Jul 09, 2026 18:20:00

Headline news for July 9, 2026

McDonald's Japan will be holding a special collaboration event, 'Pokémon Summer Mac,' in the summer of 2026 to commemorate the 55th anniversary of McDonald's Japan and the 30th anniversary of Pokémon. Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, and other Pokémon from throughout the years will appear, and the event will be a major project to liven up McDonald's summer.

'Pokemon Summer McDonald's' Special Website
https://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/campaign/pokemon-summer/

Starting tomorrow, July 10th (Friday), the 'Pokémon Summer McDonald's' event will be held!
To celebrate McDonald's 55th anniversary and Pokémon's 30th anniversary, we're bringing you the biggest special collaboration ever!
Click here for details! https://t.co/FfPXhp9S4x #PokemonSummerMcDonalds pic.twitter.com/s2kZxVZ38i
— Pokémon Official (@Pokemon_cojp) July 9, 2026

This project will feature summer-only products and campaigns in four categories: 'Tokuninaldo Edition,' 'Summer Chance Bag Edition,' 'Burger Edition,' and 'Happy Meal Edition.' The 'Tokuninaldo Edition' and 'Summer Chance Bag Edition' are scheduled to be released on July 10th (Friday), the 'Burger Edition' on July 16th (Thursday), and the 'Happy Meal Edition' on July 31st (Friday).

Furthermore, McDonald's has signed an official partnership with 'Pokémon GO,' which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2026, for the first time in approximately six years. From July 20th (Monday, public holiday) to September 1st (Tuesday), 2026, approximately 3,000 McDonald's restaurants across Japan will appear as 'PokéStops' in the game for a limited time.

Incidentally, on the same day of the same month in the past, we published the following article.

The Earth's rotation speed is increasing, making July 9th, July 22nd, and August 5th slightly shorter - GIGAZINE

Federal Court of Appeals rules that the mandatory 'cancel with a click' system for paid subscriptions is invalid - GIGAZINE

Taking a test in a room with high ceilings may result in lower test scores - GIGAZINE

Children can grow up healthier if they are bored during summer vacation - GIGAZINE

Sony accidentally releases a commercial showing the PS5 upside down - GIGAZINE

The phrase 'I like you, please go out with me,' is a 'declaration of love' that is unique to some countries, including Japan, according to a GIGAZINE article.

What is the most efficient and ideal engine, the 'Carnot cycle'? - GIGAZINE

The 'man playing a game alone in the hallway' who appeared in the announcement video for the 'Nintendo Switch (OLED model)' has drawn widespread criticism from internet users - GIGAZINE

The 'Neymar Challenge,' in which people imitate soccer players who were fouled during the World Cup, has become a global phenomenon - GIGAZINE

Why is '192.168.1.1' often used in router settings? - GIGAZINE

Commuting on foot or by bicycle increases worker well-being and productivity - GIGAZINE

It has been found that people who secrete a lot of the male hormone 'testosterone' tend to have a 'luxury-oriented' taste - GIGAZINE

◆ Ideas (notes, miscellaneous things)
Sounds coming from your mouth to represent the JR Yokohama Line - YouTube

🇨“It was early in the morning, the same thing was on the way, I bought a cup of heat, and when I arrived at the official office, the talented person appeared at the entrance to the office, forgot about himself, and another person came to the office and opened the outside.”

🇯 'I can't read it. Chinese is difficult.'

🇨 'Early this morning, a colleague bought a hot cup of coffee at the train station on their way to work. Just before arriving at the workplace entrance, they realized they'd forgotten their keys. As a result, waiting for someone to come and open the gate was unavoidable.'

🇯 'I can read it, I can read it...!'
— Shupra (@shupra004) July 7, 2026

I'm laughing because I got an unbelievable question . pic.twitter.com/VCmkTrt1p6
— fenofeno (@PhenomII_1090T) July 8, 2026

When I was in middle school, I was such an 'otaku' that I took a liking to a sixth-grader at an elementary school where I was doing work experience. I called him 'boy' and tried to become his 'unforgettable summer memory,' but he just enrolled in the following April.
— Conceptual Chihuahua (@ptpt_mtt) July 8, 2026

Katsushika Hokusai is doing something like a modern artist: he has a separate account for erotic content, but his main account gets revealed by the art style. It's just plain funny. The naming sense for his erotic account is like that of a doujinshi artist from a bygone era.
— NaCl🧂 (@Conc___Re) July 8, 2026

