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A former Singaporean diplomat has been questioned on a voluntary basis by Tokyo police over allegations that he secretly photographed a naked boy in his 10s at a public bath in February, it was learned Thursday.

The Japanese government's plan to tackle the problem of widespread pollen allergies by cutting down artificial cedar forests has met skepticism from the forestry industry, which is struggling with labor shortages and low lumber demand.

A Bank of Japan policymaker called on the central bank to consider raising interest rates further at a meeting in March, when it raised rates for the first time in 17 years, according to the minutes of the meeting released Thursday.

Japan's Aozora Bank has widened its consolidated net loss forecast to 49.8 billion yen from 28 billion yen for fiscal 2023, which ended in March.

Japan, 48 other countries and the European Union issued a joint statement Wednesday calling on North Korea to comply with international sanctions and abandon its weapons of mass destruction.

Renowned pianist Fuzjko Hemming, known for her human touch in her performances, died of pancreatic cancer on April 21. She was 92.

A quarterly magazine that had informed readers about the unknown attractions of the Noto Peninsula in central Japan for over 13 years is set for revival this month, after being halted following a powerful earthquake that struck four months ago.

Japanese economy minister Ken Saito and his French counterpart, Bruno Le Maire, on Wednesday agreed that the two countries will strengthen cooperation over supply of critical minerals including rare earths.

Three major Japanese department store operators on Wednesday logged sharply higher same-store sales for April, driven by increased purchases of luxury brand goods by foreign visitors amid a weak yen.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his French counterpart, Gabriel Attal, on Wednesday agreed to expand bilateral ties in various fields including the economy, security and culture.

Japan will begin a model project in fiscal 2024 to help regional communities accept more foreign visitors with diverse dietary and cultural habits, such as vegetarians and Muslims.

Japanese apparel group Onward Holdings Co. will sharply increase physical outlets with features of online shops, President and CEO Michinobu Yasumoto has said.

Mitsui Fudosan Co. and other companies on Wednesday unveiled an outline of their redevelopment project for the site of the former Tsukiji wholesale market in Tokyo's Chuo Ward.

Electronics retailer Bic Camera Inc. said Wednesday that it has introduced an alert system in all of its stores to prevent the controversial resale of duty-free products.

A total of 2,750 residents moved out of six municipalities in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, in the three months after the municipalities were hit hard by the Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year's Day, it was learned Wednesday.

U.S. foreign policy figures have not opposed the idea of Japan lifting its own sanctions against North Korea if the reclusive state returns all Japanese nationals it abducted decades ago, the head of the abductee family group said Tuesday.

A ceremony to mark the 68th anniversary of the official recognition of Minamata disease, a neurological disorder caused by polluted industrial wastewater, was held on Wednesday in Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

Used car dealers in Japan are highlighting transparency in their vehicle sales, following a string of fraudulent business practices, including false auto insurance claims, discovered at Bigmotor Co.

Japanese companies are increasingly engaging in upcycling efforts, or adding new value to used products and waste materials, as part of their environmental and social contributions and to generate profits.

The Japanese Natural Resources and Energy Agency asked the town of Genkai in Saga Prefecture on Wednesday to accept a "literature survey" for a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste from nuclear plants.

An increasing number of Tokyo's special wards have started offering attractive return gifts under Japan's "furusato nozei" hometown tax donation system, in a bid to stop outflows of tax revenue.

A new company called Wecars Co. was formed Wednesday to take over operations at Bigmotor Co., a scandal-tainted Japanese used car dealer, trading house Itochu Corp., one of the new firm's shareholders, said.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and her Nigerian counterpart, Yusuf Tuggar, agreed to enhance their countries' economic relationship, when they met in Nigeria on Tuesday, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

Seventeen people, including three lawmakers of South Korea's biggest opposition Democratic Party, have landed on Sea of Japan islands claimed by Tokyo.

Eight of Japan's 10 major power companies logged record-high consolidated net profits in fiscal 2023, according to their earnings reports released by Tuesday.

Japan's real gross domestic product in January-March is believed to have logged an annualized decrease of 1.7pctfrom the previous quarter, according to think tanks.

Taiwanese President-elect Lai Ching-te has expressed hopes for stepped-up cooperation between the self-ruled island and Japan.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida departed for a tour of France, Brazil and Paraguay on Wednesday, aiming to display Tokyo's focus on promoting ties with developing and emerging market countries in the so-called Global South.

Japanese police arrested two more men Wednesday as part of their investigation into the burned bodies of a Tokyo couple found in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture.

Municipalities around Japan are rushing to secure "cooling shelters" people can use to cool down when there is high risk of heatstroke.

East Japan Railway Co., Central Japan Railway Co. and West Japan Railway Co. reported higher consolidated revenue and profits for the year ended last March.

While Wednesday marks four months since a massive earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in central Japan on New Year's Day, local residents are facing a tough decision: whether to leave or remain in the quake-hit areas.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Tuesday that his country plans to strengthen ties with Japan in economic fields, including energy and the environment, toward decarbonization.

Climate, energy and environment ministers from the Group of Seven major powers agreed in principle to phase out coal-fired power plants by 2035, at their three-day meeting in Turin, northern Italy, through Tuesday.

Japan's Emperor Naruhito on Wednesday reached the fifth anniversary of his enthronement, which marked the start of the current Reiwa period.

Japan and the European Union on Tuesday confirmed they will deepen cooperation in the field of regulation of digital giants' online services.

Japanese authorities are believed to have conducted yen-buying, dollar-selling foreign exchange market intervention worth some 5 trillion yen Monday, it was learned Tuesday.

Chugoku Electric Power Co. said Tuesday that the planned restart of the No. 2 reactor at its Shimane nuclear power plant in western Japan will be delayed by about four months from August.

The Japanese government has decided to skip submitting a bill on "active cyber defense," or detecting signs of cyberattacks and taking pre-emptive measures, during the current session of the Diet, it was learned on Tuesday.

Japanese semiconductor materials maker JSR Corp. said Tuesday that it swung to a consolidated net loss of 5.5 billion yen in fiscal 2023 as the anemic chip market caused a sales drop.

Five major Japanese securities houses have reported improvements in their bottom lines in fiscal 2023, reflecting brisk trading demand from retail investors thanks to higher stock prices.

Diario Brasil Nippou, the last remaining Japanese-language newspaper in Brazil, is struggling to keep its presses rolling.

Japan's industry ministry plans to ask the town of Genkai, Saga Prefecture, on Wednesday to accept a "literature survey" for a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste from nuclear plants, it was learned Tuesday.

A Japanese government panel is reviewing the system allowing food products to be labeled as having specific health benefits, in the wake of deaths and hospitalizations of users of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co.'s dietary supplements containing "beni koji" red yeast rice.

Prices will be raised for 417 products of 195 major food and beverage makers in Japan in May, down by 50.2pctfrom 837 products a year before, research firm Teikoku Databank Ltd. said in a survey released Tuesday.

Japan's Ono Pharmaceutical Co. said Tuesday that it will buy U.S. startup Deciphera Pharmaceuticals Inc. to strengthen its research and development capabilities in the field of oncology.

The number of vacant homes in Japan stood at nine million as of Oct. 1 last year, hitting a record high, an internal affairs ministry survey showed Tuesday.

Top Japanese bridal fashion designer Yumi Katsura has died at the age of 94, it was learned Tuesday.

Some local governments in Japan are introducing or testing a selective four-day workweek to secure talent amid the diversification of lifestyles.