JAPAN is often regarded as the top food destination of all, and I can say without a doubt that most of the best meals of my life were in this country. (Luke Martin)

TOKIGAWA, SAITAMA PREF. – Except for the occasional buzzing of cars passing by and the gentle chirping of birds, route 172 — the main road that runs through Tokigawa — was quiet on a recent Wednesday morning. (Japan Times)

The Tokyo Philharmonic orchestra has staged thousands of concerts in its long history, with all its musicians gathered inside a concert hall. But this wasn't the case at a recent event. Some of the players took part from a location far from the venue. (NHK)

The number of new cases of coronavirus has been gradually trending downward in Japan. More than 47,000 new infections were reported nationwide on Friday. (NHK)

Japan’s Shionogi & Co has signed a basic agreement with the government to supply an oral COVID-19 treatment it is now developing, the firm said on Friday. (Reuters)

Tokyo prosecutors say a vice president of SMBC Nikko Securities conspired with senior staff members to illegally boost the stock price of a pharmaceutical firm by placing large buy orders. (NHK)

The average price of land in Japan rebounded on the back of solid housing demand after falling for the first time in six years the previous year due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the government said Tuesday. (Japan Today)

Japan’s government lifted a warning of potential blackouts for the Tokyo region Wednesday as weather and conservation efforts improved, but the supply outlook still appears fragile with several coal-fired plants offline. (marketwatch.com)

Russia said it was withdrawing from negotiations with Japan aimed at signing a formal World War II peace treaty because of Tokyo's tough stance against Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. (Mahanology)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has revealed that a Vietnamese man in his 30s was wrongfully arrested on suspicion of assault on Sunday, before confirming his identity with the victim and an eyewitness. (Japan Today)

The Japanese government plans to gradually ease coronavirus restrictions and promote social and economic activities after lifting quasi-emergency measures for all prefectures on Monday. (NHK)

Japan reacted angrily on Tuesday after Russia withdrew from peace treaty talks with Japan and froze joint economic projects related to the disputed Kuril Islands because of sanctions imposed by Tokyo over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (CNN)

The yen tumbled to 120 against the dollar on Tuesday for the first time in more than six years, as traders reacted to a hawkish remark from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. (Nikkei)

A Japanese unit of video streaming giant Netflix Inc failed to declare 1.2 billion yen ($10.1 million) in taxable income over three years through 2019, sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday. (Japan Today)

Several areas in Japan witnessed blackouts on Tuesday after the government issued its first-ever power supply warning and advised the residents to conserve energy following a massive earthquake last week. (timesnownews.com)

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday said it will withdraw from negotiations with Japan for a peace treaty to formally end World War II hostilities in response to sanctions over the war in Ukraine. (Nikkei)

Japan has broken with years of precedent in its tough response to the Ukraine invasion, and the conflict could reshape Tokyo's defence strategy as it confronts China's regional ambitions, analysts say. (france24.com)

Japan's government has issued an electricity supply warning for Tuesday (Mar 22), officials said, citing tightness in the grid following the Mar 16 earthquake that left thousands of homes without power. (channelnewsasia.com)

JR East says it plans to resume full operation of bullet trains on the quake-damaged Tohoku Shinkansen line from around April 20. (NHK)

Tokyo saw cherry blossoms begin blooming Sunday, four days earlier than the average year, the Meteorological Agency said. (Japan Times)

Many homes in Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures are still without water more than three days after a powerful quake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan. (NHK)

Sunday marks 27 years since the deadly sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system by the Aum Shinrikyo religious cult. (NHK)

A humanoid robot that can help package noodles was displayed at a recent Tokyo technology exhibition as a solution for food manufacturers struggling with labor shortages ( Reuters)

The January performances at the Kabuki-za theatre in Tokyo, celebrating the hatsuharu or "early spring", included performances of classic historical dramas such as Ichijo Ōkura Monogatari and Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura and the celebratory dances Iwau Haru Genroku Hanami Odori and Haru no Kotobuki, with a younger cast of actors including Nakamura Kankurō VI, Nakamura Kankuro VI and Matsumoto Kōshirō X in the leading roles. (Kabuki In-Depth)

Nearly 40% of adults in Japan feel lonely as social interaction remains limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent survey showed. (Japan Timesj)