The heavy U.S. military presence on Okinawa island has seen pushback from locals, especially over crimes committed by some American troops. Triggering tensions further, another U.S. marine has been arrested in Okinawa within a month's span.


Japan asks U.S. to enforce discipline after 2nd Marine arrest within a month

Japan’s anime industry has reached a new milestone, with the market growing to a record 4.45 trillion yen, or about $36 billion, in 2025. The industry crossed the 4 Trillion yen mark for the first time, underlining how Japanese animation has evolved from a domestic entertainment product into a major global content business.


Japan's Anime industry hits record high as global demand soars 

The United States and its ally Japan have finalised an agreement to establish a final assembly and inspection facility in Japan for the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile or AMRAAM. The joint effort designated as 'Operation Supercharge' aims to scale up production and alleviate strained global missile stockpiles. The move is significant as experts view it as America's measure to counter China's growing aggression in the South China Sea. The missiles are essential armaments for the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets operated by both the U.S. and Japanese militaries.   


Amid China's growing aggression in South China Sea, Japan-U.S. to produce F-35 missiles | Gravitas

China-Japan air travel is facing a major setback as diplomatic tensions over Taiwan trigger a sharp reduction in flights between the two countries. Nearly 7 lakh airline seats have reportedly been cut, raising concerns over the impact on tourism, business travel and airline operations. The disruption highlights how the growing China-Japan rift is spilling over into aviation and people-to-people exchanges.


China-Japan flights slashed amid tensions; nearly 7 lakh airline seats cut

In a major vote of confidence on Indian defence capabilities, Japan is now mulling the possibility of using India's missile ranges for testing its long-range missiles as well as attack drones. Japanese officials visited India in this regard earlier this month.


Japan turns to India to test its long-range missiles & attack drones

Japan has launched a spacecraft on an ambitious mission to explore the mysterious moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos. The mission aims to uncover the origins of these two small, enigmatic moons and provide new insights into the formation and evolution of the Martian system.

Japan launches spacecraft to mysterious moons of Mars

A Japanese spacecraft was on its way to one of Mars's moons on a world-first mission to retrieve samples, potentially helping unlock the origins of the Solar System and life on Earth. The probe intends to touch down, scoop up ancient rock samples and return it to Earth laboratories by 2031. These samples could definitively prove if Mars was once wet, fertile, and alive.

Mission to bring alien rocks to earth: Wildest deep space heist in human history

A U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan, has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 39-year-old Japanese woman at a hotel in Naha, police said. The suspect was identified as 20-year-old Lance Cpl Devin Jacob Ballard. Police allege he also stole the woman’s wallet and backpack.

Japan: 39-year-old woman allegedly killed by US marine

Aamir Khan’s 2025 film Sitaare Zameen Par is set to release theatrically in Japan in spring 2027. The release marks the actor’s return to Japanese cinemas nearly a decade after his previous film’s Japan release.


Aamir Khan is returning to Japanese cinema after nine years 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is reportedly seeking a phone call with Donald Trump after his references to the US-China wartime alliance during Xi Jinping’s White House visit sparked unease in Tokyo. The remarks have raised questions over Japan’s approach to ties with China.

Reports: Takaichi considering calling Trump after Xi's visit

Japan's 90-year-old Bodybuilder Toshisuke Kanazawa is Still Winning National Titles and He Says He Isn't Done Yet.

Toshisuke Kanazawa wins title day after turning 90

Indian and Japanese fighter jets trained together at Air Force Station Jodhpur during bilateral Exercise Veer Guardian 2026. The exercise featured India’s Tejas, Rafale and Su-30MKI alongside Japan’s F-2 fighter jets and ran from September 9 to September 22.

