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June 30, 2026
 

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Jessica Speed
A Tokyo Pride parade participant holds a sign that says "we want to be a married couple, not a couple."
JAPAN / Society / FOCUS
Jun 29, 2026
Japan’s fertility system offers few safe paths for same-sex couples
LGBTQ+ people in Japan face such limited fertility treatment options, they could ultimately be deprived of the right to safely start a family.
Haru Ono founded Nijiiro Kazoku in 2010 after forming a same-sex stepfamily. She said the impetus for founding the organization was that she couldn’t find much reliable information out there for families such as hers in Japan.
JAPAN / Society / FOCUS
Jun 28, 2026
LGBTQ+ families are building lives Japanese lawmakers still struggle to see
Japan does not offer same-sex couples the same legal rights and benefits granted to married couples.
A Japan Meteorological Agency map shows the seismic intensity of Friday night's earthquake centered in Yamanashi.
JAPAN
Jun 26, 2026
Strong earthquake jolts Yamanashi and Kanagawa amid landslide fears
The magnitude 5.6 quake came as two tropical storms neared the main island of Honshu, with heavy rain falling in recent days and more to come over the weekend.
Fans celebrate at the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo on Friday as Japan advanced to the knockout round in the World Cup.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 26, 2026
Fans take over iconic Shibuya Crossing as Japan reaches World Cup knockout round
Fans watched in packed bars, cafes and even on the side of the road as the Samurai Blue secured a second-place finish in Group F at the World Cup.
A screenshot of the Japan Meteorological Agency website shows the seismic intensity of Thursday morning's earthquake.
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2026
Magnitude 7.2 quake hits northern Japan
No tsunami warning has been issued over the temblor, which registered a rare upper 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale in the town of Hashikami, Aomori Prefecture.
A map depicting the paths of Typhoon Mekkhala and Tropical Storm Higos
JAPAN
Jun 24, 2026
Double barrage of storms to hit Japan this week
A rare convergence of two storms — Typhoon Mekkhala and Tropical Storm Higos — is expected to bring dangerous winds and heavy rain to the country.
Yasuo Urata, the president and CEO of Oncolys BioPharma, said in an interview Wednesday in Tokyo that he wants to develop treatments that improve the quality of life for patients.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jun 18, 2026
Oncolys president reflects on long journey to world-first cancer treatment
Yasuo Urata hopes the newly approved viral therapy will improve quality of life for esophageal cancer patients.
At least five people, including a child in serious condition, fell ill after eating “high rollers” deli wraps sold a Costco store in Nagoya, according to media reports.
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2026
Five fall ill from E. coli outbreak at Nagoya Costco store
One of them, a boy under the age of 10, remains in serious condition.
H3 Launch Vehicle No. 6 lifts off from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Friday.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jun 12, 2026
Japan successfully launches H3 rocket
The successful launch is an important comeback for Japan as it seeks to restore confidence in the H3 series and demonstrate the rocket can support a wider range of missions.
A group of high school students arrested over allegedly trying to extort money from a boy in western Tokyo may have used ChatGPT to decide how much to demand, police said.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 11, 2026
Teenagers in Tokyo allegedly used ChatGPT to decide extortion amount in assault case
Five teenagers were arrested in January over the alleged assault and attempted extortion of ¥150,000 from a high school student in the city of Hachioji.
A Japan Meteorological Agency official speaks about the earthquake off the Philippines and ensuing tsunami advisory for a large chunk of Japan, at a news conference early Monday in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Jun 8, 2026
JMA lifts tsunami advisory for Japan coastlines after strong quake off Philippines
The advisory was issued for coastal areas in Ibaraki, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Wakayama, Kochi, Miyazaki, Kagoshima and Okinawa.
Participants in the Tokyo Rainbow Pride march through the streets on Sunday.
JAPAN / Society
Jun 7, 2026
Tokyo Pride draws thousands to spotlight important year for LGBTQ rights
Japan remains the only Group of Seven nation that does not recognize same-sex marriage, even as public support for marriage equality has reached about 67%.
Elevated water levels are seen along the Tama River in Kawasaki's Tama Ward as Tropical Storm Jangmi brought heavy rain and strong winds to the Kanto region Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2026
Tropical Storm Jangmi slams Japan, triggering flood alerts and disrupting transportation
The storm triggered Level 4 evacuation orders for areas in Tokyo as well as Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures before they were lifted after it passed over the area.
