A 55-year-old company employee has been arrested for allegedly placing stones on the tracks of the Meitetsu Komaki Line in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture, disrupting train operations. (News On Japan)

A one-year-old girl died after being struck by a car driven by her mother in Nagasaki City on Thursday morning. (News On Japan)

With Japan facing a labor shortage due to its aging population, immigration policy has emerged as a key issue in the upcoming Upper House election in July. On July 9th, the topic was discussed in depth by news program “It!”, which highlighted public concerns and political stances regarding the role of foreign nationals in Japanese society. (News On Japan)

A pod of sperm whales was observed sleeping in an upright position near Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, with their heads pointing toward the surface in what appeared to be vertical rest. The sighting was made on June 23rd by Amami Marine Life Research Group chairman Katsuki Okoshi, who captured the rare moment about 15 kilometers west of the island. (News On Japan)

The Ground Self-Defense Force has deployed its first V-22 Osprey to a newly opened base in Saga, with all 17 aircraft to be relocated from Chiba by mid-August as part of Japan’s shift to strengthen defense in the southwest region. (News On Japan)

Two women have been arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police on suspicion of stealing 130,000 yen in cash by using a drunken man's bank card at an ATM in Tokyo's Taito Ward. (News On Japan)

An incident involving a Chinese national attempting to take the TOEIC exam on behalf of someone else has led to revelations that over 800 people were involved in similar cheating schemes. (News On Japan)

A part-time worker has been arrested in connection with an attempted murder incident in Habikino, Osaka Prefecture, where a rope was strung across a road, causing a university student to crash and suffer injuries. Surveillance footage captured the entire act. (News On Japan)

The Emperor and Empress, currently on an official visit to Mongolia as state guests, attended a banquet hosted by the country’s president and first lady, where the Emperor performed music alongside a traditional Mongolian horsehead fiddle orchestra. (News On Japan)

Japan’s position on its handling of World Cultural Heritage sites, including Gunkanjima (Battleship Island) in Nagasaki City, has been upheld by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which rejected South Korea’s demand for a renewed review of Japan’s efforts. (News On Japan)

An unexploded bomb found last month at the former Nakagusuku Palace site in Shuri, Naha City—once the residence of the Ryukyu Kingdom’s crown prince and now undergoing restoration alongside Shuri Castle—was safely disposed of on July 6th. (News On Japan)

As the sun had fully set around 7:30 p.m., an unexpected obstacle appeared on a mountain road in Takizawa City, Iwate Prefecture: a large family of wild boars. (News On Japan)

Aiming to revive Japan's status as a semiconductor powerhouse, Hoshikawa Naohisa, CEO of Okuma Diamond Devices, is leading the development of what is being called the "ultimate semiconductor"—a diamond-based device capable of withstanding extreme heat and radiation. (News On Japan)

A flying car demonstration at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which had been suspended due to a mid-flight incident, is expected to resume soon. (News On Japan)

As Japan's Upper House election approaches, party leaders debated whether restrictions should be placed on foreign property ownership. Amid soaring housing prices—especially in Tokyo where secondhand condominium prices now exceed 100 million yen—seven of the eight major political parties expressed support for some form of regulation on foreign homebuyers. (News On Japan)

The month-long Gion Festival in Kyoto began with the ceremonial rite known as Kippu-iri no Gi, held in the Nagatakehoko district to pray for the festival's safe proceedings. (News On Japan)

A completely different feel from watercolor—brilliant colors and stunning texture.In this video, Master Harumichi Shibasaki creates a serious piece using acrylic gouache, which will be featured in his upcoming solo exhibition in Shinjuku.　 (Watercolor by Shibasaki)

The production of sukumo, the fermented indigo dye used in traditional Japanese textiles, is now in full swing in Kamiita, Tokushima Prefecture. (News On Japan)

In response to a series of injuries on the mountain slide at Sarakura in Kitakyushu, including fractures sustained by nine users, Mayor Takeuchi announced new safety measures on July 4th aimed at preventing further accidents and ensuring an early reopening. (News On Japan)

At the Turkmenistan Pavilion near the East Gate, one of the most striking displays isn’t just the golden horses or traditional costumes—but a set of Japanese-language textbooks used in Turkmen schools. (News On Japan)