Saitama Prefectural Police have arrested a 64-year-old man over the alleged theft of cash from a shrine in Chichibu City, reports TV Asahi (tokyoreporter.com)

I took a Gran Class bullet train in Japan for the first time. It’s considered as Premium First Class. It was luxurious and comfortable experience from Tokyo to Sendai. (Solo Travel Japan)

Takayama is located in the Hida region in the northern part of Gifu prefecture. (Anna Film Production)

People in parts of Japan are enjoying their first weekend since authorities lifted a coronavirus state of emergency. But even as crowds return to shopping districts experts warn the capital may be facing another uptick in cases. (NHK)

Universal Studios Japan in Osaka reopened on Saturday, its first weekend restart of business since its closure on April 25 due to a coronavirus state of emergency. (Japan Today)

SAITAMA (TR) – Prosecutors have announced the non-prosecution of the former chief of the Fukaya Police Station over the alleged theft of toilet paper last month, reports TBS News (tokyoreporter.com)

AICHI (TR) – Aichi Prefectural Police have arrested a 29-year-old man who had a teenage girl sign a contract to be his slave before paying her for sex, reports the Sankei Shimbun. (tokyoreporter.com)

Miyagi Prefectural Police on Wednesday arrested three people for allegedly posting so-called fast movies, or illegally edited short version of copyrighted films, on YouTube. (Japan Times)

Tokyo has ranked the fourth most expensive city for expatriates in an annual cost of living survey by a U.S. consulting firm, dropping one spot from last year. (Kyodo)

Japan's Air Self-Defense Force says its aerobatic team will draw symbols representing the Olympics and Paralympics in the sky over Tokyo on the opening day of each event. (NHK)

Japan's Imperial Household Agency chief says Emperor Naruhito is deeply concerned about the coronavirus status in the country ahead of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games due to open next month. (NHK)

Japan ratified on Friday the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a massive trade agreement also involving China, Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Foreign Ministry said. (Japan Times)

Japan’s population, including foreign nationals, fell by 868,177 over the past five years, results of the national census survey conducted last year showed. (Japan Times)

Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto said that more stringent measures against COVID-19 are needed after the Ugandan Olympic team tested positive for the virus. (Reuters)

Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have unveiled a plan to deploy as many as 18,000 private security guards daily during the event. (NHK)

NHK has learned that Japan's Emperor Naruhito and his family are expected to move into the residence at the Imperial Palace as early as mid-September. (NHK)

Hokkaido Prefectural Police have arrested a 20-year-old woman for allegedly abusing confining 2-year-old son in a closet before he died, reports Nippon News Network (tokyoreporter.com)

The organizers of the Tokyo Games unveiled spectator guidelines on Wednesday in a bid to prevent coronavirus infections during the Olympic Games. (NHK)

Thousands of fans will be allowed into venues to watch the Tokyo Olympic Games but they will be told not to cheer or even speak loudly. (BBC)

Sources say that the Tokyo Olympic Games' organizers are considering banning alcoholic beverages at competition venues. (NHK)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says Governor Koike Yuriko will take time off from her duties this week due to extreme fatigue. (NHK)

Japan's lifting of the coronavirus state of emergency in areas including Tokyo and Osaka has brought alcohol back to bars and restaurants, to the relief of both drinkers and businesses battered by lockdowns. (Nikkei)

Tokyo Games officials have decided to allow up to 10,000 domestic spectators at Olympic events, provided each venue does not exceed 50 percent capacity. (NHK)

The coronavirus state of emergency was lifted on Sunday for Tokyo and eight other prefectures. It will remain in effect in Okinawa through July 11. (NHK)

Saitama Prefectural Police on Friday arrested a 40-year-old man after a hostage standoff at an internet cafe in Saitama City extended for more than 30 hours, reports TBS News (tokyoreporter.com)