Tokyo's Shibuya Ward has begun handing out ¥2,000 ($12) fines to litterbugs.
JAPAN / Society
Jun 2, 2026
Shibuya begins handing out ¥2,000 fines for littering
Patrol officers will now monitor the ward and collect the fine on the spot from anyone caught throwing away trash improperly, with cashless payments accepted.
A man looks a departures board showing a canceled flight to Okinawa after Tropical Storm Jangmi shut down the airport there as it moved toward mainland Japan, at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Monday.
JAPAN
Jun 2, 2026
At least 16 injured as Tropical Storm Jangmi threatens Kyushu
The Meteorological Agency has warned of violent winds, high waves, storm surges, landslides, flooding and overflowing rivers in affected areas.
Over the past several years, there has been a spate of viral videos featuring unhygienic pranks at conveyor-belt sushi restaurants, with such acts referred to in Japan as “sushi terrorism.”
JAPAN
Jun 1, 2026
Sushi chain in Japan may consult police over video of man pouring liquid on sushi
The video, posted on TikTok on Wednesday, seems to show the uploader pouring liquid from a dish soap bottle onto sushi that had been delivered to him via a conveyor belt.
A Meteorological Agency official shows a satellite image of Tropical Storm Jangmi in Tokyo on Sunday.
JAPAN / Society
Jun 1, 2026
Tropical Storm Jangmi set to lash wide area of Japan
The Meteorological Agency has warned of violent winds, high waves, storm surges, landslides, flooding and overflowing rivers in affected areas.
Personal training, once mainly used by athletes, has become increasingly popular among people in Japan seeking to lose weight, improve fitness or maintain their health.
JAPAN / Society
May 28, 2026
Consumer safety watchdog seeks standards for personal trainers as accidents rise
Japan’s Consumer Safety Investigation Commission wants the industry to step up, saying use of personal training among general consumers has outpaced safety practices.
Despite government efforts to lower the price of rice by tapping into the nation’s emergency stockpile, the cost of Japan’s staple grain remains at an all-time high.
JAPAN / Society
May 27, 2026
Rice consumption in fiscal 2025 the lowest in seven years
The drop coincided with last summer’s “Reiwa rice riots” when the staple disappeared from supermarket shelves and prices surged nationwide.
How Japanese-language instruction is provided currently varies widely according to region.
JAPAN / Society
May 26, 2026
Record number of students in Japan need help learning Japanese
As of May 2025, a total of 84,759 students at public elementary, junior high, high and special needs schools required support, a government survey shows.
Uruguay federation reportedly cancels charter flight after World Cup exit
Uruguay's Jose Maria Gimenez reacts after the team's loss against Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday.
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
India’s gig workers pay the price for exposure to New Delhi’s hazardous air
Rohit Kushwaha waits for a customer as he delivers his last parcel of the day, in New Delhi in January. His work as a delivery driver has helped pay the family’s bills, but has had a significant impact on his health.
Chinese and Russian bombers and fighter jets stage joint patrol near Japan
A Chinese Air Force H-6 bomber is seen during a joint patrol with Russian military aircraft on Saturday.
U.S. missile moves in Japan send China clear message: A new era has arrived
Soldiers conduct the first Typhon midrange capability live-fire exercise outside of the continental United States, firing an SM-6 missile in July last year in Australia's Northern Territory during Exercise Talisman Sabre.
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
A French ship with close ties to Japan combines arts and sciences on the high seas
Romain Troublé, the executive director of Tara Ocean Foundation, speaks to visitors aboard the Tara during a rare port call in Tokyo in April.
LGBTQ+ families are building lives Japanese lawmakers still struggle to see
Haru Ono founded Nijiiro Kazoku in 2010 after forming a same-sex stepfamily. She said the impetus for founding the organization was that she couldn’t find much reliable information out there for families such as hers in Japan.
In Kyushu’s far south, Senti.U sparks a culinary destination
Chef Yasuhiko Uchida was born in Saga Prefecture but has made his home in Kanoya, Kagoshima Prefecture, since 2012.
‘The colors speak for themselves’: How Japan’s chroma bible went global
“A Dictionary of Color Combinations” is meant to function as a quick-reference guide for artists, designers and anyone with a passing interest in aesthetics as a quantifiable pursuit.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.
What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival
By Alex K.T. Martin

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