Tokyo International News Agency

At 3:45 p.m. on the 14th, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a near-crater warning and raised the volcanic alert level for Mount Aso (Nakadake) in Kumamoto Prefecture from Level 2 (Do not approach the crater) to Level 3 (Do not approach the volcano/mountain access restricted) due to heightened volcanic activity. According to the JMA, increased activity has been detected at Mt. Aso, including a sharp rise in the volume of volcanic gas emissions. As a result, authorities are urging vigilance against large airborne volcanic rocks and pyroclastic flows within a radius of approximately two kilometers from the Nakadake No. 1 crater. Following the elevation of the alert level, local municipalities around the volcano—including Aso City, Minamiaso Village, and Takamori Town in Kumamoto Prefecture—have implemented entry restrictions around the crater and closed off mountain climbing routes. Local authorities and relevant agencies are strongly advising hikers, residents, and tourists to...

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has announced that a tropical depression currently developing south of Japan is expected to strengthen into a typhoon within 24 hours. If it forms, it will become Typhoon No. 17 of the season. Coming while the effects of Typhoon No. 15 are still being felt, news of this potential new storm has sparked widespread concern and alarm across social media. According to weather forecasts, the projected storm could track toward the main island of Honshu, raising fears of a direct hit or close approach to eastern Japan, particularly the Kanto region around Tokyo. Anxious comments have flooded online platforms, with users asking, "Is it coming toward Kanto again?" and worrying that it might follow a route similar to Typhoon No. 15. The timing is particularly critical as the storm's potential arrival over the weekend and the end of the Obon holiday period overlaps with major gatherings, including the massive fan convention Comic Market (Comiket)...

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and local weather observatories have issued warnings for "warning-level heavy rain" and strong winds across a broad area of the country from May 1 to May 2. This phenomenon, often referred to as a "May Storm" (Haru no Arashi), has raised serious concerns over transportation disruptions, road flooding, and wind-related accidents. Anxiety is mounting on social media as residents prepare for the volatile weather. According to weather forecasts, intense rain accompanied by thunder is expected particularly in the Tokai region, such as Shizuoka Prefecture, and the Kanto region from dawn through the morning of May 1. Forecasted 24-hour rainfall totals are expected to reach 100 mm in southern Kanto, 80 mm in northern Kanto, and 60 mm in the Izu Islands. In addition to the rain, winds are expected to intensify, with gusts potentially reaching typhoon-like levels. Drivers are urged to exercise extreme caution on bridges and in coastal are...

China's Foreign Ministry recently issued a warning to its citizens, advising them to refrain from traveling to Japan. This measure stems from China's assertion that a Japanese leader (believed to be Prime Minister Takaichi) made “openly provocative remarks” regarding the Taiwan issue, which China claims pose “significant risks to Chinese citizens residing in Japan.” This move is expected to have a serious impact on future people-to-people exchanges, including tourism, from China to Japan. The Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized the Japanese leader's remarks as “a severe interference in China's internal affairs and a crossing of a red line that must not be crossed,” viewing it as part of retaliatory measures. There are also reports circulating, albeit unconfirmed, of soaring air ticket prices within China, contributing to public confusion. In response to this news, various reactions have flooded Japanese social media. Many voices have welcomed the potential decrease in C...