According to commerce statistics from Japan’s Ministry of Finance, natto exports reached 5,248 tons in 2025, almost tripling from 1,752 tons in 2017 over an eight-year interval, reflecting a surge in worldwide demand.

China and the United States account for roughly half of complete exports, although shipments now lengthen to a rising variety of nations worldwide.

The Japan Natto Cooperative Society Federation attributes the rising reputation to a world shift towards health-conscious consuming following the COVID-19 pandemic.

While natto was as soon as thought of difficult for international shoppers on account of its sticky texture and powerful odor, perceptions have modified in recent times, with social media taking part in a key position. Videos tagged with “#Natto” and “#NattoChallenge” have unfold broadly, encouraging individuals around the globe to strive the dish.

Another issue driving demand is tourism, as extra guests to Japan encounter natto at resort breakfast buffets and proceed consuming it after returning dwelling.

In response to rising abroad demand, Hokkaido-based meals producer Hokkaido Hamanasu Foods noticed its worldwide gross sales enhance roughly 60-fold over eight years, prompting the corporate to open a brand new natto manufacturing facility in 2023.

Abroad, natto is often transported and bought in frozen kind, as freezing locations the micro organism right into a dormant state with out affecting style or high quality.

Some fanatics have gone even additional, selecting to make natto themselves. Cedric, a resident of France, turned keen on natto after visiting Japan in 2018. Unable to seek out it regionally, he started producing it at dwelling by ordering natto micro organism on-line, fermenting soybeans utilizing a yogurt maker.

He enjoys customizing the dish with components comparable to coriander, garlic, and soy sauce, typically serving it over rice.

As natto continues to realize traction worldwide, inventive variations and recipes tailor-made to native tastes are additionally rising, additional increasing its enchantment past Japan.

Source: TBS

A rising variety of posts on social media function emojis resembling greens and broccoli, that are getting used as slang to point hashish and to solicit drug transactions.

“Premium vegetables ‘broccoli’—social media is flooded with posts using coded language to refer to cannabis,” a reporter mentioned.

The broccoli emoji is alleged to characterize dried hashish, whereas the honey emoji refers to hashish liquid. Terms resembling “hand-push” point out in-person exchanges, and when mixed with a spot identify, they sign a hand-to-hand transaction at a particular location.

“I tried searching using broccoli and honey emojis, and even just 39 seconds ago, there were multiple posts using such coded language,” the reporter added.

According to the National Police Agency, a document 6,832 individuals have been apprehended nationwide final yr for cannabis-related offenses, together with possession and use. More than 70% of these have been of their 20s or youthful, highlighting the rising unfold of hashish amongst youth.

When requested how they obtained details about drug sources resembling sellers, greater than 40% of respondents cited the web, with over 90% of these instances involving social media.

Yoshio Kawachi, head of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Drugs and Firearms Division, famous that sellers often use coded language and emojis when dealing medication on-line.

“There is an intention to lower the psychological barrier for young people by using emojis,” Kawachi mentioned.

He additionally warned that misinformation about hashish is widespread on-line, with claims that it’s much less dangerous than tobacco or has enjoyable results.

“We are deeply concerned that such content is easily accessible to young people,” Kawachi added.

In current years, instances of hashish transactions amongst youthful generations through social media have continued to emerge.

In one case in 2023, six people, together with an 18-year-old highschool scholar, have been arrested in an condo in Saitama City for possessing dried hashish. The group is believed to have recruited prospects by social media and bought the drug.

Middle college college students interviewed mentioned they often encounter such posts.

“Yes, I see them sometimes,” one mentioned. “They’ve been increasing recently.”

As hashish buying and selling continues to unfold on social media, the Metropolitan Police Department has launched consciousness movies and is urging warning.

“With spring break approaching, many people will gather in entertainment districts, attend events, or travel abroad, which can create a sense of openness,” Kawachi mentioned. “However, drugs are dangerous and can ruin lives. It is crucial not to give in to temptation so easily.”

Source: TBS

The affiliation revealed that it’s going to roll out a cashless cost system for non secular establishments referred to as “Omamairi Pay,” enabling guests to make use of bank cards and digital cash to pay for admission in addition to objects akin to amulets.

Kyoto Buddhist Association has been contemplating the digitization of non secular actions for round eight years, and the transfer comes amid a gradual enhance in overseas vacationers, a few of whom have been pressured to forgo temple visits as a consequence of not carrying money.

Nagazawa Shizuyoshi, head of the affiliation’s enterprise division, stated, “While issues such as overtourism remain, we hope to strike a balance and encourage even more visitors from overseas to come.”

The system is predicted to be launched progressively at most temples throughout town, together with Kinkakuji and Toji, with plans to increase participation to non secular establishments nationwide.

Source: YOMIURI

Under present guidelines, people who want to draft their very own wills should write your complete doc by hand and affix a private seal, a course of that has lengthy been criticized as burdensome and outdated, prompting requires reform.

The proposed revision introduces a brand new possibility permitting wills to be created digitally on gadgets comparable to private computer systems and smartphones, reflecting adjustments in expertise and on a regular basis communication.

To stop forgery and be sure that the doc displays the true intent of the person, the invoice requires the particular person to learn the complete contents of the desire aloud to a Legal Affairs Bureau official, both in particular person or by way of an online convention.

Online verification will solely be permitted when accredited by the official overseeing the method.

The invoice additionally contains provisions to abolish the requirement for a private seal, marking a broader shift away from conventional formalities in authorized documentation.

