"The entire Kisoji is in the mountains" - this opening phrase about an ancient trail in Toson Shimazaki's classic novel "Before the Dawn" still holds true today. The 11 post towns on the Kisoji section of the Nakasendo road are linked by a road that runs through tree-covered mountains. I walked the section between Midono-juku and Tsumago-juku, post towns in Nagiso, to get a taste of what travelers in the Edo period (1603-1867) experienced as they walked this path. (the-japan-news.com)

"Premium Friday," the nationwide campaign encouraging people to leave work early on the last Friday of every month and spur spending, faces a crucial moment a half year after its splashy debut. (Japan Times)

Finance Minister Taro Aso said Friday the Japanese government will impose emergency tariffs on frozen beef from the United States and other regions, widely used in fast food, from August due to soaring shipments. (Japan Today)

Hokkaido Prefectural Police have opened a criminal case in the disappearance of a female Chinese tourist in Sapporo last week, reports TV Asahi. (tokyoreporter.com)

The death sentence given to a woman convicted of murdering two men in the western Japan prefecture of Tottori in 2009 is set to be finalized after the Supreme Court upheld lower court rulings Thursday. (Japan Today)

Tomomi Inada has been replaced as Japan's defense minister after she stepped down to take responsibility for a controversy that has been swirling around her. (NHK)

Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Eriko Imai, a former member of popular girl band Speed, apologized on Thursday for her reported relationship with a married local assembly member. (Japan Times)

Japan's Environment Ministry says it has received a report of the country's first case of an injury caused by the highly venomous fire ant. (NHK)

Japan had more than one regular full-time job opening for every applicant on average -- the first this has occurred since November 2004 when the government started collecting data. (Nikkei)

Raising wage levels will ensure that the economy breaks free from deflation and working conditions for non-regular workers improve. To accomplish these goals, we want the government to swiftly create an environment in which increases in the minimum wage can be steadily continued. (the-japan-news.com)

The Consumer Affairs Agency ordered Softbank Group Corp. on Thursday to take preventive measures after it ran dishonest online advertisements for Apple Watch smartwatches in violation of the law against misleading representation. (Japan Times)

Toyota Motor said Friday that its global car sales between January and June grew 2.7% on the year to hit a new record. But the Japanese automaker has yet to regain the top spot it once held. (Nikkei)

One woman fell into a coma and 13 others were injured Wednesday night after a passenger boat rammed into a facility of Kobe Airport in Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan, firefighters said. (Japan Today)

The main venue for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will likely be used exclusively for team ball sports after the 2020 Games. (NHK)

The head of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force is expected to resign over cover-up allegations involving peacekeepers in South Sudan, dealing another blow to scandal-plagued Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Nikkei)

Four of six Japanese nationals detained in China in March for their suspected involvement in unspecified "illegal activities" are now back in Japan after having been released, Japan's top government spokesman said Thursday. (Japan Times)

On July 27 - unofficially, Watermelon Day - in Japan, many people, including some famous figures, made online posts about the popular summer fruit. (Kyodo)

A Japanese startup firm has given news reporters a look at a rocket that will be launched on Saturday. It is the first rocket built in Japan without assistance from the government. (NHK)

Police in Tokyo are questioning Japanese actress Mariko Ishihara, 53, on suspicion of stealing a bento (boxed lunch) and several food items from a convenience store in Tokyo. (Japan Today)

Democratic Party leader Renho announced Thursday she will step down as the head of the nation’s largest opposition force, saying she didn’t have the leadership ability to maintain party unity in the wake of its crushing defeat in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election earlier this month. (Japan Times)

Wasabi and Okinawan sweet potato may not be everyone's preferred type of Kit Kat but booming demand for exotic flavours in Japan has prompted bar-maker Nestle to open a new factory. (Japan Today)

An explosion at a fireworks plant in western Japan has injured the plant's president and an employee. (NHK)

A 9-year-old boy died from heatstroke after becoming trapped in his mother's car for about one and a half hours on a sweltering day in Nara, officials from the local prefectural government said Tuesday. (Japan Today)

Police in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, have arrested a 20-year-old female college student on suspicion of attempting to kill her ex-boyfriend by hitting him in the head with a hammer and stabbing him in the back with a knife. (Japan Today)

Tuesday was eel-eating day, when many in Japan treat themselves to the grilled delicacy -this year likely to make a smaller dent on the wallet with prices down. (Japan Times)