News On Japan

Executives at Japan's top oil wholesaler JX Holdings and third-ranked TonenGeneral Sekiyu have agreed to integrate their businesses. (NHK)

A group of researchers says the risk of lung cancer from secondhand smoke exposure has been confirmed among Japanese for the first time. They've called for a ban on smoking at indoor public spaces in Japan. (NHK)

For generations, artisans and merchants in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto lived in thousands of traditional "machiya" townhouses that are steadily disappearing or falling into disrepair. (Japan Today)

A U.S. Marine has been arrested in Okinawa Prefecture on suspicion of attempting to enter a woman's residence, local police said Wednesday. (Japan Times)

Police have arrested four men over the robbery of a Pizza Hut delivery store in Tokyo in May. One of the suspects is also the store manager. (Japan Today)

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 has hit Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan. (NHK)

The Japanese government plans to allow foreign students of Japanese universities to stay in the country for up to two years after graduation, up from the current limit of one year, informed sources said Wednesday. (Jiji Press)

Japan's third-largest convenience store chain FamilyMart has merged with major retailer UNY Group Holdings under a new company. (NHK)

Japanese officials say housing starts rose in July for the first time in 2 months on the back of low interest rates. (NHK)

Japanese automaker Mazda said Thursday it was recalling more than two million vehicles globally over a defect in their tailgates. (Japan Today)

Japan and the United States on Thursday agreed to transfer to Guam some drills using the MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft deployed at the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. (Jiji Press)

Police in Chiba have launched an investigation into several cases of potential animal abuse following reports of the discovery of abused cats in a park. (Japan Today)

Japan's hopes of exacting revenge on the United Arab Emirates for last year's Asian Cup quarterfinal loss were shattered on Thursday as Vahid Halilhodzic's men crashed to a 2-1 defeat in their Group B opener in the final round of qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup. (Kyodo)

The Japanese government conducted a comprehensive disaster drill on Thursday to better prepare for a powerful earthquake that is believed to occur at the Nankai Trough off the country's central to southwestern Pacific coast in the future. (Jiji Press)

The number of deaths in bicycle accidents fell 14.7% in one year after a revised road traffic law took effect in June 2015 improving safety measures, the National Police Agency said Thursday. (Japan Today)

Hiroshi Sudo takes a pair of pliers, clamps them around a dog's tooth and twists. The tooth comes free in a spray of bloody spittle. The dog snarls, but Sudo has tied a washcloth around his snout so he can't bite. (newsweek.com)

The Japanese government gave an unusually effusive welcome to visiting Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday, viewing the 31-year-old as a key person in the current Saudi administration. (Jiji Press)

An investigation into a payment made during Tokyo's successful bid to host the 2020 Olympics has found no evidence of bribery. (BBC)

Japanese police have arrested 976 members of yakuza criminal gangs since early March, often over minor infractions, to head off a brewing "all-out war" between Japan's largest crime syndicate and a splinter faction. (telegraph.co.uk)

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