Tootfinder

Japan setzt Hochgeschwindigkeitszug für Gütertransport ein
Das Geschäft mit der Personenbeförderung in Japan geht zurück. Die Bahngesellschaft JR East sucht nach Alternativen – und schickt Güter auf die Schnellstrecke.

Japan's Sakana AI launches Sakana Chat, its first consumer chatbot, marking a shift from its business focus as competition to localize generative AI intensifies (Tsubasa Suruga/Nikkei Asia)
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/techn

Sakana AI enters chatbot race with Japan-tailored model
Tokyo-based startup bets on cultural alignment to stand out in crowded field

Jetzt wo ein neuer Streik im öffentlichen Nahverkehr angekündigt wurde, hört man wieder vermehrt die Forderung, dass die Mitarbeitenden der Verkehrsbetriebe doch lieber wie in Japan streiken sollten, also die Leute einfach kostenlos fahren lassen?
Turns out: "Streiken wie in Japan" bezieht sich auf ein singuläres Ereignis, was am Ende auch eher ein PR-Gag der "bestreikten" Firma war.

In #Japan hat das Goto-Konsortium unter Führung von Toda den kommerziellen Betrieb des ersten schwimmenden #OffshoreWindparks des Landes aufgenommen.
Die 16,8 MW starke Anlage vor #Nagasaki

A look at Japan's Team Mirai, a party founded by software engineers that won 11 of 465 parliament seats by promising self-driving buses and high-tech jobs (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/world/asia/japan-ai-politics-election.html…

They Did Deals With Trump to Get Lower Tariffs. Now They Are Stuck. - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/business/trump-tariffs-japan-indonesia.html

"#Japan mit der #Bahn erleben. Ausgefallene Routen, extravagante Züge, Kulinarisches und ein Schuss Geographie“: Aufzeichnung eines Vortrags von Matthias Reich aka Tabibito vom http:…

Surprise, embarrassment, unease in Japan after Trump uses Pearl Harbor to defend Iran war (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/tokyo-us-trump-takaichi-japan-pearl-harbor-iran-war-9b3a60e02d384d1e024094e49c1e7f5e
http://www.memeorandum.com/260321/p47#a260321p47

@… The Prime Minister has the power to dissolve the House of Representatives in Japan, and in most cases a general election (for all seats) is held before the end of the term. This is the largest and most important election in …

https://tabelog.com/en/ wird für die Restaurantsuche in Japan empfohlen. Man solle sich nicht von Bewertungen in den 3-er-Bereichen irritieren lassen, heisst es, da die Bewertenden in Japan höchst kritisch wären.

plant_pol_kato: Kato plant-pollinator web
A bipartite network of plants and pollinators from Kyoto University Forest of Ashu, Japan, from 1984 to 1987. Edge weights represent frequency of interactions.
This network has 772 nodes and 1206 edges.
Tags: Biological, Food web, Weighted
https://networks.skewed.d…

Ever classy.
#NarcissistInChief

Trump mocks Japan about Pearl Harbor in response to question about Iran war
US president was meeting with Japanese PM when he said: ‘Who knows better about surprise than Japan?’

🗾 Japan is betting big on AI. Few workers have used it.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/02/japan/society/ai-awareness-japan-jobs/
🆓

Japan is betting big on AI. Few workers have used it.
Surveys show strong public confidence, despite shallow workplace adoption and unresolved cultural concerns.

"Scientists trace microplastics in fertilizer from fields to the beach"
#Plastic #Plastics #Microplastics

Scientists trace microplastics in fertilizer from fields to the beach
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have studied how polymer-coated fertilizer (PCF) applied to fields ends up on beaches and in the sea. They studied PCF deposits on beaches around Japan, finding that only 0.2% of used PCFs are washed into rivers and returned to the coastline. When there are canals connecting fields to the sea, this rises to 28%.

