Riot police at the University of Tokyo haul off a man wearing a white helmet, cuffed hands clasped above his bowed head. His expression is a mixture of resignation and defiance, but the fine details are hard to discern, obscured by the dark shades ...

On Jan. 1, Hiroaki Nakanishi, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), held press interviews on the outlook of the business community and, at one point, the discussion turned to nuclear energy. Nakanishi is also the chairman of Hitachi Ltd., a major supplier of nuclear ...

If any doubts existed that Japanese people are exceptionally tolerant toward the imbibing of alcohol, those were erased in 2014, when the Pew Center, as part of its Global Attitudes Project, surveyed people's views on drinking in 40 countries. With 66 percent of Japanese subjects ...

A new year in Japan means it’s time for ōsōji, the annual cleaning of one’s home. And, right on schedule, Netflix has released “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” to give us all some inspiration — or make us feel guilty for putting it off. The eight-episode ...

In 1590, having already subdued Kyushu and northeast Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi successfully took Osaka Castle after a three-month siege. But with opposition defeated, what happened next?

Work began Saturday to tear down a former town hall building in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, where dozens of people died after it was hit by a tsunami in 2011, despite calls by some local residents to preserve it as a memorial. The demolition of the ...

The Justice Ministry plans to expand the special adoption system to cover children under 15 years old from the current basic age limit of under 6.

On Sept. 26 in New York, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was facing reporters at a joint news conference with U.S. President Donald Trump when Trump cracked a joke that in fact sounded like a veiled threat. "We've agreed today to start trade negotiations between the ...

Two shark researchers who came face to face with what could be one of the largest great whites ever recorded are using their encounter as an opportunity to push for legislation that would protect sharks in Hawaii. Ocean Ramsey, a shark researcher and conservationist, encountered ...

The 11 members of a trans-Pacific free trade agreement hold their first ministerial meeting and discuss future expansion and how to counter the rise of protectionism.

U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will hold a second summit on denuclearization near the end of next month, the White House said Friday in a bare-bones announcement that left many questions unanswered — including what steps Washington expects ...

Special counsel Robert Mueller's office Friday issued a rare public statement disputing the accuracy of a BuzzFeed News report saying President Donald Trump's former attorney told Mueller the president had directed him to lie to Congress. BuzzFeed, citing two unidentified law enforcement officials, reported that ...

Canada's envoy to Beijing on Thursday threw cold water on long-sought free trade between the two nations as an ugly diplomat spat over Canada's detention of a top Chinese tech executive drags into a second month. Ambassador John McCallum, who returned to Canada to brief ...

The government considers releasing new evidence to prove its claim that a South Korean warship locked its fire-control radar onto a Maritime Self-Defense Force plane.

Japan is considering holding informal talks with South Korea and other countries on a dispute over the name of the Sea of Japan, a top official has hinted, in what could become the latest in a series of diplomatic feuds between Tokyo and Seoul. Chief ...

There could be clues to the early days of our solar system, and it could be a proving ground for technologies to send astronauts farther into space.

Japanese nabe (hot pot) is a warming and hearty dish that is easy to prepare, even for the inexperienced cook. Preparing nabe together at the table makes cooking a fun group activity instead of a tedious chore.

Two words: "tori paitan." The smooth, satisfying soup derived from simmering chicken bones and carcasses long and slow to create a thick, umami-rich broth. Served with ramen and a few choice toppings, it makes for one of the finest bowls of noodles you can ...

From the outside, you might take Lakan-ka for just another of the smart-casual cafe-dining establishments that proliferate on the Aoyama-Jingumae side of town. But behind the sleek, modern facade with its pet-friendly terrace, this new arrival is doing things a bit differently. Instead of the ...

Altogether CoCo Ichibanya, also known as "CoCoIchi," has more than 1,100 restaurants in Japan and about 150 more around the world, serving up unusual curries such as sausage; hamburger; and tomato and asparagus. Back in Japan it's a household name, but Ichibanya hasn't ventured into ...

Nothing can make a cold winter day feel a little better than a piping-hot steam bun from the convenience store, and two recent offerings from Lawson and FamilyMart have delivered on both novelty and taste.

This month, cup noodle maker Nissin served up its animated "Hungry to win" ad campaign, drawn by "Prince of Tennis" artist Takeshi Konomi and featuring actual tennis prince Kei Nishikori and our newest bona fide global star, Naomi Osaka. I'd been anticipating Osaka's appearance since ...

Eugenia Kim's second novel, "The Kinship of Secrets," is a measuredly moving story of a girl losing and finding a home, the ways in which families grow into units and immigrants into citizens.

Takako Arai's poems unravel complicated lives in an ever-widening mesh of humanity, her style retaining an energy and optimism despite her visceral, often disturbing subject matter.

In a high-scoring first half, Yuto Otsuka had a quiet performance, scoring just two points. The B. White starter heated up in the second half and his team did, too. B. White lit up the scoreboard for 80 second-half points — 40 apiece in the third ...

World No. 1 Simona Halep hit form to cruise past Venus Williams Saturday and set up a mouth-watering Australian Open last 16 clash with her sister Serena. The Romanian top seed defeated Williams 6-2, 6-3 in 1 hour, 17 minutes to post her best performance ...

Kazakhstan sentenced two men accused of killing celebrated Olympic figure skater Denis Ten to 18 years in a penal colony Thursday but his family was unhappy, claiming his murder was ordered and there were "other figures involved." Last July's murder of 25-year-old Ten, the first ...

One of the most striking features of Ryogoku Kokugikan is the ring of giant portraits hanging from the rafters. The 32 images (each 3.17 x 2.22 meters including frame) show the winners for the past 32 tournaments. Prior to each of the three annual Tokyo meets, ...

With serious allegations of corruption and bribery linked to Japanese Olympic Committee chief Tsunekazu Takeda, a prominent member of the global sports community issued a call for Japanese authorities to sever ties with him. Ollan Cassell believes a leadership change is needed now instead of ...

Yokozuna Hakuho continued his drive for a 42nd top-level title at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday, staying undefeated to take the outright lead after rank-and-file grappler Onosho suffered his first loss. Following the injury withdrawal of compatriot Kakuryu and the retirement of ...

The Kawasaki Brave Thunders desperately needed this man to make a championship run — Naoto Tsuji. Tsuji returned to the court for the first time in an official B. League game on Wednesday since suffering a dislocated left shoulder in a Nov. 23 contest against ...

Reigning U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka on Saturday advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open for the second year in a row, while Kei Nishikori also reached the last 16. World No. 4 Osaka survived a major scare in her campaign for a ...