Category: Japan

Entertainment

Hideki Shirakawa Changed What the World Thought Plastic Could Do — But His Nobel-Winning Breakthrough Began With an Accident

TOKYO — Hideki Shirakawa, the Japanese chemist whose Nobel Prize-winning research shattered the long-held belief that plastics could not conduct electricity, has died at the age of 90, leaving behind a scientific breakthrough that helped open an entirely new field of materials research. Shirakawa died on August 24 at a hospital in Yokohama, according to reports released Thursday, September 3. The University of Tsukuba, where he spent more than two decades teaching and conducting research, forma

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Business

Japan’s Yen Is Suddenly Surging — So Why Is Tokyo’s FX Chief Still Not Reassured

TOKYO — Japan’s yen has staged one of its sharpest rallies in weeks, speculation over another Bank of Japan interest-rate hike is exploding, and fears of fresh currency intervention are back on traders’ screens. But Japan’s top currency official is not celebrating. Atsushi Mimura, Japan’s vice finance minister for international affairs and the country’s chief foreign-exchange diplomat, said Thursday, September 3, that authorities remain on “heightened alert” over moves in the currency market.

September 3, 2026

Japan

Japan Tightens Driving Tests for Drivers 75 and Older — The New Rule Could Change Who Gets to Stay Behind the Wheel

TOKYO — Japan is preparing to tighten its driving skills test for motorists aged 75 and older who have certain traffic violations, as authorities move to address a troubling pattern of crashes involving elderly drivers. The National Police Agency (NPA) plans to introduce stricter testing requirements as early as fiscal 2027 after an expert panel concluded that the current system has not done enough to identify drivers at higher risk of causing accidents. The proposed changes will specifically

September 3, 2026

Japan

Japan Defends Asian Games Cricket Arrangements as Accommodation Concerns Spark Controversy

Cricket teams competing at the 2026 Asian Games will be offered hotel accommodation, Japan’s cricket chief says, as organizers push back against concerns over cramped facilities and the unusual lodging setup for athletes. Japan is facing growing scrutiny over preparations for cricket at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, but officials are insisting that participating cricket teams will receive hotel accommodation rather than the more limited options being used by athletes in some other sport

September 3, 2026

Business

Japan’s New ¥30 Million Visa Rule Is Pushing Foreign Entrepreneurs Out — And the Numbers Are Rising

Japan’s crackdown on its Business Manager visa is now showing a striking consequence: 953 foreign residents holding the status left the country during the first half of 2026 without completing the procedures needed to return, nearly four times the number recorded during the same period last year. The figures, based on Immigration Services Agency data and reported by The Japan Times, indicate that the impact of Japan’s tougher immigration rules is extending beyond prospective applicants and is i

September 3, 2026

Business

She Lived With Severe Pain for More Than 10 Years Without a Diagnosis — Her Story Is Raising Questions About Fibromyalgia in Japan

A Tokyo woman’s long struggle to find an explanation for severe, persistent pain is drawing renewed attention to fibromyalgia and the challenges faced by patients whose symptoms can be difficult to recognize through routine medical tests. Reina Serikyaku, a 30-year-old certified care worker, says her symptoms began when she was a junior high school student on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa. During class, she suddenly experienced intense chest pain and was taken to a hospital by ambulance. But the

September 3, 2026

Business

Japan Is Putting Fruit on Sushi — But the Surprising Twist Has Little to Do With Taste

Japan’s sushi scene is taking an unexpected turn as restaurants and supermarkets experiment with fruit-and-fish combinations in a bid to revive interest in seafood, particularly among younger consumers. The unusual pairings — including tuna with mango, salmon with peach, and red sea bream with orange — are gaining attention for their colorful presentation and refreshing flavors, according to a recent report by The Japan Times, citing Jiji Press. The trend is not simply about creating Instagram

September 3, 2026

Business

Japan’s Bond Rout Is Rewriting Global Capital Flows — And Investors Are Watching What Happens Next

Japan’s bond market has crossed a threshold not seen in three decades — and the consequences could reach far beyond Tokyo. Japan’s benchmark 10-year government bond yield climbed above 3% for the first time since 1996, making Japanese fixed-income assets increasingly attractive and raising the possibility that some of the country’s enormous overseas investments could gradually return home. The move comes as global bond markets face a broader sell-off, with investors increasingly concerned abou

September 3, 2026

Business

Japan Plans GPS Emergency App to Quickly Locate Citizens Overseas

Japan is preparing a new smartphone app that could fundamentally change how the government locates and checks on Japanese citizens caught in overseas emergencies. The Foreign Ministry is developing a GPS-enabled system designed to help officials determine the whereabouts and safety of Japanese nationals living, working or traveling abroad during major disasters, armed conflicts and other emergencies. The ministry is targeting fiscal 2027 for the start of operations. The key change: location s

September 3, 2026

Japan

Japan Police Eye A Bold New Weapon Against “TOKURYU” Crime — But It Could Change Digital Privacy Forever

Japan is preparing to take a major step against its increasingly sophisticated “tokuryu” anonymous and fluid criminal groups, with an expert panel backing a controversial new investigative method that could allow police to remotely analyze communications on devices believed to be used by criminal networks. The National Police Agency (NPA) panel said Wednesday that existing investigative methods are often insufficient when criminals rely on highly confidential or encrypted messaging applications

September 3, 2026