Tokyo International News Agency

It has been announced that a brand-new song by singer-songwriter and actor Gen Hoshino will serve as the opening theme for the television anime adaptation of Keigo Shinzo's popular manga, Hirayasumi . Following the announcement, social media erupted with excitement, sending “Hirayasumi” trending across platforms. Set in a charming single-story home ( hiraya ) in Asagaya, Tokyo, Hirayasumi is a heartfelt story chronicling the gentle daily life of an easygoing, part-time worker and his younger art-student cousin, along with the warm community surrounding them. The anime series is scheduled to begin broadcasting in January 2027. Hoshino, who once resided in Asagaya himself, wrote the new track specifically for the anime. He reportedly revisited the nostalgic neighborhood while composing the music, a dedicated approach that earned enthusiastic praise from manga creator Keigo Shinzo. Adding to the anticipation, acclaimed singer-songwriter TOMOO was revealed to be performing the ...

It was announced that Ryota Miyadate of the popular idol group Snow Man will grace the cover of the women's lifestyle and gravure weekly magazine anan for issue No. 2520, hitting shelves on November 18. Following the magazine's promotional announcement, the phrase “Loyal Dog Date-sama” trended widely across social media platforms, sparking fervent excitement among fans. On the cover, Miyadate is captured sitting regally on a throne, exuding an aura of majestic elegance and command in his “Tyrant Date-sama” persona. While this striking visual heavily showcases his signature “royal” charm, the official preview revealed an entirely contrasting concept inside the magazine: a pictorial depicting him as a “loyal pup waiting in the snow for his beloved.” Following this teaser, the catchphrase “Loyal Dog Date-sama” quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter). Fans exploded with enthusiastic comments, noting the extreme contrast: ...

U.S. semiconductor giant Nvidia has initiated an internal investigation to verify the facts following reports that its founder and Chief Executive Officer, Jensen Huang, was targeted by a Chinese intelligence operation and engaged in an intimate relationship with a female operative. According to the reports, Mr. Huang acknowledged the personal relationship and apologized, expressing regret for betraying his wife regarding his close ties with the alleged spy. While Nvidia's board of directors stated that there is currently no evidence indicating that confidential information was compromised, the company is expected to proceed with a meticulous review to determine whether sensitive data related to cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology or U.S. AI policy was compromised. The revelation that the chief executive of a company driving the global generative AI boom and leading the advanced semiconductor market was the target of foreign espionage has sent shockwaves through th...

Pre-orders have officially opened at noon on November 9 for the enigmatic, jet-black mech "Shurouga" from the acclaimed simulation RPG series Super Robot Wars , joining Sentinel's premium action figure line "RIOBOT." The surprise reveal that Shurouga would be getting a full-scale, non-super-deformed (real-proportion) figure sent shockwaves across social media, with related keywords quickly trending on X (formerly Twitter) amid immense excitement from the fan community. This release of Shurouga was personally supervised by its original mecha designer, Masami Obari. Pursuing a sharp and powerful aesthetic, the figure faithfully captures the machine's signature appeal—featuring a high-contrast color scheme anchored in deep black and blue, accented by translucent parts placed throughout its body. It also incorporates a transformation gimmick allowing fans to switch between its humanoid "Kokushin" form and bird-like "Kokuchou" flight form, mak...

The Nippori-Toneri Liner, an automated guideway transit system connecting Tokyo's Arakawa and Adachi wards, may face a critical funding deficit as early as fiscal year 2033. Despite consistently recording the highest rush-hour passenger congestion in Japan, the line suffers from sluggish ridership during off-peak daytime and nighttime hours. Furthermore, substantial capital investments required to alleviate overcrowding have weighed heavily on its financial health. The Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation is now considering fare hikes as part of efforts to improve its management balance. The Nippori-Toneri Liner opened in 2008 to address a "railway transit desert" in northeastern Tokyo's 23 wards. Propelled by convenient access to central Tokyo and comparatively affordable housing costs, residential development and population influx along the route exceeded initial forecasts. Consequently, morning rush-hour congestion surged to the highest in the country, turni...

Sony has announced the release of the MDR-3R stereo headphones, a modern revival of the iconic MDR-3 headphones that originally debuted in 1979 alongside the first-ever Walkman, the TPS-L2. Scheduled to hit shelves on November 20 with an estimated retail price of around 8,000 yen (approx. $50 USD), the MDR-3R retains the retro-futuristic aesthetics and open-air acoustics of the 1980s while adopting a contemporary USB Type-C connection. Equipped with newly engineered 23mm drivers, the MDR-3R achieves an ultra-lightweight design weighing only about 38 grams. Built as an open-air on-ear model, it delivers a clear, airy sound signature and an exceptionally comfortable, featherlight fit. The headphones feature the era-defining blue and orange earpads, as well as an in-line microphone and remote control for hands-free calls. Sony has also introduced a limited-edition collaboration model themed around the hit Netflix drama series Stranger Things . The announcement has sparked widespread discu...

The music video for 'Lemon,' the signature song by singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu, has surpassed one billion views on YouTube, becoming the first-ever Japanese-language song to achieve this historic milestone. Following this monumental feat, attention has surged once again toward the TBS drama 'Unnatural' (2018), for which the song was written as the theme. The title 'Unnatural' quickly soared to the number one spot on the trending topics on X (formerly Twitter), creating a massive wave of excitement. 'Lemon' is an exquisite ballad crafted to resonate deeply with the worldview of 'Unnatural,' a critically acclaimed legal medicine mystery drama. To mark this milestone, Kenshi Yonezu released a statement blending gratitude with his characteristic humor, while warm congratulatory messages poured in from the drama's production team, including lead actress Satomi Ishihara and scriptwriter Akiko Nogi. On social media, alongside voices celebrating ...