Over 40 percent of medical institutions in Japan lowered their year-end bonuses for nurses and other staff members due to the effects of the pandemic, a survey by the Japan Federation of Medical Worker’s Unions has shown. (Japan Times)

The Japanese arm of German automaker Porsche says it will open a Porsche Experience Center in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture, next August. (NHK)

Japan's transport ministry has asked taxi drivers to use the fresh air mode of their vehicles' air conditioners to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection. It also requested that they wear masks and ask passengers to do the same. (NHK)

A man who grew up in a foster care home hopes to pass on the love by becoming a foster parent himself. (NHK WORLD-JAPAN)

Welcome to Tokorozawa! This town about 30 minutes from Central Tokyo is where you’ll find some of the coolest manhole covers in the world. (ONLY in JAPAN * GO)

Japanese astronaut Noguchi Soichi says he is calling home every day from the International Space Station, just like fathers who have to live apart from their families because of job transfers. (NHK)

Japan and China are racing to build a new type of ultrafast, levitating train, seeking to demonstrate their mastery over a technology with big export potential. (Japan Times)

Pull back the curtain on Kamiyama, a mountain village in Tokushima Prefecture undergoing a quiet transformation as a hub for technology companies, sanctuary for traditional performing arts, living workspace for international artists and checkpoint for religious pilgrims. (NHK WORLD-JAPAN)

Jiji Press has confirmed the existence of a sword-slashed uniform of a former Ground Self-Defense Force officer attacked by author Yukio Mishima during his failed coup attempt 50 years ago. (Japan Times)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has reasserted his country's sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands. He stressed the necessity of avoiding any action that could complicate matters in the waters around the islands. (NHK)

2020 has been a difficult year, a pandemic, lockdowns, and the tragedy attached to a virus that seemingly couldn't be stopped. (newsonjapan.com)

Carlos Ghosn's detention for almost 130 days in a Japanese jail was neither necessary nor reasonable and violated the former Nissan Motor Co. chairman's human rights, a U.N. panel concluded in a harsh critique of Tokyo prosecutors who led the case against him. (Japan Times)

The Japanese government is considering giving a new honorific title to female imperial family members who lose their royal status after marriage to enable them to engage in public duties, government sources said Monday. (Kyodo)

Japan will exclude Sapporo and Osaka from its domestic travel subsidy campaign for three weeks due to a recent resurgence in coronavirus cases in the two popular tourist destinations, senior government officials said Tuesday. (Kyodo)

Hokkaido and its capital are making preparations to suspend new bookings for Sapporo under the state-run Go To Travel subsidy program given the high number of coronavirus cases there, local government sources said Monday. (Japan Today)

Holding a large festival may not be a wise idea during the coronavirus pandemic. But organizers of one of Japan's traditional festivals are test-staging the event, with ample social distancing. (NHK)

The SoftBank Hawks built up a big early lead before easing their way to a second straight win in the Japan Series on Sunday, trouncing the Yomiuri Giants 13-2 with three home runs including a seventh-inning grand slam from Alfredo Despaigne. (Kyodo)

Chinese state media lashed out against Japan and Australia last week over their “confrontational” new defense pact and said the two countries would “pay a corresponding price” if it threatens China’s security. (TomoNews US)

Governors across Japan have called on the government to let them know as soon as possible about any changes to its programs designed to promote travel and dining. (NHK)

Health ministry data has shown the occupancy rate for hospital beds for seriously ill patients as of Wednesday last week rose in 17 of Japan’s 47 prefectures from a week before. (Japan Times)

Japanese Capsule Hotels are an experience everyone needs to have. (Only once). (Abroad in Japan)

Yasutoshi Nishimura — the nation’s COVID-19 point man — paused momentarily at one point during a recent news conference, seemingly debating internally how best to broach discussion of virus clusters among foreign residents, a subject that could be a lightning rod for criticism and claims of xenophobia if handled poorly. (Japan Times)

The Japanese economy has failed to improve its reduction of carbon emissions over the last quarter-century, Nikkei has learned. (Nikkei)

Infectious disease experts have weighed in on Saturday's decision by the government to review its Go To Travel tourism promotion campaign, criticizing the move as too late and likely to have little effect in preventing the further spread of COVID-19. (Japan Times)

The daily tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Japan has hit a record for the fourth day and a senior official says Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s government may reimpose limits on sports and other large events to curb the surge. (aljazeera.com)