NEW YORK – United Airlines said Thursday that it will open two new routes linking the U.S. cities of Chicago and San Francisco with Japan later this year. With the new routes, the U.S. airline aims to capture demand from the growing popularity of travel to Japan in the United States. Specifically, the company will begin regular service with one daily round-trip flight connecting Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture, with Chicago from Oct. 24, becoming the first U.S. airline to operate the route. The airline will also offer three round trips per week on the route between New Chitose Airport near Sapporo, capital of Hokkaido, and San Francisco on a winter-only basis from Dec. 11 through next March. The flight will be the first nonstop service between the U.S. mainland and Sapporo, according to the company.…