These are leftover parts, so please don't mind them. pic.twitter.com/GJHz5k90sh
— Omu-zukin (@omu_akazukin) July 8, 2026

◆Science (Science, Academics, Technology)
World's first development of a subterahertz dual-polarization MIMO antenna integrated wireless module | Science Tokyo - Tokyo University of Science

Non-destructive three-dimensional observation of high aspect ratio etched holes... | Press Releases & Research Results | Tohoku University

Beyond qubits: Diamond quantum sensors enhance the precision of dark matter detection - Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University

Theoretical explanation of a mechanism for compressing the learning process into a small number of synthesized data | RIKEN

Highly carbonated water may stimulate brain nerves due to its effervescence, according to a study by Tsukuba University, which suggests it may be effective for working adults who spend their days in front of computers. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

Ancient Mayan molar found with jade: Advanced dental treatment suggesting a 1000-year-old technique | National Geographic Japan website

Physical laws discovered using kitchen wrap: Could this also solve the problem of mobile battery fires? - Asahi Shimbun

Japan's Nuclear Fusion Power Generation: Discussions Begin in Earnest - Points to Watch | NHK News | Commentary Room, Illustrated Commentary - Points to Watch!, Hideki Mushimei

'Linear rainband forecast' accuracy rate is about 30%; average time until formation is about 1 hour | NHK News | New disaster prevention weather information (2026), heavy rain information, weather

◆Society, Politics, and Economy (Events, World News, Business)

About the accident two years ago and the so-called 'invincible person' phenomenon.

It's been two years since the accident, but nothing has been resolved yet.
- Perpetrator (female, 20s): Unlicensed (license revoked in the past for a drunk driving accident), driving under the influence of alcohol, driving a friend's car (uninsured), fled the scene of the accident, and was apprehended.

Let's start with the conclusion. Against someone with nothing to lose, even using legal expense insurance won't guarantee a favorable outcome. https://t.co/AYNLmslfkY pic.twitter.com/LNU4Y9hEkD
— Ossanbar KC2 (@ossanyo7000) July 8, 2026

I'm not trying to justify murder, but this person apparently went through civil litigation, obtained a judgment, and pursued enforcement, but couldn't recover much, so they decided revenge was their only option, which led to this incident. I think more people should know how lenient the civil enforcement system is.
— Sura-ben (Attorney Yoichi Onishi) (@o2441) July 8, 2026

Is he the same person as in the road rage video? Man from Komatsushima arrested for driving without a license | Crimes and Accidents | Tokushima News | Tokushima Shimbun Digital

'That man' from the 'road rage' video arrested on suspicion of driving without a license [Tokushima] (Published July 8, 2026) | JRT NEWS NNN

Supreme Public Prosecutors Office is investigating whether a special prosecutor had a sexual relationship with a suspect.

Former Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office Special Investigation Department Male Prosecutor Allegedly Had an Inappropriate Relationship with Woman Under Investigation | NHK News | Crimes and Accidents, Prosecutors

Victim explains man sews lips of cohabiting woman after 'getting angry over a dispute' | NHK News | Crimes and Accidents, Ibaraki Prefecture

Toyama Airport to be renamed 'Toyama Takayama Sushi Airport,' an unusual name incorporating a place name from Gifu Prefecture... hoping to capitalize on the popularity of sushi among foreign visitors: Yomiuri Shimbun

Two male high school students may have been swept away by a river in Konan, Shiga Prefecture | NHK News | Shiga Prefecture

Ministop reports a net loss of over 2.3 billion yen for the past three months, citing insufficient recovery in customer numbers | NHK News | Retail, Business & Management, Financial Results

Organ donor brokering scheme: Involved in four transplants in less than a year... 45 million yen allegedly received under the guise of fees and gratuities: Yomiuri Shimbun

Calbee to restore color to some of its black and white packaging | NHK News | Iran situation, impact on Japan and response, resources and energy, companies and management

Calbee's 6 products with black and white packaging now have color on the front only; Frugra has full color packaging - Nikkei

Security camera footage of the Henoko offshore accident raises questions from Akutagawa Prize-winning author, but Chika's family says 'it has been released and the facts have been revealed' - Sankei News

To the person in charge at Okinawa Times

I am the director of the Ishigaki Island Astronomical Observatory.

Judging from the videos and images in the article, the luminous object that was filmed is most likely a flare used in nighttime training or similar exercises.

