News On Japan

The former AKB48 idol Anna Mori is crowdfunding her first photobook after recently turning 20 years old (the "age of majority" in Japan, similar to turning 18 in the U.S.) and quickly raised 2,000,000 yen (about US$16,957) with a little help from some unique backer rewards. Mori offered threedates for backers who paid 200,000 yen (US$1,695). (rocketnews24.com)

Police in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, said Thursday they have arrested a 33-year-old woman on suspicion of attempting to kill her 8-year-old son. (Japan Today)

The number of new condominiums put on sale in the greater Tokyo area in December increased year-on-year for the first time in 11 months. (NHK)

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga says the safety of the 2 Japanese believed to be captured by the Islamic State militant group remains unknown. He said the government is doing its utmost for the early release of the hostages. (NHK)

Tokyo stocks finished 0.28 percent higher Thursday after a day of see-saw trade as investors await the European Central Bank's monetary policy meeting later in the day. (brecorder.com)

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has promised to cooperate to win the release of 2 Japanese citizens detained by the Islamic State group. (NHK)

As Japan heads into mid-winter weather, the number of influenza cases is rising. The National Institute of Infectious Diseases says that, this year, Japan is approaching a peak in the spread of influenza about three weeks earlier than usual. (Japan Times)

Yokozuna Hakuho took another step toward a history-making 33rd Emperor's Cup on Jan. 22 when he overpowered Kotoshogiku to stay undefeated and in the sole lead at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. (Asahi)

Japan could see some "concrete movement" in its real economy in 2015, an economic adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday, adding that inflation expectations have been rising under the Bank of Japan's monetary stimulus. (Reuters)

Foreign visitors have been visiting Niseko, an international ski resort area in Hokkaido, at a record-setting pace this fiscal year. (The Japan News)

A group of Japanese lawmakers are set to resubmit a bill legalizing casinos when the next Diet session convenes on Jan 26. (Japan Today)

Universal Studios Japan is formally opening its new Attack on Titan attraction on Friday. "Attack on Titan The Real" is part of the Universal Cool Japan event (along with Evangelion, (rocketnews24.com)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has won a promise from his British counterpart David Cameron to cooperate in securing the release of 2 Japanese men held by militants believed to be with the group Islamic State. (NHK)

Senior Japanese and Chinese officials agreed in a meeting in Yokohama on Thursday that the two countries will work together to root out coral poaching in waters near Japan's Ogasawara island chain in the Pacific. (Jiji Press)

Japanese prosecutors have stuck to their decision not to indict three former Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) executives over their handling of the 2011 Fukushima disaster, but a rarely used citizen's panel could still force an indictment. (Reuters)

A 7-year-old boy died after being buried in snow in Shinanomachi, Nagano Prefecture, police said Friday. (Japan Today)

A publisher in Tokyo will release a book featuring cartoons issued in the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, which was the target of a terrorist attack earlier this month that left 12 people dead. (Asahi)

Police investigating the murder of a 64-year-old woman in Tokyo's Suginami Ward said Friday that her 38-year-old son apparently committed suicide in the mountains near Okutamamachi. (Japan Today)

Tokyo stocks have risen 1.05 per cent by the close after European and US markets rallied on the European Central Bank's announcement of a bigger-than-expected stimulus program. (perthnow.com.au)

Tokyo Electric Power Company says it will not finish decontaminating water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant by the end of March as promised. (NHK)

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