TBS’s “Banana Sand” gets a long-awaited book adaptation! “The Head-and-Tail Picture Book,” for everyone from children to adults, goes on sale Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
From 100% Japanese black wagyu to the trendy smash burger, 12 restaurants from inside and outside the prefecture gather in one place! Tokorozawa Sakura Town will hold its first “Autumn Burger Fest 2026” this fall!
Maximizing e-commerce purchasing opportunities with Shopify × LINE. New features added to “LINE Coupon Auto Delivery,” enhancing sales promotion tools with bulk new-product announcements, cart and checkout abandonment reminders, and coupons issued by traffic source.
Emergency assistance and local needs assessment launched: earthquake off Flores Island, eastern Indonesia
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
On August 15, 2026, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Flores Island, Indonesia, leaving more than 60 dead and more than 5,000 displaced. Japan Platform has decided to provide emergency assistance and begun an on-the-ground assessment. This is an important response as the organization continues its humanitarian assistance in Indonesia.
Supporting the growth of craft and helping close regional disparities in access to learning. Tsubaki Lab, which has taught more than 200 people to use wood lathes, has launched “Woodturning Basics: Fundamentals Course,” an online video lesson series that can be studied from anywhere.
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Tsubaki Lab LLC launched its online video lessons, “Basics: Fundamentals Course,” for woodturning in August 2026. Drawing on its experience teaching more than 200 people, the company aims to close regional disparities in access to learning.
Produce product introduction videos in-house! “Media Doctor,” an AI-powered tool
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
博士.com has launched the AI-powered video production and distribution platform “媒體博士,” helping companies produce product introduction videos in-house, address positioning and efficiency challenges in traditional marketing, and strengthen brand autonomy.
“School Refusal Revolution Summit in the AI Era,” an online event for parents, to be held Wednesday, September 23 (national holiday)
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
The “School Refusal Revolution Summit in the AI Era” will be held online for free on September 23, 2026, for parents of children who refuse to attend school. Organizer にじいろ未来デザインアカデミー redefines school refusal as “the gateway to talent.” The initiative reflects the growing trend of integrating education and AI.
The music of “Star Wars: Visions / The Ninth Jedi” is finally set for its world premiere. “GALACTIC SYMPHONY,” an immersive Star Wars music experience, will be held on Aug. 28
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Film Score Co., Ltd. will present “GALACTIC SYMPHONY,” a concert featuring the world premiere of music from “Star Wars: Visions / The Ninth Jedi,” on Aug. 28, 2026. Director Kenji Kamiyama and others will appear, offering audiences a musical experience of the moment Japanese creativity reaches the world.
Demonstration of implementing a design system with Claude Code to prevent “AI Slop” — AI Native and Lumilinks to co-host free webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 8
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
AI Native and Lumilinks will co-host a free webinar introducing ways to implement design systems that prevent low-quality, mass-produced AI content known as “AI Slop.” The online event will be held on Sept. 8, 2026, with a focus on automating quality control.
[Kumamoto, Aso] Take a sunset drive around a golf course in a cart! Kosugi Resort launches a new activity.
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Kosugi Resort has launched “Sunset Drive,” a new activity offering views of Aso at dusk. The activity is open to non-guests as well, and is expected to boost tourism in the area.
[Free online seminar on Aug. 27, 2026] “How should I explain my disability and accommodation needs?” Job offer recipients share interview tips and strategies!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
General Partners Co., Ltd. will hold a free online job-hunting seminar for students with disabilities on Aug. 27, 2026. People who have received job offers will share firsthand advice on explaining accommodation needs during interviews, helping promote social inclusion.
Starting Aug. 5, 2026, amadana will launch a laptop sleeve and utility case featuring CORDURA® Ballistic 1000D. The high-performance storage products are designed for diverse work styles and to make life more convenient for business users.
[Bamboo transcends words] A hands-on session was held at ジャパン・ハウス ロンドン
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Taketora held a bamboo sensory experience session at Japan House London on Aug. 18, 2026. The company, celebrating its 132nd anniversary, plans to hold a similar event in Budapest as part of its efforts to share culture.
A new standard for inbound tourist souvenirs! New designs added to LUNAKA’s nail stickers depicting Japanese culture, winner of the Omotenashi Selection Gold Award. Wholesale sales for business customers begin Sept. 1.
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
4 new designs
About 6,000 items sold
1 sheet: 1,000 yen
Flat-rate shipping: 200 yen
Minimum initial order: 30,000 yen
Display stand and POP materials set: 1,500 yen
Annual sales: 100 million yen
Companies mentioned：LUNAKA、LUNAKA JAPAN WORKS、日本政府観光局（JNTO）
The skincare brand for thin skin “imaét -イマエット-” debuts. Its science-based, serum-inspired “モイストヴェールセラムローション” toner and “メルティウィズオイル” oil serum launch simultaneously on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
[A summer vacation finale project] Cut a log and make a chair. Yamaki Construction to hold an event where parents and children can enjoy connecting with nature!
