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- 1Typhoon hits Japan, nearly two million told to evacuate●Typhoon hits Japan: Nearly two million urged to evacuate | BBC News
A powerful typhoon has struck Japan, with authorities urging nearly two million people to evacuate as heavy rain and strong winds batter large parts of the country. Evacuation orders have been issued across multiple prefectures, and residents are being warned of possible flooding and landslides as the storm moves through.
- 2Asian Games open in Nagoya with 11,000 athletes●The 20th Asian Games, from Nagoya, Japan – in pictures By Guardian Staff The 20th Asian Games are on in Japan’s Aichi Pr
The 20th Asian Games are under way in Japan's Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya, running from 19 September to 4 October. Around 11,000 athletes from 45 countries are competing across 43 sports. The Guardian has published a photo gallery from the event, showing scenes from the opening days of competition in Japan.
- 3
An earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture late on September 26, registering a seismic intensity of 4, with an estimated magnitude of 4.5 and a focal depth of about 10 kilometres. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued intensity readings by municipality, and officials confirmed there was no risk of a tsunami.
- 4
Typhoon No. 26, a compact storm, is moving toward eastern Japan and could bring an end to Tokyo's longest recorded stretch of rainy days since statistics began. While the heaviest rain may be brief, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures remain at risk of landslides, and residents are being urged to stay alert to disaster warnings as the system passes.
- 5US missile system to be stored indefinitely at Okinawa base▼A powerful U.S. missile system that has been deployed in Japan for joint military exercises with the Self-Defense Forces
A powerful U.S. missile system deployed in Japan for joint exercises with the Self-Defense Forces will be stored indefinitely at a key military base in Okinawa Prefecture from mid-October, according to The Japan Times. The arrangement signals a continuing American military presence in the prefecture and is likely to draw attention given local sensitivity to the US baseload and regional security tensions.
- 6
A Yamaguchi prefectural government employee who was arrested and prosecuted for drunk driving has been dismissed through disciplinary action, according to NHK. The announcement has drawn attention in Japan, where public servants face strict penalties for alcohol-related offenses and such dismissals routinely spark debate about accountability among government workers.
- 7
Attention is on an upcoming Serie C fixture between Casarano Calcio and Salernitana 1919, scheduled for 11 October. The match has been noted by the Italian Prefecture portal, which lists the fixture officially. Fans of both clubs are following the pairing, with interest in the southern Italian side of the third division.
- 8
Japan's Meteorological Agency issued record short-time heavy rain information and a linear rain band nowcast warning for Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga and Kumamoto prefectures in Kyushu. The alerts warn of extremely intense downpours that could cause landslides and flooding within hours. Residents are being urged to check evacuation information, and news outlets across Japan are reporting on the rapidly developing severe weather situation.
- 9
A woman suffered cardiac arrest after slipping and falling while rock climbing in Kawakami Village, Nagano Prefecture. Meanwhile, at the National Sports Festival, athlete Akitoshi Narasaki, originally from Utsunomiya and representing Fukui, won consecutive titles in the adult bouldering event. The news pairs a fatal-looking climbing accident with a competitive success, drawing attention to the sport's risks and achievements.
- 10
Tourism EXPO Japan 2026, the country's major travel trade show, is in the news as exhibitors announce their participation. Hawaii's tourism office is bringing local food specialties like loco moco, Spam musubi and acai bowls to Tokyo Big Sight, while the Morocco National Tourist Office has confirmed it will exhibit. Domestic players such as Shizu prefecture are also promoting regional tourism through the character franchise Tetsudo Musume.
- 11
Japan's Fair Trade Commission has found 42 companies violated antitrust law by colluding on large-scale repair work at condominiums across Tokyo and six surrounding prefectures. Design and consulting firms were central to the scheme, and the commission ordered about 1.6 billion yen in surcharge payments. It publicly named 171 condominiums involved, saying residents may have been overcharged for repair costs.
- 12
A nurse at Chiba Saiwai General Hospital in Chiba Prefecture has been dismissed for photographing a bedridden hospitalized patient and posting the images online alongside dismissive remarks such as 'so bored' and 'how dull'. The hospital announced the nurse's disciplinary dismissal, and the case is drawing criticism in Japan over the mistreatment of patients and improper use of social media by medical staff.
- 13
Ventforet Kofu's new head coach Soma has called on the squad to 'aim a little higher' as the club competes in J1, the top tier of Japanese football. Local coverage in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, highlighted the message as the team prepares for the season under new leadership, drawing attention from supporters.
