US President Donald Trump says he's decided to attend the East Asia Summit in the Philippines -- a meeting he had initially planned to skip. (NHK)

In preparation for U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Japan from Sunday, the Metropolitan Police Department will be on full alert primarily in central Tokyo, deploying about 18,000 officers --- the highest level in 20 years for the protection of a prominent person. (the-japan-news.com)

Senior Democratic Party lawmaker Katsuya Ogawa on Thursday tendered his resignation to the party over an alleged assault of an elementary school girl by his son, who said he intended to molest her. (Japan Times)

US President Donald Trump's eldest daughter and presidential advisor Ivanka Trump has called for promoting women's participation in the economy in her speech in Tokyo. (NHK)

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has reappointed all of his Cabinet ministers, following his reelection by the Diet as Japan's leader. (NHK)

The Finance Ministry has recommended revising the criteria used for the distribution of consumption tax revenue among the prefectures to rectify disparities between urban and rural areas. (the-japan-news.com)

Dole Japan Inc., a producer of fruits and vegetables, said Wednesday it will recall approximately 9,000 bunches of packaged Philippine bananas due to concerns of tampering. (Japan Times)

Japan is discovering that even the tightest labor market in a generation is no quick spur for higher wages. (Japan Times)

Ivanka Trump, the U.S. president's daughter and senior advisor, arrived in Japan on Thursday for a three-day stay ahead of a visit by her father. (Kyodo)

Japan was placed at 114th in the World Economic Forum’s global gender equality rankings for 2017 released Thursday, down from 111th last year and the worst standing among the Group of Seven major economies. (Japan Times)

Sony Corp. announced Wednesday that it is scheduled to release a new doglike "aibo" robot on Jan. 11, 2018. (the-japan-news.com)

Air Do, a regional carrier based in Sapporo, said Tuesday that it has decided to cancel a total of 34 flights on two routes in November due to a lack of pilots. (Japan Times)

On a crisp autumn morning, colorful hot-air balloons took off from a riverbed in the southwestern Japanese city of Saga for the opening of one of Asia's largest festivals for the aircraft on Nov. 1. (Kyodo)

Takahiro Shiraishi, a 27-year-old man allegedly behind one of the nation’s most gruesome serial murders in recent years, preyed upon suicidal victims through twitter, offering them assistance of sorts. (Japan Times)

Police have arrested 7 people in connection with a cash robbery of 380 million yen, or about 3.4 million dollars, in western Japan in April. (NHK)

The Bank of Japan has downgraded its inflation forecast for the current fiscal year through March. (NHK)

China's top ride-sharing company, Didi Chuxing, will launch an app-based service in Tokyo next April, partnering with a Japanese taxi company. (NHK)

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have welcomed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Tokyo. (NHK)

The Japan Tourism Agency will start a survey to check the number of visitors from abroad who have bought travel insurance, hoping to draw up measures to encourage more foreign visitors to get coverage, according to sources. (Japan Times)

Police in Bangkok on Sunday arrested a Japanese woman for allegedly attempting to smuggle 10 otters to Japan, reports Fuji News Network (tokyoreporter.com)

Companies continued to face a severe labor shortage in September, with job availability remaining at historic highs, government data showed Tuesday. (Japan Times)

Police arrested nine people on suspicion of copyright law violations Tuesday in connection with a website containing links to other sites that give visitors access to pirated comics and books. (Japan Times)

This place is for real! A city in Japan called Obama. They must have named it after the former president, right? (ONLY in JAPAN)

Tokyo police are on increased alert as young people and foreign nationals in Halloween costumes descend on the city's busy Shibuya district. (NHK)

Police in Date, Hokkaido, have arrested a 19-year-old woman worker on suspicion of attempted murder after she stabbed her father at their home. (Japan Today)