An idol has left her group in order to contest a seat in the upcoming Japanese parliamentary elections. Nana Matsuura suddenly left "dela" and her agency on January 21, and the following day announced her candidacy for the Aichi Prefecture 9th District seat in the House of Representatives, representing the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin). Her profile describes her as a graduate of Nanzan University's Faculty of Law, and a former IT company employee. She says "I'm 25-years-old, a member of the…

MPA: Japan's premium VOD sector hit a revenue of $7.2B in 2025, up 15% YoY; Netflix leads with 22% of revenue; Prime Video has the most subscribers at 19.3M (Naman Ramachandran/Variety)
https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/japan-streaming-market-7-billion-123666…

Japan's Streaming Market Hits $7.2 Billion, Report Finds
Japan's premium video-on-demand sector achieved $7.2 billion in total revenue during 2025, marking a 15% year-over-year increase, a new report found.

Google invests an undisclosed sum in Sakana AI, valued at $2.6B in November 2025, to boost Gemini's presence in Japan; Sakana AI gains access to Google's LLMs (Min-Jeong Lee/Bloomberg)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/20

The program for the International Symposium on Functional and Logic Programming - FLOPS - is out, and registration is open.
FLOPS 2026 will happen May 26-28 in Tsukuba, Japan - with excellent research papers, and enough time for lively discussions and a hallway track.
See you in Tsukuba!
https://functional-logic.…

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on KEXP's #MiddayShow
Big in Japan:
🎵 Suicide a Go Go
#BiginJapan
https://open.spotify.com/track/0ybKs5gxRjKWPRvy4RY813

So just the other day I found out a vaccine targeting feline kidney disease has entered into trials in Japan last year.
Supposedly, this could enable cats to easily live into their mid to late 20s, which…is kinda amazing, if true.
Here’s a kind of pop-level article about it:
https:/…

Promising New Feline Kidney Disease Treatment Enters Trials in Japan - Catster
An exciting new treatment for feline kidney disease has entered clinical trials. Here's how it works and what we can expect...

Japan: Entwickler kritisieren Apples neue Gebühren
Nach Einführung des Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA) in Japan gibt es massive Kritik. Entwickler fordern ein Einschreiten gegen Apple und Google.
https://www.

A return to nuclear power is at the heart of Japan’s energy policy
-- but, in the wake of the 2011 disaster,
residents’ fears about tsunamis, earthquakes and evacuation plans remain
Activity around the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant is reaching its peak:
workers remove earth to expand the width of a main road,
while lorries arrive at its heavily guarded entrance.
When all seven of its reactors are working, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa generates 8.2 gigawatt…

Japan testet Abbau Seltener Erden aus der Tiefsee
Japan will seine Abhängigkeit von chinesischen Seltenen Erden verringern und sucht nach einer Möglichkeit, sie im eigenen Land zu fördern.
https://www.

aus der reihe "spezielle spezialprobleme in den sprachen der welt" heute: "Verwirrende Wegbeschreibungen im Japanischen": https://japan-almanach.de/blog/verwirrende-wegbeschreibungen-im-japanischen/ 🤪

Japan Expands Whaling as Vulnerable Whales Face Extinction https://www.idausa.org/campaign/cetacean-advocacy/latest-news/japan-expands-whaling-as-vulnerable-whales-face-extinction/

Japan Expands Whaling as Vulnerable Whales Face Extinction
 

The topic has also highlighted the rise of “fictosexuality” and fan culture in Japan, where many young people form strong emotional connections with fictional characters.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht Rising has been postponed from its previously scheduled February 2026 release in Japan due to production circumstances.
Official Website: https://madoka-magica.com/wr/news/?id=69611

New backdoor found in Android tablets targeting users in Russia, Germany and Japan https://therecord.media/new-backdoor-found-in-android-russia-japan-brazil

Ukraine eyes defense partnership with Japan, Zelensky says: https://benborges.xyz/2026/02/20/ukraine-eyes-defense-partnership-with.html

