Voters across Japan have given Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Komeito, enough seats to maintain a two-thirds majority in the Lower House. (NHK)

Olympic gold medalist Ryota Murata has obtained another shining treasure. (Japan Times)

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday congratulated Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on his ruling camp's big victory in the general election the previous day. (Japan Today)

A three-year-old boy was killed and his 31-year-old mother seriously injured in a hit-and-run in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Friday. (Japan Today)

Amazon Japan K.K. is running a bar in Tokyo's posh Ginza district for 10 days through Oct. 29, with the aim of promoting a broad lineup of alcohol products the online shopping giant offers, in addition to its traditional business of books and commodity goods. (Kyodo)

A 44-year-old man held for alleged shoplifting at a shopping mall snatched a gun from a police officer during questioning and fired two shots, the police said. No one was injured. (Japan Times)

On the occasion of her 83rd birthday Friday, Empress Michiko welcomed the award this year of the Nobel Peace Prize to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons as a meaningful development in efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons. (Japan Times)

Nissan Motor has just announced it will suspend domestic shipments of vehicles from all 6 factories in Japan. (NHK)

Japanese police say more than 900 people under the age of 18 were victimized through social media in the first 6 months of this year. (NHK)

Police in Shizuoka city on Wednesday began a murder investigation after the body of a 62-year-old woman was found in a mountain forest. (Japan Today)

Four people were found alive Wednesday on snowy Mount Asahidake in Hokkaido after they went missing Tuesday, police and rescue workers said. (Japan Times)

Ever wondered where the best place to enjoy a refreshing Mojito in Japan is? Well, 300Bar, with three locations in Tokyo's Ginza district, is a serious contender. It has just been awarded by the Cuban Embassy in Tokyo 'The most authentic Mojito in Japan' certificate. (Japan Today)

A possible slowdown in purchases of 30- and 40-year Japanese government bonds by life insurers could influence the Finance Ministry's debt issuance plans for the next fiscal year. (Nikkei)

Senior officials from Japan, the United States, and South Korea have agreed that the 3 countries will put maximum pressure on North Korea for its repeated ballistic missile and nuclear tests. (NHK)

Customer service in Japan really is incredible. For example, on October 16, at around 4 in the morning, a man walked into the Shimojima Minami branch of convenience store Circle K in Shizuoka City's Aoi Ward. (rocketnews24.com)

Two persons were caught on camera spraying graffiti in the historic Golden Gai district in Shinjuku Ward last week, the latest such incident in what is a worsening problem for bar owners. (tokyoreporter.com)

Toyota Motor Corp. is set to unveil a fuel cell concept car that aims to offer 50 percent more driving range than its current hydrogen-powered sedan in a technology push that defies a rising wave of battery-powered vehicles. (Japan Times)

Mothers with young children in Japan are now spending more time on child care than household chores, thanks in part to their increasing use of time-saving appliances. (Nikkei)

The government will try to minimize restrictions placed on the private lodging business by municipalities concerned about noise and traffic jams in residential areas, officials said Tuesday. (Japan Times)

The Japan Tourism Agency will tighten regulations for travel agencies to protect tourists in the wake of Tellmeclub's bankruptcy in March. (Japan Times)

People dressed as samurai warriors have marched in a procession at a World Heritage site in Nikko, north of Tokyo. (NHK)

Japan's Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and US Vice President Mike Pence on Monday confirmed that the 2 countries will coordinate to increase pressure on North Korea. (NHK)

Osaka Prefectural Police have sent 10 persons to prosecutors for using a public road near theme park Universal Studios Japan as a private track for a specialty form of auto racing, reports TV Asahi (tokyoreporter.com)

Japanese travel company H.I.S. Co. said Monday it will open 10 more hotels staffed by robots in Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka and Kyoto by March 2019. (Kyodo)

Corporate enfant terrible, Takafumi Horie, built one of Japan's most successful internet businesses, stood for the Diet, went to prison and started a space company that aims to put the country's first privately funded rocket into orbit. Now he has a new frontier: cattle. (Japan Times)