News On Japan

Japan logged a customs-cleared trade surplus of 513.5 billion yen in July, compared with a deficit of 261.4 billion yen a year before, the Ministry of Finance said Thursday. (Jiji Press)

A World Heritage Shinto shrine in Japan's ancient capital, Kyoto, has been lit up using cutting-edge technology. (NHK)

Japanese shoppers are paying less for everyday goods as companies lose their will for price hikes amid anemic wage growth, a development that likely will factor into the Bank of Japan's upcoming policy review. (Nikkei)

The top-seeded duo of Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi won Japan's first-ever gold medal in badminton on Thursday, taking the top prize in women's doubles at the Rio Games. (the-japan-news.com)

Risako Kawai bagged a wrestling gold medal in her Olympic debut, winning the women's 63-kilogram title on Thursday at the Rio de Janeiro Games. (the-japan-news.com)

Police in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, are investigating the murder of a real estate company president whose body was found in his home on Wednesday night. (Japan Today)

A reported epidemic of thyroid cancer in rich countries is in fact mainly due to overdiagnosis driven by new technologies, the U.N.'s cancer research agency says. (Japan Today)

The Japanese government is primarily considering a special law as a means to realize Emperor Akihito's hope of handing over the Imperial throne to Crown Prince Naruhito in the near future, informed sources said Friday. (Jiji Press)

Japan will be under the threat of three tropical cyclones over the next several days as an explosion of development has taken place in the West Pacific. (accuweather.com)

Japanese athletes won more medals at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Friday, bringing Japan's total medal count to 40, the highest-ever at an Olympics. (NHK)

Japanese Princess Mako has passed an entrance exam for a doctoral course at International Christian University in Tokyo, the Imperial Household Agency said Saturday. (Japan Times)

With each step he took - not withstanding his little bump with a competitor - Hirooki Arai walked closer and closer into Japanese Olympic history. (the-japan-news.com)

Japan grabbed a surprise silver medal in the men's 4x100-meter relay with an Asian record of 37.60 seconds Friday, bringing Japan a total of 41 medals at the Rio Games, the most the country has ever won. (the-japan-news.com)

The Japan Tourism Agency plans to exempt domestically produced alcoholic drinks such as sake from the liquor tax for foreign tourists as part of efforts to boost regional economies, agency officials said Saturday. (Kyodo)

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have arrived in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan for rest and recuperation. (NHK)

Tokyo District Court officials on Sunday removed activists' tents on the economy ministry's premises nearly five years after they were erected by anti-nuclear campaigners protesting the government's handling of the Fukushima nuclear crisis. (Japan Times)

A strong earthquake struck off the coast of northern Japan for a third consecutive day early Sunday. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. (Japan Times)