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Train Collision with Wind-Blown Shed in Nagano Prefecture Kills One, Injures Two

SUZAKA, Japan, May 22, 2025 — A Nagano Electric Railway train collided with a metal-framed shed in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, resulting in one fatality and two injuries. The incident, which occurred shortly before 6 p.m., is believed to have been caused by strong winds blowing the shed onto the […]

Sukiya to Close Nearly 2,000 Stores Over Rat and Bug Contamination Scandals

TOKYO, March 29 – Sukiya, Japan’s largest fast-food chain specializing in beef bowls, will temporarily close nearly all of its approximately 2,000 stores nationwide for four days starting Monday, following two separate contamination incidents. The company, owned by dining giant Zensho Holdings (7550.T), announced on its website Saturday that a rodent was discovered in a […]

5 Mind-Baffling Myths That Are Commonly Held in Japan

Call them myths, wive’s tales, pseudoscience, or just plain bullshit. Every country has beliefs that fly in the face of science. Take the US, with their anti-vaxxers, climate deniers and creationists. Some commonly held beliefs are less insidious, and even seem credible. For example, if you read in a poorly lit room you will go […]

In Japan You Can Hire a ‘Professional Mourner’ To Cry at Funerals

Imagine standing at a funeral where sorrow hangs thick in the air but the tears aren’t just from family. Strangers, hired to weep, fill the space with wails and songs, guiding mourners through their grief. In Kyoto, Japan, and across parts of Asia, professional mourners, sometimes called “criers” bring a theatrical yet deeply meaningful presence […]

Onionade: Japan’s Unique Onion-Based Drink with a Fruity Twist

Japan is known for its culinary creativity, and one of its most intriguing innovations is Onionade, a refreshing beverage made from an unexpected ingredient: onions. But not just any onion—this drink is crafted using the Smile Ball onion, a special variety developed through over a decade of research. Let’s dive into the story behind this unique drink, […]