In the middle of this month, crossbows, as well as pistol-type bow guns, will become illegal to possess. (Japan Today)

The leaders of Japan, the United States, Australia and India have confirmed they will closely cooperate in responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (NHK)

The Japanese government has decided to extend coronavirus quasi-emergency measures in 18 prefectures, while they will end in 13 others at the end of the day on Sunday. (NHK)

Japan and its Western peers are racing to crack down on cryptocurrency transactions by Russians trying to dodge sanctions imposed after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, but the effort faces enormous challenges because the targeted assets are decentralized and lack single administrators. (Nikkei)

Ginzan Onsen Hot Spring Village in winter - with the snow falling - may be the most magical sight in Japan, especially at night. (ONLY in JAPAN * John Daub)

Former Nissan Motor executive Greg Kelly was found guilty on Thursday in a Tokyo court for his alleged part in helping Carlos Ghosn, his former boss at Nissan Motor, hide earnings. (Nikkei)

The omicron variant of the coronavirus is more deadly and causes more cases of pneumonia than the seasonal flu, several members of the health ministry’s COVID-19 advisory board have said in a provisional assessment that could serve as a warning for people to remain vigilant. (Japan Times)

Japan will accept refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (NHK)

The government is set to extend the COVID-19 quasi-state of emergency in Tokyo and 14 prefectures as Japan has been facing a slower-than-expected fall in infection numbers due to the highly contagious Omicron variant, officials said Wednesday. (Kyodo)

Banks across Japan, the U.S. and Europe face potentially big losses from their Russian operations, as sanctions and an exodus of global companies dim the prospects of recouping a combined $150 billion in debt owed by the country and businesses. (Nikkei)

Japan Airlines Co Ltd and ANA Holdings Inc said they would cancel all flights to and from Europe on Thursday, citing concerns about safety due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (Reuters)

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Thursday that he will raise the daily cap on arrivals from overseas to 7,000 starting March 14 and extend quasi-emergencies in 18 out of the 31 prefectures where the measure is currently in effect. (Japan Times)

Ishikawa prefectural police have arrested a 34-year-old unemployed man on suspicion of burying the bodies of his father and grandfather on a beach in Kanazawa City in 2020. (Japan Today)

もうすぐ春ですね???? 待望の #ネトフリ 作品が続々と配信開始！ (Netflix Japan)

Toyota Motor is one of the latest multinational corporations planning to suspend operations in Russia as tough sanctions are being imposed on the country due to the conflict in Ukraine. (NHK)

Uber Technologies will expand its network of "dark stores" in Japan as part of its effort to boost its rapid grocery delivery business, stepping further into a new frontier of online shopping that is quickly growing into a battleground. (Nikkei)

Several dozen Japanese men have answered a Ukrainian call for foreign volunteers to fight Russia's invasion, according to a media report on Wednesday. (devdiscourse.com)

Concern is growing among university officials in Japan that foreign students eager to study in the country may ditch their plans due to the government’s slow move to open the borders amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Japan Times)

Japan's Defense Ministry says a helicopter believed to belong to Russia has violated Japanese airspace over the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. (NHK)

Japan Airlines is changing the way it shares flights with European carriers under what are called codeshare agreements. (NHK)

Around the world more and more people are opting for the single life but in Japan, loneliness has become an epidemic. (Journeyman Pictures)

Police in Tokyo have arrested a 33-year-old woman and her 29-year-old husband on suspicion of violating the Anti-Prostitution Law by forcing a 26-year-old female acquaintance into prostitution and using the earnings to pay for their rent and luxury brand items. (Japan Today)

Panasonic Corporation announced it planned to begin mass production a new lithium-ion battery in Japan before the end of March 2024 to supply its main electric vehicle (EV) customer Tesla. (just-auto.com)

Toyota Motor has restarted its plants in Japan, one day after a cyberattack targeting a key supplier forced it to shut down production lines. (NHK)

Toyota Motor has halted operations at all 14 of its Japanese plants due to a cyberattack on one of its suppliers. (Nikkei)