Japan said on Thursday it would ease emergency coronavirus curbs in nine prefectures including Tokyo while keeping some measures, including limiting spectator numbers at big events, amid fears that next month's Olympics could trigger a surge in infections. (kitco.com)

Police in Tokyo have arrested a 49-year-old man for sexually assaulting and strangling a woman he met on a social networking site. The suspect also possessed a knife at the time and used it to threaten his victim. (Japan Today)

TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Thursday arrested a 45-year-old man for allegedly threatening to kill the Japan Medical Association chief, reports TBS News (tokyoreporter.com)

A Japanese researcher says an initial analysis of samples from the Ryugu asteroid has yielded data that shows the presence of plenty of water and organic matter on the asteroid. (NHK)

Japan said on Thursday it would ease emergency coronavirus curbs in nine prefectures including Tokyo while keeping some measures, including limiting spectator numbers at big events, amid fears that next month's Olympics could trigger a surge in infections. (Japan Today)

ワールドカップ予選 アジアゾーンでは、日本の優位性を確認しています。 (newsonjapan.com)

A university professor in Japan may have helped shed light on the final fate of Japan’s infamous wartime prime minister Hideki Tojo. (South China Morning Post)

Japan's government is set to cap attendance at major events at 10,000 as a transitional measure when it lifts a coronavirus state of emergency or other special measures. (NHK)

A parliamentary committee decided Wednesday to refer a high court judge to an impeachment court for posting inappropriate messages on social media that were offensive to parties in two separate trials in 2017 and 2018. (Japan Today)

The Japanese government is expected to decide on Thursday to lift the coronavirus state of emergency currently issued for 10 prefectures except Okinawa. ()

Japan’s state-run mass COVID-19 inoculation centers started administering vaccine to people age 18 or older Thursday, extending vaccinations beyond those aged 65 or over as many slots at the centers remain vacant. (Japan Times)

The Japanese government plans to allow municipalities to issue "vaccine passports" -- documents certifying coronavirus vaccinations -- starting next month. (NHK)

Japan's government is considering lifting the coronavirus state of emergency currently issued for 10 prefectures except Okinawa. (NHK)

The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in May was down 99.6 percent from the pre-pandemic year of 2019 as a result of tougher travel restrictions to prevent the spread of highly contagious coronavirus variants, government data showed Wednesday. (Kyodo)

Japan's central bank should be cautious about deepening negative interest rates as such a move could have a "very big" impact on lenders' earnings, the head of a lobby of regional banks said. (Reuters)

Such a wonderful time to talk with those great single dads and learn about the problems. (Nobita from Japan)

The Japanese government adopted a policy Tuesday to strengthen support for foreign residents who may face hurdles in getting coronavirus vaccinations, together with local municipalities. (Kyodo)

Japan's Diet has enacted a bill that restricts the use of land near Self-Defense Force bases and nuclear facilities. (NHK)

A senior member of a Japanese nongovernmental organization fighting climate change has been picked for this year's Goldman Environmental Prize. (NHK)

Australia's softball team, which is currently training in Japan for the Tokyo Olympics, has invited the public to watch them practice. (NHK)

Companies are showing off the latest drone technology for a trade show near Tokyo. Over 100 firms from Japan and elsewhere are taking part. (NHK)

The clock is winding down in Japan on the emergency declaration for Tokyo, Osaka and eight other prefectures. (NHK)

Japanese film director Hamaguchi Ryusuke has received the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival's award ceremony. (NHK)

In Japan, loneliness has become a serious problem, and there are increased 'lonely deaths' -- where people die alone and remain undiscovered for a long time. CNN's Blake Essig reports. (CNN)

Japan's state-run mass coronavirus vaccination centers plan to start inoculating people aged under 65 as early as Thursday in an expanded drive to fill in vacant slots, a government source said Tuesday. (Japan Today)