Japan bets on heat-resistant rice
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
News
Record number of career civil servants have quit
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
Fact Check: 12 statements from the Harris-Trump debate
Reuters examined 12 claims made by Harris and Trump. Read more
Cherished toys travel through Tokyo
Kimiko Suzuki offers a unique service for people unable to travel: She will take their favorite stuffed animals on a trip instead and take commemorative photos for clients to enjoy. Read more
Dose of virtual reality turns a chore into a game
Taking advantage of augmented reality, a new Hitachi vacuum cleaner lets people feel as if they are playing a game instead of cleaning. Read more
George Clooney, Brad Pitt disappointed their new film skips cinemas
“It is a bummer,” Clooney said on Sunday, adding that television streamers, such as Apple, were nevertheless vital to the future of filmmaking, presenting actors with opportunities and generating bigger audiences for their work. Read more
Website forecasts number of people suffering heatstroke
A team of researchers at the Nagoya Institute of Technology is providing six-day forecasts of the number of people expected to be taken to the hospital by ambulance due to heatstroke each day. Read more
Summer brings kids to the sumo ring
Japan’s lengthy summer vacation is in full swing. Despite the heat, the energetic voices of children playing outside are likely echoing throughout neighborhoods. Read more
Tabi maker keeps tradition alive, one pair at a time
Mukojima Meugaya is about a 10-minute walk northwest from Oshiage Station at the foot of Tokyo Skytree in Sumida ward, Tokyo. Read more
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser's and Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA.
Revision to law will expand use of recycled plastic in manufacturing
Manufacturers that use large amounts of plastic will be required, under a planned revision of a law, to set targets for recycled plastic usage and to report the actual amount used. Read more
Monk vows to keep his uncle’s story alive
Akinobu Tooyama attended the peace memorial ceremony on Aug. 6 in Hiroshima for the first time to commemorate his uncle, Hiroyuki Kosen, who died as a result of the atomic bomb blast in Hiroshima 79 years ago. Read more
Tokyo store offers space to write letter to future self
Amid the small and fashionable shops in Kuramae in Tokyo’s Taito ward, there is a unique space where visitors can spend a moment to take perspective: They can send a letter to their future selves. Read more
PHOTO: Memories of War
People offered flowers at the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima on Tuesday, the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city. Read more
Sake maker keeps focus on sustainability
The gentle lilt of a flute fills a tight second-story space in Tokyo that houses a burbling vat of fermenting sake. Read more
Book bag binds Japanese society
In Japan, cultural expectations are drilled into children at school and at home, with peer pressure playing as powerful a role as any authority or law. On the surface, at least, that can help Japanese society run smoothly. Read more
Hikers celebrate Japan’s long-distance coastal trail
A group of 332 hikers from Tokyo, Osaka and other points gathered at Jodogahama Beach in Miyako in June for a walking event to commemorate the fifth year since the opening of the Michinoku Coastal Trail. Read more
Agriculture to be included in emissions reduction projects
This summer, the government is planning to launch the first agricultural-sector emission trading project under its bilateral trading mechanism. Read more
Banned from marrying, LGBTQ couples opt for ‘photo weddings’
Unable to get married legally in Japan, LGBTQ couples are celebrating their special bond by donning traditional kimono and fashionable formal wear for elaborate “photo weddings.” Read more
Supermarkets win customers with whimsical performances
Supermarkets integral to the daily lives of local residents are serving up a storm, with some attracting customers across the country and even from abroad. Read more
Japan government breaks away from using floppy disks
Japan’s government has finally eliminated the use of floppy disks in all its systems, two decades since their heyday, reaching a long-awaited milestone in a campaign to modernize the bureaucracy. Read more
Report: Diddy is subject of federal investigation in New York
News of the alleged criminal investigation comes after yet another sex trafficking lawsuit was filed on Wednesday against the Grammy-winning artist. Read more
Having trouble finding what you need? Try using our search feature.
Subscriber Favorites
Maui dad who flew to Los Angeles to find missing daughter dies near airport
Controversial West Hawaii housing project is rejected again
Man, 58, seriously injured in alleged attack in Kapiolani area
GOP senator sees many questions for Tulsi Gabbard
Macy’s discovers employee hid millions in delivery expenses
More Entertainment
‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator II’ brings in $270.2M at global box office
Kendrick Lamar releases surprise album, ‘GNX’
Disney’s ‘Moana 2’ premiere honors Hawaiian culture
One Direction stars join mourners at Liam Payne’s funeral
New Choy cookbook full of show’s recipes
