Ichiro Suzuki elected to Baseball Hall of Fame.

Ichiro Suzuki was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year but missed unanimous selection by one vote.

Rakuten's Tokyo robot delivery service meets some expectations while falling short in others, but is still charming.

Rakuten has launched robot coffee deliveries in Tokyo, offering a unique and convenient service, though humans accompany the robots for now.

Japan expanding employee pension program for part-timers.

Japan will expand kosei nenkin pension participation for part-time workers by lowering company size thresholds and income requirements by 2029.

Japan's national wealth reaches ¥4,158 trillion by end of 2023.

National wealth reached a record high in 2023, growing to ¥4,158.4 trillion due to rising land and stock prices.

Japan advocates drug education to combat cannabis abuse.

Japan's new cannabis laws impose up to seven years in prison for marijuana use, targeting rising abuse among youth.

Man dies before ruling on sexual assault case involving multiple women.

A 76-year-old man, Hirohito Shibuya, died before a court ruling on his sexual assault case, suspected of suicide.

Japan to reveal names of harmful AI companies.

The Japanese government plans a bill to disclose businesses using AI for malicious purposes while avoiding penalties to support competitiveness.

Pikachu recharges with new adorable Pokémon Sketch T-shirts by Pokémon and Uniqlo.

Uniqlo unveils a cozy Pokémon T-shirt collection featuring adorable designs, including a recharging Pikachu, for kids and adults.

New Japanese maid cafe requires maids to be 65+.

Maid Cafe Shangri-La, unique for hiring maids aged 65 and older, attracts diverse customers from various age groups.

Women’s empowerment in Japan progressed significantly in 2024, with increased representation in leadership roles and enhanced policies supporting gender equality.

In 2024, Japanese women achieved notable advancements in law, representation, and awards, but still face significant challenges in empowerment and equality.

New Era's hat collection merges modern styles with classic Japanese paintings.

New Era has collaborated with the Tokyo National Museum to create caps inspired by famous Japanese artworks, available starting January 23.

Cedar pollen is in the air in Tokyo.

Cedar pollen was reported in Tokyo on January 8, the earliest since 1985, prompting officials to advise on hay fever prevention.