Staying in a container hotel in Moka City, Tochigi Prefecture (Renante Dolendo)

Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Division 1 | Round 1 (RugbyPass)

India is likely to overtake Japan as Asia’s second-largest economy by 2030 when its GDP is also projected to surpass that of Germany and the U.K. to rank as the world’s No.3, IHS Markit said in a report on Friday. (thehindu.com)

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, newly returned to Japan after a 12-day journey into space in December, said being launched into the cosmos was less scary than riding a rollercoaster and made him obsessed with Earth. (Reuters)

Japanese cities and towns are struggling to safely organize Coming-of-Age ceremonies in the wake of another wave of COVID-19 cases, with many of them holding the upcoming events virtually or in separate groups, if not canceling them. (Japan Today)

A Japanese online media platform has acknowledged that it received funds from the country's largest opposition Constitutional Democratic Party. (NHK)

Throughout his 38 years, Shoji Morimoto had become accustomed to being told by family, classmates and co-workers that he was a "do-nothing" — the kind of guy who stood back and let others take the initiative. (CBS)

Executives at some Japanese firms are reacting to the pandemic by adopting more flexible work arrangements. (NHK)

In Japan, make traditional rice cakes (Mochi) at the end of the year. (Kimono Mom)

Students at public schools in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa have begun attending school on alternate days amid a surge in coronavirus infections. (NHK)

Researchers in Japan estimate that numbers of coronavirus infections in Okinawa, Tokyo and Osaka prefectures are doubling in less than two days amid the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant. (NHK)

US troops are under fire for causing a spike in Covid-19 cases in Japan. One in three new cases in the country can be traced back to Okinawa, where most troops are stationed. (TRT World)

Welcome to another Trash Taste special. (Trash Taste)

This is Japanese AutoRacing, an oval motorcycle race with a very weird history - the Mafia was involved, the drivers are locked away from society and to this day - it's one of the only sports that the Japanese public is allowed to bet on. (Driver61)

I made a 12 step, 4 Sun Japanese Puzzle Box! It took a lot of tricky woodworking techniques to pull off. (Newton Makes)

Although online gambling is restricted across much of Asia, millions of people still find ways to play their favorite games. (newsonjapan.com)

The leaders of Australia and Japan have signed a “historic” defence treaty that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said would “contribute to a secure and stable Indo-Pacific” as China expands its military and economic clout in the region. (aljazeera.com)

I visited Inunaki tunnel, one of Japan's most infamous ghost spots. The whole area is surrounded in mystery, from the legendary Inunaki village, to the creepy tunnel, we spent the day uncovering the true secrets of Inunaki. (Flipside Japan)

Japan is imposing stricter coronavirus measures in response to a spike in cases. The government has declared a quasi-emergency in three prefectures where the virus is quickly spreading. (NHK)

Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. will tweak the recipe of its flagship Super Dry beer for the first time ever, betting that an overhaul of the country’s best-selling brew will resonate with drinkers. (Japan Times)

Tokyo has had its first snowfall of the season, with 10 centimeters accumulating in central parts of the capital. (NHK)

A transgender woman was referred to prosecutors Thursday for suspected trespassing after using the ladies room in a commercial facility in Osaka, in a case an expert on LGBT issues fears might lead to more prejudice and discrimination against sexual minorities. (Kyodo)

Gambling has been largely illegal in Japan for decades. Soccer lottery and betting on racing activities, as well as games originating in Japan (pachislo, mahjong, and pachinko), remained the only legal industry activities on nation grounds. (newsonjapan.com)

Japan's rugby union season starts tomorrow with big ambitions, tongue-twister team names and a rebrand that has left some fans wondering which version of the sport they are to be watching. (taipeitimes.com)

Japan's health ministry Wednesday notified the local governments that people infected with the omicron coronavirus variant can isolate at home instead of being hospitalized, if local medical systems become strained. (nippon.com)