Many bond market participants were caught off guard on Jan. 9 when the Bank of Japan unexpectedly reduced its purchases of government bonds, instantly pushing yields higher. In the nine days that followed, long-term rates -- yields on 10 year Japanese Government Bonds -- hit 0.090%, the highest since July 2017. (Nikkei)

Details emerged Wednesday about significant debts faced by a kimono rental firm that went bust just before Coming-of-Age Day ceremonies, leaving scores of women celebrating adulthood without their formal attire. (Japan Times)

The Japan Coast Guard says as many as 28 wooden boats believed to be from the Korean Peninsula were spotted drifting off the Japanese coast or had run aground in November. It is the largest monthly figure since recordkeeping began 4 years ago. (NHK)

The price of Bitcoin topped 1 million yen, or nearly 9,000 US dollars, in Japan on Sunday. (NHK)

Japan appeals to different people for different reasons. Some visit for the history or the food. Many stay for the martial arts, while others keep coming back for a dose of manga, anime and video-game culture. Still others come to enjoy the land — the huge span of scenery from the north of Hokkaido to Okinawa in the southwest, and the sharp changes such places undergo with the revolutions of season. (Japan Times)

Japanese officials are expressing growing frustration with the Trump administration's economic policies, vowing to continue striking trade deals with other countries that undercut U.S. agricultural exports rather than seek a new trade agreement with the United States. (politico.eu)

An increasing number of local governments are planning to introduce a lodging tax to finance tourism promotion and ease the load on infrastructure amid record-breaking arrivals of travelers from abroad. (Japan Times)

Twenty-four-hour gyms are proving popular not only in the cities but also in the suburbs, giving busy workers a cheaper option to exercise. (Japan Times)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 52-year-old male tax counselor from Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture for allegedly killing stray cats, video footage of which was posted online, reports the Sankei Shimbun (tokyoreporter.com)

Consumption by inbound tourists in Japan has started picking up as retailers and the tourism industry encourage spending on unique experiences and personal items, rather than souvenirs. (Japan Times)

A giant tortoise that made a break from a Japanese zoo has been found safe and sound two weeks after it escaped -- just 140 meters from the park. (Japan Today)

The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says the groundwater level briefly plummeted near a building that houses one of the crippled reactors. (NHK)

Toshiba Corp. shares were demoted to the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Second Section from the First Section on Tuesday amid the electronics and machinery maker's struggle to recover from financial troubles. (the-japan-news.com)

Japan's direct investment beyond its borders climbed to a record $169.6 billion in 2016, according to an annual report Monday from the Japan External Trade Organization. (Nikkei)

An underground ice wall being built to keep groundwater from entering the crippled nuclear reactor buildings in Fukushima is expected to be completed soon. (NHK)

Reward programs and discounts are an attraction for consumers, but they are not exactly a motivator to do better. In a twist on such services, some Japanese companies are introducing point systems that encourage users to be more diligent in various personal tasks and then compensate them for their efforts. (Nikkei)

If and when the Bank of Japan should reveal its plans to exit its ultra-loose monetary policy has split economists polled by Reuters, with the economy showing signs of recovery even though inflation remains far below the central bank's target. (Japan Today)