In Japan, a phenomenon known as "shrinkflation" — an important economic countermeasure against inflation for businesses — has been catching the attention of consumers. The term, coined by American economist Pippa Malmgren, describes what happens when manufacturers have to contend with higher costs but don't ...

Japanese frogs are proliferating across Asia. The good news is, they're not an invasive species, nor are they real. "Tabi Kaeru" ("Travel Frog") became the No. 1 downloaded smartphone app in China for almost two weeks after its debut, and it is still hovering at ...

An association has been set up to promote minpaku private lodgings in farming, mountain and fishing villages in Japan. The Japan Countryside Stay Association said at a press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday it will establish a system in which visitors rate the service quality ...

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in affirmed their stance of raising pressure on North Korea in talks Friday ahead of the opening ceremony for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. While preparations for the Pyeongchang Games have involved dialogue and displays of unity ...

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, attended the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea on Friday, a historic moment that brings hope for easing security tensions sparked by Pyongyang's nuclear weapons ambitions. During the ceremony, Kim ...

Japan’s ambassador to Britain tells Prime Minister Teresa May that Nissan, SoftBank, Nomura and other companies will likely leave if post-Brexit trade barriers make them unprofitable.

A skinny chain smoker with pale skin, Yota Kachi doesn't look much like a professional athlete. But this weekend, the 31-year-old will get a chance to become one by playing video games. Japan will begin the process of legalizing paid esports with a tournament near ...

A startup incubator on the outskirts of Shanghai is laying out sweeteners for budding entrepreneurs: Free office space, subsidized housing rent, tax breaks and in some cases, cash of up to 200,000 yuan ($31,000). The main condition? Be from Taiwan. The center, formally called the Jinshan ...

On the western edge of China, Sulita straps on his skis and heads out into a winter morning. The temperature is minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit). For much of the year, skiing is the only way to get around Khom, a village of ...

While Hawaii has long been one of the most popular go-to destinations for tourists from Japan, Okinawa has finally caught up to outshine the rival resort island chain. For the first time, Okinawa overtook Hawaii in terms of tourist numbers last year, according to Okinawa ...

Nissan Motor Co. has downgraded its group operating profit outlook for the year through March due to an inspection scandal, while raising its net profit projection to a record high following the U.S. tax overhaul. The Japanese automaker slashed its group operating profit outlook for ...

The government approves a bill to improve fire safety at shelters for the needy after a blaze killed 11 people at such a facility in Sapporo about a week ago.

A group of six French skiers who disappeared on the slopes of Hokkaido's famous Furano Ski Resort on Thursday have been found safe and sound, the resort's operator confirmed on Friday. The Hokkaido Prefectural Police said they received a call at around 6:05 p.m. Thursday ...

The marketing strategy of selling rice in small volumes has recently seen success in Japan on the back of a rise in the number of one-person households and small families. Rice contained in 5 kilogram packages, which used to be the main size, is unpopular ...

Princess Mako, the eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, and her fiance, Kei Komuro, are merely postponing their wedding and their intention to marry is unchanged, the Imperial Household Agency reiterated Thursday. "I've heard it's just a postponement and their intention to get married is unchanged. ...

A green turtle died as oil reached the southern Amami-Oshima Island coast, the local government said Thursday, but it was not clear whether the oil came from an Iranian tanker that sank in nearby waters last month. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies ...

A public elementary school in Tokyo's posh Ginza district has decided to adopt new uniforms designed by the Italian luxury brand Armani, triggering protests from parents who say they are too expensive, the local education board has said. The issue regarding Taimei Elementary School's uniforms, ...

Olympic officials are discussing measures to combat the spread of a virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea after 42 new cases were confirmed at the games, a Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) official said on Friday. After rising from an initial 32 ...

Bound together, the 10 Rohingya captives watched their Buddhist neighbors dig a grave. Soon afterward, on the morning of Sept. 2, all 10 lay dead. At least two were hacked to death by Buddhist villagers. The rest were shot by soldiers, two of the ...

A flawless diamond, the size of a large strawberry, is expected to fetch a world record price when it goes on sale at Sotheby's in London this month. Weighing just over 102 carats, the round, brilliant white stone is smaller than a 163-carat oval diamond ...

Scientists have succeeded for the first time in growing human eggs in a laboratory from the earliest stages in ovarian tissue all the way to full maturity — a scientific step that had previously been taken in mice. Publishing their result in the journal Molecular ...

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly knew that President Donald Trump's staff secretary had issues in his past possibly impeding a permanent security clearance before news reports this week on domestic violence allegations against the aide, people familiar with the matter said. A deputy ...

Japan should pivot to Asia by seizing the frontier opportunities of the 600 million strong ASEAN market.

For the first time ever, the world's most powerful rocket was designed and built by a private corporation.

Nagano Prefecture's bountiful snow continues to be the stuff of ski and snowboarding legend, with classic Olympic resorts such as Hakuba Happo-one, Nozawa Onsen and Shiga Kogen.

Grammy award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar and hip-hop group N.E.R.D. were among the acts announced Friday morning to appear at this year's Fuji Rock Festival. While the festival is known for its penchant for British rock acts, the announcement of Lamar, N.E.R.D. and Californian hip-hop artist ...

A ray of light shone and a bell rang out to pronounce the start of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Friday. All eyes settled on the rival Koreas, who marched together under a "Korean Unification" flag a day after the North staged a ...

Long-distance specialist Miho Takagi will be looking to make more Japanese speedskating history on Saturday when she lines up for the women's 3,000 meters, the sport's first medal event at the Pyeongchang Games. The 23-year-old, who in addition to the team pursuit is also entered ...

Freestyle skier Nobuyuki Nishi revealed Friday that he has apologized for wearing a hat with a design resembling a controversial Japanese wartime flag at the Pyeongchang Olympic athletes' village. Speaking to reporters after finishing the first round of men's moguls qualifying in 16th place, Nishi ...

Ikuma Horishima led a strong showing by the Japanese team during the first qualifying session for the men's moguls final at the Pyeongchang Olympics. Horishima qualified in fifth with a score of 80.35. Compatriot Daichi Hara was sixth with 80.01. Sho Endo finished in ...

Japan is in third place at the halfway point of the first round of the figure skating team event on Friday with 13 points, behind Canada (17) and the United States (14). Japan grabbed the early lead following the men's short program in the morning ...