An annual cherry blossom viewing event that is a famous spring feature in Osaka, held since 1883, began Wednesday at the Japan Mint headquarters. (Japan Today)

Japan will charge a departure tax of 1,000 yen ($9.37) per person beginning next year, with plans to use the anticipated 40 billion yen raised annually to bolster tourism. (Nikkei)

In a bid to increase the number of foreign workers to alleviate the country's labor shortage, Japan will introduce a new residency status for foreign technical intern trainees as early as April 2019. (Nikkei)

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)

Since 1979, the Shibuya 109 skyscraper has stood tall, literally, as the epicenter of trendy young women’s fashion in Tokyo. A recent government study, though, considered what would happen if it were the epicenter of an earthquake, and the results weren’t nearly as pretty as the gyaru and one-kei outfits that have been purchased at 109 over the years. (Japan Today)

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Iwami Ginzan silver mine in western Japan was partially damaged by the magnitude-6.1 earthquake that jolted the area early Monday, local government officials said. (Kyodo)

A male company employee has been arrested for allegedly groping a woman on the JR Saikyo Line in Tokyo, police said Tuesday. Another man, who is also accused of groping the victim, managed to flee the station by jumping onto the railway tracks. (Japan Today)

As Japan gears up to introduce a departure tax next year in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the Diet on Tuesday enacted legislation to limit the use of revenue from the levy to boosting tourism. (Japan Today)

A former reporter for Japanese public broadcaster NHK charged with raping three women pleaded not guilty Tuesday at the first hearing of his trial. (Japan Today)

Japanese social media users fall in love as dog chases down Google Street View car many times its size. (soranews24.com)

Japanese researchers have found more than 16 million tons of rare earth deposits, equivalent to a few hundred years of global consumption, under the seabed near Minami-Torishima, about 1,900km southeast of Tokyo. (Nikkei)

Japan's catch of Pacific flying squid fell to a new all-time low in 2017, sending wholesale prices of the seafood to profit-squeezing highs for companies that process it into popular foods. (Nikkei)

Tokyo Disneyland's new parade celebrating the theme park's 35th anniversary was unveiled to the media on Tuesday, with Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters dancing on gigantic floats. (Japan Times)

Despite a reputation for overall academic excellence, the quality of Japan’s English education programs is a common target of criticism. (soranews24.com)

A military parachute was found on a tennis court at a junior high school in Tokyo's Hamura City on Tuesday. (NHK)

Melons contaminated with deadly listeriosis bacteria were exported to at least nine countries from Australia, where an outbreak has killed seven people and caused one miscarriage, the World Health Organization said on Monday. (Japan Today)

Last year, “YouTuber” was the fourth most desired future job prospect for elementary-school aged Japanese boys. But with YouTube being increasingly oversaturated with content creators all vying to make a living from the still somewhat unconventional career choice, the role is starting to look just a little bit less appealing. (soranews24.com)

Unused foreign bills and coins brought home by Japanese travelers as well as leftover yen nestling in the pockets of departing foreign visitors are creating business opportunities at the nation’s airports. (Japan Times)

Japanese government officials have released data that measures the country's trade and investment with the rest of the world. They say the current account balance in February stayed in the black for the 44th straight month. (NHK)

Japan's Finance Ministry has admitted that one of its officials asked a school operator to lie about why it received a huge discount when it bought state-owned land. (NHK)

Just 2 months before the World Cup kicks off in Russia, Japan is replacing its national soccer coach. Akira Nishino is in and Vahid Halilhodzic is out. (NHK)

Japan's national soccer team coach, Vahid Halilhodzic, is being let go. (NHK)

Legoland Japan experienced a rocky start after opening on 1 April last year, reducing its operating hours to five days a week during fall. It has since withstood the test of time and weathered through a harsh winter in Japan. (soranews24.com)

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 struck Shimane prefecture, western Japan, on Monday, Japan Meteorological Agency said. (Xinhua)

The Tokyo-based Yano Research Institute recently released the results of its analysis of the pachinko industry, and some of the numbers don’t look so good . (soranews24.com)