In sumo, Yokozuna Grand Champion Hakuho and Ozeki Champion Terunofuji have retained their lead at the halfway point in the July tournament in Nagoya, central Japan. The two wrestlers remain undefeated after scoring their eighth wins on Sunday. (NHK)

As summer approaches, and with it the high risk of heatstroke, many schools are grappling with whether students should wear masks during PE class. (the-japan-news.com)

The price of used vehicles has soared in Japan, hitting the second-highest level in the past decade, last month. (NHK)

The organizers and some artists scheduled to take part in Ibaraki Prefecture's Rock in Japan Festival have expressed frustration over the abrupt canceling of the event even though the prefecture is not under a state of emergency. (Japan Times)

A hotel in central Tokyo has posted "Japanese only" and "foreigners only" notices in front of its elevators in an attempt to step up anti-coronavirus measures ahead of the Olympics, but removed them after facing criticism, hotel officials said Sunday. (Japan Today)

Japan's capital enters a fourth coronavirus state of emergency on Monday. The measure will last throughout the Olympics and end on August 22. (NHK)

I tried a Nobi Nobi seat on the Sunrise Express, Japan’s last sleeper train. It was more spacious than I had imagined. It was a unique and interesting experience. (Solo Travel Japan)

Google's foray into fintech services in Japan threatens to drastically change the smartphone payment market, challenging PayPay and other leading cashless payment companies that are already struggling to win customers after offering big refunds. (Nikkei)

Two of the pioneers of the Japanese skate scene are Aki Akiyama and Nishi. Aki represented the clean, contest wholesome skater while Nishi was the wild man who skated, took photos, made art and published magazines. (Vans)

Taiwan's Digital Minister Audrey Tang will visit Japan for the July 23 opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, Taiwanese authorities announced on Saturday. (Nikkei)

The body of a Nottinghamshire teacher who disappeared in Japan has been discovered, it has been reported. (nottinghampost.com)

KANAGAWA (TR) – Two foreigners have been accused of smuggling nearly 300 kilograms of stimulant drugs aboard a ship from Hong Kong, reports NHK. (tokyoreporter.com)

KANAGAWA (TR) – Kanagawa Prefectural Police have arrested a male employee at a senior home in Hiratsuka City over the alleged attempted rape of a female resident, reports TV Asahi. (tokyoreporter.com)

The government will ask duty-free stores to check the date of entry to Japan in customers' passports and report if they were shopping in violation of the required 14-day quarantine period, sources close to the matter said Friday. (Kyodo)

A Japanese official choked up with tears on Friday as he apologized for the cancellation of Olympic tickets, a moment that crystallized the country’s pain at seeing the Tokyo 2020 Games overshadowed by a worsening COVID-19 pandemic. (fox5sandiego.com)

Tokyo Olympic organizers said late Friday they have reversed their earlier decision to allow up to 10,000 spectators at daytime events on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, a day after deciding to stage the games behind closed doors at almost all venues due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the Tokyo area. (Kyodo)

This summer's Tokyo Olympics will go ahead without spectators after a surge in coronavirus cases, organisers have announced. (sky.com)

Emperor Naruhito received his first COVID-19 vaccine shot at the Akasaka Imperial Residence in Tokyo’s Minato Ward on Tuesday afternoon, the Imperial Household Agency announced. (Japan Times)

Google is making a foray into financial services in Japan by acquiring a cashless payment company for between 20 billion and 30 billion yen ($180 million to $270 million), Nikkei has learned. (Nikkei)

TOKYO (TR) – A middle school girl plunged to her death from a building at her school in Bunkyo Ward on Wednesday. (tokyoreporter.com)

Some 11,091 athletes from around the world are expected to feature at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, in what will be the 32nd running of the biggest multi-sport event on the planet. (Xinhua)

Japan's government has decided to impose a fourth coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo, lasting through the Olympics. The state of emergency is to be in effect from next Monday to August 22. (NHK)

The Olympic Games will be held during a state of emergency, the central government announced Thursday, forcing organizers to further reduce spectators two weeks before the opening ceremony as major cities struggle to stifle a growing resurgence of the coronavirus. (Japan Times)

Another setback for the Tokyo Olympics. The torch relay in the capital has been scrapped over COVID-19 concerns. (CNA)

IBARAKI (TR) – The Olympic Games are scheduled to be begin in Tokyo later this month while the government continues to grapple with the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. (tokyoreporter.com)