News On Japan

The lengthy, multi-syllabic nature of Japanese vocabulary means that words used in discussing social phenomena often evolve into abbreviated versions in order to streamline conversations. A prime example is "JK." (Japan Today)

Japanese companies are increasing hiring of full-time employees as they scramble to secure workers amid a labor shortage, raising hopes that the tight demand will translate to higher wages. (Nikkei)

US Defense Department officials say the USS Ronald Reagan has entered the Sea of Japan for a joint drill with another aircraft carrier. (NHK)

In professional sumo, wrestler Takayasu has officially been promoted to Ozeki, the second highest rank in Japan's traditional sport. (NHK)

Japan's Princess Mako has left for an official visit to Bhutan. (NHK)

Amazon Japan will do away with a contract clause that has required e-book and other suppliers to guarantee prices lower than those offered on rival e-commerce sites, in response to an antitrust probe that began last year. (Nikkei)

An amateur historian has unearthed compelling evidence that the first Australian maritime foray into Japanese waters was by convict pirates on an audacious escape from Tasmania almost two centuries ago. (theguardian.com)

Struggling Japanese electronics giant Toshiba will again postpone its earnings report. (NHK)

The number of companies in Japan fell 6.3 pct from February 2012 to 3,866,537 as of June 1 last year, a government survey showed Wednesday. (Jiji)

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has sought China's cooperation in dealing with North Korea. (NHK)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police plan to question a man who is believed to have attempted suicide after strangling his mother to death in Shinagawa Ward on Wednesday, reports Nippon News Network. (tokyoreporter.com)

Japan Post Co., a unit of Japan Post Holdings Co., will raise mail rates on Thursday, the first full-fledged hikes since January 1994, excluding markups on consumption tax increases. (Jiji)

The average concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere hit record highs at all observation points in Japan in 2016, the Meteorological Agency said Wednesday, underscoring the continuing upward trend in levels of the global warming-causing greenhouse gas. (Japan Times)

The Japan Coast Guard has arrested 5 Japanese and 3 Chinese men on suspicion of smuggling what appears to be over 200 kilograms of gold bullion into the country. (NHK)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 20-year-old employee at a Japanese restaurant in Toshima Ward for allegedly molesting a female customer inside the establishment last month, reports Fuji News Network (tokyoreporter.com)

A blobfish, a deep-sea blob sculpin fish dubbed the world's ugliest animal, has been put on display at an aquarium in Fukushima Prefecture. (Japan Times)

The launch of a rocket carrying a satellite that's part of Japan's version of a global positioning system was a success. (NHK)

The Japan Fair Trade Commission said Thursday it will end its investigation of Amazon Japan G.K. over its alleged imposition of restrictive business terms on products sellers in the Amazon online marketplace in violation of the antimonopoly law. (Jiji)

Prices of some beer and quasi-beer products rose at some supermarkets and discount stores in Japan on Thursday, as the country's tighter regulation on excessive discounts on alcoholic beverages took effect the same day. (Jiji)

The Japanese government plans to place emphasis on its efforts for lowering the proportion of the country's outstanding public debts to its gross domestic product as an indicator for measuring its fiscal reconstruction efforts, informed sources said Thursday. (Jiji)

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