Tejas Rafale Su-30 and F-2 fighters train together at Jodhpur 

Typhoon Dujuan has left a trail of destruction across Japan, triggering evacuation advisories for over 1.6 million people and claiming four lives. Japan Airlines and ANA cancelled 275 flights Monday alone, while even the Tokyo-Osaka bullet train was suspended mid-storm. Floodwaters swamped Kamakura's iconic station, and the storm forced an early close to the Tokyo Game Show. With rainfall through Tuesday threatening to break Japan's entire September monthly record, Dujuan, the country's 25th typhoon this year, is a stark reminder that storm season is far from over.


Typhoon Dujuan batters Japan with torrential rain

History will be made in Tochigi as reigning T20 World Champions India step onto the field against 41st-ranked Japan for their first-ever men's senior T20 International. Played under the landmark Suzuki Cup and marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations, this match gives local fans a front-row seat to world-class cricket right on Japanese soil. Led by Shreyas Iyer, the Men in Blue combine high-octane warm-up action for the Asian Games with a mission to inspire a rising cricket culture in a nation famously dominated by baseball.


India faces 41st-ranked Japan at Sano International ground in the Suzuki Cup 

Typhoon Dujuan is battering Japan's Pacific coast, forcing at least 275 flight cancellations as it nears Tokyo with 144 km/h winds. Japan's Meteorological Agency warns total rainfall through Tuesday could break September records, with up to 200mm expected in the Kanto region. The storm has already knocked out power for over 4,000 households in Chiba, killed one person in Miyazaki, forced evacuation orders, and cut short the Tokyo Game Show, one of the world's biggest gaming expos, by a day.


Typhoon Dujuan nears Tokyo: Record rainfall warning as 275+ flights cancelled 

Japan's aging crisis just hit a new milestone, people aged 65 or older now make up a record 29.6% of the population, totaling 36.24 million, the highest share among any country with over 40 million people. That's ahead of Italy (25.6%) and Germany (24.2%). The data, released ahead of Japan's Respect for the Aged Day, also shows a record 9.43 million elderly Japanese still working, as the country continues grappling with a shrinking, aging workforce and rising welfare costs.


Japan's senior population hits record 29.6%, with over 36 million now aged 65 or older

Japan has crossed a landmark demographic threshold as its centenarian population surpassed 100,000 for the first time. Data released by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare showed the number of people aged 100 and above reached a record 107,677, rising by 7,914 from the previous year. Women constitute roughly 88% of the cohort, reflecting Japan's high life expectancy. The milestone underscores both Japan's healthcare success and severe fiscal pressures from a rapidly ageing and shrinking population.   


Japan's population could fall to 87 million by 2070

Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan has announced plans to charge hikers for emergency helicopter rescues on Mount Fuji during the off-season starting in September 2027. Aimed at curbing reckless and ill-equipped ascents on Japan's highest peak, authorities plan to base the fee on fuel costs—charging around 8,000 yen ($52) for every five minutes of flight time. Climbers above the 6th station will also be mandated to submit advance climbing plans or face full operational charges if rescued.  


Japan to charge unprepared Mount Fuji climbers $51 every 5 minutes

North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea early Saturday, just a day after the US, South Korea and Japan wrapped up five days of joint naval drills, exercises Pyongyang has long condemned as a security threat. The missiles, fired from the Wonsan area, flew about 250 km toward the East Sea. South Korea's military said it's closely sharing information on the launches with the US and Japan, and held an emergency security meeting following the incident.

North Korea fires ballistic missiles: Following US-S Korea-Japan drills

Japan and West Bengal are looking to strengthen economic ties following high-level discussions between Japanese officials and state representatives. Talks focused on boosting Japanese investment, expanding cooperation in renewable energy and addressing electricity tariff concerns. Both sides also explored the possibility of direct flight connectivity, a move that could enhance business, tourism and cultural exchanges. The discussions reflect growing interest in deepening Japan's engagement with one of eastern India's key economic hubs.