Timeline cleanse.
via @ym.nara_mislin
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIWBzBuvKNf/

Memories of Japan. Man, I miss that country.
▶️ How This Old Man Runs the Last Soba Shop in a Ghost Town
#japan

In Japan, Trump's Pearl Harbor Joke Elicits Scorn and Dismay (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/world/asia/japan-trump-pearl-harbor.html?unlocked_article_code=1.UlA.p49M.qyGSqbGGEUup&smid=url-share
http://www.memeorandum.com/260320/p74#a260320p74

Yes siree, never a shortage of critical cybersecurity news, so check out today's Metacurity for the most important developments you should know, including
--Anthropic case puts courts at center of fight over AI supply chain authority,
--Iran officials tied to cyber ops killed in airstrikes,
--Bennett and Brassard win Turing Award,
--Japan to allow offensive operations starting Oct. 1,
--Tech giants pledge to help open source with AI bug surge,
--Apple p…

Anthropic case puts courts at center of fight over AI supply chain authority
Iran officials tied to cyber ops killed in airstrikes, Bennett and Brassard win Turing Award, Japan to allow offensive operations starting Oct. 1, Tech giants pledge to help open source with AI bug surge, Apple patches WebKit flaw, Chinese hacker group steals $7m posing as a cyber firm, much more

From predator to plate: Japan's bear crisis sparks culinary craze - The Japan Times
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/08/japan/japan-bear-crisis-sparks-culinary-craze/

#Japan startet eine Tiefseemission zur Förderung von #SelteneErden, um die Abhängigkeit von #China zu verringern.
Das Forschungsschiff Chikyu soll mineralhaltigen Schlamm aus 6 Kilometern Tiefe n…

Japan beginnt Tiefseemission zur Förderung Seltener Erden
Japan will seine Abhängigkeit von chinesischen Seltenen Erden verringern und sucht nach einer Möglichkeit, sie im eigenen Land zu fördern.

We Work Stiff
The New Japan Pro Wrestling Character and Storytelling podcast...
Great Australian Pods Podcast Directory: #AusPods

OSM Japan is bidding to host @… 2026 this September! 🇯🇵
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/State_of_the_Map_Asia_2026/Call_fo…

🗾 Is it Really Impossible to Make a Living as an Animator in Japan?
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2026-02-20/is-it-really-impossible-to-make-a-living-as-an-animator-in-japan/.233979

Is it Really Impossible to Make a Living as an Animator in Japan?
There have been numerous horror stories about working as a newbie animator in Japan—namely, the inability to earn a living wage. To find out if this was still the case, ANN met freelance and studio-employed animators, studio heads, and animator-rights advocates.

"Literally translated as “cut hole”, dakou were surplus recordings from the US, the UK and Japan, imported as recyclable plastic after large-scale trade took off in 1992. A dakou CD might have a small hole drilled through its outer rim, and a dakou tape might have an inch-long cut at the edge of its plastic case – but despite the minor damage, most of the tracks remained playable."

Have Money Daddy • EQUATOR
Kafe Hu was a pioneer in the underground scene that made Chengdu into China's hip-hop capital. But what happens when the counterculture blows up?

The amusing part of being in #Japan right now is being able to have a video call home to Vermont and wish my wife “Happy St Patrick’s Day!” …. when it is still the middle of the afternoon for her on Monday, March 16! 😄
Ah, the joys of timezones… and the fact that we all live on a REALLY BIG spinning ball!

If a convoy came under attack from Iranian missiles or drones, the escorting warship would have only seconds to respond.
Similar escort and air defence efforts have already been seen in the Red Sea against Houthi attacks, so there is a working model.
The problem is that such operations consume major resources and are extremely costly if they are to be sustained for every transit.
The danger would not come only from the air or the shore.
Iran could also rely on swarms…

The challenges of securing Hormuz as 6 nations issue joint statement - Naval News
The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Canada issued a joint statement on the Strait of Hormuz. They expressed their readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. As things stand today however, such a task appears to be rather difficult.