Incidentally, the Ishigaki Island Astronomical Observatory has previously photographed similar flares during another training exercise. We can review the footage if needed. https://t.co/uVkeYGdEEm
— Ko Arimatsu (@OASES_miyako) July 7, 2026

Long-term interest rates rise to 2.9%, the highest level in 29 years and 8 months since November 1996 | NHK News | Interest rates, finance

Reading Politics: Avoiding Female and Matrilineal Emperors - Proposal to Pass the Throne to an Adopted Child Fails to Gain Widespread Understanding | Mainichi Shimbun

Bill on Crime of Damaging the National Flag: Questioning Held in the House of Councillors Cabinet Committee | NHK News | House of Councillors

Criminal law researchers issue statement opposing bill to desecrate national flag | NHK News | House of Councillors

[Breaking News] Former Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency says the Imperial House Law has 'structural flaws' | 47NEWS

[Breaking News] US intends to completely halt trade with Spain | 47NEWS

[Analysis] What does Trump's announcement regarding Patriot missile defense systems mean for Ukraine? - CNN.co.jp

A pilot instructor jumped out of a small aircraft in mid-air and died; the trainee managed to land the plane on his own in Argentina - CNN.co.jp

Two weeks after a magnitude 7+ earthquake in Venezuela, the death toll exceeds 3,800. Interim president emphasizes commitment to reconstruction | NHK News | Venezuela, earthquake, Central and South America

President Trump: “The attack is short-term” in the US-Iran exchange of attacks | NHK News | Iran situation, Iran, America

Danish Prime Minister Responds to US President's Remarks on Greenland: 'Not for Sale' | NHK News | Greenland, United States, Denmark

◆Lifestyle (Life, Living, Health)
The reactions of a doctor who mistakenly told his subordinate, 'Let me see this for my dad,' and the patient are subtly hilarious, with comments like 'Their response was too strong' - Togetter

At a specialized cleaning job, a cleaning worker returned from a break to find a washing machine in the back of the truck, which hadn't been requested. Curious, he asked the client, who replied, 'You should do this as a service.' → Praise for the cleaning company's firm response - Togetter

To the person who left this here yesterday.
Even if you think you're doing it with good intentions, it's a nuisance to us, so please stop. Cabbage in particular can cause colic in horses and, in the worst case, death. It's very troublesome when people do things like this without knowing anything about horses. Seriously, please stop. pic.twitter.com/ElHo79Ql55
— Shizuoka University Equestrian Club (@shizudai_horse) July 8, 2026

Shizuoka University Equestrian Club issues strong warning to person who left 'cabbage and carrots' near horses, stating, 'If a horse eats cabbage, it could be fatal,' and 'Please stop doing this.' - Togetter

Hey, is this really summer? Aren't we all actually dead? 'Too carefree, we're about to die' - Togetter

Hey, mister, give me back my Starbucks.

I thought there was no contactless delivery option. pic.twitter.com/f1ugRFCBt2
— DevchanRAMEN・Kouta Kai (@DevchanRamen) July 8, 2026

There are giant water bugs in our rice paddy.
I'm actually proud of this, but I usually only get responses like, 'So what?'

Giant water bugs are currently classified as endangered (Category II) and are very delicate creatures that are extremely sensitive to pesticides.
It looks incredibly strong, doesn't it? (lol)... pic.twitter.com/jEXkWM55OV
— Rice farmer [Honami no Oto] (@honaminone) July 7, 2026

I found the community bus that almost crosses the border with Nagoya City but doesn't quite, so interesting that I spent the whole day researching it. pic.twitter.com/VNnPdbd233
— Chaostrain (@chaostrain) July 7, 2026

[Important Announcement]

Due to various circumstances, Saza Coffee Oarai branch will be opening on Marine Day and closing its doors at this location on Marine Day.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has visited our store so far, and to everyone we have met through Girls und Panzer.
Please be sure to stop by our Oarai store last. pic.twitter.com/F8d4p2CvXu
— Saza Coffee Co., Ltd. [Official] (@saza_coffee) July 8, 2026

A hit-and-run incident (involving a person) occurred right in front of me, hitting a student on their way to school.

