News On Japan

Embattled air bag maker Takata Corp reported a net loss of 5.58 billion yen ($45.8 million) for the six months that ended in September as costs from a massive recall of defective air bags bit into strong growth in sales. (Japan Today)

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday hailed a huge Pacific Rim free-trade deal, saying it showcased a bid by Japan and the United States to set rules for the global economy. (Japan Today)

Actress Tomoko Tabata, 34, was in a stable condition in hospital on Friday after she reportedly attempted to commit suicide. (Japan Today)

As tension mounts in the South China Sea over the U.S. military's recent patrol challenging China's territorial claims there, speculation has centered on what action Japan may take in the region. (Japan Times)

The headless bodies of a pigeon and duck were found in the city of Otawara, Tochigi Prefecture, this week, police said Friday. (Japan Today)

Due to their association with criminality, tattoos have long been stigmatized in Japan, but restrictions are loosening at public bathhouses around the country as facilities aim to benefit from the influx of tourists in the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (Japan Times)

UNESCO is considering reforming its Memory of the World Register program as requested by Japan, Irina Bokova, director-general of the U.N. body, said Friday. (Jiji Press)

Japan's Prince and Princess Akishino have attended a luncheon commemorating the 120th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Brazil. (NHK)

Police in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward said Friday they have arrested a 14-year-old boy on suspicion of attempted murder after he tried to poison his mother by adding bleach to her iced coffee. (Japan Today)

Tokyo police say members of a crime syndicate have colluded with a medical office to defraud the insurance system. (NHK)

Curvy teenage mascot Megu Aoshima has been given the deep six by city authorities here because she exudes too much sexuality. (Asahi)

Preparation is under way for Crown Princess Masako to attend an imperial garden party next week for the first time in 12 years, the Imperial Household Agency said Friday. (Japan Today)

The government will raise its annual target for the number of foreign visitors to Japan to 30 million, as the current target of 20 million by 2020 is likely to be attained soon, government officials said Friday. (Japan Times)

The completed first-stage facility of Kagura, a large-scale telescope for detecting gravitational waves for the first time in human history, was unveiled to media organizations on Friday. (Jiji Press)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Thursday announced the bust of an out-call prostitution service featuring foreign women in Chiyoda Ward, reports TBS News. (Tokyo Reporter)

Toyota Motor Corp. is spending $1 billion to form a research institute focused on the artificial intelligence and robotics technology it needs to make cars that can overcome driver errors and reduce traffic fatalities. (The Japan News)

As more and more people turn off the TV in favor of the Internet, YouTube Japan is recognizing some of its top celebrities who are drawing in millions of people to their videos. (Japan Times)

Toshiba Corp. said Saturday it sued five former executives for damages over their alleged roles in a huge accounting scandal, as it announced a deep six month operating loss. (The Japan News)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is considering providing a new life support system for astronauts to continue participating in the International Space Station program through 2024, people close to the matter said Saturday. (Japan Today)

On September 29, tension filled the air in Tokyo's Roppongi entertainment district as Teruaki Takeuchi, a possible successor to the top boss of the Yamaguchi-gumi, emerged from a heavily guarded vehicle and entered the headquarters of the Inagawa-kai. (Tokyo Reporter)

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