Sakurajima Volcano Erupts, Ash Plume Reaches 3000 Meters On July 6, Sakurajima volcano in Japan erupted, creating a dramatic scene as its ash plume soared to impressive heights. The Minamidake crater of Sakurajima erupted at approximately 9:33 AM, sending an ash plume about 3000 meters high into the sky. The …

Second Wave of Island Evacuations Begins: 46 Residents Flee Akusekijima and Kotakarajima Amid Earthquake Swarm in Tokara Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture On the morning of July 6, a village-operated ferry set sail from Akusekijima and Kotakarajima, carrying 46 residents who opted to evacuate due to a relentless series of earthquakes shaking …

Unique Manhole Covers in Iwate Honor MLB Stars Ohtani, Sasaki, and Kikuchi In June, Iwate Prefecture unveiled a trio of eye-catching manhole covers celebrating its hometown Major League Baseball (MLB) heroes: Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Roki Sasaki, and Yusei Kikuchi of the Los Angeles Angels. Featuring original …

(Minami Nippon Shimbun) Sakurajima Volcano Shows Swelling: Alert for Large Ejecta and Pyroclastic Flows Within 2km of Crater On July 5th at 8 PM, the Kagoshima Local Meteorological Observatory issued a statement about Sakurajima, reporting that crustal movements indicating the mountain is swelling had been observed. Authorities are urging caution …

“July 5 Mega Disaster Theory” Sparks “Japan’s Doom” Trend on X, Fuels Fear and Global Media Coverage On the afternoon of July 4, the phrase “Japan’s Doom” surged to a trending topic on X (formerly Twitter), igniting a wave of curiosity and concern among users worldwide. The trend stems from …

CoCo Ichibanya’s Winning Streak: Record Profits and Bold Price Hikes Ichibanya, the company that runs the beloved Curry House CoCo Ichibanya chain, is riding a wave of success. For five straight periods, revenue has climbed, and profits have risen for three consecutive periods. This period, the company is set to …

Japan’s New Disaster Prevention Plan Targets Nankai Trough Earthquake Risks The Japanese government has announced a bold new disaster prevention plan to tackle the devastating potential of a Nankai Trough megathrust earthquake. Aiming to slash the estimated death toll by 80% within the next 10 years, this strategy addresses a …

Ado Sells Out Paris Concert with 20,000 Fans, a First for a Japanese Artist – 25 Shows in 24 Cities Worldwide Sold Out Ado, the 22-year-old Japanese singer who burst onto the scene with her 2020 major debut hit “Usseewa,” is marking her 5th anniversary in 2025 with her second …

Foreign Group Shoplifting on the Rise: Uniqlo Takes a Bold Stand with Full Compensation Claims Vietnamese Nationals Dominate Shoplifting Arrests Shoplifting by foreign groups has surged across Japan, prompting Fast Retailing—the parent company of the Uniqlo clothing chain—to announce a tough new policy this month. The company will now pursue …

Young Women Are Rapidly Leaving Rural Japan: 17 Prefectures See Over 3% Annual Decline as They Flock to Cities for Compelling Reasons In places like Kochi Prefecture, the number of young women plummeted by an astonishing 4.5% in just one year. The exodus of women from rural areas to urban …