A scandal centered on allegations that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe improperly wielded his influence to help a close friend cut through government red tape has roared back to life after seeming to have died down last year. And this time, Abe appears to be in ...

The government is weighing the creation of a new residence status allowing those on the program to stay longer in the country, as part of efforts to tackle labor shortages.

Rescuers recovered the body of a woman on Thursday from the site of a massive landslide in Oita Prefecture after confirming the death of a male resident the day before. The body is believed to be that of one of five women who remained unaccounted ...

The Bank of Japan on Thursday raised its assessments for two of the country's nine regional economies, underscoring a steady economic recovery amid robust exports and an uptick in household spending. In its quarterly Sakura Report, the central bank upgraded its view of the Shikoku ...

The data showed a notable increase in the number of cases involving people aged below 20, raising concern that use of the drug is becoming more widespread among juveniles.

For Sachiko Tanaka, her battered Japanese dictionary, the Kojirin, is not just any other lexicon. It was something Tanaka read in her bed under the covers during blackouts throughout World War II, something she had in her hands when the atomic bomb hit Hiroshima on ...

Hino Motors, Toyota Motor Corp.'s group truck manufacturer, and Volkswagen Truck & Bus of Germany agreed Thursday to form a partnership on the technologies behind hybrids, electric cars, autonomous driving and connectivity. Each company will maintain independence under the deal, but executive teams will work ...

The organizer of a spring sumo tour on Thursday said the sport's governing body requested that girls be excluded from an event in which school-aged children joined wrestlers in the dohyō (ring). An official of the Japan Sumo Association in charge of the tour in ...

Beleaguered retail chain Toys R Us Inc. is negotiating to sell its 85 percent stake in its Asian business, including the Japan operations. A spokeswoman at Toys R Us Japan headquarters in Kawasaki confirmed Thursday that Toys R Us Asia Ltd., its parent, is in ...

A former top Chinese Communist Party official who was once tipped for a leadership post pleaded guilty at his bribery trial on Thursday, the latest target of President Xi Jinping's sweeping anti-corruption crusade. Sun Zhengcai, a former Politburo member and party chief of the southwestern ...

A hulking military transport plane crashed just after takeoff in Algeria Wednesday, killing 257 people in the worst aviation disaster in the North African nation's history and plunging the country into mourning. Soldiers, their family members and a group of 30 people returning to refugee ...

Donald Trump's recently announced trade tariffs and upcoming summit with North Korea give China an unprecedented opportunity to prove its strength before the eyes of the world.

By monitoring utility use, companies can play a role in reversing the tragic trend of "lonely deaths."

The weather is crisp when I arrive at Shin-Aomori Station via the Tohoku Shinkansen. I'm not surprised, though, the northernmost prefecture on the island of Honshu is known as a cold and isolated place. It's likely thanks to the chillier environment keeping people inside with ...

Pop singer Mariah Carey revealed on Wednesday that she suffers from bipolar disorder, telling People magazine that she was diagnosed in 2001 but had only recently been taking medication. Carey told People in an interview that she got the diagnosis when she was hospitalized following ...

Reigning 66-kg world champion Hifumi Abe has agreed to a management contract under a new company established by three-time Olympic judo champion Tadahiro Nomura, the company announced Thursday. Although it is unusual for Japanese judoka to be managed while still attending college, the 20-year-old Abe ...

New national soccer team manager Akira Nishino believes Japan is capable of making an impact at this summer's World Cup despite taking over just two months before the tournament begins. "If the players perform as they are capable of doing and come together as a ...

Tatsuya Ito is enjoying a solid rookie season for the Kyoto Hannaryz. The steady point guard has showcased his scoring ability and excited fans with his passing acumen along the way. In Kyoto's 74-72 road defeat to the Shiga Lakestars on Sunday, the 23-year-old contributed ...

Oakland Raiders pass rusher Khalil Mack was absent from the start of voluntary workouts under new head coach Jon Gruden. Money appears to be at the heart of the matter as Mack is seeking a long-term contract extension. The 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the ...

New York Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (2-1) struck out three and earned his second win of the season in a 10-7 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night in a contest marred by a bench-clearing brawl. Tanaka gave up a fifth-inning grand slam ...