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July 12, 2026
 

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MEDICINE

The surge in bankruptcies among medical and nursing care operators is mostly attributed to staff shortages and rising costs.
JAPAN / Science & Health
May 4, 2026
Bankruptcies among Japan’s medical and nursing care providers surge
A total of 478 bankruptcies were recorded in fiscal 2025, the highest level since 1988.
A Maholo humanoid robot carries out a series of tasks at the Institute of Science Tokyo's Robotics Innovation Center, during the center's opening last month.
JAPAN / Science & Health / FOCUS
May 4, 2026
Japanese scientists push for AI use in medical research and diagnoses
The technology has the potential to free staff from time-consuming, repetitive lab work and reduce human error.
Tomoya Saito
JAPAN / Science & Health
May 3, 2026
Aged people still cautioned against COVID-19 during Golden Week
The Japan Institute for Health Security continues to monitor COVID-19 cases at about 3,000 medical institutions nationwide.
Biobanks store masses of biomedical data such as clinical records, genome sequences and other long-term health metrics that research and drug development depend on.
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 29, 2026
China races to build record biobank to rival U.S. drugs research
For Chinese scientists, access to homegrown biobanks could accelerate the advance of biotechnology companies and cement the country’s place as a global innovation powerhouse.
About half of the sexual abuse cases occurred during one-on-one interactions between patients and staff.
JAPAN
Apr 29, 2026
Some 15% of hospitals in Japan report sexual abuse
The survey by the Children and Families Agency, the first of its kind, was conducted online between December 2025 and January 2026.
Out-of-pocket expenses for medicine with ingredients and effects similar to those of over-the-counter drugs are set to be raised from March 2027.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 28, 2026
Lower House approves bills to raise out-of-pocket costs for OTC-like drugs
Under the new system 25% of the prices of OTC-like drugs will be added to out-of-pocket costs from March 2027, aside from those for cancer and other intractable diseases.
A 2024 survey on high school students found that roughly 1 in 70 reported having misused over-the-counter drugs in the past year.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 27, 2026
Japan to tighten rules on OTC drug sales to curb misuse among youth
Cases of acute poisoning and addiction to medication have surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, often involving easily accessible drugs sold at drugstores.
Mary Anne Blanton holds a photograph of her mother, Tammy Blanton, who died of opioid use, in Peoria, Arizona, on April 15.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 27, 2026
After waiting years for justice, Purdue opioid victims are defeated — by paperwork
Purdue’s long, grinding bankruptcy wound up creating daunting hurdles for many trying to qualify for the company’s compensation.
Health minister Kenichiro Ueno speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 24, 2026
Japan’s health minister calls for measles vaccinations
According to the minister, 299 measles cases were reported between Jan. 1 and April 12, already exceeding the total figure for 2025.
Revolution Medicines’ pancreatic cancer therapy daraxonrasib has delivered stunning results in clinical trials, offering patients significantly more time to live and laying the groundwork for future advancements in treating this deadly disease.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 24, 2026
Finally, real progress against pancreatic cancer
The challenge comes from how late the disease is discovered — some 80% of pancreatic cancer patients’ tumors have already spread by the time of diagnosis.
The Finance Ministry in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2026
Japan proposes drastic cut in medical school enrollment
The Finance Ministry is considering the reduction because of an expected surplus of doctors due to the country’s declining population.
A woman adjusts her posture due to pain in her back and neck. In Japan, multidisciplinary pain centers have been established to provide coordinated care, but many patients continue to suffer from severe symptoms without a clear underlying cause.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 23, 2026
Japanese study links ADHD symptoms to severity of chronic pain
The research team found that patients with symptoms of the disorder were more likely to report extreme pain than those without.
Navigating cancer treatment as a foreign resident of Japan can be an added layer of stress, but nonprofit organizations and community resources are available to support those with a diagnosis.
COMMUNITY / How-tos
Apr 20, 2026
Counseling and community for foreign cancer patients in Japan
