3+ hour, 55+ min ago  (90+ words) By KENTARO YAMANO/ Staff Writer June 6, 2026 at 07: 00 JST Haku the Pomeranian, a contract tracker dog with Miyazaki prefectural police, in Kadogawa, in the prefecture, on April 27 (Kentaro Yamano) KADOGAWA, Miyazaki Prefecture--Even though he may not look the part of…...

1+ day, 23+ hour ago  (485+ words) By RYO JOZUKA/ Staff Writer June 8, 2026 at 16: 33 JST The stone-chambered Ishibutai Tomb, one of the component assets of the "Asuka-Fujiwara archaeological sites," on May 17 in Asuka, Nara Prefecture (Yoshiko Sato) The "Asuka-Fujiwara archaeological sites," a collection of predominantly subterranean ruins…...

7+ mon, 4+ week ago  (722+ words) By YOKO HIBINO/ Staff Writer October 12, 2025 at 07: 00 JST The Future Train restaurant is seen on an elevated section of the now-defunct JR Umekoji Tanrakusen Line at Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station in Kyoto on Aug. 19. (Yoko Hibino) KYOTO'A sign on a train platform…...

1+ mon, 2+ week ago  (191+ words) April 24, 2026 at 14: 20 JST Haruki Murakami's new novel, "The Tale of KAHO," will be published on July 3, publisher Shinchosha Co. announced on April 23. The book marks the renowned Japanese author's first novel in three years, following the release of "Machi to…...

8+ mon, 3+ week ago  (808+ words) By MAYUMI MORI/ Staff Writer September 18, 2025 at 07: 00 JST Tower Records Shibuya relocated to its current location for reopening in 1995. (Provided by Tower Records Japan Inc.) The brick-and-mortar music hub, operated by Tower Records Japan Inc. , marked its 30th anniversary this year,…...

4+ day, 22+ hour ago  (354+ words) By RYO IKEDA/ Staff Writer June 5, 2026 at 18: 30 JST NAGASAKI'The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is changing its signage to include a more comprehensive explanation of the start of the second Sino-Japanese War, including mention of a Japanese invasion. The new explanation…...

5+ day, 8+ hour ago  (1727+ words) June 5, 2026 at 08: 00 JST crowded fast-food fat cat lying down in the shop window--Mirela Brailean (Iasi, Romania) tai chishifting my weightin the check-out line--Michael Henry Lee (St. Augustine, Florida) late night shiftin seven-eleven lightsa stray I part--Chen-ou Liu…...

5+ day, 2+ hour ago  (540+ words) June 5, 2026 at 13: 36 JST The kanji character "so," used in the Japanese verb "tsukuru," meaning to create or bring something new into being, carries more than one meaning. Its most familiar sense appears in the word "sozo," or creation. There, the…...

5+ day, 22+ hour ago  (523+ words) By NAOYUKI MORI/ Staff Writer June 4, 2026 at 18: 30 JST An iron object, which appears to have a purposefully bent left end, is likely a saw from the late Yayoi period and the oldest found in Japan. (Provided by the Fukui prefectural…...

1+ week, 9+ hour ago  (701+ words) By CHIHIRO ARA/ Correspondent June 3, 2026 at 07: 00 JST Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum in London, left, hands over Ainu remains to Masaru Okawa, right, chairman of the Ainu Association of Hokkaido; at center is Hitoshi Kikawada, minister in…...