News On Japan

Qantas on Monday launched flights between Melbourne and Tokyo Narita. (Japan Today)

A memorial event was held Monday to mark the cumulative number of passengers of the Shibayama Railway Line, known as the shortest rail in Japan, exceeding 10 million 14 years after its opening. (Jiji)

Despite stagnation in recent years, Japan's porn industry continues to each year churn out tens of thousands of productions, the stars of which are treated as celebrities at multiple award shows. (tokyoreporter.com)

Nearly two years after the murder of a woman by a member of the Osaka Prefectural Police, upper-level officers visited the home of the victim's family in Yamagata Prefecture to offer an apology, reports the Yomiuri Shimbun (tokyoreporter.com)

Police in Yotsukaido, Chiba Prefecture, said Monday they have arrested a 14-year-old boy on suspicion of attempted murder after he attacked his stepfather with a pair of scissors. The victim, 24, is married to the boy's 46-year-old mother. (Japan Today)

At least nine children who evacuated from the northeastern prefecture of Fukushima following the 2011 nuclear accident to Kanagawa Prefecture have experienced bullying at school, a lawyer group said Monday. (Jiji)

The Bank of Japan upgraded its assessment of the Japanese economy on Tuesday for the first time in 19 months while keeping its monetary policy unchanged. (Jiji)

NA has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, becoming the first A320neo operator in Japan. (Japan Today)

A gang member, detained for possessing stimulant drugs, has been put on a nationwide wanted list after he escaped from a hospital in Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture. (Japan Today)

Japan's transport ministry said Tuesday that it will lower the taxi starting fare to 410 yen from the current 730 yen mainly in central Tokyo from Jan. 30, 2017. (Jiji)

Japan will start reviewing government-set drug prices for some products every year, mainly those whose prices differ significantly from market prices, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki said Tuesday. (Jiji)

An "idol group" formed by five young male employees of the city government of Tamano, Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, has proven to be popular and is busy with local promotion activities. (Jiji)

Japan's Supreme Court ruled against Okinawa Prefecture in a lawsuit over the relocation of a US base there. (NHK)

Saitama Prefectural Police are planning to question a man believed to be of African descent once he recovers from injuries sustained in a stabbing incident at a residence in Soka City that left three persons dead, reports the Asahi Shimbun. (tokyoreporter.com)

Japan's space agency has successfully launched the second version of its Epsilon small rocket. (NHK)

A luxury restaurant in the posh Ginza district in Tokyo's Chuo Ward has been hit by food poisoning caused by norovirus, with 49 people showing symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting, the Tokyo metropolitan government said Tuesday. (Jiji)

Coca-Cola has been the top beverage maker in Japan for half a century, but it's not thanks to the popularity of Coke. (news.com.au)

Officials at Japan National Tourism Organization say an estimated 1.9 million foreign visitors came to Japan in November. That's a record high for the month. (NHK)

The Japanese government is considering opposing a U.S.-sponsored motion to impose a U.N. arms embargo on South Sudan, or abstaining from a Security Council vote on it, it was learned on Wednesday. (Jiji)

A Japanese government panel on Wednesday recommended a drastic review of school subjects under the next curriculum guidelines to be implemented in stages from fiscal 2020, including the adoption of English as a regular subject for elementary school fifth- and sixth-graders. (Jiji)

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