Fukuoka Prefectural Police on Monday took the acting chairman of the Kudo-kai organized crime group into custody for allegedly blackmailing the owner of a building, reports the Yommiuri Shimbun (Jan. 26). (Tokyo Reporter)

Police in Sukumo, Kochi Prefecture, said Monday they have arrested a 95-year-old man on suspicion of killing his 88-year-old wife by hitting her with a cane. (Japan Today)

Crown Prince Naruhito met Saudi Arabia's new King Salman in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Sunday and expressed his condolences over the death of King Abdullah, who passed away on Friday. (The Japan News)

A fire drill was conducted at Horyuji temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, on Monday, which was Cultural Property Fire Prevention Day. About 100 personnel participated, including temple priests and local firemen. (The Japan News)

Two children were killed after the car they were riding in with their mother was hit by a train at a railway crossing in Aomori City. (Japan Today)

A 26-year-old Osaka policeman was arrested Sunday on suspicion of murdering his 23-year-old girlfriend. (Japan Today)

The Islamic State beheaded one of the two Japanese citizens it has been holding, but signaled a potential willingness to negotiate over the fate of the other one - offering a tiny sliver of hope to a Japan reeling from shock and grief. (foreignpolicy.com)

Police in Chiba said Saturday they have arrested a 57-year-old man on suspicion of poking a needle into bread at a convenience store on Jan 14. (Japan Today)

Police in Fukaya, Saitama Prefecture, said Friday they have arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of killing his 73-year-old grandfather with whom he lived. (Japan Today)

A former senior Aum Supreme Truth cult member on death row testified about how the cult's leader ordered his followers to commit a series of deadly crimes, at the trial of a fellow former member at the Tokyo District Court on Friday. (The Japan News)

The Public Security Examination Commission decided Friday to extend the surveillance period for two groups deriving from the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult for three more years. (Jiji Press)

Police investigating the murder of a 64-year-old woman in Tokyo's Suginami Ward said Friday that her 38-year-old son apparently committed suicide in the mountains near Okutamamachi. (Japan Today)

A 7-year-old boy died after being buried in snow in Shinanomachi, Nagano Prefecture, police said Friday. (Japan Today)

Police in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, said Thursday they have arrested a 33-year-old woman on suspicion of attempting to kill her 8-year-old son. (Japan Today)

The former AKB48 idol Anna Mori is crowdfunding her first photobook after recently turning 20 years old (the "age of majority" in Japan, similar to turning 18 in the U.S.) and quickly raised 2,000,000 yen (about US$16,957) with a little help from some unique backer rewards. Mori offered threedates for backers who paid 200,000 yen (US$1,695). (rocketnews24.com)

The government has finalized details for tougher penalties for "dangerous" bicycle riding, which includes using smartphones while on a bike. (Japan Today)

A former senior Aum Supreme Truth cult member on death row claimed responsibility for a fellow former member's involvement in a series of Aum-committed deadly crimes, in a trial at Tokyo District Court on Wednesday. (The Japan News)

A Syrian man says he recalls speaking with the Japanese journalist held captive by the militant group believed to be Islamic State. He says Kenji Goto told him he was planning to look for the other Japanese hostage. (NHK)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Wednesday announced the bust of a massage parlor staffed with school girls in Shinjuku Ward for harmful employment of minors, reports TBS News (Jan. 21). (Tokyo Reporter)

The family of journalist Kenji Goto told Japan's Foreign Ministry that he did not come home after a scheduled return date of October 29th last year. (NHK)