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Sales of gummy candy have doubled in the last 10 years, and overtook hard candy for the first time last year. However, 2026 growth has slowed as the market matures. Supermarkets now stock an average of 77 gummy varieties compared with 38 in 2017. news.nissyoku.co.jp/news/dyamamo...

Japan is looking at introducing legislation to regulate the activity of organisations and individuals who seek to influence policy based on the finance or direction of overseas interests. www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/202...

Broadly, this resembles the Foreign Agents Registration Act in America, and the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme in Britain. Japan has laws on espionage, but not specific legislation addressing the activity of lobbyists, consultants etc.

I've only just learned that the Cheesecake Factory shops which used to be around in Japan, were never related to The Cheesecake Factory restaurant chain in America. The Japanese firm started as a single shop in Futakotamagawa in 1952.

The Cheesecake Factory US restaurant chain is, however, related to The Cheesecake Factory Bakery. Seijo Ishii and Costco Japan have both sold cheesecakes with this brand in recent years.

I've only just learned that the Cheesecake Factory shops which used to be around in Japan, were never related to The Cheesecake Factory restaurant chain in America. The Japanese firm started as a single shop in Futakotamagawa in 1952.

Cheese Cake Factory and The Cheesecake Factory are both unrelated to Kiyosato Kogen Cheese Cake Factory, which was a cheesecake speciality store in Yamanashi, until it closed in 2019.

I've only just learned that the Cheesecake Factory shops which used to be around in Japan, were never related to The Cheesecake Factory restaurant chain in America. The Japanese firm started as a single shop in Futakotamagawa in 1952.

The cheesecake was generally well-regarded. You don't last fifty years as a cake shop in Japan without some basis to your reputation. However, it seems the firm embarked on an unwise expansion, eventually going bust around 2007.

Bob McGrath from Sesame Street had an early career as a singer on Mitch Miller's NBC show, which was also shown in Japan. When Miller toured Japan in 1965, audiences saw McGrath live for the first time. He learned and performed this song in Japanese for them. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrfu...

Weather News says conventional forecasts (orange) now have Typhoon 30 heading westwards, while AI forecasts (blue) have it veering more towards Honshu. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i2g...

There's a full YouTube upload of Frank Sinatra's April 1962 performance at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall (日比谷野音). As it was an afternoon show, you can see the audience clearly when he camera swings around. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hryW...

You could stare at this photo for a long time without coming up with the reason the store says this burger is inspired by Hachiko (ハチ公イメージした). www.shibukei.com/headline/202...

To make it easier to hire specified skill foreign workers for canteens in schools, hospitals and care homes, the government will reclassify the work as "food production" rather than "food services". www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/202...

English report on the changes includes a comment from the Japan Federation of Kaigo Business Providers that shuffling numbers means the original cap estimates were wrong, and need revision. mainichi.jp/english/arti...

To make it easier to hire specified skill foreign workers for canteens in schools, hospitals and care homes, the government will reclassify the work as "food production" rather than "food services". www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/202...

The intake for food services has already hit its 50,000 visa limit, while food production is only at 76.3% of its 133,500 cap. This move means schools, hospitals and care homes can again recruit, without the need for the government to increase the overall limit of specified skill visas.

A video last week showed a man buying beer at a DeNA Baystars game from one of the girls with kegs on their backs. As she handed over the cups, he poured the beer straight in a bin. www.bengo4.com/c_23/n_21032/

Takaichi backing away from Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana. Yana said he'd been told bussing supporters around during elections wasn't a campaign finance violation. Now says the question of illegality wasn't directly discussed. mainichi.jp/english/arti...