Japan celebrated two years to the start of Rugby World Cup 2019 on Wednesday with the Webb Ellis Cup on display in Tokyo's Shibuya district ahead of a 46-day tour that will see it visit all 12 host cities from Sapporo in the north to Kumamoto in the south. (Japan Today)

Fears about foreign crime caused Tokyo Metropolitan Police to conduct searches through sex parlors in the Roppongi entertainment last week, an initiative that is part of law enforcement’s preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games, reports TV Asahi (tokyoreporter.com)

Osaka Prefectural Police have launched an investigation into Keisuke Koide over an alleged “inappropriate relationship” with a girl under the age of 18, the details of which appeared in a weekly magazine last month, reports Nippon News Network (July 13). (tokyoreporter.com)

American songstress Katy Perry is known around the world for her hit songs, extravagant costumes, and her bad blood with fellow singer Taylor Swift. Here in Japan, though, the 32-year-old performer is becoming known for her love of local reed diffusers and fabric softeners, thanks to a new commercial being broadcast to television screens around the nation from 8 September. (Japan Today)

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, a record 24.04 million foreign tourists visited the country in 2016. Of that figure, nearly 40 percent (or about 9.4 million) went to Osaka. (tokyoreporter.com)

Babymetal rocked the crowd at the Summer Sonic music festival Sunday (Aug. 20) in Chiba, Japan, with an exhilarating concert experience that blends J-pop idol entertainment with excellently orchestrated metal. (billboard.com)

Maiko (apprentice geiko), dressed in formal black kimono, walk in Kyoto's entertainment district to pay courtesy calls on teahouses and their teachers of traditional arts on Tuesday. (the-japan-news.com)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested the president of a talent agency suspected in at least two rapes of women, reports TBS News (tokyoreporter.com)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Tuesday raided the headquarters of the Yamaguchi-gumi organized crime group as a part of an investigation into the extortion of entertainment establishments in the capital, reports TV Asahi. (tokyoreporter.com)

Popular actor Ken Watanabe, 57, has publicly admitted that he had been in an extramarital affair as rumored since earlier this year. (Japan Today)

Osaka Prefectural Police have launched an investigation into Keisuke Koide over an alleged "inappropriate relationship" with a girl under the age of 18, the details of which appeared in a weekly magazine last month, reports Nippon News Network (tokyoreporter.com)

They’re still coming in droves — but no longer buying in spades. (Japan Times)

In many ways, Japan is a drinker’s paradise. Japanese society is extremely accepting of alcohol consumption, to the point where you can enjoy adult beverages not just at bars and cafes, but even many fast food restaurants. Then there are the all-you-can-drink deals, some of which are amazingly cheap. (Japan Today)

Japanese actor Shu Nakajima, 69, has died after falling off the stage during a live performance in Tokyo, media reported Friday. (Japan Today)

YouTube star Piko Taro has partnered with the Japanese Foreign Ministry to promote little-known U.N. development goals in Japan, singing and dancing to the catchy melody of his hit song "Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen" in a video. (Japan Today)

For most of us, catching Pokemon is a leisure and entertainment activity. For law enforcement authorities in Korea, though, it was recently part of their professional duties. (rocketnews24.com)

Since he first shocked fans with news of his retirement in 2013, Studio Ghibli director and beloved animator Hayao Miyazaki has been back in the studio numerous times, whether it's just out of habit, to work on his next short animated film, or to prepare for one more full-length animated feature. (Japan Today)

Japanese motorists are seeing a rollout of new bilingual road signs. The program by traffic authorities comes amid a rise in foreign tourist numbers. (NHK)

Sony Corp. said Thursday it will resume production of vinyl records for the first time in three decades this fiscal year as the format sees a resurgence in popularity. (Japan Times)

Chiba Prefectural Police have arrested a 67-year-old man for allegedly drugging and raping a woman earlier this year after falsely claiming to be an entertainment talent scout, reports NHK. (tokyoreporter.com)

The frenzied drummer who is the force behind rockers X Japan declared headbanging to be "no good" on Tuesday as he sported a neck brace at his first press conference since emergency surgery. (9news)

As part of a crackdown on organized crime, investigative sources with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Tuesday revealed that eight members of the Yamaguchi-gumi have been arrested over the alleged extortion of entertainment establishments in Chuo Ward, reports the Yomiuri Shimbun. (tokyoreporter.com)

The manager of an adult entertainment business was stabbed by a man who then apparently jumped to his death in Tokyo's Ikebukuro area, police said Sunday. (Japan Today)

Each of Japan's major cities has its own claims to fame. Tokyo is where mainstream entertainment and business trends emanate from. Yokohama is the breezy, multicultural city by the bay, while Kyoto, of course, is the heartland of traditional arts and culture. (Japan Today)