Police have sent prosecutors papers on a 14-year-old boy for allegedly threatening a public elementary school in Tokyo’s upscale Ginza district that introduced uniforms designed by high-end Italian brand Armani. (Japan Times)

Japanese education minister Yoshimasa Hayashi apologized Wednesday for "causing confusion" over a magazine article that said he used an official vehicle during daytime on a weekday to go to a yoga class. (Jiji)

Osaka has been considered something of a pioneer in LGBT rights in Japan. Back in 2013, Yodogawa Ward was the first government body in the country to officially declare support for LGBT communities. While merely a symbolic gesture at first, it has spread into a larger movement of sensitivity that now includes all wards in Osaka. (soranews24.com)

Some cafes in Japan are offering college students simulated experiences, using virtual reality technology, of everyday life at work in a company. (Jiji)

The average life expectancy in 2015 for women was highest in Kitanakagusuku, a village in the southernmost Japan prefecture of Okinawa, at 89.0 years, a health ministry survey showed Tuesday. (Jiji)

A 14-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of stealing 10 million yen in cash from a friend's house, according to police. (Japan Today)

Nearly 20 pct of job-hunting university students in Japan secured informal offers of employment next spring as of April 1 this year, a private survey showed. (Jiji)

Japanese men and women seem to sleep as much as one hour less than people from other countries. (soranews24.com)

The Japanese government on Friday decided as an emergency measure to advise Internet service providers to block malicious pirating websites as part of efforts to enhance the protection of copyrights on manga and anime works. (Jiji)

A Japanese government survey shows the country's population continues to shrink and age. (NHK)

Japan's largest ancient mound, Daisen Kofun, officially designated as the tomb of Emperor Nintoku, was at least about 40 meters larger when it was first constructed in the fifth century, Imperial Household Agency officials said Thursday. (Kyodo)

In a bid to increase the number of foreign workers to alleviate the country's labor shortage, Japan will introduce a new residency status for foreign technical intern trainees as early as April 2019. (Nikkei)

Kanagawa Prefectural Police have arrested an official at a night school for paying a teenage boy to engage in sex earlier this year, reports Kyodo News. (tokyoreporter.com)

Despite a reputation for overall academic excellence, the quality of Japan’s English education programs is a common target of criticism. (soranews24.com)

Last year, “YouTuber” was the fourth most desired future job prospect for elementary-school aged Japanese boys. But with YouTube being increasingly oversatured with content creators all vying to make a living from the still somewhat unconventional career choice, the role is starting to look just a little bit less appealing. (soranews24.com)

Despite the countless benefits it has brought to society, real science is a theoretical and slow moving process that doesn’t often lend itself well to the visual arts. So when a young aspiring filmmaker was asked to create a promo video for the science department of a university, they had their work cut out for them. (soranews24.com)

A public elementary school in central Tokyo's upscale Ginza district welcomed on Friday new students amid lingering controversy over de-facto uniforms from high-end Italian brand Armani. (Jiji)

The English skills of students at public junior and senior high schools across Japan failed to reach proficiency levels targeted by the government, the education ministry said in a fiscal 2017 survey on Friday. (Jiji)

A survey by a private-sector group has found that a total of 2,286 "kodomo shokudo," or cafeterias that offer meals to children free of charge or at low prices, have been set up in Japan as part of efforts to address the issue of child poverty. (Jiji)

Despite the changes in food culture in Japan over the past few decades, Japan has far less of an obesity problem than most other developed nations. (Japan Today)