Aug 18, 2026 18:35:00

Headline news for August 18, 2026

Cup Noodle Shibikara Stamina Big, a soy sauce-based noodle dish featuring the flavors of garlic and meat, along with the numbing and spicy kick of mala, will be released on August 24, 2026. It contains ingredients such as chives, onions, and red chili peppers, and the included 'special spicy oil' is said to enhance the garlic flavor and chili pepper spiciness. The price is 298 yen (excluding tax) per serving.

'Cup Noodle Spicy Stamina Big' (Released August 24) | News Release | Nissin Foods Group
https://www.nissin.com/jp/company/news/13883/

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

Why you shouldn't kill spiders in your house - GIGAZINE

Laser fusion successfully generates 10 quadrillion watts of energy, a major step forward towards the practical application of nuclear fusion power generation - GIGAZINE

A variant of the coronavirus with 10 times higher infectivity has been detected in infected individuals - GIGAZINE

Ten years after the 'grandmother's worst artwork restoration' that became a global sensation, what changes have occurred in the town and with the grandmother? - GIGAZINE

Nintendo Switch surpasses PS4 and Xbox to become the 'best-selling game console' - GIGAZINE

The 1700 Years' War, often called the 'endless war' that tormented players in Civilization 2 for over 10 years, has finally come to an end after a 58-year plan - GIGAZINE

Kanna Hashimoto's realistic portrayal of Kagura revealed in a report from the stage greeting for the movie 'Gintama 2: The Rules Are Meant to Be Broken' - GIGAZINE

A video showing a person wriggling as if an alien had parasitized their leg has garnered 18 million views and received a huge response - GIGAZINE

Google demonstrates that image watermarks can be automatically and cleanly removed, but adds 'one more step is needed to make it even more effective' - GIGAZINE

The legendary death game sequel, 'Life is Over: The Great Adventure 2,' has arrived before the end of Adobe Flash Player support, and we've actually played it - GIGAZINE

◆ Ideas (notes, miscellaneous things)

I wondered what the problem was when someone reported me for a violation, and it turns out some people thought this was used underwear. pic.twitter.com/kzddEqBaIo
— Ishidokoro Tacchan [Currently serializing the four-panel manga Chinchilla Tacchan] (@arcrk75977) August 14, 2026

I might have been pickpocketed at Comiket...
I was sure I had tens of thousands of yen in my wallet, but when I opened it at the end, there were only a few thousand yen left...
None of my cards were missing, but all my money was gone...
Something's wrong... This is strange... I was just looking around at the clubs...
— Akatsuka Rin 🐮 C108 both days (@orinrin7633) August 17, 2026

No good...
My Squirtle... pic.twitter.com/zGNCe8G7r8
— Ni-yan (@akiduki10) August 18, 2026

Even a 3D printer is lecturing me, I'm depressed. pic.twitter.com/14C2atPYjK
— Sea🌊 (@_seaE) August 17, 2026

What kind of attitude is that towards your parents?
— Split (@bbbbbun_00000tu) August 17, 2026

I thought there was a stylish chandelier that seemed out of place in a ramen shop, and when I looked closer, I realized it was a lotus flower. pic.twitter.com/XEvVPctzr0
— Zou Senpai (@ZouSenpai) August 17, 2026

◆Science (Science, Academics, Technology)
Rome's heatwave causes river levels to drop, exposing the remains of 'Nero's Bridge,' built 2,000 years ago - CNN.co.jp

'First time changes directly above a fault line': Ground displacement in rice paddies caused by earthquake clearly visible in video – possibly part of a fault zone… - YouTube

A thorough on-site report on the first-ever Nobel Prize in mathematics awarded to a Japanese person, including the little-known 'guilt' felt by Norwegians: 'Mathematics is beautiful'—the love of researchers seen in Oslo during the flower season | NEWSjp

Fault line appeared during Kumamoto earthquake, captured on security camera... 1 meter high displacement of over 20 meters: 'Footage of high academic value': Yomiuri Shimbun

Approximately 4 million research results from Japanese institutional repositories have been integrated into OpenAlex, one of the world's largest open academic information databases. This collaboration with NII's IRDB will dramatically improve the international discoverability of Japanese research results. - National Institute of Informatics

◆Society, Politics, and Economy (Events, World News, Business)
Woman sues Vienna city government over 'sex discrimination' charges for using public toilet stalls (19 photos) International News: AFPBB News

Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo: One death every 30 minutes (Photo 1) International News: AFPBB News

Proposed ban on standing-room-only drinking in central London pubs sparks anger and backlash over move that threatens to shake tradition (1/2) - CNN.co.jp

UAE state-owned oil tanker attacked in series in the Strait of Hormuz (Photo 1) International News: AFPBB News

Markets seek loopholes in consumption tax cuts; inflation-dependent fiscal policies have their limits - Nikkei

Forest fires resurface in southwestern France, and another fire in western Germany forces 1,800 people to be evacuated. (6 photos) International News: AFPBB News

Chiba Heavy Rains: Underpass where a man died after his car was submerged; drainage pumps not working due to power outage... Electronic sign indicating 'road closed' also not functioning: Yomiuri Shimbun

Emperor expresses 'deep remorse' and 'hopes that the tragedy will never be repeated' at memorial service for war dead | Mainichi Shimbun

Russian Foreign Minister sarcastically criticizes Motegi's policy toward Russia, saying, 'Is this what you mean by 'having a conversation'?'

A man arrested by Saitama Prefectural Police on suspicion of stealing a speed camera was not indicted... and it was determined that there was insufficient evidence. 'The driver who was detained for nearly a month received no compensation or support whatsoever.' - Togetter

Speed camera theft in Saitama Prefecture, no indictment lol: NanJ Stadium @ NanJ Summary

39: Anonymous 2026/08/17(Mon) 18:22:12.265 ID:VGaJQyHvU
After turning back in front of the speed camera to check, I was arrested, imprisoned and tortured for 21 days.
↑
These guys haven't learned anything from Okawara.

Netanyahu mocks Britain as an 'Islamic Republic,' sparking backlash from the British government. (3 photos) International News: AFPBB News

Trump says he will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz to be U.S. territory (7 photos) International News: AFPBB News

Underpass on national highway flooded by heavy rains in Chiba; power outage prevents drainage; driver in critical condition [Chiba Prefecture]: Asahi Shimbun

LDP officials are coordinating a group visit to Yasukuni Shrine; Prime Minister Takaichi may not participate | Mainichi Shimbun

[Breaking News] Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok elected as leader of South Korea's ruling party: Jiji.com

August 2026 Chiba Heavy Rains: One in Two People May Have Been Affected Outside Flood-Prone Areas - Weather News Analyzes 20,000 Flood Damage Reports from Record-Breaking Rains - Weather News

Prime Minister Takaichi posts a series of messages on social media about the government's measures to combat rising prices | NHK News | Takaichi Cabinet, soaring prices, resources and energy

Putin abandons consideration for Japan and aligns with China, preparing to carry out an invasion—possibly with the aim of boosting patriotism - Experts: Jiji.com

Life on an aircraft carrier: unique mental stress, a former naval officer reveals - CNN.co.jp

Skylark Holdings to Introduce 'Ghost Restaurants' - Focusing on Delivery and Takeout Without Dining Space - In Response to Food Consumption Tax Reduction | FNN Prime Online

Record-breaking heavy rainfall exceeding 500mm in Chiba Prefecture: The probability of such an event, 'almost impossible in the past,' occurring more than doubles due to global warming - Weathernews

Prime Minister Takaichi posts five consecutive counterarguments on X in response to criticism of her high-inflation measures: 'Let's look at the facts': Yomiuri Shimbun

'Not at home, but at a facility where he was accompanied by someone of the opposite sex,' 'The person he was with was not his spouse': Press conference regarding disciplinary action against Akita Prefecture employee | AAB News

[Exclusive] Comedian Takumi Tsuzuki, member of the comedy trio 'Yonzen Toushin,' has been referred to prosecutors on suspicion of violating Tokyo's Public Nuisance Prevention Ordinance for allegedly touching a woman's lower body over her skirt. Metropolitan Police Department | TBS NEWS DIG (Page 1)

[Breaking News] Red Feather Party forged meeting minutes and borrowed 190 million yen | 47NEWS

[Exclusive] Red Feather Campaign's Unaccounted Funds: Forged Documents Used to Borrow 190 Million Yen; Former Secretary-General Considers Suing: Hokkaido Shimbun Digital

British Prime Minister, who took office last month, exchanged messages with a fake 'Trump aide' (2 photos) - International News: AFPBB News

Sankei News: Did they falsify meeting minutes and take out massive loans to evade detection of the misuse of 180 million yen collected through the 'Red Feather' fundraising campaign?

