https://news.briefpulse.com/network/ Independent reporting from ten topic desks en 2026-09-14T02:52:22+00:00 https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-f8acf01297 https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-f8acf01297 2026-09-13T22:14:47+00:00 Japan Desk Japan faces earthquakes, tsunami, typhoons and torrential rains, and surveys show toilet access is a central worry for residents when disaster strikes, alongside food, water and shelter. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-f306fe42d8 https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-f306fe42d8 2026-09-13T10:20:53+00:00 Japan Desk NHK reports that Chubu Electric executives are to resign after allegations that falsified earthquake-risk data was provided to Japan's nuclear regulator during safety reviews. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-39fa539cb7 https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-39fa539cb7 2026-09-13T09:11:43+00:00 Japan Desk Echizen Seramika's factory tour in Fukui shows visitors how Japanese kawara tiles are made, and how they are smashed. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-db8b7471e8 https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-db8b7471e8 2026-09-13T05:40:30+00:00 Japan Desk Atami, a hot spring town in Shizuoka Prefecture, has its own mascot character — a middle-aged fairy man who is ready to greet travelers before they have exited Atami Station, SoraNews24 reports. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-40b0dd0282 https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-40b0dd0282 2026-09-13T00:37:18+00:00 Japan Desk Legendary Pokémon statues have gone up in downtown Tokyo and will stay through the fall, while a Legend Research event brings more than 100 Pokémon species to the Tokyo Station area. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-94252389c5 https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-94252389c5 2026-09-13T00:37:04+00:00 Japan Desk Yo-Ho Brewing, the Japanese company behind Yona Yona Ale, developed the "Furatsuku Beer Glass", a U-shaped vessel designed to hold beer in one side. A review of the glass said the drinking session "didn't go quite as planned" and humbled the writers. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-37aeabfac4 https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-37aeabfac4 2026-09-13T00:36:33+00:00 Japan Desk Studio Ghibli's theme park in Aichi is hosting its first-ever nighttime screening, an after-dark outdoor event for Halloween, in the real-world setting for A Night in the Valley of the Witches. SoraNews24 reports a number of special events are scheduled at the park this autumn. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-c2d5330121 https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-c2d5330121 2026-09-13T00:25:42+00:00 Japan Desk Japanese restaurant chain Densetsu no Sutadonya is offering free food for a year to customers who beat a massive meat bowl challenge, SoraNews24 reports. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-b9cd3a8593 https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-b9cd3a8593 2026-09-13T00:20:39+00:00 Japan Desk Two American women attempted to smuggle US$1 million worth of cannabis into Tokyo for a free trip to Japan, SoraNews24 reports. The case points to Japan's strict drug laws, which also restrict common prescription medicines brought from overseas. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-cfaf1665fe https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-cfaf1665fe 2026-09-13T00:20:29+00:00 Japan Desk Starbucks Japan has unveiled its first vending machine, which offers an exclusive coffee drink. The company has worked with Suntory in Japan on canned and bottled Starbucks beverages. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-21a11d287e https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-21a11d287e 2026-09-13T00:20:17+00:00 Japan Desk With this year's Mt. Fuji climbing season over, forestry officials in Shizuoka are preparing to consider whether off-season climbers should register with the government or pay for their own rescues. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-65b9421c0d https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-65b9421c0d 2026-09-13T00:08:30+00:00 Japan Desk The Japan Times reports that Japan's homegrown peppers can deliver more heat than eaters expect, with varieties named "hawk's talons" and "lion's head" described as a popular way to eat more vegetables with a kick. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-baae086e99 https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-baae086e99 2026-09-12T09:21:12+00:00 Japan Desk Reo Morimoto, the Japanese actor and narrator known for his gentle voice, has died at 83, The Japan Times reports. The newspaper says his death was sudden and the cause is unknown. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-e8857e7b8a https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-e8857e7b8a 2026-09-12T09:05:41+00:00 Japan Desk Japan has adopted measures to stamp out an invasive longhorn beetle, with Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara saying the country will use systematic, wide-area pest control to eradicate it. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-4795a784da https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-4795a784da 2026-09-12T08:44:53+00:00 Japan Desk The Bank of Japan is set to raise its policy interest rate to 1.25% next week, The Japan Times reports. The rate last stood at that level in April 1995. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-aa7280881b https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-aa7280881b 2026-09-12T08:33:39+00:00 Japan Desk Japan has designated 18 regions as green transformation strategy areas, The Japan Times reports. The ministry behind the programme will ease regulations on land use and provide subsidies to draw investment from Japan and abroad. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-93b41883b1 https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-93b41883b1 2026-09-12T08:25:16+00:00 Japan Desk Ahead of a vote, Okinawa voters' long-standing anger over hosting U.S. military bases is eroding as acceptance grows for a stronger military to counter threats from China, The Japan Times reports. https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-08793529b6 https://news.briefpulse.com/japan/articles/japan-japan-08793529b6 2026-09-12T07:53:39+00:00 Japan Desk Art fairs in Japan usually bring together hundreds of artists and galleries in one place, removing the distance and making it possible to view and compare a vast array of artworks.