News On Japan

Police in Tokyo have arrested an unemployed 39-year-old man on suspicion of extortion after he threatened to beat up a smartphone user unless he paid money for "bumping" into him. (Japan Today)

The Anime Tourism Association on Saturday announced 88 locations closely related to Japanese animation works, including the central Japan city of Hida, Gifu Prefecture, tied to the "Kimi no Na wa" (Your Name) blockbuster movie. (Jiji)

Police in Japan are on alert for conflicts between two rival gang groups as Sunday marks two years since they split up. (NHK)

A Japanese boy has come third in a competition to pretend playing the guitar to rock numbers. (NHK)

People in northeastern Japan have enjoyed an annual firework show that lit up skies over Omagari in Daisen City. This year, they had to make extra efforts to prepare for the event as the site was flooded due to heavy rain the previous day. (NHK)

Google Inc on Saturday accepted responsibility for widespread internet disruptions experienced across Japan the previous day. (Japan Today)

Officials with Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force say one of their helicopters went out of contact during a training mission on Saturday night. They say it may have crashed into the sea. (NHK)

A Cabinet Office survey showed Saturday that nearly 74 pct of Japanese people are satisfied with their current lives, the highest proportion since the survey item was added in 1963. (Jiji)

Japan's current economic expansion, whose start coincided with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's return to power, is believed to have entered its 57th month in August, tying the second-longest boom in the postwar period. (Jiji)

A 35-year-old police officer, stationed at a koban (police box) in front of Tokyo Station, has been arrested on suspicion of theft after he stole a wallet that had been handed in as a lost-and-found item. (Japan Today)

Police in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, said Sunday that a 67-year-old man, arrested on a hit-and-run charge, hasn't had a valid driver's license in over 25 years. (Japan Today)

NHK has learned from multiple diplomatic sources that North Korea has canceled an air show that was due to be held next month. (NHK)

If you're the kind of person who prioritizes volunteer work, enjoys playing badminton and has an interest in studying, Shiga Prefecture might be your ideal home in Kansai. (Japan Times)

Police on Sunday arrested six people, including a doctor, for their alleged involvement in illegal administration of umbilical cord blood to patients in Tokyo and elsewhere. (Jiji)

At the opening of the trial of a male Chinese national accused of killing his wife and dumping her body inside a suitcase last year, the defendant denied an "intent to kill," reports TBS News. (tokyoreporter.com)

Ishikawa Prefectural Police have arrested a man after a stabbing incident at a residence in Kanazawa City left two officers injured, report TV Asahi. (tokyoreporter.com)

Japan overpowered Texas in the Little League World Series championship game, 12-2, on Sunday. The victory marks the fifth time that a Japanese team has won the title since 2010. (mlb.com)

Japan's Kimiko Date called time on her tennis career at the age of 46 on Monday, saying she was no longer able to perform at the best of her abilities due to physical issues and had decided to listen to the "inner voice" telling her it was time to quit. (eurosport.com)

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda has pledged to forge on with very accommodative monetary policy as he warned that his inflation target remains distant and the current pace of growth in the world's third-largest economy looks unsustainable. (afr.com)

The Environment Ministry launched Monday its research on the island of Tsushima hoping to confirm the existence of the Japanese river otter, an endemic species that has been declared extinct, after an otter was discovered recently on the southwestern Japan island. (Jiji)

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