We chased the culprit into an empty lot, blocked it off with a pickup truck, and handed him over to the police. What do you think of young lives, you idiot? 🤤

I hesitated about whether to help the student, but I chased after the old man who hit and ran. He was playing dumb and pretending not to know anything, so I cornered him until the police arrived 🚨 pic.twitter.com/HAwMotYIzn
— killbill (@killbillSD) July 7, 2026

The Hokuriku Railway Kanazawa City Line in 1964 was so efficient it brings tears to my eyes. pic.twitter.com/5wQAgXDkNE
— 610 (@2ro_nryu) July 7, 2026

I saw a baby cart with a preschooler in it in the cleaning supplies section of Viva Home today. Does this mean there are preschools that include home improvement stores in their walking routes? - Togetter

We ran out of rice, so I asked my son to run an errand and told him, 'Any kind is fine, but pick a brand I've heard of.' He replied, 'Okay, I'll get Tochiotome.' - Togetter

There are people who turn on power that shouldn't be turned on, but conversely, there are also dangerous people who turn it off. I once had an animal killed when someone entered my room without permission and turned off my temperature control device in the name of 'saving electricity.' - Togetter

I unexpectedly ran into a customer at the supermarket who frequently visits the home improvement store where I work. He asked me to show him to the relevant section, but I refused because it was outside of work hours. He then filed a complaint with my name at headquarters. → A firm response is necessary - Togetter

[Insect Warning] I went to McDonald's and saw a 'Notice of Emergency Closure' posted up: 'Due to an unusual insect infestation from outside the store, it has become extremely difficult to provide safe products.' - Togetter

I loved 'Sangetsuki' so much that when I read the original 'Jinkoden' in high school, I saw Li Zheng struggling with his sense of human morality even after becoming a man-eating tiger, and I thought, 'Of course I'd love a story like this!' - Togetter

I finally found an explanation that makes some sense to me, something I've been struggling to put into words for a long time. pic.twitter.com/wlXDmh5Wec
— Spica Ayaka (@spicagraph) July 8, 2026

'We were attacked by missiles from the Islamic Republic of Japan,' US President Trump said, possibly mistaking Iran for Japan, referring to it as the 'Islamic Republic of Japan'... He also referred to President Zelenskyy as 'Putin' - Togetter

Azabu: A parking enforcement officer put a sticker on a food delivery driver's car right after he left, which was scary. 'It wipes out about half of the day's earnings.' - Togetter

My mother has nine siblings, and I have about 30 cousins on her side alone. However, one uncle has always treated me specially among all my cousins for some reason, so I wondered why and asked my mother about it. It turned out to be a story like the samurai's gratitude for a meal. - Togetter

'Why do they use silver fillings in Japan?' I received treatment at a Dutch dentist and learned that they don't use silver fillings at all because of health risks → The insurance system is the reason... Information on dental practices in other countries is also gathered - Togetter

Do this and then this: https://t.co/RRLf3eqYf1 pic.twitter.com/oiK4AYw26b
— Kura (@02cl01) July 8, 2026

◆IT & Gadgets (Internet, Software, Hardware, Mobile)
Junior high school 'Information Technology' classes to increase to 70 sessions per year; next curriculum guidelines to expand to elementary schools as well: Asahi Shimbun

Even after sending a polite email, the response was, 'We have not been able to identify any system design flaws or system errors at this time.'

I'm confirming this because we've exchanged emails multiple times and I don't want to continue. ... https://t.co/ESY5TbztsY
— HERO1008 (Hiroaki Tamura) @IT Consultant/Trainer (@HERO1008) July 8, 2026

4 Key Points to Get Discovered by AI Search – WordPress.com

The revamped Reader app will be released sequentially starting July 13th (Monday)! | Sony's eBook Store - Reader Store

From junk under railway bridges to Raspberry Pis sold online: A 50-year history of electronic component distribution in Japan - FabScene

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications expands scope of social media advertising targeting investment solicitations using 'celebrity impersonation' - Nikkei

[Notice of Service Restoration]
Regarding the system failure that occurred around 9:00 AM on July 6, 2026,
The restoration work is now complete, and the service is available as usual at the original domain ( https://t.co/RnLDsBwoPA ).
→
— GigaFile (@GigaFile_TV) July 8, 2026

What's more important than 'uniform age restrictions' on social media? — We asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications about Japan's vision for youth protection measures - INTERNET Watch

Amazon's lax review process: Reports indicate 20% of recommended USB drives have falsified capacity; using them could result in data loss - Nikkei Shimbun

New arrest of 18-year-old man in connection with cyberattack on 'Kaikatsu CLUB' - elementary school students may have participated - Metropolitan Police Department: Jiji.com

Police and three online shopping companies agree to prevent fraudulent transactions | NHK News | IT/Internet, National Police Agency, Police

Former elementary school student arrested for suspected cyberattack on Katsu-Club operator; former male student arrested | NHK News | Cyberattacks, Incidents & Accidents, Generative AI & Artificial Intelligence

