Since the mid-2000s, science cafés in Japan have emerged as significant platforms for scientific communication, engaging diverse audiences across age and gender. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly all science cafés were conducted in person. The COVID-19 pandemic severely restricted face-to-face communication globally, prompting a shift towards Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as a crucial tool for maintaining scientific discourse. Despite the critical need to understand the nationwide status of science cafés during and agter the COVID-19 pandemic to inform future public support, research data was entirely lacking. A systematic content analysis was conducted on information from Japan's largest science café portal, which aggregates event announcements. Two years have passed since the legal restrictions on face-to-face meetings were lifted in May 2023 in Japan. Despite this, the number of science cafés slightly decreased in 2024 compared to the previous year. This article aims to clarify these changes in Japanese science cafés by reporting the latest trends from 2019 to 2024, encompassing both pre- and post-pandemic periods. A content analysis was conducted on all posted information over six years, with each post serving as a unit of analysis. Ten variables were coded for each post, including the scheduled event date, announced seating capacity, event format (face-to-face/online/hybrid), and ICT tools used. A total of 5247 posts were analyzed to elucidate temporal trends. The key findings are as follows: (1) Contrary to predictions, the number of science cafés slightly decreased in 2024 compared to 2023. (2) The proportion of cafés supported by ICTs (online and hybrid formats) was 0% in 2019, 45.0% in 2020, and 68.3% in 2021, still accounting for about one-fourth in 2024. (3) Thirty percent of online or hybrid cafés limited seating capacity to 20 participants to maintain personal interactions. The study concluded that ICT-supported science cafés have become an established format in Japan, offering inherent advantages beyond being a temporary measure. These cafés enable participation from remote areas and can be scheduled at times unsuitable for face-to-face meetings, such as late at night. The findings underscore the need for increased technical and financial support for established online science cafés and the advancement of policies to enhance their effectiveness.

Keywords: Science café, ICTs, new style, Covid-19, Japan.