- Sep 15
Japan centenarian population surpasses 100,000 for first time as demographic decline deepens
Japan's centenarian population reached 107,677 in September 2026, marking 56 consecutive years of growth, even as annual births fell to 671,000.
- Aug 27
Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama, known for polka dots and infinity rooms, dies at 97
The Japanese avant-garde pioneer died from multiple organ failure on 14 August 2026 after a seven-decade career spanning New York and Tokyo.
- Aug 14
Brussels Grand-Place transforms into 750,000-dahlia Japanese flower carpet for 160th anniversary of Belgium-Japan ties
Brussels' Grand-Place is covered with 750,000 dahlias arranged as Hokusai's Great Wave, marking 160 years of Belgium-Japan diplomatic ties through 16 August.
- Jun 26
Japan orders evacuation of one million as twin tropical storms bear down; Taiwan counts two dead
Tropical storms Mekkhala and Higos are closing in on Japan, forcing flight cancellations, factory shutdowns, and evacuation advisories for about a million people. Taiwan was battered first, with two dead and widespread flooding.
