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August 12, 2026
 

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NITE

An experiment shows how stripping the insulation from an air conditioner cord and connecting the cord with another cable can lead to fire.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2026
Consumers warned of fire risks in areas around air conditioners ahead of summer
Safety experts have received many reports of air conditioner fires that were unrelated to product defects, and are flagging the risk before use increases through summer.
An experiment shows smoke being emitted by old lighting fixtures after fluorescent lamps were switched to LED lighting.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 29, 2026
Replace fixtures too when switching to LED lighting, safety watchdog urges
Over 50 cases reported to the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation in the 10 years until 2025 involved fires believed to have occurred due to aging fixtures.
A battery from a third-party company for an electric-assist bicycle catches fire during an experiment.
JAPAN
Apr 22, 2026
Caution urged in Japan when using secondhand products amid safety risks
Accidents involving secondhand products have risen alongside more people using flea market apps to save money as consumer inflation continues.
An experiment on battery-related fires by the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation shows a burnt handheld fan.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Dec 2, 2025
Japan works to raise safety awareness over lithium-ion battery fires
Fires linked to electric devices powered by lithium-ion batteries increased in Japan this year amid intense heat in the summer across the nation.
NITE advises elderly people using electric wheelchairs to avoid railroad crossings where the wheels tend to get stuck and wide roads that require time to cross, as well as steep slopes.
JAPAN
Sep 16, 2025
Older people using electric wheelchairs and bikes warned of fall risks
There were 56 accidents involving people age 65 or older that occurred while using electric wheelchairs in the decade that ended last March.
A portable gas stove in flames after using an old gas canister
JAPAN / Society
Sep 1, 2025
Be careful with gas canisters and portable generators, safety watchdog warns
While they are useful especially in times of disasters, their misuse or mishandling have led to many accidents, some even causing deaths, between 2020 and 2024.
A mobile battery ignites during a simulation experiment.
JAPAN
Jul 25, 2025
Agency warns of fire risks from lithium-ion batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are vulnerable to heat and impact, making them prone to accidents when temperatures rise.
A USB-type charging connector of a laptop was burned during charging due to foreign objects also being in the charging port.
JAPAN
Apr 30, 2025
Technology institute warns of digital device accidents amid a series of fires
The warning comes as some students interact with electronic devices for the first time under the ¡°giga school¡± initiative of distributing information devices to every student.
A reproduction experiment was conducted by placing two gas stoves side by side and heating large iron plates (top photo). The canister on the left stove overheated and ruptured (bottom photo).
JAPAN
Jan 21, 2025
Warnings issued for portable stoves as winter usage increases
The most common issue was improper canister placement leading to overheating and rupture, resulting in fatalities, burns and property damage.
YouTuber Genki Ichioka appears in a video produced by the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE). Since July, NITE and Ichioka have collaborated on videos on product safety awareness.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Nov 20, 2024
NITE partners with YouTuber to reach younger audiences on product safety
The collaboration with Genki Ichioka, who has over a million subscribers on his channel, aims to raise awareness about the potential dangers of everyday products.
An experiment by NITE shows an oil heater catching fire from leaked kerosene.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 5, 2024
Consumers urged to check heater safety ahead of winter accident surge
Past incidents typically surged in November and peaked in December, with elevated levels of heater-related accidents continuing through April.
About 82% of all toilets in Japan have electric bidet toilet seats, with nearly all homes with flushing toilets having them installed.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 21, 2024
78% of electric bidet toilet accidents involve older models, report finds
Â鶹´«Ã½ product safety watchdog emphasizes the ubiquitous appliance¡¯s limited lifespan and advises users to regularly conduct safety checks to prevent mishaps.
A re-creation of a scene in which an electric wheelchair tire has become stuck in a gutter
JAPAN
Sep 17, 2024
Deaths among elderly people using electric wheelchairs on the rise
Accidents usually occur at railroad crossings, roadside ditches and on slopes, especially when elderly wheelchair-users are alone outdoors.
A non-genuine battery for electric bicycles catches fire in an experiment conducted by the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation.
JAPAN
Aug 20, 2024
Number of fires linked to ¡®fake¡¯ lithium-ion batteries on the rise
Non-genuine alternatives are not subject to the same rigorous design and quality control standards, making them more prone to causing fires.
A toddler tries to pull an electric kettle cord. Parents can often recognize the dangers within their own home, but may not be as vigilant when visiting new places during the holidays.
JAPAN / Society
May 10, 2024
Indoor child safety warnings issued for caregivers in Japan
Parents can often recognize the dangers within their own home, but may not be as vigilant when visiting new places during the holidays.
Of 26 fires attributed to pets activating gas or induction heating stove controls, 19 were caused by cats, the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) said.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 8, 2024
The cat did it: Warnings issued for pet-related household fires
Most of these incidents were caused by cats and dogs ¡ª and even a baby goat ¡ª triggering gas and induction heating stoves while their owners were away.
¡®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.
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.
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.
Strong wind and heavy rain forecast as tropical storm approaches Japan
Tropical Storm Chan-hom is expected to make landfall in northern Kanto between late Tuesday and early Wednesday.
Where do foreign residents in Japan want to die?
The Yokohama Foreign General Cemetery is one of the few cemeteries in Japan that allows burials, albeit with conditions for the deceased, including foreign nationality and permanent residency in Kanagawa Prefecture.
¡®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.
As Â鶹´«Ã½ concrete jungles sizzle, urban forestry offers an all-natural fix
People and birds find relief from the sun in Tokyo's Nakano Ward earlier this month. While experts agree that urban greening is crucial to mitigating the impact of climate change, trees are becoming even more scarce in Japanese cities.
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.

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