In the soccer World Cup finals in Russia, Japan advanced to the knockout phase despite a 1-0 loss to Poland in their final group-stage match on Thursday. (NHK)

The government will relax the rule for duty-free shopping from Sunday in its latest effort to spur spending by foreign visitors, after “explosive buying” by Chinese tourists appears to have cooled down. (Japan Times)

Legoland Japan unveiled Thursday a water play area -- an attraction added to the amusement park for the first time since opening in April 2017 -- as the park operator hopes to boost the number of visitors during the summer break. (Kyodok)

A Japanese mayor who suffered a stroke at a sumo wrestling event and was given first aid by a female nurse who entered the male-only ring has said the ancient ban on women is irrelevant. (Japan Today)

TV “talent” Becky, 34, is currently dating Yasuyuki Kataoka, a coach for the minor league Yomiuri Giants baseball team. Sources say that the two met through a mutual friend in the television broadcasting industry and became a couple last month, Sankei Shimbun reported. (Japan Today)

Japan's Lawson will do away with the delivery of fresh food to online shoppers at the end of August, as rising costs and slow demand have rendered the service unsustainable. (Nikkei)

The Japanese government has found itself in a tight spot following the US request that the international community completely halt imports of crude oil from Iran. (NHK)

Japanese hotel chain Prince Hotels Inc said Tuesday it found about 125,000 items of customer information such as names and credit card numbers have been stolen and leaked. (Japan Today)

Police arrested on Monday a 42-year-old man for allegedly stabbing to death a lecturer at an information technology seminar in Fukuoka the night before over what he claims to be trouble online. (Japan Today)

A man has killed a police officer and a security guard in an attack in Toyama Prefecture, central Japan. Police have shot and detained a 21-year-old suspect. (NHK)

A leading Liberal Democratic Party official on Tuesday criticized people opting not to have children as being "selfish," in the latest remark from a politician of the ruling party urging people to have babies. (Japan Today)

Japan's Imperial Household Agency will announce plans for the engagement of Princess Ayako. (NHK)

The operator of Universal Studios Japan in Osaka unveiled to the press Tuesday its two new attractions featuring characters from the picture book series "Curious George" and the animated film series "Minions" ahead of their weekend debut. (Kyodo)

Police have arrested a 42-year-old man for fatally stabbing a well-known blogger in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan. (NHK)

Police and officials from the city of Kyoto on Monday agreed to increase the crackdown on illegal private lodging facilities just 10 days after a new national law restricting their operation took effect. (Japan Times)

A man armed with a knife was arrested Monday after holing up at a pub in central Tokyo while throwing objects out of a window he shattered, in a standoff set off by a call he made to police saying he had eaten without having money to pay for the meal. (Japan Today)

A Cambodian man was stabbed to death in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, on Sunday morning, police said, adding that a foreign man turned himself to police in Chiba late Sunday. (Japan Today)

Senegal twice took the lead. Japan tied it up both times. (Japan Times)

Japan Railway companies plan to begin offering free Wi-Fi on all Shinkansen lines during the current fiscal year that ends in March. (NHK)

As Airbnb home-sharers in Japan quit the market in droves, following a new law that considerably increases red tape, their search for a smooth exit has brought a surge in new businesses. (Nikkei)

Things may be looking up for creditors of Mt. Gox, which was the world’s biggest bitcoin exchange before going in flames after saying thousands of bitcoins had disappeared. (Japan Times)

A railway operator in western Japan has invited people to ride a new sightseeing train that links Tottori and Shimane prefectures on the Japan Sea coast. (NHK)

Japan Airlines Co. on Friday kicked off flights of a passenger jet featuring Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters to mark the 35th anniversary of the opening of Tokyo Disney Resort. (Japan Times)

Japan's antitrust watchdog will soon conclude that four-year installment payment plans for smartphones offered by major phone carriers in the country is legally problematic, sources close to the matter said Friday. (Japan Today)

Police in Tokyo said Friday they have arrested a 37-year-old woman on suspicion of abusing her 4-year-old daughter by pressing a hot frying pan against her back and beating her about the head and face. (Japan Today)