Were I a betting person, and of a younger age, I might place a bet on Polymarket that as of 12:01 AM GMT January 1, 2050 that the state of Israel will no longer exist.
I don't think that either el-trumpo or baby bibi realize that in the eyes of a significant part of the world the US and Israel have put on the mantle of Al Queda on Sept 11 and Japan at Pearl Harbor.
On a shorter time scale I have concern that Americans around the this summer may become easy targets for the sen…

Trump, in trying to impress Japan, likened his attack on Iran to Imperial Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. He is directly admitting that he's the bad guy.
#uspol

Watch: Trump compares attack on Iran to Pearl Harbor in meeting with Japanese PM
In a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister, US President Donald Trump was asked why he didn't inform allies about his plan to attack Iran.

"How Japan Lost the Plot on Open Access" @ Katina Magazine
https://katinamagazine.org/content/article/open-knowledge/2026/how-japan-lost-the-plot-on-open-access
"In

ah yes, Japan comes from Japan

Japan to join PURL to buy U.S. weapons for Ukraine, limited to nonlethal equipment: https://benborges.xyz/2026/02/11/japan-to-join-purl-to.html

„Nioh 3“: Japan sehen und sterben
Brutal, aber ehrlich: In „Nioh 3“ von Team Ninja erwartet die Fans ein temporeiches wie schwieriges Actionspektakel im alten Japan.
https://www.heise.de/tests/Nioh-3-Japan-se<…

Sad to hear the news that Dave Farber has died. I’ve been a long time subscriber to his Interesting People list. RIP to “the grandfather of the internet”
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/11/japan/david-harber-obituary-internet/

Pioneering computer scientist and Keio professor dies at 91
David J. Farber was a central figure in the development of early research networks that evolved into today’s internet.

Trump Jokes About Pearl Harbor in Meeting With Japan's Leader (Javier C. Hernšndez/New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/us/politics/trump-japan-pearl-harbor-oval-office-takaichi.html
http://www.memeorandum.com/260319/p76#a260319p76

Musk's Grok AI Faces Scrutiny From Japan Over Sexualized Images | Financial Post
https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/musks-grok-ai-faces-scrutiny-from-japan-over-sexualized-images

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on KEXP's #DriveTime
Japanese Breakfast:
🎵 Slide Tackle
#JapaneseBreakfast
https://tomvr.bandcamp.com/track/japanese-breakfast-slide-tackle-tom-vr-edit
https://open.spotify.com/track/5ksM8r8u4AjMwvtqUif9W1

Meta plans to expand ads on Threads to all users globally starting next week; Threads began testing ads in the US and Japan a year ago (Sarah Perez/TechCrunch)
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/21/threads-rolls-out-ads-to-all-users-worldwide/

Threads rolls out ads to all users worldwide | TechCrunch
Ads on Threads will roll out gradually to users over the coming months, Meta says.

Sources: SoftBank plans to form a consortium to build a $33B power plant in Ohio, set to produce 9.2 GW for AI data centers, as part of the US-Japan trade deal (Nikkei Asia)
https://asia.nikkei.com/economy/trade-war/trump-ta…

SoftBank to form consortium for $33bn 'Trump deal' power plant
Hitachi and Toshiba show interest in Japan's invest-in-US initiative

"Japan finances 130 MW solar project in Tunisia"
#Japan #Tunisia #SolarPower #Energy

With a historic supermajority now secured, the Japanese
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) under Sanae Takaichi stands at its strongest position in decades.
The collapse of the Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA) in the same election has left Japan’s political landscape without its most prominent counterweight.
The question now is simple: what is left of Japan’s opposition?
Running under the slogan “Citizens First,” the CRA tried to appeal to voters with middle-ground messagi…

[Insider] Where Will Japan’s Bruised Opposition Go After Takaichi’s Big Win? - Unseen Japan
PM Takaichi secured a supermajority in the Lower House election as the opposition fractured. What comes next for Japan’s politics?

