Japanese researchers just found that drinking seven cups of green tea daily cuts liver cancer risk by 40 percent. A research team from Osaka University tracked approximately 42,000 Japanese men and women aged 40 to 79 over an average of 18 years in one of the largest studies of its kind. The results showed that people who drank seven or more cups of green tea daily had a dramatically lower risk of developing liver cancer compared to those who drank less than one cup. Drinking two to six cups also showed a downward trend in risk, but the statistical difference only became clear and significant at seven cups or more. Scientists say the key ingredient is a polyphenol called tea catechin, particularly EGCG, which has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that suppress cancer cell growth and promote the natural death of abnormal cells. Minerals found in green tea such as manganese may also help protect liver cells from damage over time. Liver cancer ranks among the leading c...

  Japan's own people are being ignored as Prime Minister Takaichi defies an overwhelming public majority on one of the country's most personal debates. A new poll shows 80 percent of Japanese citizens support allowing Princess Aiko to inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne and become Japan's next Empress. Despite this historic level of public support, Takaichi continues to block female succession, insisting the imperial line must pass through Prince Hisahito, the teenage son of the Emperor's younger brother. The prime minister is widely seen as bowing to pressure from conservative factions within the Liberal Democratic Party who view male-only succession as non-negotiable. Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, is regarded by many Japanese as a dignified and capable representative of the imperial family. Supporters of female succession argue that blocking Aiko based solely on gender sends a deeply contradictory message from a government that cla...

Japan's figure skating pair Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara just pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in Olympic history. The duo placed fifth after the short program at the Milano Cortina Olympics, looking like they were out of medal contention entirely. Then they delivered a flawless free skate that shattered the world record and catapulted them straight to gold with a total score of 231.24 points. Their free skate performance was so dominant it erased the deficit and left competitors stunned as Japan claimed the top spot on the podium. Miura and Kihara's technical precision, synchronization, and artistry under pressure proved why they are among the best pairs in the world. The victory marks Japan's continued dominance in figure skating, adding another Olympic gold to the country's growing legacy in the sport. Fans watching live said the atmosphere shifted the moment their scores were announced, with the arena erupting as Japan overtook the leaders. Critics who doub...

Tokyo: 22 March Fukuoka: 22 March Nagoya: 21 March Kochi: 24 March Hiroshima: 25 March Kagoshima: 26 March Osaka: 25 March Kanazawa: 31 March Sendai: 4 April Niigata: 5 April Nagano: 8 April Akita: 12 April Aomori: 20 April Sapporo: 30 April Kushiro: 7 May

Current Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she would step down immediately if her ruling coalition fails to secure a majority in the House of Representatives, calling the snap election a test of voter approval for her new alliance between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party. She described the coalition as a major political realignment and said she is prepared to accept whatever verdict voters deliver. Takaichi also pledged to eliminate the consumption tax on food items temporarily, targeting household budgets crushed by rising prices. The tax cut proposal has spooked financial markets and raised concerns about Japan's already massive debt load, weakening the yen and triggering a selloff in government bonds. Analysts believe the LDP is well-positioned to perform strongly, but the party lost its parliamentary majority in 2024 following political funding scandals. Even if Takaichi wins big, she will still need opposition support to pass legislation in ...

Panda twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei left Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on Tuesday, leaving Japan without pandas for the first time in fifty years. Thousands of fans gathered for final goodbyes, with many in tears as they watched the bears during one-minute viewing windows on their last public day. The pandas' abrupt return was announced last month during a diplomatic spat that began when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hinted that Tokyo could intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan. The first pair of pandas arrived in Japan in October 1972, one month after Japan normalized diplomatic ties with China, and the bears have symbolized friendship between the two nations ever since. Beijing is reportedly also choking off exports to Japan of rare-earth products crucial for making everything from electric cars to missiles. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, "I know giant pandas are loved by many in Japan, and we welcome Japanese friends to come visit them in China," e...

China just canceled all 49 scheduled flights to Japan for February, cutting off travel during what should be the busiest month of the year. February coincides with Lunar New Year, traditionally the peak season for Chinese tourists visiting Japan for shopping, skiing, and cultural experiences. The flight cancellations follow escalating tensions after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan triggered sharp backlash from Beijing. Chinese authorities reportedly instructed airlines to slash Japan routes by roughly forty percent, effectively freezing tourist traffic at the worst possible time for Japanese hotels and retailers. Tour operators in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are bracing for massive revenue losses as bookings vanish overnight. Yet some foreign tourists and local Japanese residents are quietly celebrating the sudden drop in crowds at temples, ski resorts, and popular shopping districts. Social media posts show noticeably emptier streets in Harajuku, shorter lines at ram...