At least 13 people were killed after a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto area of Kyushu, Japan’s main southern island, on Tuesday afternoon. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the death toll. More than 36,000 households remained without electricity, while the affected area lies about 900 kilometres southwest of Tokyo.

Takaichi said rescue operations for missing people continued after overnight efforts. Many people were injured and several remained missing, she said. Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency advised more than 260,000 people to move to safer locations, most of them in Kumamoto Prefecture. Evacuation instructions were also issued in neighbouring Nagasaki Prefecture.

According to an AP report, part of a shopping centre collapsed after the earthquake, with a gas leak initially suspected as the cause. Fire department information said several people were trapped when the second floor of Aeon Mall in Kashima city collapsed. A large chimney also fell at Nippon Paper Industries’ Yatsushiro plant, and Kumamoto emergency rescue teams said several people were trapped beneath the debris.

Japan issued a tsunami warning after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the southwestern island of Kyushu on Tuesday. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake hit at 4:27 p.m. local time and reached a maximum intensity of 7 on Japan’s Shindo seismic scale. About 45,000 households and facilities in the Kumamoto area lost electricity, according to local utility Kyushu Electric Power.

The meteorological agency said tsunami waves could reach up to one metre. Public broadcaster NHK reported that waves of that height may already have struck. About half an hour after the earthquake, an NHK local reporter said shaking was still continuing and was so strong in the newsroom that it was difficult to remain standing.

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said no immediate abnormalities had been detected at nuclear power plants. Kyushu Electric Power said three operating nuclear reactors in the region were functioning normally during the quake. The NHK reporter urged people to remain alert for possible further tremors after describing the initial shaking as too intense to stand through.

Japan is witnessing a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment as mosque construction projects face growing resistance. In Fujisawa city, a planned mosque project in late 2025 sparked strong opposition, with over 32,000 people signing an online petition and raising about 1 million yen to halt construction. Despite meeting all legal requirements, the project triggered protests against the city government. Right-wing politicians and social media influencers have been accused of spreading anti-immigrant rhetoric and false claims linking mosques to crime or cemetery construction.

Japan’s Muslim population has grown to around 420,000, or 0.3 percent of the total population, with about 167 mosques nationwide as of 2025. Burial practices remain a major challenge, as 99.9 percent of bodies in Japan are cremated, leaving few options for Muslim burials. Attempts to establish private cemeteries since 1967 have faced local opposition, though some Buddhist monks have shared burial spaces, creating about ten Muslim cemeteries.

Experts cited by the East Asian Forum note that the lack of central government guidance and Japan’s refusal to identify as an immigrant nation have left local authorities struggling to manage integration and social harmony.

Japan has announced a $15 million emergency humanitarian aid package for people in Iran, Lebanon, and the occupied West Bank. According to a statement from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the assistance will be delivered through international organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The funds will support urgent humanitarian activities such as healthcare, food supply, shelter, safe water access, and sanitation. In addition, Tokyo will provide an extra $640,000 through the Japan Platform to strengthen the relief operations of non-governmental organizations in Lebanon.

The Japanese government stated that the humanitarian support will be carried out in coordination with international partners to address the urgent needs of people affected by conflict and instability in these regions.

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Japan on Friday, shaking parts of the eastern region. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the quake occurred at 12:46 p.m. local time with its epicenter in Chiba Prefecture at a depth of about 50 kilometers. Kyodo News reported that the maximum intensity reached level 4 on Japan’s seven-point seismic scale.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the same magnitude, locating the epicenter about four kilometers south-southeast of Yokoshiba at a depth of 56 kilometers. No casualties or significant damage have been reported so far. The tremor followed another earthquake recorded the previous day, which the USGS measured at magnitude 6.9 near Kuji, about 35 kilometers northeast at a depth of 51.7 kilometers.

Authorities have not issued any warnings or reported disruptions, and monitoring continues for possible aftershocks in the affected areas.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale struck northeastern Japan shortly after two strong quakes hit Venezuela, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred 35 kilometers northeast of Kuji at a depth of 51.7 kilometers. No tsunami warning was issued following the tremor.

