Kei Komuro, the boyfriend of Princess Mako, plans to soon return from the United States to Japan in order to prepare for their marriage, sources familiar with the situation said Thursday, despite some public discontent over a money dispute involving his mother. (Japan Times)

Japan's Extreme North in Hokkaido is home to some super frigid towns like Kitami, Rikubetsu, and Abashiri. In the middle of winter, at night, one town has a massive meat festival -- and it's outdoors in below zero temperatures. (ONLY in JAPAN)

Ever since the introduction of bitcoin in 2008, it was a fundamental concept limited in its operations. (newsonjapan.com)

A Japanese-Peruvian man seeking state compensation for mistreatment at the Osaka immigration bureau in 2017 was shown being held face down by a number of officers in security camera footage submitted Wednesday at trial, a lawyer in charge of his case said. (Kyodok)

Foods with insect extracts and edible insects are being sold in vending machines across Japan. (NHK)

Japanese airline All Nippon Airways is increasing international flights to meet recovering travel demand in North America and Asia, the company announced on Tuesday. (Nikkei)

An election to choose the next leader of Japan's ruling party is getting candidates worked up. The term of current Liberal Democratic Party chief and Prime Minister, Suga Yoshihide, ends this month. (NHK)

Genome-edited tomatoes are set to appear on dining tables in Japan. It is the first time that genome-edited food will be sold and shipped to consumers in Japan. (NHK)

Japan Airlines aims to recycle all cooking waste from in-flight meals into fertilizer as part of its sustainability goals. (Nikkei)

Japan's embassy in Manila on Tuesday confirmed that its government has received information on possible terror attacks in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. (GMA News)

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force on Wednesday started nationwide exercises involving all units for the first time in about 30 years in an attempt to boost deterrence and strengthen its capabilities amid China's ramped-up regional assertiveness. (Kyodo)

Japan has given first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to 63.6% of its population, surpassing the U.S. in the proportion of those who have had at least one shot of the vaccine despite starting months behind. (Japan Times)

We're in a sign that corporate spending is perking up despite a wider hit to the economy from the pandemic of Coronavirus. Japan's core machinery orders have risen in July after a dip. (WION)

Japan's largest travel agency, JTB Corporation, has sold its headquarters and another building as it suffers from a prolonged travel slowdown amid the coronavirus pandemic. (NHK)

Japanese Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Tuesday that he will back vaccine point man Taro Kono to become the next leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. (Nikkei)

Cinematic Video 4K (Kouhei Fukada)

Genderless options are increasingly finding their way into schools in Japan, easing pressure on students to conform to norms and stereotypes. (Japan Times)

A government survey has shown that the number of centenarians in Japan has hit a record high of more than 86,000. (NHK)

A pachinko parlor in Osaka was used as a site for coronavirus vaccinations on Monday and Tuesday. (Japan Today)

A 118-year-old Japanese woman was celebrated ahead of Respect for the Aged Day in Japan. She is recognized as the world's oldest living person by Guinness World Records. (NHK)

Australia’s competition regulator on Monday denied approval for an agreement between Qantas Airways Ltd. and Japan Airlines Co. to coordinate flights between Australia and Japan, saying it would reduce competition when coronavirus travel restrictions are lifted and international travel resumes. (Japan Times)

Shogi prodigy Fujii Sota has become the youngest player ever to clinch three major professional titles for the Japanese board game, similar to chess. (NHK)

Internet platform businesses like Google and Amazon, you would think, necessarily compete in a global market that spans national boundaries. (Nikkei)

North Korea has developed yet another weapon that can put most of Japan within striking distance, this one potentially capable of evading missile defenses and delivering a nuclear bomb to a large chunk of the archipelago. (Japan Times)

Three years have passed since a massive earthquake struck Hokkaido’s eastern Iburi region, killing 44 people, but some hard-hit areas are still suffering from the aftermath of the disaster in the form of depopulation. (Japan Times)