One frosty morning, Rusty the fox cub woke up with an extra fluffy tail, and his forest friends gathered around to admire it.
Rusty woke up to find his fur thicker than before, especially his big orange tail. He trotted outside into the cold, frosty morning, and his breath made little clouds in the air.
Pip the hedgehog and three of his hedgehog friends were already outside, and Hazel the rabbit hopped over too. "Rusty, your tail looks twice as big!" Hazel said, her eyes wide with surprise.
Owl flew down from a nearby branch and looked closely. "That is your winter coat," Owl explained. "As the days grow colder, a soft, thick undercoat grows under your fur. It helps you stay warm all winter long."
Rusty puffed out his chest and turned in a slow circle so everyone could see his fluffy new tail. The hedgehogs clapped their small paws, and Hazel laughed at how proud he looked.
"Winter will not feel so cold now," Rusty said happily, flicking his tail one more time before they all walked together through the frosty grass.
This story is fiction.
Scientists say six baby Irrawaddy dolphins were born this year in the Mekong River in Cambodia. The good news brings hope for the future of these rare river dolphins.
Five calves were born in Kratie province, and one in Stung Treng province, along a 120-kilometer part of the river. The dolphin population there is now 118, the largest group of river-dwelling Irrawaddy dolphins anywhere.
In the late 1990s, almost 200 dolphins lived in this river, but fishing nets and other dangers caused the number to fall sharply. Conservation workers now protect the river more carefully, and no dolphin deaths have been reported there for more than a year.
Experts say the new calves show that the dolphins can still recover if people keep protecting their river home.
Source: Mongabay, "Mekong's Irrawaddy dolphins find cautious hope amid a river in crisis"
Sunday is mostly sunny in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. Sapporo stays cloudy and cold, with a few early snow flurries.
A warm coat is a good idea in Sapporo today. A light jacket should be enough in the other three cities.
Forecast by: Japan Meteorological Agency, forecast issued November 7, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
In Japan, November 8 is Ii Ha no Hi, or Good Teeth Day. The Japan Dental Association started this day in 1993. The date uses wordplay: 11 sounds like ii (good), and 8 sounds like ha (teeth). On this day, people think about brushing well and visiting the dentist.
Source: Japan Foundation for Oral Health Promotion, "11月8日は「いい歯の日」"
November 8 is Shigaraki Tanuki Day, started by a tourism group in Shiga Prefecture. The date also uses wordplay for ii (good) and 8. In 1951, Emperor Showa visited the pottery town of Shigaraki, and rows of raccoon dog statues welcomed him. News of this made the town's tanuki statues famous across Japan.
On this day in 1895, German scientist Wilhelm Rontgen discovered a new kind of invisible ray while testing electricity in a dark lab. He later used it to take a picture of his wife's hand bones. We now call this an X-ray, and doctors around the world still use it to see inside the body.
Source: Kansas City University, "World Radiography Day: Celebrating X-Ray Technology"
Horoscopes are just for fun. Signs are listed by today's luck.
Overall Your best day this week! Everything seems to go smoothly and happily.
Money A lucky find or a small gift brightens your day.
Love A warm conversation brings you closer to someone special.
Lucky color Sky Blue
Lucky item a paper airplane
Overall A lucky Sunday! Plans come together more easily than you expect.
Money A pleasant surprise with money brightens your afternoon.
Love Someone shares kind words that stay with you all day.
Lucky color Lavender
Lucky item a glass bead bracelet
Overall A fun, active Sunday. Trying something new brings a nice surprise today.
Money A small purchase brings more joy than you expected this weekend.
Love Friends invite you somewhere fun; say yes and enjoy it.
Lucky color Ruby Red
Lucky item a striped scarf
Overall A productive Sunday. Small tasks finish more easily than expected.
Money Saving a little today pays off later this month.
Love Family time feels warm and especially comforting today.
Lucky color Forest Green
Lucky item a wooden key chain
Overall A pleasant Sunday with small, happy moments throughout the day.
Money A fair trade or deal works nicely in your favor.
Love A kind word from a friend makes you smile.
Lucky color Golden Yellow
Lucky item a sun-shaped pin
Overall A steady Sunday with a few small, pleasant surprises along the way.
Money A small discount or deal might brighten your day.
Love An honest talk brings you closer to someone you trust.
Lucky color Autumn Orange
Lucky item a travel map
Overall An ordinary Sunday. Simple plans suit you better than big ones.
Money Keep your spending simple and steady today.
Love A calm chat with someone close feels comforting.
Lucky color Sage Green
Lucky item a small notebook
Overall A calm, steady Sunday. Your usual routine carries you through nicely.
Money Simple choices keep your day easy and worry-free.
Love A gentle, balanced talk brings peace with someone close.
Lucky color Seafoam Blue
Lucky item a small shell
Overall A slow Sunday. Resting at home feels better than going out today.
Money Keep spending small today; a better chance comes soon.
Love A quiet afternoon with family brings calm, happy feelings.
Lucky color Warm Brown
Lucky item a cozy blanket
Overall A quiet Sunday. Save your energy for a busier day ahead.
Money Hold off on spending; a better moment is coming soon.
Love A short message to a friend means more than you think.
Lucky color Deep Maroon
Lucky item a black pen
Overall A tired Sunday. Take things slowly and rest when you can.
Money Avoid big purchases today; wait for a calmer day.
Love Gentle patience with family brings a peaceful evening.
Lucky color Pale Gray
Lucky item a warm mug
Overall A very slow day. Be gentle with yourself and rest when you can.
Money Keep plans small today; a brighter day is coming soon.
Love A quiet moment with someone close means more than words.
Lucky color Charcoal Gray
Lucky item a soft pillow
We use should and shouldn't to give friendly advice or say what is a good or bad idea.
Hazel should wear a scarf today.
Answer: Hazel should wear a scarf today.
Sunday morning arrived quiet and cool, with soft sunlight slipping through the kitchen curtains. Lyn stretched and walked out to the garden before breakfast, just as she did every morning now.
The chrysanthemum had grown another leaf overnight, ten in all. "Ten leaves, and five days until John comes," she called back toward the house, smiling.
Linda stepped onto the porch with a cup of tea in hand. "Five days," she repeated, shaking her head gently. "It feels like both a long time and no time at all."
After breakfast, the two of them turned their attention to the guest room. Linda dusted the low table by the window while Lyn folded fresh sheets for the futon, smoothing each corner with care.
Star walked in and out of the room, sniffing at the folded blankets as if checking them herself. Pinkysan curled up on the warm windowsill, watching the quiet work with half-closed eyes.
"We should pick a few chrysanthemums for the room, once they bloom," Lyn said, glancing at the plant through the window. "Mrs. Oda would like that, I think."
Linda smiled and set a small empty vase on the low table, ready for the day the flowers opened. "A little color always makes a room feel warmer," she said, wiping the windowsill one more time.
By early afternoon, the room looked ready: a fresh futon, folded blankets, and the little vase on the table. Linda stepped back and nodded, satisfied. "Just a few small things left," she said.
They spent the rest of the afternoon on the veranda, drinking tea and watching the maple leaves outside turn a little redder than the day before.
"Five days," Lyn said again, almost to herself, as Star rested her head on her knee and Pinkysan dozed nearby in a patch of sun.
(To be continued)