Demand for new offices pulled up land values in Japan's largest cities, but the country is witnessing polarizing demand as rural areas that lack tourist attractions are left behind. (Nikkei)

Japan's largest banks have buoyed earnings with high-interest cash advances over the last few years, but these loans are starting to take a toll as irrecoverable debt piles up. (Nikkei)

Prosecutors are demanding eight years behind bars for the president of failed travel agency Tellmeclub, who is accused of defrauding two banks of about ¥550 million in loans by doctoring earnings data. (Japan Times)

The Kasumigaseki Building, known as the first skyscraper in Japan, held a lighting-up ceremony Wednesday in Tokyo marking the 50th anniversary of its completion, operator Mitsui Fudosan Co. said. (Kyodo)

Japan is moving toward legalizing initial coin offerings, even as countries such as China and the U.S. restrict the fundraising method because of the risks it presents for investors. (Japan Times)

Nobuaki Kurumatani on Monday took office as the first chairman and CEO of Toshiba Corp to be appointed from outside the company in over 50 years. (Japan Today)

Shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. put an ice-breaking tanker into service in the Arctic Ocean on Thursday to transport liquefied natural gas from a Russian plant to Europe, becoming the first Japanese firm to own and operate such a vessel. (Japan Times)

The Tokyo Midtown Hibiya shopping and entertainment complex opened for business Thursday in the capital’s arts district, connecting Japan’s key business, fashion and political areas. (Japan Times)

Smartphone users in Japan may soon start enjoying a faster and easier shopping experience. The country's 3 major banks say they're going to join hands to standardize a single payment system using QR code. (NHK)

Japan's 3 major financial groups are reporting their earnings for the April-to-September period. Two saw their operating profits fall, as prolonged low interest rates ate into their earnings. (NHK)

Miyagi Prefectural Police have arrested a former employee of a subsidiary of trading company Mitsui & Co. in Sendai who is suspected in the embezzlement of nearly 200 million yen, reports the Sankei Shimbun (tokyoreporter.com)

Police on Wednesday arrested the president and a former employee of failed travel agency Tellmeclub, which offered budget overseas tours, on suspicion of defrauding a bank of about ¥200 million ($1.76 million) in loans by window-dressing earnings data. (Japan Times)

Reflecting the recent rise of alpine accidents amid the trekking boom in Japan, experts advise hikers to get insurance covering search and rescue expenses, which can be hugely expensive. (Japan Today)