Japan's transport ministry has asked each air carrier to submit data every day on bookings for inbound international flights as the country steps up efforts to keep out the Omicron coronavirus variant, sources with knowledge of the situation said Saturday. (Kyodo)

Japan is entering its end-of-year party season with most COVID-19 restrictions lifted based on low numbers of cases, but concerns about the emergence of the omicron coronavirus variant are likely to keep the festive mood restrained once again. (Japan Times)

India, Greece and Romania, as well as four U.S. states, will be added Sunday to Japan's list of places from which returning Japanese nationals and foreign residents will be subject to stricter quarantine requirements as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. (Kyodo)

Japan plans to step up its support for the delivery of coronavirus vaccines to developing countries in response to global spread of the Omicron variant. (NHK)

N700S Series went into service in July 2020. This time, I took First Class seat(green seat) from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka. (Kuga's Travel)

Facing an ageing and shrinking population, Japan - one of the most closed countries to immigration - is trying to entice migrant workers to join its labor force. But there are challenges, like no path to permanent residence. (CGTN America)

History, the orphan child of Japanese education, will acquire new status next year. “Modern global history” is to be made a compulsory subject in senior high schools. (Japan Times)

We went to Japanese traditional market to buy the good luck charm for coming year! (Kimono Mom)

Blockchain technologies have been integrated into many of the major companies and industries worldwide, so the gambling sector has not been immune to that trend. (newsonjapan.com)

Roulette is the Granddaddy of casino games. Not only has it stood the test of time, but it has also transitioned beautifully from the casino floor to the online format. (newsonjapan.com)

Major Japanese air carriers Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA ) said they will resume accepting new bookings for inbound flights to Japan from Saturday, NHK reported Friday. (Japan Times)

The health ministry has presented an outline for new pharmaceutical approval rules in emergencies, in what it says would make the procedure as speedy as those in Europe and the United States. (Japan Times)

A brewery in Japan’s eastern Fukushima prefecture has created a one-of-a-kind sake using yeast that came from space. (South China Morning Post)

One of the big winners of the Oct. 31 Lower House election was the Osaka-based Nippon Ishin no Kai, which tripled the number of seats it occupies in parliament, thus making it the second biggest opposition force after the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. (Japan Times)

Sony Group Corp.’s PlayStation division is planning a new subscription service to compete with rival Microsoft Corp.’s popular Xbox Game Pass, according to people familiar with Sony’s plans and documents reviewed by Bloomberg. (Japan Times)

Sumo elder Magaki, the 36-year-old recently retired former yokozuna Hakuho, has had five records recognized by Guinness World Records, the Japan Sumo Association announced Friday. (Kyodo)

A toy poodle has been selected as a commissioned police dog in Okayama, western Japan. (Nippon TV News 24 Japan)

We sometimes can be tricked by our own eyes. This delicate octopus artwork is one among the cases when we may initially mistake it as a drawing before realizing it as a masterpiece of hand-crafted paper artwork (The BL)

Japan has 47 regions. Here's the one thing to do in EVERY single region in UNDER 20 minutes. (Chris Abroad)

Visa application services for Chinese students going to Japan have been suspended as Japan has banned foreign entry for 30 days, the Global Times has learned. (globaltimes)

Japan has softened its suspension of all new incoming flight bookings to make it easier for citizens to return, the government said Thursday (Dec 2), a day after it announced the move prompted by worries about the Omicron coronavirus variant. (todayonline.com)

People in different parts of Japan were rattled by earthquakes on Friday morning. A magnitude 5.4 quake struck in the west at around 9:30. That followed one a few hours earlier with a similar magnitude near Mount Fuji. (NHK)

Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son’s SoftBank is investing $150 million in Asia’s busiest metaverse platform, the nascent but sizzling virtual world where people work and play through avatars. (forbes.com)

Since Monday, all non-resident foreigners have been banned, reversing an easing of restrictions for business travellers and foreign students weeks after it was introduced. (aljazeera.com)

In Kyoto and Nara Kids Vlog, Haruto and Keito are going to show you around the city! (Japan Guide By Kids For Kids channel)