Fast Retailing said Thursday that beginning March 12, all prices of its Uniqlo and GU brand apparel will be cut by around 9%. (Japan Today)

The drop in passenger numbers on shinkansen trains and aircraft amid the COVID-19 pandemic is putting commercial facilities at stations and airports in a difficult situation, forcing many of them to close temporarily or for good, but some are offering new services appropriate for a post-pandemic era in order to survive. (Japan Times)

The Bank of Japan’s head-scratching surge this week came to a halt Friday, as the stock erased earlier gains to fall by its limit. ()

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven a shamisen business to the edge of a precipice. What does the future hold for Japan's traditional performing arts industry? (NHK)

The future of growing sprouts is totally artificially lit and doesn't require any sunlight. (Mashable)

Two Americans accused of helping former Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn flee Japan have arrived at Narita Airport near Tokyo, after being extradited by US authorities. Michael Taylor, a former Green Beret, and his adult son Peter face charges, including enabling a suspect to escape. (NHK)

Yahoo Japan and messaging app provider Line have officially merged, creating a new tech giant. (NHK)

Japanese flea market app Mercari will sell products in China through Alibaba Group Holding's e-commerce platforms, accelerating its expansion overseas. (Nikkei)

Japan’s Mizuho Bank stopped service at some of its automated teller machines (ATMs) on Sunday after the machines devoured customers’ cash cards and bank books. (Japan Times)

Fans show up for sold out U.S. premiere of anime film "Demon Slayer,” which broke records as highest grossing film in Japanese history. (Associated Press)

Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday it will put on sale in the spring its hydrogen-powered fuel cell system, which could be used by train and ship operators as well as power companies. (Japan Times)

On the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the benchmark Nikkei Average briefly dropped by more than 1,000 points at one time on Friday from the previous day's close. (NHK)

A chip shortage is biting at Japan's big carmakers. (Reuters)

Japanese trading house Mitsubishi Corp. decided Thursday to withdraw from the Vinh Tan 3 coal-fired power plant project in Vietnam amid growing international concern about climate change, Nikkei has learned. (Nikkei)

An Istanbul court on Wednesday sentenced three Turks to four years and two months in prison for helping smuggle former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn in a musical instrument case to Lebanon from Japan. (yahoo.com)

Nippon Steel’s announcement is the latest example of the challenges faced by the steel industry in developed economies: overcapacity and environmental regulations. (yahoo.com)

Suzuki Motor Corp. Chairman Osamu Suzuki will retire after leading the Japanese automaker for more than 40 years and making it into a global player with an overwhelming dominance in the Indian car market, the firm said Wednesday. (Japan Times)

It’s no secret that the best Japanese whisky can be hard to find – even in Japan. Despite all the limited-edition bottles and the re-releases of old single malts, the good stuff is in chronically short supply. In fact, there’s even less Japanese-made whisky out there than you think. (timeout.com)

Since 1999, the Bank of Japan has done virtually everything imaginable to defeat deflation. It pumped untold trillions of dollars of liquidity into markets, cornered government bond trading, hoarded stocks and pushed interest rates negative. (forbes.com)

Japan's SG Holdings, operator of the Sagawa Express courier service, looks to switch all of its roughly 7,000 minicars to electric models by 2030 with the goal of reducing carbon emissions more than 10%. (Nikkei)