In ancient legend they were called the kraken, fearsome sea monsters of giant proportions that would drag sailors down to their doom. More than 2,000 years later, the world still remains mystified by the creatures we now know as giant squids. But researchers, led by internationally ...

Shinchosha Publishing announced its Shincho 45 magazine will effectively fold after carrying articles that its president said contained “outrageous prejudice” against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Starting this year’s U.N. speech with the topic of trade, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe signaled its high priority at a time of rising tensions between the world’s economic powers.

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke of "a bold and new push for peace" with nuclear-armed North Korea during his speech before the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, in a hint at the direction his administration is heading as he gears up for a second ...

With Typhoon Trami predicted to pass over Okinawa Prefecture this weekend, candidates for Sunday's gubernatorial election are making efforts to get voters to the polls early out of concern over the effect the storm could have on the final result. As of Wednesday morning, the ...

President Rodrigo Duterte's fiercest critic in Congress was arrested Tuesday after the president revoked his 2011 amnesty for a failed coup attempt and revived rebellion charges against him in an unprecedented legal move the senator called a blow to democracy. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV walked ...

The laughter was sudden, loud and unexpected. It came at the expense of the U.S. president as he addressed global leaders at the United Nations, and it was witnessed by an audience of tens of millions viewing immediate clips online of an awkward moment for ...

Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp. signed its second Japanese customer in as many weeks — but the payload this time will be lunar rovers rather than a group of space tourists. Tokyo-based lunar-exploration startup Ispace has signed up for launches on SpaceX's Falcon 9 ...

Nissan Motor Co. submitted a report to the government Wednesday containing measures to prevent any further fabrication of exhaust emissions and fuel efficiency data. "We have hurt the trust of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and our customers," Nissan President Hiroto Saikawa ...

Carlos Ghosn, who built the three-way union of Renault, Nissan. and Mitsubishi Motors, said overseeing the group is a job he isn’t looking to relinquish.

It's drawing time at this suburban nursery school in Saitama Prefecture, but instead of crayons, tiny fingers are tapping on colors on iPad screens and taking selfies. Digital schooling has arrived in a nation long known for its zealous commitment to the "three R's ...

As a Self-Defense Forces recruiter sat patiently at a booth outside a supermarket in Tokyo one recent weekend, she welcomed a rare visitor, high school student Kazuaki Matsumura. But Matsumura, who plans to go to university, wasn't there to sign up. He was just curious. "There ...

South Korean President Moon Jae-in told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during talks on Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is ready to engage in direct talks with Japan at an appropriate time and improve relations. South Korea's presidential office provided the details ...

Japan and the United States agreed on Tuesday to create a framework for expanding trade between the two countries. The two governments reached the accord at the second round of their "free, fair and reciprocal," ministerial trade dialogue in New York. The meeting came at a ...

The lack of an LDP heir apparent and the absence of a credible opposition force means that Japan may face a leadership vacuum when Abe's tenure ends.

The U.S. president makes his best case yet for the importance of American sovereignty.

Don't be fooled by her child-like grin and bubbly down-to-earth personality. Aya Osanai is serious about her mission to rewrite the rules of fitness and front a campaign to get Japan into shape. Although she appears very much the girl next door in her cropped ...

In the wake of Naomi Osaka's historic triumph in the U.S. Open, The Japan Times asked people what they think makes a person Japanese. Is it parentage, language, culture or a combination of factors? Hiroyuki Fujisawa, 71 Restaurateur (Japanese) The way that Japanese think, to be Japanese, ...

Pop music often opts for positivity rather than confronting the uncomfortable, but Seiko Oomori has never really adhered to J-pop norms. "The bad things that happen to you can also be attractive, almost kawaii," she says from one of the upper floors at the headquarters ...

Movies about pro-wrestling seldom star actual pro wrestlers. Instead we get Mickey Rourke ("The Wrestler") or Ryuta Sato ("Gachi Boy: Wrestling with a Memory"). But the ascent to Hollywood stardom of Dwayne Johnson, who wrestled professionally as "The Rock," has inspired New Japan Pro-Wrestling, ...

An old-fashioned coffee house serves up a dash of mystery and a great dollop of sentiment in Ayuko Tsukahara's "Cafe Funiculi Funicula." Based on a pair of best-selling novels by playwright-turned-author Toshikazu Kawaguchi, this aggressively tear-jerky paean to life, death and past regrets plays ...

Shonan Bellmare escaped with a 0-0 draw against Kawasaki Frontale in the J. League on Wednesday night after striker Yu Kobayashi missed a late penalty for the visitors at a rain-soaked BMW Stadium. Following the postponement of their July 28 clash due to Typhoon Jongdari, ...

Japan's run at the women's world cup ended Wednesday with an 87-81 loss to China in a meeting between two of Asia's best. A hot-shooting Nako Motohashi led the way for Japan, going 10-for-17 from the floor for her 25 points, including 3-for-5 from 3-point ...

Aren Kuri threw eight scoreless innings to help the Hiroshima Carp to clinch their third straight Central League pennant in grand fashion with a 10-0 win over the Tokyo Yakult Swallows on Wednesday. For two straight days, the Carp had needed one win or one ...

Chunichi Dragons reliever Takuya Asao, an unprecedented choice for Central League MVP as a set-up man, announced Wednesday that he will retire at the end of the season. "I have no regrets," he told a press conference at Nagoya Dome. "I have enjoyed a joyful ...

Jose Mourinho was left red-faced amid fresh talk of a rift with Paul Pogba as Manchester United crashed to a shock penalty shootout defeat against Frank Lampard's Derby in the League Cup on Tuesday. Just hours after Mourinho reportedly told unsettled star Pogba that he ...

Shori Hamada marked her world championships debut, and her 28th birthday, with an added-time victory in the women's 78-kg weight class on Tuesday. The final between the Tokyo Grand Slam winner and world No. 1 Guusje Steenhuis of the Netherlands at the National Gymnastics Arena ...

Kazuo Matsui, the first Japanese infielder to be signed by a major league team, will draw the curtain on a career that has spanned 25 years at the end of this season, the Saitama Seibu Lions announced Wednesday. The 42-year-old, a seven-time All-Star and four-time ...

Takanohana's retirement, announced on Tuesday, brings to an end the Hanada dynasty's 72-year-long involvement in sumo. The scion of a family that dominated both in the ring and in the headlines since the 1950's, Takanohana never seemed at ease in the sport that was his ...

Last week, the Minnesota Vikings were concerned enough about Everson Griffen's state of mind that they barred the three-time Pro Bowl defensive end from practice until he had a mental health evaluation. After a scary series of incidents on Saturday, Griffen remained away from the ...

With a bottle of bubbly at his feet and a baseball with the inscription "300 Ks" in a case in his locker, Max Scherzer allowed himself a moment to consider what he'd just accomplished. "It was something I dreamed of, reaching this mark," Scherzer said, ...

Los Angeles Angels two-way rookie Shohei Ohtani will have Tommy John surgery next week and return next season only as a hitter. The Angels confirmed Ohtani's long-expected decision on elbow ligament replacement Tuesday. Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the surgery in Los Angeles. Just a few ...

Tiger Woods paused on his walk toward the 18th green at Le Golf National and threw his head back in laughter. These are happy times for Woods, regardless of whatever Bryson DeChambeau said to cause such a reaction Tuesday. Now the question is if he ...

Although the Lakers' first official practice of the LeBron James era was focused on defense and learning new terminology, they ended it with a good old-fashioned 3-point shooting contest. The Lakers' new superstar was just another teammate during the spirited back-and-forth competition Tuesday. When James ...