16.3% of mothers attending shrine visits for newborns wear formal visiting kimono | Even as Western clothing becomes the norm, some say, “It’s a special day, so I choose a kimono”
Companies supporting same-sex marriage top 700. Campaign announces a guide to help companies supporting marriage equality visualize their support, as well as a tool outlining measures companies should take before and after legal reform on same-sex marriage
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
The combined number of employees at supporting companies nationwide now exceeds 2 million
379 companies submit petition to Supreme Court seeking same-sex marriage
Survey report | 200 AI and DX decision-makers respond; more than 70% of enterprise companies face challenges in becoming “AI Ready”
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
200 people involved in AI and DX initiatives
79.0% of enterprise companies have put AI into business operations
74.5% have introduced DWH, data lakes and similar systems
76.5% of respondents said the statement “Internal data is siloed by department and system and has not been integrated” applied “strongly” or “somewhat”
72.5% of respondents said the statement “Inconsistent data formats, quality and update frequency make it difficult to use AI” applied to them
65.0% of respondents said the statement “Data is not kept up to date and does not reflect the latest market and industry trends” applied to them
73.5% of respondents said the statement “External data (such as open data and market data) has not been integrated” applied to them
25.0% said they “integrate external data with internal data and use it for AI decisions and analysis”
A “bath of the future” that automatically washes both body and mind comes to a hot spring theme park: Minoh Onsen Spa Garden to reopen on Oct. 1 with the buzzworthy “Mirai Human Washing Machine,” the first introduction at a hot spring facility
Relocation event “Yamaguchi and Tsuwano: A Relaxed Relocation Life 2026—Discover, See, Enjoy” to be held on July 26 at Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan in Yurakucho
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
The Yamaguchi Central Partnership Metropolitan Area, commonly known as “Nanashimachi” (nickname: “Yamaguchi Yume Corridor”), consists of 7 municipalities: Ube, Yamaguchi, Hagi, Hofu, Mine and Sanyo-Onoda in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Tsuwano in Shimane Prefecture.
6 cities in Yamaguchi Prefecture and Tsuwano Town in Shimane Prefecture will exhibit
No. 1 legal research platform “Legalscape” (Note 1) launches link-sharing feature for AI research results
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
One of the industry's largest content collections (more than 44,000 items in total, including over 4,500 books)
“Legalscape (リーガルスケープ)” is a legal research platform launched in June 2021.
In September 2023, it became the first in Japan to introduce an AI research feature combining generative AI with the company’s proprietary natural language processing technology.
Learning by children in Sakura City brings smiles in Nepal—feedback lectures held at Usui Junior High School, Mano-dai Elementary School and Oji-dai Elementary School
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Educational support activities carried out in Nepal’s Lumbini Province and Kathmandu in June 2026
Turn the “postponement of winter” into an opportunity! Spring strategies for capturing winter demand and the latest analysis data on naphtha trends now available
TWICE MOMO’s image-model contact lens brand “SIE.（シー）” gets a makeover. Three new non-rotating water-gloss shades arrive, along with an upgrade to silicone material.
“今与,” a jewelry maison weaving together Japanese beauty and tradition, to hold the “IMAYO THANKS SPECIAL 2026 SUMMER Points Up Campaign” exclusively for members
[World first] A rice ball stand where you can grill yakiniku is born! “⾜軽おにぎり ⾦沢店” grand opens on July 4 (Sat.), offering a 120-year-old yakiniku counter and premium rice cooked in a traditional pot!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
足軽おにぎり set meal (1,800 yen, tax included)
Daimyo rice ball set meal (2,200 yen, tax included)
Updating a vendor risk-check process that had been in place for more than 20 years with 2線の匠クラウド. 北上信用金庫 is strengthening its management system with an eye toward responding to hearings by 金融庁.
Nursing care, funeral services and government work together to address the “issues after parents are gone,” the “8050 problem” and an “era without family support.” A lecture and networking event to discuss the “Kobe dementia model” with local practitioners
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
The population aged 65 and older is approximately 440,000
[For junior and senior high school students; free to participate] “I’m interested in social issues, but I don’t know what to do.” Turn that interest into products and services with the “Ridilover Quest,” launching this summer
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
A total of 20 groups (30–40 people)
More than 10,000 people participate annually in the study tour program for junior and senior high school students
Provides cross-boundary learning and training to more than 130 companies
Your familiar town becomes an adventure playground! “Sodegaura Summer Vacation Grand Adventure! A Smartphone Stamp Rally Around Town” launches July 18 for the whole family
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Discover new attractions in 袖ケ浦市 through an RPG-style experience in which participants solve quests hidden at designated spots.
Gaura Prize: 3 kg of rice from Sodegaura (5 winners selected by lottery)
Soderi Prize: Assorted local specialties (10 winners selected by lottery)
Takashi Enomoto, representative director and CEO of ステップゴルフ株式会社, appears as a guest on the しぶさわくんFM program “TOKYO NORTH MOVEMENT —From the Window of Asukayama—.” The program will be released in 5 installments.
[SwitchBot] One light for seasonal decorations and everyday illumination. Reservations now open for the Matter-compatible permanent outdoor “Exterior Light”
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Regular price (tax included): 16,980 yen
Launch sale price (tax included): 14,433 yen
Discount: 15% off
Length: 15 m
2 million households using the service in Japan
5 million units sold cumulatively
Companies mentioned：SWITCHBOT株式会社、Apple Home、Amazon Alexa、Google Home
[Back in print by popular demand] A phantom picture book by Shuntaro Tanikawa reimagined with photographs by Kotori Kawashima! “Utsukushii!” goes on sale July 10!
