뉴스

Takaichi still highly popular despite slide in approval ratings

The lower ratings in two of three recent media polls come amid concerns over rising prices and the availability of crude oil-derived naphtha due to the Middle East conflict.

Hot weather hurts Asian crops as powerful El Nino takes shape

Dry weather is disrupting crop planting across the world's most populous region, and an expected severe El Nino weather pattern could inflict more damage.

J-pop group Arashi takes its final bow at Tokyo Dome

For millions of fans, the final concert was more than the end of one of Japan's most beloved boy bands — it was the closing of a chapter that began in childhood.

Japan PM Takaichi says population decline 'a quiet emergency' as births hit record low

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said at a House of Representatives Budget Committee session on June 4 that the record-low number of Ja

Japan’s Population Falls by Three Million in Five Years

Japan’s population continues to shrink, with Tokyo and Okinawa the only two of the country’s 47 prefectures to see a demographic rise between the national censuses in 2020 and 2025.

Heavy rain from tropical storm raises flood risks in the Tokyo region

TOKYO (AP) -- A tropical storm dumped heavy rain and raised flood risks around east-central Japan as it moved into the heavily populated Tokyo region

Migrant journeys in focus ahead of pope’s visit to Spain’s Canary Islands

The pope will spend the final two days of his trip to Spain on the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife, where he will meet migrants and organizations working to support them.

Snacks to go: Popular crackers sold via vending machine on Nagoya shinkansen platform

NAGOYA -- A vending machine selling the popular shrimp-flavored rice cracker "Yukari," which has long held the No. 1 spot in Nagoya Station's souvenir

Japan's Population Shrinks at Record Pace, Census Shows

The population fell to 123 million as of October 1, 2025, marking the steepest decline on record, with only Tokyo and Okinawa seeing growth. The post Japan's Population Shrinks at Record Pace, Census Shows first appeared on JAPAN Forward.

More pregnant women in Japan undergo prenatal checkups

Noninvasive prenatal testing has gained popularity as an alternative to conventional tests due to its lower stress levels for mothers.

Pope Leo XIV’s defense of humanity

Leo outlines in detail what needs to be done to govern digital devices and social media.

Japan idol group Arashi performs last concert after 27 years together

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Pop idol group Arashi performed its final concert on Sunday, ending its around 27-year history that has made it into a household name

Japan's sticker-swapping craze returns, has parents combing shops for most popular items

TOKYO -- Sticker swapping, a playground craze among children in the 2000s, has returned as a new boom known as "shiru-katsu." Some parents are now mak

Yokohama, Hiroshima log first population losses of postwar era

Japan’s 2025 census reflects steepest fall in population on record, data shows

Preliminary data shows the nation's headcount shrank 2.5%, the third straight decline in the nationwide survey conducted every five years.

Japan's population marks sharpest drop to 123 mil. in 2025: census

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's population, including foreign residents, fell by a record 3.1 million from 2020 to 123,049,524 in 2025, the latest census sho

Music festival Zipangu offers a glimpse of J-pop’s future beyond anime

Ado, Chanmina, Atarashii Gakko!, Yuki Chiba and more turned a Pasadena golf course into a showcase for the breadth of Japanese music and its growing appeal abroad.

No feasts and no joy: Gazans mark a dark Eid

Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes are still common in Gaza, where most of the population depends on aid for basic needs, according to the United Nations.

Switzerland’s plan to cap population at 10 million is worrying executives

The country, whose population already exceeds 9.1 million, will vote on the proposed measure on June 14.

South-Facing Apartments Drop in Popularity Among Japan’s Renters in Age of Extreme Heat

A report by the operator of a major Japanese real estate platform found that fewer renters are looking for apartments facing south, while more are seeking accommodation where a guarantor is not required.