Weicher Mutterersatz - Verstoßener Babyaffe findet Trost bei Plüschtier #News #Nachrichten

I've often wondered if a Canadian EV "Kei Car" type program would help the country achieve zero emission goals, provide affordable transportation, and reduce grid lock in our cities.
In 1949, Japan created a special category of keijidosha (light vehicles) created for affordability and maneuverability in dense cities. The Kei car quickly became popular despite strict limits on dimensions (length, width, height) and engine displacement (under 660cc). They were given unique license plates for enforcement purposes and had tax benefits for owners.
What if an "Ion" vehicle category was created in Canada:
- must be manufactured in Canada
- minimum 100Km range, suitable for any urban commute
- limited to 50Km/hr
- restricted to street use, not to be used on highways
- size restrictions, perhaps Smart Car sized for personal vehicles, larger for commercial vehicle category
How many city-dwelling Canadians would buy a cheap EV to run errands and give the finger to big oil?
#KeiCars
https://youtu.be/LtTirdKvyeI

Just finished "Pearl" written by Sherri L. Smith and illustrated by Christine Norrie, based at least in part on "Hiroshima in the Morning", a memoir by Rahna Reiko Rizzuto. A concise, wonderfully-illustrated, and fascinating story of a Hawaiian-born girl sent to visit her dying great-grandmother in Japan in 1941 and then trapped there throughout World War 2. I won't spoil things beyond that, but the book digs deep into the horrors of the war on both sides, showing just how cruel the geological ambitions of nations can be to people who belong to both cultures.
#AmReading #ReadingNow

Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan on the Strait of Hormuz: 19 March 2026 (GOV.UK)
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-from-the-leaders-of-the-united-kingdom-france-germany-italy-the-netherlands-and-japan-on-the-strait-of-hormuz-19-march-2026
http://www.memeorandum.com/260319/p65#a260319p65

Heads up, a ton of infosec developments have emerged since Friday morning, so don't miss today's Metacurity for the most critical news stories you might have missed, including
--FBI probes crypto theft linked to malware-infected Steam games,
--Operation Synergia III busts 94 alleged cybercriminals,
--DPRK's Konni Group used KakaoTalk to spread info-stealing malware,
--Japan was hit by 226 ransomware attacks in 2025,
--Chinese attack on Costa Rica'…

FBI probes crypto theft linked to malware-infected Steam games
Operation Synergia III busts 94 alleged cybercriminals, DPRK's Konni Group used KakaoTalk to spread info-stealing malware, Japan was hit by 226 ransomware attacks in 2025, Chinese attack on Costa Rica electricity institute sparks diplomatic row, Intellexa sold spyware to the Greek gov't, much more

once again very intrigued by oshino dead, the annual grateful dead cover band fest in japan next weekend, this year including a one-two punch of dr. acid seven (who hung with the dead in the haight & was the 1st to bring LSD to japan, per one source) & an act called Lstones (a ned lagin tribute?!) #deadfreaksunite

Japan is a one party state. It's Liberal Democratic Party is now represented more in parliament than the Chinese Communist Party is in China.

Japan’s Yogurt Delivery Ladies Serve as a Support Net for Country’s Aging Population https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/japans-yogurt-delivery-ladies-overtime-as-social-watchers-of-the-countrys-aging-population/

Japan's Yogurt Delivery Ladies Serve as a Support Net for Country's Aging Population
A Yakult Lady might work 4 days a week, visiting between 30 and 50 houses, stopping at times to chat and inquire after a person's wellbeing.

