According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 3,135,600 foreign visitors came to Japan in June, marking the highest number ever recorded for a single month.

The 'Hajimete Challenge' service is gaining popularity for helping children complete their first errands. The service, provided by Tokyo-based video production company WAGAKOTO, includes filming and editing the errand experience, which is then sent to parents.

The global system failure has impacted domestic flights in Japan, with footage from the international check-in counters at Narita Airport showing long lines of passengers and significant congestion due to delays in check-in procedures.

Japanese swords, also known as 'katanas,' are samurai sword made in Japan. Many sword collectors highly regard katanas for their sharpness, durability, and rich history. That's why a real katana can cost as much as $200,000.

Japan's nationwide consumer price index (CPI) for June, which measures the price movement of goods and services consumed at home, rose by 2.6%.

A retrial at the Tokyo High Court has resulted in an upheld guilty verdict for a former employee of the major publishing company Kodansha, who was accused of murdering his wife in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward. The court dismissed the appeal by the former employee, confirming the initial 11-year prison sentence.

The benches under the overpass in Shinjuku Ward, originally intended for three people, now accommodate only one, following the local government's decision to screw poles into the benches in an effort to deter late-night drinkers gathering and making noise.

Shibuya Station, undergoing a once-in-a-century large-scale redevelopment, will open a new ticket gate to improve accessibility in previously less convenient areas.

A malfunction in the registers at McDonald's continues to persist since this morning, with no resolution in sight. Our reporter, Izumi, reports from a store that was temporarily closed.

The leaders' meeting of the 'Pacific Islands Summit,' involving Japan and Pacific island nations, was held in Tokyo, resulting in the adoption of a leaders' declaration emphasizing future cooperation.

The Japanese government is considering revising the policy that reduces pensions for those working past age 65. However, a significant proposal to extend the pension premium payment period from age 60 to 65 has been deferred.

On the night of July 17, Kamakura held its first fireworks festival in five years. Despite recent rain keeping Tokyo's temperatures below 30°C, dangerous heat is expected to return by Saturday.

Japan's third largest newspaper company, the Mainichi Shimbun, announced on Wednesday that it would cease newspaper deliveries in Toyama Prefecture by the end of September this year. Currently, only the morning edition is being published in Toyama, with the estimated circulation falling to 840 copies in 2023.

As concerns over labor shortages and customer harassment grow, NTT Communications has announced the development of a next-generation contact center utilizing domestic generative AI known for its strong Japanese language processing capabilities.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has announced the end of the rainy season in the Kanto-Koshin and Tokai regions. With the rainy season's conclusion, severe heat has returned.

A new variant, KP.3, different from those before, has emerged, and some say we are now in the 11th wave. The new variant is highly contagious, with symptoms primarily including throat pain and fever.

Fourteen high school students in Tokyo were hospitalized after consuming extremely spicy potato chips that are not recommended for people under 18 years old.

Japan's largest sports-related companies' exhibition SPORTEC has opened, showcasing the latest technologies utilizing artificial intelligence (AI).

Toyota announced that it will continue to halt the production of three models beyond August due to a certification fraud issue affecting mass production of automobiles.

23-year-old Kaishu Sano, a defensive midfielder on Japan's national soccer team, has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo.

Japanese swords, or katanas, have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. However, many people often find themselves puzzled, thinking that all swords look the same and unsure of how to appreciate them. To address this, a special exhibition is being held to help enthusiasts distinguish and enjoy these historical weapons.

Panasonic Holdings plans to sell its commercial large projector business to Orix for around 100 billion yen ($633 million). Panasonic's commercial large projectors were used during the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and are scheduled to be used in the upcoming Paris Olympics starting next week.

Families gathered at the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal in Koto Ward, Tokyo, to participate in an event featuring maritime activities, including boarding survey vessels of the Japan Coast Guard and cargo ships of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.

FamilyMart, a leading convenience store chain, will implement a summer time schedule for its headquarters employees starting July 16. The initiative will advance both the start and end of the workday by one hour, promoting energy conservation and work style reforms.

Despite the rainy season not yet ending, the number of applications for insurance to cover the risk of heatstroke in Japan is increasing at an unprecedented speed.