News On Japan

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 66-year-old man for allegedly entering an area where a fire that broke out on Tuesday in the Golden Gai district of Shinjuku Ward, reports the Asahi Shimbun (April 13). (Tokyo Reporter)

A Japanese research group says it has successfully produced the world's first chicken that does not have the specific gene that causes egg allergies. The group says they used a genome editing technique. (NHK)

Ichiro Suzuki found a fitting way to reach the next milestone in his amazing career - beating out an infield single. (the-japan-news.com)

The head of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has suggested to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that Japan should raise its consumption tax to 10 percent next April as scheduled. (NHK)

"Metal Resistance", an album by BABYMETAL, a Japanese teenage girl trio, reached 39th spot on its debut on the U.S. Billboard top 200 albums list, becoming the first album by Japanese artists to break into the chart's top 40 in more than 50 years. (Japan Today)

In this episode, John travels to Kagoshima prefecture on the bottom of Kyushu to visit this unique style of onsen. It's call "suna mushi onsen" (砂むし温泉) in Japan. This style of Volcanic Sand Bath is only in Ibusuki, Kagoshima. (ONLY in JAPAN)

The principal of a private school in Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, has been arrested for shoplifting groceries, including "onigiri" (rice balls). (Japan Today)

Police couldn't help but think something might be afoot upon hearing the man ask, "Is it a crime to date a 15-year-old?" (rocketnews24.com)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have re-arrested a male Nepalese national currently re-applying for refugee status is believed to be behind a series of sexual assaults of women in the past year, reports TV Asahi. (Tokyo Reporter)

Kanagawa Prefectural Police have arrested 27-year-old Shinto priest at a historic shrine in Hiratsuka City for picking up an underage female prostitute he met online, reports Sports Hochi (April 13). (Tokyo Reporter)

Kagawa Prefectural Police have arrested a 23-year-old American basketball player for the possession of marijuana in Takamatsu City, reports the Yomiuri Shimbun (April 13). (Tokyo Reporter)

A strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit Japan's south-western island of Kyushu on Thursday (April 14), but there was no danger of a tsunami, local authorities said. (straitstimes.com)

Festival floats cross a vermilion lacquered bridge near cherry trees in full bloom on the opening day of the Takayama Spring Festival on Thursday in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. (the-japan-news.com)

Former Japanese Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami, 67, who lost in the February 2014 Tokyo gubernatorial election, was arrested Thursday for allegedly giving cash to campaign staff members at the time of the election, in violation of the public offices election law. (the-japan-news.com)

Japan came fourth among the countries that provided official development assistance in 2015, up from fifth in the previous year, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Wednesday. (Jiji Press)

The number of people aged under 18 who fell victim to crimes through the use of social networking websites in Japan in 2015 rose by 231 from the previous year to 1,652, the largest since statistics began in 2008, the National Police Agency said Thursday. (Jiji Press)

Sharp Corp. has announced the launch of a small humanoid smartphone that responds to voice commands and can project movies on a wall. (Japan Times)

Slightly more people have been riding the new Hokkaido Shinkansen Line than expected, but not enough to avoid losses, according to the bullet train's operator. (Japan Times)