Tokyo International News Agency

A television anime adaptation of the hit spin-off manga Baki Gaiden: Retsu Kaiou wa Isekai Tensei Shitemo Ikkou ni Kamawan! (Baki Gaiden: Retsu Kaiou Doesn't Mind Even in Another World), starring fan-favorite martial artist Retsu Kaiou from the legendary Baki franchise, has been officially greenlit. Alongside the announcement, a special teaser trailer was unveiled. TMS Entertainment, the studio behind the mainline Baki anime adaptations and Baki-Dou , will handle the animation production. This unique martial arts fantasy follows Retsu Kaiou after his demise in the main series, as he is reincarnated into a sword-and-sorcery fantasy world. Determined to prove the supremacy of Chinese Kenpo, Retsu fearlessly challenges monstrous beasts and formidable warriors from another dimension. Since its serialization began, the series has drawn immense attention for its wild premise fused with hard-hitting, authentic martial arts action. The announcement aligned with the broadcast of Retsu Ka...

A former tropical storm that had weakened into a tropical depression has regained strength over open waters and is expected to revert into a full-fledged typhoon, drawing widespread attention across Japanese social media. The phrase "becoming a typhoon" began trending on X (formerly Twitter) as users shared their astonishment and curiosity over this rare meteorological phenomenon. According to announcements by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and other weather bureaus, former Typhoon No. 18, which had degraded into a tropical depression after moving toward mainland China, drifted into the South China Sea and began gathering strength again. Meteorologists forecast that the system will intensify back to typhoon status within 24 hours. The revival of a system that previously dissipated into a tropical depression is colloquially known as a "resurrection typhoon" or "zombie storm," occurring only once every few years. Under meteorological conventions, when...

Interest in Sanseito is surging on social media as the political party continues to log a string of victories and maintain a high win rate for its endorsed candidates in local elections. While party leader Sohei Kamiya's call to "change Japan through grassroots activism" and efforts to expand the organization from the regional level have been passionately embraced by supporters, the party is also facing criticism regarding the specifics of its policies and past controversial statements. The party has demonstrated strong momentum in recent local elections, with party leadership actively highlighting the high election success rate of its official candidates. On social media platforms, congratulatory messages such as "Congratulations on your victory" and "Sanseito's advance is only just beginning" abound, alongside commentary noting the fervent enthusiasm of supporters disseminating information and the party's sophisticated online communication st...

It was revealed on the 31st that House Foods Group Headquarters is considering the sale of its shares in Ichibanya Co., Ltd., its consolidated subsidiary that operates the popular curry chain “Curry House CoCo Ichibanya.” The move is seen as an effort to resolve the parent-child dual listing that has been in place since Ichibanya became a subsidiary in 2015, as well as to restructure the group’s business portfolio. According to sources familiar with the matter, multiple investment funds have already expressed interest in an acquisition, and taking Ichibanya private has emerged as a potential option. House Foods Group currently holds a majority stake of approximately 51% in Ichibanya. The move comes amid a broader push across Japan to dismantle parent-subsidiary dual listings in order to improve corporate governance and capital efficiency. Ichibanya is Japan’s largest curry restaurant chain, operating more than 1,500 locations both domestically and internationally...

The domestic PlayStation 5 (PS5) release of Halloween: The Game , an upcoming asymmetric PvP horror title based on the iconic Halloween film franchise, has been officially canceled in Japan, triggering significant backlash and discussion among the gaming community. The primary reason for the cancellation is the game's failure to secure an age rating from the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO), Japan's primary video game classification board. According to the official announcement, the title's graphic depictions of violence and nudity conflicted with CERO's strict review guidelines. Rather than implementing heavy censorship to pass inspection, the publisher decided to prioritize the integrity of the original artistic vision and presentation, ultimately choosing to cancel the Japanese PS5 release. Customers who pre-ordered the PS5 version will receive refunds in due course. Conversely, the PC and Xbox versions—which operate under different distribution mod...

Yu Haibara, a popular character from the hit franchise Jujutsu Kaisen, is set to appear in the smartphone game Jujutsu Kaisen Phantom Parade, creating a massive buzz on social media. It has been announced that an SSR [Burning Feelings] Yu Haibara will be added to the game in the "Steaming Sorcerer Gacha" starting on Monday, August 31. Along with this announcement, a newly drawn illustration by the original author, Gege Akutami, was also revealed. Furthermore, Haibara's cursed technique, which had never been clarified in the original manga, has been officially disclosed for the first time, shocking fans with keywords such as "Steaming Sorcerer" and "Steaming Ascent." Following the sudden revelation of his cursed technique and his long-awaited game debut, X (formerly Twitter) has been flooded with joyful reactions, with fans posting comments like "Never thought I'd get to know Haibara-kun's technique after the manga ended," "Fighti...

Takumi Kuriyama, affectionately known as "Mr. Leo" of the Saitama Seibu Lions, brought the curtain down on his illustrious 25-year career in the most dramatic fashion possible by rapping out his 2,152nd career professional hit in his final career at-bat. This cinematic single has triggered an outpouring of emotion and praise from fans both inside the stadium and across the globe. While the game itself featured intense action, all eyes were locked on number 1, Kuriyama, as his final moment approached. Following a dramatic home run by young slugger Shinya Hasegawa that set the stage, the ultimate at-bat arrived. Right before he stepped into the batter's box, the stadium's cheering songs abruptly stopped, plunging the venue into a moment of breathless silence. With everyone watching on with bated breath, Kuriyama cleanly met the very first pitch and punched a gritty, textbook single into center field. Social media platforms were immediately flooded with emotional reactio...