A powerful earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28th, leaving 3,600 dead and hundreds missing, prompting Myanmar nationals living in Fukuoka City to call for support for their stricken homeland. (News On Japan)

Hokkaido Gas has entered the wind power business for the first time, launching a hybrid power plant that combines wind and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Ishikari, Hokkaido. (News On Japan)

The first auction of the season signaling the arrival of new tea was held on the morning of April 18th at the Shizuoka Tea Market in Shizuoka City, with the highest bid reaching 880,000 yen per kilogram, continuing the trend of high prices into 2025. (News On Japan)

Service on the Suruga Bay Ferry, which connects Shimizu Port in Shizuoka City and Toi Port in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, resumed on April 18th after a suspension of about three months. (News On Japan)

Prime Minister Ishiba has clarified his stance on ongoing trade negotiations with the Trump administration, stating that security and trade are separate matters and that discussions on security should not be linked to tariffs. (News On Japan)

Welcome back to the Ginza Line Walking Tour. This is part 2 of 6. Today, let’s pick up from where we left off—Aoyama-itchome—and walk past the vast Akasaka Imperial Residence toward Akasaka-mitsuke. (Video Street View Japan)

As former U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies—particularly tariffs—once again become a topic of global attention, Japanese citizens are voicing a wide range of opinions. (News On Japan)

The Osaka-Kansai Expo marked its first full week on April 20th, with cumulative attendance surpassing 500,000 and the venue continuing to draw large crowds. (News On Japan)

With over 123 million residents, this island nation ranks as the 11th most populous country in the world. Its 47 prefectures offer everything from snowy mountains to tropical beaches, making timing crucial for travelers. (News On Japan)

Four groups made up of civilians affected by the Pacific War—including victims of air raids, survivors of the Battle of Okinawa, and former foreign BC-class war criminals—held a parade in Tokyo on April 19th to raise awareness about the lack of support for war victims based on their civilian status or nationality. (News On Japan)

A man in his 40s was arrested in Tokyo’s Akabane area for leading a group that organized illegal rides on heavily modified motorcycles. The group, active on social media, would gather and ride together using bikes equipped with flashing tail lights, exaggerated seat designs, and slogans referencing rebellion and anti-social behavior. (News On Japan)

Concerns are mounting over the discovery of illegal radio signals believed to originate from "fake base stations" mimicking cell towers in Tokyo and Osaka, with experts warning of the risk of personal data theft and potential fraud. (News On Japan)

As Golden Week approaches next weekend, one major headache for travelers is the soaring cost of hotel stays. In central Tokyo, a single night can now cost 23,000 yen—not for a luxury or business hotel, but for a capsule hotel. (News On Japan)

Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi has been appointed commander of the International Space Station (ISS), becoming the third Japanese to assume the role. (News On Japan)

Rapidus has begun operating a trial production line for cutting-edge 2-nanometer semiconductors this month at its plant in Chitose, Hokkaido. The launch marks a major milestone for Japan’s domestic semiconductor ambitions and has triggered a surge in land prices, new developments, and an influx of related companies into the city. (News On Japan)

Consumer prices in Japan rose by an average of 2.7% in fiscal 2024, marking the third consecutive year of inflation above 2%—a stretch not seen since the bubble economy era. But despite similar inflation figures, consumer sentiment today is far less optimistic. (News On Japan)

Transportation of a 150-meter railway rail—the longest in the world—manufactured at a steelworks in Kitakyushu City, began on April 18th. The rail will be delivered to Hokkaido over the course of about four days for use in the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension project. (News On Japan)

A factory that converts discarded tempura oil into jet fuel using a world-first method has officially begun full-scale operations in Tahara City, Aichi Prefecture. (News On Japan)

A new treatment for Parkinson's disease using iPS cells developed by Kyoto University has shown a certain level of effectiveness in clinical trials. (News On Japan)

Kobe Airport has launched its first regular international charter flights since opening in 2006, connecting the city with five major Asian destinations—Incheon in South Korea, Taipei and Taichung in Taiwan, and Shanghai and Nanjing in China—with a total of 40 round-trip flights per week. (News On Japan)