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July 29, 2026
 

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JAPAN

Politics
Crime & Legal
Science & Health
Society
Explainer
History
Debris is strewn at the damaged Aeon Mall shopping center, where an explosion occurred after an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan's southern Kumamoto Prefecture, in Kashima Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Kumamoto disaster leaves at least 13 dead, Takaichi says
By Jesse Johnson, Kenji Yoshida, Elizabeth Beattie and Jessica Speed
The toll was expected to rise, with scores still missing following the magnitude 7.1 quake, as rescuers continued to hunt for survivors amid rising temperatures.
Shinji Kiyomoto, director of earthquake and tsunami countermeasures at the Japan Meteorological Agency, speaks about the Kumamoto earthquake on Tuesday in Tokyo.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Japan¡¯s major earthquakes over the past 15 years
Situated on the Ring of Fire?arc of volcanoes and oceanic trenches partly encircling the Pacific Basin, Japan accounts for about 20% of global earthquakes of magnitude 6 or higher.
Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi holds a news conference Tuesday in Tokyo as Immigration Services Agency staffers hold up a poster promoting recruitment for inspectors and security officers.
JAPAN
Immigration Services Agency to add 226 staff amid rise in foreign residents
By Jessica Speed
The Immigration Services Agency will add 176 immigration inspectors, who review applications for residency status, and 50 immigration control officers.
JAPAN
Japan sees record low consumption of domestic rice following shortages
JAPAN
Mall collapses after powerful quake rocks Kumamoto
By Kanako Takahara, Elizabeth Beattie, Jesse Johnson and Joel Tansey
JAPAN
Japanese man arrested for years of guitar noise
JAPAN
Kyoto high school searched over fatal boat accident in Okinawa

Politics

Liberal Democratic Party executives meet in Tokyo on July 13.
Politics
LDP eyes new tools to counter foreign spies and disinformation
By Kenji Yoshida
The ruling party¡¯s policy panel proposes new laws against illicit foreign interference, broader intelligence-gathering powers and an independent foreign intelligence agency.
Politics / FOCUS
With secondary-capital bill passed, competition between cities heats up
By Eric Johnston
Politics
Did they or didn¡¯t they? China and Japan at odds over diplomats¡¯ ¡®talks¡¯
By Jesse Johnson
Politics
PM stands firm on LDP-JIP ties and notes public concern over foreign influx
By Kanako Takahara
Politics / FOCUS
After a legislative sweep, Takaichi faces public confidence test
By Kenji Yoshida
Politics
Takaichi set to face grilling as parliament adjourns
By Yoshiaki Nohara and Sakura Murakami
Politics
Secondary capital bill passes after showdown at parliament
By Eric Johnston

Society

Hitoshi Kikawada, minister for consumer affairs and food safety, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Society
Japan¡¯s consumer agency certifies food banks for first time
The certification program was rolled out in response to concerns over risks such as food poisoning and the resale of donated food items.
Society / Regional Voices: Chubu
More foreign nationals joining fire brigades in Japan, but barriers remain
Society
Memorial at sea starts for late residents of Russia-held isles
Society
Out of the shadows: Japanese women building a life beyond motherhood
By Mai Yoshikawa
Society
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
By Jessica Speed
Society
Education ministry to aid regional human resources development
Society
Nara cafe owner hopeful about ancient capitals¡¯ World Heritage listing

Crime & Legal

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a ministerial meeting focused on crime prevention measures at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Crime & Legal
Japan weighing GPS tracking for ¡®high risk¡¯ stalkers
By Jessica Speed
Many key details remain undecided, including who exactly would be deemed as a ¡°high risk¡± offender and whether court approval would be required.
Crime & Legal
Kumamoto ordered to pay damages over wrongful conviction in 1985 murder case
Crime & Legal
Prayers offered for victims of Sagamihara care home attack
Crime & Legal / FOCUS
Kozo Okamoto, last surviving participant of 1972 Lod Airport massacre, dies
By Kenji Yoshida
Crime & Legal
155 police officers and personnel disciplined in Japan over six months
Crime & Legal
Japan to add 200 workers to Immigration Services Agency
Crime & Legal
Police officer fires warning shot after vehicle rams into store in Kanagawa

