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)

A young woman in Osaka Prefecture has appealed to the Supreme Court a high court ruling that her former high school’s rules and guidance forcing her to dye her brown hair black was legal. (Japan Times)

Air travelers can expect to pay more for their tickets on domestic Japan Airlines flights. The carrier says it is going to raise some of its standard airfares, citing the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and higher oil prices. (NHK)

Japan qualified for a seventh straight World Cup by beating Australia 2-0 Thursday and ended the Socceroos’ chances of automatic qualification. (Japan Today)

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)

Foreign high school students across Japan will be able to count Japanese language classes toward their graduation requirements starting in fiscal 2023, as the country works to make its education system more accessible to non-native speakers. (Nikkei)

More than 20% of datasets on a Japanese government website that purports to provide "open data" contain unavailable information, Nikkei has learned -- a problem caused by poor management that is stalling Japan's digitalization drive. (Nikkei)

Universal Studios Japan posted video previews of its latest Universal Cool Japan attractions earlier this month. (animenewsnetwork.com)

An 83-year old man is set to sail from San Francisco on Saturday and voyage alone across the Pacific Ocean to his home country, Japan. (theguardian.com)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has disclosed plans to demand that countries Russia deems "unfriendly'' pay for natural gas exports only in rubles. (NHK)

日本語の発音レッスン (Dogen)

Japan will start preparing to administer fourth doses of coronavirus vaccines, a health ministry subcommittee agreed Thursday, after the government said it would buy additional vaccine doses from two U.S. pharmaceutical companies. (Japan Times)

A record 5,482 people were involved in cannabis cases in Japan last year, up 448 from the previous year and rising for the eighth consecutive year, with abuse of the drug seen mostly among young people, police said Thursday. (Kyodo)

Japanese messaging giant Line is set to launch its non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace on April 13, having secured partnerships with several entertainment companies in the country. (theblockcrypto.com)

The foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea have strongly condemned North Korea's test-firing on Thursday of what the North says is a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile. (NHK)

Lucius's reactions to modern Japanese baths (and a bunch of other stuff) are just TOO GOOD. ( Netflix Anime)

Mizuho Financial Group is working with Google to transform its operations to keep pace with changing customer demand and repair reputational damage caused by IT-related shortfalls. (computerweekly.com)

The Japanese health authorities conducted their first survey on women suffering from "period poverty" as the coronavirus pandemic sheds more light on the issue, with its results released Wednesday showing women who struggle to buy menstrual products not only face emotional challenges but a decline in quality of life. (Japan Today)

We sat down with Japanese JAV idol Lala Kudo for a cultured round of Pokemon Smash Or Pass! (Around Akiba)

Toshiba shareholders on Thursday rejected a proposal to split the Japanese company into two public entities, in a setback for the management and a major win for foreign activist shareholders. (Nikkei)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Japanese lawmakers on Wednesday. (NHK)

Japan’s national borders have acquired an infamous reputation for being seemingly impenetrable. (thediplomat.com)

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)

Japan Post is set to raise its rates for international shipping to some areas. The company cites soaring transportation costs amid the coronavirus pandemic. (NHK)