Tokaido Shinkansen sees record ridership during Obon holiday, fueled by shift away from air travel due to high fuel prices - Nikkei Shimbun

The Henoko accident occurred without a preliminary inspection; was Doshisha International's disregard for safety an exception? The reality of school trips and legal responsibility - Sankei News

Russia warns Britain will 'pay the price' over British-supplied drone reporting. (5 photos) International News: AFPBB News

Reading Politics: Approval Ratings Halved Among Independent Voters - Which Policies Accelerated the 'Distance from Takaichi'? | Mainichi Shimbun

Kushner hints at starting Hamas disarmament within 30 days (7 photos) International News: AFPBB News

Trump announces Kim Jong-un has 'responded' to his efforts for dialogue (2 photos) International News: AFPBB News

Former Cambridge University professor found dead amid plagiarism allegations - BBC News

Former Cambridge professor, accused of plagiarism, dies at home in the UK (1 photo) - International News: AFPBB News

◆Lifestyle (Life, Living, Health)
Eastern Saitama Prefecture is not 'Saitama' | Sodium

A mother who kept her stillborn child in a freezer for three years was arrested for abandoning a corpse, but the story is far more tragic than expected, drawing both condemnation and sympathy. 'It's a lenient sentence, but it's so heartbreaking' - Togetter

Onigiri in France has undergone a major transformation, becoming 'onigiri with raspberry-flavored rice and white chocolate filling' - Togetter

If you want to become someone important, create a community | Zeekdrums

I got colon cancer in my 20s - Otaku Wonderland

Salespeople from the Showa era had an unusually wide range of discretionary power, and it was commonplace for them to kill an hour or so in a coffee shop while out on sales calls → With the spread of mobile phones, we now live in an age where we are monitored by location information and dashcams - Togetter

It can be confusing when there are people with the same last name in the same workplace, but I wonder how people in Korea and China handle it? → In Korea, they call each other by their full name or first name, and in business, it seems that last name + job title is more common - Togetter

Three interns were told to 'eat whatever you like' and given recommendations for their favorite restaurants, but they ended up spending 390,000 yen on lavish spending. 'They're kind of taking society lightly,' → Interns' actions spark mixed reactions - Togetter

A story about a 2-year-old son who was given a pre-cut banana at a restaurant. He suddenly started suffering, struggling for nearly 30 seconds, before finally swallowing it with a 'gurgling' sound and being fine. → Was it because it was sliced? - Togetter

When eating at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, I often move all my plates to the side of the table. Is this helpful for the staff, or is it actually inconvenient for them? → It seems that leaving 20-30cm of space at the edge of the table makes it easier for them to clear the table - Togetter

'The answer to your suspicions will come suddenly': A story about what to be careful of if your favorite idol starts doing 'these kinds of things' even if they live alone and don't have pets - Togetter

The Secrets of Management | nekokak

My mother passed away this year, and I found out she had about 30 million yen in savings. Since I was little, I always thought my family didn't have much money, so I chose a school that didn't require tuition or lodging fees, and for over 20 years I've worked for a high-paying company because I didn't want to be in financial trouble. Perhaps my life has always been in my mother's hands. → 'Is 30 million yen a lot of money to leave for retirement? You never know when you're going to die...' - posfie

'Raising children' has become a grand 18-year project to deliver happy-go-lucky men to the Earth. | Naoko Nagata

It's so sad to see cars submerged up to their roofs, yet their hazard lights are still working . #linearrainband #InageWard #ChibaCity #flooding #inundation #heavyrain pic.twitter.com/ukNMSvyhqx
— Pasahito (@pasahito) August 13, 2026

It's become a trend in France to name pets after Japanese people, but I wish they'd stop. Today I met a dog named 'Tanaka' - Togetter

'Mountain huts are not convenience stores,' says mountain hut manager to hikers who visit outside of business hours: 'I understand the hard work you do every day.' However, some question it has also been raised - Togetter

'Got a nice bonsai!' Overseas SNS post shocks people: 'That's mine!' Frequent thefts: Asahi Shimbun

