The British Museum's first-ever "Samurai" exhibition ran February 3 to May 4, 2026 in London. Featuring around 280 objects from 29 lenders worldwide, including armor gifted by the Tokugawa family to Queen Victoria, contemporary art by Tetsuya Noguchi, and video game tie-ins with Assassin's Creed and Nioh 3, this sweeping show traced 1,000 years of warrior myth and reality. Here's everything you need to know, plus Japanese public reactions.
Japan's Jomon-era lacquerware dates back 9,000 years—the world's oldest. Its pottery reaches 16,000 years. The Sannai-Maruyama site's six-pillar structure reveals precision measurement at 4.2m intervals, while Tatara ironmaking produced ultra-pure steel still unmatched today. Discover how DNA analysis, LiDAR, and cutting-edge science are decoding ancient Japan's astonishing lost technologies.
Japan's latest marine science is overturning long-held beliefs about fish. DNA analysis has dismantled the massive order Perciformes, nanoplastics are dramatically reducing fish larval survival rates, and a world-first observation reveals shortfin mako sharks "warming up" before deep dives. From environmental DNA survey revolutions to new species discoveries, explore cutting-edge fish ecology research from one of the world's most biodiverse marine regions.
A joint research team from SOKENDAI and Peking University has revealed that cave lions (Panthera spelaea) roamed widely across the Japanese archipelago tens of thousands of years ago. DNA analysis of fossils previously thought to be tigers confirmed their true identity, unveiling a lost ecosystem where lions coexisted with Naumann's elephants and giant deer.
Japan's print book and magazine sales fell below ¥1 trillion for the first time in 50 years. Yet major publishers are posting strong profits through digital, IP licensing, and gaming ventures. Crisis or evolution? A deep dive into Japan's publishing transformation with Japanese public reactions.
In its December 2024 update, the Oxford English Dictionary added 11 words of Japanese origin, including yokai, senpai and mottainai. With anime and manga spreading worldwide, Japanese is gaining influence in English. Here are all 11 words and the culture behind them.
Japan's National Treasure "Prince Shotoku Illustrated Biography" (1069 CE) is now free to view online with ultra-high-definition 3.6 billion pixel images. Available in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. This groundbreaking digital archive project launched in January 2026 lets you explore details invisible to the naked eye from anywhere in the world.
Ruby creator Yukihiro Matsumoto (Matz) warns against the "juniors are unnecessary" narrative in the AI era. If training opportunities for young engineers disappear, technical knowledge transfer will cease, leaving the IT industry a "scorched earth." Exploring Japan's IT talent challenges and global trends.
In a taxonomic twist, the Japanese sea bass (Suzuki) has been reclassified out of the Perciformes, the order named after it in Japanese. Thanks to advances in molecular phylogenetics, this massive fish order containing over 10,000 species is being dismantled. Discover how DNA analysis is rewriting what we know about fish evolution.
The Duolingo English Test introduces "Ear Scan" technology that uses machine learning to detect hidden wireless earbuds and audio devices, helping keep online testing fair for university admissions worldwide.
Japan's Tsukuba Botanical Garden has achieved artificial pollination of Welwitschia mirabilis (Kisoutengai), a "living fossil" from Namibia's desert, and collected seeds. Discover the extraordinary biology of a plant that grows only two leaves over a lifespan said to exceed 2,000 years, and why ex-situ conservation matters as climate change threatens its range.
