Beyond pretty silks and smiles
Against a backdrop of blooming cherry blossoms, a group of geishas elegantly shuffle onto a stage in Kyoto city to begin a centuries-old performance celebrating the arrival of spring.
Ageing sakura spark safety worries
Many of Tokyo's popular and iconic Somei Yoshino cherry blossom trees were planted during Japan's postwar advancement in the 1960s, and are now getting old and frail.
Govt sets first bear control plan
THE government has created its first road map for bear population control, following a series of attacks by the animals on humans.
Teaming up to breed at risk orang utan
A zoo in western Japan aims to breed endangered orang utans by pairing a male at the zoo with a female from an Indonesian zoo under a rare wildlife conservation agreement, Kyodo News reported.
Airlines mull fuel surcharge hikes due to conflict
Japanese airlines are considering raising fuel surcharges to reflect surging energy costs due to the Middle East conflict, though officials from major carriers have stressed that no decisions had been made yet.
Cannabis cases reach record high
Police have investigated a record 6,832 individuals in cannabis-related cases in the country in 2025, with authorities warning of a growing spread of drug use among young people driven in part by social media.
‘Europe offers predictability’
French President Emmanuel Macron praised Europe's "predictability" during a visit to Japan, contrasting it with countries that "could hurt you without even informing you" in an apparent swipe at Donald Trump.
Collector shows off ‘million-dollar’ Senna helmet
When Canadian collector Darren Jack discovered that an Ayrton Senna helmet he valued at a million dollars was for sale in Japan, he jumped on a plane to acquire the piece of sporting history that the legendary Brazilian driver had with him during his fatal final Formula One Grand Prix.
Rape accuser condemns prosecution’s failure to protect victims
A JAPANESE prosecutor, who publicly accused her boss of rape, has condemned her office for failing to protect victims after it rejected her request for an independent probe into harassment within the organisation.
Joint custody now allowed
But divorce reform raises concerns over abuse survivors' well-being.
