Typhoon No. 31, a very strong storm currently moving west near Minamitorishima Island in the western Pacific, could change direction several times in early November and potentially approach Japan's Ogasawara Islands, with its eventual path depending largely on the strength and position of a high-pressure system over the Japanese mainland, according to a forecast updated at 6 a.m. on October 29.
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck northeastern Chiba Prefecture at around 12:07 a.m. on October 29, registering a maximum intensity of 5-lower on Japan's seven-level seismic scale and sending tremors across a wide area of eastern and central Japan, including Narita Airport, where footage captured the moment of shaking.
A married couple in Aira, Kagoshima Prefecture, have been arrested after police discovered cannabis plants growing in pots on the terrace of their home during a search connected to a separate investigation, authorities said on October 28th.
A woman in her 80s was killed after her car entered railway tracks on the Odakyu Enoshima Line in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, shortly before 10:30 p.m. on October 27, with security camera footage showing the vehicle traveling along the tracks, passing an oncoming train and stopping with its hazard lights flashing before being struck from behind by another train.
A teenage male was rushed to a hospital after suffering an electric shock while putting away a motorized basketball hoop at a gymnasium in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, in an accident believed to have been caused by an incompatible extension cord, according to a report on October 27th.
A Halloween pumpkin displayed at a nursery school in Esashi, Hokkaido, was found smashed and partially eaten on October 25, in what police believe was a bear attack, with similar damage reported at a nearby home.
Osaka's iconic Tsutenkaku Tower celebrated the 70th anniversary of its reopening on October 28, marking seven decades since the landmark was rebuilt in 1956 as a symbol of the city's postwar recovery, while new attractions continue to draw visitors to the surrounding Shinsekai entertainment district.
Japan will introduce a major overhaul of its tax-free shopping system for foreign visitors on November 1, replacing immediate tax exemptions at stores with a refund system that requires travelers to pay the full consumption tax upfront and claim reimbursement when leaving the country, a change expected to reshape retail strategies and purchasing behavior across the tourism industry.
Heavy rain linked to former Typhoon No. 30 continued to affect large parts of Japan on October 26, with authorities warning of potentially dangerous rainfall from the Kanto region to Shikoku, raising concerns in Chiba Prefecture's Shisui Town, where flooding caused by Typhoon No. 25 last month left homes and roads submerged for nearly three weeks.
Asuka Village in Nara Prefecture is introducing new measures to control rising visitor numbers following the July 2026 World Heritage registration of the 'Asuka-Fujiwara: Archaeological Sites of Japan's Ancient Capitals,' seeking to protect its historic landscapes and residents' daily lives while benefiting from growing international interest.
Japan has confirmed that a Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper reporter detained in Russia since October 13 is in good health following his first consular visit, with the government reiterating its demand for his immediate release.
The Japanese government has outlined plans to introduce new legislation requiring individuals and organizations acting on behalf of foreign governments to disclose their activities, as part of efforts to strengthen Japan's intelligence capabilities and prevent improper foreign interference.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who became the country's 91st prime minister in 2007 and made history as the first son of a former prime minister to hold the country's highest political office, has died at the age of 90, leaving a legacy that includes navigating a divided parliament, advancing consumer protection reforms, and securing an international agreement on climate change at the 2008 G8 summit in Hokkaido.
Egg prices in Japan have reached a new record high of 312 yen per pack, while imported beef and chicken thigh prices have also matched their previous peaks, adding to the growing burden on household food budgets.
Japanese flea market app operator Mercari opened an exhibition in Tokyo's Harajuku district on October 28, recreating the rooms of fictional overseas fans of Japanese anime, manga and other pop culture to highlight how ordinary secondhand goods in Japan have become treasured collectibles around the world.
Japanese telecommunications giant KDDI announced on October 28 that it will invest 30 billion yen in physical artificial intelligence by fiscal 2030, aiming to deploy more than 1,000 autonomous robots across retail, logistics and manufacturing facilities as Japan searches for solutions to its worsening labor shortage.
A company in Kagoshima has developed a new garbage collection station that uses specially shaped wires and rollers instead of conventional nets to prevent crows from scattering household waste, offering a cleaner and more convenient solution to a persistent problem in Japan's urban neighborhoods.
Japanese stocks extended their recovery on October 28, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 63,954.19 at 3:30 p.m. Tokyo time, up 685.82 points, or 1.08%, from the previous session, as strong demand for artificial intelligence-related semiconductor shares lifted the benchmark for a second consecutive day, even as the broader market weakened ahead of major interest rate decisions in Japan and the United States.
Japan has begun replenishing its national oil reserves following the release of approximately 90 million barrels in response to worsening tensions in the Middle East, with trading house Mitsui & Co. winning the first procurement contract for 2 million barrels of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates, expected to arrive in November.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei Stock Average rebounded sharply on October 27, 2026, closing at 63,232.37, up 1,042.72 points, or 1.68%, at 3 p.m. Japan time, as semiconductor-related shares rallied following gains on Wall Street and renewed optimism about artificial intelligence investment, ending a three-session losing streak that had pushed the index to its lowest level in nearly three months.
GMO Internet Group President Masatoshi Kumagai revealed that attackers responsible for unauthorized access to servers used for foreign exchange trading and other services had demanded $50 million, equivalent to approximately 7.9 billion yen, with the company refusing to comply.