Japan

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

Hokkaido and the Japan Sea coast have been covered in thick snow during the strongest cold front hitting parts of the country in years; local flights have been cancelled and train and road connections disrupted

A persistent territorial dispute with Russia over islands off Hokkaido that has impeded a peace treaty could be soon ended: PM Ishiba vowed to give 'priority' to the resolution and resume exchange programs allowing former Japan residents to visit them

Tokyo registered a net influx of around 80.000 people in 2024, nearing the pre-pandemic 2019 level and highlighting the longstanding population concentration in the capital

One year since a powerful earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula leaving at least 500 dead, efforts toward full recovery continue in the hardest-hit areas; some 21.000 residents in Ishikawa Prefecture remain evacuated or in temporary housing

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

The price to climb Mount Fuji could soar and trail gates will close earlier in 2025 if a newly proposed plan is approved; the trails, that now ask hikers a 1.000 yen voluntary donation, will be accessible with a compulsory fee of 3.000 to 5.000 yen

Beloved actress and singer Miho Nakayama, known for having starred in the acclaimed 1995 romantic film "Love Letter," and a string of hit dramas, was found dead in the bathtub of her Tokyo home

A survey released by organizers of “Good Couples Day” — 22 November, as date can be read phonetically as ii fūfu, which means “good couple” — showed that 24% of married couples in their 20s met their partner through a dating app, same percentage as work

A snow crab fetched a top price of 1,5 million yen (around €9.200) in the first seasonal auction held in the port of Tottori, Honshu

Mount Fuji is still snowless as of the end of October, marking the longest period since records began 130 years ago