OSAKA — An official cafe of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo opened Monday on the second floor of JP Tower Osaka near JR Osaka Station.

MITO — The University of Tsukuba apologized on Monday over derogatory social media posts made on X by two of its faculty members.

HIROSHIMA — A man was attacked and killed at his home in Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, in the early morning Monday, prompting police to launch a murder investigation.

NARA — An artisan crafts Hina dolls using the traditional “Nara Ittobori” technique at a workshop in Nara ahead of Girl’s Day on March 3. Nara Ittobori dolls are traditional handicrafts that have their origins in dolls displayed during a festival at Kasugataisha Shrine in the Heian period (794-late 12th century.) The dolls are characterized by their simple shapes, delicate paintings using natural pigments and gold foil. At the Seibido workshop, the craftworker used a chisel and carving knife to carve a doll out of wood and painted pine trees, cranes and other traditional symbols of good luck.

SUMOTO, Hyogo — More and more local governments nationwide are introducing vehicles equipped with toilet facilities to be used in evacuation centers during disasters.

MUNICH — Foreign ministers from Group of Seven countries met in Munich on Saturday ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

MUNICH — Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters on Saturday that he had no contact with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during the Munich Security Conference.

MUNICH — In an unusual move, Japan dispatched both Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi to the Munich Security Conference held in Munich from Friday through Sunday. As China intensifies efforts to draw closer to Europe amid growing distrust of the Donald Trump administration in the United States, the Japanese government aims to reinforce its ties with European partners.

The government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party are considering expanding the range of defense equipment that can be exported and controlling their exports based on their lethality by reviewing the operational guideline of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, it has been learned.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, summoned senior party members to the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday and instructed them to ensure thorough management of Diet affairs under the ruling bloc. The special Diet session will convene on Wednesday.

The Cabinet Office on Friday launched an investigation into China’s Bytedance Ltd. over potential Copyright Law violations, after AI-generated videos of Japanese content began spreading on social media.

MUNICH — Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto for about 20 minutes as part of his current visit to Germany on Friday (Saturday in Japan), where the two confirmed cooperation toward the success joint development of a next-generation fighter jet by Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy.

SEOUL — Exports of South Korean instant noodles are on the rise, a trend believed to be linked to the growing popularity of South Korean films and other cultural products overseas.

Israeli Ambassador to Japan Gilad Cohen spoke about Japan’s expected role in the reconstruction of war-ravaged Gaza, during an interview with The Japan News in Tokyo.

TAIPEI — A group of cyclists led by actress and author Tae Hitoto plans to cycle around Taiwan to express their gratitude to people in the region who donated a large sum of money after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that obtaining a Russian visa would be required for former residents seeking to visit the graves of relatives in the northern territories, effectively rejecting Japan’s request for the resumption of visits.

BEIJING — The Chinese Embassy in Japan reiterated its call for Chinese nationals to restrain from traveling to Japan in a social media post on Friday.

North Korea has launched what appears to be a ballistic missile on Tuesday, Japan's Ministry of Defense announced.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office only last October, announced her decision to dissolve the House of Representatives in January. This act of dissolution, often called the “secret weapon” of the top leader because the prime minister can choose the most advantageous timing for themselves, is a serious political gamble.

Watching a live broadcast of the Hakone Ekiden, a long-distance running relay held annually on Jan. 2 and 3, has become a New Year’s tradition in Japan.

About two months ago, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wrote on social media that she had broken a glass ceiling when she was elected president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and then took office as the first female head of Japan’s government.

AI, once merely a tool that responded to human commands, is rapidly moving into new roles. A new everyday reality is emerging in which people consult AI about troubles that they find it hard to discuss even with friends or parents.

Sebastian Weigle masterfully conducted the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra (YNSO) in the Japanese premiere of Hans Pfitzner’s “Von Deutscher Seele” (Of the German soul) at Suntory Hall in Akasaka, Tokyo, on Jan. 20.

