About 80% of elementary school teachers notice "children feeling unwell in April," suggesting a gap with parents. The importance of lifestyle habits from early childhood, seen in "spring fatigue," common among first graders
"Wait, it's not an illustration!?" Mirko and Katsuki Bakugo from the anime "My Hero Academia" join the lineup of three-dimensional figures that look completely two-dimensional (flat)!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Bellfine began taking preorders on March 6, 2026, for new figures of Mirko and Katsuki Bakugo from the anime "My Hero Academia," part of its "Palette Masters Series" using two-dimensional-style painting technology. Mirko is priced at 29,700 yen (tax included) and Katsuki Bakugo at 22,000 yen (tax included); they are scheduled for release in September and August 2026, respectively. Customers who preorder through the official e-commerce site by May 14, 2026, will receive a bonus.
[A new proposal for rethinking your dog's diet!] ROKKA BLOOM, a complete and balanced food made with venison and horse meat, launches crowdfunding as a project to support local hunters
How should requirements definition change in the microcontroller EOL era? At Japan IT Week Spring, Miraxia Edge Technology explains the forefront of "microcontroller replacement" using generative AI
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Miraxia Edge Technology will speak at the "Japan IT Week Spring Conference," taking place at Tokyo Big Sight from April 8 to 10, 2026. At a session on April 8, company representative Masafumi Niizaki will explain the use of generative AI in requirements definition for addressing microcontroller EOL. At the concurrent expo, the company will exhibit its "Microcontroller EOL Requirements Definition Service," which delivers requirements definition documents in as little as 2 weeks based on source code information. Prices start at 800,000 yen.
Prototype × Tsukuba Circuit to exhibit jointly at TMS2026
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Prototype and Tsukuba Circuit have announced that they will exhibit jointly at TMS2026. Details are unclear, but the image suggests that the exhibit is related to automobiles.
Korean global beauty brand Biodance launches "Caviar PDRN Real Deep Mask," a new addition to its original hydrogel mask line, which has surpassed cumulative shipments of 180 million sheets
"Runo," a tableware collection weaving together Arabian traditions and stories of the seasons. A new design arrives in "Runo Summer Ray," decorated with early-summer flowers and plants
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
The Arabia brand, operated by Fiskars Japan, will launch a new design in its Runo tableware collection, "Runo Summer Ray," on April 8, 2026. The additions include a total of 4 items, such as plates and coffee cups and saucers. The design, by artist Heini Riitahuhta, takes inspiration from early-summer flowers and plants. The 2026 seasonal collection will be available through the official online store and retailers nationwide.
Confluent receives FedRAMP Moderate authorization for its cloud service for government agencies
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Data streaming provider Confluent announced that Confluent Cloud for Government, offered on AWS GovCloud (US), has received FedRAMP Moderate authorization. This enables government agencies to use a data streaming platform with guaranteed security. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, about 80% of IT resources are spent maintaining existing systems, and the new service will reduce operational burdens. Partner Carahsoft said this will make it easier for federal agencies to adopt data streaming.
アイコネクト launches proof-of-concept trial of AI for fall detection and behavior analysis at senior care facilities
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Ai.Connect and きづなろ have launched a proof-of-concept trial of a senior monitoring solution using skeletal sensor AI. Combining Ai.Connect’s stable communications technology Virtual Path with きづなろ’s skeletal sensor AI, the trial will assess the accuracy of fall detection and behavior analysis, as well as the impact on reducing workloads. It will run from March 2026 through April 2026 at senior care facilities in the greater Tokyo area.
【東邦レマック】“Fits so well, you could dance.” A new-generation stretch pump is born: a partner for working women!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
東邦レマック will begin rolling out its “Magical Steps” pumps in March 2026, co-developed with staff from “Ready Crew,” a business matching service operated by Frontier. They are priced at ¥4,900 before tax. The pumps feature an all-direction stretch upper, a contoured PU insole and a highly flexible outsole to improve fit and ease of walking. Suitable for both sunny and rainy weather, the line includes 4 styles with heel heights ranging from 2.0 cm to 5.0 cm.
A company that builds creates a place for music: a special day celebrating a commercial facility’s name change
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
In response to the commercial facility iias Kasugai in Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture, changing its name to Yorokka Kasugai on April 3, 2026, 永賢組 will host “100万人のクラシックライブ” as part of the commemorative ceremony. The event offers free live classical music performances by professional musicians. Through this initiative, 永賢組 will celebrate ties with local residents and a new beginning for the commercial facility.
