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The new world of collectible design
As mass-produced objects fill our homes, a growing appetite for individuality is changing how we shop for design.
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🇯🇵 Japan — Today's Top Stories
Breaking news and today's biggest headlines from Japan — politics, business, sport and everyday life, gathered every hour from the country's trusted newsrooms. Every story links straight to the original publisher, free and ad-free.
Japan’s Summer Koshien baseball tradition comes face-to-face with new climate reality
As human-caused climate change makes Japan's summers ever hotter, one of the country's most cherished summer traditions is under threat.
Heavyweight ramen-style cheese fried chicken bowl appears in Tokyo, but is it genius or madness?
Karaage no Tensai invokes the name of Jiro-style ramen, and we head out for a taste test. It’s been said that there’s a fine line between genius and m…
![A practical guide to freezing your boss’ hat in a block of ice [Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/1_a01e7b.jpg)
A practical guide to freezing your boss’ hat in a block of ice [Photos]
This is an important skill for working adults to acquire, and we’re here to walk you through the process step by step. Japan is in the middle of a ver…
Japanese workers reveal their top five mysterious rules they wish would disappear【Survey】
A single vacation can lead to near-forced souvenirs and apologies to the entire office. Japan is world-renowned for its hospitality, respect for tradi…
JAL and ANA to coordinate flight schedules for first time
The move affects flights by the two major Japanese airlines on the route between Haneda Airport in Tokyo and Okayama Airport in western Japan, startin…
Faced with historic drought, the Dutch rethink water management
The Netherlands, which designed its dikes, dams and vast waterworks to battle floods, faces a dilemma: how to retain water while protecting itself fro…
Between cartel threats and U.S. airstrikes, Ecuador fishers have nowhere to hide
Drug cartels have turned the small ports of Ecuador's Manabi province into a cocaine-trafficking hub, extorting local fishers who are prized for their…
Kumamon visits quake-hit children’s school to spread cheer
The popular mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture saw both students and evacuees using the school as temporary shelter.
60% in Japan give up activities due to sweat, survey finds
The most common changes respondents made amid sweltering heat included giving up their preferred clothing and avoiding approaching others.
Rakuten, German startup Helsing test military drones for Japan
The country's Ground Self-Defense Force will conduct field tests of Helsing drones through the end of September, according to a Rakuten spokesperson.
The Ukrainian social media channels tracking Russian missiles
Ukrainians consult them to track potential Russian attacks. Authorities tolerate them because they inform the public.
Japan’s nuclear doublethink is getting harder to defend
Japan's defense posture has relied on doublethink, being opposed to atomic weapons while sitting under the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
Behind Takaichi’s subtle signals at Japan’s WWII events
From prayers from afar for Yasukuni Shrine to altering key language in a remembrance speech, the moves were seen as signaling to domestic supporters a…
AI-generated wildlife images are endangering animals and people, experts warn
Hyper-realistic visuals of wild animals behaving like pets can distort public perceptions of wildlife and harm conservation efforts.
Young Japanese anxious as Australia slows working holiday visa processing time
The move comes as Australia's top officials have been under political pressure to take a harsher immigration stance.
The No Surprises Act could be a shock to the U.S. health care system
If physicians' fees rise and insurers face mounting arbitration costs, consumers will ultimately be on the hook.
Why the Strait of Hormuz is a warning for Japan
The maritime order has two aspects: a vertical order based on hegemony and command of the sea and a horizontal order based on norms and rules agreed u…
Ferry offers solace in quake-hit Kumamoto
Free meal, bathing and medical services as well as a play area for children are provided on the ferry, anchored at Yatsushiro port in the prefecture.
No-frills noodles gaining popularity in Japan amid rising prices
Convenience stores and supermarkets are enhancing their lineup of plain noodles to appeal to customers looking for low-priced products.
Japan’s economy loses some steam in the second quarter
Consumers are holding back as corporations retreat, giving the Bank of Japan some disappointing data to process.
Chinese vessel suspected of conducting survey within Japan’s economic zone
A coast guard patrol ship observed the Dong Fang Hong 2 extending a wire-like object into the sea west of the Okinawa island of Kume, and warned it to…
Authorities shift focus to evacuees’ prolonged displacement after Kumamoto quake
Initial response during the month after a disaster is essential for mitigating deaths resulting from extended stays in evacuation shelters, experts sa…
Japan aims to create support agency for ex-SDF personnel as early as fiscal ’27
The initiative, spearheaded by Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, would serve as a one-stop consultation center in overseeing veterans' transitions to…
Reconstruction starts on quake-damaged Japanese war memorials in Myanmar
The memorial pagoda and stone monuments in northern Myanmar were damaged by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit the region in March last year.
Facing invasion and abuse, vulnerable mothers take refuge in Kyiv shelter
The shelter, funded by the Ukrainian Public Health Foundation has taken in 150 women and children since 2022.
