On September 8, JR East launched a public vote to select a new mascot for the “Suica” transit IC card. The “Suica Penguin,” which has been a beloved fixture for 25 years since its introduction in 2001, will retire on March 31, 2027, and be replaced by a new character starting April 1 of that…
Month: September 2026
Kame no I Hotel Kusatsu Resort: Up to 35% off one-night stays with two meals. Enjoy the free-flowing spring water from the Bandai Mine—with a pH of 1.6 and highly acidic—and Jōshū cuisine.
Rakuten Travel is holding the “Rakuten Travel Super SALE” through October 1, offering great deals on fall and winter travel reservations. The sale features special packages at hotels and hot spring inns nationwide, and when combined with currently available coupons, discounts of up to 35% can be applied. The “Kame no I Hotel Kusatsu Resort”…
Pre-orders are now being accepted for the reprint of the November/December combined issue of “smart,” which includes a Mandalorian & Grogu mini wallet as a bonus. Kyoiya Honda is featured in a major special feature.
Takarajimasha will release the November/December 2026 combined issue of “smart” on September 25. The price is 1,870 yen. It will be available at bookstores and online retailers. The winter combined issue comes with a mini wallet featuring designs of the Mandalorian and Grogu from “Star Wars.” It’s a slim, compact wallet—measuring approximately 11 × 2…
Signing of a Grant Agreement for Grant Aid to Pakistan: Supporting Flood Risk Reduction in the Indus River Basin Through Embankment Reinforcement | News & Public Relations
On September 7, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a grant agreement (Grant Agreement: G/A) with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the “Indus River Flood Protection and Embankment Improvement Project in Sindh Province.” The agreement was signed on that day by Sabina Kreshi, Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Economy…
WORKMAN × Sanrio Fall/Winter Collaboration Set to Launch! Exclusive Photos of Hello Kitty and Kuromi Winter Gear WORKMAN Fall/Winter 2026 New Product Launch Event
On September 8, Workman held a press conference at the Tokyo International Forum to announce its new products for the WORKMAN Fall/Winter 2026 collection. A collaboration series featuring Sanrio’s Hello Kitty and Kuromi is scheduled to be released in October for women’s items. The collection features a total of seven items, including thick sweatsuit sets…
Venezuela Earthquake: The Mission of the International Emergency Assistance Team, as Seen from the Front Lines of Medical Relief | News & Public Relations
Earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, wildfires… As large-scale disasters continue to strike around the world, the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) team—for which JICA serves as the secretariat—is being deployed more frequently. During the June earthquake in Venezuela, South America, which claimed the lives of over 6,000 people, a medical team was among the first to enter…
WORKMAN Presents Exclusive “The Apothecary’s Soliloquy” Items in a New Photo Shoot! Medication Planner, Large-Capacity Shoulder Bag, and More — WORKMAN Fall/Winter 2026 New Product Launch Event
On September 8, Workman held the “WORKMAN Fall/Winter 2026 New Product Launch Event” at the Tokyo International Forum. In early November, the company plans to release Workman-exclusive merchandise based on the popular TV anime series “The Apothecary’s Tale,” which has gained a following both in Japan and overseas. The item that stands out the most…
Saga Prefecture Announces That the “Kyushu Recovery Support Discount” Travel Assistance Program Will Apply to Stays from October 1 to December 25
Saga Prefecture has decided that the eligibility period for the Japan Tourism Agency’s “Kyushu Recovery Support Discount” travel assistance program will cover stays from October 1 through December 25. In preparation for the implementation of this initiative, the prefecture has submitted a budget proposal of 233,697,000 yen in the September Reiwa 8 General Account Supplementary…
“Suica Penguin Cutlery & Pouch Set” Now Available. Limited Quantities at JRE MALL
Hotel Metropolitan, operated by JR East Hotels, will begin selling a limited-quantity “Suica Penguin Cutlery & Pouch Set” starting at 12:00 p.m. on September 14. The set will be available at the Metropolitan Hotels Shop on the “JRE MALL” e-commerce site, priced at 2,300 yen (shipping not included). This set includes cutlery made from natural…
[Takashi Inoue’s “Tips for Rail Travel”] Let’s Explore the History of Railroads
Previously, I wrote about the relationship between “Japanese history” and railroads. As a follow-up to that, I’d like to focus this time on the little bits of “history” found in the train cars and station facilities that we usually take for granted. Various Aspects of Shinkansen Construction The history of railroads is a topic limited…