[Kansai expansion] “You can change your floors and wallpaper even in a rental.” renovy, a space-styling brand popular in Tokyo, launches services in Osaka and the Kansai area on Sept. 1
Bringing a chain of reassurance to Kumamoto. ULAS donates 75 ozone water generators to areas affected by the Reiwa 8 Kumamoto earthquake. The donation is part of the “Gifts of Nature・ULAS Clean Future Project” and will serve medical institutions, evacuation shelters, senior care facilities and other sites.
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
75 “ULAS O3 familia” ozone water generators
Generates ozone water from tap water in about 30 seconds
An AR stamp rally, “Animal Encyclopedia,” that requires no app and encourages visitors to explore facilities and spend locally is now available, with implementation possible in as little as 1 week
[Healthcare DX / reducing the burden of clinical documentation] “MC-Drive for Clinic,” an AI medical-record assistant, launches a new feature that automatically recognizes patient IDs in electronic medical records
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
In operation at 100 medical institutions and health insurance pharmacies nationwide
Audio recordings are stored for up to 60 days for each consultation date
From ¥40,000 per month
Recommended microphone FR-1200: ¥53,000
Monthly fee (for each device from the 2nd onward): ¥10,000 per device per month
About 2,000 visitors expected! The Yahiko hot spring district will be filled with music! “YAHIKO JAZZ FESTA! VOL.3” takes place on Sunday, Sept. 27. Performers at all 12 venues include 40 groups and more than 200 musicians!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Attendance target: 2000 people
Within 弥彦村
Companies mentioned：弥彦ジャズフェスタ実行委員会、弥彦村、一般社団法人 弥彦観光協会、弥彦温泉観光旅館組合、弥彦吹奏楽クラブ、SWAMP GYPSY CARAVAN、新潟ジャズ研究会、LIQUID PARKS、ナタリー石田＆えのもとくみこ with Friends、タンゴ・エチゴリアン、田上ゴスペルクワイヤ、Daisy、新潟Jazz LOVERS、De L'est Plus、ジョニまさ＆ベス、大竹恵子トリオ、佐藤祐一Quartet＆吉川ナオミ、権藤真弓＆JAZZ DIGGERS、皆川山岸、歌とウクレレの午後、Nao & Ken、ボサコルデオン、CHIAKI KLEIN、吉田睦＆井上潤DUO、えのもとくみこ＆過足薫DUO、田村優子 和JAZZ BAND、sprawl2＋吉田睦、ならではJazz Band、Niigata Young LION、JUST FINE DAY!、ハルモニア、n＋Digital Ghosts、SWAMP GYPSY CARAVAN acoustic、Bossa Domingo、ナタリー石田 with Friends、天日塩、Fabio＆Azuma DUO、ふらぽ3、がくちゃん（太田学）、花鼓（hanako）、池ヶ谷 奏（DANCE×JAZZ）、YJF Special Session、中之口Jr.ブラス with OAP'S、GRIP & GUETO
Dog outing app ワンナビ launches a community-focused dog-friendly event initiative. The first event will be held at the tourist attraction たんばらラベンダーパーク in Gunma. The project is seeking co-hosting partners among tourist facilities and local governments nationwide.
[Survey of 1,015 small and midsize business owners] The No. 1 hurdle to adopting AI agents is "putting executives' thinking into words"! What do business owners want from AI?
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Difficulty putting executives' thinking and values into words and structuring them (47.3%)
A secure environment that prevents confidential information and business data from leaking externally (45.2%)
A deep understanding of the company's history and context, rather than generic data (43.6%)
Nearly 1 million roadside assistance calls annually: COCOCAR adds SMS alerts to its proprietary "ロケポ" system to detect the No. 1 reason for dispatches—dead batteries—in advance
Inadequate in-house IT costs the equivalent of 18 business days per employee annually: survey of 1,300 business owners and employees on workplace IT environments
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
147 hours per employee annually
Approximately 440,000 yen per employee annually
Approximately 44 million yen annually at a company with 100 employees
62.4% of employees feel improvements are needed
62.0% of business owners do not conduct satisfaction surveys
38.0% of employees lose 3 or more hours per week
Among employees who lose 6 or more hours per week, 69.3% feel this harms their work performance
ディッシュウィル signs memorandum of understanding (MOU) on a business partnership with TPR and Leave a Nest for demonstration of soybean production in plant factories and a power self-sufficient plant
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
The global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050
Protein demand is expected to grow to more than 1.7 times its current level
The plant-based food market is projected to reach $77 billion (approximately 12 trillion yen) by 2030
Japan's food self-sufficiency rate is 38% on a calorie basis
Soybean self-sufficiency stands at approximately 7%
Working to demonstrate technology that achieves productivity 10 to more than 50 times that of open-field cultivation
To mark the launch of OSM High School's Comic Illustration Course, 2nd event: popular illustrator かかげ to hold a "Special Illustration Critique Session & Talk" on Sept. 27
[Customer case study] Monthly electronic bookkeeping law compliance workload of approximately 1,000 cases cut to "1/10." 株式会社ブンカ adopts its own Googleドライブ × AI-OCR automated system
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Cuts workload to approximately 1/10 of the previous level
Reduces workload by approximately 30 hours per month
Full-scale operations began just 1.5 months after development started
