Chronology of Shiga Prefecture’s major news headlines for January–March 2026 (expanding to December 2026). To be posted on a continuing basis until the chronology for this year is completed.
Compiled by Philbert Ono, updated: July 10, 2026
January 4, 2026: This year’s NHK Taiga Drama “Toyotomi Kyodai” (豊臣兄弟) or Brothers in Arms starts airing today. It’s about Toyotomi Hidenaga and his older brother Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The story includes northern Shiga as one historical setting. The year-long TV series will air until December 2026.
January 5, 2026: On the new year’s first day of work at Shiga Prefectural Government, Governor Mikazuki announced at an executive meeting that the prefecture will work with JR (Japan Railways) and municipal governments to jointly launch a major tourism PR campaign for Shiga. Shiga’s tourism department will also be revamped to improve tourism PR and to better promote Shiga’s history and culture. This is also spurred by this year’s NHK Taiga Drama “Toyotomi Kyodai” (豊臣兄弟) part of which is set in Shiga.
January 5, 2026: Omi-Hachiman’s new City Hall held an opening ceremony led by the mayor. Some 600 city hall employees have begun working in the new four-story building with a floor space (9,000 sq. meters) twice as large as the old city hall building. It was built at a cost of ¥7.1 billion which was cheaper than the original plan costing ¥8.7 billion after the current mayor scaled back the building and cost.
The old city hall will be torn down to make way for a parking lot by December 2026.
January 9, 2026: At a ceremony in Otsu today, Shiga and Okinawa Prefectures represented respectively by Governor Mikazuki and Governor Denny Tamaki signed a comprehensive exchange agreement on peace and historical matters and the natural environment, human health, and longevity. They both want to strengthen the memory of war victims, promote peace, and reduce Okinawa’s burden of military bases. The ceremony included a performance of Biwako Shuko no Uta sung by sanshin players.
January 23, 2026: To promote Shiga in Tokyo, a Shiga tourism and product fair is held at Seibu Ikebukuro Station selling products from Shiga. They included red konnyaku, sake, and lake fish. Clad in a happi coat, Governor Mikazuki was also on hand giving out sake samples and tourist pamphlets. Held with the cooperation of Seibu Holdings which has roots in Shiga.
January 29, 2026: Northern Shiga is seeing heavy snow today. As of 5:00 pm, Yogo in Nagahama got 110 cm of snow, while Imazu, Takashima got 11 cm, and Maibara 10 cm. Heavy snow is forecast to continue tomorrow. The snow is affecting trains in northern Shiga with fewer or later runs.
February 1, 2026: Kita-Omi Toyotomi Expo (北近江豊臣博覧会) opens today in Nagahama. In conjunction with this year’s NHK Taiga Drama TV series “Toyotomi Kyodai” (豊臣兄弟) or Brothers in Arms, the expo is to promote local history and culture. The expo venue is in two locations in Nagahama: Daitsuji Temple (Taiga Drama-kan) and Azai Sanshimai-no-Sato roadside station centering on Azai Nagamasa. In April, a third venue in Yogo will open to feature the Battle of Shizugatake. The expo will run until December 20, 2026.
https://www.nagahama-sengoku.jp/
February 6, 2026: Shiga Board of Education punished two high school male teachers in their 20s and 30s for sexual harassment of female students at their school in Shiga. They used LINE to harass the students last year, giving her a ride, etc. Both culprits only received a three-month suspension from work from today. Names and high school not identified. Why do authorities keep protecting sexual predators?
February 12, 2026: At the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Otsu-native Suzuki Sara (16, 鈴木さら) placed 4th (Best score 84.00) in the finals of the Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe event. Although she fell in her first two runs, she pulled off a Double cork 1080 in her third run. It was her first Olympics and a great experience. She had placed 2nd in the qualifying round.
