Japan's Finance Ministry upgrades Hokkaido's economic outlook.

The Finance Ministry upgraded Hokkaido's economic outlook while keeping assessments steady for most regions, noting rising consumer budget-mindedness.

Kyoto University discovers breakthrough in chimpanzee urine research.

Researchers found that chimpanzees' urge to urinate can be triggered by nearby urination, influenced by social rank and proximity.

Japan's emperor and empress likely visiting Mongolia in July.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako plan their first official visit to Mongolia in July during the Naadam festival.

Alibaba launches AI model exceeding DeepSeek-V3.

Alibaba launched its Qwen 2.5-Max AI model, claiming it outperforms competitors like DeepSeek-V3, GPT-4o, and Llama-3.1-405B.

Kusatsu Onsen ranked #1 in onsen rankings for 2025.

Onsen are important in Japanese culture, providing relaxation and healing, with Kusatsu, Hakone, and Dogo ranked as top destinations.

Tokyo's Edo-themed hot spring hotel offers fresh seafood.

Tokyo Toyosu Manyo Club offers relaxing hot springs and an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet, creating a unique and soothing experience.

Adult Mint Chocolate beer debuts in Japan, offering unique food pairing options.

Sapporo's mint chocolate beer pairs well with sweet snacks like Pocky, but avoid savory foods like kimchi.

7-Eleven Japan's top product among tourists is a chocolate gummy.

A sweet, overlooked treat, Gummy Chocolate — Shine Muscat Grape, has become a huge hit among foreign tourists in Japan.

Veganism is resurging in meat- and fish-centric Japan.

Veganism in Japan is slowly growing, fueled by environmental concerns and tourism, yet options remain limited and culturally challenging.

Smaller Japanese firms may not hit 2025 wage-increase goals.

Wage increases for smaller companies in Japan may fall short again, risking workers' earnings as inflation persists.

Tokyo cherry blossoms expected March 21.

Tokyo's cherry blossoms are forecasted to bloom on March 21, aligning with historical averages in Japan.

Japan experiences impact of BOJ rate hikes.

After the Bank of Japan raised interest rates, 80% of YouTube comments expressed negative concerns about housing loans and inflation.