Seoul has pointed to its interceptions of illegally exported sensitive materials to discredit Japan's claim that South Korea lacks a proper monitoring regime, prompting an immediate rebuttal from Tokyo, as bilateral relations appear to plumb another low. (Nikkei)

The population of Japanese nationals has fallen for the 10th straight year, while the ratio of foreign residents topped 2 percent for the first time. (NHK)

Johnny Kitagawa, the founder and president of major Japanese talent agency Johnny and Associates, has died at the age of 87. (NHK)

Princess Mako left Japan on Tuesday for Peru and Bolivia, where she will attend ceremonies marking the 120th anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants. It is the first time for the princess to visit the two South American countries. (NHK)

South Korea has criticized Japan at a meeting of the World Trade Organization over Tokyo's tighter export requirements for some high-tech materials. (NHK)

Miyagi Prefectural Police have arrested a 30-year-old male middle school teacher over the alleged possession of marijuana in Sendai City, reports the Sankei Shimbun (July 7). (tokyoreporter.com)

The body of an 18-year-old college woman has been found in a refrigerator at a shop selling Japanese sweets in Tokyo. Her father was discovered hanging from a tree several hours later. (NHK)

To outside observers, it must have sounded like a mob hit: In July of last year, police raided the Kasumigaura City residence of Miho Ujiie and the found a corpse entombed in concrete inside a closet. (tokyoreporter.com)

TOKYO (TR) - A 42-year-old man serving a suspended prison term for taking illicit video footage of women in a bathroom has been accused of committing the same crime, police have revealed, reports Fuji News Network (July 5). (tokyoreporter.com)

A daughter of the late Aum Shinrikyo cult leader Shoko Asahara has asked a court to decide who should take possession of his ashes. (NHK)

FUKUSHIMA (TR) – Fukushima Prefectural Police on Wednesday arrested a 44-year-old man for allegedly breaking the shoulder of his daughter with a golf club last month, reports Jiji Press (July 3). (tokyoreporter.com)

Overwhelmed by unprecedented demand, Tokyo Olympic organizers said Thursday they hope to run another ticket lottery next month for residents of Japan who got nothing the first time. (Japan Today)

OSAKA (TR) – A man found with a knife plunged in his chest inside a vehicle in Moriguchi City on Monday later died, police said, reports Fuji News Network (July 1). (tokyoreporter.com)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested seven persons connected to a sex parlor targeting foreign tourists for allegedly operating illegally in Shibuya Ward, reports TV Asahi (July 4). (tokyoreporter.com)

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said during a debate with opposition leaders on Wednesday that he will go ahead with the planned sales tax hike in October but vehemently denied there will be further increases while he remains in power. (Japan Times)

Japan's new Olympic stadium opened its doors to the media on Wednesday, showing off its nature-inspired design and advanced environmental features as it enters the final phase of construction. (Nikkei)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested an ingrown toenail specialist in Machida City over the alleged molestation of a female patient earlier this year, reports the Sankei Shimbun (July 1). (tokyoreporter.com)

Musashimurayama Mayor Masaru Fujino informed health minister Takumi Nemoto on Monday of his approval of a plan to keep deadly viruses such as Ebola at a research facility in the city, which is located on the outskirts of Tokyo. (Japan Times)

Land prices have risen for the fourth straight year, reflecting strong demand in major cities and tourist spots driven by increasing numbers of visitors from overseas and a recovering economy, according to National Tax Agency data released Monday. (Japan Times)

Johnny Kitagawa, the 87-year-old president of influential talent agency Johnny & Associates, was hospitalized after suffering a stroke last month, the agency said on Monday, reports Fuji News Network (July 1). (tokyoreporter.com)

A 25-year-old Vietnamese man was arrested Monday on suspicion of attempted murder after a compatriot was stabbed in an apartment in Kuki, Saitama Prefecture, police said. (Japan Today)

A remark made by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a Group of 20 dinner that the installation of elevators at Osaka Castle was a "big mistake" has been criticized as lacking consideration for disabled people and especially inappropriate ahead of the Tokyo Paralympics next year. (Japan Today)

A 26-year-old man in custody for allegedly dumping the corpse of his wife in Hiratsuka City last week has admitted to mutilating the body beforehand, police have revealed, reports Kyodo News (June 28). (tokyoreporter.com)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made little headway in resolving a long-standing territorial dispute in talks Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the two agreeing to have their governments continue negotiations. (Japan Today)

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said he told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that a decades-old security treaty between their countries must be changed, reiterating his criticism of the pact as unfair. (Japan Today)