture: 118 izakaya businesses went bankrupt during the first half of 2026, according to Tokyo Shoko Research (TSR). That was the highest first-half total since comparable records began in 1989 and the first time the figure surp

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