The combined number of people newly found to be infected with HIV and new AIDS patients in Japan fell for the second straight year in 2018, the health ministry said Thursday. (Japan Times)

A research team from a Japanese university said Thursday it conducted the world's first transplant of corneal tissues using induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, in July. (Japan Today)

Tokyo has been ranked the world's safest city for the third year running, followed by Singapore and Osaka, according to the latest report by the Economist Intelligence Unit released on Thursday. (Japan Today)

Torrential rain has been pounding much of western Japan, triggering floods and landslides. The extreme weather has left two people dead and another unconscious. One person has been reported missing. (NHK)

The Defense Ministry presented a detailed plan on Wednesday for new surveys at candidate sites for deploying the Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense system. (Japan Times)

Kim Kardashian West’s shapewear line Kimono is no more. The new name, changed amid outcry over cultural appropriation, is SKIMS Solutionwear. (Japan Times)

Tokyo Customs on Tuesday started to make electronic customs declaration gates at Narita International Airport available to foreign nationals visiting Japan. (Japan Times)

Seoul said Wednesday it will file a World Trade Organization complaint against Japan, hours after Tokyo formally imposed additional trade restrictions on South Korea. (Nikkei)

U.S. startups focusing on care products and services for the elderly are tapping into the graying Japanese market, where more than 35 million people are over the age of 65. (Japan Times)

Weather officials in Japan have issued an emergency warning for heavy rain in Saga, Fukuoka and Nagasaki prefectures in northern Kyushu. (NHK)

Japan's government unveiled estimates on Tuesday that showed public pension benefits steadily declining during coming decades, as it prepares to open up a debate on social security reforms needed to support an aging population. (Japan Today)

A South Korean man who was on a nationwide wanted list for alleged theft and intrusion gave himself up to police in Tokyo on Tuesday, 10 days after fleeing from a hospital. (Japan Today)

Japan has removed South Korea from a list of trading partners entitled to simplified export procedures. Some companies may need to submit extra paperwork, depending on the items they want to sell. (NHK)

The US State Department has criticized South Korea's recent military drills near the Takeshima Islands. South Korea controls the islands. Japan claims them. (NHK)

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he and other G7 leaders have agreed to support a process being undertaken by the United States and North Korea. (NHK)

It was an historic weekend for sumo in Japan as the first-ever Wanpaku national championships for elementary school-age girls took place at Okudo Sogo Sports Center in Tokyo’s Katsushika Ward on Aug. 25. (Japan Times)

Japan's top government spokesman denied on Monday that Tokyo made too many concessions in trade talks with the United States, saying the fact the two countries were able to reach a broad agreement was "very valuable." (Japan Today)

New threats from the US and China to hit each other with additional tariffs have been shaking up financial markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Share prices and Japanese bond yields are down -- while the yen has climbed against the US dollar to around a seven-and-a-half month high. (NHK)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump have agreed to seek the conclusion and signing of a trade deal at a bilateral summit next month. (NHK)

Prices of imported minced fish products -- ingredients of fishcakes used in popular oden hot pot dishes in Japan -- have been soaring due to increased demand in Europe, the United States and China as well as rising logistics and personnel costs, according to Finance Ministry trade data. (Japan Today)

A minor eruption has occurred at Mount Asama in central Japan. The mountain straddles Nagano and Gunma prefectures. (NHK)

From kimono rentals to luggage storage apps to language training, Japan's long tourism boom is giving rise to a growing number of niche businesses that cater to the needs of overseas visitors. (Nikkei)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has two public personas when it comes to dealing with Japan: the statesman and the activist. (Nikkei)

Japan's government has announced that ballistic missiles are believed to have been launched from North Korea on Saturday morning. (NHK)

Defending champions Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic are the No. 1 seeds for singles play in the U.S. Open, it was announced on Wednesday. (Japan Times)