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Japan's government has decided not to attend the upcoming anti-nuclear weapons meeting at the United Nations, citing concerns about nuclear deterrence and the need for disarmament under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. This decision has drawn criticism from hibakusha survivors, youth groups, and local officials in Hiroshima, who urge the government to reconsider its stance and join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Alimentation Couche-Tard's founder, Alain Bouchard, believes his company's $47 billion offer for Seven & I could be improved if the Japanese firm were more cooperative and shared more financial information. However, Seven & I remains skeptical and has laid out a restructuring plan as an alternative to the takeover.

The Japanese government has approved a bill introducing stricter regulations on AI to prevent harmful applications that violate human rights, spread misinformation, or break laws. This move signifies a shift from the previous reliance on self-regulation and aligns with the global trend of regulating AI to mitigate potential negative impacts.

Japan's new supercomputer, ABCI 3.0, began operation on January 20th, 2023. This powerful machine, equipped with a large number of GPUs, boasts the highest computing capacity of any public supercomputer in Japan and is expected to play a crucial role in advancing AI research and development in the country.

Seven political parties in Japan have proposed legislation to prevent a repeat of the chaotic 2024 Tokyo gubernatorial election, where many candidates sold their poster space for commercial purposes. The bill aims to uphold the dignity of elections and prevent abuse by requiring clear candidate identification and imposing fines for commercial advertising.