With people think of a Japanese city with a rich cultural legacy, Kyoto is the first place that springs to mind, but Osaka is no slouch in the historical significance department either. (soranews24.com)

Eight persons connected to a hostess club in Edogawa Ward that claims to have utilized safety measures against the novel coronavirus have tested positive, the ward said on Wednesday, reports NHK (Aug. 12). (tokyoreporter.com)

The government plans to discuss ways to relax movement restrictions for foreign athletes and officials to ensure the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics take place in 2021 after the postponement due to the coronavirus outbreak, sources have said. (Japan Times)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says it confirmed 389 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday. (NHK)

The spread of the novel coronavirus is changing summer traditions in Japan, with new forms of seasonal events emerging thanks to digital technologies. (Japan Times)

Japan reported over 970 new cases of the oronavirus on Wednesday, as urban centers including Tokyo and Osaka continued to see high levels of infection. (Japan Today)

Tokyo metropolitan government officials say 206 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in the Japanese capital on Thursday. (NHK)

A memorial ceremony has been held to mark 35 years since a Japan Airlines jumbo jet crashed in a mountainous village north of Tokyo, killing 520 people. (NHK8)

Akio Ohara reaches into a plastic container and scoops out a beetle that is bigger than his entire hand. (Japan Times)

The hottest day ever in Japan was 2018 in Kumagaya, Saitama! 41.4℃ or 106.5℉ (ONLY in JAPAN)

Swimmer Rikako Ikee, who went public with her leukemia diagnosis in February of last year, will return to competition at a Tokyo meet to be held later this month, sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday. (Japan Times)

The nation entered the dog days of summer Tuesday as temperatures climbed above 40 degrees Celsius in some areas, prompting authorities to issue a heatstroke warning and encourage the removal of face masks in certain situations. (Japan Times)

The number of people using public transport in Japan is much lower than normal for the time of year due to a surge in coronavirus infections. The Bon holiday period normally sees many visiting their hometown. (NHK)

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have held talks with the top disarmament affairs official of the United Nations. (NHK)

Fukuoka Prefectural Police shot and wounded a man wielding a knife at an apartment complex in Fukuoka City’s Minami Ward on Sunday, reports Fuji News Network (Aug. 10). (tokyoreporter.com)

The cumulative total of COVD-19 infections in Japan surpassed 50,000 on Monday, including about 700 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama in February. (Japan Times)

Narita Airport, one of the main travel hubs for the Tokyo area, has already begun to make changes to keep travelers and workers safe in the coronavirus era. (Nikkei)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says 197 people were confirmed to have been infected with the new coronavirus on Monday. (NHK)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed 188 new cases of COVID-19 infection Tuesday, holding below the 200 mark for a second straight day, but worries over the spread of the new coronavirus remained amid a heat wave in the middle of the Bon summer holiday period. (Japan Times)

A search for a misplaced bag by a 37-year-old male teacher led to his arrest over the alleged rape of an intoxicated college student at a karaoke parlor in Sagamihara City, police said, reports the Asahi Shimbun (Aug. 9). (tokyoreporter.com)

Sweltering heat continued in Japan on Monday, with temperatures topping 38 degrees Celsius in some eastern and western parts of the country. (NHK)

Colorful kimono are synonymous with Tokyo summer celebrations but anti-coronavirus measures have put social gatherings off-limits and led struggling department stores to push the traditional Japanese outfits as a way to make a virtual fashion statement. (Japan Times)

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines says it believes more than 1,000 tons of oil have leaked from a bulk carrier that ran aground off Mauritius in the Indian Ocean on July 25. (NHK)

Kaushik Kumar really loves Japan and has wanted to live here long-term for a while now, even though he knew he’d always be “treated like a foreigner.” (Japan Times)

Japan was blanketed by sweltering heat on Sunday. Temperatures in many areas rose above 35 degrees Celsius, putting people's health at risk. (NHK)