News On Japan

Line Taxi premiered in January in Japan, giving users of the popular messaging app an easy way to book a cab. Like Uber's Japanese debut, it was limited initially to Tokyo. (techinasia.com)

Seiha English Academy may not be as instantly recognizable as Aeon, Berlitz, ECC, and the other major players in Japan's English education industry. (rocketnews24.com)

Police in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, have arrested a 43-year-old woman on vandalism charges after she was caught spraying telephone poles with graffiti. (Japan Today)

Being the unofficial patron saint of "natto" has proven to be sticky for Nebaaru-kun. The private-sector mascot for Ibaraki Prefecture was largely unknown until its appearance on TV last year, generating a buzz on the Internet with its eerie movements and high-pitched voice. (Asahi)

In the shadow of Nijo Castle here, a World Heritage site, the municipal government is asking a developer to build a hotel instead of a condominium building, a rare request, since it has no legal power to compel it. (Asahi)

Yonaguni, the only town on Yonagunijima - an island under the jurisdiction of Okinawa Prefecture - held a referendum on February 22 regarding the central government's plan to deploy a Self-Defense Forces unit to the island. (The Diplomat)

The body of a man has been found in a subway tunnel in Osaka, police said Wednesday. (Japan Today)

Leading automaker Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus ranked top among 28 car brands in the United States for the third straight year in 2015 in both vehicle performance and reliability terms, Consumer Reports magazine said Tuesday. (The Japan News)

Amnesty International has slammed Japan for its handling of ethnic minorities, for levels of violence against women, and for curbing transparency through a recently imposed secrecy law. (Japan Times)

Britain's Prince William is set to make his first visit to Japan. The Duke of Cambridge will arrive in Tokyo on Thursday. (NHK)

Japan's education minister denied on Thursday a report by a weekly magazine that he illegally received political funds, just days after the farm minister resigned over similar allegations. (Reuters)

Japan's tourism industry is taking a 3,000-strong delegation to China this year as Tokyo looks to capitalise on its neighbour's growing appetite for travel. (Bangkok Post)

Police in Osaka said Thursday they have arrested a 43-year-old man on suspicion of kidnapping a 13-year-old girl in Kagawa Prefecture. (Japan Today)

Japan's benchmark Nikkei index hit a fresh 15-year high on Thursday, leading most Asian shares higher as oil prices rebounded and boosted shares of energy firms. (BBC)

The gentle giant has been designed specifically to assist in caring for Japan's ageing population, taking on heavy-duty tasks such as lifting. (cnet.com)

MediaMation, a maker of 4D technology, is partnering with Sony Business Solutions Corporation to try to hook Japan on movie theaters that buck, spray and mist along with the onscreen action. (variety.com)

A Communist Party tabloid has slammed Chinese shoppers for splashing out millions of pounds for the privilege of warming their buttocks on Japanese toilet seats, in an unusual sign of worsening ties between the two countries. (telegraph.co.uk)

Japan has no shortage of U.S.-style fast-food restaurants, from burgers to pizza, but something that hasn't been on the menu is burritos and quesadillas. That is about to change, however, as Irvine, Calif.-based Taco Bell is planning to set up shop in the land of sushi and sashimi. (wsj.com)

Japan Inc is under pressure to boost pay to keep a fragile economic recovery afloat, but even hefty wages increases from the biggest companies may prove to be a hollow victory for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the bulk of the country's workers. (Reuters)

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force and the US Marine Corps have carried out a large-scale landing drill that included a rescue operation using an Osprey aircraft. (NHK)

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