Ninja hotel rooms set to boost tourism in Iga
The tourist association of Iga, a city known for its historical ties with ninja, has established a program that brings the ninja experience to tourists. 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.
Goldfish breeders keep up 300-year tradition
cenes of goldfish breeding ponds have come to be one of the symbols of Nara prefecture. Read more
House slippers required for this competition
It’s been a long, four-year wait, but Yamaguchi’s slipper table tennis tournament is expected to return this month after repeated cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
Large Japanese companies urged to grow ranks of female executives
The Japanese government has set a goal for large companies to have at least 30% of their executive positions filled by women by 2030, according to a draft compiled by the government’s Gender Equality Council that was expected to be adopted by the cabinet by the end of June. Read more
More than warm fuzzies, these ducklings patrol paddies
For rice farmers, ducklings aren’t all about cuteness, they’re working animals, and shipments of the birds peaked in early June at a breeding facility at Tsumura Honten in Matsubara, Osaka prefecture. Read more
Guitar maker Fender opens flagship store in Tokyo
Fender, the guitar of choice for some of the world’s biggest stars, from Jimi Hendrix to Eric Clapton, opened what it calls its “first flagship store” in its 77-year history. Read more
Security at university campuses is going high-tech
Universities are preparing to turn to robots, artificial intelligence and drones to help with campus security. Read more
To fight allergies, Japan to cut back cedar forests
A ministerial meeting on hay fever held in May will result in a 20% reduction of pollen-producing cedar forests — currently 10.62 million acres, or 4.31 million hectares — in the coming decade. Read more
PHOTO: Tanabata wishes
A visitor attaches a strip of paper with her wish written on it to a bamboo branch at a shop in Tokyo for the Star Festival, or tanabata, which celebrates the meeting of deities Orihime (Vega) and her lover Hikoboshi (Altair), who are separated by the Milky Way and allowed to meet only once a year on July 7. Read more
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New treats using bean paste win fans
Anko (sweet bean paste), an indispensable ingredient in Japan’s wagashi (traditional) sweets, has been in the spotlight recently for its use in new kinds of treats. Read more
Simple DNA collection helps ID insects on plants
A new method of collecting insect DNA involves simply spraying water on plants, a group of researchers has announced. Read more
Sacred temples, shrines could serve as shelters
Temples, shrines and other religious structures across Japan are increasingly being considered for use as evacuation shelters during natural disasters. Read more
Town in tune with music
Hop off the train at JR Ochanomizu station in Chiyoda ward, Tokyo, and pass through the ticket gate to the main street. Read more
Patients’ recoveries suffered during pandemic, study says
People who suffered cardiac arrest during the pandemic were negatively affected, according to a study from the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center. Read more
Young Kabuki actor’s debut breaks traditions
Ten-year-old Maholo Terajima Ghnassia loves watching anime and playing baseball. He likes making beats. And he’s breaking conventions in Japan’s 420-year-old Kabuki theater tradition. Read more
Mackerel farming supports sustainability
Ibaraki prefecture is Japan’s largest source of caught mackerel, and the Ibaraki government wants to make fish farming a sustainable industry that future generations can inherit. Read more
PHOTO: Signs of summer
Signs of summer: Jersey cows have left the barn to start summer free-range grazing at Hiruzen Jersey Land in Maniwa, Okayama. Read more
Bomb victim’s paper cranes shared
Relatives of Sadako Sasaki, a 12-year-old girl who came to represent victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, showed spouses of the Group of Seven leaders paper cranes that Sadako folded shortly before her death. Her family members conveyed their hope for the abolishment of nuclear weapons. Read more
New brewers usher in revival of unfiltered sake
Doburoku, an unfiltered sake, is experiencing a renaissance. New brewers have joined long-established sake breweries to produce the sweet rice wine, creating products with unique flavors and fragrances using fruit and other ingredients. Read more
Tokyo Disneyland eyes changes in strategy
Aiming to boost customer satisfaction, Tokyo Disneyland has produced a new version of its daytime parade to commemorate the park’s 40th anniversary Saturday. Read more
Virtual reality helps tackle workforce shortage
Hotels, convenience stores and other businesses have increasingly turned to virtual reality to help train their staffs amid a growing labor shortage. Read more
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