News On Japan

A top Japanese government spokesman says the online image and voice of Japanese captive Kenji Goto are likely authentic. (NHK)

Toyota Motor has unveiled luxury minivans that can park themselves. (NHK)

The entrance examination season for middle schools peaks between mid-January and February. As the education ministry plans to make English a formal subject for primary schools, an increasing number of private middle schools have introduced English as an entrance exam subject. (The Japan News)

With a growing number of Japanese subculture shops cropping up in the area, Tokyo's Ikebukuro district has emerged as something of a "holy land" for female "otaku" geeks, collectively known as "otome" (maiden). (Asahi)

Japan's labor and welfare ministry plans to take measures to allow more foreign caregivers to work in the country. (NHK)

A fire drill was conducted at Horyuji temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, on Monday, which was Cultural Property Fire Prevention Day. About 100 personnel participated, including temple priests and local firemen. (The Japan News)

Japanese communications giant NTT has been appointed by Tokyo Olympic organizers as the first domestic sponsor for the 2020 event. (NHK)

Crown Prince Naruhito met Saudi Arabia's new King Salman in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Sunday and expressed his condolences over the death of King Abdullah, who passed away on Friday. (The Japan News)

The last surviving hagatsuo striped bonito kept in a tank at Tokyo Sea Life Park in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo, has died, the aquarium said Monday. (The Japan News)

Fukuoka Prefectural Police on Monday took the acting chairman of the Kudo-kai organized crime group into custody for allegedly blackmailing the owner of a building, reports the Yommiuri Shimbun (Jan. 26). (Tokyo Reporter)

The mother of captive Kenji Goto has made another plea for his release, saying her son has no animosity toward the Islamic State group. (NHK)

Workers have begun tearing down structures at a train station here that was devastated in the deadly tsunami of 2011, citing the danger of collapse they pose to the growing number of visitors to the site. (Asahi)

Obviously, if you love sushi, Tokyo is probably your number one foodie vacation destination, but Tokyo is a big place! There are plenty of excellent sushi restaurants-and plenty of great ones at that. But for seriously fresh sushi, there might be no better place than right off the boat. (rocketnews24.com)

A fossilized mandible apparently from a new category of early human has been discovered, an international research team said Tuesday. (Jiji Press)

Japan's space agency plans to make another attempt to put its troubled Venus probe into orbit around the planet in December. (NHK)

The Japanese government adopted a new plan to deal with the increasing number of dementia patients. (Japan Today)

The Islamic State group posted a new video with a still image of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto on Tuesday night, with the voice of a man warning there are only 24 hours left to save the lives of both Goto and a Jordanian air force pilot who is also being held by the group. (Japan Times)

Last week, officers from the Yotsuya Police Station in Tokyo took Takahiro Arimoto, the 44-year-old manager of massage parlor Honey Candle and one other employee into custody for the harmful employment of minors, a violation under the Labor Standards Act. (Tokyo Reporter)

The Abe administration is considering legislation that could allow Japanese troops to come to the rescue of Japanese nationals in future hostage situations overseas. (Asahi)

Defending Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka avenged his only career loss to Kei Nishikori on Wednesday, when the Swiss No. 4 seed advanced to the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) win. (Japan Times)

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