Tokyo International News Agency

A miraculous collaboration between the hit anime series 'Detective Pretty Cure!' and the quintessential Heisei-era magical girl franchise 'Ojamajo Doremi' was announced on the 16th. In episode 39, scheduled to broadcast on October 25, the series protagonists will reveal a special look dressed in witch apprentice attire. According to the announcement, the four members of the story's 'Cure-at Detective Agency' will don the iconic witch apprentice costumes from 'Ojamajo Doremi' as Halloween disguises. Accompanying character reference art showcases the heroines dressed in the beloved witch apprentice outfits, immediately stirring up massive excitement among fans. Behind this dream crossover lies a shared link to the year 1999. While 'Detective Pretty Cure!' takes place in a setting based in 1999, 'Ojamajo Doremi' originally premiered on television that very same year. Through this temporal setting, two generational flagship series that he...

Fuji Television’s long-running omnibus horror special Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi (commonly known as Honkowa , translated as "True Horror Stories") is set to air this year on Halloween night, October 31, during the network's prime-time "Saturday Premium" slot from 9:00 p.m. to 11:10 p.m. Long cherished by Japanese audiences as a quintessential "summer tradition," the announcement of its autumn broadcast has sparked a wave of surprise and celebration across social media. Goro Inagaki will reprise his role as the show’s beloved "Club Leader." Serving as the spooky anthology's storyteller for over two decades since its inception in 2004, Inagaki’s steady presence drew warm reactions from longtime fans, with many noting his ageless consistency as "the biggest surprise of all" and praising the "reassuring comfort" he brings to the screen. This year’s installment will feature a total of seven shorts: one brand-new productio...

Hiroki Abe, a Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Justice and a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Aso faction, is facing mounting scrutiny following allegations that approximately 6.33 million yen in political funds flowed back to him and his relatives. The payments were reportedly made under the guise of rental fees for his personal vehicle and rent for facilities connected to his family through a political party branch he previously headed. Given his prominent position in the Ministry of Justice, which oversees the nation's legal and judicial order, criticism demanding full accountability has spread rapidly, particularly online. According to media reports, political fund balance reports from the branch once represented by Abe reveal roughly 1.44 million yen paid to rent a compact car registered under Abe’s own name. In addition, the branch reportedly paid parking fees for land owned by Abe, as well as approximately 3.96 million yen in office rent to a Shinto s...

The hit period comedy film franchise is returning to the big screen after a decade, with the latest installment titled Mission Impossible: Samurai Full Throttle (Cho Kosoku! Sankin Kotai Full Throttle) officially set for a nationwide release in Japan on April 23, 2027. Alongside the announcement, a special featurette containing behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with lead actor Kuranosuke Sasaki and the rest of the cast was unveiled, generating massive buzz among cinema fans and industry insiders. The upcoming film marks the third entry in the acclaimed series, following the box-office hits Mission Impossible: Samurai (2014) and Mission Impossible: Samurai Returns (2016). The narrative continues to follow the turbulent struggles of the impoverished, minor Yunagaya domain as they confront absurd government mandates using only their quick wit and daring ploys, wrapped in a blend of slapstick humor and high-speed action. Director Katsuhide Motoki and screenwriter Akihiro Dobashi ...

Fuji Television has announced that its monumental youth drama series Waterboys —which follows the journey of high school boys dedicated to synchronized swimming (now artistic swimming)—will return in July 2027 as an all-new serial drama titled Waterboys 2027 . Marking 26 years since the original film captivated audiences in 2001, the news instantly ignited widespread excitement across social media. The franchise is widely renowned as a prime stepping stone for rising talent, having launched or propelled the careers of major Japanese stars such as Satoshi Tsumabuki in the film, and Takayuki Yamada, Hayato Ichihara, and Eita Nagayama in the subsequent TV dramas. The cast for the new installment is slated to be chosen through upcoming auditions, prompting enthusiastic speculation online, with fans asking, “Who will become the next Reiwa-era stars?” and “I can’t wait to see young actors pour their hearts into this real-life physical challenge.” Viewers who foll...

On the 15th, Nintendo unveiled a paid Expansion Pass for the latest entry in its hit tactical RPG series, Fire Emblem: Myriad Blooms, and made it available for download on the very same day. The sudden shadow-drop announcement triggered a wave of surprise and excitement among fans across social media. According to the promotional trailer and official details, the Expansion Pass (priced at 4,400 yen including tax) delivers a wealth of new content. Highlights include a four-part additional story campaign centered around Bertrand and other companions, the battlefield debut of divine figures known as "Deities" such as Aurora, and the introduction of prototype weapons reminiscent of the "Heroes' Relics" featured in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Given that the base game already offers an immense volume of gameplay, the unexpected announcement of such an expansive DLC package drew passionate reactions online. Fans shared comments such as "It came out of nowhere—I had...

Japan's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Kazuo Yana tendered his resignation on the 14th following severe backlash over controversial comments suggesting the reduction of road budgets for local governments that did not support him. In response, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi decided on the 15th to tap Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmaker Arata Takebe, a six-term member of the House of Representatives representing Hokkaido's 12th district, as Yana's successor. Takebe is expected to officially assume the post following an Imperial attestation ceremony held at the Imperial Palace that evening. Yana faced fierce criticism from both ruling and opposition parties after making remarks construed as boasting that he "cut" road-related budget allocations for municipalities that failed to back his campaign, raising allegations of undue political interference in local governance and illicit pork-barrel politics. Vocal outrage also poured in from his home cons...