Remote village finds new identity as ‘manga island’
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
Focus on Japan
The latest news, trends and photo galleries from Japan by Japan News and Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper founded in 1874.
Studs add character to ceramic artwork
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
Discrimination haunts atomic bomb survivors
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
Life-size robotic dinosaurs populate Fukui train station
A project to install 23 dinosaur monuments in front of JR Fukui Station was completed last month. Read more
High rice prices strain budgets
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
Atomic bomb survivors’ group wins the Nobel Peace Prize
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
Tokyo expands complex to counter flooding from climate change
Just after 5 a.m. on Aug. 30, water began flooding a vast underground chamber, called “the cathedral,” just north of Tokyo. Read more
‘Universal tourism’ ensures all travelers can enjoy Japan
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
Smartphones drawing Japanese away from books
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
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PHOTO: Lunar Delight
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
25% of married people under 40 in Japan met on dating apps, says survey
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 hails ‘Shogun’ Emmys as cultural win
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
Schools in Noto assign hugs for homework to help with trauma
Some children are still suffering from stress-related physical and mental issues more than eight months after the Noto Peninsula earthquake. Read more
Museum a treasure trove of traditional mizuhiki
Standing quietly by the Saigawa river, west of Kanazawa Castle, is Jiyukajin Mizuhiki Museum. Read more
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
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
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
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
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Remote village finds new identity as ‘manga island’
