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Ghibli’s midlife crisis: as beloved Japanese studio turns 40 will the magic fade?
Much of Studio Ghibli’s success is down to one man: 84-year-old Hayao Miyazaki, a master animator whose presen…
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Against the grain: as prices and temperatures rise, can Japan learn to love imported rice?
The political and cultural insulation of Japan’s beloved grain is falling apart, and experts warn the country’…
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Against the grain: as prices and temperatures rise, can Japan learn to love imported rice?
The political and cultural insulation of Japan’s beloved grain is falling apart, and experts warn the country’…
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Chinese aircraft carrier group enters waters near Japan’s easternmost island for first time
The Liaoning carrier, accompanied by two missile destroyers and a supply ship, entered Japan’s exclusive econo…
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Japan records lowest number of births in more than a century, as population fears grow
New government data shows the number of births reached 686,061 in 2024, a decline of 5.7% from the previous ye…
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Fukushima soil headed to Japan PM’s flower beds to allay nuclear safety fears
The government has suggested the material, which it describes as low risk, could also be used in roads and inf…
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Japan introduces rules to put outlandish baby names to bed
The change is designed to halt the use of kirakira (shiny or glittery) names that have proliferated among pare…
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Holiday bookings to Japan are down – could a 90s manga comic’s earthquake prediction be to blame?
The Future I Saw, a Japanese graphic novel by Ryo Tatsuki, declared a major disaster would occur on 5 July 202…
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Japanese minister resigns after saying he doesn’t buy rice because he gets it free
Taku Etō’s remarks drew fury as cost of rice has nearly doubled in a year amid soaring food pricesJapan’s agri…
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Runaway rice prices spell danger for Japan’s prime minister as elections loom
Attempts to bring down the price of the Japanese staple have had little effect amid a cost-of-living crisisJap…
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Student rescued from Mount Fuji twice in one week
Chinese national, 27, reportedly returned to Japan’s highest mountain days after first rescue to retrieve his …
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Two US marines investigated over alleged rape at military base in Okinawa
Allegations come days after Japanese authorities increased efforts to deter crimes by US servicemen on islandT…
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Rice crisis: Japan imports grain from South Korea for first time in more than 25 years
Japanese consumers who used to treat foreign-grown rice with scepticism have been forced to develop a taste fo…
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The Ukrainian refugee fighting to become the first European sumo grand champion
Known by his fighting moniker, Aonishiki Arata, the Ukrainian wrestler recently won promotion to sumo’s highes…
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‘I’m truly happy’: 108-year-old takes record for world’s oldest female barber
Shitsui Hakoishi can still cut it as a barber in her salon in the town of Nakagawa, after earning her licence …
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Largest wildfire in decades rages in Japan as authorities warn it could spread
Blaze in Ofunato has spread through 2,100 hectares of land, damaged dozens of homes and forced more than 1,000…
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Three resort workers die in suspected gas poisoning near hot spring in Japan
Hydrogen sulphide gives Takayu Onsen its unmistakable sulphurous smell but can be dangerous if inhaled in high…
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Japan releases 200,000 tonnes of emergency rice stockpile as prices soar
Agriculture minister says rising prices have ‘had a significant impact on people’s lives’ amid record heat, su…
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Sweet romance: Japanese boys start buying into gift giving on Valentine’s Day
Women are traditionally expected to buy chocolates for male colleagues on Valentine’s Day but teenage boys are…
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Centrefolded: Japan’s ‘porn disposal’ boxes phased out amid rise of the internet
The boxes served to protect the eyes of children from adult material littering the streets, but the shift onli…