Japan is expected to report its first year-on-year increase in household spending in five months, a Reuters poll showed on Friday, although the rise appears to be marginal, indicating that consumers remain reluctant to loosen their purse strings.

Japan's energy security will benefit from U.S. President Donald Trump's push to increase liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, an executive at JERA, Japan's top LNG buyer, said on Friday, while allowing the company to diversify its suppliers.

Wales will play Test matches against Japan in Kitakyushu and Kobe this summer. The first Test, at Kitakyushu's Mikuni World Stadium, will take place on 5 July. The second Test will be played at Kobe's Noevir Stadium – which features a retractable roof – seven days later.

Japan is considering offering support for a $44 billion gas pipeline in Alaska as it seeks to court U.S. President Donald Trump and forestall potential trade friction, according to three officials familiar with the matter.

A sinkhole that suddenly opened up on a road just northeast of Tokyo and swallowed a truck has captured national attention as the rescue operation of the driver has dragged on for days.

Daiwa Securities reported on Friday a near two-thirds jump in third-quarter net profit, driven by record quarterly income in its asset management division and a recovery in its investment banking arm.

The defense chiefs of Japan and the United States have agreed to strengthen the bilateral alliance under the administration of US President Donald Trump.

The driver was able to talk with rescuers but they retreated after the area around the hole became unstable, a spokesperson said.

The Japanese network Fuji Television and its parent company say its president and chairperson are resigning immediately to take responsibility for a widening sex assault scandal linked to one of Japan’s top TV celebrities.

While America retains a gold standard for airline safety, there are stresses on the US air travel system that have been apparent in a series of near tragedies in recent years. Aviation experts have warned that some safety margins have been squeezed by a shortage of air traffic controllers and congestion in the airspace over many major cities.

China said on Friday Japan's plans for export controls on chips, among other things, could damage business relations.