Japan's boxing superstar Inoue Naoya opened his training session to the public on Friday, saying he has a strong desire to win his upcoming showdown in Tokyo with the Philippines' Marlon Tapales. (NHK)

Japan has expanded its sanctions targeting Russia over its war in Ukraine, banning Russian diamonds for non-industrial use and adding dozens of firms and organisations to its trade blacklist. (Al Jazeera)

Japanese retailers and other service-sector companies investing in digital technology are fueling a rise in corporate capital investment this fiscal year, while some manufacturers are pulling back amid uncertainty over China. (Nikkei)

A Japanese man who spent over £12,480 to look like a dog by custom tailoring a canine costume, met an actual one and the video of their awkward interaction has gone viral. (The Independent)

A Japanese university has moved to disband its renowned American football team after some members were arrested over possession or purchase of illegal drugs, a source with knowledge of the matter said Friday. (Kyodo)

The 'Yassai Hossai' fire festival, dating back to prehistoric times, reached its zenith on Thursday with a stunning fire-walking ritual, exciting hordes of onlookers.

An unknown man armed with a knife assaulted an elementary school principal on Friday night, making off with his bag containing about 20,000 yen.

Kabukicho is Japan's most colorful and controversial district located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Surprisingly there are homeless children living in this district, known as Toyoko Kids. (TAKASHii from Japan)

People who were separated from their Japanese fathers during the Pacific War and subsequently lived without citizenship in the Philippines have arrived in Japan to gather information about their families, as they seek to restore their Japanese nationality.

A 22-year-old autistic man has been sent to prison for 23 years for stabbing and killing a female employee of an adult entertainment shop in Tokyo two years ago, when he was only 19.

Around 10:30 p.m. on a recent Wednesday, in a downtown skate park under Interstate 95 in Miami, four wrestlers entered a ring: Bingo, Midnight Player, Rina Yamashita and Stray Cat. (Japan Times)

A Chinese man has been arrested on suspicion of repeatedly engaging in 'white taxi' activities in Tokyo, where he illegally transported Chinese tourists in his car and received payment without a license.

It’s beginning to look a lot like a grim Christmas in Japan. Sharply rising prices for basic foodstuffs mean that the cost of a cake for the festive season is up significantly over last year, while parents say they will spend less on their children’s gifts. (South China Morning Post)

Having survived a deserted Japanese island, we arrive back onshore to ruin my new Japanese car. (Abroad in Japan)

Welcome back to the Journey Across Japan. We're in Iwate and Aomori prefectures today! Exploring the area and eating the local dishes. (Sharmeleon)

Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is dealing with the fallout from a political money scandal. It involves a party faction once led by one of Kishida's predecessors, the late Abe Shinzo. Kishida is trying to find a way ahead, and as part of that, he has replaced four members of his cabinet. (NHK)

Traditional female entertainers in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto have exchanged early New Year greetings. (NHK)

"Crayon Shin-chan: The Movie" is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year since it premiered in 1993. To commemorate this milestone, a project to release 19 past movies on Blu-ray, which were previously only available on DVD, is underway.

As the New Year's holiday approaches, many people find themselves glued to their mobile phones, leading to a phenomenon known as the 'smartphone face.'

Advance reservations for driving license renewals and theory tests will be available online from February next year, as unveiled today by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

I'm taking the MOL Sunflower ferry from Oarai (Tokyo area) to Tomakomai (Hokkaido). I wanted to try the ferry's only suite. (Solo Travel Japan)

Japanese industrial giant Toshiba has announced a new slate of directors under a plan to delist from the stock exchange next week. A board majority will be held by representatives of the investment fund that purchased the firm. (NHK)

UNIQLO Announces Collaboration with Street Fighter and Tekken for a Fighting Game Legends UT Collection.

The event "Escape from a Village Dominated by Cursed Spirits" allows participants to solve mysteries with high school students Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto and experience the world of "Hidden Inventory and Premature Death."

Watch this video to see what it’s like to travel onboard Japan’s Shinkansen Train! This high speed bullet train is not only one of the world’s most famous trains, it’s also the world’s first High Speed Train! (Jeb Brooks)