The long-running joke that orange juice flows like water in Ehime Prefecture is now a reality as a new refreshment stand featuring a unique faucet opened Thursday at Matsuyama airport. At the stand, named the Orange Bar, customers can serve themselves the juice of local ...

A research study finds that average life expectancy in Japan has increased to 83.2 years from 79.0 years during the quarter-century period, but the gap between prefectures has widened.

Defense Minister Tomomi Inada may be questioned over her alleged role in a suspected cover-up of the activity logs of Ground Self-Defense Force troops during a U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, the top government spokesman said Thursday. Inada was not supposed to be part ...

In yet another twist in an ongoing alleged cronyism scandal, a veterinary association affiliate contradicts Cabinet minister’s claims of an open selection process for a special deregulation project.

The Emperor was ‘uncomfortable’ with Japan’s militarism during World War II but was unable to alter the course of events, says a British government dispatch written in 1989.

After losing World War II, Japan decided to pursue pacifism under a war-renouncing Constitution, and its scientists vowed to avoid military research in repentance for cooperating with the military. But this long-held position is being complicated by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's policy of luring universities ...

Idemitsu Kosan Co. has taken another step toward merging with Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. after the Tokyo High Court upheld a lower court decision to allow a public offering of new shares. Idemitsu's founding family had sought an injunction against the move, claiming it was ...

Japan logged a ¥1.04 trillion ($9.3 billion) trade surplus in the first half as exports surged to Asia, but their value shrank from a year ago as imports of crude oil grew, government data showed Thursday. In the January-June half, exports rose 9.5 percent to ...

The Fair Trade Commission has searched major department store chains mostly in western Japan on suspicion they formed a price cartel to inflate shipping charges for their products. The FTC's inspections over the alleged price-fixing practice were conducted Wednesday at seven chains, including Osaka-based Takashimaya ...

Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa and the mayors of six towns and villages in the prefecture hosting nuclear power plants have called on Defense Minister Tomomi Inada to dispatch Self-Defense Forces personnel to the prefecture to guard Fukui's 15 reactors (including those being decommissioned) against ...

More needs to be done to ensure that human traffickers are brought to justice and Rohingya migrants are protected, rights groups said Thursday, after a trial in which 62 people were convicted of crimes including trafficking and murder. A Bangkok court convicted the 62, including ...

Kuroda acknowledges stickiness of Japan’s “deflationary mindset,” as the central bank pushes back timing for inflation goal by one year.

For more than two decades, Nintendo Co.'s twin product lines were the envy of its rivals: a home console and a handheld gaming device. But signs are emerging that its new hybrid Switch may upend all of that. Starting with 1989's Game Boy, the Kyoto-based ...

Boris Johnson, Britain's top diplomat, arrived in Japan on Thursday to discuss trade after Brexit with an economy that has played a vital role in propping up manufacturing back home. Johnson is in Tokyo to meet top officials, business leaders and investors as well as ...

Books aimed at teaching elementary school students about issues concerning the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community have been published recently to deepen understanding about sexual minorities in Japan. Publishers say the books that teach basic knowledge on how "anyone should be able to become ...

The tobacco industry continues to subvert government attempts to prevent tobacco-related deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday in a fresh call to counter corporate lobbying and litigation. Countries with partly state-owned tobacco companies, such as Japan, which has a stake in Japan ...

When Islamic State fighter Marat Nurmagomedov escaped from Syria to Turkey after becoming disillusioned with the militant group, he was unable to return home to Russia for fear of arrest. Instead, he managed to obtain a passport under another name and flew from Istanbul to ...

About 150 people gathered Wednesday outside the offices of the nation's largest labor federation to protest the government's contentious proposal of adopting merit-based pay for certain highly skilled workers. The Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) told Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last week that measures to ...

Kyushu Railway Co. said Wednesday it will install security cameras in its shinkansen running in Kyushu beginning in November to enhance security ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. The railway will introduce the cameras in passenger cabins and the decks of the 800 ...

A centuries-old porcelain plate on loan from Japan has been found partially damaged, but a joint investigation has ruled out vandalism and human negligence, Taiwan's National Palace Museum said Wednesday. The 17th century, Imari-style porcelain ware is among items loaned by the Museum of Oriental ...

America's colossal military might no longer ensures it can have its own way automatically around the world.

While domestic calculations hold New Delhi back from going to war with Beijing, in China's case it is its international image that prevents it from doing so.

The Karuizawa Prince Hotel East in Nagano Prefecture reopened on July 12 after the renovation of all 70 rooms, the lobby and its two restaurants. The hotel is part of The Prince Grand Resort Karuizawa that is familiar to a wide range of customers as ...

The government's Cool Japan initiative may be focused on spreading anime around the world, but Japanese culture scored a significant victory in France earlier this month in the world of theater. Director Satoshi Miyagi, 58, became the first Asian dramatist to present the opening play ...

When the call for auditions went out in November 2015, 1,346 boys sent in their head shots and resumes hoping to land what could be a life-changing role as the titular lead in a Japanese production of "Billy Elliot." The competition was fierce — around ...

Takuya Nakashima manufactured the decisive run with his speed, allowing the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters to snap a five-game losing streak with a 4-3, 11-inning victory over the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on Thursday. With the score tied 3-3, Nakashima got things started in the ...

FC Tokyo suffered its second straight defeat on its summer tour of Germany on Wednesday, losing 5-2 to Bundesliga side Mainz. Keigo Higashi leveled for Tokyo shortly after Gerrit Holtmann gave Mainz the lead six minutes into the second half. But goals from Danny Latza, ...

Yokozuna Hakuho rebounded from a shock first defeat by beating sekiwake Tamawashi on Thursday to collect a record-tying 1,047th career win, at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament. Hakuho matched the all-time record held by former ozeki Kaio in the day's penultimate bout at Aichi Prefectural ...

Capable playmaker Seiya Ando leaves the rebuilding Akita Northern Happinets to play for the new-look Alvark Tokyo. And with the move, he may experience a lot more winning in the upcoming campaign, too. The Alvark went 44-16 this past season; the Happinets had an 18-42 regular-season ...