A 37-year-old Japanese woman named Yuka, who co-owns a maid cafe with her daughter, has gained attention online after revealing she gave birth at age 14. According to the *South China Morning Post*, Yuka, now 37, spoke to *Oricon News* about her experience. At 13, she noticed irregular periods but did not realize she was pregnant until her belly grew. She hid her pregnancy … [Read more...] about Japanese Maid Cafe Owner Shares Story of Giving Birth at 14
COVID-19 Infections Surge Again in Japan Amid Heatwave; 80% Linked to Nimbus Variant
September 15, 2025, reports indicate a resurgence of COVID-19 infections across Japan this summer, driven by the Nimbus variant (NB.1.8.1), an Omicron sublineage. The variant, first detected globally in January 2025, has been designated a "variant under monitoring" by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its increased transmissibility, though it does not appear to cause … [Read more...] about COVID-19 Infections Surge Again in Japan Amid Heatwave; 80% Linked to Nimbus Variant
Japan’s Ministry of Justice to Launch Survey on Hate Speech Targeting Foreigners
September 16, 2025, Japan's Ministry of Justice announced plans to conduct a fact-finding survey on hate speech targeting specific ethnic groups or nationalities starting in fiscal year 2026. The initiative aims to assess the current situation amid the growing influence of social networking sites (SNS) and the diversification of targets, with the goal of developing new … [Read more...] about Japan’s Ministry of Justice to Launch Survey on Hate Speech Targeting Foreigners
First Case of Clade Ib Mpox Confirmed in Japan
September 16, 2025, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Kobe City announced that a woman in her 20s, who visited a medical facility in Kobe, tested positive for the Clade Ib strain of mpox, previously known as monkeypox. This is the first time this strain has been identified in Japan. The woman, who sought medical attention on September 12 for symptoms including … [Read more...] about First Case of Clade Ib Mpox Confirmed in Japan
Japan and India Plan to Exchange Over 500,000 People in Five Years
On August 27, 2025, Japan and India announced plans to finalize an agreement for exchanging more than 500,000 people over the next five years. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet in Japan on Friday to discuss this initiative. A key focus of the talks will be increasing people-to-people exchanges. Japan aims to welcome … [Read more...] about Japan and India Plan to Exchange Over 500,000 People in Five Years