Trump orders ‘inappropriate’ U.S.-South Korean military drills scaled back
Citing his ties with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, as well as Seoul's decision not to join U.S.-led actions against Iran, Trump said he was "not happy" w…
Rams coach: No ‘invisible deadline’ on Aaron Donald decision
Donald, 35, spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Rams before retiring in March 2024.
Akita eyes AI data center that could become Japan’s largest
Two firms are cooperating with the city and prefecture to make the center a hub to attract AI-related businesses and human resources.
![These Japanese contact lenses let you put anime characters on your eyes [Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/0_80e52c.jpg)
These Japanese contact lenses let you put anime characters on your eyes [Photos]
Chiikawa contacts are a cute way to add some subtle anime flair to your look. In Japanese, there’s a phrase, “Me ni irete mo itakunai,” which translat…
Cristiano Ronaldo says upcoming season likely his last
Ronaldo, whose Al Nassr contract runs until June 2027, has previously stopped short of giving a timeline of when he'd be ready to call it a career.
Red Sox place Masataka Yoshida on injured list with hamstring issue
Yoshida told reporters after the game that when he injured his hamstring while playing in Japan that he missed about a month.
Scottie Scheffler walks away with dominant FedEx St. Jude win
Scheffler is the world's No. 1 golfer, but this marked his first victory since January.
‘Horrific’ conditions grip U.K. hospitals unprepared for heat
In hospitals built for a cooler climate, staff dealt with patients too sweaty to receive IV drips, medication at risk of degrading and colleagues coll…
Time-lapse footage shows just how fast rebuilding in Kumamoto can go
All in a day’s work. Whenever major natural disasters hit Japan, I’m always amazed by the engineering feats that were set up in various places to mini…
Japan’s Rabbit Island in danger of becoming Boar Island, tourists asked to follow feeding rules
One of the cutest places in Japan needs visitors’ help keeping rabbit food, and rabbits themselves, from becoming boar food. There’s an island in Japa…
Stay at a hotel with a bed for your plushie in Japan
Complete with tiny matching pyjamas for your little friend. The world of fandom is vast and varied in Japan – on one hand you have fans who might show…
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
Police say she also spent time at an Internet cafe. Carmelita Lakdesha Paul, a 12-year-old British secondary school student who went missing while tra…
Visiting Japan’s muscular mascot character dog at his free museum near Kansai International Airport
There’s a manga-related reason Inunakin is so buff. A lot of towns in Japan have official mascot characters, so it’s no surprise that the city of Izum…
Best burger in Tokyo? JB’s serves up a cheap craft burger that not a lot of people know about
There’s good reason why this burger chain is ranked in the top 100 Best Hamburgers in Japan. In this era of rising prices, the words “cheap” and “deli…
Japanese gacha machine in Shibuya now sells tiny capsule terrariums
We join the “koke katsu” trend to find out if these little ecosystems are as easy to make as they say. Japan is famous for its gacha machines, which d…
New Wet Rice Cracker Burger from Dom Dom breathes new life into a “miracle” snack
Snack that saved a Japanese railway gets a whole new look for a limited time. Japanese-born fast food chain Dom Dom Hamburger has a reputation for bei…
Krispy Kreme Japan is baking up two new donuts that you can only get at one spot in the country
Two classy fall flavors are on their way, but might require some travel to taste. We’re still in the middle of a very hot summer in Japan, but Krispy …
Watch a sumo bout inside Tokyo Tower, at a new restaurant endorsed by two yokozuna
Sumo and chanko nabe are just some of the highlights of this new Japanese culture experience. Despite its worldwide fame, not a lot of people actually…
Ride a tram that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on a new limited-time history tour
Step back in time on Hiroshima’s “Peace Loop 653”, a special tour that links passengers to the city’s past and present. Visitors to Hiroshima tend to …
Google’s first Google Store outside the U.S. is now open in Tokyo
But it’s not in electronics neighborhood Akihabara that Google has chosen to set up shop. Omotesando, the tree-lined boulevard that stretches out from…
![12-year-old foreign tourist missing in Japan, police asking for help finding her [Video]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/0_0ff94f.jpg)
12-year-old foreign tourist missing in Japan, police asking for help finding her [Video]
U.K. middle schooler seen on security camera footage after leaving family’s rental property alone. Carmelita Lakdesha Paul, a 12-year-old middle schoo…
![Pokémon donuts are coming to Krispy Kreme in the U.S. [Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/1_73fc2e.jpg)
Pokémon donuts are coming to Krispy Kreme in the U.S. [Photos]
Pikachu, the original starter trio, and one more old-school Pokémon are getting ready to warm fans’ hearts and satisfy your sweet cravings. We recentl…
7-Eleven Japan has a “Super Spicy! Taiwan Mince Cutlet” that’s fiery red… but how hot is it?
Spoiler alert: Your taste buds aren’t ready for this convenience store katsu. One of the great things about convenience stores is their wide variety o…
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
Anime’s growing international popularity is affecting name choices overseas. Popular storytelling tropes and traditions mean there’s often a degree of…