Japanese home furnishings retailer Nitori Holdings Co. said Thursday it will launch a rival takeover bid in mid-November to make do-it-yourself and hardware store operator Shimachu Co. a wholly owned subsidiary, triggering a fierce acquisition battle with a major DIY store operator. (Japan Times)

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. said Thursday it plans to supply 50 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine, developed by U.S. drugmaker Moderna Inc., in Japan from the first half of next year. (Japan Times)

Central Japan Railway Company said its net loss in the first half of the fiscal year was about 1.1 billion dollars. Group sales fell 64 percent from the same period in 2019. (NHK)

Hawaii Gov. David Ige said Tuesday travelers from Japan will be exempted from the U.S. state's mandatory 14-day quarantine, starting Nov. 6, if they test negative for the novel coronavirus at designated hospitals within 72 hours prior to arrival. (Kyodo)

The most unpredictable of pennant races ended with among the most predictable of results: The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, once again, on top of the Pacific League and looking toward the Climax Series and possibly a fourth straight Japan Series title. (Japan Times)

Why does everything go south when you are in a relationship? (newsonjapan.com)

The Japanese government is considering extending its domestic travel subsidy program beyond late January to continue support for the tourism sector amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday. (Japan Times)

The Japan International Cooperation Agency said Wednesday it will launch an organization next month to provide comprehensive support for foreign workers in Japan to improve their working and living environments. (Kyodo)

Although cannabis has long been a part of Japanese culture, current laws prohibit the use or sale of products containing more than a trace amount of THC, the chemical that gets users high. (newsonjapan.com)

The Japanese government has postponed a decision on what to do with contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. (CGTN)

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has pledged to pursue all options for Japan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. (NHK)

The coronavirus pandemic has brought record losses to one of Japan's major airline operators. ANA Holdings has announced it expects a group net loss of 4.8 billion dollars, for the year ending next March. (NHK)

A center for coronavirus prevention will be in operation during the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics next summer. (NHK)

Japan's largest oil wholesaler says it will cease operations at a chemical materials factory around next October as competition in the industry intensifies. Eneos will seek to sell part of the plant to rival Idemitsu Kosan. (NHK)

Playing casino games online can be quite thrilling. (newsonjapan.com)

The government on Tuesday approved a bill to pay all costs to administer COVID-19 vaccination to all residents in Japan, and to compensate suppliers in the event any serious side effects occur. (Japan Times)

Nature lovers on Tuesday morning took in the brilliant red foliage reflected in Tsutanuma pond, a famed spot to view fall colors in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Aomori, under restricted conditions to prevent crowds amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo)

Japan's communications minister has unveiled a plan that aims to spur competition among mobile phone carriers. It includes measures to make it easier for users to switch to lower-priced companies. (NHK)

(newsonjapan.com)

One Japanese airline is taking on additional costs to reduce its carbon footprint, despite the coronavirus crisis. All Nippon Airways is planning to begin flights soon using bio jet fuel derived from animal fat. (NHK)

The animated movie "Kimetsu no Yaiba," or "Demon Slayer," has broken box office records in Japan, earning 10 billion yen in its first 10 days in theaters. It reached the milestone much faster than the 25 days it took the 2001 animated fantasy film "Spirited Away." (NHK)

Japanese health officials are urging people in all age groups to get influenza shots amid concerns about simultaneous outbreaks of flu and coronavirus infections. (NHK)

The complete renovation of Kansai International Airport in western Japan will be delayed by more than a year but the facility is still on track to expand its annual passenger capacity by over 30 percent to around 44 million a year in time for the 2025 Osaka Exposition, the airport operator said Monday. (Kyodo)

A new survey shows only a small number of people in Japan are getting the safety benefits of working from home. It found that less than 20 percent were telecommuting despite calls to do so to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. (NHK)

A man already in custody for an alleged assault was served a fresh arrest warrant Monday, making him the first cyclist to be charged for a road rage incident under a recently revised traffic law aimed at curbing dangerous driving. (Japan Times)