Japan eyes bigger West Bengal bet as talks focus on investment and connectivity

The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games have officially begun with Qatar defeating Iran 59–35 in men’s basketball, nine days before the opening ceremony. The 20th edition of the Games runs until October 4, featuring more than 17,000 participants across 43 sports.

Asian Games events underway nine days prior to opening ceremony

Japan has strongly protested Russia’s unveiling of a 15-metre Soviet soldier monument in Khabarovsk, saying the statue’s imagery is deeply offensive. The monument depicts a Soviet soldier smashing a border marker bearing Japan’s imperial chrysanthemum crest and commemorates the Soviet victory over Japan in 1945. 

Japan’s protest over Russian soldier statue aggravates tensions

Japan has issued its highest Level 5 flood warning in parts of Aichi and Gifu as torrential rain causes severe flooding. Nagoya recorded a record 104.5 mm of rainfall in one hour, while flooded roads, underpasses and underground areas prompted residents to seek safer, higher locations.

Japan flood: Heavy rains raise flooding, Landslide threat

Japan is facing severe flooding after heavy rainfall, with a Level 5 emergency flood warning issued in affected areas. Water leaks have also been reported at a venue in Nagoya linked to the upcoming Asian Games, raising concerns over infrastructure and safety as authorities respond to the worsening weather conditions.

Japan floods: Level 5 flood warning issued, Water leaks reported at Nagoya Asian Games venue 

North Korea has issued a strong warning to Japan, threatening what it described as “enormous misfortune” amid rising tensions between the two countries. The warning adds to growing concerns over security in East Asia and the broader tensions involving North Korea, Japan and the region.

North Korea warns Japan of enormous misfortune

South Korea, Japan and the United States have joined forces in a fresh military drill aimed at strengthening deterrence against North Korean threats. The exercise highlights growing security cooperation among the three allies as tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high. With Pyongyang closely watching military activity in the region, what message are Seoul, Tokyo and Washington sending to North Korea?

S. Korea, Japan, U.S. Military drill to enhance deterrence to North Korean threats 

Japan is tightening immigration rules for foreign residents, raising concerns among businesses and workers as the country faces an urgent need to replenish its workforce.

Japan raises cost of permanent residency

Japan's first female PM is about to make her first big power move. Sanae Takaichi is expected to reshuffle her Cabinet and the LDP's executive lineup as early as September 16 — her first shake-up since taking office last October, and likely her last chance to reset before facing an internal leadership race in 2027. The timing hinges on her political calendar: a tax reform package, the Okinawa governor's election on September 13, and a UN General Assembly trip.


Japan PM Takaichi expected to undertake cabinet reshuffle in next two weeks

For decades, Japan's postwar identity was defined by pacifism. But growing security challenges in East Asia are driving a dramatic military transformation. Tokyo is investing heavily in drones, advanced missiles, artificial intelligence, and next-generation defense systems as it seeks to strengthen its deterrence capabilities. Supporters argue the shift is necessary in an increasingly volatile region, while critics warn it marks a significant departure from Japan's postwar principles.


Drone 40 loitering munition - Japan’s new precision weapon 

Japan’s demographic crisis is reaching critical levels as official government data reveals that nearly one in every four men and one in seven women remain unmarried by age 50. According to a landmark report from the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, the proportion of never-married 50-year-olds hit a record high. Experts attribute the surging trend to declining social pressure and widespread financial insecurity, driven by an increase in non-permanent, unstable jobs. With marriage rates plummeting, Japan faces severe challenges as its fertility rate drops further, threatening future economic productivity and straining national healthcare systems.

Japan’s birthrate crisis deepens: 1 in 4 Japanese men unmarried at 50 

Russia has warned Japan over the deployment of U.S. Typhon missile systems, calling the move unacceptable and a threat to Russian security. Moscow is demanding that Japan return to its pacifist policy as the U.S. and Japan prepare for joint military exercises involving the long-range system.

Russia sees red over deployment of Typhon missile system

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