Stories from Japan

As part of Bird Week, children across Ishikawa Prefecture have started a comprehensive survey to find swallow nests. The initiative, supported by the Hokkoku Shimbun newspaper, aims to document nesting sites.

A leader in the Japanese food industry discussed global success, noting that while Italy and the UK might come to mind for food, Japan's culinary contributions have reached a global level. The speaker was identified as Shinomer Ken.

SoftBank Group's mobile unit plans large-scale battery cell manufacturing at a plant in Osaka Prefecture. This initiative aims to address the growing power demand for AI services.

The prestigious 2026 Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race will feature a lineup including Takumi Takahashi, Jonathan Rea, and Johann Zarco. This announcement was made by HRC, confirming their participation in the event.

The Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA) has announced new guidelines for revising automobile insurance rates.

Suda Akari has been appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador for @JAM EXPO 2026, an event scheduled to take place on August 29-30, 2026, at Yokohama Arena.

Despite player suspicions and unmet expectations, Sony will continue to support the game Marathon. The company does not plan to end its support for the title.

A new NPO, 'andNOTO,' has been established in Nakanoto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, to create new ways of living and working in the disaster-stricken Noto region. The organization aims to foster new livelihoods for women in the area.

SAWAMURA and Asahi Kogyo are collaborating on a new strategy to address labor shortages in the manufacturing sector. The collaboration will focus on developing solutions for the industry. Further details on the partnership's initiatives were not disclosed.

Virtual Index is releasing two new singles on May 11: "Liar Wolf Girl" by Shika Yura and "Honest Lamb Boy" by ryuppe. The label has released 40 songs in its first six months of operation.