Japan will start a pilot programme in April to test the use of a digital yen, its central bank said on Friday, joining a growing number of countries seeking to catch up with front-runner China in launching a central bank digital currency (CBDC). (nasdaq.com)

A Japanese justice ministry panel on Friday proposed raising the country's age of consent, currently among the world's lowest at just 13, as part of a major overhaul of sex crime legislation. (Japan Today)

In a forest in northern Japan's Hokkaido, Atsushi Monbetsu kneels on the moss in the thick morning fog and begins to pray in a language that has nearly disappeared. (AFP)

With Yakuza (er, Like A Dragon now) having finally gained global popularity in the last few years, this was the best time to bring over Ishin, a period spin-off in the franchise that never quite made it to the west, set during the 19th century, when Japan was undergoing several social, cultural, and political upheavals. (gamingbolt.com)

Tokyo has some of the highest rates of homelessness in Japan and accounted for nearly a third of the country's unhoused population on a single night in 2022. Why does the problem continue and getting worse now? (The Japan Reporter)

Some of the smartphones seized from four men suspected of coordinating a string of robberies across Japan had almost no data left inside, indicating attempts to hide evidence linking them with the crimes, investigative sources said Wednesday. (Japan Today)

Experts are trying to figure out why Japan's new H3 flagship rocket was not able to lift off from a site in southwestern Japan as scheduled. (NHK)

Japan's famous 'rabbit island' is home to 900 wild bunnies - but tourists are bringing so much food to the island that the animals now face a life-threatening crisis. (insider.com)

Japan's major restaurant chain Zensho Holdings, operator of the Sukiya beef bowl chain, announced on Thursday that it will acquire Lotteria, a burger franchise held by Lotte Holdings. (Nikkei)

A 35-year-old man who shot fireworks over a crowd at Tokyo’s famous Shibuya scramble crossing last year has been sent to prosecutors. (Japan Today)

A court plans to show footage of a Sri Lankan woman who died in detention during proceedings for a damages suit filed by her bereaved family, a lawyer for the family said. (Japan Today)

In one of his last diary entries, Japanese teacher Yoshio Kudo lamented workdays that started early and could last until nearly midnight. Two months later, he suffered "karoshi" -- death from overwork. (AFP)

Inbound tourism to Japan has begun to recover since the easing of COVID-19 border controls but a shortage of staff has become an increasing problem for the airline industry, as many who left their jobs during the pandemic have not returned. (Japan Times)

Japan's government said Tuesday that three unidentified flying objects spotted over the nation's territory in three years from 2019 are "strongly suspected" to have been Chinese spy balloons. (Japan Today)

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged Wednesday to boost Japan's budget for child-rearing to 4 percent of the country's gross domestic product to tackle the falling birthrate, but he did not elaborate on how to secure the costs. (Kyodo)

A poll carried out by a public junior high school in Kochi City, western Japan, shows that only about 20 percent of third-year students want to take their masks off for their graduation ceremony next month. (NHK)

A team of Japanese and US researchers says releasing too much young fish into rivers disrupts their ecosystems and reduces river fish populations. (NHK)

This Tokyo Ekiben Guide shows what Shinkansen (Bullet Train) bento box to buy when at Tokyo Station for Japan travelers. (SAMURAI JUNJIRO Channel)

Police in Japan have uncovered a voyeurism ring of men who secretly photographed and filmed at least 10,000 women bathing in hot springs across the country over the past 30 years. (nextshark.com)

A Chinese woman triggered a stir across social media after revealing her purchase of a deserted island in Japan's Okinawa prefecture. (myind.net)

Heidi & Shelley experience what it's like to make and taste authentic matcha green tea from a 1st degree Chado instructor in Tokyo. (GaijinPot)

Japan's government named academic Kazuo Ueda as its pick to become next central bank governor, a surprise choice that could heighten the chance of an end to its unpopular yield control policy. (Reuters)

Police in the city of Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, have arrested a man on suspicion of injuring a bus driver and four passengers in an apparent road-rage incident. (NHK)

Momo Hirai, inspired by Namie Amuro as a child, moved to Korea at the age of 16 to start her career with TWICE along with Sana.

After more than two years under some of the world’s tightest border controls, Japan is once again open for business. Tourist spots are packed. Hotels are booked out well in advance. And it’s getting harder to get a seat at many of the country’s best restaurants. (nytimes.com)