Bear spray born from 20 seconds of terror: Our 5 most-read stories from last week
We've listed our five most read stories on The Mainichi news site, from top to bottom, that were published between october 3 and 11.The first story wa
On October 3-11, The Mainichi news site published five stories that garnered significant attention from its regular readers. The top story involved a man in northern Japan who survived a bear attack while collecting mushrooms. A bear charged him at incredible speed, leaving him with only 20 seconds to react before the encounter ended. This harrowing incident prompted the creation of a bear-defense tool, born out of that 20 seconds of terror.
In recent years, divorces within long-term relationships have reached a record high in Japan. Among couples who cohabited for at least 20 years, the divorce rate climbed to 24.2% in 2025, despite a decrease in total divorce numbers. The welfare ministry's data revealed this troubling trend.
Okinawa Governor Genta Koja denounced the online slander targeting a woman who tragically lost her life in a robbery-murder case involving a suspected U.S. Marine. The governor called for a cessation of such attacks and urged people to refrain from online slander.
A 30-year study of the Imperial Palace forest in central Tokyo has yielded remarkable findings. Researchers discovered species previously unknown to science, but also noted the disappearance of certain organisms. The forest's quiet signals remain unclear, leaving researchers to ponder what message it may be conveying.
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revamped its family allowance system for diplomatic personnel stationed abroad. The changes include expanded benefits for children's education and for employees posted overseas without their families.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
