Police in Tokyo have arrested an 82-year-old man on suspicion of sexual assaulting a woman in her 30s after he put sleeping pills in soup that he gave to her. (Japan Today)

FTX Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has issued a statement on the withdrawal of users’ fiat currency and crypto assets. (financialexpress.com)

The government decided Tuesday on draft legislation to screen and certify Japanese-language schools to ensure their quality by setting standards including the number of teachers and educational content. (Japan Times)

Japan's health minister, Kato Katsunobu, says the government will review measures other than mask-wearing that were put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus. (NHK)

Forever 21, which came to epitomize the fast-fashion movement by selling trendy, of-the-moment clothing to teens at bottom-barrel prices, is relaunching in Japan by quietly overhauling itself as an upmarket clothier. (Bloomberg)

The Tokyo high court has dismissed a case challenging rules that ban dual citizenship. It upholds a lower court ruling. (NHK)

Weather companies have started releasing their bloom forecasts for the “cherry blossom front,” which is expected to begin next month. (The Japan News)

The disciplinary committee of Japan's upper house agreed Tuesday to order a YouTuber-turned-lawmaker living abroad to offer an apology in parliament for not attending any sessions since he was elected to the Diet last year. (Kyodo)

Fukuoka prefectural police said Sunday that a 26-year-old man who was found dead along a coastal road on Friday was strangled to death. (Japan Today)

Manga master Leiji Matsumoto, whose epic sci-fi stories were highly influential in Japan's comic-book and anime worlds, has died aged 85, production company Toei said Monday. (zawya.com)

An entertainment academy in Okinawa known for producing some of Japan's biggest celebrities -- like Namie Amuro -- is opening up to a fresh crop of aspiring stars for the first time in years. (Nikkei)

North Korea launched two more ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday, with the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un saying Pyongyang's use of the Pacific as its "firing range" would depend on the behaviour of U.S. forces. (Reuters)

Organizers of the Tour de Kyushu 2023 are preparing to showcase Japan's southernmost main island as an attractive destination for global cycle tourism through the international multistage bicycle road race this autumn. (Nikkei)

A major Japanese textbook publisher has redistributed an atlas to high schools after correcting more than 1,000 mistakes in it. (NHK)

Japan’s capital is rated for its low crime rate and high standards of healthcare in this survey by the UK’s Post Office (Time Out)

Shizuka and special guest Jesse explore the charming city of Matsumoto in Nagano prefecture. Famous for its original castle, Matsumoto is also well known for its production of miso, the fermented soybean paste. (Japan by Food)

The undeclared income of wealthy people totaled Y83.9 billion in the year through June 2022, up 72.3% from the preceding year and the highest annual level since data became available in the year to June 2010. (Japan Times)

Benefits to longevity of walking hit a plateau at around 5,000 to 7,000 steps per day for older Japanese people, a study has found. (Japan Times)

The severed head of a cat was found on the grounds of an elementary school in Saitama city on Friday. Police said the cat’s head was found at around 7 a.m. at the school in Minami Ward. (Japan Today)

Millions of people all around the world have been captivated by anime because of its distinctive animation style and compelling stories. (newsonjapan.com)

North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile into the sea off Japan’s west coast after warning of a strong response to upcoming military drills by South Korea and the United States. (Al Jazeera)

A special purple and white train has made a comeback in western Japan to mark the 50th anniversary of the start of services using Yakumo rolling stock. (NHK)

The Japanese government will launch a new residency program in a bid to attract talented professionals from other countries. Qualified foreign nationals would be given preferential immigration treatment. (NHK)

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has offered emergency humanitarian aid worth about 8.5 million dollars to earthquake-stricken Turkey. (NHK)

The number of islands in Japan is expected to more than double after 7,000 new islands it didn't know existed were discovered. (npr.org)