About 100 babies took part in a ritual called "crying sumo contest" on Saturday at a shrine in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto.

The Kitano Tenmangu shrine began the annual event 2 years ago, praying…

posted by  Yubi | 8 years, 1 month ago | 1 comment

A Japanese hot spring resort is providing a rare chance for visitors to enjoy 3 days of spa and amusement park attractions simultaneously.

The "spamusement" park opened on Saturday in the city of Bep…

posted by  Yubi | 8 years, 1 month ago | 2 comments

Japan's government has set a goal of cutting suicide rates by 30 percent over the next decade.

The Cabinet approved new guidelines on comprehensive measures to prevent suicide on Tuesday.

Government …

posted by  Tanuki | 8 years, 1 month ago | 0 comments

Hundreds of people were taken to hospitals across Japan with symptoms of heatstroke on Sunday, as the intense hot weather continues.

Fire departments and police say at least 846 people received medic…

posted by  Tanuki | 8 years, 1 month ago | 0 comments

In Sunday's Tokyo metropolitan assembly election, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike's new regional party and candidates supporting her have secured a majority in the assembly. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's L…

posted by  Tanuki | 8 years, 2 months ago | 2 comments

Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto has many tourist attractions to offer, from its historic sites to scenic landscapes, and is now adding a new one to its list — the world’s first Starbucks coffee shop…

posted by  Yubi | 8 years, 2 months ago | 1 comment

Farmers in Kagawa Prefecture, western Japan, have started shipping square watermelons across the country.

Such watermelons were first developed by farmers in the district of Fudeoka in the city of Ze…

posted by  Yubi | 8 years, 2 months ago | 1 comment

Rainy and humid June is the calm before the storm. That is, in terms of events and activities, it’s relatively quiet compared to May (what with its spring festivals) and July, which marks the start o…

posted by  Tanuki | 8 years, 3 months ago | 0 comments

People across Japan sweated it out in summer-like conditions, with temperatures on Saturday surpassing 30 degrees Celsius in some areas. Most observation points recorded their highest temperatures of…

posted by  Tanuki | 8 years, 3 months ago | 1 comment

Japan's Meteorological Agency says it appears the annual rainy season has begun in Okinawa and the Amami islands in the southwest.

The agency made the announcement on Saturday morning.

Officials at t…

posted by  Tanuki | 8 years, 4 months ago | 1 comment