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August 11, 2026
 

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Masaaki Makino, head of the Buzen Gibier Center (right) in the city of Buzen in Fukuoka Prefecture, holds up some of the center's products alongside Nana Hirano, who developed jerky for pet consumption at the facility.
JAPAN / Society / Regional Voices: Kyushu
Aug 10, 2026
Fukuoka¡¯s game meat plant turns nuisance wildlife into regional specialty
Since 2018, the Buzen Gibier Center has been processing culled animals that would have otherwise been incinerated into products for human consumption.
Officials from the municipal government of Tamura, Fukushima Prefecture, take part in a job fair in the city on June 24 to explain their recruitment policies.
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Fukushima
Aug 4, 2026
Municipalities in Fukushima struggle to recruit workers
Getting hired by local governments used to be a highly competitive affair, but now municipalities are taking various measures to appeal to potential candidates.
A building damaged by the earthquake in the town of Hikawa, Kumamoto Prefecture, on July 28
JAPAN
Aug 4, 2026
Donations to quake-hit Kumamoto via hometown tax system reach ?730 million
The figure represents the total amount of donations made through four major furusato n¨­zei portal websites, according to the top government spokesperson.
Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka during a news conference in the city on Thursday
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 30, 2026
Third-party probe confirms workplace harassment by Yokohama mayor
The report, submitted to the city on Thursday, found that Takeharu Yamanaka, 53, yelled at subordinates, called them ¡°morons¡± and ¡°human scum.¡±
A new incentive program is under consideration to certify small and midsize businesses in rural areas of Japan that provide child care support for local communities.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2026
Government to certify rural businesses that promote child care support
The new system will recognize efforts to develop products for raising children, establish nursing rooms and support operations of child-focused community cafeterias.
Kenshiro Mori, president of online learning platform Schoo, has established a company called Lolll in the city of Fukuoka in the hopes of boosting regional businesses.
BUSINESS / Companies / Regional Voices: Kyushu
Jul 27, 2026
Online education CEO bets on Fukuoka for regional growth
The goal is to build a model in the city that combines the strengths of Tokyo¡¯s competitive environment with the collaborative spirit found in regional communities.
The government eyes financial support for local vocational schools that train students for elderly care and other sectors facing personnel shortages.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 21, 2026
Education ministry to aid regional human resources development
The government¡¯s project would help support Â鶹´«Ã½ local essential services, from medical and elderly care to construction.
Shoko Kawata, the mayor of the city of Yawata in Kyoto Prefecture, during an interview at city hall on Friday
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 20, 2026
Japanese mayor makes history with maternity leave that caused a stir
Shoko Kawata, the mayor of Yawata in Kyoto Prefecture, ?became Â鶹´«Ã½ ?youngest female mayor in 2023 at the age of 33.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials wear shorts, T-shirts and sneakers at work on Tuesday as part of the capital's Cool Biz initiative.
JAPAN
Jul 15, 2026
Too hot: Buttoned-up Tokyo officials ditch suits for ¡®cool¡¯ shorts
The loosening of a strict dress code comes as Japanese offices cut reliance on air conditioning due to high energy costs linked to the Middle East war.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at a government meeting on disaster response measures at the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2026
Japan to boost measures against heatstroke and cold at evacuation centers
The revised plan comes after residents in many parts of Japan had to spend long hours at evacuation centers following a powerful earthquake in July last year.
The number of elementary school children on waiting lists for after-school care facilities fell for the second straight year as the capacity of such facilities improved.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2026
Waitlist for after-school care down for second year in Japan
By prefecture, Tokyo had the largest number of children on waiting lists, followed by Saitama and Hyogo, while Fukui had no children on such waiting lists.
Japan's internal affairs industry may introduce artificial intelligence agents at local governments facing labor shortages.
JAPAN
Jul 11, 2026
Japan weighing AI agents for understaffed local governments
A study group will compile an interim report by the end of fiscal 2026 and aim to release its final report around summer 2027.
Neyagawa Mayor Keisuke Hirose speaks to reporters in the city in Osaka Prefecture on Thursday.
JAPAN
Jul 9, 2026
City in Osaka Prefecture to tax vacant houses from fiscal 2029
Annual revenue from the tax is estimated to reach ?139 million, which will be used for measures against crimes and natural disasters.
