The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry on Thursday announced guidelines for the country's new unified examination system for university entrance that will begin in fiscal 2020. (the-japan-news.com)

The Kanagawa Prefectural Police said Friday that two bodies found in suitcases in a mountainous area in the prefecture's Hadano City on Thursday are those of two Chinese sisters who were reported missing earlier this month. (Japan Today)

Radioactive tritium, said to pose little risk to human health, will be released from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power complex into the sea, according to a top official of the plant operator. (Japan Times)

The U.S. Senate confirmed private equity executive William Hagerty on Thursday as President Donald Trump's ambassador to Japan, filling a post considered especially crucial in light of neighboring North Korea's recent missile tests. (Japan Today)

Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s main islands, is filled with beautiful scenery, but one of the best concentrations is to be found in the town of Biei. With rolling hills and lush farmland, it’s enough to make anyone stop for a moment and drink it all in, especially if you’ve just come from Tokyo or one of the country’s other urban population centers. (rocketnews24.com)

Japan hanged two death-row inmates Thursday morning, the Justice Ministry said, including a man convicted of multiple murders who had reportedly been seeking a retrial. (Japan Times)

Japan has lodged a protest against North Korea over an incident this month in which a ship thought to be North Korean pointed what appeared to be a gun at a Japanese Fisheries Agency patrol vessel. The incident took place inside Japan's exclusive economic zone. (NHK)

Japan's buses and taxis will be freer to carry packages along with passengers starting in September as the government cuts regulations to battle an increasingly severe shortage of drivers at the nation's shippers. (Nikkei)

A former millionaire nicknamed the "Black Widow" over the untimely deaths of her lovers admitted poisoning her last partner at her trial this week in a multiple murder case that has gripped Japan. (theguardian.com)

An undersea earthquake off the coast of North Korea was not caused by a nuclear test, the South's media reported Thursday. (Japan Times)

A 71-year-old nurse has been arrested on a charge of attempted murder after allegedly drugging the drinks of two people and causing them to have a car accident, the Chiba Prefectural Police said. (Japan Times)

Pokemon GO players in Japan have spent an average of $26 in-game per download since launch, according to Sensor Tower. (pocketgamer.biz)

Rescuers have been expanding search areas for missing residents one week after record rains wreaked havoc across the northern Kyushu region in western Japan. (NHK)

"Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen" and the U.N. are rhyming. Japanese comedian Pikotaro has adapted his catchy song to promote the United Nations' sustainable development goals. (Japan Today)

Three male students attending Takushoku University Koryo Senior High School in Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture, have been arrested for allegedly forcing a female acquaintance into prostitution, police said Tuesday. (Japan Today)

Japan’s copyright management organization has filed lawsuits against owners of a barber shop and a restaurant over the use of background music at their stores, seeking damages and injunctions. (Japan Times)

The economy ministry has taken punitive action against major ad agency Dentsu Inc. for its violation of labor law standards, telling the firm it cannot participate in the bidding process for its new projects for a month. (Japan Times)

Education ministry panel approves private-sector English testing for university entrance (Japan Times)

Japan will be holding talks on a Pacific Rim trade initiative rejected by U.S. President Donald Trump beginning Wednesday in the mountain resort town of Hakone, west of Tokyo. (Japan Today)

Japan has 227 public kindergartens, elementary, junior high and high schools with old chimneys that may scatter asbestos, an education ministry survey showed Tuesday. (Japan Times)

The government said Tuesday it will launch large-scale control measures against fire ants at 68 ports that regularly receive containers from nations where the venomous, invasive species is commonly found. (Japan Times)

Public broadcaster NHK apologized Wednesday over a cartoon with Adolf Hitler’s face that was printed on a T-shirt worn by a talk show guest. (Japan Times)

A 71-year-old nurse has been arrested on a charge of attempted murder after allegedly drugging the drinks of two people and causing them to have a car accident, the Chiba Prefectural Police said. (Japan Times)

Chief negotiators from the 11 Trans-Pacific Partnership countries met Wednesday in the hot-spring resort town of Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, to discuss how to breathe fresh life into the massive free trade deal after the U.S. withdrew. (Japan Times)

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