In 2016, a total of 1,452 people died in fires, including from suicide by fire, down for the second straight year and falling by 27.6 pct from the 2007 level.
As fatalities in the first half of 2017 increased 2.5 pct from a year before to 885, however, it remains to be seen if the total for the whole of 2017 dropped year on year.
The number of fires in 2016 totaled 36,831, down 32.6 pct from 2007, with that of building fires falling by over 10,000 to 20,991.
There were "multiple reasons" for the declines in the numbers of fires and fatalities, including the requirement of fire alarms in new housing and overheating prevention sensors in kitchen stoves using gas as fuel, said Keiko Suzuki, chief researcher at the National Research Institute of Fire and Disaster.
News On Japan - Nov 26
Panicked passengers on a Shinkansen bullet train were evacuated at a central Japan station on Friday night, after a plastic bag containing suspicious liquid was found onboard.
News On Japan - Nov 26
A 29-year-old man has been arrested for meeting an underage teen girl, with sexual intent, after sending her messages, promising to make her "the happiest in the world".
News On Japan - Nov 25
Inui Street, the famed autumn walk within the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo, opened to the public from Saturday.
News On Japan - Nov 25
Nissan Motor Corporation has announced plans to transition all its vehicles produced in the United Kingdom to electric vehicles (EVs).
News On Japan - Nov 25
A JR West Japan train conductor has been arrested for secretly filming eight women in the toilet of the express train "Haruka" while on duty.
News On Japan - Nov 25
Tofukuji Temple, home to 2,000 maple trees and renowned as one of Kyoto's premier autumn hotspots, features the Tsutenkyo Bridge, and the breathtaking 'sea of autumn leaves'.
News On Japan - Nov 25
The strongest cold snap of the season has brought a dramatic drop in temperatures to northern Japan, where snow began falling Friday morning, with up to 50 cm expected in Hokkaido and Tohoku by Saturday evening, and a chance of blizzards.
News On Japan - Nov 24
It's Shichi-Go-San, the Japanese festival season for celebrating the healthy growth of children, with Aibo the robot dog giving prayer at a shrine in Fukuoka, on Friday.