The Chichibu Night Festival, known as one of Japan's three major Hikiyama festivals along with Kyoto's Gion Festival and Gifu's Takayama Festival, was held on Sunday in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture.

As scandals continue to ripple through Japan’s entertainment industry, veteran actor and director Takeshi “Beat” Kitano has waded into the issue by saying that more needs to be done to deal with the sector’s “dark sides”. (South China Morning Post)

In this video, we cover the upcoming performances in Tokyo during the month of December, including the regular Ōkabuki show at the Kabuki-za, and a kabuki adaptation of Lupin the Third at the Shinbashi Enbujō. (Kabuki In-Depth)

The operator of the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line says five passengers complained of sore eyes and throats after an aerosol was released inside a train car. (NHK)

Japan's meteorological authorities have lifted a tsunami advisory for all coastal areas. The advisory had been issued after a strong earthquake hit the Philippines' Mindanao Island on Saturday night. (NHK)

The results of a five-year study by universities and research institutions on the effects of global warming around Japan have been announced, revealing Japan as a "hotspot" significantly affected by climate change.

Weather officials in Japan say the country's average temperature this autumn was the highest since record-keeping began 125 years ago. (NHK)

Japan's capital expenditure growth slowed in July-September despite companies reaping solid profits, data showed on Friday, casting doubt on the central bank's view that robust corporate spending will underpin a fragile economic recovery. (Reuters)

A 32-year-old man working on an expressway died on Friday after being struck by a tire that had detached from a truck in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture.

Police in Tokyo have arrested the boyfriend of a teenage girl on suspicion of abandoning her body. The man had already been arrested on a separate allegation of embezzlement. (NHK)

The world’s biggest operational experimental nuclear fusion reactor – a technology in its infancy but billed by some as the answer to humanity’s future energy needs – has been inaugurated in Naka, Japan. (The Guardian)

YouTuber Koreaki Rengoku, also known as Kazuaki Sugita (40), has been re-arrested for physically restraining a man while putting him under a 'citizen's arrest', claiming he was a drug addict.

Skybound Japan will bolster the LA-headquartered outfit's international presence, with a focus on Japanese IP and anime, coming almost seven years after Skybound North opened in Vancouver. (Deadline)

A 56-year-old man known as "iroenpitsugaka", or a "color pencil artist", has been arrested by Tokyo police for attempted sexual assault of a woman on her way home.

Former Japanese Foreign Minister Maehara Seiji has left the opposition Democratic Party for the People to form a new party with four other members of the Diet. (NHK)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's popularity has further depleted with fresh corruption allegations emerging this week over the secret funds Tokyo had at its disposal that were allegedly used to sway the vote for the country to host the 2020 Olympics. (WION)

Japan's Nikkei share average drifted lower on Friday (Dec 1) to post its first weekly drop in five, as tech shares slumped on elevated bond yields after economic data provided more clues that the US Federal Reserve could end rate hikes. (Business Times)

The operator of Narita Airport, near Tokyo, says applications for new international flights cannot be fully met because of a shortage of ground staff. (NHK)

The Imperial Household Agency has announced that the New Year's public greeting, scheduled for January 2nd next year, will be held without a lottery system and will return to almost its pre-pandemic state for the first time in four years.

Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, on Friday turned 22 amid her final year of university in which she is balancing her studies with a wide range of official duties as a member of the Japanese imperial family. (Kyodo)

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that the Russian Embassy has no intention of paying fines for parking violations committed by vehicles with diplomatic plates, which have been avoiding payment under diplomatic privileges.

Private lodging operator Airbnb is looking for ways to house travelers in the growing number of homes left empty in Japan as the population declines, its manager for the country told Nikkei Asia. (Nikkei)

Restaurant chains are tightening their belts amid a wave of rising prices, including removing the soy sauce that comes with sashimi packs!

Japan's Economic and Industry Minister Nishimura has set a new goal to increase the processing power of domestic supercomputers, essential for the development of generative AI, by about 20 to 30 times by the end of fiscal year 2027.

Crown Prince Fumihito, the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito, said on the occasion of his 58th birthday Thursday that a review of official duties is needed as imperial family members age or leave the royal house. (Kyodo)