[Candid Mini Review] A Wi-Fi Clock with Fixed NTP Function? What I Learned from Trying Out Formia's 'HWC-030WLAN' - PC Watch

◆Anime, Games, and Manga (Subculture)
'He had something incredible!' When I looked up the name of the person who drew a picture my father had a classmate who aspired to be a manga artist drew for him, it turned out to be an unbelievable person: 'A drawing by a master artist when he was 18' - Togetter

I once saw someone in Central Asia mistakenly believe that 'A Bride's Story was produced with government funds to foster friendly relations with Central Asia.' → This is unthinkable from a Japanese perspective, so why? - Togetter

[Rhythm Heaven] Nnatan is so cuteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee - Nico Nico Douga

#BLACK_LAGOON #BlackLagoon pic.twitter.com/T1d6GVxiCz
— Taiga Ai🦈🦈 (@taigaai4649) July 8, 2026

In short, Masamune Shirow's works are not the type that 'succeed by simply following the original,' but rather, the more closely one follows the original, the more insufficient explanation, information overload, and high-context the work becomes. Therefore, a strong selection and translation were necessary for the film adaptation. ... https://t.co/e88UsaWzWQ
— M66 (@hIeWMKeQpVn0zR6) July 8, 2026

TV anime 'Ghost in the Shell' promotional video #6 - YouTube

The official Twitter account for 'Kakekoi' doesn't use ALT at all. It's an anime about romance with a visually impaired girl, so I feel like they should use it.
— Milhi (@HELIX_62) July 8, 2026

As always, here's my 'Where should I start watching Ghost in the Shell? Series-by-Series List.' Starting with the Science SARU version, which begins airing today, might be a good idea. Exciting, isn't it? pic.twitter.com/Ns6xUaoHIQ
— Choi Gu-seong will be making an announcement (@42ch_GSN) July 7, 2026

Dew evil system pic.twitter.com/yPPbfc75qZ
— tenten (@tentenchan2525) July 9, 2026

【notice】
Genshin Impact will soon celebrate its 6th anniversary since its launch. Beyond continuous content updates and improved graphics, optimizing device performance and improving compatibility have been key priorities for us. … pic.twitter.com/Ev2WXAySBE
— Genshin Impact Official (@Genshin_7) July 9, 2026

The major demands to be allowed to use a wired connection for just two seconds. pic.twitter.com/cd2IFfivV2
— The Ninja Master (@Ninjamaster_73) July 8, 2026

◆Sports, Entertainment, Music, and Film (Entertainment)
Soccer player Kaoru Mitoma hits bicycle while driving, woman injured | NHK News | Incidents and accidents, Kaoru Mitoma, soccer

[Wednesday Downtown] About Our Barricade War [Hasshi Happy] - YouTube

I was a little surprised to see the backlash from NFL players (in this case, meaning, 'They can operate the stadiums on natural grass now! We want to play on natural grass too!') regarding the change from artificial turf to natural grass for the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup venues.
— Ikumi Groundsperson🌱 (@Ikumi_grounds) July 8, 2026

Official trailer for the movie 'Dune Part 3' - YouTube

'One of the reasons I lost interest in seeing the movie 'Treasure Island' is that I saw the movie trailer and found out the original author was a Naoki Prize-winning novelist!?' - Togetter

It seems that Professor Taku Ashibe's post, in which the title 'Naoki Prize Winner' looks like a pen name, is generating some buzz. 🤔

I've seen several posts saying things like, 'If it were Seiryoin Ryusui, he'd totally come up with a character like that.' 😂

There's actually a reason why Ryusui himself didn't go through with that idea 🙂... https://t.co/kQ9ErDC4yE
— Ryusui Seiryoin (@Catholic_Ryusui) July 7, 2026

Breathtaking aerial combat! The Mandalorian's super-fast dogfights | The Mandalorian Season 3 | Star Wars - YouTube

[Exclusive] Miyagi Prefectural High School Baseball Federation to establish committee this fall to consider avoiding the use of 'stab' and 'kill' in coaching [Rethinking Baseball Terminology] | Kahoku Shimpo Online

◆New products (clothing, food, shelter)

M size x 2

No.

💥💥GIGA×1💥💥

More of an event than a drink 🍹 #Zetteria #GIGA #Giga pic.twitter.com/hkefGxANLQ
— Zetteria (@zetteria_burger) July 9, 2026

The final peach beverage of this summer season! Enjoy the luxurious taste of summer with the 'Peach Creamy Tea Latte,' featuring chunky peach pieces and creamy tea, available from July 10th (Friday) - Starbucks Stories