Tokyo's daily COVID cases double from week ago to over 5,000
Tokyo confirmed 5,302 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, more than double the level the week before and exceeding the 5,000 mark for the first time since April 28. (Kyodo)
Wide areas of Japan on high alert as rainfall continues
Japanese officials are warning of heavy rainfall across much of the country. (NHK)
KDDI finally restores mobile service after 86-hour failure
KDDI Corp. said its "au" mobile phone service had been fully restored by Tuesday afternoon, ending 86 hours of service disruptions that affected millions of customers and a range of business activities. (Nikkei)
Japan gov't to launch survey on weight, dietary habits of young women
The government has set up a research group to investigate issues including body image attitudes and diet and lifestyle habits, as part of attempts to lower the high proportion of underweight young adult women in Japan, the health ministry said Monday. (Kyodo)
06 July 2022
All Japan Tours
Japan Weather
JAPANESE COMMERCIALS
SOCIETY
Passenger arrested for breaking connecting door glass while fighting on train
Japan Today - Jul 05
Police in Tokyo have arrested a man in his 50s on suspicion of causing property damage after he broke the glass on a connecting door during an altercation with another man on a train operating on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi line.
Tokyo man arrested for putting brother’s skull out for recycling collection
soranews24.com - Jul 05
On 21 June workers at a recycling plant in Adachi, Tokyo were given a shock when, mixed in among the refuse that had arrived, they found a human skull and jaw bone.
Paintings found in Paris may be early works by Okamoto Taro
NHK - Jul 05
NHK has learned that three abstract paintings have been found that are thought to be unknown early works of the late Japanese artist Okamoto Taro. He is known for numerous works, including the "Tower of the Sun" monument and the "Myth of Tomorrow" mural.
Japanese couple goes to court after dual surname marriage rejected
NHK - Jul 04
A Japanese couple has asked a family court to let them register their marriage under separate surnames in Japan as they did in the United States.
[more society news…]
BUSINESS
Energy crisis slams Japan as weak yen sends import costs surging
straitstimes.com - Jul 05
The slump in the Japanese yen, the war in Ukraine and a heatwave in Tokyo are pushing the world's third-biggest economy toward a full-blown energy crisis.
KDDI finally restores mobile service after 86-hour failure
Nikkei - Jul 05
KDDI Corp. said its "au" mobile phone service had been fully restored by Tuesday afternoon, ending 86 hours of service disruptions that affected millions of customers and a range of business activities.
Pension giant GPIF to invest in Japanese startups for first time
Nikkei - Jul 04
Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund, one of the world's largest institutional investors, will begin investing in Japanese startups in order to give the sector a boost, Nikkei has learned.
BOJ owns half of JGB market after huge buying to defend yield cap
Business Times - Jul 04
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) now owns half of outstanding Japanese government bonds (JGB) issued in the market, data showed on Monday (Jul 4), a sign the bank’s aggressive buying to defend its 0.25 per cent yield cap is bloating an already huge balance sheet.
[more business news…]
POLITICS
Price cap on Russian oil to be about half of current price: Japan PM
Kyodo - Jul 04
The price cap to be imposed on Russian oil to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine is expected to be around half the current purchase price, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Sunday.
Japanese asked to save power as country’s east sizzles
Reuters - Jul 01
The highest temperatures in at least 147 years have scorched much of eastern Japan for a week as of Friday, with the government asking citizens to cut power use as much as possible, while still running air conditioners to stay safe.
Japan warns on 'interests' after Russia gas project decree
The Sun daily - Jul 01
Japan’s energy “interests must not be undermined”, Tokyo said Friday, after Moscow issued a decree transferring operations of a key oil and gas project to a new Russian company.
Japan power plant shutdown raises fear of shortage in sweltering heat
Sun Daily - Jun 30
Japan’s electricity grid creaked on Thursday under the strain of Tokyo’s hottest June since records began, with the unexpected shutdown of a power plant raising fears that tens of millions of people could be deprived of power on another scorching day.
[more politics news…]
EDUCATION
New smartphone app automatically deletes children’s nude selfies
chiangraitimes.com - Jul 05
To prevent sexual exploitation, a smartphone app has been developed in Japan that automatically deletes children’s nude selfies.
Japan health ministry survey finds many not consulting doctors for menopausal symptoms
nippon.com - Jul 05
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s survey on menopausal symptoms in Japan showed that 28.3% of women in their forties, 38.3% in their fifties, and 27.7% in their sixties thought they might have such symptoms.
Japanese Cultural 'Edutainment' & Music
Fort Vancouver Regional Library District - Jul 05
Learn and be entertained! Have fun as Yumi shares Japanese Culture through music using Japanese instruments and more. Expand your world with this entertaining (and educational) presentation as Takohachi introduces Japanese culture through music.
Japan gov't to launch survey on weight, dietary habits of young women
Kyodo - Jul 04
The government has set up a research group to investigate issues including body image attitudes and diet and lifestyle habits, as part of attempts to lower the high proportion of underweight young adult women in Japan, the health ministry said Monday.
[more education news…]
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Freeze-dried mice: How a new technique could help conserve species
CBC News - Jul 06
Japanese scientists have successfully produced cloned mice using freeze-dried cells in a technique they believe could one day help conserve species and overcome challenges with current biobanking methods.
Japanese man performs surgery on giant ‘murder hornet’ by pulling a parasite from its stomach
South China Morning Post - Jul 05
Japanese insect enthusiast Ebira Mosura saved the life of an Asian giant hornet, also known as a ‘murder hornet’, by performing a mini-surgery to remove a parasite from its stomach.
Japan deploys artificial intelligence to detect rip currents as beach season hots up
theguardian.com - Jul 05
Early July is the cue for Japanese surfers and sun seekers to descend on beaches across the country – and one beach on the Pacific coast is turning to artificial intelligence to ensure that their time in the water is without incident.
1 in 3 beds meant for the critically ill fail to live up to expectations
Nikkei - Jul 03
Nearly 35% of acute care beds in Japanese hospitals have failed to serve their intended purpose, a serious misallocation of human and financial resources, according to a study by Nikkei and the Japan Center for Economic Research.
[more sci-tech news…]
ENTERTAINMENT
Top 20 Sexiest Women In Anime
WatchMojo.com - Jul 06
They're the waifus that know how to strut their stuff. Join Ashley as we look over anime's most attractive ladies, as seen in series such as "Bleach", "One Piece", "Spy x Family", and more!
He's Always Bullied By The Bad Boys But Always Looks Cool Against Them
AniCapped - Jul 05
First year high school student Sakamoto isn't just cool, he's the coolest! Almost immediately after starting school, he began attracting everyone's attention.
Loli Girls Will Make You Smile or Run Away
H - Studio - Jul 05
This video is a compilation of adorable, memorable moments about a romantic relationship with the best anime girls.
How No Deposit Slots Have Changed Over The Past 5 Years
newsonjapan.com - Jul 05
The Internet revolution has transformed many businesses into alien replicas of what they were before the Internet.
[more entertainment news…]
TRAVEL
'The Lost World': Japan's abandoned rural spaces
CNN - Jul 06
Simply saying the word "Japan" can bring up images of manga, maid cafes and neon lights. But for Dutch photographer Maan Limburg, Japan is a series of rural landscapes punctuated by empty houses.
Singapore Airlines to increase flights to Japan
channelnewsasia.com - Jul 06
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will operate more flights to Japan and India in the coming months amid strong demand for air travel.
Wide areas of Japan on high alert as rainfall continues
NHK - Jul 05
Japanese officials are warning of heavy rainfall across much of the country.
Fun Things to Do in Japan
newsonjapan.com - Jul 05
Japan is a land of many contrasts, where the old and the new exist side by side.
[more travel news…]
FEATURED BLOGS
Jul 2
Sony?s wearable air conditioners selling like cold cakes in heat-stricken Japan

