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 bowl … [Read more...] about Sukiya to Close Nearly 2,000 Stores Over Rat and Bug Contamination Scandals
Top 10 Most Popular YouTubers in Japan
Picture this: a beatboxer turns a Super Mario tune into a viral sensation, a guy in a Spider-Man suit mimes his way to millions, and a former salaryman makes fruit explode for laughs. Welcome to Japan’s YouTube scene in 2025, where creativity isn’t just king—it’s the whole kingdom. With a projected 97.62 million users this year (per Statista), Japan’s YouTube obsession spans … [Read more...] about Top 10 Most Popular YouTubers in Japan
10 Best Japanese Umeshu Plum Wine
Imagine a drink that dances on your palate with a harmonious blend of sweet and tart, a beverage steeped in centuries of tradition yet endlessly adaptable to modern tastes. That’s umeshu, Japan’s beloved plum wine, a liqueur with roots stretching back to the Heian period (794-1185). Crafted in early summer from unripe ume plums soaked in alcohol and sugar, this versatile drink … [Read more...] about 10 Best Japanese Umeshu Plum Wine
Fukuoka city worker with ‘loud voice’ punished for alleged ‘power harassment’
Fukuoka, March 25, 2024 – A high-ranking official in the Fukuoka Municipal Government has been disciplined with a six-month salary reduction following multiple complaints of workplace harassment. The 56-year-old Environment Bureau chief received a 10% pay cut after investigators confirmed allegations of intimidating behavior toward subordinates, including aggressive glaring, … [Read more...] about Fukuoka city worker with ‘loud voice’ punished for alleged ‘power harassment’
Man Arrested for Abandoning Deceased Father’s Body Over Funeral Costs
Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture — A 38-year-old man was arrested on March 25 for allegedly abandoning his father’s body for nearly two months, citing an inability to pay for funeral expenses, authorities said. Hajime Kikuchi, a resident of Shiki in Saitama Prefecture, is accused of leaving the remains of his 69-year-old father, Hiroshi Kikuchi, inside the elder man’s home in … [Read more...] about Man Arrested for Abandoning Deceased Father’s Body Over Funeral Costs