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)

Shoichiro Toyoda, who as a son of the company’s founder oversaw Toyota’s expansion into international markets has died. He was 97. (AP)

Visitors to Tokyo's Ueno Zoo are bidding farewell to Xiang Xiang the giant panda before she leaves for China in a week's time. (NHK)

I tried eating over 50 plates of sushi at Sushiro - Japan’s top conveyor sushi chain at their flagship Tokyo restaurant. (Abroad in Japan)

The Japanese government is drawing up a bill to create a new immigration category for "quasi-refugees" fleeing conflict, after the war in Ukraine highlighted shortfalls in its current framework. (Nikkei)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decided Monday to skip a planned speech in the afternoon after undergoing endoscopic surgery for nasal congestion late last week, a government official said. (Kyodo)

The just-published memoir of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is a treasure trove of diplomatic anecdotes. From a colorful car ride with former U.S. President Donald Trump to psychological chess with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the late leader offers unique insights into the world of diplomacy. (Nikkei)

Japanese weather officials have issued heavy snow warnings for suburban Tokyo and other prefectures. They are warning of more possible disruptions to road traffic and public transport. (NHK)

Japan's Cabinet formally adopted a policy on Friday that will allow for the operation of nuclear reactors beyond their current 60-year limit alongside the building of new units to replace aging ones as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions while ensuring adequate national energy supply. (Nikkei)

Japan has canceled an order for more than 140 million doses of Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine, Takeda revealed in an SEC filing. (endpts.com)

McDonald's Japan has signed an agreement with the government to use more domestic wood. The move is aimed at helping to realize a low-carbon society. (NHK)

The Japanese have had their own instances of unidentified flying objects and surveillance balloons sighted over the country in the past few years, Japan’s Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Friday. (usni.org)

Food prices will continue to soar in Japan in the first four months this year, with prices on more than 10,000 items set to rise due to high material and logistic costs, according to a recent survey by a credit research company. (Kyodo)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had sinus surgery at a Tokyo hospital on Saturday to treat chronic sinusitis that has caused him to have a stuffy nose since last year. (NHK)

Just as star players from overseas have improved the quality of Japanese domestic rugby, Japan's League One is hoping to do the same with its refereeing standards by importing top officials from other countries. (Kyodo)

The Japanese Boxing Commission and the Sportswriters Club held their annual awards ceremony at the Tokyo Dome Hotel on Wednesday. ()

Japan aims to receive a record number of foreign visitors in 2025, a draft of the government's revised plan showed Thursday, with inbound tourism seeing a steady recovery since the country significantly eased border measures last October. (Japan Today)

The Japanese government is planning to allow people to make their own choices about wearing face masks to prevent coronavirus infections, beginning on March 13. (NHK)

Shenjumiausuan released a research result recently on "the interests of investing in Japanese real estate from Chinese investors" that 89% of Chinese investors are interested in going for a house-viewing tour if the overseas traveling market reopens. (asiaone.com)

From April, revised traffic laws will allow self-driving delivery robots to navigate streets across Japan. (WION)

The Liberal Democratic Party will likely struggle to agree on a bill to encourage understanding of LGBT issues, particularly regarding how the legislation will refer to discrimination. (The Japan News)

The number of taxi operators going bankrupt in Japan has reached a 10-year-high, according to a new survey conducted by local business information provider, Tokyo Shoko Research. (South China Morning Post)

A 10-year-old French-Japanese boy will become the first officially recognized dual-national kabuki actor, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, a star of the traditional art form. (Japan Today)

NHK has learned that Japan's government is considering advising senior citizens and other high-risk people to wear masks when they visit crowded places during a coronavirus outbreak. (NHK)

With their fine powder snow, hot springs and scenic vistas, Japan's international ski destinations, buoyed by pent-up demand and yen weakness, are booming following a COVID-19-induced slumber lasting more than two years. (Nikkei)