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Trump praises Japan’s new PM Sanae Takaichi in first meeting in Tokyo

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Drums echo through Japan as centuries-old autumn parade returns

Crowds lined the streets of Matsue City in western Japan on Sunday to witness the traditional autumn parade known as dogyoretsu, a centuries-old celebration featuring giant drums.

Culture news

Heavy Metal Lady: Japan’s first female Prime Minister's music past

Did you know that Sanae Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female Prime Minister this week, was once a heavy metal drummer?

Culture news

In pictures: Sumo wrestlers bring 1,500 years of tradition to London

The five-day tournament saw elite wrestlers bring 1,500 years of tradition to the iconic venue, marking only the second time the event has ever been held outside Japan.

Japan

Sanae Takaichi elected as Japan’s first female prime minister

Takaichi replaces Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, ending a three-month political vacuum and wrangling since the Liberal Democratic Party’s disastrous election loss in July.

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Kainan City sets world record for mass gingerbread house decorating

Kainan City in western Japan has set a new world record for the most people decorating gingerbread houses simultaneously, Guinness World Records confirmed on Sunday.

Travel News

Japan breaks visitor records as highest-ever hotel tax gets approval

Japan's popularity continues to surge despite concerns of pollution, anti-social behaviour and 'human traffic jams'.

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Expo 2025 Osaka closes after six months and 28 million visitors

Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai closed its doors on Sunday after six months of welcoming the world, drawing more than 28 million visitors to Japan’s second-largest city.

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Sumo wrestlers bring ancient Japanese tradition to London

Sumo wrestlers posed outside London’s Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday, with the sounds of city traffic providing the backdrop ahead of the opening bouts of a five-day tournament.

Markets

Markets give seal of approval to Japan's pro-stimulus 'Iron Lady'

Traders piled into Japanese stocks after the country's ruling party named Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, betting on her Thatcherite policies to supercharge growth.

Japan

Sanae Takaichi set to become Japan's first female Prime minister

Takaichi replaces Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as the party hopes to regain public support and stay in power after major election losses.

wellbeing

Japan sees record number of centenarians, and most are women

The vast majority of Japan’s centenarians are women.

Focus

AI, art and inclusion take centre stage at Expo 2025

In partnership with Cabinet Secretariat

At Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, experts explored how AI, creativity and diversity can shape the future of education and peace.

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Giant bamboo snake parades through Japanese village

A giant straw and bamboo snake over 80 metres long was paraded through a Japanese village on Sunday as part of a festival first held in 1988.

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Somen makers in western Japan close season with cultural ceremony

Makers of somen noodles in Japan’s western Nara Prefecture have marked the end of this year’s production season with a traditional ceremony at Omiwa Shrine in Sakurai.

Germany

German FM slams China over 'aggressive behaviour' and Russia backing

During a trip to Japan on Monday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also criticised China for its "support for the Russian war machine" amid Moscow's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now well into its fourth year.

Japan

Japan PM Ishiba expresses 'remorse' on WWII surrender anniversary

Japan marked the 80th anniversary of its WWII surrender with PM Shigeru Ishiba expressing "remorse" for the first time since 2013. About 4,500 officials and families observed a moment of silence.

Economy

Japan's economy holds steady at half-year mark despite Trump tariffs

The country's GDP grew in the second quarter thanks to a rush of pre-tariff exports and a glut of international tourists.

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Kazakhstan National Day events held at Osaka Expo 2025

Kazakhstan marked its National Day at Expo 2025 in Osaka on 10 August with a programme of music, traditional dress, and cultural presentations.

Scenes

Watch: A Japanese entrepreneur recycles forgotten traditions into a trend

In partnership with Media City

Around 500 tonnes of barely used kimonos are discarded annually in Japan.

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Awa Odori festival continues with nightly so-odori performances

Hundreds of dancers are filling the streets of Tokushima this week as the Awa Odori festival’s full-scale outdoor performances take place across multiple venues in western Japan.