IJR News

Multiple Film Festivals Announce 2026 WinnersEntertainment — 2dFilm festivals in York, Fort Smith, Tokyo and Ojai announced their 2026 award winners, recognizing a broad range of international and independent films. Notable honors went to *Don’t Touch the Artwork* at Aesthetica, *Paint Me A Road Out of Here* in Fort Smith, *Heysel 85* and *Sister Brother Manhole Cover* in Tokyo, and *Everybody Digs Bill Evans* and *In Memoriam* in Ojai.

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Magnitude-5.7 Quake Strikes Central JapanWorld — 5dA shallow magnitude-6.1 earthquake struck offshore near Tokyo in eastern Japan, with shaking felt in the capital and parts of nearby prefectures. Authorities issued no tsunami warning; reports differed on the quake’s depth.

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China blocks SoftBank's $5.4 billion ABB robotics deal — 6dChina’s NDRC told SoftBank it will not approve the $5.4 billion ABB robotics deal; SoftBank shares fell about 5% in Tokyo.

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Maya Lindstrom That share drop shows investors are losing patience with deals that keep hitting political walls.

Tokyo Shrine Blesses Pets at Children’s FestivalLifestyle — Oct 31, 2026At Tokyo’s Shichi-Go-San festival, traditionally celebrating children ages 3, 5 and 7, growing numbers of owners bring kimono-clad cats and dogs to receive blessings. The trend reflects Japan’s declining birthrate and changing family structures, with many people embracing pets as family members.

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World No. 1 Rybakina withdraws from Tokyo quarterfinal with injury — Oct 30, 2026Elena Rybakina withdrew from her Pan Pacific Open quarterfinal in Tokyo with an injury, giving Leylah Fernandez a walkover into the semifinals. The withdrawal came a day after Rybakina secured the year-end world No. 1 ranking, as she focused on recovering for next month’s WTA Finals.

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Marcus Bell Fernandez advancing without a match is lucky timing, though it might leave her less sharp heading into the semis.

Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Toufayan Launches National Sourdough Pita LineLifestyle — Nov 3, 2026The articles highlight seasonal and inventive food, from Moroccan chickpea stew and fall beet and cauliflower dishes to roasted beet hummus and a flower-topped curry in Tokyo. Separately, Toufayan Bakeries has launched a nationally distributed line of sourdough pita, aiming to capitalize on rising consumer demand for sourdough and simple ingredients.

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Alaska Airlines Opens Bookings for Anchorage-Tokyo Flights in 2027Business — Oct 27, 2026Alaska Airlines plans to launch its first nonstop Anchorage–Tokyo Narita service on May 13, 2027, using Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with daily seasonal flights through Sept. 7 and reduced service planned for 2028. The route is pending government approval and joins new seasonal Anchorage flights to Nashville, Austin and Dallas–Fort Worth as part of the airline’s largest Alaska schedule yet.

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Chinese Student Arrested in Ginza Attack, 25 HospitalizedWorld — Oct 29, 2026Tokyo police arrested a 24-year-old Chinese student accused of spraying a man with a capsaicin-containing substance at a Ginza shopping complex in May. Nearly 30 people reported eye or throat irritation, 25 were hospitalized, and police are seeking another man seen with the suspect before the attack.

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Airlines plan expanded US, Asia nonstop routesBusiness — Oct 28, 2026Alaska Airlines will launch seasonal nonstop Saturday flights between Austin and Anchorage from June 12 to Aug. 7, 2027, the first direct connection between Austin and Alaska. The route is part of a broader expansion from Anchorage that also includes service to Tokyo, Dallas-Fort Worth and Nashville.

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Thailand Welcomes US-Myanmar Talks, Expects ASEAN Discussion — Oct 23, 2026Sihasak in Lisbon Oct. 24 welcomed U.S.-Myanmar Tokyo talks, saying Thailand does not want Myanmar "to be an arena for geopolitical rivalry," ahead of November ASEAN talks.

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Derek Foss Thailand and Cambodia need to push harder on those border talks instead of letting the stalemate drag on.

German Youth Protests Turn ViolentWorld — Oct 28, 2026Large demonstrations are expected in Cologne and Frankfurt on Oct. 31 over education, surveillance, military spending and affordability, while anti-immigration protesters are also expected in Auckland that day. Protests are planned in Havana on Oct. 28 amid tensions between U.S. and Cuban officials, and in Tokyo on Nov. 1 against the government’s defense budget and reforms; authorities warn of heightened security and transportation disruptions near protest sites.

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Toy Story vs ShrekYourlist — VS BattleThe toy box vs the swamp: two animation revolutions, one inevitable playground argument.

Swiatek 10th, seeks WTA Finals berthSports — Oct 13, 2026Iga Swiatek sits 10th in the WTA Finals qualifying race and faces an uphill battle to reach the season-ending tournament after a comparatively difficult year. She says she is motivated to make a strong finish, with events in Wuhan, Ningbo and Tokyo still offering chances to qualify.

