More than half of the public opposes Japan exercising the right to collective self-defense, the latest survey says.

Eight prefectures announce a joint bid to promote “ama” diving culture for inclusion on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.

The Liberal Democratic Party's No. 2 executive said Sunday the party will again try to persuade its Buddhist coalition partner, New Komeito, that Japan should be allowed to exercise the right to collective self-defense. "We will discuss the issue with New Komeito to find common ...

A city in Miyagi Prefecture that was devastated by the March 2011 disasters is sharing its recovery lessons with the central Philippines, which is trying to recover from the damage Typhoon Haiyan inflicted in November. Shuya Takahashi of Higashi-Matsushima's Reconstruction Policy Division said the city ...

Beijing asked Tokyo not to arrest a Chinese hot air balloonist who tried to land on the Senkaku Islands and had to be rescued by the Japan Coast Guard.

Keidanren has selected a new leader just as its clout declines and it faces challenges to its role as the nation's most powerful business lobby.

If there is no longer a British Empire and the American effort to sustain Europe while creating a new, balanced, Israel-friendly greater Middle East has failed, does the continued appetite for war and conquest mean that Darwin was wrong?

Norovirus food poisoning is back this season, and the health ministry says the number of cases has been on the rise for the past 10 years. No drug or vaccine will weaken or kill norovirus. Hand-washing with soap is the best preventive.

To say that the late Ariel Sharon's eight-year-long coma had given Israel time to "come to terms" with his checkered legacy is a cliche that deserves to be swept away.

Tenkin-de kite, sonomama sumitsuite-shimau hito-mo ooi-sō-desu. (There are many people who settled there after getting transferred, I heard.) ...

I hope 2014 has started well for all our readers. Lifelines kicks off the Year of the Horse with an email from overseas reader Hannah, who has several questions about the Japanese education system: How often do English teachers administer dictation to their students? And ...

In a fast-paced game highlighted by slam dunks (19 in all) and rapid-fire 3-point shooting (the teams combined for 87), a stellar start and balanced scoring carried the Eastern Conference to a 98-91 triumph over the Western Conference at the 2013-14 All-Star Game on ...