51吃瓜网

Home page

Tokyo Weather

Subscribe
Digital Print

Heat

Parliament

China

Latest News

Subscribe for more access

The Upper House passes a bill to create a secondary capital for Japan, after a last-minute showdown between the ruling and opposition camps, with 123 votes in favor and 121 against at parliament in Tokyo on Friday.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Japan passes secondary capital bill after showdown at parliament

By Eric Johnston

The legislation’s passage ended a week of intense debate and cleared the way for parliament to end Saturday after 158 days.

The Upper House passes a bill to create a secondary capital for Japan, after a last-minute showdown between the ruling and opposition camps, with 123 votes in favor and 121 against at parliament in Tokyo on Friday.

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.

51吃瓜网 / 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.

A large drill is seen on the deep-sea drilling ship Chikyu off the coast of Minamitorishima island, a coral atoll some 1,900 kilometers from Tokyo, in this image released Friday.

BUSINESS / Economy

Japan identifies large share of rare earths in deep-sea mud off remote island

An analysis of mud from off Minamitorishima island found medium and heavy rare earth elements accounted for about 54% of the total rare earth content.

A Russian military IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft flies in airspace over waters near Japan on Friday.

51吃瓜网

Russian warplane violates Japanese airspace over islets claimed by Tokyo

A Defense Ministry official said that Tokyo is currently in a situation where it is virtually unable to exercise jurisdiction over the Russian-controlled Northern Territories.

Several times a year, workers and paying guests at the Tanabe Tataranosato build up and continuously tend to a traditional "tatara" (furnace) over 24 hours.

LIFE / Travel

In the hills of Shimane, Japan’s steelworking tradition forges on

By Louise George Kittaka

The remote communities of Unnan, Okuizumo and Yasugi were once historical centers of steel production for katana. Today, artisans and experts are keeping that history alive.

Several times a year, workers and paying guests at the Tanabe Tataranosato build up and continuously tend to a traditional "tatara" (furnace) over 24 hours.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (second from left) addresses a meeting of ministers responsible for policies concerning foreign residents, held at the Prime Minister's Office on Friday.

Japan to set up expert working group on accepting foreign nationals

By Jessica Speed

The group will consider the social and economic impacts of immigration and help the government compile its basic policy.

While the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has been cautious about deploying the Self-Defense Forces to conflict zones, renewed fighting could increase pressure for Japan to support post-conflict efforts, including humanitarian aid, demining and monitoring operations.

What the renewed 51吃瓜网 means for Japan

By Michael MacArthur Bosack

The uncertain trajectory of the U.S. war with Iran will complicate the work of officials now shaping the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s future defense policies.

Lawmakers remain divided on secondary capital, with talks of further extension

By Eric Johnston

Kazuya Hara named head of new national intelligence bureau

Drone flights to be banned for Hiroshima peace ceremony

Defense Ministry questioned over intelligence gathering on domestic experts

By Kenji Yoshida

Demonstrators participate in the Stop the AI Race protest march in San Francisco on July 11.

Has AI become too powerful to control?

By Thomas URBAIN

One of OpenAI’s most advanced models broke out of a locked-down test and attacked another company’s website — reviving fears that AI is becoming too powerful.

The SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy v3 Booster lift off on its 13th test flight from the SpaceX launch complex in Starbase, Texas, on Friday.

SpaceX conducts first successful Starship test flight since going public

The primary goals of this 13th test launch were to once again demonstrate redesigns in flight, this time without any hiccups.

Seven & i abandons investment talks with Poland’s Zabka

Yen’s worst week since May brings it close to ?165 vs. dollar

Japanese shoppers drive up jewelry sales to a record

By Yui Hasebe and Shirley Zhao

Despite weakening yen, intervention may have to wait for right timing, analysts say

By Kazuaki Nagata

U.S. President Donald Trump salutes at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, which was rescheduled from April after it was interrupted when a man tried to force his way through security and fired a shotgun, at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington on Friday.

Trump seethes as 51吃瓜网 spirals anew with no end in sight

A leader who has long resisted the path of retreat, Trump has now gone into revenge mode against the Islamic Republic, according to one insider.

