Marijuana use illegal in Japan; 7-year prison sentence possible.

Japan’s new cannabis rules legalize medical use but impose stricter penalties, making recreational use and possession punishable by up to seven years.

Japan's new Cannabis Control Act has made some waves. Until last Friday, smoking marijuana itself wasn’t illegal, which sounds wild considering all the arrests like the ramen cook and the college student with a hot dog bun stash. But now it's official: using marijuana is illegal. That means if you're caught enjoying a joint, you’re not just facing possession charges; you can get nailed for actually using it too.

The revised rules let people use cannabis-derived medications, but watch out! Violators can face up to seven years in prison. With a record-breaking 6,703 arrests this year—mostly young people—if you’re thinking about testing these waters, you better think twice. Remember, just because something's legal back home doesn't mean it’s cool in Japan. Check those customs regulations!

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Government creating AI system to find vacant houses.

Japan's infrastructure ministry is using AI to identify vacant houses by analyzing local government data like water usage and resident records.

Man in Japan fired for skipping work 633 times to go to the gym.

Kazushi Kono was fired for skipping work 633 times to exercise at the gym during his shifts over three years.

Can aging Japan embrace digitalization inclusively?

A 76-year-old instructor teaches 17 seniors in Tokyo how to use smartphones in a hands-on session for beginners.

Tokyo assisting teachers with student loan repayment.

Tokyo will support student loan repayment for new teachers and civil servants by covering up to ¥1.5 million to address shortages.