A fire that broke out at a building in western Japan's Osaka City has left 24 people dead. Police investigating the fire suspect that it was caused by arson. (NHK)

Weather officials are warning of possible heavy snow in wide areas from northern to western Japan from Friday night through Saturday. (NHK)

What has been the Most Difficult Part of Your Job Due to COVID? How Did You Spend Your Time When You Weren't Working or Training? ( Let's ask Shogo -Your Japanese friend in Kyoto)

The Japanese government may continue its tough border restrictions next month and beyond to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. (NHK)

Japan's exports pick up on improved autos output climbing 20.5% in November from a year earlier (Reuters)

Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials have reported a case of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the capital. (NHK)

Japan's health ministry officials say 15 more infections from the Omicron coronavirus variant were confirmed on Wednesday. (NHK)

Australia has eased its COVID-19 border restrictions to allow entry of fully vaccinated travelers from certain countries, including Japan. (NHK)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday he has no plan to attend the Winter Olympics in Beijing at the moment, taking what appeared to be a softer tone than Western allies who have declared a diplomatic boycott. (thesundaily)

Japan’s new-look professional rugby competition will launch next month with bold ambitions to win not only a domestic but a global audience, to attract the world’s best players and to expand the sport's foothold in Asia. (Japan Today)

Japan's health ministry is set to approve the use of the Moderna COVID vaccine for third shots. The country has already started giving the Pfizer vaccine as booster shots. (NHK)

Japanese video game powerhouse Capcom revealed last week that it is lending its hit character Ace Attorney to a campaign designed to prevent cannabis use by young people. (hightimes.com)

The government overstated construction orders data for years, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida admitted Wednesday, in a practice that may have inflated the country's gross domestic product. (Japan Times)

Acclaimed Japanese animation film director Shinkai Makoto, who made the 2016 global hit "your name.," says he is working on a new movie to be released in fall next year at movie theaters across Japan. (NHK)

When you order a cocktail at the upscale bar in Japan, bartenders high-quality ingredients and clear ice. But they also chill all the equipment and spirits before using them. (Vlad SlickBartender)

Eels are a much-loved delicacy in Japan - but the animals are now so endangered that they command eyewatering prices. (euronews)

The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has begun a boring survey to build an undersea tunnel for releasing treated water from the facility. (NHK)

Japan’s small hotels and restaurants continue to suffer from financing strains caused by the COVID-19 crisis, a survey has shown, complicating the central bank’s decision on when to end pandemic-relief funding programmes. (aljazeera.com)

The 70th Miss Universe pageant was held at Universe Dome in Eilat, Israel, this year, with 80 contestants from around the world vying to take home the title. (soranews24.com)

Japan's Toyota Motor, accelerating its efforts in the fast-growing electric vehicle field, said it aims to achieve global sales of 3.5 million EV units a year by 2030. (NHK)

As the cost of groceries, clothing and electronics have gone up in the U.S., prices in Japan have stayed low. (Wall Street Journal)

Japan has confirmed four more cases of infection with the Omicron coronavirus variant among arrivals in the country. (NHK)

"The Edge" visits Japanese tech company Atoun and sees how its robotic power suits, which were used by ground staff at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, are transforming the way we do manual work. (CNBC International TV)

The government plans to simplify the immigration procedures for foreign travelers arriving in Japan by luxury transport such as private jets and superyachts usually used by the wealthy, sources close to the matter said Monday. (Kyodo)

The government will start offering a digital version of its COVID-19 vaccination certificates on Dec. 20., the Digital Agency said Monday. (Japan Times)