Japan: Water Shoots 10 Meters Into Air After Pipe Accident

Water erupted from an underground water pipe at an intersection in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture on Thursday morning, February 12, shooting up to around 10 meters and flooding nearby roads, which were closed to traffic. The prefectural authorities said the incident may have been caused by a contractor’s mistake during air valve replacement work.

Japan: Self Defense Force Requested for Spreading Wildfire in Western Saitama

A wildfire that was initially contained after breaking out in Chichibu, western Saitama, on Wednesday, February 4, expanded to 40 hectares after reigniting Thursday night. The prefectural government was prompted to request the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces on Friday to combat the spreading blaze.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi waves her hand during a stump speech in Kawagoe in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Feb. 3, 2026, ahead of the Feb. 8 general election.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi smiles during a stump speech in Higashimatsuyama in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Feb. 3, 2026, ahead of the Feb. 8 general election.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi smiles during a stump speech in Higashimatsuyama in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Feb. 3, 2026, ahead of the Feb. 8 general election.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi makes a stump speech in Kuki in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Feb. 3, 2026, ahead of the Feb. 8 general election.

Gas One sign and logo

Gas One sign and logo

Gas One sign and logo=January 19,2026,Saitama

Gas One sign and logo

Gas One sign and logo

Gas One sign and logo=January 19,2026,Saitama

Gas One sign and logo

Gas One sign and logo

Gas One sign and logo=January 19,2026,Saitama

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

A Japanese Communist Party candidate waves to voters during a stump speech in Saitama near Tokyo on Jan. 25, 2026, ahead of the general election on Feb. 8.

Baseball: Swallows vs. Lions

Baseball: Swallows vs. Lions

Tyler Nevin of the Seibu Lions hits an RBI single in the first inning of an interleague baseball game against the Yakult Swallows at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on June 4, 2025.

Baseball: Orix vs. Lions

Baseball: Orix vs. Lions

Steven Moya of the Orix Buffaloes hits a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Seibu Lions at MetLife Dome in Tokorozawa in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Oct. 17, 2020.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

A candidate waves to voters during a stump speech in Saitama near Tokyo on Jan. 25, 2026, ahead of the general election on Feb. 8.

Chichibu Night Festival in eastern Japan

Chichibu Night Festival in eastern Japan

Fireworks glitter above decorated floats during Chichibu Night Festival in Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Dec. 3, 2025.

Chichibu Night Festival in eastern Japan

Chichibu Night Festival in eastern Japan

Fireworks glitter above decorated floats during Chichibu Night Festival in Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Dec. 3, 2025.

Chichibu Night Festival in eastern Japan

Chichibu Night Festival in eastern Japan

Fireworks glitter above decorated floats during Chichibu Night Festival in Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Dec. 3, 2025.

Chichibu Night Festival in eastern Japan

Chichibu Night Festival in eastern Japan

Fireworks glitter above decorated floats during Chichibu Night Festival in Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Dec. 3, 2025.

Baseball: Marines vs. Lions

Baseball: Marines vs. Lions

Wu Nien-ting of the Seibu Lions hits a solo home run in the fourth inning of a Pacific League baseball game against the Lotte Marines at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Sept. 6, 2022. Marines pitcher Ayumu Ishikawa surrendered three straight home runs to Tomoya Mori, Hotaka Yamakawa and Wu during the inning.

Saitama Prefectural Government sign and logo

Saitama Prefectural Government sign and logo

Saitama Prefectural Government sign and logo=November 12,2025,Saitama

Saitama Prefectural Government sign and logo

Saitama Prefectural Government sign and logo

Saitama Prefectural Government sign and logo=November 12,2025,Saitama

Saitama Prefectural Government sign and logo

Saitama Prefectural Government sign and logo

Saitama Prefectural Government sign and logo=November 12,2025,Saitama

Japan: Nationwide Protests Erupt Against Immigration Policies, Counter-Protests Reported 4

Protests against the government's immigration policies, including the expansion of foreign worker acceptance and the provision of welfare to foreigners, were held in over 15 cities across Japan on Sunday, October 26. The largest gathering, which drew over 1,000 people, according to X posts, took place in Osaka, with active protests also reported in Tokyo, Fukuoka, and Nagoya. In several areas, demonstrators faced counter-protesters.

TOPPAN Signage and Logo

TOPPAN Signage and Logo

TOPPAN Signage and Logo=October 21,2025,Saitama

TOPPAN Signage and Logo

TOPPAN Signage and Logo

TOPPAN Signage and Logo=October 21,2025,Saitama

TOPPAN Signage and Logo

TOPPAN Signage and Logo

TOPPAN Signage and Logo=October 21,2025,Saitama

TOPPAN Signage and Logo

TOPPAN Signage and Logo

TOPPAN Signage and Logo=October 21,2025,Saitama

TOPPAN Signage and Logo

TOPPAN Signage and Logo

TOPPAN Signage and Logo=October 21,2025,Saitama

2 nursing home residents killed near Tokyo

2 nursing home residents killed near Tokyo

Police officers block a street near a nursing home in Tsurugashima, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Oct. 15, 2025, after two female residents were found bleeding and later pronounced dead. Police took a former male employee of the facility into custody later in the day.

