An anti-organized crime convention was held in Osaka City, bringing together police, government officials, and business representatives to reaffirm their commitment to eliminating organized crime groups, as authorities warned that shrinking yakuza organizations are increasingly cooperating with loosely organized criminal networks involved in fraud and robbery. (News On Japan)

Tokyo's Toshima Ward announced on November 11th plans to impose administrative penalties of up to 20,000 yen for street smoking and littering, extending its smoking ban to heated tobacco products as complaints about public smoking and illegal dumping continue to rise. (News On Japan)

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is launching its winter season events on November 13, featuring one of the largest food festivals in the park's history, with more than twice as many menu items as last year and opportunities for visitors to dine alongside popular characters. (News On Japan)

The Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper identified its correspondent detained in Russia on espionage allegations as Yuki Imai on November 12, one month after his arrest by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), with no indication of when he might be released. (News On Japan)

Visitors flocking to a popular autumn foliage destination in Kyoto's Nishikyo Ward have sparked growing concerns among residents, with photographers repeatedly stepping into the middle of busy roads to capture pictures and drivers illegally parking near bus stops and residential streets. (News On Japan)

Kobe is undergoing a sweeping transformation, with major redevelopment projects around Sannomiya Station, the planned closure and renovation of the Mosaic shopping complex at Harborland, and the international expansion of Kobe Airport raising hopes that the port city can attract more overseas visitors while improving everyday life for residents. (News On Japan)

Arriving in Japan after a long-haul flight is so exciting. But dragging a 25kg suitcase through a busy train station is less so. (News On Japan)

SoftBank Group raised a record 1 trillion yen through bonds aimed at individual investors in September, offering an annual interest rate of 4.75% on seven-year securities as the Japanese technology investment giant seeks to finance massive investments in artificial intelligence and strengthen its cash reserves. (News On Japan)

Japan's corporate goods price index rose 7.1% in October from a year earlier, returning to the 7% range for the first time in two months and highlighting persistent inflationary pressures on businesses, according to data released by the Bank of Japan on November 12th. (News On Japan)

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell about 429 points, or 0.7%, to close near 60,819 on Thursday, November 12, ending a three-day winning streak as reports concerning Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang triggered heavy selling in semiconductor-related shares, while the broader TOPIX index edged 0.2% higher to around 3,937. (News On Japan)

Tokyo police have raided two establishments in Shinjuku's Kabukicho entertainment district suspected of repeatedly overcharging customers brought in by foreign street touts, with investigators believing the businesses were targeting international tourists visiting Japan. (News On Japan)

The ginkgo-lined avenue at Hiroshima Shudo University in Hiroshima City has reached its peak autumn color, transforming the campus into a golden landscape as trees display their brilliant yellow leaves. (News On Japan)

Japan's national soccer team began training in Singapore on November 10 ahead of an international friendly against Brazil on November 14, with the two-match tour, which also includes a game against Paraguay on November 17, expected to be the team's final overseas trip under coach Hajime Moriyasu following the postponement of the Asian Cup originally scheduled to begin in Saudi Arabia in January 2027. (News On Japan)

Japan's Antarctic research vessel Shirase departed from the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Yokosuka Base in Kanagawa Prefecture on November 11th, beginning a mission to support the country's 68th Antarctic Research Expedition, with the ship scheduled to reach Showa Station in late December before returning to Japan in April 2027. (News On Japan)

Japan now has only one sea otter remaining in captivity following the death of Kira, an 18-year-old female at Toba Aquarium in Mie Prefecture on November 5th, leaving 22-year-old Mei as the country's last surviving aquarium sea otter after a population that once exceeded 100 animals steadily declined. (News On Japan)

Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko, attended a martial arts tournament held by the Imperial Guard on November 11th, watching competitions in judo, kendo and Japanese archery as the organization marked its 140th anniversary. (News On Japan)

A survey of more than 20,000 full-time employees in Japan has revealed a significant gap between actual and preferred overtime hours, with workers averaging 23.8 hours of overtime a month compared with an ideal of 14.1 hours, a difference of 9.7 hours. (News On Japan)

A 50-year-old woman accused of forcing her housemate to sew her own lips shut with a needle and thread admitted all charges at her first court hearing on November 11th, as prosecutors played disturbing audio recordings of the threats used to coerce the victim during an incident in Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture, in June 2026. (News On Japan)

A woman was seriously injured in a wild boar attack in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, as sightings of unusually large boars increase across the Kansai region, with some weighing nearly 150 kilograms and capable of running at speeds of 45 kilometers per hour. (News On Japan)

The Japanese government is considering formally allowing exceptions to its longstanding ban on bringing nuclear weapons into the country during national emergencies, as part of revisions to its three key national security documents scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. (News On Japan)