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July 24, 2026
 

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PFAS

Royal Australian Air Force firefighters extinguish a demonstration fire using fluorine-free foam at RAAF Base Amberley in 2021. The Australian government said on May 28 that it had launched a $1.43 billion legal action against U.S. consumer goods giant 3M over the contamination of military bases that used firefighting foam containing so-called forever chemicals.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 28, 2026
Australia sues 3M over ¡®forever chemical¡¯ contamination near military bases
Canberra is seeking damages to recover the cost of managing environmental contamination at 28 military bases from per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Water utilities will be required to conduct PFAS tests every three months in principle under new tap water quality standards that will take effect next month.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Mar 23, 2026
Japan to mandate inspections for PFAS in water from April
The Environment Ministry aims to assess PFAS concentrations in water supplies nationwide.
The U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. Unidentified white foam has appeared from maintenance holes near the base.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Mar 16, 2026
Unidentified foam near U.S. military bases in Okinawa raises PFAS concerns
A civic group has asked for on-site investigations of U.S. bases for possible leaks but the U.S. military has turned down the request.
A total stop of production and use of PFAS ¡ª a family of synthetic chemicals that take an extremely long time to break down ¡ª could lower costs to €330 billion, an EU-commissioned report found.
WORLD / Science & Health
Jan 30, 2026
¡®Forever chemicals¡¯ could cost Europe up to €1.7 trillion by 2050: report
A total stop of production and use of PFAS ¡ª a family of synthetic chemicals that take an extremely long time to break down ¡ª could lower costs to €330 billion, it found.
U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in the city of Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, in 2023
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Dec 19, 2025
U.S. military rejects Okinawa access requests over PFAS findings
PFAS have been found in nearby rivers and other sites, raising concerns about potential effects on drinking water.
Some 460 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year, half of which is single-use.
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability
Aug 2, 2025
Efforts set to resume to reach plastic pollution pact
The coming talks follow a failure to reach a deal last December on how to stop millions of tons of plastic waste from entering the environment each year.
An Italian court on Thursday found three Japanese nationals guilty over polluting water with PFAS, often referred to as "forever chemicals."
ENVIRONMENT
Jun 27, 2025
Three Japanese nationals found guilty over PFAS pollution in Italy
The three were among 11 defendants sentenced to prison terms of between two years and 18 years over their roles in the PFAS contamination.
French scientist Marie-Anne Blanchet examines bear cubs before taking tissue biopsies and blood samples from their sedated mother, in eastern Spitzbergen, in Norway's Svalbard archipelago, on April 6.
ENVIRONMENT
May 19, 2025
Polar bear biopsies shed light on Arctic pollutants
The team¡¯s findings may help explain how the bears¡¯ world is changing, and at an alarming rate.
An Environment Ministry survey found that PFAS in groundwater and river water exceeded the provisional standard at 242 locations nationwide.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Apr 25, 2025
Potentially carcinogenic PFAS chemicals over standard at 242 sites in Japan
Japan?banned the production and import of PFOS and PFOA, both of which are main components of PFAS, by 2021.
The levels of a type of "forever chemical" found in seven current and former employees at Daikin Industries' Yodogawa plant in Osaka Prefecture were about 38 times those for nearby residents, according to a survey conducted by a team including Kyoto University.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Apr 24, 2025
High levels of PFAS found in blood of Osaka factory workers
The levels for seven current and former employees were about 38 times those for residents, with three showing signs of interstitial lung disease.
Microchips are a major source of "forever chemicals¡± that are linked to cancer and other health problems.
BUSINESS / Tech
Mar 14, 2025
As chips race spews ¡®forever chemicals,¡¯ startups emerge to destroy them
A wave of companies are offering potential solutions that won¡¯t cut the chemicals out of the supply chain but destroy them.
Mayor Masanori Yamamoto of Kibichuo, Okayama Prefecture, announces the results of PFAS blood concentration tests on Tuesday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Jan 28, 2025
PFAS blood test results in Okayama Prefecture town exceed U.S. standards
The Kibichuo town government announced the results of its first blood tests after PFAS were detected at a water purification plant in the town.
Ritsumeikan University researchers succeeded in completely breaking down PFAS compounds, often called "forever chemicals" for their persistence in the environment.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Science & Health
Jan 5, 2025
Japanese researchers develop method to break down PFAS ¡®forever chemicals¡¯
Ritsumeikan University researchers succeeded in completely breaking down perfluorooctane sulfonate, or PFOS.
The Self-Defense Forces facilities are believed to have become sources of PFAS contamination because they used firefighting foam containing the toxic chemicals in the past.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Science & Health
Dec 24, 2024
High levels of PFAS found in water from 44 private suppliers across Japan
Among them are five that supply water to Self-Defense Forces facilities.
The Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo in September 2019. An inspection of the base by Japanese government officials on Friday came amid public pressure to investigate suspected links between the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam by the U.S. base and contamination of soil and groundwater in western Tokyo.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Science & Health
Dec 20, 2024
Japanese officials inspect Yokota Air Base over PFAS concerns
The inspection follows a reported leak in August of water containing ¡°forever chemicals¡± outside the U.S. base in western Tokyo.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announces measures to counter the spread of "forever chemicals" in drinking water in the Upper House of parliament in Tokyo on Tuesday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Dec 3, 2024
Japan eyes new PFAS regulations for drinking water by spring
Water suppliers nationwide must upgrade their safety standards to counter the spread of ¡°forever chemicals.¡±
The infrastructure ministry and environment ministry released a survey on levels of PFAS, potentially carcinogenic chemicals, found in drinking water supplied across Japan as of Sept. 30.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Nov 29, 2024
No excessive levels of PFAS found in tap water across Japan
No drinking water suppliers nationwide had PFAS levels in excess of the limit of 50 nanograms per liter of tap water in fiscal 2024.
A resident of Kibichuo in Okayama Prefecture takes a blood test in the town on Monday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Nov 25, 2024
PFAS blood tests start in Okayama Prefecture town
About 800 residents are expected to take a blood test under the program, which runs through Dec. 8.
The government has a provisional target of keeping PFAS levels in tap water at 50 nanograms or lower per liter.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Science & Health
Jun 24, 2024
Government instigates nationwide survey on PFAS in Japan¡¯s tap water
Some 12,000 water providers have been given until the end of September to report on potential water contamination with PFAS.
The U.S. military¡¯s Kawakami Ammunition Depot in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture. High levels of PFAS have been detected in well water around the facility.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Regional Voices: Hiroshima
Apr 15, 2024
U.S.-Japan pact hampers PFAS survey at U.S. facility in Hiroshima
The bilateral Status of Forces Agreement gives exclusive authority to the U.S. forces over the management of their facilities in Japan.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
Intervention is the word after yen moves beyond ?163 and sits there
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Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
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Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.
Summer has arrived in Japan and so have hot sleepless nights
Amid the heat and humidity in Japan, a good night¡¯s sleep is growing increasingly elusive without the heavy use of air conditioning.
Maya Ongaku¡¯s DIY dream is getting bigger
The members of Maya Ongaku ¡ª (from left) Tsutomu Sonoda, Shoei Ikeda and Ryota Takano ¡ª grew up on the Shonan Coast south of Tokyo and have been friends since their school days.

Podcast

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Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

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Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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