Osaka has been considered something of a pioneer in LGBT rights in Japan. Back in 2013, Yodogawa Ward was the first government body in the country to officially declare support for LGBT communities. While merely a symbolic gesture at first, it has spread into a larger movement of sensitivity that now includes all wards in Osaka. (soranews24.com)

A summer-like spell of hot weather has gripped Japan, with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius across the country. (NHK)

Japan’s consumer center said Thursday about 120 children were treated at medical institutions over the past seven years after swallowing tiny magnetic balls, and urged parents to keep such products away from children. (Japan Times)

A company that developed a smartphone application for the Japanese board game shogi has been listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. But the initial public offering ended without an opening price as there were too many orders to buy its shares. (NHK)

Japanese government officials have released their leading gauge of inflation. The Consumer Price Index rose for the 15th straight month in March. (NHK)

A nonpartisan group of Japanese lawmakers has visited Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. (NHK)

An outbreak of measles in the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa is affecting local tourism ahead of the spring holiday season. (NHK)

When asked about a complaint from a Japanese TV station that the most senior official at his ministry sexually harassed a reporter, Finance Minister Taro Aso said the font used on the complaint letter was too small. (Japan Times)

Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical has proposed to buy Irish competitor Shire for over 60 billion dollars. If completed, the deal would be one of the biggest acquisitions of a foreign firm by a Japanese company. (NHK)

NHK has learned that the operator of a popular app used for buying and selling goods in Japan is expected to be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. (NHK)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and SoftBank Group Corp Chairman Masayoshi Son were among the world's 100 Most Influential People of 2018 released Thursday by Time magazine. (Japan Today)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump have agreed to maintain the maximum pressure on North Korea until the country takes concrete steps for denuclearization. The 2 leaders also agreed to create a new framework to discuss trade and investment. (NHK)

The Meteorological Agency says an eruption has occurred at Mount Ioyama in southwestern Japan, spewing volcanic rocks around the crater. (NHK)

A new baggage-screening system that is better at detecting bombs has started operation at Haneda airport in Tokyo. (NHK)

The Diet on Wednesday enacted a revised law stipulating Japanese court jurisdiction over international divorces, in a move expected to speed up lengthy proceedings. (Japan Today)

Niigata Governor Ryuichi Yoneyama has announced he's stepping down over an alleged sex scandal. (NHK)

A Japanese television network says a woman employee is among the victims of alleged sexual harassment by a top bureaucrat of the Finance Ministry. (NHK)

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is holding his sixth summit with US President Donald Trump. (NHK)

Major Japanese advertising agency Dentsu Inc. will introduce a uniform monthly day off on a trial basis from June, aiming to improve productivity by allowing more private time for its workers. (Japan Times)

Foreigners held in a Japanese immigration detention centre have launched a hunger strike over the death of a detainee, drawing fresh attention to conditions under which they are held. (Japan Today)

UNESCO has listed the Izu Peninsula in central Japan as a Global Geopark for its unique landform featuring many active volcanos in line. (NHK)

Japan's justice minister apologized Tuesday over the escape of a "model" inmate who fled an open prison more than a week ago, as the number of police hunting him passed 6,000. (Japan Today)

Police have arrested a 44-year-old man on suspicion of stabbing to death a 48-year-old woman in a hotel room in Hiroshima City. (Japan Today)

A Japanese opposition party member says a Self-Defense Force officer yelled at him and accused him of being an enemy of the Japanese people. (NHK)

A 14-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of stealing 10 million yen in cash from a friend's house, according to police. (Japan Today)