Japan's government has revised down its projection for the country's economic growth in fiscal 2021. (NHK)

East Japan Railway Co. said Tuesday it will inspect the belongings of some passengers during the Tokyo Olympics at major stations in the metropolitan area in cooperation with police, as part of measures to prevent crime and terrorism. (Japan Times)

Japanese major convenience store chain Lawson is planning to offer wooden spoons to customers instead of single-use plastic ones. It is part of an effort to cut down on plastic waste. (NHK)

I took an extremely comfortable bus from Niigata to Tokyo Japan. The bus has only 18 seats on board. The seats are spacious. (Solo Travel Japan)

人々がスポーツに賭ける理由は、大きく分けて2つあります。 (newsonjapan.com)

The Supreme Court has ruled that the second daughter of executed Aum Shinrikyo cult founder Shoko Asahara can take possession of his cremated remains and hair, putting an end to a long-running family row over his ashes. (Japan Times)

Barcelona and France winger Ousmane Dembele has issued an apology over a video in which he appeared to racially abuse Asian hotel workers after it went public last week, while his teammate and co-star Antoine Griezmann has also issued a statement. (South China Morning Post)

TOKYO -- If China invades Taiwan, Tokyo may interpret the move as a "threat to Japan's survival" and deploy the Self-Defense Forces to exercise collective self-defense, Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso said Monday. (Nikkei)

A councilman is suing the city of Oita in Japan after the council refused to allow him to wear his professional wrestling facemask in official meetings. (dailymail.co.uk)

Some 11% of people in Japan do not want to receive vaccinations against the coronavirus despite progress on COVID-19 inoculation programs, a nationwide survey showed Monday. (Japan Times)

Rescue crews are expanding the search for survivors of last weekend's deadly mudslides in the city of Atami in central Japan. (NHK)

A Japanese broadcast tradition known as rajio taiso started in 1928, when the Postal Life Insurance Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Communications established a national exercise programme to improve people’s health. (South China Morning Post)

The Bank of Japan Governor has expressed optimism about the country's economy going forward. He believes continued monetary easing and stimulus will support a recovery as the effects of the pandemic wane. (NHK)

Mark Twain once wrote, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." (newsonjapan.com)

Today we are taking a look inside a real Japanese Shamisen shop, from Tsugaru Shamisen, to the Japanese Kokyu and so many more original products. (Tokyo Lens)

Japan is making arrangements for its COVID-19 vaccination passports to be accepted by over 10 nations, including Italy, France and Greece, after the certificate program begins in late July, government sources said Sunday. (Kyodo)

June to July in Japan is TSUYU or the rainy season and this July, it’s been unstoppable! (ONLY in JAPAN)

Fukuoka Prefectural Police have arrested a 59-year-old unemployed man on suspicion of corpse abandonment after his parents’ bodies were found inside a large commercial refrigerator at their residence in Fukuoka City. (Japan Todayj)

Police and other search-and-rescue personnel in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, plan to ramp up their efforts at the scene of the weekend mudslides. (NHK)

A member of Serbia's Olympic rowing team tested positive for the new coronavirus on arrival in Japan, an official said on Sunday, the third Covid-19 infection confirmed among Olympic team members visiting for the Tokyo Games starting this month. (tribune.com)

The Suez Canal Authority on Sunday said it has reached an agreement to settle a financial dispute with the owners of a hulking container ship that blocked the crucial waterway for nearly a week earlier this year. (Japan Today)

Ensuring 11,000 athletes from more than 200 countries descend on one city over 16 days is a logistical challenge at the best of times. (Japan Times)

I took an overnight ferry from Hokkaido to Niigata Japan. I tried a special capsule room called Tourist S. (Solo Travel Japan)

Japan's health ministry says lingering fever after coronavirus vaccinations could be a symptom of infection by the virus. (NHK)

It is clear within moments of hearing Sada speak that his experience of life has found him an active participant in some of humanity's most pivotal moments in modern history. (WAO RYU!ONLY in JAPAN)