The defense chiefs of Japan and France have agreed to boost defense cooperation. (NHK)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested a 48-year-old man who allegedly slashed the manager of a convenience store in Toshima Ward during the theft of two rice balls on Friday, reports Nippon News Network (tokyoreporter.com)

Japanese officials are warning of continued volcanic activity at Mount Kusatsu-Shirane in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo. (NHK)

E-commerce giant Rakuten and retail behemoth Walmart are taking aim at Amazon in a partnership that will see the two companies launch an online grocery delivery service in Japan while offering e-readers, e-books and audiobooks to American Walmart customers. (Japan Times)

NHK has learned that satellite imagery shows possible newly formed craters on a volcano in Japan that erupted on Tuesday. (NHK)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested seven Chinese nationals believed to be members of the so-called "Pink Panda" gang in the theft of jewels at an exposition in Koto Ward this week, reports TBS News. (tokyoreporter.com)

Tokyo’s ambulance service experienced its busiest day in more than 80 years, officials said Thursday, amid icy conditions as the Japanese capital shivers through its coldest temperatures in decades. (Japan Times)

Japan will relax hotel regulations later this month to kill two birds with one stone -- catering to international tourists' desire to experience Japanese life and culture and making use of vacant old homes. (Nikkei)

The Japanese and Chinese governments are in the final stage of discussions on a social security agreement aimed at resolving the issue of double payments of pension premiums by Japanese and Chinese employees dispatched to each other’s countries, it has been learned. (the-japan-news.com)

Starting Monday, Tokyo Metro Co. will experiment with playing background music on their trains in a bid to provide a more comfortable travel experience for passengers. (Japan Times)

Tokyo prosecutors have served the president of a supercomputer venture with a fresh arrest warrant on suspicion of corporate tax evasion. (NHK)

Japan has released images of a suspected violation of UN Security Council resolutions by a North Korea-registered tanker. (NHK)

It’s often said that the three most important things in real estate are location, location, and location. That goes double for land-scarce Japan, making location the top six priorities, but the important question then becomes what makes a good location? (Japan Today)

Tokyo experienced its coldest day in 48 years on Thursday when the temperature fell to minus 4 degrees in the morning. (Japan Today)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has held its first tourism promotion event in Moscow. (NHK)

On a chilly, wet Saturday in November, I made my way over to Senzoku Gakuen, a renowned private all-girls junior and senior high school located almost equal distance between Tokyo and Yokohama. I had been invited to assist at a college fair sponsored by the school together with a nonprofit that does these things — the U.S. College Alumni Network of Japan (USCANJ). (Japan Times)

Japanese general contractor Shimizu appears to have owned up by Monday's deadline to fixing bids on construction projects connected to a magnetic-levitation train line, seeking lighter fines after initially denying wrongdoing. (Nikkei)

Hokkaido Prefectural Police have arrested an 85-year-old man on suspicion of attempting to kill his wife in Otaru City, reports the Sankei Shimbun (tokyoreporter.com)

A Traditional Japanese Inn stay can be the highlight of any trip to Japan, and this comprehensive tour of 13 hot spring towns will give you a complete picture of what to expect during a stay. From the tatami room to the kitchen and dining room, this is the story of the Ryokan. (ONLY in JAPAN)

The biggest snowfall in 4 years has blanketed Tokyo and surrounding areas, halting train service and forcing cancellation of hundreds of flights. (NHK)

Weather officials say a volcano in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo, erupted on Tuesday morning. At almost the same time, an avalanche nearby left one member of Japan's Self-Defense Forces dead. (NHK)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested another organized crime member over the alleged possession of a pistol found last year through the help of a so-called “hybrid police dog,” reports TV Asahi (tokyoreporter.com)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested three persons, including a former member of a bosozoku group, over the alleged extortion of a male adult video (AV) star, reports Nikkan Sports (tokyoreporter.com)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 32-year-old man for over an illicit encounter with a high school girl last year that he allegedly filmed, reports Fuji News Network (tokyoreporter.com)

The Tokyo metropolitan government will survey foreign tourists on what they enjoy about the city's nightlife, aiming to better cater to their interests while encouraging them to spend, a source said Saturday. (Japan Today)