三井物産セキュアディレクション launches “Data Security (DSPM) Implementation Support Service” to inventory, visualize and automatically classify companies’ confidential data using generative AI
Just 7% of people consider “weight” when choosing bedding—a survey reveals the relationship between weight and sleep. JOURNAL STANDARD FURNITURE and MUSUBI launch a co-branded project to “improve sleep and living spaces”
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
KAPOK JAPAN announced that a survey of 100 men and women aged 30–50 with sleep-related concerns found that only 7% consider bedding “weight” important. In response, the company developed the MUSUBI weighted blanket series to improve the sleep environment. A special co-branded model with JOURNAL STANDARD FURNITURE, “MUSUBI+JSF,” will go on presale on Makuake in mid-April 2026. The planned list price is ¥44,800, including tax.
Zendesk registered under ISMAP, the government’s cloud security assessment system
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Zendesk has been registered under ISMAP, which assesses security requirements for cloud services procured by the Japanese government. Products covered by the registration include Zendesk Suite plans and features such as AI agents and ticket management. The registration confirms that the service has met about 1,200 control requirements and standards on par with ISO and NIST. Its Osaka data center began operating in 2024, strengthening its domestic data storage capabilities.
Focusing on risks during the school commute! Waterfront launches a new children’s umbrella designed for ease of use and peace of mind for parents
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Waterfront launched its “Kids Spin Canopy” children’s umbrella in March 2026. Priced at ¥1,650 including tax, it features safety-enhancing details such as concealed tips, 360-degree reflective tape and a spinner structure. The company is an umbrella brand founded in 1986 and became part of the TSI Holdings group in 2025.
【To be held April 15 (Wednesday) at 16:30】The GX potential of the ocean: Regional implementation to shape the next generation
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Adlight will hold “GX Alliance by SUITz,” an event focused on ocean GX, in Otemachi, Tokyo, on April 15, 2026. The program will include a talk on seaweed eco-innovation by Kenji Okamura of Kochi University and a GX business co-creation pitch featuring Tetsuya Nitta of Upside and others. Admission is ¥2,000, with capacity for 50 people. Kankyo Energy Investment and Mitsubishi Estate will participate as alliance partners.
Saku-yama Choco Jiro celebrates its 10th anniversary! The 6th installment of the “10 No Ucho!?” project: The music video for “LIL BIT,” a collaboration with MyM, premieres today!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Shuei Delicy released the music video for “LIL BIT,” a collaboration with music unit MyM, on March 26, 2026, as the 6th installment of a project marking the 10th anniversary of the launch of “Saku-yama Choco Jiro.” MyM is a unit consisting of Oshima of Morisanchu and Yoshiko and Mahiru of Ganbareruya. From the same day through April 8, 2026, 3D advertisements will run on the Cross Shinjuku Vision in Shinjuku and the dip Vision in Umeda.
【myroute】New digital sightseeing ticket launched for enjoying Kyoto’s Kurama Onsen and Ichijoji ramen! Limited-time discount campaign offers savings of up to ¥500 to celebrate the launch♪
Makoto Egashira’s exhibition Mayu matsu hana tachibana no ka o kageba to open at Toranomon’s SIGNAL on April 14
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Makoto Egashira’s solo exhibition Mayu matsu hana tachibana no ka o kageba will open on April 14, 2026, at SIGNAL, a social issue gallery planned and produced by SIGNING. Egashira is a contemporary artist who creates three-dimensional works and installations using blankets. The exhibition runs through May 23, 2026, and admission is free. It will be held on the 1st floor of The ParkRex TORANOMON in Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo.
Bookstores × school backpacks: proposing a new option to reduce the burden of weight. RAKUSACK® JUNIOR, a backpack that feels light to carry
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Footmark has begun selling its RAKUSACK JUNIOR backpack series for elementary school students at KUMAZAWA Bookstore’s ACADEMIA iias Tsukuba store and ACADEMIA Kohoku store. In-store try-on areas use weights to let visitors experience wearing the backpacks, promoting a commuting style that reduces physical strain. A 20% OFF sale will also run from March 27 to April 12. Since its launch in 2020, sales have increased by approximately 150% each year.
