In this week’s news roundup, we report on Lawson’s new ¥297 bento and what they say about changing consumer habits in Japan. Japan moves up one place to 117th in the annual Global Gender Gap Report. Three companies are teaming up to introduce fully driverless robotaxis in Tokyo by 2027. Italy’s water polo team, Pro Recco, makes a splash at Shibuya’s famous crossing. And we pay our respects to Yuri Nakamura and Hana Kuraki.

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Lawson Introduces New ¥297 Bento With Only One Topping

Lawson announced this week that it will begin selling ¥297 bentos featuring rice and just one main topping. Options include grilled corn, salted salmon and spicy keema curry. The stripped-back meals are part of the convenience store chain’s response to increasingly cost-conscious consumers, with Lawson saying the pared-down approach allows it to cut prices by up to 50%. In a country where food prices have risen sharply in recent years, could this be a sign of the times?

There’s some evidence to support the idea. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ July household expenditure survey, real consumption expenditure among households of two or more people fell year on year for the eighth consecutive month, while food spending declined 1.3%. Lawson, however, is seeing another side: strong sales of higher-priced alcohol and sweets, which it calls “reward consumption.” The new range reflects both trends, from a ¥297 salted-salmon bento to a ¥797 seafood pescatore.

Image by Victoria Bennett

Japan Rises One Place in Global Gender Gap Rankings

On Wednesday, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released its annual Global Gender Gap Report. Japan ranked 117th out of 145 nations, up just one place from 2025. The Gender Gap Index measures gender equality in four areas: politics, the economy, education and health. In educational attainment and health and survival, Japan remained unchanged from the previous year, scoring 0.994 and 0.973, respectively. A score of 1 indicates full gender parity.

In the political empowerment category, Japan’s score improved by 0.02 to 0.105. It reflects the proportion of women in parliament and ministerial positions. In economic participation and opportunity, the nation’s score fell to 0.609 from 0.613. Iceland topped the list for the 17th consecutive year, ahead of Finland and Norway. Namibia and the United Kingdom completed the top five. At the other end of the table, Chad finished at the bottom, behind Iran and Pakistan.

Yuri Nakamura Dies at 44 After Cancer Battle

On Monday, Yuri Nakamura’s agency announced that the Japanese-born Korean actress had died after battling rectal cancer. She was 44. Nakamura had battled cancer 13 years ago but chose to keep her diagnosis private. After the cancer went into remission, she returned to acting. In January 2025, however, the cancer was detected again. Although surgery was successful, metastasis was discovered following the operation. Two months ago, she developed an intestinal obstruction and subsequently withdrew from the NHK drama Dangerous.

Nakamura was born in Osaka to a third-generation Zainichi Korean father and South Korean mother. In 1998, she debuted as a singer, forming half of pop duo Yurimari with Mari Izawa. They disbanded the following year. In 2002, Nakamura made her silver screen debut and four years later won the Best Newcomer Award at the Osaka Cinema Festival for her role in Pacchigi! Love & Peace. She was best known for playing Irene in Netflix’s romantic-comedy series Romantics Anonymous.

Hana Kuraki Passes Away at 25 Amid Troubling Reports 

Popular JAV actress Hana Kuraki was found dead in an apartment in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district on Saturday night. She was 25. Host-club owner and BreakingDown fighter Sakito said on X that the apartment was rented under the name of Shota Taira, a prominent host and former idol. Sakito also said Kuraki had previously spoken to him about problems in her relationship with Taira, which was reportedly troubled and on-and-off.

Kuraki’s agency confirmed her death on Monday, expressing heartbreak over how deeply she had suffered and anger regarding what it called a “series of actions.” The agency declined to provide further details, citing respect for her family. Meanwhile, social media has been flooded with speculation about Kuraki’s turbulent private life, including allegations of mistreatment and abuse during her reportedly tumultuous relationship, as further claims about the circumstances surrounding her death continue to emerge.

Interior of a Waymo driverless Jaguar “I-PACE” vehicle. Planned for Tokyo, they currently operate in 15 US cities | Image: Shutterstock

Tokyo Could See Fully Driverless Robotaxis by 2027

Tokyo could soon see robotaxis operating on its streets. Go, Waymo and Nihon Kotsu have agreed to work together to commercialize fully driverless Level 4 taxis in the capital, targeting a launch next year. If successful, the project would make Japan’s capital one of the world’s largest cities to introduce autonomous taxis at a commercial scale. It could also provide a potential new solution to the city’s worsening shortage of taxi drivers.

The three companies have been conducting public-road tests in seven wards of Tokyo since 2025, adapting Waymo’s autonomous driving technology while preparing for commercial operations. Currently, autonomous driving tests with Nihon Kotsu drivers on board are progressing smoothly. Building on this progress, they have agreed to move into a new phase. With safety as their top priority, the three companies aim to gradually deploy around 100 robotaxis in Tokyo by 2027.

Image via Instagram / @prorecco

Italian Water Polo Team Pro Recco Make a Splash at Shibuya Crossing

On Tuesday, amid the crowds at Shibuya Crossing, a handful of figures stood out, dressed for the pool rather than the pavement. They were the players of Italian water-polo powerhouse Pro Recco, who crossed the famous Tokyo intersection barefoot in their competition swimsuits and caps. The stunt was part of the club’s promotional tour of Japan and China, during which Pro Recco also showcased their sporting credentials, including a 16–11 victory over Japan’s national team.

The most successful club in men’s water polo, Pro Recco boast a record 57 domestic trophies, including 38 Serie A1 titles and 19 Coppa Italia wins. Their dominance extends to Europe, where they have collected 21 trophies, including a record 11 European Aquatics Champions League titles and nine European Aquatics Super Cups. For a club with that kind of pedigree, seeing their players strolling barefoot through one of Tokyo’s busiest intersections was certainly an unusual sight.

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Updated On September 18, 2026