A premium watermelon from northern Japan has fetched 600,000 yen, or about 4,500 dollars, in the season's first auction.
The fruit is among 113 Densuke brand watermelons auctioned on Monday.
Densuke, a specialty of Toma Town, Hokkaido, features black skin and a sweet taste.
Harvesting of Densuke will continue till mid-August. Farmers say shipments will peak in mid-July, as the fruit is a popular summer gift.
Source: HBCニュース 北海道放送
Uniqlo, a leading clothing retailer, has announced the start of used clothing sales at its Tenjin store in Fukuoka City, a first for the brand in Kyushu.
With Japan's Nikkei hovering close to the 40,000 mark, market experts point out that the increasing trend of "stock splits" in recent years is supporting these higher stock prices.
As Japan begins overtime regulations for drivers, popular bus tours are now being forced to reconsider their routes.
Four men have been arrested by Tokyo police for allegedly recruiting women for prostitution in the United States via a website, promising encounters with affluent clients and high earnings.
For the first time in 73 years, Japan has unveiled a newly constructed whaling mother ship, equipped with drone technology for whaling operations in the Antarctic Sea.
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Nara Prefecture has disciplined its former Youth Division Chief following a controversial dance party incident.
Residents of Japan's oldest student dormitory, self-managed for over 100 years, are digging in as Kyoto University attempts to evict them from the premises.
A Japan Airlines flight en route from Melbourne to Narita Airport encountered sudden severe turbulence on April 1, causing injuries to several cabin crew, including a broken leg.
