Shinji Aoba, who was sentenced to death in the first instance for setting fire to the Kyoto Animation studio, resulting in the tragic loss of 36 lives, has withdrawn his appeal.
Get ready to sip on spring with Starbuck's new sakura drink!
Setsubun is a time of seasonal change, and is known for the custom of throwing beans saying "Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi" ("Demons out, good fortune in") to drive away evil and bring in good fortune.
Osaka, Japan's third-largest city, has significantly expanded its smoking ban, prohibiting smoking on all city streets as of the end of January 2025.
The Yotsugi Jizo Grand Festival is an annual event held at Jotoku-ji Temple, which is known as a place to pray for conception and safe childbirth.
The Hatsu-uma Festival is a grand festival commemorating the first enshrinement of the god Inari-Okami on Mt. Inari.
On Setsubun, a ritual is held to ward off evil spirits and bring in good fortune.
A ritual in which holy water boiled in a cauldron is sprinkled on bamboo leaves, this is a Setsubun event that heralds the arrival of spring.