Japan's consumer inflation rate rose in March, but the pace of the gain slowed from the previous month. The Consumer Price Index, which excludes fresh food, came in at 2.6 percent from a year earlier. (NHK)

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda on Thursday suggested a possible need to raise interest rates again if the yen's depreciation continues and leads to notable price increases. (Kyodo)

Princess Aiko, the eldest daughter of Emperor and Empress, is now involved in editing a magazine about volunteerism at the Japanese Red Cross Society. (News On Japan)

Amid rising demand for artificial intelligence (AI), major American IT companies are announcing significant investments. (News On Japan)

A group of 63 medical professionals has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging the tech giant has failed to address malicious reviews on Google Maps. (News On Japan)

A recommendation to abolish boys-only and girls-only schools in favor of coeducational systems has sparked a heated debate among graduates of single-sex high schools in Saitama Prefecture. (News On Japan)

Rakuten is consolidating its smartphone payment apps into a single platform. (News On Japan)

The prices of newly built condominiums in Tokyo's city center continue to surge, surpassing 100 million yen ($650,000) on average across all 23 wards. (News On Japan)

Toyota Motor has issued a recall for about 211,000 Prius vehicles worldwide due to a risk the rear doors could open during driving. (NHK)

Bullet train riders in central Japan can look forward to a new level of luxury when Central Japan Railway brings back private compartments in April 2026. (NHK)

The prestigious American magazine 'Time' announced on April 17 its annual list of the '100 Most Influential People in the World,' featuring Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli from Japan. (News On Japan)

A 74-year-old woman who was detained by police for 3 days following her arrest for allegedly stealing a pack of inari sushi, has received an apology from Shiga police after investigations revealed she had received the pack as a gift from a friend. (News On Japan)

Nonprofit organizations play a crucial role in addressing various societal needs. (News On Japan)

The Japanese government plans to impose fines of 20% on domestic sales of major IT companies like Apple and Google to curb monopolistic practices such as hindering new entrants in the smartphone app market. (News On Japan)

Odakyu Electric Railway has launched an experimental demonstration using XR technology at the newly installed "Shinjuku Southern Terrace Vision" large screen near the south exit of JR Shinjuku Station. (News On Japan)

A man in his 20s has turned himself in to police, hinting that he might be connected to the tragic incident of two charred bodies near a forest road in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture. (News On Japan)

At the Nagahama Hikiyama Festival in Shiga Prefecture, children showcased a traditional Kabuki performance, captivating audiences with their skills. (News On Japan)

Depending on the university you choose for advanced nursing education, a DNP program offers different tracks of study related to your chosen area of specialisation. (News On Japan)

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake rocked western Japan late Wednesday night. No tsunami was triggered. (NHK)

For the first time in a single month, the number of foreign visitors to Japan exceeded 3 million, with March recording a historic high of over 3.08 million visitors. (News On Japan)