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)

An explosive eruption last week sent volcanic rock hurtling into the sea around Niijima Island, located 970 km (600 miles) from the Japanese capital Tokyo. (CNN-News18)

Japanese retailer Seven & i Holdings (3382.T) has bought the 7-Eleven convenience stores chain in Australia, two sources said on Thursday. (Reuters)

As Japan's parliament inches towards digitalization, this week eliminating stenographers from the Upper House, smartphones are still banned while laptops are permitted, spurring bipartisan members to take action.

Nihon University has decided to close down its American football team following the arrests of three of its members in drug-related scandals. (NHK)

As efforts to achieve a carbon-neutral society gain momentum, there is growing focus on GX (Green Transformation).

A US Osprey military aircraft carrying six people on board has crashed into the waters off southwestern Japan. One person is confirmed dead. A rescue effort by the Japanese coast guard is underway. (NHK)

Tokyo police arrested a 29-year-old Chinese man on Wednesday morning over the stabbing of a 24-year-old woman outside an apartment in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo.

A group of children of Jehovah's Witnesses followers in Japan has called on the Japanese government to conduct an investigation into alleged sexual abuse by the religious organization. (NHK)

This is Japan's Worst, Tiniest, and CHEAPEST Hotel... But it's also in Japan's Most DANGEROUS Area [WARNING] - Japanese people call this area The Slum of Japan and it is filled with cheap and tiny hotels. (Tokyo Lens)

Foreign visitors are returning to Japan surprisingly quickly, partly on the back of a weak yen. The boom in tourism is a much-needed boost for the Japanese economy, which has seen domestic spending, a traditional growth engine, stagnating. (CNA)

Telecom carrier NTT has teamed up with Amazon to launch a satellite internet service in Japan with a trial scheduled for as early as 2024, the companies said on Tuesday, in a move aimed at challenging rival operator SpaceX in the fledgling sector. (Nikkei)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has come under cyber attack, with unauthorized access discovered on its network.