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KYOTO, Oct 26 (News On Japan) - Around 500 blazing torches lit up the night sky on October 22nd as Kyoto’s famed Kurama Fire Festival, one of the city’s three most extraordinary festivals, took place around Yuki Shrine in Sakyo Ward. The festival traces its origins back to the year 940, when Emperor Suzaku transferred the deity Yuki Daimyojin from the Imperial Palace to Kurama to pray for peace and the happiness of the people, illuminating the procession route with torches. Shouts of “Saireiya, Sairyo”—meaning “the best festival”—echoed through the streets as young men wearing traditional loincloths carried torches roughly three meters long through the community, filling the ancient capital with heat and light. Source: 産経ニュース POPULAR NEWS Japan’s H3 Rocket Sends New Cargo Vehicle to Space Station Japan’s H3 Rocket No. 7, carrying a newly developed unmanned cargo spacecraft, successfully launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture at 9 a.m. on October 26th, marking another milestone for the nation’s space program. Tokyo Court Rules Workplace Use of '-chan' as Sexual Harassment A Tokyo District Court has ruled that addressing a colleague using the 'chan' suffix constitutes sexual harassment, ordering a male employee to pay 220,000 yen in damages. Inside Japanese Fonts: How Designers Shape the Way We Read Fonts are an invisible part of daily life, yet they profoundly shape how we perceive information and emotion. From the elegant Mincho to the bold Gothic, these designs are chosen according to purpose—whether to convey clarity, trust, or impact—and their influence extends beyond readability into branding and communication. Imperial Family Pays Tribute to War Victims The Emperor, Empress, and their daughter Princess Aiko visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida Ward on Thursday afternoon, marking their first visit to the site as Japan observes the 80th year since the end of World War II. They were greeted upon arrival by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and other officials. First Snow Caps Mount Fuji, 15 Days Earlier Than Last Year The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced on October 23rd that the season’s first snow had been observed on Mount Fuji, which stands 3,776 meters tall. Around 6 a.m., an official visually confirmed that snow had clearly accumulated near the summit. MEDIA CHANNELS Travel NEWS Kurama Fire Festival Lights Up Kyoto Around 500 blazing torches lit up the night sky on October 22nd as Kyoto’s famed Kurama Fire Festival, one of the city’s three most extraordinary festivals, took place around Yuki Shrine in Sakyo Ward. Tokyo's Tropical Paradise | The Best Beaches I've Ever Seen In Japan! After having travelled to Japan's most famous tropical locations (Okinawa, Amami, Miyakojima etc), I wasn't expected Niijima to hold a candle to them, but I was wrong! I can't believe that the best beaches in the country are in Tokyo... (Currently Hannah) Kotatsu Dining With a View With the arrival of autumn, Osaka’s Abeno Harukas is offering visitors breathtaking sunset views from the 58th-floor observatory 300 meters above ground. Hoshino Resorts Turns Regional with Seven New Openings in 2026 Hoshino Resorts announced on October 22nd that it will open seven new facilities across Japan in 2026, with a particular focus on regional areas. First Snow Caps Mount Fuji, 15 Days Earlier Than Last Year The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced on October 23rd that the season’s first snow had been observed on Mount Fuji, which stands 3,776 meters tall. Around 6 a.m., an official visually confirmed that snow had clearly accumulated near the summit. Toddler Injured on Tokyo Disneyland's Beauty and the Beast Ride A child was rushed to the hospital after a safety belt slipped and tightened around their neck while riding the “Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Tale” attraction at Tokyo Disneyland on October 21st. Kyoto Marks 130 Years of Jidai Matsuri The Jidai Festival, one of Kyoto’s three grand festivals, was held as a parade of people dressed in costumes representing different historical eras made its way through the streets of the ancient capital. Shizuoka Studies Yamanashi’s Approach to Managing Overtourism on Mt. Fuji The Shizuoka Prefectural Assembly’s special committee on the preservation and proper use of Mt. Fuji held its fourth meeting on October 21st, hearing from officials of Fujiyoshida City in neighboring Yamanashi Prefecture about their initiatives to curb “bullet climbing” — the practice of ascending the mountain overnight without adequate rest or preparation.
