A government panel has adopted a proposal for regulatory changes that would block plans by discount mobile carrier Ymobile Corp. to offer fourth-generation wireless services. The proposal sets new conditions under which the communications ministry plans to allocate frequency bands for 4G services later this year.  Under the previous conditions, a company with a parent that holds one-third or more of its voting rights was forbidden from applying for frequency bands at the same time as its parent because they are regarded as belonging to one group.

While most ATMs in Tokyo are located in convenience stores, in train stations, or on important street corners, Tokyo’s first fully operational Bitcoin ATM is located in The Pink Cow, a Cal-Mex restaurant and bar in the middle of Roppongi. The bar is a popular expat hangout in the city, and is a gathering place for artists and musicians. More recently, the restaurant has been home to frequent gatherings of Bitcoin fans in Tokyo, and incidentally became the first restaurant in Japan to accept Bitcoins.

Fast-fashion titan Uniqlo had already ventured into the domain of smartphones applications with not-so-exciting Uniqlo Calendar, fashion-style browsing Uniqlooks or again Uniqlo Wake Up applications. However, the Japan-based brand has finally released something that speaks directly to its target customers with UTme!, an application that lets smartphone users design their own T-shirts.

Some 65% of global car purchases are decided by women, while in Japan Nissan is increasingly courting female consumers through new-look dealerships and staffing. In the Tokyo suburb of Fuchu, a pilot dealership managed by women underwent a design transformation this month to make the shopping experience more welcoming and easier. Called the “Ladies First” project, CEO Carlos Ghosn said the plan will broaden across Japan.

The Japanese government will promote the use of robots to start a new industrial revolution and double the size of the robotics market in the manufacturing sector by 2020. It plans to include measures to promote the robotics industry in its draft of its new growth strategy. The government says robotics technology will be used to improve the productivity and profitability of Japanese businesses.

A select group of soccer fans have enjoyed watching a World Cup match on an ultra high-definition television at a public viewing event in Tokyo. The set uses 8K Super Hi-Vision technologies being developed mainly by NHK. It was used to broadcast live a game between Japan and Cote d'Ivoire on Sunday. About 150 people attended the event.

What better way to use your hard earned Japanese skills than making friends all over the world while avoiding being crushed to death by spiked ceilings or knocked into a bottomless pit? Japan-based educator and PhD student James York knows a thing or two about learning a language. As well as having passed the toughest level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, he’s also an assistant professor at a Japanese university where he teaches English.

Many fast food companies have alter-egos overseas. Japan is home to outposts of several U.S.-based fast food chains, including McDonald’s, Burger King, and Subway. From Spam breakfast sandwiches to an apple pie burger, some options are bizarre. Other menu items, like the pretzel mocha Frappuccino at Starbucks, would likely be popular in the U.S., too. Pictured right, for example, you see Burger King Japan's 'BK Ringo'. It is designed to taste like apple pie. It's topped with apple slices and a cinnamon mayo spread.

A ball-kicking game was played at a shrine in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto to pray for the country's success at the World Cup soccer finals that begin in Brazil next month. A group of people working to preserve the traditional kemari game, and former Japanese soccer star Hidetoshi Nakata, offered prayers at Shimogamo Shrine. They wore colorful costumes from the Heian era that lasted from the 8th century to the 12th century.

America may have put the first man on the moon, but Japan is going to be the first to send up the first advertising billboard — in the shape of a can. Japanese drink-maker Otsuka is going to send a titanium can that weighs about 2.2 pounds and that can serve as a mini-sized billboard for the company. It’ll be packed with Pocari Sweat powder, which forms into a non-carbonated, citrus-flavored drink when liquid is added, United Press International reported.