Navigating cancer treatment as a foreign resident can be daunting, but mental health clinics, nonprofit organizations and other platforms can support the journey.
U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on Saturday.
WORLD / Science & Health
Apr 19, 2026
Trump signs order to accelerate access to psychedelic drug treatments
The order instructs the authorities to expedite the review of drugs such as ibogaine, which U.S. military veteran groups ​have said can help treat post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Japan Pediatric Society is urging people to check their vaccination records and to consider receiving measles shots if they are found to have been unvaccinated.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 18, 2026
Japan on track to log highest number of measles cases since COVID-19 pandemic
About half of patients are age 10 to 29, and the Japan Pediatric Society is calling on people to get vaccinated.
Tests for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease are displayed at the Memory Center in Geneva in June 2023.
WORLD / Science & Health
Apr 16, 2026
Alzheimer’s drugs targeting amyloid don’t help, review finds
Despite successfully removing amyloid from the brain, the drugs don’t improve cognitive function or slow its decline.
Japan's health ministry has imposed restrictions on blood and organ donations from people who have stayed in Britain or elsewhere in Europe between 1980 and 2004.
JAPAN
Apr 15, 2026
Japan to lift organ donation curbs for those who have stayed in Europe
The change is expected to take effect as early as this autumn.
Researchers evaluated five popular artificial intelligence chatbots by asking 10 questions each across five health categories. About 50% of the responses were deemed problematic, including almost 20% that were highly problematic.
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 15, 2026
AI chatbots give misleading medical advice 50% of the time, study finds
The chatbot’s answers were often delivered with confidence, though none produced a fully complete and accurate reference list in response to any prompt, the researchers said.
Lecanemab and donanemab aim to slow the progression of the neurodegenerative disease by removing a protein called amyloid-beta from the brain, whose buildup is believed to contribute to the death of brain cells.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 8, 2026
Less than 20% of patients in Japan interested in new Alzheimer’s drugs received one
Many were ineligible or decided against taking the medications due to potential side effects and the high cost, a study has found.
Japan's government has asked major oil wholesalers to sell fuel directly to hospitals and other critical facilities.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 7, 2026
Wholesalers to sell fuel directly to medical institutions and transit operators
Designating hospitals and other institutions as critical facilities, the ministry asked wholesalers to supply fuel to them on a priority basis, officials said.
China’s demand for Soviet-style apartments shows limits to revival
Apartments built during a Soviet Union-inspired construction drive in the 1970s and 1980s tend to suffer from poor insulation and outdated plumbing, but they are seeing a revival in interest due to their attractive locations.
Japanese scientists identify neural mechanism that may explain why we dislike people
The aggressive mouse (left) used in the experiment and a mouse defending itself
Japanese payment processor’s collapse hits banks and restaurants
Zentoshin served around 200,000 shops, many of which rely on early payments to maintain cash flow, raising concerns over their financial stability following the disruption.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
Lenders seek $700 million after Japanese payments firm’s collapse
The financial failure of Osaka-based Zentoshin has left 63 creditors with claims totaling ¥115.16 billion, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.
Japan’s largest exhibition of women photographers rights a wrong in cultural history
Miwa Yanagi’s “Elevator Girl House” series skewers the superficiality of gender roles through staged images.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
‘Princess Mononoke’ comes alive in Super Kabuki staging
The “Princess Mononoke” adaptation was created under Shochiku’s Super Kabuki initiative, a modern form of kabuki with more technology in staging and open to pop culture collaborations.
The beating heart inside ‘Human Vapor’
Different forms of love and connection form the emotional backbone of Netflix’s “Human Vapor,” says actor Shun Oguri, who plays troubled detective Kenji Okamoto.
Japan bets on character IP to drive global growth
Born on social media platforms in 2022, Opanchu Usagi has become a major hit, especially among Generation Z.

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