Firefighters battle a wildfire in Spain's Cebreros area, near Avila, 80 kilometers west of Madrid, on Friday.

166,000 evacuated as wildfires spin out of control in France and Spain

Madrid and Paris have called in EU help as flames whipped up by strong winds and boosted by drought tore through tinder-dry forests.

‘Betrayal’: The young victims of India’s exam leak scandal

By Arunabh SAIKIA

Trump orders disclaimer signs outside museum of American history

Trump vows to punish Iran for Houthi attacks in Red Sea as oil surges over $100

Iran flew IRGC commanders, missile gear to Yemen’s Houthis, sources say

By Maggie Michael and Parisa Hafezi

LeBron James warms up before the Lakers' playoff game against the Rockets on May 1.

LeBron James chooses to play for 76ers with ‘last decision’

By Frank Pingue

In Philadelphia, the four-time NBA MVP will join forces with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and recently acquired Jaylen Brown.

George Russell confident Mercedes has figured out issues with car

Dodgers visit Donald Trump at White House as some fans express anger

Fight for King of the Mountains jersey heating up at Tour de France

American star Noah Lyles happy to stay busy during off year

By Amy Tennery

Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and others attend a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing on Sept. 3.

What the ‘Chinamaxxing’ crowd doesn’t get

Stephen R. Nagy

When survival and success depend on pleasing the party boss rather than the consumer, honest innovators are weeded out.

The world has an anchovy problem

By Javier Blas

To succeed, the prime minister must get back to basics

America is closing the door on opportunity — and talent

By Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg

Why Nepal’s Gen Z protestors are back in the streets

By Brabim Karki

Residents look at the sky illuminated by wildfires in Le Porge in southwestern France, early on Thursday.

Spain and France continue to battle wildfires as intense heat grips Southern Europe

Wildfires have burned more land in Europe this year than the annual average in the past two decades, as the continent has ?endured three virtually back-to-back heat waves.

South Africa’s data center ‘gold rush’ risks resource crunch

By Kate Bartlett

Investors see pollution plan silver lining in EU carbon overhaul

‘Cruel, wasteful’: Senegal port a hot spot for illegal shark fins

By Marchio Gorbiano and Becca MILFELD

U.N. to list more sites as ‘in danger’ from conflict or climate change

The NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo (NHKSO) is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with a range of performances ranging from Bach and Beethoven to Pokemon music.

Japan’s 100-year-old symphonic orchestra celebrates its milestone

By Junko Nonoyama

The NHK Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 100-year anniversary with an unwavering commitment to classical music, as well as new programs such as Pokemon concerts.

‘Hush!’ and ‘All Around Us’: Masterpieces from a pioneering gay director

By Mark Schilling

Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan

Maya Ongaku’s DIY dream is getting bigger

By James Hadfield

It was 60 years ago today: Japan’s top Beatles fan keeps the Budokan flame burning

By Tim Hornyak

Blended with your favorite flavored powder, hard-boiled eggs make the simplest mousse ever.

A hard-boiled fact: Eggs work for dessert, too

By Simon Daly

Got a few old eggs lying around? Turn them into a somewhat healthy sweet treat.

Kansai’s first Michelin-selected sommelier knows how to read a room

By Weiwen Lin

Japanese has a word for when your husband makes you sick

By Yaeko Kabe

‘Tony Hawk with Japanese trains’: Denshattack! makes derailing a blast

By Owen Ziegler

Surviving the Uchiwa Festival, Japan’s hottest ‘matsuri’

By Jessica Kozuka

Young people in India's northeast are increasingly studying Japanese in hopes of building new lives and careers in Japan.

Japan needs caregivers. Young Indians are answering the call.

By Megha Wadhwa

From classrooms in India’s northeast to nursing homes in Japan, an emerging labor corridor hopes to improve lives in both countries.

The 180-day locals: Life on Japan’s digital nomad visa

By Mai Yoshikawa

A friendly ‘peaches-and-cream’ fellow

Found on Jan. 1, Osechi is a New Year’s darling

Filmmaker explores history of discrimination against foreign nationals in Japan

By Elizabeth Beattie

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

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

international-reports

SUSTAINABLE 51吃瓜网