News On Japan

From Samurai to Superpower: Rise of Japan DOCUMENTARY

Oct 03 (Kings and Generals) - Kings and Generals animated historical documentary series on the early modern era and history of Japan.

The Victorian Era was a time of revolutionary change, marked by unprecedented technological progress, scientific breakthroughs, and the expansion of European empires. While Asia and Africa were carved up by imperial powers, Japan followed a different path—one that transformed it from an isolated feudal society into East Asia’s first modern superpower. This video explores how Japan navigated the challenges of the 19th century, beginning with the Tenpō Era crises, famine, and social unrest that exposed the weaknesses of the Tokugawa shogunate. We’ll examine the arrival of Commodore Perry’s “Black Ships” and the Bakumatsu period, when internal conflict and foreign pressure forced Japan to confront its isolation. The Boshin War and the fall of the Tokugawa paved the way for the Meiji Restoration, ushering in sweeping reforms in government, education, industry, and the military. From the abolition of the samurai class to the creation of a modern constitution, from industrial growth to the rise of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the Meiji Era reshaped Japan’s future. By the dawn of the 20th century, Japan had secured its place as a world power—modernized yet still rooted in its traditions.

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Typhoon No. 22 has brought severe weather to the Izu Islands, especially around Hachijo Island, with strong winds and heavy rain continuing to affect the region. Although the rain and wind have peaked, authorities urge continued caution against violent gusts, high waves, and potential landslides due to saturated ground conditions. While most of the Kanto region, including the Tokyo metropolitan area, has avoided major transportation disruptions, some services along the coasts of Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures may still be affected.

As of 9 a.m. on October 9, Typhoon No. 23 (Nakri) was moving quickly northwest over waters south of Japan and is expected to influence weather conditions over the upcoming three-day holiday weekend. The typhoon is forecast to strengthen slightly as it approaches the Okinawa and Amami regions between October 10 and 11. Afterward, it is expected to curve northward, moving off the coast of Kyushu on October 12 and reaching waters south of Japan’s main islands by October 13.

Elementary and junior high school teachers in Japan still work the longest hours among their peers worldwide, according to an OECD report released on Tuesday. While the 2024 results by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showed working hours had fallen by around four hours per week compared with the previous survey in 2018, Japan’s teachers still far exceeded their global counterparts.

Beer deliveries from Asahi Group Holdings have been disrupted following a ransomware cyberattack, causing shortages that have already begun to affect izakaya and other establishments across Japan. Some bars have reported their beer stock falling to “only one left” as supply chain delays ripple through the industry.

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture around 9:30 a.m. on October 7th, registering a maximum intensity of 4 on the Japanese seismic scale. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, there is no risk of a tsunami caused by this tremor.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Education NEWS

In response to a voyeurism incident involving a group of teachers, the Hokkaido Board of Education has announced plans to introduce devices that detect hidden cameras and similar equipment in schools.

The Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education has dismissed a 39-year-old junior high school teacher from Nagaokakyo City who was arrested on suspicion of secretly filming a female student in his classroom.

Learning Japanese as a beginner feels a bit like standing at the foot of Mount Fuji — exciting, but a little daunting.

Reskilling, the process of acquiring new skills to adapt to social and technological changes -- often referred to as “relearning” -- is attracting growing interest among Japan’s older population.

Kings and Generals animated historical documentary series on the early modern era and history of Japan. (Kings and Generals)

A terror plot in 1949 changed Japan forever. But who really did it? (Spectacles)

Getting stopped by police and charged with driving without a license can feel overwhelming.

Parents of a young girl victimized in a voyeurism case at a swimming school in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, have filed for mediation, seeking stronger measures to prevent recurrence.