News On Japan

Japan posted its second-biggest current account surplus on record in 2016, government data showed Wednesday, sparking fears that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe might be urged by U.S. President Donald Trump to take steps to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with Japan. (Kyodo)

SoftBank Group Corp. Chief Executive Officer Masayoshi Son said Wednesday that he expects deregulation under U.S. President Donald Trump to create many business opportunities but withheld comment on the impact of Trump's travel ban. (Kyodo)

The city government of Kyoto, western Japan, and local residents are stepping up their efforts to remove utility poles from a main street in the Pontocho traditional entertainment district in a bid to re-create an old townscape. (Jiji)

Adult swaddling - a bizarre craze that's swept though Japan - involves wrapping people up like babies as a method of therapy. (express.co.uk)

While Japanese-style tattoos are appreciated by body art fans around the world, the practice of tattooing itself enjoys much less support among the Japanese populace as a whole. (rocketnews24.com)

A 42-year-old man on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to killing five people with a survivor knife nearly two years ago on Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture. (Japan Times)

School lunches in Japan are world famous for being super healthy and delicious. With extremely low childhood obesity rates, many have turned to Japan for solutions to feed their school aged kids in the cafeteria. (ONLY in JAPAN )

The city government of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, western Japan, said Wednesday a picture map has been found that depicts Edo Castle and its surrounding areas in the early 17th century. (Jiji)

A 17th century Catholic Samurai and martyr was beatified during a Mass in ‎Osaka, Japan on Tuesday. (cruxnow.com)

Many young women who had signed contracts with talent agencies to become fashion models or idols were asked to perform sex acts on camera, with some giving in to such a request, a government survey showed Wednesday. (Japan Today)

A state guest house in Tokyo has become a popular tourist attraction after the start of its year-round public opening last year. (NHK)

The government plans to exempt some alcohol-serving restaurants, such as bars and Japanese-style pubs, from its planned ban on indoor smoking in small drinking and eating establishments. (the-japan-news.com)

A man held by a railway worker for allegedly taking illicit images up a woman's skirt escaped by claiming he needed to relieve himself, police said on Wednesday. (tokyoreporter.com)

McDonald's Holdings Japan says its sales rose in 2016, and that the firm had its first net profit in 3 years. (NHK)

People shield themselves from snow while walking in Mito on Thursday morning, as snowfalls were seen in various parts of the country due to a low pressure system moving across Japan. (the-japan-news.com)

A reporter of public broadcaster NHK, detained for an alleged rape in Yamagata Prefecture, is also suspected of being involved in a similar incident in a different prefecture, investigative sources said Thursday. (Japan Today)

Super Tamade Co, an Osaka-based supermarket market chain, and its personnel division chief have been fined for the illegally long hours worked by foreign student employees. (Japan Today)

The Kanagawa prefectural police department and other police forces have arrested a group of six men for allegedly molesting boys and creating child pornography. (Jiji)

Japan accepted just 28 refugees last year when a record number applied for asylum, a government document dated for release on Friday showed, throwing a spotlight on the nation's reluctance to accept foreigners. (Japan Today)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has left for his first summit talks with US President Donald Trump, scheduled for Friday in Washington. (NHK)

Latest Images