News On Japan

Ichiro Suzuki broke Japanese career leader Sadaharu Oh's all-time runs mark during the Florida Marlins' 8-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday. (Kyodo)

Japan Tobacco Inc., which previously announced its planned withdrawal from beverage production and sales, has also decided to sell its beverage vending machine business. (The Japan News)

If you're tired of receiving vacant smiles and flippant customer service at your local grocery store, you may want to make a trip to Japan, where the customer always comes first and every transaction is concluded with a graceful bow. (rocketnews24.com)

Candidates backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party are expected to defeat opposition rivals in at least two of the five closely watched mayoral races in the second round of nationwide local elections, Kyodo News projections and early returns showed Sunday. (Kyodo)

Japan's 140-member supergroup AKB48 is holding its second annual draft next month, in which sub-teams will choose new members from a draft of 48 young hopefuls. And among the finalists is one of the youngest potential members the group has ever seen. (Japan Today)

Kachidokibashi bridge in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, one of Japan's largest movable bridges (See below) that is potentially capable of operation, has not been raised even once since 1970. (The Japan News)

Kyoto's historical and cultural treasures have always attracted large numbers of tourists. But getting around the city by car or bus has never been easy, even when traffic is light. (Japan Times)

Some 3,000 people have marched in a gay pride parade in Tokyo as calls grow for Japan to legalise same-sex marriage after a lesbian couple held a symbolic wedding ceremony. (abc.net.au)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left for the United States on Sunday afternoon for a summit with U.S. President Barack Obama and other major events including a congressional speech. (Jiji Press)

A man arrested on suspicion of flying a drone onto the roof of the prime minister's office building says he had meant to land it in the courtyard of the building. (NHK)

Major convenience store chains are stepping up their fight for a bite of the doughnut market, following Seven-Eleven Japan Co.'s pioneering move to launch its ring-shaped confection in autumn. (The Japan News)

An avalanche triggered by the magnitude-7.8 earthquake that shattered central Nepal on Saturday killed one Japanese climber and injured another at Mount Everest base camp. (Japan Times)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Monday announced the arrest of an organized crime boss for scalping tickets for a concert by Paul McMartney last week, reports TBS News (April 27). (Tokyo Reporter)

Japan's convenience store chain FamilyMart is to launch several over-the-counter banking services. The new services will include re-issuing cash cards. (NHK)

Residents in the key western Japanese city of Osaka will vote whether to divide the city into 5 special wards, in pursuit of running the city more efficiently. (NHK)

The Nikkei 225 Monday fell 0.19% as traders awaited a flood of earnings reports this week, but mulled central bank policy meetings in the United States and Japan. The small Friday gain on Wall Street was shrugged off. (nasdaq.com)

Fitch Ratings downgraded Japan on Monday amid concerns about Japan's failure to tackle its debt-to-GDP ratio, after the country failed to account for the financial impact of a deferred tax increase. The international credit ratings agency downgraded Japan to an 'A' from an 'A+'. (ibtimes.com)

The Japanese military could expand its role and missions around the world under new U.S.-Japan defence guidelines that are expected to be released on Monday and may cause unease in China. (Reuters)

Former Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yuko Obuchi has been questioned by prosecutors on a voluntary basis over a political fund scandal, informed sources said Monday. (Jiji Press)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday his administration is trying to improve the status of women in his country as it also seeks to protect women's rights on the international stage. (Japan Today)

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