Tokyo International News Agency

Popular idol group Naniwa Danshi’s 10th single “HARD WORK” secured the No. 1 spot on the Oricon Daily Single Ranking on its release day, February 18th, and achieved a new personal best for first-day sales. The single sold an impressive 550,315 copies, significantly surpassing the 503,000 first-day sales of their debut song, “Ubu LOVE.” This record-breaking start is a momentous occasion, marking the beginning of the group’s 5th-anniversary year, and has been met with an outpouring of joy and congratulations from fans. Social media is flooded with comments such as “Congratulations on reaching half a million!” “Surpassing Ubu LOVE is truly amazing!” and “A perfect start to their 5th-anniversary year.” This achievement is hailed as proof that the “HARD WORK” of both the fans (Naniwafam) and the members has paid off. Many fans emphasize that this success is not merely a “debut boost” but a testament to the individual efforts and growth of each of the seven members. Comments like “It’s not a...

A rare incident at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics cross-country skiing women's team sprint free qualification round has become a major topic on social media: a dog intruded onto the course during the race and sprinted across the finish line alongside an athlete. The unexpected event unfolded when a dog suddenly appeared on the course where athletes were competing fiercely, and proceeded to cross the finish line right behind a Croatian athlete. According to footage released by TVer, the dog, though not running at full speed, dashed across the course with an intensity comparable to the athletes and crossed the finish line. While its 'record remains unknown,' its presence was captured clearly by photographers. This surprising turn of events sparked numerous comments of astonishment and amusement on X (formerly Twitter), such as 'What is this🤣🤣🤣🤣' and 'The most peaceful Olympic footage has arrived!!!' Many users were captivated by the dog's adora...

The main cast for the upcoming anime "Honoo no Toukyuujo Dodge Dan-ko" has just been announced, quickly generating significant buzz on social media. Particularly, rising rookie voice actress Manaka Nakayama has been selected for the lead role of Danko Ichigeki, with high expectations for her passionate performance. This series, a legitimate sequel to the legendary anime "Honoo no Toukyuuji Dodge Danpei," is set to be adapted into a TV anime in 2026, and many fans have been eagerly following its developments. The newly released cast information reveals the voice actors portraying the members of the Tamagawa Dodgeball Club. In addition to Manaka Nakayama as Danko Ichigeki, Kaori Maeda will play Chinko Kobotoke, Akira Sekine as Mochiko Ebukuro, You Taichi as Susan Cannon, and Yu Shinohara as Hanui Otohama. Among these announcements, what has particularly captivated fans is the character of Chinko Kobotoke, Danko's best friend, and the anticipation for Manaka Nakaya...

The popular boy group M!LK's song "Chirachi LOVE," which was suddenly performed at their recent release event, has become a massive sensation on social media. In particular, the performance during the free live stream brought shock and excitement to countless fans, with their fervor even breaking the venue's "no cheering" rule. Attendees of the event expressed overwhelming excitement, with comments such as, "Chirachi LOVE is insane💖 So incredibly cute 😍," "The cheers were incredible the moment Chirachi LOVE started," and "Honestly, I feel like my memory vanished during Chirachi LOVE." Many also voiced their desire for re-streaming or broader media releases, saying, "I'm satisfied seeing it on the free live stream," and "I wonder if there will be an archive ~ I really want to watch it on a big screen TV," highlighting the song's captivating power and addictiveness. Among the members, Jinato Yoshida...

Azuki Akimoto, affectionately known as "Azuki Oneesan" (Big Sister Azuki), who served as the first "Taiso Oneesan" (exercise big sister) for seven years on NHK's popular children's program "Okaasan to Issho," has announced her departure from the show this spring. This news has sparked an outpouring of farewell messages from fans on social media. Azuki Oneesan, who began her role as Taiso Oneesan in April 2019, is scheduled to make her final appearance on March 28th. Following her departure, Kazumu Sakumoto, who serves as the first "Odori no Oniisan" (dance big brother), will continue to be a prominent figure on the show starting March 30th, taking on an expanded role that includes leading physical activities. In response to this graduation announcement, social media has been flooded with comments like "Too sad" and "Nothing but gratitude." Many messages of thanks have poured in from parents raising young children, expr...

The horse racing world has been hit with major shock following the announcement that Ruffian Turfman Club, long beloved by fans and producer of numerous famous racehorses under the "Meiner" prefix, will cease new member recruitment after its July intake this year. The history of this esteemed club, established in 1986, is set to reach a significant turning point. According to reports from sources like netkeiba, Ruffian Turfman Club will end new recruitment this summer. This significantly increases the likelihood that racehorses bearing the familiar "Meiner" prefix, cherished by many fans, will no longer be seen in the future. Past star performers include Meiner Kitz, winner of the Tenno Sho (Spring); Meiner Love, victor of the Sprinters Stakes; and the Oaks champion Uberleben, all of whom have etched countless dramatic moments into racing history. This news quickly spread across social media platform "X" (formerly Twitter), with a flood of posts expressing...

A joint investigative task force from the Shiga and Gifu prefectural police on the 18th arrested Mohamed Hamood, a 22-year-old unemployed Syrian national residing in Shimazato 2-chome, Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, on suspicion of abandoning a body. This arrest is connected to the discovery of a woman's body in a thicket in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, last April. Hamood is believed to possess knowledge regarding the woman's murder, and the police are expanding their investigation to include potential murder charges. The deceased has been identified as Mayumi Kiriyama, who was 64 years old at the time and a resident of Maibara City. She had been reported missing since March of last year. Her body was discovered wrapped in a futon within the thicket, and signs of compression were found on her neck, leading police to suspect strangulation as the cause of death. The incident has garnered significant attention on social media. While many expressed relief with comments like "...