In Japan, more and more people feel like they have no friends. Why is it so rising? And what would be the solutions for us? (The Japan Reporter)

An exodus of money from China has turned into a lifeline for cash-strapped inns and hotels fighting to survive after years of Covid curbs (South China Morning Post)

Fans of idols belonging to Johnny & Associates Inc., one of Japan's most powerful talent agencies, said Thursday they have submitted a petition with around 16,000 signatures demanding that the firm investigate allegations of sexual abuse by its late founder Johnny Kitagawa. (Kyodo)

Diplomats from more than a dozen embassies in Japan are standing in solidarity with the LGBTQ community ahead of next week's G7 summit. (NHK)

Japan's weather bureau said on Friday that conditions were nearing for the El Nino phenomenon to form in the equatorial region of the Pacific, and that there was an 80 percent chance that it would be seen by the northern hemisphere summer. (Reuters)

A major exhibition of plastic models is currently underway in the central Japanese city of Shizuoka, with visitors from overseas for the first time in four years. (NHK)

Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party has discussed revising the wording in a bill to promote understanding of the LGBTQ community and decided to entrust the matter to senior members of the party. (NHK)

Food giant Kewpie will soon begin importing Brazilian eggs as more than 17 million chickens have been slaughtered due to the bird flu epidemic and egg shortages are becoming more serious. (NOJ / TV Asahi)

Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) said on Friday the vehicle data of 2.15 million users in Japan, or almost the entire customer base who signed up for its main cloud service platforms since 2012, had been publicly available for a decade due to human error. (Reuters)

With a US$28.6 billion market value in 2022, the global anime market has grown to become one of the most popular and lucrative battlefields for streaming giants, including Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime. (South China Morning Post)

One of Japan's leading drinks makers is planning an unorthodox way to cut its carbon emissions, utilising a ubiquitous device in the nation: the vending machine. (The Star)

World Rugby has changed the name of its group of elite national teams from "Tier 1" to "High Performance Unions" and included Japan in the new men's 11-member group, the Japan Rugby Football Union said Thursday. (Kyodo)

A meeting was held this week by Japan's House of Councilors Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense. Among the topics discussed: tattoos. (soranews24.com)

Picture this: you're sitting in a traditional Japanese teahouse, surrounded by the vibrant colours and flavours of a bountiful feast. (MSN)

Time magazine has replaced the headline of an online article on Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio that said he wants to "make his country a true military power." (NHK)

Hiroshima, the venue of the 2023 G7 summit. From its beautiful landscapes, welcoming climate, and historic cultural institutions to its long history of traditional performing arts and crafts, this Setouchi area is home to many things symbolizing Japanese culture. (Prime Minister's Office of Japan)

Video of the apparent fireballs lit up social media on Wednesday night, with residents and users speculating on what might have caused the unusual display. (gulfnews.com)

Fast fashion giant H&M has reopened its store in Ginza, Tokyo, after closing the doors in 2018. (NOJ / TV Asahi)

Wearing a white tank top inside a foggy greenhouse at his farm in Otofuke on the island of Hokkaido in Japan, Hiroyuki Nakagawa plucks ripened mangoes ready to be packed and shipped. (Business Mirror)

The Japanese hospitality and tourism industry is beginning to recover in earnest after being badly hit by COVID-19. (World Economic Forum)

Japan and South Korea have agreed to link their radar via a US system. This is to share real-time information on North Korea's ballistic missile. (WION)

A survey by Japanese experts has found that children in the country have shown signs of declining mobility likely caused by restricted activities during the pandemic. (NHK)

Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday its net profit fell 14.0 percent in fiscal 2022 from the previous year to 2.45 trillion yen ($18 billion), the first decline in four years due to rising material costs. (Kyodo)

Two Japanese businessmen were handed suspended prison sentences on Thursday in the latest convictions in a bribery scandal surrounding the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. (Japan Today)

On Tuesday, Mountain View, California-based Wisk Aero and Japan Airlines (JAL) announced a partnership that seeks to lay the groundwork for autonomous aviation. (flyingmag.com)