Despite the first recorded cases of Covid infections in the Olympic village, the captain of the Japanese men's football team has called for a reconsideration of the ban on spectators with the games opening in 4 days

A bill to tighten regulations on host clubs was approved, aiming to curb abusive practices that force female patrons into prostitution and will now be submitted to parliament; 2.776 official reports in 2024 of such exploitation have drawn public outcry

Guinness World Records has officially recognised Shitsui Hakoishi as the world's oldest professional barber: the Japanese woman, 108-years-old, stated that she plans to retire when she turns 110

Emperor Naruhito, first emperor born after the war, and Empress Masako will visit Hiroshima and war-related sites in 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and pass on the tragic memories to young generations in the pursuit of peace

A government-commissioned panel of experts largely supported the proposed new energy policy that calls for bolstering renewables up to half of electricity needs by 2040 while maximizing use of nuclear sources to accommodate Japan's growing power demand