October 12 is “Soy Milk Day.” With more than 70,000 visitors to date, Japan’s largest “soy milk festival” will be held again this year: Kikkoman Soy Milk Presents Soy Milk Festival 2026
Exotec and Mujin form business partnership to strengthen logistics integration; collaborative exhibit planned at “International Logistics Exhibition 2026”
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
“International Logistics Exhibition 2026,” taking place in September 2026
【MIRAILAB’s first directly operated NMN specialty store in Osaka】Second store, “MIRAILAB Wellness Branch Osaka,” to open in Shinsaibashi, Osaka, on August 25
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
10% off eligible products
Opening Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Tuesday, August 25, 2026–Friday, September 4, 2026
Tetsuya Honda, the company’s representative director and PR strategist, selected as a judge in the “Creativity in PR” category at the prestigious “LIA（London International Awards）2026”
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Judging for 2026 will run from Friday, September 25, through Saturday, October 3
Across all 3 rounds, from the initial judging through the final round
LIA was founded in 1986
LIA marked its 40th anniversary in 2025
Original2006年にブルーカレントを設立
Published “Strategic PR” in 2009
Began operating as 株式会社本田事務所 in 2019
Moved its base of operations to Singapore in 2023
In 2024, selected for “Innovator 25 Asia-Pacific 2024” by PRovoke Media, a leading global PR industry information organization
Companies mentioned：株式会社本田事務所、LIA（London International Awards）、PRWEEK、ブルーカレント、P&G、花王、ユニリーバ、サントリー、トヨタ、資生堂、ロッテ、味の素、PRovoke Media
“Supporting safe, secure, independent living”: Smart homes help people with intellectual disabilities live in ways that are true to themselves. Taking part in a demonstration project that also looks ahead to reforming the national welfare system
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Original全国で約2万2,000人といわれる施設待機者がいる
Currently supporting more than 1,000 users at 9 locations in Nagasaki Prefecture
People with disabilities living in group homes across the country, numbering 200,000
Summer constipation: Is “intestinal desertification” a warning sign for heatstroke? 【Specialist explains】Measures against constipation in extreme heat, considering diet, hydration and bowel movement
【フェアモント東京】Two afternoon teas available from September 14 (Monday): “French,” inviting guests into a mysterious and glamorous Halloween world, and “Japanese,” celebrating the flavors of autumn
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Available from Monday, September 14, 2026
Original2026年9月14日（月）～10月31日（土）
Weekdays: ¥9,700
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: ¥11,000
Plan with セリーン Jr.: ¥10,700 on weekdays
Course only (includes coffee or tea after the meal): ¥7,000
With free-flow drinks: ¥9,500
With free-flow champagne: ¥17,000
Hojicha and Kyoho grape parfait. Details: Hours: Sunday–Thursday, 11:00–21:00 / Friday–Saturday, 11:00–22:00. Price: ¥4,500 (tax and service charge included)
【Exhibiting at an academic conference】Sharing new options for health and wellness—astaxanthin pioneer アスタリール株式会社 to exhibit at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Japan Academy of Nursing Administration and Policies!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
30th Annual Meeting of the Japan Academy of Nursing Administration and Policies
Taiwan’s gymnastics team is in strong form for the Asian Games; Lee Chih-kai and Tang Chia-hung lead the push to match the previous edition’s 1 gold and 2 bronze medals
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Summary not yet available
Facts
The previous edition’s tally of 1 gold and 2 bronze medals
Went to Japan for 2 and a half weeks of training in August
行政院 refuses to countersign bills passed by the legislature; Chen Chi-mai says neither the executive nor legislative branch should override the Constitution
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Summary not yet available
Facts
Pass the budget this year so everyone can receive NT$10,000 before the Lunar New Year next year
The country’s economic growth rate this year hit a 39-year high
5 key Q&As on eligibility and compensation for egg and sperm donors, and whether they can choose the recipient
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Taiwan’s Health Promotion Administration released 5 key Q&As on the assisted reproduction donation system, clarifying age limits, compensation, anonymity and legal relationships to protect the rights of donors and recipient couples.
Facts
Egg donors may receive up to NT$99,000 upon completing the donation process
Sperm donors may receive up to 8,000 upon completing the donation process
Among a total of 58,557 assisted reproduction treatment cycles in ROC year 112
The environmental review of the Tainan Railway Undergrounding Extension to Yongkang has begun its initial review. The Ministry of Environment’s task force called for stronger assessments of geological safety, flood risk and ecological protection. The case must be revised and supplemented before undergoing further review.