Dole, whose motto is “Smile with fruit,” turns banana shopping into entertainment: legendary “Banana Banchō” returns! JO1’s Keigo Sato and Issei Mamehara make their first appearance as rivals
The historic and cultural Yamanoue Hotel begins a new chapter: Takenaka Corporation and Plan・Do・See collaborate on Yamanoue Hotel Tokyo, opening in summer 2027
Millions of businesses can now sell products through AI chat
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Shopify announced an expansion of Agentic Storefronts, a feature that lets merchants sell products in AI chat environments. Products can now be sold directly through major AI channels, including ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and the Gemini app. Brands that do not use Shopify can also sell products through these AI channels with the Agentic Plan. The open standard Universal Commerce Protocol has been adopted as the transaction infrastructure.
[Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium] Deep-Sea Exploration Room reopens after renovation
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium reopened its Deep-Sea Exploration Room exhibition area after renovation on March 19, 2026. The exhibits introduce a breeding trial of the Hiretaka-fujikujira raised using an artificial womb device, as well as breeding research aimed at uncovering the ecology of the Tasuki-sakuradai. The facility lets visitors experience the forefront of research through the latest deep-sea research processes.
Isharyō AI launches a compensation simulator specialized for domestic violence cases; AI estimates an approximate amount based on the nature and duration of the abuse and whether evidence is available
Dating app Tapple launches a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about preventing romance scams carried out through social media, working with the National Police Agency as a full member company of the Japan Dating and Marriage Apps Association
Happy Easter Sale featuring rows of “0”s shaped like Easter eggs: one-way domestic fares from 3,000 yen and one-way Asian fares from 8,000 yen
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Jetstar will hold its Happy Easter Sale from April 2 to April 8, 2026. One-way fares start at 3,000 yen on 15 domestic routes and 8,000 yen on 5 Asian routes. Travel periods vary by route: domestic flights are available from April 14 to July 17, and Asian routes from April 14 to July 30. A social media campaign offering a chance to win a flight voucher worth 10,000 yen will also run.
The Practical Guide to Strengthening Non-Cognitive Skills, which helps develop “non-cognitive skills” said to be beyond AI, such as motivation, perseverance and leadership, gets a new printing
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Tokyo Shoseki announced that its book The Practical Guide to Strengthening Non-Cognitive Skills, released in August 2025, was reprinted in March 2026. The author is Yoshikazu Nakayama, representative of All HEROs and specially appointed professor at International Pacific University. Aimed mainly at junior and senior high school students and Generation Z, the book explains practical ways to develop non-cognitive skills. The list price is 1,980 yen, tax included.
Learn about almost everything around you through diagrams! Detailed, easy-to-understand illustrations explain how all kinds of familiar things and phenomena work. The Illustrated Guide to How Everything Around Us Works gets a new printing.
First for a public childcare facility in Hokkaido’s Sorachi region! Sunagawa City introduces cashless payment service Dare Demo Kessai, supporting the government’s Any Child Can Attend childcare program and temporary childcare
i-freek MOBILE renews its sponsorship agreement with Júbilo Iwata! Stadium signage will provide further support for local sports
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
i-freek MOBILE has renewed its sponsorship agreement with Júbilo Iwata, the J2 League club it supports. On March 14, 2026, the company unveiled signage at Yamaha Stadium, the club’s main stadium. It has supported the club as a supporting company since 2022.
Premium Water to set up a special booth at EIGHT BALL FESTIVAL 2026 supported by GROP, with a water station where visitors can drink natural mineral water using PET bottles or personal bottles
[Toho Lemac × Ready Crew] Supporting the development of Magical Steps, a new-generation pump designed for working women
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Frontier, operator of the business-matching service Ready Crew, supported Toho Lemac in developing its new Magical Steps Pumps model, set for release in March 2026. The company surveyed its employees, who work as concierges, to identify issues and conducted prototype wear tests during regular work. The project came about because Toho Lemac’s vision of developing highly functional footwear aligned with Frontier’s aim of improving employee performance.
Popular idols reunite in premium rare-card outfits! The second lineup of Chibigurumi plush toys wearing premium rare dresses from Aikatsu! arrives at Namco, exclusively nationwide from Friday, April 10, 2026
Sharing their passion for the “stylish trainee” they admire! Anytime Fitness holds its 2nd official fan meeting
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Anytime Fitness, operated by Fast Fitness Japan, held its 2nd official fan meeting, “Fan MEET-UP!,” on March 26, 2026. The company announced that as of the end of January 2026, it had reached 1.1 million domestic members and 1,242 locations. It will also launch its first nationwide promotion for the spring season starting April 1. Under the slogan “Make this spring a season of new beginnings and change,” the promotion will include TV commercials and web ads.
Refreshingly fizzy even after a greasy meal! “Breath Care Carbonated Tablets” leave you feeling as if you’ve rinsed your whole mouth, resetting your breath.
