News On Japan

A Japanese court on Wednesday found constitutional an election law provision denying prison inmates the right to vote in a national election, in the latest ruling in a series of lawsuits filed over the controversial issue. (Japan Times)

Luxury hotels are set to open in Tokyo with the aim of attracting an increasing number of tourists visiting Japan and affluent people such as corporate managers who visit the metropolis on business. (the-japan-news.com)

Japanese department stores are looking to stimulate demand from foreign travelers ahead of the summer holiday season, amid a decline in so-called "bakugai" explosive buying, mainly by visitors from China. (Jiji Press)

Murky, foul-smelling water suddenly flooded an underground mall inside JR Shinjuku Station on Wednesday as stunned visitors watched retail workers scramble to save merchandise. (Tokyo Reporter)

Yokohama District Court sentenced a 28-year-old Japanese male babysitter on Wednesday to 26 years in prison for charges including the murder of a two-year-old boy under his care in 2014. (Jiji Press)

A man was arrested for falsely tweeting that a lion was loose after an earthquake jolted the prefecture here in April, the Asahi Shimbun reported on Wednesday. (Tokyo Reporter)

Hokkaido Prefectural Police have launched are investigating an incident in which a vehicle rammed the home of a boss of an affiliate gang of the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi in Kita Ward of Sapporo early Thursday, reports TV Asahi. (Tokyo Reporter)

Japan's space agency has its sights on unexplored asteroids as far away as Jupiter, a project that at one level draws on centuries of sail science. (Japan Times)

Saitama Prefectural Police have arrested a 49-year-old man for allegedly abducting and raping a female university student in Ageo City, reports the Saitama Shimbun (July 21). (Tokyo Reporter)

A longtime resident of Japan appears in a list of 10 high-value suspects issued by the Bangladeshi government in connection with the terror attack in Dhaka earlier this month, The New York Times reported online Tuesday. (Jiji Press)

Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda has ruled out the possibility that the central bank will introduce so-called "helicopter money," a policy in which the central bank would directly buy national bonds from the government. (Kyodo)

The number of foreign tourists is expected to top 20 million in 2016, but their spending per person is declining. Chinese tourists' "bakugai" shopping sprees for expensive goods have been slowing down, but extended stays in areas other than Tokyo and experiential tours are gaining attention. (the-japan-news.com)

For the first time in half a century, a steam locomotive will travel along Tobu Railway Co.'s Kinugawa Line in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, next summer. Japan Railways companies will provide railway cars, while other firms will train operators for the project. (the-japan-news.com)

The Kyoto State Guest House in Japan's ancient capital has begun accepting tourists all year round in a bid to draw more people from inside and outside the country. (NHK)

Police in Yuki, Ibaraki Prefecture, said Thursday they have arrested an unemployed 44-year-old man on suspicion of killing his 75-year-old mother at their residence. (Japan Today)

Is Honda's walking robot Asimo marrying Pepper, the chattering robot from SoftBank? (Japan Today)

At least 80 rental condominiums operated by the Urban Renaissance Agency (UR) were misused by tenants as minpaku rental facilities, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned. (the-japan-news.com)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested an American youth in the sale of marijuana to students from an international school at a park in Shibuya Ward, reports TV Asahi (July 21). (Tokyo Reporter)

Japan's Supreme court rejected Thursday an appeal against a lower court decision to give the death sentence to a 31-year-old man for the murder of two family members of a former girlfriend in a high-profile stalking case in 2011. (Jiji Press)

The Japan launch of Pokemon Go on Friday included the game's first partnership with an outside company: fast-food giant McDonald's. (Japan Today)

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