Japan's closely watched maglev train project still faces major challenges, including soaring construction costs, despite clearing a key hurdle with a prefectural governor's long-awaited approval.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jul 8, 2026
Despite the green light, challenges lie ahead for Â鶹´«Ã½ maglev project
Central Japan Railway now expects the train line¡¯s opening to be in 2036, at the earliest, even if construction kicks off by the end of this year.
Environmental concerns relating to the construction of Central Japan Railway¡¯s high-speed maglev line had contributed to years of delays for the project.
JAPAN
Jul 7, 2026
Long-stalled maglev line finally gets green light from Shizuoka Prefecture
Environmental concerns had led to years of delays, but now that understanding has ¡°steadily deepened,¡± it is now possible to move forward, Shizuoka¡¯s governor said.
Taizo Mikazuki, 55, won his fourth term as Shiga Prefecture governor in an election Sunday, defeating three rivals.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 6, 2026
Mikazuki wins fourth term as Shiga governor
The incumbent governor fended off three other rivals, one of whom ran on a platform of opposing a transportation tax he is proposing.
The town assembly of Kaisei in Kanagawa Prefecture has been opening its chamber as a study room for students during summer vacation since July 2023.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jul 2, 2026
Local assembly chambers in Japan open their doors for studying and weddings
As the chambers are only sparingly used when assemblies are not in session, it is hoped allowing residents to make use of the spaces will raise public awareness of the assemblies.
The front page carries news of a former prime minister's arrest as the Lockheed scandal expands.
JAPAN / History / Japan Times Gone By
Jul 1, 2026
Japan Times 1976: Ex-Prime Minister Tanaka arrested
From Tanaka¡¯s dramatic arrest to the Akashi stampede, Japan confronted tragedy and accountability.
Collapsed walls in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, early Saturday following an earthquake
JAPAN
Jun 29, 2026
Cabinet Office refreshes guidelines for municipalities to prepare for major quakes
The new standards clarify methods for estimating the number of first-aid staff and ambulances needed for relief operations.
The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.
JAPAN / Society / Longform
Jun 29, 2026
What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival
Faced with the same demographic pressures confronting other towns, Yokoze is experimenting with a different approach.
America¡¯s cyberforces grapple with cluster of deaths by suicide
The U.S. Cyber Command building (center) stands on the National Security Agency campus at Fort Meade, Maryland.
Many Indonesians named after Japanese anime characters
Some people in Indonesia are named Doraemon, the name of a lead character of the blockbuster anime series with the same title.
Yasukuni Shrine introduces ban on military attire and cosplay
People gather in front of thousands of lanterns on display at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 15 during the Mitama Matsuri, one of the capital's largest summer o-Bon festivals.
As countries ban social media for children, Japan mulls a different approach
Data from NTT Docomo¡¯s Mobile Society Research Institute released in June found that 55% of respondents across all age groups said they fiddled with their phones when they had nothing to do, even when another person was in front of them.
¡®Total whiplash¡¯: Foreign residents react to Â鶹´«Ã½ changing permanent residency rules
The entrance to the Tokyo Immigration Bureau in Minato Ward, Tokyo, in March. For some foreign residents of Japan, tightening measures for permanent residency have become one factor in a broader calculation over whether remaining in the country makes financial sense over the long term.
¡®Total whiplash¡¯: Foreign residents react to Â鶹´«Ã½ changing permanent residency rules
The entrance to the Tokyo Immigration Bureau in Minato Ward, Tokyo, in March. For some foreign residents of Japan, tightening measures for permanent residency have become one factor in a broader calculation over whether remaining in the country makes financial sense over the long term.
Â鶹´«Ã½ brewers experiment with a secret ingredient: music
At Smoke Craft, a craft beer brewery in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, music isn't just a background to the brewing process ¡ª it's an ingredient.
As countries ban social media for children, Japan mulls a different approach
Data from NTT Docomo¡¯s Mobile Society Research Institute released in June found that 55% of respondents across all age groups said they fiddled with their phones when they had nothing to do, even when another person was in front of them.
J. League enters new era as league kicks off first fall-spring campaign
Players from each J. League club pose during a kickoff event on Monday ahead of the start of the 2026-27 campaign.
Speaking Japanese at the movies with ¡®Chiikawa¡¯
A "Chiikawa The Movie" poster is seen at Toho Cinemas in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

Disaster relief workers Taichi Kato (left) and Seiji Yoshimura enter the collapsed living quarters at Kyuganji temple in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture.
What Kumamoto revealed about Â鶹´«Ã½ earthquake readiness
By Alex K.T. Martin

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