Tokyo International News Agency

Former U.S. President Donald Trump's remark, 'We will bring Iran back to the Stone Age,' made during a public address concerning the situation in Iran, has caused a significant stir on social media (formerly X). This extremely hawkish statement has drawn a barrage of criticism and concern from users, with many expressing apprehension about escalating international tensions and potential economic repercussions. In his address, Trump declared that he would continue 'extremely intense attacks' on Iran over the next two to three weeks, vowing to drag the country back to 'the Stone Age where it belongs.' He also hinted at the possibility of escalating conflict and targeting Iran's energy and oil infrastructure if the Iranian leadership fails to accept U.S. conditions in negotiations. The statement immediately drew the ire of X users, who condemned it with harsh words such as, 'He's just a mad old man,' 'A senile old man's delusional rampag...

Disney's beloved characters, Chip 'n' Dale, celebrated their birthday on April 2nd, leading to an outpouring of congratulatory messages from fans worldwide on X (formerly Twitter). Hashtags like "#HappyBirthdayChipNDale" and "#ChipNDale" trended, with the platform overflowing with wishes celebrating their screen debut. Fans shared numerous warm messages, including "Happy Birthday!", "Adorable best friends," and "May you continue to be filled with smiles!". Many users praised their close bond, their mischievous antics, and their overall endearing personalities. In particular, the contrasting yet perfect combination of the "responsible and intelligent Chip" and the "jovial and free-spirited Dale" has captivated many people for decades. The official Tokyo Disney Resort PR account also celebrated this special day by releasing photos of Chip 'n' Dale dressed in their "Tokyo DisneySea® 25th Anniver...

In Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, a robbery resulting in injury occurred when a woman in her 20s, returning to her home, was attacked by multiple intruders who had already gained access to her room. She was punched in the face and subjected to other forms of assault, and her personal belongings were stolen. The culprits are currently at large. The incident took place on the evening of the 1st at an apartment in Kanagawa Ward, Yokohama City. Reports indicate that when the female victim returned home, she encountered several unfamiliar individuals inside her room. She was reportedly punched in the face and elsewhere, and her possessions were stolen. The attackers are believed to have been armed with what appeared to be a knife and fled the scene after committing the crime. In response to this shocking incident, a chorus of surprise and fear has erupted on social media, with many comments expressing sentiments like "Home should be the safest place." There are particular con...

The term “Anisakis” unexpectedly became a trending topic on social media, capturing the attention of many users. This sudden surge was triggered by an urgent announcement from the “SUSHIDOL PROJECT,” a venture by the popular VTuber group “Nijisanji.” On April 1st, the project’s official account made a shocking post stating, “Anisakis has been spotted” within the event venue “AGARI.” It urged participants to “store any sushi you have in your bags and handle it appropriately to maintain freshness.” The post included the hashtag “#AprilFools,” and fans immediately understood that this was part of a sushi-themed April Fools’ Day prank. Users reacted with bursts of laughter, with comments like “Anisakis LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.” Many also expressed realistic surprise while understanding the joke, saying things like, “Anisakis is no good!” or “Did we lose... to Anisakis...? 😢” Some even played along with the fictional scenario, commenting, “I’ve never heard of Anisakis disruptin...

The Yokohama DeNA BayStars clinched their long-awaited first victory of the season on April 1st, presenting a joyous debut win to Manager Aikawa. What particularly excited fans was the stellar performance of closer Yasuaki Yamasaki, who flawlessly closed out the 9th inning. His comeback story garnered significant attention, with "Yasuaki" even becoming a trending topic on social media. In this game, new foreign pitcher Cox delivered a stable pitching performance, taking control of the game. The offense also showed strong cohesion, scoring three runs with concentrated hitting in the first inning and later featuring a home run by Miyazaki in the middle innings. Fans praised Cox, saying, "Nice pitching, Cox! That was splendid stability." Then came the 9th inning, and Yasuaki Yamasaki took the mound. After several seasons where there had been various discussions regarding his position as closer (known in Japan as the 'guardian deity'), he surprised fans with suc...

Soma Sakayori, a virtual liver (VTuber) reportedly affiliated with the “Nijisanji” group, made a sudden appearance in a “cross-dressed” form on April 1st, April Fool's Day, and completely captivated social media with their overwhelming cuteness. This surprise debut instantly sent fans into a frenzy, with comments such as “too cute” and “my brain has been destroyed” flooding in. As an April Fool's Day project, Soma Sakayori released a “singing” video of the song “Booo!” The cute character design and clear, translucent singing voice, a stark contrast to their usual persona, garnered a massive response. Comments such as “A person who usually thinks ‘it’d be gross if I sang Boo lol’ cross-dresses and sings Boo, using April Fool’s as an excuse. I love that Soma Sakayori!” were shared, indicating that this unexpected “gap” greatly charmed their fans. Many users raved about Soma Sakayori’s visual appearance, calling it “perfectly my type” and “absolutely genius.” Their appeal was so s...

Popular singer Gero, known for his long-standing career, has announced his renaming to "Shimotakaido Hiroki" and, simultaneously, the four-year-awaited revival of his idol unit "MeroMero☆彡KISS." This comeback has been eagerly anticipated by fans and has generated a significant buzz on social media. Gero, embarking on a new beginning as "Shimotakaido Hiroki," posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, "I have an announcement for everyone 💫." He reported that the idol unit "MeroMero☆彡KISS" has restarted activities and that a new song, "Riverside Deep☆彡KISS," has been released. It is said that "Shimotakaido Hiroki" himself wrote the lyrics for this new track. "MeroMero☆彡KISS" is known as a duo unit with "Tondabayashi Akiteru," and many fans have welcomed their return. Particular attention has been drawn to "Shimotakaido Hiroki"'s visual transformation, his "bubbly Showa era"...