Authorities reported no immediate major damage or casualties. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed the government to urgently assess the extent of the damage. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed there was no risk of a tsunami and said evaluations of possible damage were ongoing. He also noted that no irregularities had been detected at nuclear facilities.

Following the quake, East Japan Railway Company (JR East) suspended bullet train services between Shin-Aomori and Tokyo as a precautionary measure. Officials continue to monitor the situation closely.

Japanese football fans, long admired for cleaning stadiums after matches, have come under criticism at home this week. Photos of male supporters tidying up after a World Cup game sparked debate on social media, where many Japanese women accused them of double standards. They argued that men who clean public spaces often leave domestic chores to their wives.

A viral post on X showed a man picking up trash in a stadium beside another image of him relaxing at home while his wife washed dishes. The post urged Japanese men to contribute more to household work, citing OECD data showing women spend over three hours daily on unpaid chores—five times more than men. Government surveys indicate the gap is even wider among couples with young children.

While some users criticized the behavior as performative, others defended the fans, saying their actions promote cleanliness and inspire supporters from other countries, including Portugal, to follow suit.

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) has raised its short-term policy interest rate to 1 percent, the highest level in 31 years, in an effort to control inflation caused by the energy crisis stemming from the Iran war and to normalize its monetary policy. The decision, announced on Tuesday, marks the first rate hike since December and aligns Japan with other major central banks that have tightened monetary policies to combat inflation.

According to Reuters, the BOJ stated that risks to Japan’s economy from Middle East conflicts have eased due to government measures to reduce energy costs and progress in securing alternative energy sources. However, the bank warned that rising energy costs are being passed quickly among companies, potentially increasing consumer prices. The BOJ also noted that medium- and long-term inflation expectations are rising, posing a risk of exceeding its target.

Following the announcement, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose 1 percent to a record high above 70,000, the yen strengthened slightly against the dollar, and 10-year government bond yields increased. One board member, Touichiro Asada, opposed the decision, citing greater downside risks to growth.

Japanese football fans once again demonstrated their unique cultural values at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After Japan’s 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in Texas on Sunday, supporters stayed behind to clean the stadium stands, collecting plastic cups, bottles, and other litter into blue bags before leaving. This act, familiar from previous World Cups, highlighted their commitment to cleanliness and social responsibility.

Supporter Aita Tanaka, aged 20, said that cleaning up after using a place is part of Japanese culture, something learned from childhood. In Japan, students clean their own classrooms, making tidiness and social duty part of daily life. NFL quarterback Jameis Winston also joined the Japanese fans, wearing a blue Japan jersey and helping collect trash. Another fan, Futo Hagiwara, described the effort as a reflection of their values and mindset.

Experts noted that Japan’s collective culture and emphasis on respect for others underpin such behavior. With few public trash bins in Japan, people are accustomed to carrying their own waste, reinforcing personal responsibility. The fans’ actions once again sent a positive message to the global football community.

A sudden appearance of a black bear in Utsunomiya, a city about 100 kilometers north of Tokyo, has caused widespread alarm. Authorities closed 94 primary and secondary schools after the bear was first seen near a park on Saturday. The animal was later captured on CCTV early Sunday running through the city center, and sightings continued into Monday morning near an industrial area. Officials urged residents to keep doors and windows shut, avoid approaching the bear, and seek shelter indoors. Police and local hunters have launched a joint search operation.

Reports indicate that Japan has recorded around 50,000 bear sightings this year, an unusually high number. Although bears are rarely seen so close to Tokyo, recent months have seen several attacks and encounters in nearby regions, including Okutama, Hachioji, and Fukushima. The incidents reflect a broader rise in bear encounters across Japan’s main island, Honshu, where an estimated 12,000 to 42,000 Asian black bears live.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as search efforts in Utsunomiya remain underway.

Dr. Jannatul Ferdous, Associate Professor of Pharmacy at Comilla University, has become the first Bangladeshi to receive Japan’s prestigious Asian Young Biotechnologist Award 2026. The honor was conferred by the Society for Biotechnology, Japan (SBJ), in recognition of her outstanding contributions to biotechnology research. She confirmed the news on June 2, noting that her research focuses on using nanotechnology to enhance the effective application of drugs and biomolecules.

