Osaka bans street smoking, fines for violators; includes vaping.

Osaka has expanded its smoking ban to include all streets, effective January 27, ahead of the 2025 World Expo.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki mayors invite Trump for 80th atomic bombing anniversary.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki mayors urged President Trump to visit their cities for the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings.

Japan's DPP plans to block budget unless tax allowance increased.

Prime Minister Ishiba's budget may face rejection without more concessions to the Democratic Party for the People on tax allowances.

Honda aims for 50% global motorcycle market share.

Honda aims to capture 50% of the global motorcycle market, targeting growth in regions like India, Indonesia, and Brazil.

Yoshinoya partners with a renowned curry restaurant to launch Beef Roka Curry.

Yoshinoya's Beef Roka Curry combines flavorful spices with beef, impressing even those typically skeptical of curry.

Japanese man completes 6,000 km rickshaw journey across Africa, ending in Cape Town.

Japanese man Yuji "Gump" Suzuki completed a 6,000-kilometer journey on foot from Kenya to South Africa, pulling a rickshaw.

BOJ watchers predict next interest rate hike in six months.

Economists predict the Bank of Japan will likely raise interest rates next in July, following a recent hike.

71-year-old Japanese man robbed 63 houses, wanted to "look cool," treated strangers to sushi.

A 71-year-old man robbed homes to fund his extravagant spending on sushi, claiming he wanted to appear "cool" while doing so.

Nagasaki Lantern Festival celebrates culture with illuminated lanterns.

Nagasaki's Lantern Festival features vibrant parades and over 15,000 lanterns, celebrating Chinese culture and attracting visitors each year.

Fuji TV president resigns due to Masahiro Nakai scandal.

Fuji TV will hold an emergency meeting to address executive responsibilities after sexual misconduct allegations against celebrity Masahiro Nakai.

AI-generated Evangelion, Yu-Gi-Oh art faces copyright infringement charges in Japan.

Two men in Japan were arrested for selling illegal AI-generated posters of popular anime characters, earning millions from copyright violations.

Japan initiates partnership between industry and academia to tackle online disinformation.

Fujitsu and NII are collaborating to develop technologies to combat viral false information and AI-generated deepfakes on social media.