Shinkai Makoto, famed director of Your Name and more, is back with yet another breathtakingly beautiful anime film. How does Suzume no Tojimari stack up? (Unseen Japan)

Japan is about to fall behind Taiwan and South Korea in terms of economic output per person, forecasts show, as the yen's plunge against the dollar accelerates a reversal driven by a productivity gap. (Nikkei)

Japanese boxer Inoue Naoya has made history, becoming the first undisputed bantamweight world champion to hold all four major titles. (NHK)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida faces rare open dissent from his cabinet over his call to raise taxes to fund an increase in defense spending, with ministers arguing that it is too soon to talk about putting such a burden on the public. (Nikkei)

The Japanese government plans to establish a new national certification for Japanese-language teachers to ensure the quality of lessons at language schools for international students in Japan, according to a draft report compiled Tuesday by an expert panel with the Agency for Cultural Affairs. (Nikkei)

According to research, NFTs in Japan are on the rise. This explosion in growth has attracted businesses and organizations to partner with NFT and blockchain platforms to launch innovative products (blockzeit.com)

Nearly 60 percent of people in Japan were unaware of government guidance that wearing masks outdoors for protection against the coronavirus is unnecessary in most cases, recent survey results have shown. (leadership.ng)

Located to Japan’s extreme south, the Ryukyu Archipelago was the setting for the small but vibrant Ryukyu Kingdom that emerged 600 years ago. (CNA Insider)

Major internet company Yahoo Japan, online communication provider Line and e-payment firm PayPay say they will launch a new rewards point system next year. (NHK)

Close to Tokyo, the nearby prefecture of Kanagawa boasts many lovely towns perfect for a day trip away from the city, but have you heard of this hidden gem? (Japan by Food)

Japanese policymakers will move forward with a proposal for a minimum income tax rate targeting high earners making more than 3 billion yen ($22 million) a year, Nikkei has learned. (Nikkei)

Japan's seasonally adjusted gross domestic product remained flat in October from the previous month with growth in domestic demand offset by negative impacts from external factors, the Japan Center for Economic Research said on Monday. (Nikkei)

Ichiro Mizuki, a Japanese singer known for being the "king of anime songs," died of lung cancer last Tuesday at a Tokyo hospital, his talent agency said. He was 74. (Kyodo)

Thai police on Sunday arrested five Japanese nationals on suspicion of holding a man captive in Bangkok. The group was allegedly running a phone scam. (NHK)

The Chinese character meaning "war" or "battle" has been chosen as the kanji that best symbolizes this year in Japan. (NHK)

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has for the first time designated varieties of abalone shellfish on its Red List of Threatened Species. (NHK)

Amateur gymnasts in Japan have set a world record for the most people doing back handsprings simultaneously. (NHK)

Today we are going to be flying Japan airlines first class from Tokyo to Osaka. (Solo Solo Travel)

Japan's parliament enacted Saturday legal changes that would allow the new husband of a remarried woman to assume paternity of children born within 300 days of divorce from her previous partner. (Japan Today)

Niseko, a world-famous ski resort area in Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, is suffering a severe labor shortage, forcing some hotels and resorts to operate at reduced occupancy heading into the peak season. (Nikkei)

Prices of bluefin tuna, which is in season, are surging in Japan, worrying fish market buyers and merchants ahead of the year-end and New Year’s holiday period. (Japan Times)

Japanese lunar exploration company ispace began its long-anticipated first mission on Sunday, with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching the venture’s lunar lander from Florida. (cnbc.com)

The global market for Japanese anime expanded 13% to an all-time high of 2.74 trillion yen ($20 billion at current rates) last year, thanks to streaming platforms like Netflix and fans eager to spend on merchandise for franchises like Pokemon and "Demon Slayer." (Nikkei)

Japan's Justice Minister Saito Ken has said that 22 prison officers in central Japan had repeatedly assaulted inmates from November last year through August this year. (NHK)

Frozen food was selected as Japan’s “dish of the year” for 2022 by the Gurunavi Research Institute on December 6. (South China Morning Post)