Ramen rule: one person, one bowl.

A ramen restaurant declined service to a couple for trying to share one bowl, emphasizing each person must order separately.

One Piece collaborates with LA Lakers for anime/basketball crossover.

The Straw Hat Pirates will celebrate One Piece Night with the Lakers on February 28 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Low-wage small businesses face labor shortages.

Masato Shiota's papermaking business in Kochi Prefecture struggles with labor shortages, limiting production and threatening its profitability.

Japan startups face longest decline ever as rate hike approaches.

Japan’s startup stocks face record annual losses due to rising interest rates and a weak yen, while broader markets gain.

Tokyo to implement free daycare to increase birth rate.

Tokyo will provide free day care for all preschool children starting in September to alleviate financial pressures and address low birth rates.

Japanese condos now cost 10x average salary, study finds.

New condos in Japan now exceed 10 times the average salary, driven by rising costs and increased foreign buyer interest.

Emergency teams to get unmanned water-cannon robots.

Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency will deploy unmanned water-cannon robots to improve fire response and firefighter safety nationwide.

Donate books in Japan.

During the holidays in Japan, popular Christmas songs and romantic J-pop tunes complement the joy of giving and donating.

Victim of green onion theft in Kyoto turns into a thief of green onions.

A man stole 216 kg of Kujo negi due to failed farming, facing two years in prison for his theft.

Eight must-visit hot springs in Japan recommended by "Professor Bath."

Onsen expert Yasuaki Goto shares eight memorable hot spring destinations in Japan to celebrate Good Bath Day on November 26.

Japanese people frequently search for their ex online.

A Japanese survey reveals many ex-partners search online for updates, often feeling mixed emotions about their findings.

Godzilla art appears on 195-foot dam in Japan.

The Iwaya Kawauchi Dam in Saga features a massive Godzilla artwork created with high-pressure cleaning equipment.