Japan

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Buddhist priests bathe in cold river in annual purification ritual

Buddhist priests and their followers have performed a purification rite by bathing in a cold stream in western Japan's Koyasan. They also prayed for the end of the pandemic.

31/01/2022

Tech News

Nissan alliance to invest €23bn in electric vehicles over 5 years

Major global carmakers are increasingly prioritising electric and hybrid vehicles as concerns about climate change grow.

28/01/2022

Japan

Six cancer patients sue Fukushima nuclear plant operator over disaster

Six young people sue the operator of Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant over claims they developed thyroid cancer due to exposure to radiation after the facility's meltdown.

27/01/2022

Japan

Tokyo Olympics: A sports photographer's take on the 2020 Games

From levitating athletes and dazzling wooden stadiums, Getty Images sports photographer Patrick Smith shares his highlights from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

25/01/2022

Mobility

Teslas will get longer-range batteries next year, report says

Japan's Panasonic will start production of the higher-capacity 4680 battery at a new plant in 2023, the Nikkei newspaper reported.

25/01/2022

Health news

Omicron survives up to 8 days on plastic surfaces, new study finds

The Japanese researchers found Omicron can last up to eight days on plastic surfaces and 21 hours on skin.

24/01/2022

Japan

Japan widens virus restrictions as omicron surges in cities

Restaurants and bars will close early in Tokyo and a dozen other areas across Japan as the country widens COVID-19 restrictions.

21/01/2022

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Hokkaido town tests ice carousel in frozen lake

The authorities in Hokkaido, Japan, have carried out a demonstration test of an ice ride, hoping it will be a new attraction for winter tourism.

19/01/2022

Japan

Tokyo Olympics: Sports reporter gives his highlights from the Games

In partnership with Tokyo Metropolitan Government

From a towering sky observation tower to famous martial arts stadiums, sports reporter Olivier Pron gives us a rundown of his favourite elements from the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.

19/01/2022

Work

Japanese firefighter moonlighting as YouTube gamer has pay slashed

The man said he didn't realise his hobby would break Japan's rules on public employees holding second jobs.

17/01/2022

No Comment

Severe snowstorms are hitting northern and western Japan

A winter storm is bringing heavy snow to some parts of northern to western Japan on the Sea of Japan side on Thursday. Snowfall may accumulate rapidly overnight, creating potentially hazardous conditions for motorists.

13/01/2022

Work

Remote work takes off in Japan - with flights to the office paid for

Yahoo Japan will soon allow its staff to live and work anywhere in the Pacific island nation, and they'll even be able to claim the cost of tickets if they have to fly to the office.

13/01/2022

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Worshippers pray for good health in ice water purification ceremony

Tokyo worshippers participate in the annual ice water purification ritual at the Teppozu Inari Shrine, an event to pray for good health in the new year. The participants warm up by stretching their bodies and jump into a pool of cold water with huge ice blocks in it.

09/01/2022

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First snowfall of season turns much of Tokyo white

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a heavy snow warning in the Tokyo region on Thursday as the city saw its first snow of the winter season.

06/01/2022

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Tokyo firemen perform traditional firefighting acrobatics at New Year drills

Members of the Edo Firemen Preservation Association perform Japanese traditional firefighting techniques during the New Year's fire brigades exercise.

06/01/2022

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First tuna auction of year at Toyosu fish market

The new year's first tuna auction was held at the Toyosu fish market in Tokyo, early on Wednesday morning. The top bid at the event was a bluefin tuna from Oma, Aomori prefecture, weighing in at 211 kilograms.

05/01/2022

Home

'Taste your TV': This professor has invented a 'lickable' screen

The device uses a carousel of 10 flavour canisters to render different tastes on a lickable transparent film that slides down over images of food.

05/01/2022

Mobility

This new bus-train vehicle is as happy on the road as it is on rail

The versatile innovation, known as a "Dual Mode Vehicle" is the first of its kind in commercial operation in the world.

27/12/2021

Japan

Tokyo, home to more than sport at the Paralympic and Olympic games

In partnership with Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Paralympic and Olympic medallists, Courtney Ryan and Sandra Sánchez discuss their amazing journeys that go beyond sports in Tokyo 2020/2021.

27/12/2021

No Comment

Monkeys gathering around a bonfire in Aichi zoo winter solstice custom

Monkeys gathering around a bonfire in Aichi zoo winter solstice custom

22/12/2021

Japan

McDonald's Japan ration fries as COVID and floods chip away at stocks

The chips are down for some fast food fans in Japan.

22/12/2021

Partner content

The Olympic spirit: a Tokyo 2020 legacy

Partner content presented by Tokyo Metropolitan Government

“After 18 months of uncertainty, every single Olympian should be extremely proud of the fact that they made it here,” said British diver Tom Daley after winning gold in the men’s synchronised 10m platform.

22/12/2021

Japan

Japan carries out first death row executions since 2019

Public support for capital punishment in Japan remains strong despite criticism from abroad, particularly from human rights organisations.

21/12/2021

No Comment

Sea of Japan coast receives heavy snow leading to disruption

Japanese weather officials are warning of possible traffic disruptions and power outages as heavy snow continues falling mainly along the Sea of Japan coast.

18/12/2021

Partner content

BEYOND TOKYO 2020: personal takeaways from covering the Games

Partner content presented by Tokyo Metropolitan Government

When the Tokyo 2020 Olympics began in July 2021, I was among a limited number of foreign journalists in Japan that covered the Games.

17/12/2021

Japan

At least 24 people dead after building fire in Osaka

Japanese police said they were investigating whether the blaze was caused by arson or an accident.

17/12/2021