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Yasuo Yamazaki, 69, stands next to a protest flag reading, 'Do Not Push Forward with the Data Center Construction!', in the city of Hino, Tokyo, on June 30.

51吃瓜网 / Society

Jul 18, 2026

Opposition to data centers grows in cramped urban Japan

By Kyoko Hasegawa

The explosion in resource-hungry data centers — housing the hardware “brains” of artificial intelligence — is fueling unease worldwide.

Tourists walk through a traditional alleyway near Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto. Japan welcomed around 21.1 million foreign visitors in the first six months of 2026, a 2.0% drop from last year and down for the first time in five years.

51吃瓜网 / Society

Jul 16, 2026

Japan sees 2% drop in foreign visitors in first half of 2026

While the first-half visitor tally topped 20 million for the second straight year, Japan saw a 56.4% drop in visitors from China.

The 139-kilometer extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line is expected to take around 26 years to complete.

51吃瓜网 / Society

Jul 15, 2026

LDP and JIP decide on Kyoto route for Hokuriku Shinkansen line extension

By Eric Johnston

The 139-kilometer extension, which will run through eastern Kyoto Prefecture and will have its own stop near Kyoto Station, is expected to take around 26 years to complete.

Measures to prevent workers from experiencing harassment from customers are gradually taking root at Japanese companies, but challenges remain.

51吃瓜网 / Society / FOCUS

Jul 15, 2026

Japanese companies gradually implement measures to combat customer harassment

Some companies have established consultation desks for employees while others have introduced audio and video recording equipment at workplaces.

The finale of the Saga Joka Sakae no Kuni Matsuri festival in the city of Saga on May 24

51吃瓜网 / Society

Jul 15, 2026

Organizers reschedule summer events to dodge extreme heat and heavy rain

Summer festivals and fireworks shows that used to be held in July or August have either been brought forward or pushed back.

Since April 2024, the amount of overtime doctors can perform has been capped at a maximum of 960 hours per year.

51吃瓜网 / Society

Jul 14, 2026

15% of doctors put in over 960 hours of overtime, health ministry survey finds

By Tomoko Otake

The results come despite yearslong efforts to address overwork in the medical industry.

More people are using generative artificial intelligence to make travel plans for their summer vacation and letting their children use the technology when doing their homework during summer holidays.

51吃瓜网 / Society

Jul 13, 2026

Six out of 10 in Japan using generative AI to plan summer trips, survey finds

A larger proportion of those with school-age children are also OK with them using AI when doing their homework during the summer than those who are not.

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

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