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 …

Electricity Prices Drop Across Japan: Government Subsidies Bring Relief Good news for Japanese households: electricity prices are set to decrease across the country in July. All ten major power companies announced on June 27, 2025, that charges for July usage (reflected in August bills) will drop by 520 to 691 …