Over 20 percent of the public in Japan accept esports as high school club activity, a recent Jiji Press opinion survey has shown. (Japan Times)

Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical says it will sell its over-the-counter medicine unit to US investment fund the Blackstone Group for about 2.3 billion dollars. (NHK)

Officials in Tokyo reported 95 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday. It's the first time the figure has dropped below 100 since July 8. (NHK)

As Elon Musk's Tesla blows the doors off Toyota, it is painfully clear how slow Japan Inc. has been to get the memo. (Nikkei)

Hyogo prefectural Police have arrested a 33-year-old male teacher for allegedly planting a hidden camera inside a changing area for men at a bath in Akashi City, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Aug. 24). (tokyoreporter.com)

Japan and Laos have agreed to ease entry restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Long-term residents will be allowed to travel between the two countries as early as September. (NHK)

More than 40 persons in a “foreign community” have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Saitama Prefectural Government has revealed, reports TV Asahi (Aug. 22). (tokyoreporter.com)

Shinzo Abe is already Japan's longest-serving prime minister, now he has become the leader with the most consecutive days in office. (aljazeera.com)

Typhoon Bavi (Igme) formed on August 19 from a low pressure system north-east of the Philippine archipelago. (Japan Times)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says 212 new cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed as of 3 p.m. on Sunday. (NHK)

Japanese prosecutors have found new fingerprint evidence suggesting that a lawmaker charged with accepting bribes over a proposed casino resort offered money to a person to falsely testify in court, sources close to the matter said Saturday. (Japan Today)

People in the Tokyo metropolitan area say they have witnessed what appeared to be a ball of light falling from the sky. (NHK)

Work to demolish the original version of Harajuku Station, long a symbol of Tokyo's Harajuku district, a mecca for young people, is set to start Monday, bringing its 96-year history to an end. (Japan Times)

With food deliveries expanding fast worldwide as people stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic, three players' growing dominance is realigning the industry in the United States, Japan and elsewhere. (Nikkei)

As a heat wave continues to grip much of Japan and send thousands to hospital with heat-related illnesses, medical workers worry that the similarity of symptoms to COVID-19 may place extra pressure on a health care system already creaking under the strain of the coronavirus pandemic. (Japan Today)

Japan has decided to ease entry restrictions for foreign students, imposed to curb the coronavirus, possibly within this month, government sources said Saturday. (Japan Today)

Land prices fell in about 40 percent in urban areas in the second quarter, reflecting sluggish demand from hotels and merchants and a slowing of transactions caused by the coronavirus epidemic, a land ministry survey shows. (Japan Times)

The requirement by many hospitals in Japan that women wear face masks while in labor to prevent coronavirus transmission has stirred debate among new mothers online, with some saying it was distressing while others argue it is essential to reduce infection risks. (Japan Today)

Japan received an estimated 3,800 visitors in July, posting a year-on-year plunge of 99.9 percent for the fourth consecutive month as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, government data shows. (Japan Times)

Amid a resurgence in coronavirus cases, the Nippon Foundation Disaster Emergency Support Center, an isolation facility for those with mild or no symptoms, has been erected in Tokyo’s Odaiba district. (nippon.com)

As the race for the White House heats up, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has laid out a foreign policy that seeks to restore U.S. leadership on the global stage and reinvigorate ties with traditional allies including Japan. (Japan Today)

Experts advising the Japanese government say coronavirus infections may have peaked nationwide, but that vigilance is required due to the risk of a resurgence. (NHK)

Although Japan appears to have more successfully contained the spread of COVID-19 compared to many other major developed countries, Japan's economy still struggled mightily in the first half of 2020. (fxstreet.com)

Buying a used car is the best option for those who want to get a new car without breaking the bank. It’s practical and you get to choose from a wide range of cars. However, buying a used vehicle comes with risks. (newsonjapan.com)

The governor of Iwate in northern Japan has criticized the national government''s “GoTo” campaign to encourage travel with discounts, noting the growing number of coronavirus cases. (outlookindia.com)