Bad news is relative in Japan
The economy is now in recession after barely growing for decades. The population continues to shrink, with births last year plunging to a nadir. 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.
Artist creates mouthwatering works of wood
A fluffy castella cake, fatty tuna nigiri sushi and takoyaki (octopus dumplings) with rich sauce — they look so good that you might be tempted to eat them. But they are actually works of art carved from wood. Read more
66-pound radish wins annual contest
A 66-pound Sakurajima daikon (radish) took a top award at an annual contest held in late January at the foot of the vegetable’s namesake volcano, Mount Sakurajima, in Kagoshima City. Read more
Say ‘Cheese’ and ‘I do’
Amid recovering demand for tourism, a bridal company in Matsue, Shimane prefecture, is planning wedding photography tours for foreign tourists in Japan. Read more
Beauty products now allowed for male inmates
The Justice Ministry is allowing male inmates to purchase or be given beauty items and a few other products that traditionally have been allowed only for female inmates. Read more
Artist portrays everyday wonders
Flowers blossoming like pink chiffon, luscious berries and fluttering goldfish make for the delicate but defiant beauty that’s signature Mika Ninagawa. Read more
Japanese visitors to Hawaii are trickling back
The full recovery of visitor arrivals from Japan, one of Hawaii’s most coveted source markets, continues to fall short, and a complete return to 2019 levels could take until 2026. Read more
Open-air boat ride in chilly weather is still cozy
Kotatsu boats are back for the winter in Yanagawa, Fukuoka prefecture, where visitors can take in the canal waterfront while warming their feet. Read more
Traditional kotatsu evolving to meet modern-day needs
Contemporary lifestyles in Japan are reflected in new types of kotatsu, traditional tables with internal heating that are often draped with a futon (quilt) to retain warmth. Read more
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At trendy cafes, customers cuddle pigs
First there were cafes that allowed pets. Then came cat cafes, where lattes took second place to feline interaction. The latest craze in Japan: The pig cafe. Read more
Interest in Japan’s traditional cuisine has grown globally
More than 10 years have passed since washoku — Japanese cuisine — was registered as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in December 2013. Read more
Express train tuned up to reduce motion sickness
The Yakumo express trains, notorious for plaguing passengers with motion sickness due to their considerable tilt on curved tracks, will launch a new type of car this spring to improve the ride. Read more
Designer wraps kimono styles into current fashion trends
Maria Kawahara, a kimono designer, believes that the traditional garment can be worn more freely — with a belt, for instance, if one doesn’t have an obi, or even with boots or high heels instead of zori (traditional thong sandals). Read more
‘Baby dragons’ get ready for big year
A sea horse aquaculture farm in Minami-Kyushu, Kagoshima prefecture, is attracting tourists ahead of the Year of the Dragon because the Japanese word for sea horse is “tatsu no otoshigo,” which means “spawned baby dragon.” Read more
The poet and the painter: Museum in Japan brings them together
Donald Keene, who introduced the charms of Japanese literature to the world, in his later years published a book about Watanabe Kazan (1793-1841). Read more
Restaurant repays kindness with okonomiyaki
The appetizing smell and sizzling sound of an okonomiyaki savory pancake being prepared on a hot griddle, or teppan, can make anyone’s mouth water. Read more
PHOTO: Dragons from the fire
Discarded glass bottles collected in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, were recycled and transformed into dragon figurines at Okazaki Garasu Kobo Aoi workshop for the Year of the Dragon. Read more
Gold leaf company introduces festive sparkling beverage
A soda drink containing pieces of “entsuke” gold leaf — which is made using a technique registered on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list — has been put on sale by Hakuza Inc., a gold leaf manufacturer and retailer in Kanazawa. Read more
Beautiful, elaborate amezaiku sweets soothe the soul
Rabbits holding flowers, poodles with collars and parakeets in bright colors — all perched on sticks — greet me with a sweet aroma as I enter a candy shop in Tokyo. Read more
An Asian version of the Grammys is in the works
The Cultural Affairs Agency is looking to create a music award to honor Asian artists as early as 2025, Commissioner Shunichi Tokura said in a recent interview. Read more
Seeds of digital revolution bearing fruit, and veggies, in urban Tokyo
Small-scale farmers in Tokyo are increasingly expanding the boundaries of agriculture through the use of digital technology and other means. Read more
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