クウゼン（KUZEN） ranks No. 1 in the “Overall” and “Small and Medium-sized Businesses” categories for LINE Marketing Tools in the “2026 First Half BOXIL Document Request Rankings”
Crowdfunding begins for “Cherishing loved ones, carrying Kyoto’s fire into the future: Become a guardian of the Gozan Okuribi—A project to pass on tradition”
ABEJA, 川崎重工業, ファナック, FingerVision, 安川電機 and others are participating in the “Construction of a Dataset for a VTLA Foundation Model through the Collection of Visual and Tactile Data from Manufacturing Sites,” a project selected by 経済産業省 and NEDO
“The Front Lines of Condominium Disaster Preparedness: Understanding Local Characteristics through Spatial Analysis” — Free online seminar on July 16 (Thu) (マンションみらい価値研究所)
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Japan accounts for approximately 0.25% of the world's land area
Approximately 10% of earthquakes worldwide occur in Japan
ライクキッズ holds a food education event to teach the importance of every grain of rice; children take on the challenge of removing rice husks and threshing rice using a mortar through their own efforts!
Celebrate the Midsummer Day of the Ox at ほっかほっか亭! 4 eel dishes are now on sale, including the classic grilled eel rice box, with options to suit every taste!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Grilled eel rice box: ¥1,080 (tax included)
Double grilled eel rice box: ¥1,980 (tax included)
Grilled eel and beef yakiniku rice box: ¥1,380 (tax included)
Experience “Mizusara”: fresh and light hydration! A new face mask jointly developed by ルルルン, the No. 1 face mask brand for 7 consecutive years, and 株式会社LOIVE’s original brand, ＆fit
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
More than 2.9 billion sheets sold cumulatively across the series※2
Operates more than 220 women-only fitness studios nationwide
A new edition of a novel by Germany's beloved author シャルロッテ・リンク: “The Cases of Detective Kate Linville” to receive its exclusive Japanese premiere on July 5! Original novel series to go on sale at the ミステリーチャンネル official online store!!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
“The Cases of Detective Kate Linville” to receive its exclusive Japanese premiere on July 5 (Sun)
Starting July 2 (Thu), the original “Kate Linville” novel series (創元推理文庫) will be available at the ミステリーチャンネル official online store
“A Lonely Night” is a new release scheduled for July 30 (Thu), so it will be available for preorder as of July 2 (Thu), with regular sales beginning on July 30 (Thu)
A masterful mystery that became a major bestseller in Germany, selling more than 1.6 million copies
“The Kidnapper, Volumes Upper and Lower” — シャルロッテ・リンク, translated by Akiko Asai; label: 創元推理文庫 (M); format: paperback; price: ¥2,772 for both volumes (tax included)
“Without Guilt, Volumes Upper and Lower” — シャルロッテ・リンク, translated by Akiko Asai; label: 創元推理文庫 (M); format: paperback; price: ¥2,640 for both volumes (tax included)
Companies mentioned：シャルロッテ・リンク、ミステリーチャンネル、株式会社AXNエンタテインメント、東京創元社、創元推理文庫、OneGate Media GmbH、ARD Degeto、W&B Television、Roland Suso Richter、スカパー！、J:COM、ひかりTV、auひかり
NPO法人ETIC. begins providing operational support for “CO・OP Regional Co-Creation Lab,” a Japan Consumers' Co-operative Union 75th anniversary initiative
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2026
30 people from 17 consumer co-ops nationwide participated in the program
Original2026年5月〜11月までの6ヶ月間のプログラム
Has produced approximately 2,200 entrepreneurs
More than 400 program graduates
More than 70% are in their 20s to 40s
61.7% of participants came from outside the Kanto region
The business's sales have grown 9.75 times from before participation to the present
Employment has also increased 5.8 times
Total business volume: approximately ¥3.8 trillion
Make running part of everyday life with a bouncy feel. Launching the “NOVABLAST 6” running shoe, now lighter with enhanced responsiveness and propulsion
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
The manufacturer's suggested retail price is ¥17,600 (tax included).
“SHIBUYA PHOTO BOOK FAIR” to be held at Shibuya Hikarie 8/COURT on July 11 (Sat) and 12 (Sun)!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
The 9 participating stores at “SHIBUYA PHOTO BOOK FAIR” are POST, Shelf, Daily Practice Books, Open Room, commune, Sister, 青山ブックセンター, SALT AND PEPPER and UTRECHT.
Dates and times: July 11, 2026 (Sat), 11:30–19:00; July 12 (Sun), 11:30–17:00
Original参加費(税込)：1本 500円（10分）
Participation fee: ¥500 (tax included)
Participation fee: ¥1,000 (tax included)
Companies mentioned：東急株式会社、Bunkamura、me and you、POST、Shelf、Daily Practice Books、Open Room、commune、Sister、青山ブックセンター、SALT AND PEPPER、UTRECHT、Lemon House Inc.
[Survey of 200 Major Companies] “1-on-1 meetings” (54%) and “team building” rank among the most effective retention measures — but the biggest obstacle is the lack of company-wide agreement on their importance (47.9%)
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
“1-on-1 meetings” ranked first at 54.0%
“Team building” also ranked highly at 43.5%
“Lack of company-wide agreement on their importance” (47.9%)
“Difficulty proving ROI with numerical data” (39.5%)
A large-scale in-house event with more than 1,000 attendees
88.8% said they felt more positive about their company or team
[Featured in GoodsPress magazine!] ALTENA’s next-generation ice maker, launched about 2 months ago, releases dedicated accessories for separate purchase ahead of schedule! Purchases alongside the main unit are surging thanks to “proactive support” for wear and loss!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Cumulative sales of the series have surpassed 15,000 units