Japanese city ending extracurriculars in middle schools.

Kobe will eliminate school-run extracurricular activities in public middle schools, replacing them with non-school affiliated programs by 2026.

Japanese politician threatens bears to citizens, seeks cartoonish anti-bear bombs.

The governor of Akita Prefecture proposed using drones to handle bear incidents but didn’t clarify their intended payload.

Japanese baseball star attempts paper plane world record.

Hanshin Tigers' Ryutaro Umeno attempted a paper airplane world record, breaking the Japanese record with a throw of 64.652 meters.

First real canned ramen now sold in Japanese vending machines.

Maruyama Seimen introduces authentic canned ramen with wheat noodles, soy sauce broth, and toppings, revolutionizing vending machine food options.

Santa project delivers donated books to Noto children.

Volunteers in Santa costumes will deliver donated books to children in need this Christmas through the "Book Santa" project.

Shakey's all-you-can-eat pizza returns to Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Shakey's has reopened in Shinjuku, offering an all-you-can-drink deal and a spacious buffet featuring pizza, pasta, and more.

Japanese government cuts subsidies; gasoline prices rise.

Average gasoline prices are set to rise over ¥5 as government subsidies to oil wholesalers are reduced starting Thursday.

Amazon Japan enters 'furusato nōzei' market.

Amazon Japan will start a hometown donation service, promising quick gift delivery and aiming to boost donations through its network.

Police agency panel urges tighter regulations on host clubs.

An expert panel urges stricter regulations on Japan's host clubs to prevent clients from accruing crippling debts leading to prostitution.

Yokohama Christmas Market is Japan's top choice for travelers.

The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Christmas Market, celebrating its 15th year, features festive food, drinks, and a magical atmosphere.

Younger language learners in Japan increasingly favor AI services.

In Japan, AI language-learning tool usage surged over 80%, with 10.9% of learners using such services in 2024.

Casual workouts, cool living, ‘complete’ food: Japan’s health trends of 2024

In 2024, Japan focused on age-friendly wellness solutions, showcasing accessible Pilates equipment and nutritious food at Wellness Tokyo expo.