Seven-Eleven Japan has completed a large-scale overhaul of the store system used by about 21,000 outlets nationwide, five years after the project was conceived. The new system represents a major step in digital transformation, replacing the company’s traditional infrastructure with a cloud-based model designed to enhance efficiency and service. (News On Japan)

The Bank of Japan decided on September 19th to maintain its policy interest rate at 0.5 percent, marking the fifth consecutive meeting without a rate change. The decision, backed by a majority of the Policy Board, comes as the central bank monitors the impact of U.S. tariffs known as the “Trump tariffs.” (News On Japan)

An interactive restaurant called the ‘Future Train’ will open on September 20th in Umekoji, Kyoto. The concept features a futuristic station where a train bound for tomorrow awaits. (News On Japan)

Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama said on September 18th that the city is considering halting new applications for so-called special zone minpaku, or private lodging businesses, in response to a string of neighborhood disputes. (News On Japan)

Marking the 94th anniversary of the Mukden Incident that sparked the Manchurian Incident, China released the film '731' on September 18, which centers on Unit 731, a former Japanese military unit allegedly engaged in the development of biological weapons. (News On Japan)

The Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture held the Ofunashiro Festival on September 17th, a ritual in preparation for the 2033 Shikinen Sengu, the periodic rebuilding of its sanctuary. The ceremony involves felling sacred timber used to make the vessel known as the Ofunashiro, which holds the sacred container called the Mihishiro for enshrining the deity. (News On Japan)

A research group including Okayama University of Science announced in the British scientific journal Nature on September 17th that they have discovered the world’s oldest fossil of a pachycephalosaur, a dinosaur recognized for its thick, dome-shaped skull and often called the “headbutting dinosaur.” (News On Japan)

Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito announced that the prefecture will not host a victory parade for the Hanshin Tigers, citing sharply rising costs compared with the previous event. (News On Japan)

Household financial assets have reached a record high, driven by rising stock prices and the expansion of NISA investment programs. (News On Japan)

Anti-Japan sentiment in China drew fresh attention on September 18, a date that marks both 94 years since the Mukden (Liutiaohu) Incident and the 80th anniversary China frames as its victory in the war against Japan, raising concerns for Japanese residents and businesses. (News On Japan)

Hojo Soun, otherwise known as Ise Shinkuro or Moritoki, was one of the first legendary Sengoku Daimyo, the mighty new warlords who would lead campaigns of ambition throughout the Sengoku period. In this video we examine his story to understand the origins of such an influential leader. (The Shogunate)

For decades, Japan has enforced some of the toughest cannabis laws in the world. A single joint can mean years behind bars, and public figures caught with even trace amounts often see their careers vanish overnight. (News On Japan)

Three men, including the manager of an adult entertainment business, were arrested on suspicion of arranging prostitution for Chinese tourists in Osaka Prefecture. (News On Japan)

Japan Airlines announced disciplinary measures against 37 executives, including President Mitsuko Tottori, after three flights were delayed due to a captain’s alcohol consumption. The move represents an unprecedented action, covering all directors and executive officers. (News On Japan)

About 40 percent of medical clinics across Japan were in deficit in fiscal 2023, according to a survey released by the Japan Medical Association, with 13.8 percent considering shutting down in the near future. (News On Japan)

A brown bear has been captured in Sunagawa City, Hokkaido, where warnings had been issued after repeated sightings, with video footage showing the animal extending its long, sharp claws through a fence and attempting to intimidate the camera. (News On Japan)

Stormy weather swept through parts of Kanto on the afternoon of September 18th, with Ibaraki Prefecture reporting around 20 cases of damage from violent winds and other impacts. (News On Japan)

Persistent extreme heat has upended familiar elements of summer life in Japan, with long-standing traditions such as morning glory observation homework and radio exercises disrupted by high temperatures. (News On Japan)

A mystical sea of clouds spread across Mt. Oe in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto Prefecture, on Tuesday morning, as radiative cooling created a striking dawn landscape. (News On Japan)

The internet is full of companies promising to write perfect essays for students. Some deliver quality work. Others take your money and disappear. Or worse, they send plagiarized content that could get you in serious academic trouble. (News On Japan)