We've listed our five most read stories on The Mainichi news site, from top to bottom, that were published between March 8 and 16. The first story was viewed by 23% of our regular readers. (The Mainichi)

Woman fatally stabbed near Tokyo's Takadanobaba Station during livestream

TOKYO -- A woman was stabbed on a street here apparently in mid-livestream near JR Takadanobaba Station in the capital's Shinjuku Ward on March 11, and later confirmed dead. A man was arrested at the scene. Full story.

Rising Nepali population may shift top 5 foreign nationalities in Japan

SAPPORO -- The top five countries of foreign nationals living in Japan have remained unchanged for over the past decade, but will likely change soon as Nepal is set to move ahead of Brazil, with the number of residents from the South Asian country surging to 206,898 as of June 2024. Full story.

Millions of people in common-law marriages in Japan face legal problems

TOKYO -- Common-law marriage refers to a relationship in which couples have not filed for marriage at government offices but are effectively in a partnership akin to a legal marriage. However, common-law couples in Japan face many legal limitations, such as ineligibility for certain public systems and rights. Full story.

'In Europe there would be protests': Scholar weighs Japan's approach to 'overtourism'

SAPPORO -- The problem of "overtourism," marked by an excessive concentration of travelers negatively impacting local communities and residents, is becoming increasingly severe across Japan, with friction between inbound tourists and residents picked up in the media. Full story.

Foreign workers march in Tokyo for better pay, work conditions

TOKYO -- Foreign workers took to the streets of Japan's capital on March 9, calling for wage increases and improved labor conditions as the peak of the 2025 spring labor offensive approaches. Full story.