News On Japan

Police have arrested a 33-year-old company employee for posting a death threat to a 21-year-old female "talent" on her blog. (Japan Today)

China said on Monday it was "extremely concerned" by a report that Japan has resisted returning to the United States more than 300 kg (660 lb) of mostly weapons-grade plutonium, the latest dispute between the two Asian neighbors. (Reuters)

Five of seven Japanese women who had lost contact while scuba diving off the Indonesian resort island of Bali were rescued on Monday, while the two others remain missing. (Jiji Press)

Snow-choked roads cut off thousands on Tuesday as parts of Japan struggled to dig out from its second storm in a week, with the death toll rising to at least 23. (Reuters)

The Japanese government says it is intensifying its cleanup efforts after the weekend's massive snowstorm, and sending additional aid to isolated areas and hospitals. (NHK)

Japan and the United States should both make concessions in their bilateral talks related to multilateral Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations, Japanese TPP minister Akira Amari said Tuesday. (Jiji Press)

Rakuten Inc. Chairman and President Hiroshi Mikitani was awarded the rank of chevalier of Legion d'honneur by the French government on Monday in recognition of his economic and cultural contribution. (Jiji Press)

Tokyo stocks jumped 3.13 percent by the close Tuesday after the Bank of Japan held off expanding its asset-buying programme, but said it would boost some lending schemes to stimulate borrowing. (channelnewsasia.com)

Two weeks in hospital in January with a life-threatening illness, and an Olympic bronze medal less than a month later at the Sochi Games. It's been quite a turnaround for Japanese ski jumper Taku Takeuchi. (Washington Post)

The head of Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund has hit out at pressure to rebalance its bond-heavy portfolio, arguing that his Y124tn ($1.2tn)-in-assets institution should not be used as a tool to push up stock prices. (cnbc.com)

Japan's biggest lenders are urging the central bank to extend a low-interest loan program as soon as today, as a report showed the economy grew at half the forecast pace in the fourth quarter. (Bloomberg)

Levels of arsenic some 21 times higher than Japanese environmental standards were detected in soil at the site of a U.S. military helicopter crash in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa, the government's regional bureau said Tuesday. (Jiji Press)

Education Minister Hakubun Shimomura met with a ministry panel this week about revising the teaching manual to include moral education as a "special subject" for elementary and junior high school students. (Japan Today)

Japan's icebreaker Shirase has successfully broken away from a reef off Antarctica after running aground 2 days ago. (NHK)

If you like a cheeky festival then Hadaka Matsuri, aka Japan's naked festival is for you. (news.com.au)

The amount of stimulants seized at Narita International Airport in 2013 grew 1.6-fold from the previous year to some 270 kilograms, the highest figure since the airport, near Tokyo, opened in 1978, local customs said Tuesday. (Jiji Press)

Japan Airlines and the Tokyo Fire Department have held a splash-landing drill to train for a disaster scenario involving the eruption of Mount Fuji. (NHK)

Police in Tokyo have arrested a 39-year-old man for stomping on children's feet on five separate occasions. (Japan Today)

Japan's education minister and bureaucrats' brief dance appearance in a music video to promote overseas studies, is generating criticism as well as support. (NHK)

Tokyo metropolitan police said Tuesday they have arrested a 29-year-old man in Adachi Ward, after he bound a 10-year-old girl's hands and feet, and forced her into a large duffle bag in an attempted kidnapping last July. (Japan Today)

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