Day of the dinosaurs
Sixty-seven colorful dinosaur runners zipped through the snow Feb. 22 in Iizuna, Nagano prefecture, for the second annual dinosaur race at Iizuna Connect West, a community center. Read more
Focus on Japan
The latest news, trends and photo galleries from Japan by Japan News and Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper founded in 1874.
Luggage delivery services ease overtourism strain
Hands-free luggage services, which allow international visitors to Japan to travel light, are growing, with luggage being checked in at airports and train stations and delivered to visitors’ accommodations or destinations the same day. Read more
Ehime peels back curtain on new luxury citrus
Sales of Beni Princess, a high-end citrus variety produced in Ehime prefecture, were full swing in March. Read more
Odor-detecting drone uses moth antennae
Researchers in Japan have developed an odor-detecting drone that uses antennae taken from insects. Read more
‘Pixel Tree’: An attention-grabbing art installation is made up of 2,000 cubes
Gamers and passersby alike are delighted by a pixel art installation of a tree that looks like images from the popular video game Minecraft. Read more
Timeshares are back, and cooler than ever
In the foothills of Mount Asama, one of Japan’s most active volcanoes, jagged lava formations dot the landscape — remnants of a 1783 eruption that swallowed villages and permanently scarred the land. Read more
The abandoned island
On an island off the coast of Nagasaki, ruins that seem on the verge of collapse stand clustered behind a high seawall. Read more
Digital textbooks could take hold in 2030
Making digital textbooks “official textbooks” that will be free and screened by the government, just like physical textbooks, is the focus of a draft report for the Japan education minister’s advisory panel. Read more
AI robots might be the key to caring for Japan’s elderly
The 330-pound AI humanoid robot called AIREC is a prototype “caregiver” to address Japan’s rapidly aging population and chronic shortage of eldercare workers. Read more
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Visitors flock to dog snow sculpture festival in Japan
The festival is said to have originated about 400 years ago when a feudal lord who had fought off bandits installed small dog sculptures made of rice flour at the entrance and windows of his house to invoke protection from similar incidents. Read more
Japan airport entertains travelers with karaoke booth
The karaoke booth, called Saganosora (Saga sky), opened for a trial run on Jan. 22 and is now located on the third floor of the international terminal building. Read more
Over 120 teams throw down in epic snowball tournament
More than 120 teams battled it out in a snowball fight tournament in a mountainous Japanese city on Feb. 9, in what the local weather bureau called the coldest air this winter to sweep the country’s northern snow belt. Read more
Japan’s ski resorts, struggling to survive, court foreign tourists
As the number of domestic skiers and snowboarders declines significantly, many ski resorts in Japan are having difficulty staying open. Read more
Okinawan fabric ideal for rising temperatures
As light as a dragonfly’s wing, a traditional Okinawan textile possesses a unique texture that keeps the wearer cool even in hot and humid climates. Read more
Food industry grapples with rise in rice prices
In response to the rising price of rice, retailers, restaurant chains and food-product manufacturers are planning to raise the price of onigiri (rice balls), box lunches and processed rice products, as well as charging for extra portions of rice. Read more
Japan’s video game industry is hiring
Major Japanese video game companies are stepping up their efforts to recruit personnel, as ever more sophisticated graphics mean that more staff are required for game development. Read more
PHOTO: Fiery prayer for good health
Giant torches blazed during a parade Jan. 7 seeking a year of protection from illness at the Oniyo fire festival, a tradition believed to be 1,600 years old. Read more
Citizen scientists reclaim disaster zone
Every year when winter finally loosens its grip on northern Japan, Tomoko Kobayashi begins what has become an annual rite for her and a small band of collaborators. Read more
Professor develops technology that can turn udon into paper
A new technology in which udon noodles are turned into paper has been developed in Kagawa prefecture, famous for the chewy Sanuki udon, and preparations are underway to put the tech to practical use. Read more
Town touts its unique twist on traditional noodles
A town in Nagasaki prefecture’s Goto Islands last year set up a government department devoted to the area’s specialty noodles, Goto udon. Read more
Museum offers flashbacks through bygone technology
Tucked away in a corner of central Tokyo, the Extinct Media Museum lives up to its name. Read more
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More Focus on Japan
Day of the dinosaurs
Ehime peels back curtain on new luxury citrus
