Few years on the Earth
A fatal stabbing inside a bustling shopping complex in Tokyo has shocked the public and renewed concerns about sporadic outbreaks of knife violence in a country where such incidents remain uncommon. The attack took place during the evening rush at Sunshine City in the Ikebukuro district, a popular destination filled with families, tourists, and children … Read more
The death of 22-year-old Australian snowboarder Ella Day Brooke during a winter sports trip to Japan has drawn international attention to ski lift safety and the risks associated with equipment entanglement. Brooke was travelling with friends when a tragic accident occurred at Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Nagano prefecture, one of Japan’s most popular snow destinations. … Read more
The sudden absence of giant pandas from Japan has created an emotional and cultural void, particularly in Wakayama Prefecture, where the animals were central to the identity of Adventure World amusement park and zoo. After the final four pandas housed at the park were returned to China in June 2025, staff were faced with the … Read more
In December, a quiet Buddhist temple in Japan’s Hyogo prefecture hosted a ceremony that drew international attention for its unusual subject: insects. The service was organised by Earth Corporation, one of Japan’s largest manufacturers of insect control products, to honour the countless insects used and killed during laboratory research. Around 100 employees gathered at Myohoji … Read more
The quiet mountain forests of Miyagi Prefecture became the scene of a tragic and deeply unsettling incident in December when an elderly hunter lost his life under harrowing circumstances. Mitsuo Kato, an 89-year-old resident of Sendai City, was found dead while checking traps he had set in a familiar forested area of Yamato Town. What … Read more
Public prosecutors in Japan have indicted a Tokyo-based advertising company, its president, and senior executives in a tax evasion case that has drawn national attention due to the involvement of a high-profile social media influencer. Solarie, an advertising firm operating in Tokyo, along with its president Reika Kuroki, widely known online as influencer Reika Miyazaki, … Read more
The arrest of American playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris in Japan has drawn international attention, not only because of his prominence in the arts world but also due to the strict drug laws and severe penalties associated with narcotics offenses in Japan. Harris, best known for his provocative and critically acclaimed work Slave Play, … Read more
A recent ceremony in Okayama City has drawn widespread global attention after a 32-year-old Japanese woman, known publicly as Kano, held a symbolic Wedding Ceremony with ChatGPT-Created AI Persona. Although the union carries no legal status, it reflects an emotionally significant milestone for her, rooted in a profound personal journey following a difficult breakup. The … Read more
When two Chinese tourists walked into a well-known Thai restaurant in Kobe, Japan, they never imagined that a simple choice of clothing would lead to public humiliation, verbal abuse, and eventual expulsion from the premises. What started as an ordinary dining experience turned into a national controversy that has stirred intense debate about cultural sensitivity, … Read more
The heart of Rome was struck by tragedy late on Sunday night when 69-year-old Japanese tourist Morimasa Hibino fell to his death from the perimeter wall surrounding the Pantheon, one of Italy’s most renowned and visited landmarks. The incident occurred at approximately 9:50 p.m. local time (7:50 p.m. GMT), when Hibino, who was reportedly sitting … Read more