News On Japan

The Liberal Democratic Party is considering the idea of using so-called dormant deposits - money in bank accounts that have had no deposit or withdrawal activity for 10 years or longer - to support public-interest activities, party officials said. (The Japan News)

The Bank of Japan on Thursday trimmed its price forecasts and delayed the timing of achieving its 2 percent inflation target due to weak consumption following last year's consumption tax hike, but the central bank stood pat on monetary policy. (Kyodo)

Foreign tourists spent almost 6 billion dollars on accommodation and shopping in Japan between January and March. (NHK)

Environment ministers from Japan, China and South Korea ended their two-day meeting in Shanghai Thursday by agreeing to strengthen three-way cooperation to fight air pollution. (Jiji Press)

Sony's earnings appear poised to take a turn for the better as the company emerges from a slow, costly overhaul of its consumer electronics business. (Nikkei)

Japanese carrier ANA said Thursday its annual net profit more than doubled on robust international business, but rival Japan Airlines saw its bottom line worsen as the weak yen undercut lower fuel prices. (Japan Today)

The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's special investigation squad conducted a search of the Japan Dental Federation office in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, on Thursday to gather evidence related to an alleged scheme in which false statements were made in political funds reports. (The Japan News)

Executives at McDonald's Holdings Japan have come up with an action plan for making sure their food is safe. (NHK)

A 59-year-old junior high school principal has been arrested for breaking into a woman's apartment in Tokyo's Adachi Ward, police said Thursday. (Japan Today)

Japan's education ministry instructed schools across the country Thursday to make sure children with gender identity disorder do not experience difficulties in their school lives. (Jiji Press)

A Thai inquest into the death of a Japanese cameraman during a military crackdown five years ago against protesters ended inconclusively Thursday with the court unable to decide who fired the fatal shot. (Japan Today)

Japan Post, Apple and IBM have formed a partnership to improve the lives of elderly people in Japan. (Asahi)

Japan's core inflation rate edged up in March and unemployment eased slightly, according to data released Friday, offering glimmers of promise for the world's No. 3 economy as it struggles to get growth back on track after years of stagnation. (Japan Today)

A 1,300-year-old "mokkan" wooden tablet found in the remains of Heijokyu palace with an inscription of "Narakyo (or Naranomiyako)" proves that the Nara name has been used since the ancient capital of Japan was established here in 710, researchers say. (Asahi)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promoted his country's Shinkansen bullet train technology for a high-speed railway project in California at a meeting Thursday with Jerry Brown, governor of the western U.S. state. (Jiji Press)

Tokyo Electric Power Co. started freezing soil at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant in trial operations for an underground wall aimed at preventing groundwater from flowing into the damaged reactors and becoming radioactive. (Asahi)

Benesse Holdings Inc. said that the total membership of its correspondence education services in April was down about 25 percent from a year earlier due to a continuing outflow of clients in the aftermath of a massive customer data leak scandal last summer. (The Japan News)