February 14, 2026: For Valentine’s Day, Hiko-nyan, Hikone’s official mascot, received 242 chocolates from all over Japan. People who sent chocolates and indicated their names and addresses will receive a thank you postcard in March. The leftover chocolates which Hiko-nyan couldn’t eat will be donated to volunteer groups in Shiga operating food kitchens for kids. Good that it’s not going to Hikone city employees. In the past, they never reported who consumed all that chocolate.
February 24, 2026: In Higashi-Omi, it was announced that the Odako Giant Kite Festival will finally restart this year on May 2 after an absence of eleven years due to a tragic accident in 2015. However, it will not be a festival with food stalls, etc. It will just be an event to train younger people. The public can watch, but from a father distance away than before.
February 26, 2026: Shiga police announced that in 2025, there were 77 cases of mountain hiking accidents in Shiga, almost the same number as in 2024. The cases included five deaths and 48 hikers getting injured. The most common cause was slipping and falling (22 cases), followed by getting lost (17 cases), and falling down (13 cases). Hikers are urged to register their hiking plans before hiking.
March 11, 2026: The number of foreign residents in Shiga as of Dec. 31, 2025 was a record 44,735, a 7.9 percent (3,260) increase over 2024. The number has been reaching new highs during the past four years. About one-third of them are in their 20s and in Shiga for employment. The foreign population in all 19 municipalities in Shiga saw an increase. Konan has the highest percentage of foreigners in its population with 8.07 percent, Aisho 6.17 percent, Koka 5.71 percent, and Hino 5.09 percent. Vietnamese nationals made up the largest foreign group with 26.9 percent, Brazilians 19.6 percent, and Chinese 10.5 percent. One in 31 residents in Shiga is a foreigner.
March 21, 2026: Japan Railways (JR) has started running the Twilight Express Mizukaze (瑞風) luxury sleeper train through Shiga on a train route named “Lake Biwa Loop” running between Kyoto Station and Shimonoseki Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The train goes around Lake Biwa and takes two days (overnight). The luxury train has a car exhibiting Biwa pearls and Shigaraki pottery. The train runs only a few times a month. Pricing is not indicated on the website, so it must be very expensive.
March 30, 2026: City of Kusatsu appointed two official tourism ambassadors: One is Onsen-dorobo (おんせんどろぼう) and the other is Shiga Lakes pro basketball team’s Lakes cheerleaders. Onsen-dorobo means “Hot Spring Thief” who goes around hot springs in Japan to steal hot spring water and make Lake Biwa a hot spring.
March 30, 2026: Sadly, the Biwako Waterfowl Observation Center (びわ湖の水鳥観察センター) in Takashima closed today due to a lack of visitors and an aging facility. The center first opened in 1989 as the Shin-Asahi Waterfowl Observation Center operated by Shin-Asahi Town. It had large windows for birdwatching on the lake and stuffed birds and library. The city is considering allowing private enterprise to use the building.
March 31, 2026: In Otsu, Ukaru-chan Arena (ウカルちゃんアリーナ) shut down due to the aging facility after 55 years of hosting mainly sporting events. Many fond memories were made in this gymnasium.
April – Coming later…
May 2, 2026: In Higashi-Omi, the Odako Giant Kite flying finally restarted after an absence of eleven years due to a tragic accident in May 2015. About 700 spectators kept at a safe distance from the kite saw three kite-flying attempts. However, due to weak winds, the giant kite got off the ground only once for less than 20 seconds. The event was not held as a festival, but as a training event for the next generation to learn how to make and fly the giant kite.
July 5, 2026: Mikazuki Taizo (55) wins a fourth term as Shiga Governor after ballots cast today are counted. He defeated three newcomers by a large margin with 297,036 votes. His closest rival Osumi Motoshi received 96,918 votes. He was first elected governor in 2014. We’ll see him four more years. Voter turnout was 40.41 percent, the second lowest turnout in Shiga’s gubernatorial elections and 14.87 percent less than the last election.
July 8, 2026: The weather bureau announces that the rainy season in the Kinki Region which includes Shiga has ended. Summer temperatures are expected from today.
To be continued…
Next: Shiga History January–December 2027 (coming later)
Back to: Shiga History January–December 2025