Japan to join NATO-led initiative to buy US weapons for Ukraine, media reports: https://benborges.xyz/2026/02/10/japan-to-join-natoled-initiative.html

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTy4y3VDpS0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Japan Daily on Instagram: "Abandoned suitcases are becoming a growing issue at Narita Airport, where nearly 900 pieces of luggage have already been collected this fiscal year—about nine times more than four years ago. Police say around 10% of the bags are empty, suggesting intentional disposal, with storage and disposal costs ultimately borne by taxpayers. The problem extends beyond airports to train stations and public spaces, often linked to travelers avoiding disposal fees after shopping. In response, Narita Airport is testing solutions such as clothing compression machines to help travelers save space and avoid buying new luggage. Retailers and repair businesses are also encouraging reuse through free take-back and resale programs, aiming to reduce waste and promote more sustainable travel habits."
49 likes, 0 comments - japandaily_jp on January 21, 2026: "Abandoned suitcases are becoming a growing issue at Narita Airport, where nearly 900 pieces of luggage have already been collected this fiscal year—about nine times more than four years ago. Police say around 10% of the bags are empty, suggesting intentional disposal, with storage and disposal costs ultimately borne by taxpayers. The problem extends beyond airports to train stations and public spaces, often linked to travelers avoid…

This simple habit could help seniors live longer and stay independent #health

This simple habit could help seniors live longer and stay independent
Cycling might be one of the simplest ways for older adults to stay healthier, longer. A 10-year study in Japan found that seniors who rode bicycles had lower risks of needing long-term care and dying—especially those who didn’t drive. Continuing or even starting cycling later in life still delivered noticeable benefits. The results highlight biking as a surprisingly powerful tool for maintaining independence and well-being.

🐞 New species of ladybird beetle discovered on university campus in Japan
#insects

New species of ladybird beetle discovered on university campus in Japan
University campuses are often places of learning and discovery, but rarely do researchers find a new species living right on their doorstep. However, that is exactly what happened when a research team from Kyushu University discovered a new species of ladybird beetle, Parastethorus pinicola, on a pine tree at Kyushu University's Hakozaki Satellite.

China cites Biden’s message to Xi
that Japan could build nuclear weapons ‘overnight’
Beijing releases 30-page report that includes a call for international community to
‘take concrete and strong measures’
against Japan’s nuclear ambitions
https://…

China cites Biden’s message to Xi that Japan could build nukes ‘overnight’
Beijing releases 30-page report that includes a call for international community to ‘take concrete and strong measures’ against Japan’s nuclear ambitions.

Meta plans to expand ads on Threads to all users globally starting next week; Threads began testing ads in the US and Japan a year ago (Sarah Perez/TechCrunch)
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/21/threads-rolls-out-ads-to-all-users-worldwide/

Threads rolls out ads to all users worldwide | TechCrunch
Ads on Threads will roll out gradually to users over the coming months, Meta says.

Dental hygiene key to predicting mortality, Japanese researchers find - The Japan Times
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/05/japan/science-health/elderly-dental-hygiene/

Anti-piracy hackers set sail to save Japan's manga
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20260119153657004/

Trump ribs Japanese PM on Pearl Harbor in Oval Office talk on Iran (Rachel Frazin/The Hill)
https://thehill.com/policy/international/5791865-trump-japan-takaichi-pearl-harbor-iran-war/
http://www.memeorandum.com/260319/p70#a260319p70

plant_pol_kato: Kato plant-pollinator web
A bipartite network of plants and pollinators from Kyoto University Forest of Ashu, Japan, from 1984 to 1987. Edge weights represent frequency of interactions.
This network has 772 nodes and 1206 edges.
Tags: Biological, Food web, Weighted
https://networks.skewed.d…

International response to Trump’s call for the dispatch of warships has so far proved vague and reluctant,
with countries unwilling to commit to a military response that could prove treacherous for their navies.
Tehran has said any oil tanker heading for the US, Israel or its allies is a legitimate target in the war and will be “immediately destroyed”.
Sixteen tankers have been attacked in the strait of Hormuz since the war started at the end of February
and Iran has…

