Burger King Japan has announced that approximately 11.18 million records containing personal information of its official app members were leaked following unauthorized access to its systems between October 2 and October 7.
Japan's first Disney cruise ship will be named "Disney Imagination," with Oriental Land and its partners planning to launch the service in spring 2029, offering a new Disney-themed travel experience departing from Tokyo.
Police investigating the deaths of seven dogs and cats at a pet shop have discovered that the business allegedly obtained powerful prescription drugs illegally from a veterinarian for several years, allowing unlicensed staff to administer the medicines in an apparent effort to reduce operating costs.
A 41-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of selling sleeping pills not approved for use in Japan to girls who frequent the "Toyoko" area of Tokyo's Kabukicho entertainment district, allegedly promoting the drugs on social media as a way to experience an intense high through excessive consumption.
More than 1,000 chickens escaped from a truck onto a busy national highway in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, on October 15 after the vehicle's load shifted, prompting traffic restrictions that lasted approximately four hours.
Tokyo's 23 wards have decided to establish a new small-scale public crematorium to address rising fees at privately operated facilities and growing concerns that cremation capacity could become insufficient around 2040 as the city's aging population drives up the number of deaths.
The Nada Fighting Festival, known for its spectacular collisions between massive portable shrines weighing around two tons, drew large crowds to Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, on October 15, as participants repeatedly slammed the heavy structures into one another in a traditional ritual believed to please the gods.
The El Niño phenomenon developing in the Pacific Ocean has reached its strongest level since records began in 1949, with sea surface temperatures off Peru rising 4 degrees Celsius above normal in September, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced on October 9, raising concerns about extreme weather worldwide and the prospect of an unusually warm winter in Japan.
Osaka's iconic Glico sign in Dotonbori will undergo a major renewal next spring after more than a decade of operation, with its current LED display set to be switched off for the final time on November 30.
Typhoon No. 29 was moving northward over waters east of Japan at strong intensity as of 10 p.m. on October 12th, with forecasts indicating that the storm will continue moving away from the country and transition into an extratropical cyclone on October 13th, although high waves generated by the typhoon could pose a growing threat along the Pacific coast of northern Japan.
Russian authorities have arrested a Japanese journalist working for the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper on suspicion of espionage, releasing footage of a security operation and accusing the reporter of gathering military intelligence, in a case that threatens to further strain relations between Tokyo and Moscow.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivered an unusually harsh rebuke of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Kazuo Yana on October 13, describing his claims about cutting road budgets in areas that failed to support him as "inappropriate" and "really lame," while signaling that she would reconsider whether he should remain in office as opposition lawmakers intensified their demands for his dismissal.
Japan's Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana is facing mounting pressure to resign over remarks suggesting that government funding was reduced for municipalities that failed to support him in an election, with opposition parties considering a censure motion that could disrupt parliamentary deliberations on a consumption tax reduction bill.
A vibrant purple ingredient from the Philippines is gaining popularity around the world, with ube, a type of yam known for its mild sweetness and striking color, emerging as a potential successor to matcha in the global dessert market.
Hashimoto Rina (橋本梨菜) is a gravure model and idol. She is an original member of sherbet and a former member of SKETCH.
Japanese basketball continues to improve year after year. Strong financial backing and steadily growing fan interest have turned the B.League into one of Asia’s most exciting competitions.
Around 90 self-proclaimed ninjas from across Japan gathered in Koka, Shiga Prefecture, for the 43rd All-Japan Ninja Championship, competing in traditional ninja-inspired challenges including shuriken throwing, castle wall climbing, and running across water to claim the title of Japan's top ninja.
Tokyo stocks suffered one of their steepest declines on October 15, with the Nikkei 225 plunging 3,318 points, or 4.90%, to close at 64,426, its third-largest point decline on record, as a global selloff in artificial intelligence and semiconductor shares intensified over concerns about rising U.S. interest rates and the financial sustainability of debt-funded AI investment.
Panasonic has announced a recall of approximately 640,000 drum-type washer-dryers after identifying a defect in their automatic detergent dispensing tanks that could cause electrical wiring to deteriorate and potentially catch fire.
Tokyo stocks edged lower on October 14, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 67,744, down 33 points, as an early rebound in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares faded late in the session before the release of U.S. inflation data.
Japanese family restaurant chain Saizeriya has announced its first major price increase since going public in 1998, raising menu prices by an average of 6% from October 29 as soaring ingredient and energy costs force the company to abandon its longstanding policy of keeping prices unchanged.