Sony's got what now?!

I always thought it'd be nice if someone could develop wearable air conditioning tech that's a little more sophisticated than those working AC capsule toys we tried out a while back. So, imagine my surprise to find that Son...

Jul 2
Adult video mosaic destroyer?s trial ends with guilty verdict in Kyoto district court


Machine-learning A.I. used to try to skirt Japanese censorship laws.

Last October, officers from the Kyoto Prefectural Police arrested Masayuki Nakamoto, a resident of the city of Takasago, in Hyogo Prefecture. Nakamoto stepped into the sights o...

Jun 30
Japanese city makes list of world?s top 10 most livable cities, but not one most people expected

If it's not Tokyo, can you guess which city made the list?

There are thousands of cities in the world, and each one has its own charms, benefits, and challenges for the people that live in them. And as it turns out, there's a rating for that. De...

Jun 30
Cycling the Fuji Five Lakes in Japan

I'm drenched in sweat from riding all day. I'm pedaling as fast as I can towards the light at the end of a dark tunnel when a cool afternoon breeze hits me, and I finally see Lake Kawaguchi's vibrant, deep blue colors. I let out a triumphant whoop...

Jun 28
Crowdfunding campaign for Nara World Heritage temple surpasses 100 million yen in 8 days

When the temple asks, the temple shall receive?five-fold.

Horyuji Temple in Nara Prefecture is one of the many Japanese landmarks that suffered a severe lack of tourists during the pandemic. Select Buddhist temples in Japan charge a small entran...

[more blogs…]