News On Japan

Police in Minoh, Osaka Prefecture, have arrested a 26-year-old woman, her 24-year-old common-law husband and his 20-year-old male friend on suspicion of killing the woman's four-year-old son. (Japan Today)

Weather officials are advising caution as rapidly developing low pressure systems are bringing strong winds and snow to northern Japan and other areas. (NHK)

A man and woman who were arrested after the death of their 33-year-old daughter confessed they confined her to a tiny room for around 15 years due to a mental illness they say made her violent, police sources said Monday. (Japan Today)

The Tokyo metropolitan government plans to turn the Tsukiji wholesale market into the main vehicle depot for athletes and staff who take part in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020. (NHK)

A popular hotel in southwestern Japan will close for 10 straight days in January at a cost of 200 million yen in revenues to give its employees time off, in the belief that the unusual measure will help to secure quality human resources. (Japan Today)

Yokozuna Hakuho will take the next step in his career achievement calendar next month when he steps into the ring to start the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Jan. 14. (Japan Times)

Japanese central and local governments are to hold the first missile evacuation drill in central Tokyo next month. (NHK)

Panasonic has named a female executive to lead a subsidiary with some 4,000 employees, a highly unusual move for the nearly century-old Japanese electronics company. (Nikkei)

Local assemblies around Japan are discussing or preparing to pass ordinances that will place strict limits on where minpaku (private lodging services) can be located, in advance of a national law that will go into effect in June regulating their use. (Japan Times)

Japan's planned introduction of a "departure tax" on international travelers has received a mixed response, with many questions yet to be answered about how the revenues will be spent. (Kyodo)

Japan's unemployment rate fell to 2.7 percent in November -- the lowest in 24 years. (NHK)

The Japanese government is considering the possibility of upgrading the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Izumo destroyer to an aircraft carrier enabling the takeoffs and landings of fighter jets, informed sources said Tuesday. (Jiji)

The Mito District Court on Monday handed down a prison term of up to 15 years to a boy, 18, over the murder of a woman and dumping of her body in Ryugasaki City last year, reports TV Asahi (tokyoreporter.com)

A snowstorm has hit northern Japan, disrupting traffic. (NHK)

Japan's Supreme Court has upheld a lower court verdict of acquittal for a former member of the Aum Shinrikyo cult. (NHK)

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has issued a virtual green light for the restart of 2 reactors operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO. (NHK)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police are searching for a man who fled a groping accusation by jumping onto rail tracks at a station in Itabashi Ward on Monday, reports TV Asahi (tokyoreporter.com)

About 10 outdoor surveillance cameras were installed at an Osaka home where a 33-year-old woman was found dead last week after being confined by her parents for around 15 years allegedly due to mental illness, investigative sources said Wednesday. (Japan Today)

The Mito District Court on Tuesday handed down a prison term to a 39-year-old man over a crossbow attack of a male cyclist in Toride City two years ago, reports the Yomiuri Shimbun (tokyoreporter.com)

Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency ordered Amazon Japan G.K. on Wednesday to take corrective steps after the major online retailer posted inappropriate dual pricing on its website in violation of the law against misleading representations. (Jiji)

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