An inaugural exhibition by Karin Hosono, Shotaro Sanada and YU SORA opens on March 28, 2026. Exhibition views unveiled for the first time ahead of the public opening.
A new leave-in milk for beautiful hair that can be used as both a salon treatment and an after-bath care product: “HITA Serum Milk.”
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Takara Belmont will launch “Serum Milk,” a new product in “HITA,” its series for managing wavy hair under “LebeL,” a brand exclusively for hair designers, on May 20, 2026. The serum contains TOSTEA and Elcalaactone, which use heat to repair hair, and is designed to help salon treatments last while supporting at-home care. It comes in a 100 mL size and costs 3,520 yen. It will be available through participating salons nationwide.
“The Booksellers’ Choice Official Fanbook,” revealing the stories behind the books nationwide booksellers most want to sell right now, goes on sale Thursday, March 26.
Food-focused TikTok Shop “Sanchoku Ichiba” begins carrying frozen foods—supporting regional industries in expanding sales channels through live commerce.
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
SynaBiz has begun carrying frozen foods through “Sanchoku Ichiba,” its food-focused TikTok Shop. The product lineup has been expanded with items such as snow crab, Pacific cod, mentaiko and red shrimp. By using a direct-from-producer model, the company aims to optimize distribution costs and expand sales channels for regional industries. Live streams will showcase producers’ appeal to consumers in real time.
A Know The Sea special talk session was held, bringing people together to discuss the sea and lighthouses—their past, present and future—from a familiar perspective.
IBM Japan, Oracle Japan and TIS support development of a financial accounting system for all JTB Group companies
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
IBM Japan, Oracle Japan and TIS have unified the financial accounting systems of 54 JTB Group companies in Japan and overseas, establishing a globally integrated management platform. Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications was implemented, with 95% of standard functions adopted without customization. The platform will improve the timeliness of financial data and enable faster decision-making to support business portfolio transformation. Implementation was completed at 23 domestic companies in April 2025 and 31 overseas companies in January 2026, with completion targeted for May 2026 following the integration of domestic branches.
[NOHGA HOTEL KIYOMIZU KYOTO] Announcement of 4th anniversary events.
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
NOHGA HOTEL KIYOMIZU KYOTO, operated by Nomura Real Estate Hotels, announced that it will hold events to mark its 4th anniversary. The specific event details are unknown because the article text is unavailable.
teamLab refreshes the Hanshin Tigers’ official app.
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
teamLab announced that it has refreshed the Hanshin Tigers’ official app. Details are unavailable because the article text is missing, but the update appears to have included UI/UX improvements and new features.
[Latest review survey] Jojoen’s average Google Maps rating is 4.4 stars! What are the “must-try menu items” that rival its wagyu?
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
A report analyzing Google Maps reviews of 59 Jojoen locations has been released using “Kuchikomi.com,” a review analysis service operated by mov. The analysis covered 3,554 reviews posted from March 14, 2025, to March 16, 2026. The average review rating during the period was 4.37, with an average of 60 reviews per location. Ratings of 5 stars accounted for 66.8%, while 4-star ratings accounted for 18.1%.
JTB and MOTO TOURS JAPAN reach basic agreement to expand inbound tourism.
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
JTB and MOTO TOURS JAPAN have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand inbound tourism through motorcycle tourism. They aim to offer high-value touring experiences by motorcycle, encourage inbound visitors concentrated in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto to visit other regions, and address overtourism. The companies are primarily targeting affluent travelers from Europe, the United States, Australia and ASEAN, and will develop services centered on motorcycle rentals and conduct a feasibility study.
[A major hit in Newsweek Japan] What lies beneath the blue tarpaulins: despair, freedom or a modest sense of dignity? A gripping reportage following homeless people living along a riverbank portrays Japan’s “invisible reality”——
MyM’s new song “LIL BIT” is out today, along with a music video featuring Chocojirō. The must-see pop video, set in a convenience store, brings MyM and Chocojirō together.
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Music unit MyM released its new song “LIL BIT” on March 26, 2026, and unveiled its music video. The song is a tie-up track with Shoei Delicy’s “Saku-yama Chocojiro.” The character Chocojirō also appears in the music video. MyM will also hold “MyM 2nd Debut Anniversary Liv” in Tokyo and Osaka in May 2026.
[HOSHINOYA Okinawa] Set out to sea by paddle, then drift in a moonlit pool. A summer stay that invites guests to immerse themselves in the “eternal time” passed down from the Ryukyu Islands.