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)

Russia's Foreign Ministry on November 11 defended the government's unilateral decision to place the local subsidiary of Japan Tobacco (JT) under the management of a Russian company, describing the move as a countermeasure against what it called Japan's "blatantly hostile actions." (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)

Japan launched a new national disaster management agency on November 2nd to strengthen its response to major emergencies, just days before a powerful earthquake struck Aichi Prefecture, injuring 24 people and renewing concerns over the possibility of a catastrophic Nankai Trough earthquake. (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)

A 31-year-old Japanese researcher who moved to an indigenous village in eastern Taiwan four years ago to study the Rukai people has become an active member of the community, helping preserve traditional ceremonies and customs while learning the importance of protecting cultural values that remain unchanged across generations. (News On Japan)

Northern Japan experienced record-breaking cold on the morning of November 11th, with temperatures plunging to minus 20.2 degrees Celsius in Horokanai, Hokkaido, marking the first time in Japan's recorded history that temperatures have fallen below minus 20 degrees during the first half of November. (News On Japan)

Tokyo stocks extended their recovery on Wednesday, November 11th, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 61,248.59 points as of 3:30 p.m., up 789.01 points, or 1.31%, from Tuesday, marking a third consecutive session of gains as investors bought semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares despite renewed concerns over US inflation and interest rates. (News On Japan)

Japan's autumn foliage season is entering one of its most colorful periods, with spectacular displays of red and golden leaves attracting visitors to lakes, mountain valleys and historic temples across the country, while the latest forecasts suggest that Tokyo, Kyoto and other major cities will see some of their best autumn scenery later than usual this year. (News On Japan)

A 26-year-old woman from Nagoya has been arrested on suspicion of defrauding men by encouraging them to develop romantic feelings for her before repeatedly requesting money, with 13 men reporting losses totaling approximately 30 million yen in a scheme resembling the notorious "Itadaki Joshi" romance fraud case. (News On Japan)