Nine-time tournament winner Harumafuji, angered by Takanoiwa’s attitude, allegedly struck him with a beer bottle and punched him some 30 times while out drinking with other sumo wrestlers.

Zimbabwe's army said Wednesday it had President Robert Mugabe and his wife in custody and was securing government offices and patrolling the capital following a night of unrest that included a military takeover of the state broadcaster. The actions triggered speculation of a coup. For the ...

The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan this year totals 23.79 million through the end of October, up 18.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the Japan Tourism Agency.

Following President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing, China said Wednesday that it would send a high-level special envoy to North Korea amid an extended chill in relations between the neighbors over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programs. Song Tao, the head of China's ruling Communist ...

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike’s sudden announcement Tuesday that she is resigning as Kibo no To’s president shocked party members and drew strong criticism from the public.

The economy marked a seven-quarter growth run through September — the longest in 16 years — but the outlook appears less rosy as strong private consumption may just be a blip.

Australians have voted decisively in favor of allowing same-sex couples to marry, sparking celebrations Wednesday across the country. The change may become enshrined in law by Christmas. Thousands of supporters of marriage equality took to the streets, dancing and singing, when the results were announced. ...

It's impossible for Ichiro Kawanabe to order up an Uber in Japan. The ride-hailing company has banned him from having an account. That's not a problem, though, because he rarely has trouble getting around; Kawanabe runs Nihon Kotsu Co., Tokyo's biggest taxi company. Visitors to the ...

The parents of a girl who has come to symbolize Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and '80s voiced frustration with the lack of progress on the issue Wednesday — 40 years to the date since their daughter was kidnapped ...

As governments across Japan seek to attract more foreign tourists, some are developing smartphone apps featuring virtual reality videos. Municipalities, especially those with lesser-known sightseeing spots, hope such VR videos will be instrumental in reaching out to potential tourists both in Japan and overseas. The central ...

It was a gut feeling and common sense that made Dr. Iwao Kuwajima question a drug for high blood pressure that just about every other doctor in his field was excited about in the 2000s. Kuwajima, now 72, was the first doctor in the nation ...

Japan's economy grew for a seventh straight quarter, its longest expansion since 2001, as rising business investment and a recovery in exports offset a decline in consumer spending. Gross domestic product grew at an annualized rate of 1.4 percent in the three months ended Sept. ...

Exhausted and exposed to freezing cold, survivors of a weekend earthquake in western Iran begged authorities for food and shelter on Tuesday, saying aid was slow to reach them. Iranian officials called off rescue operations earlier in the day on the grounds there was little ...

Carmakers in the U.K. could endure "semi-catastrophic" production interruptions if the European Union stops automatically accepting the nation's vehicle certification program once Brexit comes into effect, executives told British lawmakers. Terms for Britain's departure from the EU will need to include agreements on so-called type ...

In the absence of U.S. leadership, Beijing's policies on climate change are likely to set the global agenda.

Japan's gender gaps in income and leadership remain stubbornly entrenched.

"Russo-Japanese" Chuk Besher spent years researching Japan's multicultural history. Much later, son Noah, 8, had a question: "What does 'half' mean?"

Showa Women's University and Temple University, Japan Campus have announced a unique site-sharing agreement that could offer a model to other Japanese schools.

This Wenceslas is a 6-year-old male rescued from the mountains of Yamaguchi Prefecture along with 33 other dogs, all of which were related.

Need someone to chase pigs in Thailand? Daisuke Miyagawa's your man. How about punching watermelons in Australia? Miyagawa's your man. The 45-year-old comedian has been sent on numerous overseas adventures as part of the Nippon TV variety show "Sekai no Hate Made Itte Q" (which ...

In a Hollywood that is increasingly obsessed with superhero blockbusters, the place to see many acclaimed filmmakers these days is on the small screen. In Japan, though, the Wowow entertainment channel has been producing original dramas by local auteurs for some time. One such auteur ...

Being two of Japan's biggest pop-cultural exports, it's a small wonder Godzilla and anime haven't been brought together before now. But better late than ever. Hot off the heels of last year's hit "Shin Godzilla," which reintroduced the Big G after an absence of 12 ...

Tokyo-based internet company DMM.com has taken full ownership of Belgian first-division side Sint-Truiden, the soccer club announced Wednesday. The company acquired the final 80 percent of shares in the Limburg-based team after it had bought an initial 20 percent stake earlier in the year, the ...

Yokozuna Hakuho stayed unbeaten at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament after manhandling Chiyotairyu, while a pair of ozeki also maintained spotless records to stay in a tie for the early lead in Fukuoka on Wednesday. Hakuho (4-0), who is gunning for his record 40th title, ...

One day before the inaugural Asia Professional Baseball Championship begins, all three participating nations made their final tuneups with high expectations at the tournament venue, Tokyo Dome, on Wednesday. The tournament, which features Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, will provide a managerial debut for former ...

Star player Yuko Oga is bringing the curtain down on her storied career at the end of this season. But she has no feelings of melancholy. The Toyota Antelopes point guard, who announced that the 2017-18 season would be her last as a player before ...

Japan narrowly lost to fifth-ranked Belgium in a friendly on Tuesday as Romelu Lukaku gave the hosts a 1-0 victory. The Manchester United striker headed home a cross from Nacer Chadli in the 72nd minute, taking his international tally to 31 goals to become the ...