After two years of the Bank of Japan guiding key interest rates into negative territory, lenders here have seen loan rates slide toward zero, pushing financial institutions to reassess their business models. (Nikkei)

A woman in her 20s has sued a public-private investment fund designed to promote Japanese pop culture overseas for sexual harassment and unfair labor practices, her lawyer said Thursday. (Japan Today)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed during a phone call Wednesday night to continue exerting maximum pressure on North Korea, while reaffirming that the reclusive state must agree to denuclearize before any dialogue can happen. (Nikkei)

The education ministry released a draft Wednesday of revised curriculum guidelines for high schools, including the introduction of comprehensive history and public affairs as new compulsory subjects. (Japan Times)

Japan's Cabinet Office says the country's Gross Domestic Product from October to December 2017 grew 0.1 percent compared to the previous quarter based on preliminary data. (NHK)

The Japanese government will urge companies to adopt a more transparent decision-making process through measures such as allocating at least one-third of board seats to outsiders. (Nikkei)

Officials with East Japan Railway Company say a metal part that went missing from a Shinkansen bullet train has been found. They say the problem did not disrupt services or cause any injuries. (NHK)

Two Japanese professional players of the traditional board games shogi and go have received the country's People's Honor Award. (NHK)

At least five people died in prefectures facing the Sea of Japan and elsewhere as heavy snowfall hit the areas Monday due to a strong winter pressure pattern, according to a Kyodo News tally. (Kyodo)

U.S.-based Airbnb will start a comprehensive support service for hosts in Japan in an effort to ensure a sufficient number of local listings amid an upcoming regulatory change and growing competition. (Nikkei)

While the average height of Japanese adults had grown some 15 cm (nearly 6 inches) over the past century with improved nutrition and public health conditions, it has started to decline for those born in 1980 or later, recent research has shown. (Japan Times)

The number of people who applied for refugee status in Japan last year reached a record high of 19,628, up 80 percent from the previous year, the Justice Ministry announced Tuesday. (Japan Times)

The public approval rating for the Cabinet has inched up to 50.8 percent in the latest survey, with more than half of respondents backing its policy of pressuring North Korea to halt its nuclear weapons and missile development programs. (Japan Times)

Labor shortages are prompting Japanese moving companies to raise prices ahead of the peak house-moving season in spring. (NHK)

The seats at the corners of the carriages on Japanese trains and subways are designated as "priority seats" for the benefit of elderly, physically disabled, and pregnant passengers. (rocketnews24.com)

Tourists and residents in Japan who don't speak Japanese no longer need to be concerned about missing out on earthquake and tsunami alerts. (Japan Times)

A Japanese man has been questioned in connection with last month’s massive theft of digital tokens from cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck Inc., a source close to the investigation said. (Japan Times)

The U.S. Navy is investigating an alleged drug ring involving a number of sailors based at the 7th Fleet’s headquarters in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, it confirmed Saturday. (Japan Times)

The winter-long dance is over. Yu Darvish is joining the Chicago Cubs. (Japan Times)

A green turtle died as oil reached the southern Amami-Oshima Island coast, the local government said Thursday, but it was not clear whether the oil came from an Iranian tanker that sank in nearby waters last month. (Japan Times)

Japan's government debt has reached a record high, due to a heavy reliance on government bonds. (NHK)

A 43-year-old Japanese man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography, Thai police said Thursday. (Japan Today)

The expansion of Amazon.com into physical stores is driving partnerships between Japanese retailers and information technology companies looking to withstand the American e-commerce company's growing might in both online and bricks-and-mortar realms. (Nikkei)

Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda is expected to continue his massive monetary easing campaign in his second term as prices remain stagnant, though calls for an exit strategy could grow louder as his global peers roll back stimulus. (Nikkei)

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence told Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso this week that he favored a bilateral trade deal - which Tokyo opposes - to fix trade imbalances, sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday. (Japan Today)