This year’s NHK annual historical drama “Toyotomi Kyodai!” (“Brothers in Arms”) offers a fresh perspective on the genre with its portrayal of 16th-century feudal warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his era, which have been depicted many times in dramas and other media, from the point of view of his younger brother, who supported him.

In December, I emceed an event about a unique hero. My guest and conversation partner was Hiroshi Miyauchi, who appeared in the “Kaiketsu Zubat” (Zubat the marvelous hero) series broadcast in 1977, playing the hero Zubat and his secret identity Ken Hayakawa. The event celebrated the series being chosen from many tokusatsu works for release on Blu-ray, as determined by a fan vote conducted by Toei Video Co.“Zubat” features private detective Hayakawa, who witnesses his best friend being murdered by a criminal organization. To avenge his friend, he dons the Zubat Suit developed by the friend and transforms into a superhero, eliminating the organization’s subordinate gangs across Japan. “Zubat” is said to have been inspired by the popular “Wataridori” (Vagabond) film series.Hayakawa is super cool. Dressed in a red shirt, black leather suit and black hat pulled low over his eyes, he appears in front of a gang bodyguard, strumming a white guitar, and taunts him, saying, “Your skills are second best in Japan.” When the bodyguard angrily asks, “Then who is the best in Japan?” Hayakawa points at himself, shrugs and winks. This cool demeanor is unforgettable, and epitomizes the superhero’s charm and character.In addition to playing Hayakawa, Miyauchi is also known for roles like the hero Shiro Kazami in “Kamen Rider V3,” and Ao (Blue ranger) and Akira Shinmei, the alter ego of Ao, in “Himitsu Sentai Gorenger.”

Impressionism is often associated with the outdoors. Even its name, ironically coined by a scathing critic, comes from a Claude Monet painting of a sunrise called “Impression, soleil levant” (“Impression, sunrise”).

Filicide is a taboo. So is using a corpse to make a work of art. Taboos pile up in Kanae Minato’s novel “Ningen Hyohon” (“Human Specimen”), which has now been adapted into the drama series “Human Specimens,” streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video since Dec. 19.Hidetoshi Nishijima, who plays the protagonist of the series, recently spoke to The Yomiuri Shimbun about the experience of acting in this shocking work.When he received the offer to appear in the series, he said, he ran to a book shop and bought a copy of the novel, which he found fascinating. “I read it and immediately told them I wanted to be in the show,” he said.“It was very interesting and rewarding to read, a deep human drama,” said Nishijima. He added that his first thought after finishing it was that he wanted to take on the challenge of bringing it to the screen.In the story, the bodies of six boys are discovered inside acrylic cases on a mountain one summer day. Shiro Sakaki, the protagonist, a university professor known as an expert on butterflies, turns himself in for the crime. According to Shiro, since childhood, he has been making butterfly specimens and nurturing his obsessive desire to “preserve beauty for eternity.” Now, he says, this drive has led him to make human specimens, using the bodies of boys with good looks and artistic gifts, including his only son, Itaru (Ichikawa Somegoro). The story goes through several twists before reaching a conclusion viewers could never imagine.

Shogi genius Sota Fujii set a new record high for prize money and playing fees in 2025, according to an announcement made by the Japan Shogi Association on Tuesday.

Learning makes life rich regardless of how old a person is. More and more universities are offering courses for middle-aged and senior citizens to learn and study again.

As it gets colder, accidental falls while removing snow from rooftops become more common in snowy regions. It is crucial for people who do this job to take safety measures, such as wearing a safety line and not working alone. Icicles hanging from eaves and snow sliding off roofs can also cause injury.

At the beginning of November, autumn foliage had just entered the peak of its season in the Okuhida area of Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. Located at the foot of the Northern Japanese Alps, this is one of few places where autumn foliage and snowy winter scenes can be enjoyed at the same time, attracting many hikers and tourists.

Isamu Tatsuno, chairman of Montbell Co., said the past 50 years has been a period in which “I converted my favorite things into business,” during an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun.

The tide of blockbuster movies and hit dramas continues to rise. Every day, new releases generate buzz as they premier in theaters, on TV and on streaming services.