Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will prohibit charging with mobile batteries in flight (both powering devices and charging the bank itself) and limit carry-on to 2 per person (160Wh or less) from April 24, 2026. Here's the full breakdown of the new rules aligned with ICAO international standards, what types of batteries are affected, and how to prepare for your trip to Japan.
Japanese companies have maintained the world's lowest ransomware payment rate for three consecutive years. While this "never pay criminals" approach has helped reduce infection rates, evolving AI-powered attacks and new threats present fresh challenges. Explore Japan's latest cybersecurity developments, including the landmark Active Cyber Defense Law.
Japan has approved Elevidys, a $2 million gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, as the most expensive drug ever covered by its public health insurance. How does Japan's universal healthcare system handle the era of ultra-expensive medicines? We explore the challenges, patient hopes, and public debate.
A Norton analysis reveals Japan has the world's highest risk ratio (0.91%) for sextortion scams in 2024. From social media grooming to AI-generated deepfakes, learn how this form of sexual blackmail targets victims — especially children — in Japan, why consultation cases have surged 14x in three years, and what individuals and families can do to stay safe.
Japan's sacred goshuin, handwritten temple and shrine stamps given as proof of worship, are being resold for up to $33 on flea-market apps. Comedian-turned-Shinto-priest Eiko Kano's plea to stop the reselling has reignited national debate. Legally a gray area, spiritually a sacrilege: we explore where faith meets commerce in Japan.
Over 420 wind turbines decommissioned across Japan in 10 years as the renewable energy boom of the 2000s hits a wall. Aging infrastructure and expiring government subsidies are forcing municipalities to spend millions on dismantling. What went wrong with Japan's wind power strategy?
Japan's transport ministry has issued its first-ever guidelines requiring more women's toilet fixtures than men's in public facilities. From highway rest stops with reversible layouts to real-time occupancy displays, here's how Japan is finally addressing the gender gap in restrooms.
Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has significantly strengthened pedal misapplication prevention standards, now mandating pedestrian detection, creep-speed protection, and expanding coverage to light trucks. Based on UN Regulation No. 175 — a standard Japan helped create — these new rules roll out from 2030 for new vehicles. A deep dive into how the world's most aged society is leading global automotive safety innovation.
A Nagasaki University study reveals nanoplastics transferred through the food chain drastically reduce red sea bream larvae survival rates. With microplastic concentrations 27 times the global average, Japan's coastal waters face an invisible pollution crisis threatening fisheries and marine ecosystems.
JR East launches Japan's first cargo-only Shinkansen in March 2026. A former Yamagata Shinkansen E3 Series train has been stripped of all 394 seats and rebuilt to carry up to 17.4 tons of freight at 186 mph. Learn how the "Hako-Byun" service tackles Japan's driver shortage, cuts CO2 emissions, and creates a high-speed logistics link between rural producers and Tokyo.
Japan's abandoned bamboo forests have expanded to roughly 400,000 acres, causing landslides and destroying ecosystems. Taguchi Industrial from Okayama has answered with the "TakeKaruGon" - a domestically-made mulcher attachment for hydraulic excavators that shreds bamboo, large trees, and stumps in one machine. Discover how this innovation tackles one of Japan's most overlooked environmental crises.
