ANA Holdings is in discussions for 500 billion yen ($4.6 billion) in financing from the Development Bank of Japan as well as private financial institutions, Nikkei has learned, as the airline company braces for a prolonged plunge in passenger numbers amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Nikkei)

Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda earned his 50th career win in the major leagues Wednesday when the Minnesota Twins unleashed their offense in a 12-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. (Kyodo)

Thursday marks the start of the Bon holidays in Japan, when Buddhists honor the spirits of their ancestors. (NHK)

With people think of a Japanese city with a rich cultural legacy, Kyoto is the first place that springs to mind, but Osaka is no slouch in the historical significance department either. (soranews24.com)

A 45-year-old woman working part-time at a Lawson convenience store in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, was fatally stabbed at the counter by her boyfriend who was trying to take money from the cash register on Wednesday. (Japan Today)

Eight persons connected to a hostess club in Edogawa Ward that claims to have utilized safety measures against the novel coronavirus have tested positive, the ward said on Wednesday, reports NHK (Aug. 12). (tokyoreporter.com)

The J-League on Thursday postponed Sagan Tosu's next three league matches after 10 individuals with the first-division side, including manager Kim Myung Hwi tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the league said. (Kyodo)

The government plans to discuss ways to relax movement restrictions for foreign athletes and officials to ensure the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics take place in 2021 after the postponement due to the coronavirus outbreak, sources have said. (Japan Times)

A team of researchers from Kyoto University and Toyota Motor is making solid progress developing next-generation battery technology that has the potential to cram far more energy into a small, lightweight package than today's standard lithium-ion, or li-ion, batteries. (Nikkei)

McDonald’s Holdings Co. (Japan) said first-half sales rose 2.0 percent from a year earlier to ¥139.24 billion ($1.3 billion) as demand for takeaway and delivery services rose amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Japan Times)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says it confirmed 389 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday. (NHK)

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)