Tokyo International News Agency

On June 12, 2026, the movie Osomatsu-san: Human Trash-ification Project!!!!!? hit theaters, revealing that Snow Man's Koji Mukai makes an appearance as 'Former Osomatsu.' This unexpected casting has sparked a wave of surprise and laughter among fans and moviegoers alike. In this film, the role of 'New Osomatsu' is played by Seiya Suezawa of Aぇ! group. The movie marks a special 'New vs. Former Osomatsu' collaboration between Suezawa and Mukai, who are of the same age and have been close friends since their days in the Kansai Junior trainee era. As the official social media accounts teased, 'The New and Former Osomatsu clash, triggering a highly volatile chemical reaction!'—and indeed, the appearance of the legendary eldest brother across space and time has garnered immense attention. On social media, fans flooded the internet with delighted and amused comments, such as, 'What on earth is Former Osomatsu?!', 'I've never heard of such a...

On June 12, 2026, the H3 Rocket No. 6 was successfully launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, reaching its target orbit precisely as planned. This mission was of paramount importance for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and its partners, representing a vital comeback from previous setbacks. Its flawless execution marks a resounding success. With this successful launch, the H3 rocket safely delivered its payload into the scheduled orbit. It took only about six months for the program to brilliantly break free from what some had previously whispered to be a 'critical crisis' for Japan's space endeavors. Social media was flooded with messages of congratulations and relief, with users commenting, 'JAXA’s hard work has finally paid off,' 'I’m so relieved,' and 'Congratulations!' A New Low-Cost Model Challenges the Market The No. 6 rocket also serves as a testbed for a new, lower-cost configuration. This specific la...

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was removed mid-game during the June 12, 2026 matchup due to left knee inflammation, the club officially announced, sending shockwaves through baseball fans in both Japan and the United States. Just a day after his gritty pitching performance as a two-way player, Ohtani showed spectacular form once again. He reached base in four consecutive plate appearances, including a solo blast for his 13th home run of the season. However, tension rose in the stadium and among local media when he was suddenly subbed out for a pinch-hitter during a crucial scoring opportunity in the seventh inning. On social media, fans expressed deep concern, recalling his past left-knee surgery. Comments poured in urging caution: "Please don't push yourself too hard" and "He really needs to take a solid rest." On a brighter note, Ohtani was spotted walking out of the stadium under his own power just 35 minutes after the game ended. Dodgers manager...

Fans of the popular TBS morning variety show Love It! are in for a treat, as the show’s highly anticipated summer music festival, "Love It! Rock 2026," has been officially announced for Saturday, August 22nd. Once again, the massive celebration will take over the Yoyogi National Gymnasium First Gymnasium in Tokyo. Ticket presales are scheduled to begin in late June, with the lineup of performers to be revealed progressively during the show’s live morning broadcasts. Following the long-awaited announcement, social media erupted with excitement and relief. Some fans admitted they had been worried about whether the festival would return this year, citing recent rumors about budget cuts and production changes. However, the official green light has dispelled those fears, sparking enthusiastic comments such as "I'm so incredibly happy!" and "This year, I’m definitely going in person!" Dedicated viewers also highlighted the event’s strong track record, point...

On June 12, 2026, the latest news for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Official Card Game (OCG) was updated via "V Jump News," revealing the new "Ashtora" archetype to be included in the upcoming booster pack BEYOND THE BRAVE . Alongside this, a brand-new alternate-art version of the popular card "Trap Trick" was also unveiled, sending waves of excitement through social media and various dueling communities. Beautiful Artwork and a Captivating Lore Since the announcement, fans have been showering praise on the stunning visual design of the "Ashtora" cards. In particular, the character designs featured on cards like "Mikumari" and "Akasuna," combined with a Japanese-style aesthetic evoking sword techniques like "Iai-giri" (Quick-draw Slash) and "Suiryu no Kamae" (Water Dragon Stance), have captivated players. Comments like "I absolutely have to build this deck" and "It's been a while since I wanted to fully ...

Tensions in the Middle East have rapidly intensified. On June 11, 2026, local time, Iranian military authorities declared a "complete blockade" of the Strait of Hormuz—a vital global energy chokepoint—in retaliation for consecutive days of additional airstrikes by U.S. forces. Iran warned that all vessels, including tankers and commercial ships, would be blocked and that any attempting to navigate the strait would be targeted. While the U.S. has partially downplayed the blockade, the announcement has triggered widespread anxiety and volatility across international markets and global economies. U.S. Strikes and Iran's Fierce Retaliation Reports indicate that the U.S. military has conducted consecutive rounds of additional strikes against Iran. President Trump highlighted that the operation was for self-defense, noting that "49 missiles were fired." In response, Iran announced its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, Tehran has signaled potential attacks...

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers started as a "two-way player" against the Pittsburgh Pirates on the 11th (Japan time). Although he showed his grit by blasting his 12th home run of the season—a two-run shot in the ninth inning—he was pulled in the seventh inning after giving up four runs (three earned) as a pitcher. The Dodgers suffered a painful 9-8 comeback defeat, evaporating Ohtani's chance for his seventh win of the season. Taking the mound, Ohtani battled through unstable weather conditions with a gritty performance. He pitched well through six frames but was unfortunately pulled in the seventh after giving up an RBI double. He ended the day throwing 102 pitches over 6 2/3 innings, allowing six hits, striking out six, and giving up four runs. Aided by a defensive error, only three runs were earned, earning him a Quality Start (QS). However, he fell just one out (1/3 of an inning) short of the required innings to qualify for the ERA leaderboards, leaving his ...