- 14
A former sales employee of Taiki Life Insurance (大樹生命) has been arrested in Saitama Prefecture on suspicion of defrauding a customer. The arrest was reported by NHK, and the case is drawing attention in Japan as questions emerge about how the employee allegedly used their position at the insurer to deceive the client.
- 15
Japanese shogi player Nishimura Tomoka is reported to be on course to obtain professional player qualifications, which would make her the first woman ever to reach that rank. Coverage from Oita, her home prefecture, highlights the historic nature of the achievement as she competes in qualification play, drawing wide attention from the shogi community and general media.
- 16
A traditional danjiri festival float overturned in Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture, killing one man and injuring seven others. Local residents are voicing mixed reactions, with some insisting the festival's traditions should not change and others calling safety the top priority. The accident has reignited a long-running debate in Osaka over how to balance the famously fast, dangerous danjiri runs with protecting participants' lives.
- 17
The minimum wage in Akita Prefecture has been raised to 1,090 yen per hour. Local reporting finds the increase could help support workers' household finances, but business owners say it places a significant burden on them, as companies face higher labour costs. Coverage from the region highlights how both employees and employers are reacting to the change on the ground.
- 18
Aviation enthusiasts are sharing a photograph of a Kawasaki T-4 jet of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Iruma Base in Saitama Prefecture, with the aircraft linked to the Konosu Fireworks Festival. Iruma is a major JASDF base northwest of Tokyo and a regular venue for air displays, so photos of its T-4 trainer fleet typically circulate among plane-spotting communities.
- 19
A house fire in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, has killed four people, with children among the victims found in a bedroom and living room. Investigators believe the fire started near the entrance, where a gas canister was damaged, with neighbours reporting two explosion sounds. Separately, four former executives of confectionery maker Sanko Seika were indicted over a fatal fire at one of its plants, with victims' families calling the prosecutions overdue.
- 20
Princess Aiko, daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, is drawing attention in Japan with a visit to Aomori Prefecture following her parents' trip there, where the imperial couple watched the traditional Nebuta festival and the Emperor attended a fencing event. Meanwhile, a 2027 wall calendar featuring the princess in formal and casual styles has gone on sale.
- 21
People in Sendai and across Miyagi Prefecture are checking the weather forecast for October 13. Local reporting from FNN Prime Online covers the day's outlook, with residents looking up conditions as interest in the regional forecast climbs.
- 22Rising temperatures put 26 Japanese ski resorts at risk●# ski # Sport # Japan A total of 26 resorts, including those in Aomori, Niigata and Gifu prefectures, would be able to o
A report on climate change and winter sports in Japan projects that 26 ski resorts, including ones in Aomori, Niigata and Gifu prefectures, would be able to operate only partially if temperatures rise 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Resorts at higher altitudes and latitudes are considered relatively more likely to survive, while lower-lying slopes face shrinking seasons and unreliable snow.
- 23
The Japanese name Nagano is drawing heavy search interest across the country. It may refer to actress Mei Nagano, who has been a fixture of entertainment news, or to the Nagano prefecture, but the exact trigger is not specified. Japanese social media users are sharing and reacting to whatever story is driving the spike in attention.
- 24
Goshi Hosono, Japan's minister in charge of disaster management, visited areas around Lake Inbanuma in Chiba Prefecture damaged by a recent typhoon, pledging to support recovery and reconstruction efforts. The government also announced it will decide next summer where to place regional bases of the planned Disaster Management Agency, with Hiroshima's governor proposing the city as a host. Hosono's cabinet role is drawing public attention.
- 25
A staff member at the Kimotsuki town office in Kagoshima Prefecture has been arrested on suspicion of theft. The employee reportedly told investigators the money was "too precious to waste". The case involves a local government worker, which has drawn attention to conduct at the municipal office.
- 26
In Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, a high school held an evacuation shelter training exercise, reported on October 7, 2026, as Japanese news coverage continues to focus on preparedness for a possible Nankai Trough megaquake. Interest in the topic has surged as communities review disaster plans, and the government continues to warn that a major earthquake along the trough could cause massive casualties and damage across western and central Japan.
- 27
Koumi town mayor Hiroshi Kurosawa has died after going mushroom picking alone in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture. The 69-year-old entered the woods by himself and failed to return home by evening. His family searched and found him collapsed in the mountains. He was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead. The news is being reported widely across Japan, with residents and officials expressing shock at the sudden loss of the town's leader.
