76-Year-Old TikTok Sensation: Host Clubs on Pension, First Photo Booth in 30 Years, and Age-Faking on Dating Apps—‘This Might Be the Most Fun I’ve Ever Had’ Photo by Shuzo Saito (Shueisha Online) Imagine a 76-year-old grandmother raking in around 4 million yen (roughly $26,000 USD) a month on TikTok—not by …

A New Trend in Japan: Smartphone Tipping in Restaurants In Japan, a fresh wave is sweeping through the restaurant industry: customers can now use their smartphones to send tips directly to employees or the establishment itself. This innovative system is not only modernizing dining experiences but also boosting staff motivation …

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 …

Elderly Man Trapped in Train for 5 Hours at Shin-Tochigi Station On July 5, Tobu Railway announced that a man in his 70s was stuck inside a train for about 5 hours at Shin-Tochigi Station on the Tobu Utsunomiya Line in Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The train was the …

“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 …

Japan’s Shifting Demographics: Record Highs for Single and Elderly Households, Record Low for Families with Children A recent survey by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has uncovered striking changes in the nation’s household composition. The number of single-person households and households with elderly members (aged 65 and older) …

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 …