Sources: Apple and Qualcomm are scrambling to secure glass cloth fiber, used in chip substrates and PCBs, as the AI boom boosts demand for the component (Nikkei Asia)
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/technology/tech-…

Apple and Qualcomm fret over strained supplies of Japan's glass cloth
Surge in demand from AI giants like Nvidia send companies in search of new sources

Japan Approves Stem-Cell Treatments For Parkinson's, Heart Failure In World Firsts - Slashdot
https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/03/07/2249259/japan-approves-stem-cell-treatments-for-parkinsons-heart-failure-in-world-firsts

Kirschblütenvorhersage 2026: https://wanderweib.de/tipps-kirschblueten-kalender-vorhersage-japan/

👩 'Artists of steel': Japanese swords forge new fanbase
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/12/japan/japan-katana-pupularity/
🆓

'Artists of steel': Japanese swords forge new fanbase
Despite the rapidly shrinking population of blademakers in Japan, their fine steel swords known as katana are amassing a new generation of fans, particularly younger women.

In Hong Kong, companies have received “America 250” forms from the U.S. consulate
soliciting donations.
In Japan, companies have heeded the call and committed to tens of millions of dollars in contributions.
In Singapore, the American ambassador pressed for donations before a room full of executives at a dinner at one of the city-state’s most expensive hotels.
The solicitations from the diplomatic outposts come as Trump's allies are aggressively raising money for a…

Like Trump, U.S. Embassies Are Raising Cash for Lavish July Fourth Parties
Some of Washington’s diplomatic outposts in Asia are raising millions for events to mark the 250th independence anniversary. One ambassador offered to sing and dance.

Urban Flexitarians Are Driving Japan’s Vegan Tuna Boom, Says New Report https://plantbasednews.org/news/alternative-protein/urban-flexitarians-japan-vegan-tuna-boom/

Urban Flexitarians Are Driving Japan's Vegan Tuna Boom, Says New Report
According to a new in-depth report by Future Market Insights, Japan’s vegan tuna boom is driven primarily by urban flexitarians

Trump lauds Japan's promise, however vague, to help with Iran (Politico)
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/19/trump-lauds-japans-promise-to-help-with-iran-00836463
http://www.memeorandum.com/260319/p94#a260319p94

Japan prepares for threats – defense budget rises to historic high #shorts: https://benborges.xyz/2025/12/26/japan-prepares-for-threats-defense.html

Approximately 2,500 U.S. Marines are being deployed to the Middle East.

They are part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is based in Japan.
Estimated Arrival
The USS Tripoli, leading the deployment, was seen transiting the Singapore Strait on March 17, 2026.

Given the distance from Singapore to the Middle East, the arrival is expected to take about a week.
Conclusion
The Marines are likely to die in the Middle East around late March 202…

Sources: Tokyo-based chipmaker Renesas agrees to sell its clocks and timing device business to Nasdaq-listed chip design company SiTime for ~$3B (Nikkei Asia)
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/business-deals/japan-s-re…

Japan's Renesas to sell timing solution segment to US-based SiTime for $3bn
Chipmaker divesting non-core businesses after seeing a loss in 1st 9 months of 2025

Sources: Japan's FTC raids Microsoft's Japan offices as part of a probe into whether Azure customers were improperly hindered from using other cloud services (Nikkei Asia)
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/technology/ja…

Japan antitrust watchdog raids Microsoft over cloud services concerns
US software giant's Japanese unit suspected of hampering customers wanting to use rival services

Pika! Pika! Pikachu! 30 Fakten zu 30 Jahren Pokémon
Am 27. Februar 1996 erschien das erste Pokémon-Spiel in Japan. Die Serie begründete das erfolgreichste Medien-Franchise der Welt.
https://www.

