Authorities arrest man over AI-generated celebrity porn
Police have arrested a man suspected of using generative AI to create more than 500,000 obscene images resembling women celebrities and selling them online, a police spokesman and media reports said.
Tourism hits record high despite China rift
A record number of tourists flocked to Japan in 2025, officials said despite a steep fall in Chinese visitors in December as a diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo rumbled on.
Panda-less period to begin after 50-year run
Two hugely popular pandas at a Japanese zoo will depart on Jan 27 to join their sister in China, the Tokyo government and media said, leaving Japan panda-less for the first time in half a century.
Uber’s quest to crack Japan leads through a rural hot-springs town
The ride-hailing giant's chief executive has made a bet on how it can finally grab a bigger piece of one of the world's largest taxi markets.
PM Takaichi to dissolve Parliament
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said she will dissolve Parliament on Friday and call a national election to seek voter backing for increased spending and a new security strategy expected to accelerate the country's defence build-up.
Takaichi mulls halting sales tax on food
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering a pledge to suspend the sales tax on food as part of her campaign for a general election next month, the Mainichi newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources.
Probe into Grok AI service over inappropriate images
The country said that it has become the latest nation to probe X over Elon Musk's artificial intelligence service Grok, stating that the government would consider every possible option to prevent the generation of inappropriate images.
New ‘centrist’ political party formed
THE nation's main opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and Komeito have agreed to establish a new political party, their leaders said, in an attempt to present a united front against ruling parties that they see as too right-leaning.
Takaichi poised to call snap election in February
The country's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will inform senior party officials of her plan to call a general election to capitalise on strong public support for her government, media reports said.
Drumming up harmony with K-pop hits
The Japanese and South Korean leaders leaders agreed to deepen cooperation between their countries before surprising everyone with a cultural exchange during a jam session drumming to K-pop hits.
