A lawsuit has been filed by a civic group against the mayor of Osaka, demanding damages from the involved officials and contractors over the high costs of disposing of a whale that wandered into Osaka Bay and died. The city of Osaka has indicated it will contest the case. (News On Japan)

In response to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ demand to reassess its capital relationship with South Korean companies due to the recent data leak issue, LINE Yahoo expressed on the 1st of July that "short-term capital movement is difficult." (News On Japan)

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced a new rule last week regarding the hometown tax donation system. Starting next October, it will ban the solicitation of donations through websites that offer points. (News On Japan)

A planned pink bench for a greenway redevelopment project in Shibuya, Tokyo, is stirring controversy due to its high cost. (News On Japan)

The second daughter of Shoko Asahara, the former leader of Aum Shinrikyo, appeared in court to request the handover of his ashes, expressing her desire to mourn his death as a daughter. (News On Japan)

In the early hours of July 2nd, a large ferry ran aground after colliding with a pier at Tomakomai Port in Hokkaido. The incident left 140 passengers and crew stranded on board for over 10 hours. (News On Japan)

With the issuance of the new banknotes set for the 3rd, the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), where Eiichi Shibusawa served as the first chairman and will be the face of the new 10,000 yen bill, is rolling out original products to build excitement. (News On Japan)

A man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for killing a hospitalized patient by stabbing him with a toothbrush. (News On Japan)

Police in Osaka, western Japan, have sent papers to prosecutors over sexual misconduct allegations concerning professional soccer player Ito Junya and two women. Ito belongs to Stade de Reims, a top-tier French league club. (News On Japan)

The Australian government has more than doubled the fee for international student visas, in its latest move to control the rapid rise of migration. The price hike took effect on Monday. The fee has increased from 710 Australian dollars to 1,600 dollars or a little over 1,000 US dollars. (NHK)

A man accused of killing a university student by injecting alcohol in a hotel room in Hiroshima Prefecture to fraudulently claim over 600 million yen in life insurance has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. The prosecution argued that the man disguised the victim as himself to receive the insurance payout. (News On Japan)

It has been three years since Myanmar experienced a military coup. Although not a major tourist destination for Japanese citizens, over 300 Japanese companies have established operations in Myanmar. (News On Japan)

To revitalize Osaka's Shinsekai area, the iconic Tsutenkaku Tower has introduced a new attraction: '3, 2, 1, aaaaaah!' Visitors can now experience the thrill of diving 40 meters from the tower's new 'Dive & Walk.' (News On Japan)

A 30-year-old man known as the 'Drift Master' has been arrested on suspicion of repeatedly engaging in drift driving late at night. (News On Japan)

Two Cambodian men previously arrested on suspicion of stealing copper wire from a solar power plant in Gunma Prefecture have been re-arrested for allegedly stealing approximately 7,000 meters of copper wire from another solar power plant in Fujioka City, Gunma Prefecture. (News On Japan)

Land prices, a benchmark for property valuation used in inheritance tax declarations, have seen significant changes this year. Shibuya, currently undergoing extensive redevelopment, has ranked second nationally for the first time. (News On Japan)

In an abandoned school deep in the mountains of Chiba, locals are experimenting with foreign travellers, who are dressed up in school uniforms to have a 'Japanese School Experience,' in an effort to revive the town. (News On Japan)

In response to the anticipated intense summer heat, Tokyo Disney Resort is extending its summer event period beyond the usual schedule. At Tokyo Disneyland, a special parade featuring the popular character Baymax, who will douse visitors with large quantities of water, will run from the 2nd of July to the 18th of September. (News On Japan)

Japan's new flagship H3 rocket has successfully placed an Earth observation satellite into orbit in its third launch. The rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima shortly after midday on Monday. (NHK)

The yen, symbolized as ¥ and designated by the currency code JPY, stands as one of the most significant and widely traded currencies in the global market. (News On Japan)