Initiatives to turn Osaka into the 'holy ground' of F1 are gaining momentum as discussions around building a new circuit have begun. (News On Japan)

The iconic Osaka Marubiru in Umeda, closed last year due to aging, will be replaced with a new 192-meter skyscraper, the tallest in the Osaka Station area. (News On Japan)

The operator of a strip theater in Osaka's Tenma district, advertised as "Western Japan's largest," has been arrested alongside nine others for exposing dancers' lower bodies to customers, police announced. (News On Japan)

A Japanese pharmaceutical company has announced the successful commercialization of fiber made from silk produced by bagworms. (News On Japan)

The average price for a newly built condominium in Tokyo’s 23 wards has remained above 100 million yen for six consecutive months. (News On Japan)

The 2024 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit successfully concluded in November in Lima, Peru. During this meeting, which brought together leaders from 21 member economies, in-depth discussions were held on topics such as regional economic integration, global trade, and sustainable development. (News On Japan)

"Harris is merely the runner-up; her media 'cheerleaders' are licking their wounds and will take longer to recover. After all, they were the ones who worked hardest to bring down Trump—yet, after eight years of effort, they’re weaker and more embarrassed than ever before," wrote Elle Purnell, an editor at The Federalist and one of the few traditional media figures who staunchly support Trump. (News On Japan)

Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has expressed his eagerness to develop cooperation with China and other nations after a series of summit meetings in South America. (NHK)

Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine in Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture, has begun producing traditional calligraphy artwork for next year’s New Year celebrations. (News On Japan)

NVIDIA has thrown its weight behind Sakana AI, a Tokyo-based startup rapidly gaining traction in the booming generative AI field. Since ChatGPT's debut in November 2022, industry giants like Google and Meta have entered the fray, intensifying the competitive landscape. (News On Japan)

Prime Minister Ishiba, attending the G20 summit in Brazil, held talks on November 18th with UK Prime Minister Starmer, where they agreed to establish an economic "2+2" framework involving foreign and economic ministers. (News On Japan)

The Baseball Hall of Fame ballot is being mailed to 400 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America this week, and that ballot includes 14 candidates appearing for the very first time. (News On Japan)

Japan' Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Muto announced on November 19th that the government has decided to cease its support for APB, a company pioneering the development of the world's first all-resin battery. (News On Japan)

Tanikawa Shuntaro -- a renowned Japanese poet who used his keen sense of observation in creating a vast body of work -- has died of old age. He was 92. (NHK)

The average transaction price of newly harvested rice between agricultural cooperatives and wholesalers reached a record high for the second consecutive month in October. The price of unpolished rice was 23,820 yen per 60 kilograms. (News On Japan)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested five people on suspicion of violating Japan's Employment Security Act. They are believed to have run a nationwide operation to recruit women via social media to work in the sex industry. (NHK)

A human hand was discovered protruding from the ground at a cemetery in Nara City on November 18th, around 1:30 p.m. (News On Japan)

Foreign tourists flocking to Tokyo’s Roppongi have been engaging in dangerous photography, turning the area’s popular photo spots into safety hazards. (News On Japan)

What would you do if you changed from a nobody into one of the most powerful people in the country, overnight? Hojo Masako 北条政子 was the wife of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder of Japan’s first shogunate. (Linfamy)

A new shopping street, set to be Japan's longest, will open in Tokyo's Asakusa area on November 20th. Spanning 3 kilometers, it aims to surpass Osaka's Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street, which currently holds the title at 2 kilometers. (News On Japan)