Those who get irritated by people who jump in front of trains to commit suicide, do you have no heart?... 'Of course not. Say that after you've been in the position of picking up those pieces of flesh,' say people with experience handling corpses - Togetter

Directly beneath a linear rainband - Hachima Civil Engineering

Age restrictions on trains and restaurants in France cause controversy: Asahi Shimbun

When I went home for the Obon holiday, my parents suddenly asked me for advice. Both of them are over 75, they've lost their part-time jobs, have no savings, and their pensions alone aren't enough to live on. → I've decided to send them money. - Togetter

I'm the type of person who gets approached by strangers telling me their heavy life stories just by walking around, but I've finally figured out how to end the conversation recently. 'I'm the same type, so this is helpful.' - Togetter

A 70-year-old man confronts a bear alone at 5 a.m. to protect cats... Did he 'exterminate' it instead of just chasing it away? 'And from what I've read, he did it in one hit' - Togetter

The person who made an omelet that literally 'splits open' practiced for two months and here's the result: 'A good example of how practice makes perfect' - Togetter

'Even the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is raising concerns': Site supervisors receive bonuses exceeding 2 million yen, earning 11 million yen annually at age 24... The reversal of white-collar and blue-collar jobs is a hot topic, but there are also pitfalls - Togetter

Drought at Miboro Dam | inoue1024

I read 'A Life Without Buying Things,' a book that describes how you can survive without air conditioning, a refrigerator, or gas, by carefully maintaining good relationships with your neighbors. 'It's not a lifestyle everyone can live, but it's insightful.' - Togetter

A story about a taxi at Ariake Comiket... When I asked a group of four customers where they were going, they said, 'Just go straight to OO Station in Kyoto,' which surprised me, and they paid with a huge pile of 1000 yen bills from a cardboard box of their luggage - Togetter

'I realized this person has absolutely no intention of changing their lifestyle for me,' and my feelings for them cooled to below freezing point → This resonates as the end of a relationship - Togetter

I'm at a hair salon that has a policy of charging a cancellation fee if you're 15 minutes late, and I've already been waiting 12 minutes past my appointment time. I know it's ridiculous, but I get fined for being late, and yet they don't have any penalty...? That's what I think!
— Ricchan (@risaaaa_nontan) August 17, 2026

'If you're going to act like that, we'll use the consumer center,' is all they're really saying...
In fact, ever since AI call centers became widespread, I've been using consumer centers several times a year—something I'd hardly ever done before in my life. They act immediately when you say, 'I'm paying for support but not getting any...' https://t.co/OBF3S5j2IB
— Kochiya Sazurin (@Xatz) August 18, 2026

'Why are there always lines at the girls' restrooms?' A survey of 620,000 separate boys' and girls' toilets in schools reveals the truth: Asahi Shimbun

Child harnesses have been a hot topic lately, and this is the one I use.
So far, it's been a huge hit with everyone around me.
Yes! https://t.co/JNEhqD24cN pic.twitter.com/dHUaMd3DRb
— Harukael (@Harukael_ver2) August 18, 2026

◆IT & Gadgets (Internet, Software, Hardware, Mobile)
'Perhaps we should value and actively support 'data storage that values freedom of expression' more than ever before,' comments Yoshiyuki Kurishita on the Google Drive account ban issue - Togetter

More and more restaurants are displaying AI-generated posters, but I try to avoid going to those places as much as possible... I feel like they're mocking me with their 'Isn't this a little bit okay?' attitude → Many people agree - Togetter

They really should stop using AI to create summer festival pop-up displays and posters; they look neat at first glance, but they don't make the food look appetizing. → Apparently, they've become increasingly common recently, and many people are finding it jarring - Togetter

We were doing some 'rich man programming.' How will the implementation change with Cloudflare Workers?

