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
Focus on Japan
The latest news, trends and photo galleries from Japan by Japan News and Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper founded in 1874.
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
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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
PHOTO: Budding industry
Production has hit full swing for a group of residents making salted cherry blossom petals in Unnan, Shimane prefecture, known for its cherry blossoms. Read more
Mini-theaters offer fun places for get-togethers
Last year’s closures of Iwanami Hall in Tokyo’s Jimbocho district and Theatre Umeda in Osaka generated much ado. The iconic mini- theaters were shut down amid pandemic and other challenges. Read more
Popular udon broth is back on tap at airport
A free on-tap service offering hot udon dashi — soup or broth for udon noodles — has resumed at Takamatsu Airport in Kagawa prefecture after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Read more
Hotels cater to new parents with 24-hour services
Postpartum care services at a central Tokyo hotel are becoming increasingly popular among new mothers. Read more
Fans unsure about Netflix’s live-action ‘One Piece’ series
The enormously popular Japanese manga “One Piece” is coming to Netflix as a live-action series this year — a development that’s both exciting and worrisome for fans who have seen mixed success in a growing list of Hollywood adaptations. Read more
Pond at Nara pagoda boasts clearer water
With Kofukuji Temple’s five-story pagoda reflecting on its surface, Sarusawa Pond is one of Nara’s most famous scenic spots. Unfortunately, the clarity of the stagnant pond hasn’t been nearly as picturesque. Read more
Loneliness on the rise, survey reveals
About 40% of people in Japan feel lonely at least occasionally, according to recently released results of a nationwide government survey on loneliness and isolation. Read more
Visitors tour ancient town’s temples with help of buggies
In the ancient town of Ikaruga in Nara prefecture, visitors can easily immerse themselves in Buddhist tradition by hopping from temple to temple — on a buggy. Read more
Okinawa holds drill to evacuate Sakishima Islands
The central and Okinawa governments recently conducted a drill to evacuate 120,000 residents from the Sakishima Islands, part of Okinawa prefecture. Read more
PHOTO: A promenade of pink
People strolled beneath cherry blossoms in full bloom Wednesday in Kitakata, Fukushima prefecture. Read more
‘Forbidden religion’ rites to be preserved on video
Descendants of Kakure Kirishitans, or “hidden Christians” of the 17th to 19th centuries, are planning to make a video about the lives of their ancestors for posterity. Read more
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