Tokyo International News Agency

Remarks by historian Tatsushi Fujihara in an interview with the Tokyo Shimbun have ignited widespread debate across social media. His observation that "the lifting of arms export restrictions marks a turning point that entangles Japan in perpetual warfare" and his warning that "rearmament does not follow war; rearmament causes war" have drawn strong reactions from the public. In the interview, Fujihara voiced deep concern over striking parallels between Japan's recent trajectory and the historical path of Nazi Germany, which used the defense industry as an economic stimulus before ultimately plunging into full-scale conflict. He delivered a stark warning: "War has already begun." While many echoed his concerns—lamenting what they see as Japan's uncritical drift into militarization and calling for a fundamental reconsideration of defense-first policies—others pushed back, criticizing the argument as "an extreme stance" or expressing skepti...

Takara Tomy's popular board game 'The Game of Life' and the beloved national RPG series 'Dragon Quest' are teaming up to release 'Dragon Quest: The Game of Life,' causing a major buzz on social media. Planned to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 'Dragon Quest' series, the game is scheduled for release on October 24, 2026. The familiar car-shaped pieces have been replaced with 'carriage' specifications, and the game is packed with unique Dragon Quest elements, such as gathering companions like warriors and priests, and changing jobs at Alltrades Abbey. Furthermore, the ultimate goal—which corresponds to the 'goal in life' in the standard Game of Life—is none of other than 'defeating the Archfiend Zoma.' Immediately after the announcement, social media was flooded with joyful reactions from fans of both series, such as 'I want this so badly!', 'The carriages and pieces are too cute!', and 'Having the go...

Recent reports have revealed that during the Second Sino-Japanese War, military doctors at the Army Medical College conducted human experiments by infecting hospitalized Japanese soldiers suffering from mental illness with malaria via mosquitoes. According to the reports, the experiments were carried out in 1940 at facilities such as the Konodai Army Hospital in Chiba Prefecture. Mosquitoes that had fed on the blood of soldiers already infected with malaria were used to bite 10 soldiers with psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia to observe whether they would contract the disease. While the experiments were reportedly justified under the guise of research to prevent the domestic spread of the infection, they have sparked widespread criticism and concern. Critics point out that it is difficult to argue the subjects fully understood and consented to the risks, and many are disturbed by the fact that soldiers with mental illnesses were specifically targeted. The context On social media...

Excitement and fierce discussions have erupted on X (formerly Twitter) among 'Saniwa' (players) following the introduction of a brand-new sword warrior in the popular browser and smartphone game 'Touken Ranbu ONLINE'. Alongside the official announcement of the Tachi sword 'Kogarasaki Tametsugu', players flooded social media with posts regarding the acquisition of a new sword warrior as an event reward, the appearance of a mysterious character and a figure in black within the storyline, and deeply symbolic background details. In particular, visual motifs such as a Western-style umbrella, a glass pen-like accessory, and prayer bead decorations sparked intense speculation and theories linking the character to Murasamemaru or Bakin Kyokutei from the classic epic 'Nanso Satomi Hakkenden'. Fans also shared voice actor predictions and expressed astonishment at the remarkably high production quality of the artwork. The timeline transformed into a festive atmosph...

Recent reports regarding the romantic relationship between Daichi Shiozaki, a member of the popular idol group M!LK, and actress-gravure idol Rina Koyama—specifically highlighting a "10-year relationship"—have sparked a massive trend on social media, drawing a mix of surprise, congratulations, and bewilderment. According to the reports, the two have been dating for a decade, meaning they began building their relationship when they were still teenagers in school. Regarding this fact, which some might call a "long-term pure love," many users expressed positive and favorable reactions, such as "It's amazing and so pure since they were in middle school," "They spent most of their youth together, so at this point, it's actually endearing," and "It's wonderful, feeling more like a partnership than just a romance." On the other hand, there are quite a few critical views stemming from the nature of the idol profession. Some fans exp...

It has been officially announced that the second season of the beloved TV anime adaptation of the hit school-life comedy manga, Skip and Loafer Season 2 , is scheduled to premiere in April 2027. Following the long-awaited announcement, fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to share an outpouring of joy and anticipation. The newly released teaser promotional video once again showcases the beautifully crafted world and vibrant characters brought to life by studio P.A.WORKS. Online reactions poured in with enthusiastic comments such as, "The atmosphere of the manga is captured so well, my expectations are through the roof!" and "I now have a reason to live until April 2027." In addition, celebratory comments were released by lead voice cast members Tomoyo Kurosawa (who voices Mitsumi Iwakura) and Akinori Egoshi (who voices Sousuke Shima), making it an unforgettable day for the fanbase. Widely praised as a "cleansing for the soul" and a work filled with the "...

At the ongoing and wildly popular music festival “EBiDAN THE LIVE,” a special performance of Genin wa Jibun ni Aru.’s song “Shousetsu Naraba” (If It Were a Novel) has become a major trending topic among fans. For this exclusive stage, Gaku Tanaka and ONE N' ONLY’s TETTA joined forces to deliver a breathtaking rendition of “Shousetsu Naraba.” This dream collaboration transcended group boundaries, sparking widespread cheers and glowing praise from attendees at the venue as well as fans across social media. The performance, harmonizing Tanaka’s richly expressive vocals with TETTA’s overwhelming vocal power, moved many in the audience to tears. Social media timelines were flooded with emotional reactions such as “The song's world was captured flawlessly,” “It was so good I broke down in tears,” and “Whoever came up with this pairing deserves an award.” Even after the concert concluded, the excite...