Former Osaka governor criticizes Shukan Bunshun for lack of transparency in correction.

Shukan Bunshun corrected inaccurate reporting about Masahiro Nakai after criticism, acknowledging the woman was invited by him, not a TV executive.

Japan's debt-service costs expected to rise 25% by 2028 due to BOJ interest rate hikes.

Japan's debt-servicing costs could rise to $230 billion by April 2028, straining the government's annual budget significantly.

Honda-Nissan tie-up gains support amid declining sales for both.

Honda and Nissan faced declining sales in 2024, prompting Honda to consider merging to strengthen their market position.

JPX and TSE reduce executive compensation due to 'unprecedented' insider trading.

Japan Exchange Group leaders will face compensation cuts due to an insider trading scandal involving a former TSE employee.

74-year-old truck driver stuck in Saitama sinkhole for 3 days.

Rescue efforts for a truck driver trapped in a Saitama sinkhole are stalled due to worsening ground conditions after three days.

Japan's Finance Ministry upgrades Hokkaido's economic outlook.

The Finance Ministry upgraded Hokkaido's economic outlook while keeping assessments steady for most regions, noting rising consumer budget-mindedness.

Kyoto University discovers breakthrough in chimpanzee urine research.

Researchers found that chimpanzees' urge to urinate can be triggered by nearby urination, influenced by social rank and proximity.

Japan's emperor and empress likely visiting Mongolia in July.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako plan their first official visit to Mongolia in July during the Naadam festival.

Alibaba launches AI model exceeding DeepSeek-V3.

Alibaba launched its Qwen 2.5-Max AI model, claiming it outperforms competitors like DeepSeek-V3, GPT-4o, and Llama-3.1-405B.

Kusatsu Onsen ranked #1 in onsen rankings for 2025.

Onsen are important in Japanese culture, providing relaxation and healing, with Kusatsu, Hakone, and Dogo ranked as top destinations.

Tokyo's Edo-themed hot spring hotel offers fresh seafood.

Tokyo Toyosu Manyo Club offers relaxing hot springs and an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet, creating a unique and soothing experience.

Adult Mint Chocolate beer debuts in Japan, offering unique food pairing options.

Sapporo's mint chocolate beer pairs well with sweet snacks like Pocky, but avoid savory foods like kimchi.