While not in full force, would-be ogres came out on New Year’s Eve to dispel evil and bring good auspices — after spritzing their hands with sanitizer and donning masks beneath their disguises, of course. Read more
For eight years, the official residence of the most powerful person in Japan has stood vacant. Read more
Pink and white fish cakes, everyday food in Hawaii but a special New Year’s food in Japan, are prepared at Fujikuma Shokuhin food company in Settsu, Osaka Prefecture. Read more
Hitoshi Tamura makes sure the curry restaurants he operates in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, take all the necessary precautions against COVID-19. Read more
Universities across Japan are grappling with coronavirus safety measures as they head into entrance-exam season, when hundreds of thousands of high school students take tests to gain admission to universities. Read more
A mythical, mermaidlike creature that prophesizes harvests and epidemics became a symbol of national unity this year in the face of COVID-19. Read more
A giant statue of Ebisu, the god of luck and prosperity, got its year-ending dusting last week at Osaki Ebisu Shrine in Mooka, Tochigi prefecture. Read more
“Sanmitsu,” the “Three C’s” approach to preventing COVID-19 spread — by avoiding closed spaces, crowds and close contact — was selected Japan’s buzzword of the year. Read more
Japan’s development of COVID-19 vaccines is far behind that of other countries, and the Japanese public is unlikely to have access to domestic vaccines until 2022. Read more
Medical workers in Japan have been quitting in droves amid the prolonged pandemic. Read more
A large ginkgo tree on the grounds of the former Hinokami Elementary School in Nichinan, Tottori Prefecture, offers a serene spot for appreciating nature. Read more
Trepidation gave way to excitement when Toru Koremura, president of a Tokyo-based cleaning company, took on the job of disinfecting the Diamond Princess — the cruise ship quarantined in the port of Yokohama that made global headlines early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
Low-cost carrier Peach Aviation has launched a new scenic flight service that allows customers to build their own itineraries. Read more
While surgical masks have been highly sought after this year, another kind of mask is seeing some demand — Joe Biden rubber masks. Read more
The Japan education ministry plans to allow an increase in the number of foreign students studying at Japan’s national universities beginning in the 2022 academic year, in an effort to increase the universities’ international competitiveness and secure their financial stability. Read more
In Japan, the nation’s affinity for face masks can be traced back centuries, and it’s a custom that can be credited with keeping some control over the rate of COVID-19 deaths. Read more
Suicides are on the rise among Japanese teens and that worries 21-year-old Koki Ozora, who grew up depressed and lonely. Read more
The Japanese government said it plans to request that companies extend their New Year holidays to possibly a week long, as a means to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Read more
People practice social distancing to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus take pictures while walking along a path as the leaves begin to change colors in Nagano, Japan. Read more
Yuki Kawakami is not your typical carp breeder. At just 30 years old, she is the fourth-generation operator of the renowned Torazo Urakawa Koi Farm in Ojiya, Niigata Prefecture. Read more
A team of scientists has developed technology that uses artificial intelligence to identify individuals by their gait, or walking pattern. Read more
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