On a recent Friday night in the Kabukicho red-light district of Tokyo, blaring music and flashing disco lights signaled opening time for Cruise, one of a slew of host clubs that dot the vicinity. (Japan Times)

Tokyo confirmed 16 more coronavirus infections Wednesday in a first drop under 20 since June 10, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government said. (Japan Times)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Sunday reported 47 new coronavirus infections in the capital, with 18 of them confirmed through a group examination newly initiated in the Kabukicho entertainment district in Shinjuku Ward, Gov. Yuriko Koike said. (Japan Times)

Operators of nightlife establishments will have to keep a record of their customers' names and contact information and ensure social distancing rules as part of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, according to guidelines released by the government on Saturday. (Kyodo)

Next time the kids complain that they never get to do anything cool on the weekends, just take them to this host club. (soranews24.com)

Tokyo is the third most expensive city for expats, according to a U.S. consulting firm’s cost of living survey, down from second last year and trailing top-ranked Hong Kong for the third consecutive year. (Japan Times)

A 94-year-old amusement park Toshimaen in Tokyo will be closed at the end of August, its owner said Friday, and part of the site will be used for a new theme park based on the Harry Potter films, due to open in the first half of 2023. (Kyodo)

Comedian Ken Watabe, the husband of popular fashion model Nozomi Sasaki, earlier this week announced the suspension of his entertainment activities in advance of a report that outlines an extra-marital affair that included sexual activity inside public toilets. (tokyoreporter.com)

The Japanese labor ministry says non-regular workers account for about 60 percent of people who have recently lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. (NHK)

The Tokyo government said it confirmed 12 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, keeping the daily count under 20 for three consecutive days. (Japan Times)

For concert promoter Hiromichi Hayashi, the live music business this year has been all but dead due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Nikkei)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed 14 new coronavirus cases Sunday, marking the seventh strait day the number of new infections was in the double-digits, media reports said. (Japan Times)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will ask people working at nightclubs and similar entertainment establishments to regularly take coronavirus tests, Gov. Yuriko Koike said Sunday. (Japan Times)

The Japanese minister in charge of coronavirus response and Tokyo governor are expected to discuss how to curb rising infections in Tokyo's nightlife districts. (NHK)

Mayu Watanabe, a former member of the popular Japanese all-girl idol group AKB48, has retired from the entertainment industry due to health reasons, her agency said Monday. (Japan Times)

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike announced Friday that phase two of the capital’s three-part plan to peel back coronavirus countermeasures will begin on Monday. (Japan Times)

Amusement park association wants quiet thrill rides, no hugs as part of post-coronavirus closure reopenings. (soranews24.com)

Hana Kimura, a 22-year-old female professional wrestler who was among the cast of the most recent installment of the internationally popular Japanese reality show series "Terrace House," died Saturday after having been victimized by cyber-bullying, sources close to the matter said. (Japan Today)

Time on your hands and a love of anime? A producer from Japan's Studio Ghibli is offering an online tutorial for drawing one of its most beloved characters: Totoro. (Japan Today)

A strip club in the famous Dogo hot spring resort in western Japan has been forced to look to crowdfunding to ensure it can survive the coronavirus spread with tourists and longtime customers staying away. (Japan Times)

Workers in eateries, tourism and other industries hit by the new coronavirus pandemic as well as parents appealed to the government for more financial and other support as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe extended the nationwide state of emergency on Monday by over three weeks. (Kyodo)

On the April 5 edition of the Fuji TV talk program, “Wide na Show,” comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto discussed proposed economic relief measures for people affected by the COVID-19 crisis. (Japan Times)

Companies poised to benefit from the changes wrought by the coronavirus pandemic have emerged as drivers of a budding recovery in Japan's stock market. (Nikkei)

A Japanese comedian apologized Wednesday for his recent remarks that men can look forward to seeing "pretty girls entering (the sex industry) after the coronavirus is over" as they would be in need of money and obliged to take such jobs temporarily. (Japan Today)

Some of Japan’s most popular and beautiful gravure models want you to stay home during the spring vacation period. (soranews24.com)