Trump’s nomination of Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman who lacks deep intelligence experience and is seen as soft on Russia and Syria, is among several high-level picks that suggest he may be prioritizing personal allegiance over competence as he assembles his second-term team. Read more
Murals of popular manga on vacant houses and public facilities have turned a remote island with a population of 11 in the Seto Inland Sea into a new tourist destination as a manga island. Read more
Maneki neko, or beckoning cats, come in various colors and poses, but no one had ever heard of a studded maneki neko before. Read more
Having survived the atomic bomb that flattened his hometown of Hiroshima when he was nine months old, Kunihiko Sakuma has never forgotten the stain it left on him in the eyes of some of his fellow Japanese. Read more
Although presidents have pushed the boundaries of power, and in some cases abused it outright, no American commander-in-chief over the past couple of centuries has so aggressively sought to discredit the institutions of democracy at home while so openly embracing and envying dictators abroad. Read more
A project to install 23 dinosaur monuments in front of JR Fukui Station was completed last month. Read more
A stay-at-home mom could not help but sigh when she saw the rice prices at a Benny supermarket in Adachi ward, Tokyo, in late September. Read more
Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, in a warning to countries that have nuclear weapons not to use them. Read more
Just after 5 a.m. on Aug. 30, water began flooding a vast underground chamber, called “the cathedral,” just north of Tokyo. Read more
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
Various programs to certify helpers for travelers with disabilities visiting Japan have been established to help promote “universal tourism,” which enables everyone to travel. Read more
A recent survey by Japan’s Cultural Affairs Agency showed that people have moved away from reading books, and most respondents said it was due to spending long hours looking at their smartphones. Read more
The harvest moon lit up the night sky in Tokyo’s Shibuya ward on Sept.17. According to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, the harvest moon this year did not fall on the same date as the full moon, which appeared on the following day. Read more
One in four married people under the age of 40 met their spouse through dating apps, according to a survey conducted by the Children and Families Agency. Read more
Japan’s government and people lauded the record trophy haul for period drama “Shogun” at the Emmy Awards as yet another win for their history and culture, which are becoming increasingly popular with tourists and international audiences alike. Read more
The Grammy and Oscar-winner announced the 13-track album “Harlequin” on Tuesday, just days ahead of its Friday release. Read more
The U.S. designation — India is the only other country to have been designated as such — allows for close military cooperation through joint training, exercises and other collaborative efforts. Read more
Some children are still suffering from stress-related physical and mental issues more than eight months after the Noto Peninsula earthquake. Read more
Standing quietly by the Saigawa river, west of Kanazawa Castle, is Jiyukajin Mizuhiki Museum. Read more
Grappling with a rice shortage after extreme weather ravaged last year’s crop, Japan is hoping new heat-resistant varieties of its staple food can help stave off future supply shocks. Read more
A record 177 career-track national civil-service employees with less than 10 years of service left their jobs in fiscal 2022, the National Personnel Authority announced. Read more
Reuters examined 12 claims made by Harris and Trump. Read more