Why did ITmedia change its 'article URLs' with its redesign? We asked the company (Kenta Yamaguchi) - Expert - Yahoo! News

② Why do out-of-print books disappear from 'personal transmission'? The National Diet Library maintains a mysterious standard whose origins and impact are unknown | Shoji Monzen

Email Verification Protocol (EVP) eliminates the need for email verification codes.

final's meticulously crafted 'sleep-inducing' TWS headphones, the 'ZE500 NYUMIN,' offer a slightly different experience from typical sleep headphones - AV Watch

[Digital Camera Video Watch] [Review] Insta360 X6 - Digital Camera Watch

[Hothot Review] Surprisingly expandable for a mini PC. The 'MS-03' now features Panther Lake - PC Watch

Amazon's 'Wave of the Baton' Throws Order into Chaos: Counterfeiting Lawsuits Raise the Question of Responsibility: Asahi Shimbun

I called an AI-operated call center for the first time, and it's seriously messed up. The first thing a human says when you get connected is, no joke, 'I'm going to kill you.' - Togetter

'Still not changing': Channel participants express remorse and their stance on work after a fan who felt uncomfortable with their favorite YouTuber's teasing of the San'in region pointed it out - Togetter

Notice from Tsūhan Seikatsu® Catalog House | [Official] Catalog House Online Shopping Site

2026.08.18

Notice of discontinuation of our store on Rakuten Market.

We have closed our online shop, 'Tsūhan Seikatsu no Shop,' on Rakuten Market, which had been operating since March 2026. Thank you for your patronage. Please use our company website from now on.

I created 'mikke,' a CLI that allows full-text searching of Markdown notes in Japanese.

You can now check the inventory status of each store using Google Search™, Google Maps™, etc. | Hard Off (a recycling shop handling a wide variety of items including musical instruments, home appliances, furniture, etc.) - Buy and sell used goods.

This is the official RocketNow account.
We are aware of the videos posted on social media and are currently investigating the facts.
— RocketNow [Official] (@RocketNow_JP) August 17, 2026

rocket now
Snacking during delivery by Aoyama Gakuin University pic.twitter.com/TW9EfnlvkW
— Takapi-san @Takasoku (@108takapi_new) August 16, 2026

[Important Notice]
'DOVA-SYNDROME' will change its service name and website URL starting September 15, 2026.

The new name is 'OpenTracks'.
— Free BGM DOVA-SYNDROME (@dovatwi) August 18, 2026

◆Anime, Games, and Manga (Subculture)

This is a picture diary of a cat who has mastered the trick of giving a paw so much that he ends up making his owner give him a paw, and also teaches the owner the correct way to give a paw 🎐 (Included in volume 5 of the manga)

I've also included a video of Ron-san's helpful guidance . pic.twitter.com/2qwYmRRTks
— AKR🌱Volume 8 now on sale (@bou128) August 15, 2026

Request for support in combating illegal uploads of doujinshi (fan-made comics) | NoDP

[Comiket] Huge queues at Veloce from early morning! 270 customers in one hour, over 100 servings of curry sold—double the previous year's total... The reason for their rapid service [On-site coverage & interview with the commander-in-chief] | ORICON NEWS

🐢 pic.twitter.com/X5I4pooen1
— Nagano (@ngntrtr) August 14, 2026

Following Ryuji's criticism of 'Oishinbo's Carbonara,' the views of chefs on carbonara recipes are interesting... Does carbonara change its form depending on the era and country? - Togetter

[8/23 #COMITIA157 'Tears Magazine 157' Sales Information]

The catalog 'Tears Magazine 157' serves as an admission pass for general participants.
Many stores and online shops have sold out or discontinued sales.

●Stores carrying this item : https://t.co/zothZ9Ax7i … pic.twitter.com/iuWP9x38FD
— COMITIA Executive Committee (@COMITIAofficial) August 18, 2026

There was an amazing person at Comiket . pic.twitter.com/pNlETfHWX5
— Yukari Fumishiro 🐻🗒 C108 Saturday East 7-M40ab (@fumisiro_yukari) August 17, 2026

'Mushoku Tensei III' Episode 8 Non-Credit Opening Movie / Opening Theme: 'Hikari no Uta' by Yuiko Ohara - YouTube

'Your Letter - Japanese Ver.' Special MV for the Japanese dubbed version theme song of 'En no Tegami' - YouTube

HELLDIVERS™ 2 x WARHAMMER 40,000 Trailer - YouTube

Wild Blue Skies | Official Launch Trailer | PS5® - YouTube

'CARD MAKE ARENA' Announcement Trailer - YouTube

Introducing Hello Kitty & Friends Furniture Add-ons - YouTube

In response to the question, 'Are all the staff at Comiket rude and use informal language?', some people are unaware that it's an event where everyone is a participant and not treated like a customer... After all, staff and customers are equals - Togetter

Phantom Blade Zero - State of Play Gameplay Deep Dive [Japanese] - YouTube