News On Japan

Private citizens in Japan will be allowed to rent out rooms or entire homes to travelers for up to 180 days a year, according to a draft bill agreed on Wednesday by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, an attempt to promote tourism while showing consideration for party supporters in the hotel industry. (Nikkei)

An international research team led by Japanese government-affiliated Riken said Wednesday it has succeeded in producing livermorium, or element 116, taking a key step in the search for new elements. (Jiji)

Shizuoka Prefectural Police are investigating what is believed to have been a murder-suicide after the discovery of four bodies at a residence in Aoi Ward, reports NHK. (tokyoreporter.com)

The Japanese government said Wednesday it plans to ban smoking in restaurants and impose a fine of up to 300,000 yen on individuals who violate the rule, as the host country of the 2020 Olympics wants to implement firmer measures to counter passive smoking. (Japan Today)

The family-friendly mayor of Nichinan City accidentally sent an affectionate message via a smartphone application that was intended for a female subordinate to some 50 city workers instead, reports the Yomiuri Shimbun (tokyoreporter.com)

Japan's Board of Audit has begun investigating the controversial sale of state-owned land to a private school operator for much less than its appraised value. (NHK)

Japan's government is to recommend that UNESCO put 10 of the country's traditional community festivals on its list of intangible cultural heritage. (NHK)

Imports from mainland China accounted for 91.9 pct of all counterfeit products seized by Japan's customs in 2016, staying above 90 pct for the seventh consecutive year, the Ministry of Finance said Friday. (Jiji)

Companies selling farm-fresh vegetables, performing wedding services and providing temporary staffing of middle-aged and elderly workers were among the smorgasbord of IPOs Japan saw in 2016, its most diverse year since 2007. (Nikkei)

Japanese government officials say a record-high number of foreign tourists stayed in hotels in Japan last year. (NHK)

This year the Japanese Academy Awards, or more properly Japan Academy Prizes, celebrated its 40th anniversary ceremony Friday. (comicbook.com)

Japan's core consumer prices have risen for the first time in over a year thanks to a pickup in energy costs, marking a rare victory in the government's long battle against deflation. (theguardian.com)

A former Tokyo governor has defended his controversial decision to relocate the Tsukiji wholesale market, saying he is not the only one to blame. (NHK)

Nintendo's Switch console went on sale Friday in a global launch seen as key for the video game giant to reverse flagging sales and compete with Sony's top-selling PlayStation 4. (Japan Times)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 50-year-old man for trespassing into the residence of a beauty pageant winner to install a hidden camera, reports Nippon News Network. (tokyoreporter.com)

Haunting photographs reveal an abandoned Japanese sex motel that is avoided by the locals because they think spirits roam the corridors. (dailymail.co.uk)

Yamato Holdings Co. has embarked on an investigation into whether about 76,000 employees worked unpaid overtime, it has been learned. (the-japan-news.com)

Owls fluff up their feathers and preen beneath the stroking fingers of customers at Owl Village, one of many cafes dedicated to the birds, seen as a symbol of good luck in Japan, that have sprung up amid a boom in animal cafes. (Japan Today)