The Trump administration is clearly willing to criticize traditional U.S. allies. (thehill.com)

Known primarily for recording hits in Korean, BTS also releases singles and albums in Japanese, and they have now become so successful that the group can score an instant bestseller in nearly every country and many different languages. (forbes.com)

In this age of Covid-19 coronavirus, the world isn’t exactly our oyster. Although Japan’s sweeping entry ban is still in place, those of us already here are being encouraged to explore our own backyard and see everything the country has to offer. (timeout.com)

Police in Tokyo have arrested a 23-year-old member of a yakuza gang on suspicion of stealing a safe from an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) in May. (Japan Today)

Japan's travel subsidy campaign was thrown into deeper confusion Friday when officials had to quickly clarify a recommendation by the tourism minister regarding the contentious program, with his stance on covering cancellation fees facing opposition from a senior member of the ruling coalition. (Japan Today)

Would you buy a $7,000 peach? A fruit so juicy, so sweet, so perfect you just don't care about the sticky nectar dribbling down your face? (abc.net.au)

Police in Japan are planning to deprive children of their trick-or-treat goodies this Halloween – but only because the gifts come from members of the country’s biggest underworld organisation. (theguardian.com)

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on Friday unveiled the first group of Japanese companies to subsidize for shifting manufacturing out of China to Southeast Asia or Japan. (Nikkei)

Under severe criticism for keeping out foreign students and faculty under its coronavirus protection entry ban, Japan is hinting at plans to start relaxing the rules from August. (universityworldnews.com)

Japan plans to take most government paperwork online, streamlining cumbersome processes blamed for delayed payments of pandemic assistance, in an ambitious digital revolution it aims to complete in a year. (Nikkei)

The women who are one of the iconic symbols of Japan are fighting to keep the tradition alive. Geisha were already battling a fall in popularity. (CNA)

As political bets go, the one Japan’s Shinzo Abe made on Donald Trump in 2016 is proving to be a mistake of historic proportions. (forbes.com)

Last year on November 1, Hello Kitty turned 45. Being squarely middle-aged does not bother the snow-white cartoon kitten, whose contribution to Sanrio, the company which designs her, ranges from theme parks to international licensing business. (Nikkei)

NHK has learned communities affected by recent torrential rains are facing a lack of volunteers because of concerns over the coronavirus. (NHK)

Re-entry ban causes foreign firms and talent to question long-term plans in Japan (Japan Times)

Japan's health ministry approved on Friday the use of saliva to conduct PCR tests for people with no coronavirus symptoms. (NHK)

The Sapporo Marathon is an annual long-distance running event, held in the cool month of October. Due to Hokkaido’s favorable climate and wonderful autumn scenery it’s a popular race, drawing hundreds of runners and thousands of spectators. (soranews24.com)

One of the key questions in Japan’s present national security debate is how to manage China’s “predatory” geoeconomics. (thediplomat.com)

In Japan, as in much of the world, farting is considered an unpleasant, unwelcome sound. That’s why one office supply company designed fart-muffling seat cushions, and a separate group developed anti-fart sound-blocking underwear. (soranews24.com)

This Japanese bread rose to popularity because of its heavenly cloud-like texture. (NHK WORLD-JAPAN)

Japan's minister in charge of coronavirus response says a government panel of experts has approved a domestic tourism campaign that excludes travel plans to and from Tokyo. (NHK)

The government will present a new goal on gender equality as early as next week, having abandoned the time frame for its long-stated aim of raising women's share of leadership roles in the country's workforce to at least 30 percent by the end of this year, sources said Wednesday. (Japan Times)

The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an appeal made by an artist against a lower court ruling that found her guilty of obscenity for distributing 3D scans of her own genitalia to supporters in 2013 and 2014. (Japan Times)

Four major department store operators saw dismal business results in the March to May period due to impacts of the novel coronavirus epidemic, according to their earnings reports released by Wednesday. (Japan Times)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency says its analysis of data collected by a weather satellite shows downpours that devastated a wide area in western Japan in early July were the heaviest in 20 years. (NHK)