News On Japan

One of the most widely practiced sects of Buddhism in Japan has held a rare succession ceremony of its chief priest at its Kyoto temple. (NHK)

Following a stabbing last month in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefectural Police are intensifying control over the Kudo-kai organized crime group, reports the Mainichi Shimbun (June 5). (Tokyo Reporter)

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has met Pope Francis at the Vatican. Abe arrived in Italy late Thursday after attending a Group of Seven summit meeting in Belgium. He traveled to the Vatican on Friday for a half hour meeting with the pontiff. (NHK)

Japan's national football team has defeated Zambia 4-3 in its last warm-up match before the World Cup finals. (NHK)

Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Akira Amari said Saturday that both he and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hope to bring down Japan's effective corporate tax rate below 30 pct in some five years. (Jiji Press)

Fans of Japanese girl group AKB48 have gathered for the results of a popularity poll amid tight security following a recent attack on two members. (NHK)

A Chinese staffer at a Japanese newspaper has been released in China after spending about 3 weeks in detention. (NHK)

Japan has failed to include 640 kilograms of unused plutonium in its annual report to the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2012 and 2013 in what experts say is an inappropriate omission. (Kyodo)

The number of hot days with temperatures of 30 C or above could more than triple in Japan by the end of this century if climate change is left unaddressed, the Environment Ministry said. (The Japan News)

Police are looking for a motorcyclist who kicked a 66-year-old man to death after an apparent dispute in Osaka's Yodogawa Ward early Saturday morning. (Japan Today)

Heavy rain lashed the Kanto region and other areas Saturday morning, causing landslides at several locations. (The Japan News)

SoftBank Corp. said Saturday it will launch a flat-rate domestic call service on July 1 similar to the one introduced this month by rival NTT Docomo Inc. amid competition from inexpensive smartphone services. (Japan Times)

Sunday marks the 6th anniversary of a rampage in Tokyo's Akihabara district that left 7 people dead and 10 others wounded. (NHK)

Prince Katsura, a cousin of Emperor Akihito, died of acute heart failure at a Tokyo hospital at 10:55 a.m. Sunday, the Imperial Household Agency said. He was 66. (Kyodo)

Japan's football squad arrived in Brazil on Saturday, 5 days before the opening of the FIFA World Cup. (NHK)

A 75-year-old man and his 68-year-old wife were killed when a farm vehicle they were driving overturned on a slope in Yoichi on Sunday morning. (Japan Today)

Japanese TV has a tendency to be pretty ridiculous. This commercial starts with the feeling that maybe you shouldn't be watching it. Well-known idol Akari is the star of this particular leaked footage. (rocketnews24.com)

With a hopeful eye on the approaching World Cup, Japan's embattled TV makers are hoping the key to their rescue can be found on the second floor of Bic Camera's downtown Tokyo outlet. (Japan Today)

The launch of negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) (in APEC's backyard led by the United States) and (later) the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) (under the umbrella of ASEAN) is dominating thinking about regional integration. (East Asia Forum)

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's senior lawmakers associated with Japan's farm industry have agreed to drastically reform the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, or JA-Zenchu, into a new organization. (Jiji Press)

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