A strong magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off northeastern Japan. Authorities recorded the quake on Monday, April 20, 2026. It hit at 4:53 p.m. JST in the Pacific Ocean. The epicenter lay near Iwate Prefecture. Therefore, emergency responses activated immediately across the region. Tsunami
In Japan, nearly 98% of adoptions involve adult men. Most adoptees are in their 20s and 30s. This unique system ensures continuity of family names and businesses. Therefore, adoption focuses on capability rather than biological lineage. Understanding the Mukoyōshi System The most common practice is mukoyōshi, meaning adopted son-in-law. In this system, families adopt a
A surprising wildlife encounter brought Japan’s busiest bullet train line, the Tokaido Shinkansen, to a standstill on Wednesday evening. A one-meter-long snake wrapped itself around an overhead power line between Maibara and Gifu-Hashima stations, causing a power outage that halted services between Tokyo and Osaka for over 90 minutes. The incident occurred at approximately




