News On Japan
April 30, 2025
The entire population of pandas at Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, is being returned to China, delivering a major blow to both the mayor and residents. The emotional and economic impact is significant.
Image of Mayor Expresses Shock as Shirahama’s Pandas to Return to China

The rules surrounding benefits for parents on childcare leave were tightened in April due to concerns over the practice known as 'aiming to miss nursery placement.'

The "phantom bridge," a Hokkaido heritage site in the Tokachi region known for appearing and disappearing with the seasons, has begun drawing visitors again in 2025 as its elusive form grows increasingly fragile.


SOCIETY | April 30, 2025
The annual Whale Memorial Service was held in Taiji Town, Wakayama Prefecture, known as a whaling town, to express gratitude for whales that have long contributed to Japan's food culture.
Image of Taiji Town Holds Memorial Service to Thank Whales

A growing number of cases have been reported in which individuals offering to transfer cats for free on social media platforms demand payments, leading to suspicions of fraud.

Japan's population has been shrinking for 15 years, with huge implications for the country’s economy, national defense, and culture. Now, policymakers are working to boost birth rates. (60 Minutes)

A 100-year-old man driving a passenger car fell approximately 10 meters into a riverbed in Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, but survived without life-threatening injuries.


Oriental Land, which operates Tokyo Disney Resort, has announced plans to renovate several areas, including the launch of a new Space Mountain.
Image of Tokyo Disneyland Unveils Plan for New Space Mountain

Tourism surged with the start of Golden Week, with some people venturing out and others staying put. Among them is a story of transformation: in Hakuba, once a quiet summer destination with few visitors, local players have successfully turned it into a bustling hotspot.

Japan's southern island chain -Okinawa is a unique destination for travelers that you can enjoy both cultural depth and amazing nature. In this video, I explore quiet ruins and beaches, and a town of Koza that post war history remains. (Tokyo Kenchan)

10 Hours on Japan’s First-Class Sleeper Train in Spring | ???????? Sunrise Express (Solo Solo Travel)

Although the calendar alignment is less than ideal this year, taking weekdays off could turn the upcoming Golden Week into an 11-day holiday starting from April 25th.


Set in the aftermath of the Russo-Japanese War, Golden Kamuy follows Saichi Sugimoto, a battle-hardened veteran known as "Immortal Sugimoto," who seeks a hidden fortune in stolen Ainu gold to fulfill a promise made to a fallen comrade.
Image of Golden Kamuy: The Hunt of Prisoners in Hokkaido

Travis Japan is a Japanese boy band formed in 2012 under the management of Starto Entertainment, formerly known as Johnny & Associates. The group's name pays homage to American choreographer Travis Payne, who played a pivotal role in their formation during the production of the stage show Playzone'12 Song & Danc'n. Partii.​ (Travis Japan)

Today we'll be looking back at the kabuki world in the year 1925. (Kabuki In-Depth)

Bullet Train Explosion is a high-octane thriller set aboard Hayabusa 60, an E5 Series Shinkansen racing from Shin-Aomori to Tokyo — and it can’t drop below 100 km/h, or a hidden bomb will detonate.


Shizuka is on a quest to try foods that went viral on the Japanese internet, and today in Episode 3 of our series, she's trying FOUR viral eats all located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Are they worth the hype? (Japan by Food)

Oda Nobunaga’s sealed letter, bearing his personal red seal, has been discovered at Hyakusaiji Temple in Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture, roughly 100 years after its whereabouts became unknown.

If you are still hesitating whether to enter the cryptocurrency market, now is the best time to act. With the launch of the stablecoin RLUSD beta version on its official ledger XRPL and Ethereum network, market confidence in XRP has rapidly increased.

Vegetables that were destined for disposal are being given a new purpose as crayons that retain their natural colors and even a faint trace of their original scent.


BUSINESS | April 30, 2025
Matsuo, operator of the Matsuo Jingisukan chain, has embarked on a surprising new venture by opening its first specialty shoe store last week in Atsubetsu Ward, Sapporo, selling footwear instead of lamb.
Image of Japanese Chains Embrace Hybrid Stores to Revive Sales

At Daimaru Umeda, a new event has started featuring popular South Korean cosmetics brands on a weekly rotation, leading to an uptick in visits from younger shoppers and those interested in Korean fashion. Hankyu Umeda is also preparing to launch a new section aimed at customers aged 25 and under, offering a fresh shopping experience that incorporates lifestyle goods and Korean brands.

The largest operator of hospice-style residential facilities, Ishinkan, already under scrutiny for allegedly inflating and falsifying medical service claims for home nursing visits, is now suspected of also fraudulently overbilling for home care services, according to testimony from multiple current and former employees.

Sushiro, one of Japan's leading conveyor belt sushi chains, is rapidly expanding its presence in China. On April 30th, it plans to open its first location in Zhejiang Province, bringing the total number of stores on the mainland to more than 50 in less than four years since entering the market.

Construction of the Integrated Resort (IR) complex in Yumeshima, Osaka—adjacent to the site of the 2025 World Expo—began on April 24th, with plans to open the facility in five years.