From the traces of an ancient palace to technologies shaping tomorrow.
Kyoto’s buried court, reflex-driven robotics, faster materials research and the communities that keep Japan moving. An edition built on evidence and discovery.
Beneath Kyoto, Archaeologists Find New Traces of the Heian Imperial Palace
Kyoto’s excavations reveal drainage and corridor remains, offering new evidence about the ancient palace—not an intact building.
Read the lead feature →Monday, October 26, 2026 · Japan.co.jp
Four Stories to Start With
Archaeology, robotics, hydrogen and AI infrastructure
14 More Developments Across Japan
Concise, sourced developments in industry, science, communities, sport and culture, separate from the 15 lead reports.
Read the news briefs →Business & Economy
Monday, October 26, 2026KDDI and Broadcom Test Optical Networking for Power-Hungry AI Data Centers
The companies are testing co-packaged optics to address AI networking costs; verified power savings are still pending.
Tohoku Launches T-CHIPS as Chip Packaging Becomes a New Front in Semiconductor Competition
A new collaboration platform highlights the industrial importance of stacking and connecting different kinds of chips.
Japan’s Builders Turn to Vietnamese Universities for Engineering Talent
Government-backed December recruitment events illustrate labor pressure and raise questions about career opportunity and working conditions.
Science & Technology
Monday, October 26, 2026A Walking Robot That Responds by Reflex: Tohoku’s Mechanical Approach
A treadmill demonstration uses mechanical muscle-length feedback alongside simple electronic control—not a fully electronics-free robot.
Japan’s Automated Hydrogen-Alloy Laboratory Cuts Testing From Days to Hours
Researchers report a dramatic throughput improvement for laboratory screening, not the discovery of a commercially ready storage alloy.
How Much Did Warming Intensify Japan’s Record Rainstorms?
Climate attribution modeling estimates additional rainfall in six events; it does not assign the same percentage to flood damage.
Communities
Monday, October 26, 2026
Japan’s Coastal Communities Take on Seafarer Recruitment
Three local governments plan different job-matching schemes, seeking to sustain Japan’s maritime workforce.
From Sewage to Farmland: Japan Maps Fertilizer Recovery
A new public dashboard highlights the opportunities and constraints of recycling nutrients from wastewater.
Dementia Before Retirement: Shiga’s Support Networks for Families
Existing peer and specialist support networks offer help with employment, relationships and caregiving challenges.
Sports
Monday, October 26, 2026
Japan Series Opens in Yokohama: DeNA and SoftBank Renew Their Rivalry
The opening games rekindle a recent championship rivalry; the second game’s final result needs official verification.
High Schools Challenge Corporate Teams at Japan’s National Table Tennis Championship
An unusual national format puts schools, universities and corporate clubs on the same stage; finals require verification.
Japan Joins the World Parkinson Table Tennis Championships in Shanghai
Official records document Japanese entrants; the event celebrates sport and connection without unproven medical promises.
Culture
Monday, October 26, 2026Beneath Kyoto, Archaeologists Find New Traces of the Heian Imperial Palace
Kyoto’s excavations reveal drainage and corridor remains, offering new evidence about the ancient palace—not an intact building.
Three Women Who Expanded Manga’s Imagination Take Center Stage in Tokyo
An upcoming museum exhibition highlights how Moto Hagio, Ryoko Yamagishi and Waki Yamato changed storytelling.
Red, Blue and Gold: The Court-Dance Costumes Preserving Centuries of Tradition
A Nezu Museum exhibition explores the textiles and international influences preserved in Japan’s bugaku traditions.
Art Choice · Utagawa Toyoharu and the Art of Perspective
Perspective and the theater district of Edo
Utagawa Toyoharu: The Artist Who Gave Japan a New Perspective
A lively theater district viewed through the spatial innovations of uki-e. How did a Japanese artist transform the way people saw their city?
Explore the artwork →Utagawa Toyoharu (1735–1814), Perspective Print (Uki-e) of the Theaters in Sakaichō and Fukiyachō on Opening Night, ca. 1780. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, JP192. Public Domain. Museum record. Historical original, not AI-generated art.
Six More Stories From October 25
Previously published; not presented as new today.
American Tea Buyers Visit Yame in Search of Lasting Partnerships
A look at how premium Japanese tea might build enduring export relationships.
Dust Rings Around Young Stars Offer Clues to Planet Formation
Kyushu University researchers investigate how dust patterns may form around young stars.
Turning Marine Litter Into Art: A Fukuoka Children’s Workshop
A planned workshop uses marine litter to encourage environmental learning.
Higashi Fukuoka’s Double National Kendo Triumph
A look back at a significant school-level national championship achievement.
The Road Back for Iizuka’s Historic Kaho Theater
An important old theater’s return tells a story about the region’s coal-mining heritage.
Art and Inclusion Meet at Chikugo’s Tsunagaru Festival
An arts event considers creative participation beyond disability labels.
News illustrations are AI-generated editorial artwork inspired by Utagawa Toyoharu, not news photographs. Art Choice features a reproduction of a historical original.
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