Osaka Tower Hosts Traditional Bean Toss

OSAKA, Feb 03 (News On Japan) - A traditional “fukumame” bean-tossing event was held on February 1st at Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka’s Naniwa Ward, ahead of the Setsubun festival, drawing crowds eager to invite good fortune a little early.

Marking its 70th year, the event saw television personality Yukino Saito and others scatter around 1,000 bags of roasted soybeans, known as “fukumame,” from the tower.

One visitor said, “I stretched my arms out and grabbed them with energy. I want everything to go well this year.”

Those who attended welcomed an early taste of “fuku,” or good fortune, as they took part in the seasonal tradition.

Source: YOMIURI

Six Students Taken to Hospital After Eating Overly Salty Pizza

Six junior high school students were taken to hospital after falling ill from eating pizza made during a home economics class in Kitakyushu last month, with officials suspecting the cause to be an excessive amount of salt added to the dough.

Osaka Fraud Losses Top 33.9 Billion Yen as Police-Impersonation Scams Surge

Losses from special fraud and SNS-based investment and romance scams in Osaka Prefecture over the past year exceeded 33.9 billion yen, marking a record high.

Japan Supplies Generators to Ukraine

A ceremony was held in Kyiv on February 11th where the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) presented generators to Ukraine as the country grapples with worsening electricity shortages following Russian attacks on energy facilities, with citizens struggling to endure severe winter conditions and international assistance for power infrastructure continuing to grow.

Water Supply Disruptions Continue in Hakone

A renewed water outage struck Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture after supplies briefly resumed on February 11th morning, with authorities reinstating water restrictions from 9 p.m. as frozen pipes and low reservoir levels linked to an intense cold wave continued to disrupt supply across the region.

Japan’s Oldest Man Dies at 111

Kiyotaka Mizuno, the oldest man in Japan and the oldest resident in Shizuoka Prefecture, died of natural causes at his home in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, on February 8th at the age of 111, according to local authorities.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Entertainment NEWS

Osaka City And USJ Strengthen Ties To Boost Tourism

Osaka City signed an agreement with Universal Studios Japan on February 12th to strengthen cooperation in areas such as tourism promotion and sports development, aiming to further energize the local economy and enhance the city’s appeal.

'Starry Sea' Sing Along | Cosmic Princess Kaguya!

She's not the diva of Tsukuyomi for nothing! Sing along with Yachiyo (Saori Hayami) as she puts on a dazzling performance of "Starry Sea" by Aqu3ra.

Kenji Haga Arrested in Okinawa Over Indecent Acts in Okinawa

The arrest of entertainer Kenji Haga, 64, on suspicion of committing indecent acts against two women has sent shockwaves after he allegedly kissed and touched women in their 30s and 50s at a restaurant in Okinawa Prefecture on the night of March 27th, 2025.

New Interactive Experience Opens in Harajuku This Weekend

A new experiential attraction centered on the “kawaii” aesthetic will open this weekend along Takeshita Street in Tokyo’s Harajuku district, with the facility unveiled to the media ahead of its launch.

Capsule Toy Craze Gathers Steam

A large exhibition showcasing the latest capsule toys, which continue to evolve in both quality and concept, has opened as the market for the products is projected to triple in size, reflecting a surge in popularity led mainly by women.

The Female Chūshingura Revived After 17 Years!

Today, we consider the revival of a fascinating masterpiece at the New National Theatre in Tokyo, led by the Otowaya and Yorozuya guilds! (Kabuki In-Depth)

Why Foreigners Don’t Understand Japanese Comedy

People think Japan is all about the sushi, anime, and hentai. But actually, Japan is a comedy superpower. Comedy is everywhere here. We call it walai. So why don't foreigners get Japanese comedy at all? Let's solve that mystery today. (Japanese Comedian Meshida)

Nagoya Geiko Pay Courtesy Call

A Nagoya-based geiko association paid a courtesy visit to Aichi Governor Omura on February 4th and expressed its desire to perform at the opening ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games set to begin in September.

< 2 3 4 5 >