Organizers of the Tokyo Games announced the schedule for the Paralympics on Monday, with only minor changes to the plan that was in place before the coronavirus pandemic forced a one-year postponement. (Kyodo)

Tokyo reported 258 new coronavirus cases Monday, down from the record-breaking increases of recent days, but still a high figure amid a resurgence of infections since last month. (Japan Times)

Plant quarantine officials in Japan have had a number of inquiries about unsolicited packages of seeds apparently sent from China. They are calling on people not to plant them. (NHK)

A virtual-reality jacket that replicates the sense of touch, a belt that predicts when a pregnant mother will go into labor, and even a vest that monitors the health of your precious pooch: these are just some of the products emerging in Japan's fast-growing market for smart clothing. (Nikkei)

Japan confirmed on Saturday 1,512 new coronavirus infections, topping the 1,000 mark for the fourth straight day, as authorities in large cities have been forced to reimpose restrictions on some businesses to address the resurgence of the virus. (Japan Today)

Companies racing to introduce the successor to the batteries that power everything from our smartphones to drones to electric cars are closing in on their goal. But they are not alone. Startups have joined the fray to develop technologies for higher-performance power packs that can relegate today's lithium-ion batteries to an earlier stage along the march of progress. (Nikkei)

As the rainy season ends, Japan is entering summer without its typical scenes of festivals, fireworks and open beaches this year as the novel coronavirus continues to spread in the country. (Kyodo)

The shocking revelations contained in the report "I Was Hit So Many Times I Can't Count," released by Human Rights Watch on July 20 exposing the abuse of child athletes in Japan, came as no surprise to those of us close to the world of Japanese sports administration. (Nikkei)

Kabukicho, a 1-kilometer square commercial area on the northern side of Tokyo’s JR Shinjuku Station, is reputed to be Asia’s largest adult entertainment zone, with an estimated nighttime working population of 23,000 (based on 2014 figures). (Japan Times)

Japan’s Okinawa island region has declared a state of emergency from August 1 to August 15, because of increasing COVID 19 cases. (republicworld.com)

Popular YouTube channel and website The Black Experience Japan features interviews with dozens of black residents of Japan. (globalvoices.org)

Many public bath houses in Japan are at risk of closing as customer numbers plunge during the Covid-19 pandemic. (South China Morning Post)

A remote Tokyo island is applying for recognition of its starry night skies by an international organization. (NHK)

Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso described the yen's recent rise as "rapid" on Friday, signalling concern that a strong currency could add pain to an export-led economy already in recession because of the novel coronavirus. (business-standard.com)

Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s announcement on Monday of the closure of a factory that manufactures its Pajero SUV came as a shock to the town of Sakahogi, Gifu Prefecture, where the plant is located. (Japan Times)

Japan has hit a record high in daily coronavirus infections for a third day in a row. Officials say more than 1,500 cases were confirmed on Friday. (NHK)

Japan on Friday pushed back its estimated return to a budget surplus by two years, due to the massive increase in spending needed to support the economy during the coronavirus and putting pressure on the nation’s massive debt burden. (kitco.com)

The Japanese government said Friday it will lift a ban on reselling face masks and disinfectant as suppliers have ramped up production enough to resolve a nationwide shortage spurred by the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo)

SMBC Nikko Securities, a top Japanese brokerage house, will allow clients to open an account without the need to provide 'hanko' seals on their contracts at all its branches starting this month. All they will need is a Nikko sales representative to fill in a form on an iPad and take photos of their IDs using the tablet. (Nikkei)

The rainy season finally ended in Tokyo and neighboring areas of the Kanto-Koshin region in east and central Japan after an unusually long spell, the Meteorological Agency said Saturday. (Japan Times)

If you would like to work in Japan, here are 5 Japanese business taboos. (Ask Japanese)

Blues singer Johnny Burgin’s latest album highlights a part of the genre’s history that is largely unknown to a swath of its fans: Japanese blues music. (suntimes.com)

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has offered his sincere condolences over the death of former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui. (NHK)

An expert advisory panel to Japan's health ministry has warned that coronavirus infections are rapidly picking up in some regional cities. (NHK)

Japan's industry ministry says industrial production rose 2.7 percent in June from the previous month. That's the first increase since the coronavirus pandemic took hold. (NHK)