A revised plan for Japan's new stadium for the 2020 Olympics is still so wasteful and large for the site that it's a "sin" - one that destroys the power of the original design, a Tokyo architect running a petition drive against the structure said. (Japan Times)

So-called 4K ultrahigh-resolution TV broadcasts are to start on a trial basis Monday, raising expectations within the electrical appliance industry that extremely vivid images will help halt the continued slump in TV sales. (The Japan News)

The nation's declining population is the next big challenge now that the government has put an end to deflation and revived the economy, according to a draft report. (The Japan News)

Families of Japanese abducted by North Korea have attended a rally following the North's announcement that it is reopening an investigation into the fate of the abductees. (NHK)

While most ATMs in Tokyo are located in convenience stores, in train stations, or on important street corners, Tokyo's first fully operational Bitcoin ATM is located in The Pink Cow, a Cal-Mex restaurant and bar in the middle of Roppongi. (japansubculture.com)

Japan is currently in the grips of a heatwave that has swept right across the country. Much of Japan has been has been sweltering for two days now as the temperature topped 35 Celsius on Saturday and Sunday. (aljazeera.com)

The missing captain of an oil tanker that exploded and sank off a Japanese port has been found dead, according to the coast guard. (Japan Today)

Fundoshi, or loincloths, are making a comeback. The traditional Japanese underwear rapidly disappeared after World War II with the spread of Western-style clothing. But thanks to such merits as superior airflow and a reputation for energizing its wearer when the strings are tightened, fundoshi are getting a second look. (The Japan News)

The Finance Ministry will strengthen a regulation on opening cigarette shops in a bid to avoid excessive competition among retailers amid falling sales. (The Japan News)

Japan gives cautionary insight in the debate over poverty and inequality in advanced economies. In considering the controversial policy prescriptions for inequality offered by French economist Thomas Piketty in his Capital In The 21st Century, Japan offers a warning about the effects of over-taxation, regulation and cultural sclerosis that have negative implications for economic opportunity. (Forbes)

Police in Tokyo said Saturday that a 35-year-old man has been arrested after he was caught exposing himself in front of a young middle school-aged girl on a roadside in Edogawa Ward. (Japan Today)

Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera says Japan should be able to join international minesweeping operations in sea lanes in the event of an armed attack. (NHK)

Japan's government on Saturday held a meeting in Fukushima Prefecture with local residents to explain the planned construction of facilities to temporarily store soil tainted with radiation following the March 2011 accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. (Jiji Press)

Fixtures from the National Stadium in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, which will soon be demolished to make way for the main venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, went on sale Saturday. (The Japan News)

Members of the Samurai Blue run at a training camp in Clearwater, Fla., on Friday ahead of the opening of the World Cup. (The Japan News)

Police in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, said Saturday they have arrested a man after the skeletal remains of a young boy were found in his apartment on Friday. (Japan Today)

The defense chiefs of Japan, South Korea and the United States agreed on Saturday to jointly counter missile threats from North Korea, stressing the importance of sharing information within the three-party framework. (Nikkei)

There is always something a little grotesque when traditionally animated characters are brought into the real world. For example, something about seeing Mickey walk around Disney World just doesn't look quite right, and Nintendo is proving the rule with its latest cross promotion involving Mario and the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class. (autoblog.com)

Police in Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture, said Friday they have arrested a 35-year-old man for attacking a city hall employee with a kitchen knife. (Japan Today)

Popular fashion model Yu Yamada, 29, is six months pregnant, her management agency announced Friday. (Japan Today)