- 28
Reports of suspected sightings of Yohachi Hatta, the fugitive wanted over the fatal hit-and-run in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, have surged in the Kanto region, bringing the cumulative number of tips to roughly 14,000. Authorities have extended a special reward for information as the months-long manhunt continues without an arrest.
- 29Typhoon No. 26 nears Okinawa as heavy rain hits Kyushu▼https://www. wacoca.com/media/775892/ 台風26号 沖縄“接近”へ 九州で激しい雨 長崎では土砂崩れも # provided # television # tv # TVPrograms # テレビ #
Typhoon No. 26 is approaching Okinawa, while heavy rain batters parts of Kyushu. In Nagasaki Prefecture, a landslide has been reported amid the downpours. Japanese broadcasters, including TV Asahi, are tracking the storm's path and urging residents in Okinawa, Kumamoto, Fukuoka and Nagasaki to stay alert to flooding and further landslides.
- 30
The Japan Swimming Championships, which double as the selection meet for the World Championships, are being held for the first time in Saga Prefecture. Top Japanese swimmers have gathered at the SAGA Aqua arena to compete, with breaststroke among the featured events drawing attention. The move of the prestigious national championships to a regional venue is a notable first for the host prefecture.
- 31
The invasive plant species Nagae-tsuru-no-geito, known as alligator weed, is spreading rapidly across Japan. In Oita Prefecture it has colonised the outer moat of the former Takada Castle, transforming the water surface into grassland in just three years, from five metres to 150 metres of coverage. Researchers have confirmed the plant has unusually high photosynthetic capacity, which may help develop control methods. Authorities warn that removing or transporting it is illegal under law.
- 32
Kashima Antlers, the J1 League club from Ibaraki Prefecture, are preparing for their home match against Gamba Osaka on the 9th as they seek a return to form. Local coverage highlights that switching between defence and attack will be the key to a comeback, with fans watching closely to see whether the team can turn its recent results around.
- 33
Local news from Japan's Chugoku region is drawing attention. In Hiroshima, a 54-year-old gang boss was arrested on suspicion of extortion after allegedly threatening a person into handing over 300,000 yen. Elsewhere in the region, Okayama is moving to a third-stage water intake restriction as dam reservoir levels in the Takahashi river system keep falling, and Hiroshima Prefecture has begun reviewing the governor's salary and assembly members' pay.
- 34
Two unlicensed driving incidents are drawing attention in Japan. In Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture, a car mounted a sidewalk and left a man in critical condition, and police say the driver may have been unlicensed. Separately, a man in Isen, Kagoshima Prefecture, was arrested on suspicion of unlicensed driving after speeding off in front of Tokunoshima police station when an officer knocked on his window at a checkpoint.
- 35
Search interest in Japan is focused on Hosono as disaster prevention minister, the cabinet post responsible for the government's response to natural disasters. The buzz coincides with ongoing disaster-prevention news, including a report from a Chiba tech force that submitted findings to the prefecture on river damage after flooding. Details of why Hosono is trending were not immediately confirmed.
- 36
NHK's long-running music program Uta Kon broadcasts its October 13 episode, with the performer and song lineup drawing attention ahead of airtime. This edition features enka star Itsuki Hiroshi singing "Furusato" with a connection to Fukui Prefecture, alongside boy group Cho Q Tei and other artists. Japanese news outlets including Fukui Shimbun and dmenu News published lists of the performers and songs viewers can expect.
- 37
A fire broke out in a shopping street in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture, burning four buildings completely. Reports described flames rising between buildings in the busy commercial area. Authorities say no one was injured or trapped in the blaze. The incident is drawing wide local attention as residents follow updates on damage and the cause of the fire.
- 38
Police in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, responded to a distress call on the southern tip of Ieshima island, where one man told rescuers a friend was missing and another had fallen from a cliff. One person was rescued in the mountains, while a man found at sea was later confirmed dead. Local media report the incident drew significant attention, with questions over how the group got into danger.
- 39
A 67-year-old woman was arrested in Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture, after her car struck a man refilling a vending machine, trapping him between the vehicle and a building. He died at the scene. Police say the woman was driving without a license; her car then crashed into a nearby house.
- 40
A ferry and a cargo ship collided in waters off Ogijima, near Takamatsu in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. TBS News Dig reports that no injuries were confirmed and no oil spill was detected following the incident. Details about the vessels' damage or the cause of the collision have not yet been released, and authorities are presumably investigating the circumstances of the accident.