Dr. Ferdous expressed that the achievement brings her immense pride and joy as a researcher. She believes that winning the award through competition with scientists from developed nations will inspire young researchers in Bangladesh. The SBJ will formally present the award to her during its 78th annual conference, scheduled for September 15–17 at Hokkaido University in Japan, with all participation expenses covered by the organization.

Founded in 1923, the Society for Biotechnology, Japan, is a highly regarded international scientific body dedicated to advancing research in biology, biotechnology, and life sciences.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi pledged to further strengthen Japan’s military capabilities while indirectly criticizing China during a security conference in Singapore on Sunday. Speaking at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Koizumi dismissed Beijing’s accusations that Tokyo is pursuing a risky “new militarism,” calling such claims untrue. Without naming China directly, he contrasted Japan’s lack of nuclear weapons with a country possessing vast nuclear and bomber arsenals, questioning the fairness of labeling Japan militaristic.

According to reports from Singapore, Japan under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is moving toward a more active defense policy, gradually departing from its post–World War II pacifist stance with U.S. support. China has repeatedly criticized this shift, warning it could threaten regional stability. Koizumi countered that China is expanding its military power without sufficient transparency, calling it a serious concern for Japan.

Koizumi said Japan will continue enhancing its defense capabilities with high transparency, including in artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, cybersecurity, and space defense. The Shangri-La Dialogue gathered security officials and experts from about 45 countries, though China again sent a lower-level delegation.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi firmly rejected Beijing’s accusation that Tokyo is embracing a ‘new militarism,’ during his remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Sunday. He criticized China’s rapid military buildup and lack of transparency, saying such actions are a growing concern for Japan and the international community. Koizumi argued that Japan, which possesses no nuclear weapons or strategic bombers, is unfairly labeled while others with vast arsenals face no such criticism.

Koizumi emphasized Japan’s post–World War II record of respecting international law, upholding the UN Charter, and supporting a free and open international order. His comments came after China’s foreign ministry urged Asia-Pacific nations to resist Japan’s alleged militarist resurgence. At the same forum, Chinese Major General Meng Xiangqing questioned Japan’s credibility in defense cooperation, citing its wartime legacy.

Koizumi expressed regret that he could not meet his Chinese counterpart but reaffirmed Japan’s readiness for dialogue. He said Japan is determined to play a new role in regional defense cooperation and strengthen deterrence, following Tokyo’s recent easing of its long-standing arms export restrictions.

Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced plans to strengthen the country’s military capabilities despite China’s objections. Speaking at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Koizumi indirectly responded to Beijing’s criticism of Tokyo’s growing security posture, rejecting claims that Japan is pursuing a “new militarism.” He emphasized that Japan lacks nuclear weapons and strategic bombers, contrasting its position with China’s expanding arsenal.

Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan has accelerated its shift toward a more active defense policy, moving away from its post–World War II pacifism with encouragement from the United States. Beijing has repeatedly condemned this shift, accusing Tokyo of destabilizing the region. Koizumi countered that China’s military buildup lacks transparency and poses serious concerns for Japan’s security.

Koizumi said Japan will continue to modernize its defense forces with transparency, focusing on artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and cyber and space defense. He reaffirmed Japan’s identity as a peace-loving nation and expressed regret that no bilateral meeting with Chinese officials took place during the forum.

Japan’s population has fallen by 3.1 million over the past five years, reaching just above 123 million, according to preliminary results from the 2025 national census released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on Friday. The data, reflecting figures up to October 1 of the previous year, show a 2.5 percent decline compared with the 2020 census, marking the largest population drop in the country’s history.

The census, conducted every five years since 1920, confirms that Japan’s population has now declined for the third consecutive time since the first recorded drop in 2015. Among Japan’s 47 prefectures, only Tokyo and Okinawa saw population increases—by 199,000 and 1,000 respectively—though both grew at a slower pace than before. Hokkaido experienced the steepest decline, losing 239,000 residents, followed by Shizuoka and Hyogo.

Despite the shrinking population, the number of households rose to a record 57.12 million, up by about 1.29 million from the previous census. The average household size fell from 2.26 to 2.15, which the ministry attributed to the growing trend of elderly people living alone. Final and detailed census results are expected in September.