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Airtripmaker Expands Business-Class Booking to Five DestinationsTravel — Oct 15, 2026Airtripmaker says it has expanded its U.S.-focused business- and first-class flight booking resources beyond India-bound routes to cover major destinations worldwide, including London, Tokyo and Sydney. Separately, Cleartrip expects continued growth in 2027 as it expands beyond air bookings into hotels, packages and other travel services.

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IOC to Start Discussions on Possible Tokyo 2020 PostponementReporting — Mar 22, 2020The International Olympic Committee is stepping up its “scenario planning” for the Tokyo 2020 Games — including a possible postponement — as the coronavirus pandemic spreads, it said after an emergency meeting on…

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Taking a Knee, Raising a Fist To Be Punished at Tokyo GamesReporting — Apr 21, 2021Taking a knee during the Tokyo Olympics or lifting a fist in support of racial equality will be punished as the International Olympic Committee on Wednesday maintained its ban on athletes’ protests inside stadiums, at…

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How charismatic are you, really?Quizie — QuizNot a score out of ten — the AI identifies your specific brand of charm and where it's most dangerous.

Tokyo Games Delayed to 2021, Easing Athletes’ AngstReporting — Mar 24, 2020The Tokyo Olympics were postponed on Tuesday into 2021, the first such delay in the Games’ 124-year modern history, as the coronavirus crisis wrecked the last international sporting showpiece still standing this year…

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IHH Unit Appeals Tokyo Court Dismissal of $1.1B Daiichi Sankyo Claim — Sep 24, 2026IHH unit Northern TK Venture appealed a Tokyo court's Sept. 10, 2026 dismissal of its up-to-$1.1 billion damages claim against Daiichi Sankyo over Fortis delays.

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Elena Vasquez IHH has every right to appeal if the Fortis delays caused real losses, but $1.1 billion still seems like a stretch for any court.

Trump Considering Travel to Tokyo for Summer OlympicsReporting — Feb 19, 2020U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he is considering a visit to Japan this summer for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, a trip that would take him off the campaign trail as he seeks re-election. Trump was asked about…

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Tokyo Expands Modern Rental Living Across Districts — Aug 15, 2026A wave of rental developments in Tokyo—Park Axis Toyosu, Park Habio Soho Takadanobaba Terrace, Royal Parks Shinagawa, and Residia Tower Meguro Fudomae—are marketed as convenient, well-connected options for professionals, students, and families amid persistent demand for accessible urban living. Each project emphasizes easy access to transportation, shopping, dining and other amenities in sought-after Tokyo neighborhoods.

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Plane Forced to Return to Tokyo After Alleged ‘Heavily Drunk’ Passenger Bites Flight AttendantReporting — Jan 17, 2024A passenger plane bound for Seattle, Washington, was forced to return to Tokyo after a passenger bit a flight attendant Tuesday. The 55-year-old American male passenger was restrained by the crew of the All Nippon…

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Video of JD Vance Talking About Simone Biles Withdrawing From Tokyo Olympics Resurfaces — Jul 31, 2024A video of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), the Republican vice presidential nominee, speaking about Olympic gymnast Simone Biles withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. “Well, I think, obviously, it’s understandable…

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Taylor Swift Races to Private Jet Only Moments After Tokyo Concert Ends to See Travis Kelce at Super BowlReporting — Feb 12, 2024With the applause of her fans still ringing in her ears, pop star Taylor Swift began her trek to the Super Bowl. Swift left Japan Saturday night Tokyo time from Haneda airport, according to the New York Post . Swift had…

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IHG to Debut Noted Collection Brand in Tokyo With Two Hotels — Sep 28, 2026IHG will bring its Noted Collection to Japan with two Tokyo hotels: a 207-room Shinjuku property to be renovated and opened in 2027, and an 81-room new-build in Ginza scheduled for 2029. The signings mark the brand’s first entry into Japan and East Asia-Pacific, pairing hotels’ distinct local identities with IHG’s global network and loyalty program.

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Chris Dalton Ginza getting an 81-room property in 2029 feels like a smart long-term move for IHG to build loyalty with travelers who want local character plus points.

Naver exports 1784 smart-building tech to Tokyo Yaesu — Jul 23, 2026Naver is exporting its 1784 smart-building technology to Tokyo Midtown Yaesu for the first time, partnering with NTT East and Mitsui Fudosan to launch a cloud-based autonomous robot delivery service in a mixed-use Tokyo building, using technologies like Rookie robots, ARC brain, a digital twin, and vision-based positioning. The deployment aims to operate smoothly in ordinary buildings without robot-only elevators or bespoke cloud environments, with plans to expand into indoor AR navigation and broader building management across the three-company collaboration.

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