Source: FNN

Rows of umbrellas in numerous colours and shapes, numbering within the tons of and practically overflowing from cabinets, characterize only a fraction of the misplaced property collected. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Lost and Found Center, each the variety of gadgets and their whole worth reported to police in Tokyo in 2025 reached file highs.

Amid this surge, Keio Corporation’s misplaced and located workplace continues to obtain a gradual stream of tourists. People arrive to reclaim a variety of things, from baggage and commencement certificates left behind on the final prepare to umbrellas and part-time job uniforms mistakenly forgotten.

To deal with such instances extra effectively, a web-based search service known as “find,” powered by AI, has been launched, enabling customers to find misplaced gadgets with ease. The service is now being adopted extra extensively.

Akiko Tokaichi, a public relations consultant at discover Inc., mentioned the platform is already in use throughout roughly 3,500 places nationwide, primarily inside transportation networks, with round 10,000 misplaced gadgets registered day by day.

The system works by having station employees or on-site personnel {photograph} discovered gadgets utilizing smartphones and add the pictures to the platform. Meanwhile, people who’ve misplaced belongings can entry the service on-line and enter particulars resembling “white towel handkerchief with a heart pattern.”

Once the data is submitted, AI routinely cross-references the inquiry with registered gadgets primarily based on their options and descriptions. Items with a excessive probability of matching are recognized, and operators then present responses to the person.

This course of eliminates the necessity to name stations or go to in particular person, permitting customers to go looking by way of huge quantities of information just by coming into particulars on their smartphones. The service is on the market 24 hours a day.

Users have praised the system for its comfort, noting that it reduces the burden on busy station employees whereas remaining easy and intuitive to make use of.

By the tip of 2025, a cross-search service may also launch, permitting information sharing amongst roughly 20 corporations, together with Japan Taxi, enabling customers to go looking misplaced gadgets throughout a number of operators.

Furthermore, beginning April 1st within the new fiscal 12 months, the service can be launched at JR East, with plans to increase availability to JR corporations nationwide by 2026.

The misplaced merchandise search service, which is spreading primarily amongst transportation suppliers, goals for additional evolution. Tokaichi mentioned the purpose is to make the system usable in any location the place misplaced gadgets happen, with improved accuracy by prioritizing outcomes primarily based on the probability of a match.

As the expertise continues to develop, the times of feeling helpless after shedding one thing worthwhile could quickly change into a factor of the previous.

Source: FNN

At a lodge recognized for its signature buffet, the supervisor expressed concern over rising procurement prices, noting that costs have elevated by round 500 yen per kilogram since April.

A significant factor behind the surge is the deepening disaster involving Iran, which has contributed to instability in power markets. Footage exhibiting flashes lighting up the evening sky was posted on social media by U.S. President Donald Trump simply earlier than 10 a.m. Japan time, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that the video depicted a bunker-buster bomb strike on a big Iranian ammunition depot.

While the United States maintains a hardline stance and continues negotiations with Iran, Iranian state tv reported that parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rejected Trump’s calls for, and newly launched footage appeared to indicate an American early warning plane destroyed in an Iranian assault, additional heightening tensions.

Against this backdrop, this system visited Miura City in Kanagawa Prefecture, going through the Pacific Ocean, on March thirty first, the place a resort lodge recognized for its pure scorching spring spa is already feeling the results of the disaster.

One space impacted is linen companies, together with sheets, pillowcases, and towels which are changed every day in visitor rooms. The lodge depends on cleansing processes that use heavy oil, and repair suppliers have approached the lodge searching for roughly a ten% worth enhance.

The impression can also be being felt within the lodge’s buffet, a significant attraction that provides limitless contemporary tuna sourced from close by Misaki Port, one in all Japan’s main tuna touchdown websites. According to the supervisor, procurement prices for tuna have risen by round 25%, largely attributable to increased gas prices affecting fishing vessels.

The buffet serves roughly 50 kilograms of tuna per day, and with costs anticipated to rise by about 500 yen per kilogram in April, the lodge faces an extra every day burden of roughly 25,000 yen for tuna alone.

While the lodge doesn’t at present plan to lift lodging charges, the supervisor indicated that changes could change into unavoidable, together with doubtlessly lowering the number of tuna cuts provided on the buffet.

Source: FNN

An on-line assembly involving over 40 nations—together with France and Italy—was held on April 2nd, after which British Foreign Secretary David Cooper introduced a coordinated assertion emphasizing the necessity to guarantee secure and uninterrupted passage by way of the strait.

The assertion known as for stronger worldwide diplomatic stress, together with efforts by way of the United Nations, urging Iran to permit vessels to go with out obstruction and to completely reject the imposition of transit charges on ships making an attempt to navigate the strait.

Amid these developments, Iranian media reported that Iran’s deputy overseas minister stated Iran and Oman are working to ascertain a framework to observe vessel visitors by way of the Strait of Hormuz. The official pressured that the initiative is meant to make sure security, to not limit navigation.

French President Emmanuel Macron, talking on April 2nd, addressed calls from some quarters to reopen the strait by way of the usage of power, stating, “Such proposals are unrealistic and not an option we support.”

Macron additionally responded to remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump, who had steered in a speech that international locations importing oil needs to be accountable for securing the strait, emphasizing the necessity to obtain a ceasefire as shortly as potential and to pursue a diplomatic decision.

He additional criticized Trump, saying that “he should not make contradictory statements every day.”

Source: TBS