Was in Japan übrigens so nebenbei zum Thema gemacht wird:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DSqy86IAJPZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Japan Daily on Instagram: "For the first time in Japan, foreign nationals have begun driving local bus routes under the Specified Skilled Worker program to address severe labor shortages. Tokyo Bus launched the initiative on December 23 in Tokyo and Okinawa, hiring five drivers from the Philippines after long-term training. The company says even higher wages have not attracted enough domestic drivers, making outside talent necessary. New drivers initially operate with support from Japanese staff and are expected to work independently after several months. Industry leaders hope the move will stabilize bus services and ensure passenger safety. Public understanding and continued training will be important as Japan adapts to workforce shortages in essential public services. @YAHOO"
85 likes, 11 comments - japandaily_jp on December 24, 2025: "For the first time in Japan, foreign nationals have begun driving local bus routes under the Specified Skilled Worker program to address severe labor shortages. Tokyo Bus launched the initiative on December 23 in Tokyo and Okinawa, hiring five drivers from the Philippines after long-term training. The company says even higher wages have not attracted enough domestic drivers, making outside talent necessary. New drivers initially ope…

UK activist investor Palliser says Toto, Japan's largest toilet maker, is an "undervalued and overlooked" AI play due to its "advanced ceramics" used in chips (David Keohane/Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/4252e45f-75fb-4dfc-aebe-72de48b7fb…

https://www.instagram.com/p/DUNFbR2AbG9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

VT on Instagram: "In Japan, a new kind of bar is drawing attention for flipping workplace culture on its head. The bar is designed specifically for people who are considering leaving their jobs. Drinks are free, and the focus is not on alcohol sales but conversation. Patrons are invited to talk openly about burnout, frustration, and career doubts, while staff are trained to listen without judgement or pressure. The idea taps into a growing reckoning in Japan around long working hours, rigid hierarchies, and the mental health toll of intense job expectations. Conversations about quitting or dissatisfaction have traditionally been stigmatised, making this kind of space unusual. By removing the cost barrier and offering a supportive environment, the bar aims to normalise discussions about career dissatisfaction and help people reflect on what they actually want from work, even if that means starting over."
34K likes, 169 comments - vt on January 31, 2026: "In Japan, a new kind of bar is drawing attention for flipping workplace culture on its head. The bar is designed specifically for people who are considering leaving their jobs. Drinks are free, and the focus is not on alcohol sales but conversation. Patrons are invited to talk openly about burnout, frustration, and career doubts, while staff are trained to listen without judgement or pressure. The idea taps into a growing reckoning in Japan a…

If there was a moment when the absence of a US strategy on Iran was exposed, then this was it.
Donald Trump demanded on Saturday that the UK, China, France, Japan and others participate in a naval escort for oil tankers through the strait of Hormuz.
Despite launching the attack on Iran, with Israel, the White House does not seem to have fully anticipated what was likely to follow.
Iran had few good military options for fighting back, but attacking US bases, US allies and m…

Japan and the Octopus Trap of Modernity (file under: Takotsubo is not only a cardiac disease)
https://genealogiesofmodernity.org/journal/2021/6/10/cgq5rildc4mxhatmak817jxn3f9bef

Genealogies of Modernity — Japan and the Octopus Trap of Modernity
What we see in Japanese modernity, according to Maruyama, is a national franchise of these “idols of the market place” through the continuous specialization and internal diversifications that multiply these groups. Takeshi Morisato on how Japan became trapped in a hyper-specialized version of mode

Sandisk and Kioxia announce a five-year extension of their JV manufacturing contract from 2029 to 2034; the new deal involves SanDisk paying Kioxia $1.165B (Ryo Mukano/Nikkei Asia)
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/tech/sem…

Japan's Kioxia extends memory chip JV with Sandisk, receiving $1bn
US partner's access to Yokkaichi plant to last 5 more years through 2034

TSMC plans to produce 3nm chips at its second plant in Kumamoto, Japan; sources say that is an upgrade from an original plan to produce 7nm chips by late 2027 (Bloomberg)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-05/ts…