The spread of the novel coronavirus is changing summer traditions in Japan, with new forms of seasonal events emerging thanks to digital technologies. (Japan Times)

Japan reported over 970 new cases of the oronavirus on Wednesday, as urban centers including Tokyo and Osaka continued to see high levels of infection. (Japan Today)

The central government and Hiroshima local governments appealed Wednesday a landmark ruling last month by the Hiroshima District Court that had recognized more victims of radioactive “black rain,” caused by fallout from the atomic bombing of the city, as eligible for support. (Japan Times)

An assistant police inspector in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture, has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a male movie-goer at a theater. (Japan Today)

The Japanese government plans to offer subsidies to universities and research institutes that allow their equipment to be used for PCR tests. (NHK)

Tokyo metropolitan government officials say 206 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in the Japanese capital on Thursday. (NHK)

A memorial ceremony has been held to mark 35 years since a Japan Airlines jumbo jet crashed in a mountainous village north of Tokyo, killing 520 people. (NHK8)

Akio Ohara reaches into a plastic container and scoops out a beetle that is bigger than his entire hand. (Japan Times)

The hottest day ever in Japan was 2018 in Kumagaya, Saitama! 41.4℃ or 106.5℉ (ONLY in JAPAN)

A court found a 38-year-old man guilty Tuesday for obstructing business at a central Japan town hall in April by acting like a person infected with the novel coronavirus and attempting to spread it to workers. (Kyodo)

A Japanese company that operates a cargo ship that ran aground off Mauritius says nearly half of the oil the vessel is believed to have leaked in the Indian Ocean has been collected. (NHK)

Swimmer Rikako Ikee, who went public with her leukemia diagnosis in February of last year, will return to competition at a Tokyo meet to be held later this month, sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday. (Japan Times)

The nation entered the dog days of summer Tuesday as temperatures climbed above 40 degrees Celsius in some areas, prompting authorities to issue a heatstroke warning and encourage the removal of face masks in certain situations. (Japan Times)

Japanese cuisine has a long history stretching back thousands of years. In the city of Kanazawa on the Sea of Japan side, there's a restaurant serving recipes from the Edo period which were presented to Daimyo in banquets. (ONLY in JAPAN)

Ninety-one people at a high school in Shimane Prefecture have tested positive in recent days for the novel coronavirus in a cluster outbreak centered on the boys’ soccer team, according to local authorities. (Japan Times)

The number of people using public transport in Japan is much lower than normal for the time of year due to a surge in coronavirus infections. The Bon holiday period normally sees many visiting their hometown. (NHK)

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have held talks with the top disarmament affairs official of the United Nations. (NHK)

Fukuoka Prefectural Police shot and wounded a man wielding a knife at an apartment complex in Fukuoka City’s Minami Ward on Sunday, reports Fuji News Network (Aug. 10). (tokyoreporter.com)

The cumulative total of COVD-19 infections in Japan surpassed 50,000 on Monday, including about 700 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama in February. (Japan Times)

Researchers at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan say a large number of meteors will be visible on Wednesday night if the conditions are right. (NHK)

Narita Airport, one of the main travel hubs for the Tokyo area, has already begun to make changes to keep travelers and workers safe in the coronavirus era. (Nikkei)

SoftBank Group on Tuesday reported a net profit of 1.25 trillion yen ($11.8 billion) in the April-June quarter thanks to the merger and sale of its stake in U.S. mobile carrier Sprint, marking a return to profit after suffering its worst ever loss in the previous quarter. (Nikkei)

At first glance, the casino might seem nothing special or out of the ordinary but if you have a keen sense for detail, you’d realize that casinos are among one of the most well-thought-out and purposefully executed architecture out there. (newsonjapan.com)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says 197 people were confirmed to have been infected with the new coronavirus on Monday. (NHK)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed 188 new cases of COVID-19 infection Tuesday, holding below the 200 mark for a second straight day, but worries over the spread of the new coronavirus remained amid a heat wave in the middle of the Bon summer holiday period. (Japan Times)