Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese convenience store operators Lawson Inc. and FamilyMart Co. enjoyed sales growth in the March-August first half of their current business year, while Seven & i Holdings Co.’s sales declined, according to their recent earnings reports. Lawson

Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government has been flooded with opinions against a selective dual surname system for married couples during a recent public comment period on the issue, Jiji Press learned Wednesday. The number of comments from the public on

Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–More than 500 companies and organizations will take part in the Japan Mobility Show 2025, opening Oct. 31 at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center, to showcase cutting-edge technologies, concept cars and classic vehicles. The number of exhibitors

Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–At a time when overwork of teachers is attracting attention as a serious social problem in Japan, “edtech” services to help them out digitally are gaining traction. The market for edtech, or educational technology, will grow some 1.4-fold

Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–The leaders of three major Japanese opposition parties met on Wednesday and agreed to continue talks between their secretaries-general regarding possible cooperation in the upcoming parliamentary vote to elect the country’s new prime minister. At the meeting, Constitutional

(Adnkronos) – Persecution and violence have diminished the number of Christians in the Middle East, but the religious minority nonetheless remains “a force for peace” in the region, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Wednesday.  “Christians in the Middle East have suffered

Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s National Stadium, which was the main venue for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021, will be renamed the MUFG Stadium in January 2026, the facility’s management company said Wednesday. Japan National Stadium Entertainment Inc. said

Kobe, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–Japanese public prosecutors on Wednesday sought the death penalty for Hideaki Nozu, who has been charged with killing three members of his family with a crossbow at his home in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, in June 2020. At a

(Adnkronos) – The United States has revoked the visas of foreign citizens following their social media posts regarding the murder of Maga right-wing figure Charlie Kirk, the State Department announced. The measure affects Germans, Mexicans, Argentinians, South Africans, Brazilians, and citizens of

Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–Japan has recorded seven bear-related deaths so far in fiscal 2025, which started in April, the highest since records began in fiscal 2006, the Environment Ministry said Wednesday, with most attacks occurring in northeastern regions and the northernmost

(Adnkronos) – Hamas denounces “the serious violation of the agreement (for the truce in Gaza, ed.) by the IDF, with the killing of civilians in Shejaiya and Rafah” and asks “mediators to force Israel to respect its commitments.” The spokesman, Hazem Qassem,

(Adnkronos) – Drone raids on Khartoum, reported by AFP agency citing military sources and witnesses. Most of the drones, which targeted bases in the northeast of the capital, were reportedly shot down. Since April 2023, a civil war has been ongoing in

(Adnkronos) – Clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan continue at the border. Islamabad has announced the killing of about fifty Taliban at the frontiers. “There was an attack at four different sites on the southern border. While it was being repelled, 15-20 Taliban

Shari, Hokkaido, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese book of librarians’ answers to library visitors’ questions has become a bestseller for its playful approach. The book, titled “Toshokan no Yuruyuru Jinsei Shitsumonbako” (Library’s casual life questions box), was twice reprinted in the three

Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–Japanese stocks rebounded on Wednesday thanks to bargain hunting, following sharp falls in the previous two sessions. The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average closed at 47,672.67, up 825.35 points, or 1.76 pct, from Tuesday, after losing a total

Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government apologized Wednesday over its failure to bring abductees home from North Korea since 2002. Five Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea returned home on Oct. 15, 2002. “It is extremely regrettable that no other abductees

Kagoshima, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–A Chinese research ship has been spotted in the Japanese exclusive economic zone off an island in the southwestern Japan prefecture of Kagoshima, the Japan Coast Guard said Wednesday. The vessel was found extending a wire-like object into

Saitama, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–Two female residents of an elderly care facility in Tsurugashima in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, were confirmed dead Wednesday morning, hours after they were found bleeding and unconscious there. At around 4:55 a.m., an emergency call from

Kobe, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–Japanese public prosecutors sought a death penalty for Hideaki Nozu, who has been charged with killing three members of his family with arrows fired from a crossbow at a home in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, in June 2020. Prosecutors

Osaka, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–The 2025 World Exposition in the western Japan city of Osaka attracted a total of 25,578,986 visitors during its 184-day run through Monday. According to the data released by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, the

Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–Payments for popular water buffalo cart rides on southernmost remote islands in Japan will become smoother thanks to a contactless technology. From Oct. 23, contactless payments by credit and debit cards as well as smartphone apps will be

Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–The Japan Professional Baseball Players Association has agreed with the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, or NPB, to introduce paternity and other special leave for players from the 2026 season. The agreement was reached at the two groups’ meeting

London, Oct. 14 (Jiji Press)–Sumo wrestlers toured central London on Tuesday ahead of a five-day grand tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in the British capital, starting Wednesday. Yokozuna professional sumo grand champion Onosato and other wrestlers walked around Big Ben, posing

Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–Japanese retailer Aeon Co. said Tuesday that its consolidated net profit rose 9.1 pct in its fiscal first half ended in August to 4,048 million yen thanks to increased sales of its Topvalu private brand products and cost

Nagoya, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–E-sports, in which competitors face off in computer games, will return as an official medal event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, following its debut at the 2022 Games in Hangzhou, China. Co-hosted by

Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako hosted Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and her husband for dinner at the Imperial Palace on Tuesday evening. The Swedish couple visited Japan mainly for the World Exposition in the western Japanese city

Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has bid farewell to a talking doll of Myaku-Myaku, the official mascot of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, that had been placed in his office before the event began. “You played a

(Adnkronos) – The Israeli Defense Forces (Idf) confirmed that they shot and killed five Palestinians in the Shejaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, who had gotten too close to troops who had withdrawn beyond the Yellow Line as stipulated by the peace

(Adnkronos) – Two French citizens, whose identities have not been disclosed, have been sentenced to several years in prison for “espionage” on behalf of France and Israel. This was reported by Mizan, a news agency linked to the Iranian judiciary, specifying that