With only one week before the introduction of an English speaking test in this year's Tokyo high school entrance examination, there have been calls from some teachers to cancel it, saying that fairness cannot be maintained, TV Asahi reports. (ANNnewsCH)

In this video, we take a look at the acting tradition of Chūshingura Nanayaku ("Chūshingura Seven Roles"), established by Ichikawa Danzō IV in 1781 and continued by the next generation of kaneru yakusha, including Nakamura Utaemon III, Bandō Mitsugorō III, Onoe Kikugorō III and others. (Kabuki In-Depth)

Sales of World Cup-related goods are booming. (TV Asahi)

The Bank of Japan faces mounting pressure to adjust its ultraloose monetary policy following October price data showing inflation significantly above its 2% target, with some market watchers predicting a tightening within a year. (Nikkei)

Togoshi Ginza is the most famous shopping street in Japan. This is because it is the shopping district with the most TV locations in Japan. (WAO RYU!ONLY in JAPAN)

An Italian man in his 50s, who was being detained at a Tokyo immigration facility, died in a suspected suicide Friday morning, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan said. (Japan Times)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on Thursday to work together to build a stable relationship between Asia's two largest economies, according to Tokyo, as tensions mount over Taiwan. (Nikkei)

Police in Japan have arrested a Nepalese man on suspicion of murdering a Nepalese woman in her apartment in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo. (NHK)

Japan's top government spokesperson says what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile was fired from near the west coast of the Korean Peninsula at around 10:14 a.m. on Friday. (NHK)

It is Beaujolais Nouveau time again, but this year the French wine may leave a bitter taste for Japanese consumers. Prices have surged due to the conflict in Ukraine and the weak yen. (NHK)

The number of foreign visitors to Japan in October more than doubled from the previous month. Government officials credit the surge to a weaker yen and a further easing of anti-coronavirus border controls. (NHK)

In this video, we take a look at the informal art of kakegoe, the shouting by fans during a kabuki show, which are a valuable addition to the performance inherited from the Edo period. (Kabuki In-Depth)

Princess Hisako, the widow of former Emperor Akihito's cousin, has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Imperial Household Agency said Wednesday, making her the fifth COVID-19 case within the Japanese imperial family. (Kyodo)

On this day trip, we explore the district of Yanesen, a classic example of one of Tokyo’s downtown areas, or shitamachi, located close to Ueno park. (japan-guide.com)

Food Guide for Zauo, a Japanese Fishing Izakaya Restaurant - Zauo is a fishing restaurant where you can catch your own fish and have them cooked into sashimi, grilled fish, and other dishes. (SAMURAI JUNJIRO Channel)

Located at the tip of northern Kyūshū, friendly and sunny Fukuoka has a coastal location on a bustling trading route that has historically made it a popular choice to visit in Japan. (lonelyplanet.com)

Bain Capital of the U.S. will acquire Japanese apparel maker Mash Holdings for about 200 billion yen ($1.4 billion) in what will be one of the largest private equity deals in the country's fashion industry, Nikkei has learned. (Nikkei)

Japan will lift a more than 2 1/2-year ban on international cruise ships that was imposed following a deadly coronavirus outbreak on the cruise ship Diamond Princess at the beginning of the pandemic. (Stuff)

Japan has retained its stake in the Sakhalin 1 oil and gas project in eastern Russia, with a Japanese company receiving a 30 percent stake in a new Russian operator, Tass news agency reported Monday. (Japan Today)

Princess Nobuko, widow of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and is scheduled to undergo surgery this weekend, the Imperial Household Agency said Tuesday. (Kyodo)

NHK has learned that lawyers in Japan have begun investigating adoptions arranged by the religious group formerly known as the Unification Church. (NHK)

NTT says it will soon launch a communications network capable of handling huge volumes of data at very high speeds while using less electricity. (NHK)

A private-sector English-speaking test will be introduced at the Tokyo metropolitan high school entrance exam for the first time in Japan this month, but the initiative to nurture "speaking skills" faces stiff opposition from some parents and education experts questioning its fairness. (Kyodo)

The Japanese economy unexpectedly shrank in the third quarter, preliminary data showed on Tuesday, as worsening inflation levels and further depreciation in the yen severely undercut economic growth in the country. (investing.com)

Taxi fares in central Tokyo have gone up for the first time in 15 years amid rising operation costs. (NHK)