2 nursing home residents killed near Tokyo

2 nursing home residents killed near Tokyo

Police officers block a street near a nursing home in Tsurugashima, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Oct. 15, 2025, after two female residents were found bleeding and later pronounced dead. Police took a former male employee of the facility into custody later in the day.

2 nursing home residents killed near Tokyo

2 nursing home residents killed near Tokyo

Police officers search for clues in the vicinity of a nursing home in Tsurugashima, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Oct. 15, 2025, after two female residents were found bleeding and later pronounced dead. Police took a former male employee of the facility into custody later in the day.

2 nursing home residents killed near Tokyo

2 nursing home residents killed near Tokyo

Police officers search for clues in the vicinity of a nursing home in Tsurugashima, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Oct. 15, 2025, after two female residents were found bleeding and later pronounced dead. Police took a former male employee of the facility into custody later in the day.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks players celebrate after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks players celebrate after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks players celebrate after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks players celebrate after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo is tossed in the air by his players after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo is tossed in the air by his players after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo is tossed in the air by his players after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo is tossed in the air by his players after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo is tossed in the air by his players after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Former abductee Hasuike

Former abductee Hasuike

Former Japanese abductee Kaoru Hasuike speaks during a rally in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 20, 2025, calling for a united effort to bring back all the remaining abductees to Japan. Hasuike, 67, returned from North Korea in 2002 following a Japan-North Korea summit in Pyongyang.

Former abductee Soga

Former abductee Soga

Former Japanese abductee Hitomi Soga speaks during a rally in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 20, 2025, calling for a united effort to bring back all the remaining abductees to Japan. Soga, 66, returned from North Korea in 2002 following a Japan-North Korea summit in Pyongyang.

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

SAITAMA, Japan, Sept. 1 Kyodo - Firefighters conduct a disaster drill at a park in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 1, 2025, the 102nd anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Police officers, Self-Defense Force members and medical staff as well as firefighters from four prefectures and five cities in the Tokyo metropolitan area were mobilized for the joint drill as authorities warn that a megaquake has a 70 percent probability of hitting the Tokyo area within the next 30 years. (Kyodo)

Turkish Kurds in Japan seek refugee status

Turkish Kurds in Japan seek refugee status

SAITAMA, Japan, Aug. 29 Kyodo - Turkish Kurds living in Japan hold a press conference on April 18, 2021, in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, where the largest Kurdish community in Japan resides, asking the Japanese government for refugee status as they hold signs that read "Help." (Kyodo)

Map of Japanese cities with large Kurdish populations

Map of Japanese cities with large Kurdish populations

SAITAMA, Japan, Aug. 29 Kyodo - Map shows the location of the neighboring cities of Kawaguchi and Warabi in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, where most Turkish Kurds in Japan live. (Kyodo)

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Firefighters conduct a disaster drill at a park in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 1, 2025, the 102nd anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Police officers, Self-Defense Force members and medical staff as well as firefighters from four prefectures and five cities in the Tokyo metropolitan area were mobilized for the joint drill as authorities warn that a megaquake has a 70 percent probability of hitting the Tokyo area within the next 30 years.

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Firefighters conduct a disaster drill at a park in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 1, 2025, the 102nd anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Police officers, Self-Defense Force members and medical staff as well as firefighters from four prefectures and five cities in the Tokyo metropolitan area were mobilized for the joint drill as authorities warn that a megaquake has a 70 percent probability of hitting the Tokyo area within the next 30 years.

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (2nd from R) inspects a cross-prefecture disaster drill at a park in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 1, 2025, the 102nd anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Police officers, Self-Defense Force members and medical staff as well as firefighters from four prefectures and five cities in the Tokyo metropolitan area were mobilized for the joint drill as authorities warn that a megaquake has a 70 percent probability of hitting the Tokyo area within the next 30 years.

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during the closing ceremony of a cross-prefecture disaster drill at a park in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 1, 2025, the 102nd anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Police officers, Self-Defense Force members and medical staff as well as firefighters from four prefectures and five cities in the Tokyo metropolitan area were mobilized for the joint drill as authorities warn that a megaquake has a 70 percent probability of hitting the Tokyo area within the next 30 years.

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Firefighters conduct a disaster drill at a park in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 1, 2025, the 102nd anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Police officers, Self-Defense Force members and medical staff as well as firefighters from four prefectures and five cities in the Tokyo metropolitan area were mobilized for the joint drill as authorities warn that a megaquake has a 70 percent probability of hitting the Tokyo area within the next 30 years.