Japan's new prime minister has spent the first few nights in his official residence in Tokyo, becoming the first Japanese leader in nearly a decade to live in the so-called "haunted" house. (buzz.ie)

Visitors and residents were able to see the annual light show at Tokyo's Roppongi Hills on Monday. (Ruptly)

Sentiment among Japan's large manufacturers held at the highest level since 2018, while an index of their outlook slipped, according to the Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan survey. ( Bloomberg Markets and Finance)

The kanji for "kin," meaning gold or money, was picked as the single most representative Chinese character corresponding to the social mood in Japan this year, a Kyoto-based organization said Monday. (Kyodo)

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has indicated that he will allow local governments to provide planned one-time handouts to families with children entirely in cash before year-end. (NHK)

In Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto, professional female entertainers known as "geiko," and their apprentices known as "maiko," have started offering early New Year's greetings. (No Comment TV)

Japan has a lot of coin storage lockers. And sometimes things get left behind or abandoned. Collecting these forgotten items, is an entire job here in Japan, and today, we are tagging along to see what we can find. (Tokyo Lens)

In a protest against China's human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, Top Japanese officials are likely to skip Beijing Winter Olympics. (WION)

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi gave an impromptu piano rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine" during Saturday's dinner party of the Group of Seven ministerial talks in Liverpool, England. (Kyodo)

A Japanese research team said it developed a vaccine to remove so-called zombie cells that accumulate with age and damage nearby cells, causing aging-related diseases including arterial stiffening. (Japan Times)

I just found a secret spot to enjoy the view of Shibuya Crossing, famous tourist destination in Tokyo. ( Solo Travel Japan)

Although not many Japanese people acknowledge it, Japan actually still has many problems regarding discrimination. (Let's ask Shogo -Your Japanese friend in Kyoto)

A 38-year-old man and 21-year-old woman were arrested Sunday in western Japan for allegedly kidnapping a female high school student who was later found dead at the man’s apartment, police said. (Japan Times)

Japan has reported very few cases of influenza infection again this year in an apparent reflection of widespread efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Japan Times)

A man in his 40's from Gifu Prefecture in central Japan has tested positive for the Omicron variant. He returned to Japan on December 4 after a stay in Sri Lanka. (NHK)

Japanese researchers have developed masks that use ostrich antibodies to detect COVID-19 by glowing under ultraviolet light. (INQUIRER.net)

A senior official of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party says the government will take into consideration the level of the delegation China sent to the Tokyo Olympics in deciding about possibly joining a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Beijing Games. (NHK)

There will be no World Cup Ski Jumping events in Japan this season, it has been confirmed. (eurosport.co.uk)

Japanese weather officials say the La Nina weather pattern appears to be continuing. They are warning of heavier snowfall this winter, mainly on the Sea of Japan side of the country. (NHK)

For those curious or interested working at a Japanese university, here's a quick tour of what a typical faculty member's office looks like - specifically my space. (Paul del Rosario)

Japan is a remarkable country, famous for cherry blossoms, Mount Fuji, anime and cool technology. But it is also home to some completely weird and sometimes wonderful ideas and objects that are unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else on our planet. (The Fancy Banana)

Police in Kikugawa, Shizuoka Prefecture, have arrested an 81-year-old man after the car he was driving hit a group of elementary school children, injuring five of them, on Thursday. (Japan Today)

Police in Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture, have arrested a 35-year-old unemployed woman on suspicion of killing a 76-year-old man at the nursing home where she used to work in 2020. (Japan Today)

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Japan's wholesale inflation hit a record 9.0% in November, pushing gains for a ninth straight month, a sign upward pressure on prices from supply bottlenecks and rising raw material costs were broadening. (Nikkei)

A 69-year-old man in a wheelchair died after he was hit by a train while on a crossing in Higashi-Osaka on Thursday. (Japan Today)