Billionaire Japanese tycoon and future space tourist Yusaku Maezawa said Monday his tweet promising a cash giveaway of nearly $10,000 was the most retweeted ever. The 43-year-old Maezawa posted a tweet on Saturday promising ¥1 million ($9,250) in cash each to 100 randomly selected followers ...

The three workers, all women in their 20s, will spend three years gaining experience at Sapporo-based Sakura Community Service Co.

The railway says it hopes the driverless train will go into service soon.

Travelers start getting dinged at all airports and seaports in the first new tax since 1992.

Carlos Ghosn will get a chance Tuesday to make his case to the Tokyo District Court that he should be released on bail from his 50-day detention. But 9,500 km away in Paris, his future as head of Renault SA is increasingly in doubt. The ...

Legendary Queen guitarist Brian May became the latest celebrity to weigh in Sunday on controversial construction work associated with the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture, a project that opponents say will endanger rare coral species. May took to social ...

Seven Bank will equip its ATMs with facial recognition technology, possibly starting this fall, as a way to identify customers and let people open bank accounts on the spot, sources said Monday. The new ATM operated by Seven Bank, a unit of retailer Seven & ...

Travelers in Hokkaido remained stranded Monday after flight cancellations due to heavy snow from Saturday onwards delayed around 2,000, leaving many stranded overnight at a key airport just as the country's New Year holidays wrapped up. On Monday, check-in counters at New Chitose Airport near ...

"I'll have a draft," says Yasuo Fujinuma, heaving himself down at the sushi counter. He pulls a pack of cigarettes from a frayed pocket of his sweater. From the corner of the restaurant, a small TV hums the noon weather forecast. He never drinks ...

In 1985, about 30 bald men in their 30s who were running businesses in Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture, created a group called Hagetemo Katsura wo Kaburan Kai, which roughly translates to a group of men who won't wear wigs even if they go bald. The men, ...

China will not back down on what it sees as a highly successful de-radicalization program in Xinjiang that has attracted global concern, but fewer people will be sent through, officials said last week in allowing rare media access there. Beijing has faced an outcry from ...

U.S. State Department officials are changing the policy of the president.

Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria and reduce forces in Afghanistan has exposed the hollowness of arguments in favor of endless intervention.

Without a new paradigm for managing globalization, fragmentation and political despair will become the new normal.

The predictions of democratic failure in the face of authoritarian power will come true only if publics allow it.

Amid today's global conflicts, debasement of public debate, attacks on democratic institutions and escalating geopolitical tensions, it is hard to find much cause for hope. But it's still possible to restore faith in our shared humanity.

With the Golden Globes finished, the race to the Oscars is on. It's time to try out your Japanese on the topic of movies.

Depending on whether it's used as a noun, an idomatic expression or as an adverb, 'shidai' can mean something entirely different.

A hot spring map proves to be a hot topic in the news. Read about how the city of Beppu is making efforts to welcome tourists with tattoos.

A Nagoya-based effort to recycle food waste gets an award — and we get a lesson on composting.

Thunder bolt and lighting rocked the 76th Golden Globes where a string of upsets culminated with the Freddie Mercury biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody" winning best picture, drama, over another movie about musicians: Bradley Coopler's much more heavily favored "A Star Is Born." "A Star Is Born" ...

With original boundary-breaking content, thrilling plots and charismatic actors, Danish television series have captivated audiences worldwide in recent years. The latest show to hit the small screen is "Ride Upon the Storm," which is being distributed in almost 80 countries with a debut late January ...

Yokozuna Kisenosato broke even over six practice bouts on Monday as he prepares for the fight of his life at the upcoming New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. Kisenosato won three and lost three of his practice bouts, which were overseen by the yokozuna council, going ...

The Yomiuri Giants announced Monday they will send veteran outfielder Hisayoshi Chono to the Hiroshima Carp as part of the compensation package for the Tokyo-based team's signing of free agent slugger Yoshihiro Maru. The Carp, winners of the last three Central League pennants, selected the ...

The Chiba Lotte Marines have acquired former major league pitcher Josh Ravin for next season, the Pacific League club said Monday. The 30-year-old Ravin, who played with the Atlanta Braves last year, agreed to terms worth an estimated $800,000 (about ¥87.2 million). The Marines hope ...

Former Spain and Barcelona star Andres Iniesta has been criticized on social media for posting a photo showing him with a group of people, including two in blackface, as part of the Three Kings Day celebration in Spain. Iniesta, who was not in blackface, is ...

Why would an NPB team post its best players now? If the going rate for someone like Yusei Kikuchi, one of the best pitchers in Japan, is only just over $10 million, how long before NPB clubs see the value in just keeping their top ...

Defender Gen Shoji said Sunday he is confident he can adjust to playing in the French top division and vowed to make a positive impact for his new club Toulouse. "I've always wanted to be a player who can lead their team to victories, so ...

Ryoyu Kobayashi made history on Sunday as he completed a grand slam at the prestigious Four Hills tournament to become the first Japanese in two decades to win the overall title at the ski jumping competition. Kobayashi is the first Japanese to achieve the Four ...

Soccer star Wayne Rooney was arrested last month on a public intoxication charge and taken to jail to sober up after he triggered a door alarm at a Washington-area airport, authorities said Sunday. Rooney was arrested Dec. 16 by police at Dulles International Airport in ...