Netflix’s Blue Eye Samurai is an anime series set during the opening decades of Japan’s Edo period (1603–1867), also known as the Tokugawa period. Among other subjects, the series addresses the role of samurai, what life was like for women and people of mixed heritage, and violence in Edo-period Japan – with varying degrees of accuracy. (theconversation.com)

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published the results of a learning achievement survey conducted in 2022, targeting 15-year-olds across 81 countries and regions.

Companies in Japan would no longer have to pay tax on unrealized cryptocurrency gains if they hold on to the digital assets under a proposal being discussed by the country's ruling coalition. (Nikkei)

Japan's Diet has enacted laws banning the use of cannabis except for medicinal purposes. (NHK)

Japan's Justice Ministry has started a trial of using artificial intelligence to translate Japanese laws into English. (NHK)

Japan's seafood exports to China continued to fall sharply in October from a year earlier. (NHK)

JR East is offering a discount ticket for 10,000 yen that allows unlimited travel for one day, including on Shinkansen and limited express trains, available on weekdays from February 14 to March 14 next year.

Embark on a culinary adventure with Chef Kamikura, the extraordinary tuna master from Iiyama, Nagano. Chef Kamikura's journey, from envisioning a teishoku restaurant in his youth to evolving into a sushi virtuoso, is undeniably inspiring. (Japan by Food)

Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced plans to effectively make tuition fees free for all high schools, including private institutions.

Tokyo is ranked for the 17th consecutive year as the city in the world with the most Michelin stars, with 183 restaurants with this distinction in the 2024 edition of the prestigious gastronomic guide. (laprensalatina.com)

The famed Japanese condiment, wasabi, generally served with sushi, is more than just a spicy green paste. Researchers in Japan found that the traditional spice is quite beneficial in improving memory. (WION)

Few commentators would have bet on Japan being a stand-out equity performer on any level at the start of the year, as the country grappled with the long tail of the pandemic and impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine. (investorschronicle.co.uk)

Kyoto is bracing for another influx of tourists. Next to the rollout of the city administration’s ‘mind your manners’ campaign, Kyoto has terminated its popular one-day bus pass to discourage tourists from using the city’s busses. (East Asia Forum)

A Japanese firm that researches the restaurant industry has selected "onigiri," or rice balls, as the "dish of the year." (NHK)

American hotel chain, Hyatt, announced on Monday that it plans to open five luxury hotels and hot spring inns in Japan by 2026.

Core inflation in Japan's capital slowed in November, underscoring the central bank's view that cost-push pressures in the world's third-largest economy will gradually dissipate. (Reuters)

An international environmental group gave Japan the thumbs down with its "fossil" award again on Sunday, criticizing the country for placing emphasis on coal-fired power despite its pledge to "contribute to global decarbonization." (Japan Times)

A 56-year-old Japanese man died on Sunday after a bungee jump from Macau Tower, plunging at speeds of around 200 kilometers per hour from a height of 233 meters.

As Osaka prepares to welcome visitors for Expo 2025, the largest duty-free shop in Japan has opened its doors inside the renewed international area of Kansai Airport.

A Tokyo taxi driver was arrested for deliberately driving into a flock of pigeons and killing one, police said Tuesday (Dec 5), reportedly because he was angry that the birds were on the road. (CNA)

The remains of five additional crew members have been found after a US military Osprey aircraft crashed off western Japan, US Air Force Special Operations Command says. (corowafreepress.com.au)

Two men in their twenties have been charged for allegedly trespassing on the JR Utsunomiya Line tracks to photograph the sleeper express "Cassiopeia".

Tsuen Tea in Kyoto is remarkable in many ways - it's been offering loose leaf and soothing brews since the 12th century. (SBS)

The water level of Lake Biwa, which is Japan's largest lake, has plunged due to a lack of rain, causing trouble for some ship operators. (NHK)

In a survey on names given to children born this year, "Aoi", written with the character '碧', emerged as the top name for boys for the first time since the survey began, while "Himari" retained its position as the most popular name for girls for the second consecutive year.