Science & Health

Compared with other countries, Japan ranked seventh in male life expectancy, following Sweden, Switzerland, Italy and others, while taking the top spot in female life expectancy.
Science & Health
Japan¡¯s average life expectancy rises in 2025
For men, average life expectancy was 81.35 years, up 0.25 years from the previous year. For women, the figure was 87.33 years, up by 0.2 years.
Science & Health
Another iPS product approved for public insurance coverage in Japan
Science & Health
City lights and searing summer heat keep some cicadas singing after dark
By Jessica Speed
Science & Health
Long-term safety of iPS spinal cord therapy confirmed in Japan
Science & Health
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
By Tomoko Otake
Science & Health
Japan team eyes world¡¯s first pig-kidney transplant to human fetus
Science & Health
Japan to raise caps on out-of-pocket medical expenses

Explainer

Royal family members greet guests during the spring garden party at the Akasaka Palace's imperial garden in Tokyo in April.
Explainer
Who are the former royals who may be reinstated to the imperial family?
By Kanako Takahara
A proposal to allow the reinstatement of former male royals along the male line of the imperial family through adoption is being considered by policymakers.
Explainer
How the Iran crisis affects Japan
By Eric Johnston
Explainer
How to prepare when Japan is under an earthquake advisory
By Jessica Speed
Explainer
The key points under discussion on policies affecting foreign nationals
By Himari Semans
Explainer
Takaichi¡¯s Taiwan tumult: A closer look at the Japanese leader¡¯s contentious remarks
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Explainer
What you need to know about the shift to My Number health insurance cards
By Jessica Speed
Explainer
As attacks surge, who can cull bears in Japan?
By Yukana Inoue

History

Ships identified by the Philippine Coast Guard as Chinese research vessels are seen at Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on June 15.
History
Japan and others mark 10 years since South China Sea arbitration
The countries stressed that the 2016 decision in The Hague ¡°is final, legally binding and definitive between China and the Philippines¡± regarding their territorial row.
History / Japan Times Gone By
Japan Times 1976: Ex-Prime Minister Tanaka arrested
History
Victims of Battle of Okinawa mourned 81 years on
History / Greater Shinagawa Area
The many lives of Shinagawa
By Alex K.T. Martin
History
Japan Times 1976: Inoki sits on his fortune as Ali dances to the bank
History / Japan Times Gone By
Japan Times 1976: Disappointed hot-rod fans kill cameraman
History / Japan Times Gone By
Japan Times 1951: Truman ousts Gen. MacArthur
Read more JAPAN stories
Mall collapses after powerful quake rocks Kumamoto
Emergency crews outside an Aeon Mall in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, on Tuesday after the second floor of the building collapsed in the wake of a major earthquake.
Tough new permanent residency measures trigger concern in Japan
The Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau in the capital's Shinagawa Ward in March. Japan's revised guidelines for permanent residency are set to be introduced as early as Oct. 1 and applied to applications filed from April 2027.
Japanese man arrested for years of guitar noise
Police seized over 40 guitars ¡ª many electric ¡ª from a Kyoto musician's residence, along with CD and radio cassette players and amplifiers.
More foreign nationals joining fire brigades in Japan, but barriers remain
Mauricio Ojeda (center) takes part in a flood prevention drill in Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture, in June.
Japanese author Keigo Higashino, known for intricate mystery novels, dies at 68
A display featuring Keigo Higashino¡¯s work, with a range of his titles translated into multiple languages, at Books Kinokuniya Tokyo in the capital¡¯s Shinjuku Ward on Tuesday
With secondary-capital bill passed, competition between cities heats up
A view of downtown Sapporo. Hokkaido Gov. Naomichi Suzuki is pushing Sapporo as a candidate for a second capital outside Tokyo.
Japanese author Keigo Higashino, known for intricate mystery novels, dies at 68
A display featuring Keigo Higashino¡¯s work, with a range of his titles translated into multiple languages, at Books Kinokuniya Tokyo in the capital¡¯s Shinjuku Ward on Tuesday
Tough new permanent residency measures trigger concern in Japan
The Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau in the capital's Shinagawa Ward in March. Japan's revised guidelines for permanent residency are set to be introduced as early as Oct. 1 and applied to applications filed from April 2027.
The tiny Okayama village providing Japan with a blueprint for forest management
In 2008, Nishiawakura announced a 100-year plan to promote forest health through measures including structured thinning of its artificially planted <i>sugi</i> and <i>hinoki</i> trees. Since then, it has earned nationwide recognition for its innovative forest health management initiatives.
How foreign workers became an essential part of Japan¡¯s ubiquitous konbini
Myanmar national Nyan Linn, who works at a Lawson outlet in Tokyo¡¯s Shinagawa Ward, is one of over 110,000 foreign workers employed by Japan&#039;s three largest convenience store chains.

Podcast

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

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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