News On Japan

Police are continuing to search for a man facing multiple charges who escaped from a police station in western Japan. (NHK)

In his last official appearance at the annual ceremony commemorating the end of World War II, Emperor Akihito on Wednesday repeated his “deep remorse” over the conflict that led to the deaths of tens of millions of people in Asia and elsewhere. (Japan Times)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe skipped a visit to Yasukuni Shrine on Wednesday, the 73rd anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. (Jiji)

The number of foreign visitors to Japan in July hit a record for the month, supported by growing ranks of individual travelers from China. (NHK)

The Japan Meteorological Agency upgraded on Wednesday its volcanic alert for the island of Kuchinoerabu in the town of Yakushima, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, calling on local residents to prepare for evacuation. (Jiji)

A rape suspect who escaped from an Osaka Prefecture police station earlier this week may have snatched purses from several people since going on the run, investigative sources said Thursday. (Japan Times)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 48-year-old man over the alleged purchase of saliva and used underwear from a teenage girl earlier this year. Such crimes involving minors reached a record last year, reports the Asahi Shimbun (tokyoreporter.com)

Corruption has been revealed in the Japanese sport of kendo, as the All Japan Kendo Federation said Friday that people taking promotional exams had often been paying money to their examiners in order to win their approval. (Japan Today)

Sewing needles have been found inserted into bread products on two days this week at a supermarket in Fukuoka city, police said Friday. (Jiji)

A bottle of rare Japanese whisky sold at a world-record price on Friday, the third record shattered this year for a single malt from the country. (Nikkei)

The national health insurance program underwent a major reform at the start of fiscal 2018 that saw prefectures, rather than municipalities, begin managing the deficit-ridden system to improve its financial base. (Japan Times)

Chiba Prefectural Police are investigating what is believed to have been a murder-suicide after the bodies of an 81-year-old man and his eldest son, 52, were found in their residence in Yotsukaido City on Wednesday, reports the Sankei Shimbun (tokyoreporter.com)

Education in Japan is specific and works on the principle of "quality study is a guarantee of a successful career." Every Japanese usually deserves only one attempt to take a worthy place in society. However, this system has its dark side as well. (newsonjapan.com)

The first of 2 new government planes has been delivered to Japan ahead of their debut next year. (NHK)

Investigators in Osaka Prefecture say a suspect who fled a police station 5 days ago chased women on a motorcycle as he apparently hunted for bag-snatching targets. (NHK)

A former nurse at a hospital in Yokohama, the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, was served a third arrest warrant on Saturday in a serial poisoning murder case about two years ago. (Jiji)

Japan's newest rugby stadium has been officially opened, as the country prepares to host next year's Rugby World Cup. (NHK)

Officials at Narita Airport outside Tokyo are dealing with the arrival of tens of thousands of people returning from the Obon holidays. (NHK)

About 2,000 people including children are testing their skills at scooping up goldfish in an annual event in Nara prefecture, western Japan. (NHK)

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency suspended a final exercise in preparation for the removal of nuclear fuel assemblies from its Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor, which is in the process of being decommissioned, only hours after it was started on Sunday morning. (Jiji)

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