After Typhoon Hagibis caused extensive damage in Japan earlier this month, it is now increasingly unlikely that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will dissolve the House of Representatives — the powerful Lower House of the Diet — by the end of the year for a ...

Sokui no Rei is one of the major events in a series of ceremonies and rites scheduled throughout the year following Emperor Naruhito’s accession.

The last time the event was held, three decades ago, extremists fighting against the imperial system carried out multiple terror attacks.

Emperor Naruhito formally proclaimed his ascendancy to the throne on Tuesday in a centuries-old ceremony attended by dignitaries from more than 180 countries, pledging to fulfil his constitutional duty as a symbol of the state. Naruhito became emperor and his wife, Masako, became empress on ...

A commercial by clothing brand Uniqlo has stirred a consumer backlash in South Korea amid accusations that it mocks victims of wartime labor and "comfort women," reopening deep wounds from Japan's colonial past. A YouTube video created by a South Korean student parodying the ad ...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party held onto power in a nail-biter of a general election on Monday in Canada, but as a weakened minority government. Television projections as of 2 a.m. Tuesday declared the Liberals winners or leading in 156 of the nation's 338 ...

South Korea's export-dependent economy is facing a "grave situation" as the U.S.-China trade war and the spread of trade protectionism heap pressure on the global economy, President Moon Jae-in said in a parliament speech Tuesday. Moon's speech comes after the latest South Korean export data ...

Japan's enthronement combines legend and the spiritual with modernity, similar to coronations used by monarchies worldwide. These ceremonies tend to be described as "traditional" — but the term is overused and rarely properly defined in reference to Japan's enthronement, Sokui no Rei. The imperial house, ...

With dignitaries from more than 180 nations and international organizations attending the main ceremony, the bill will be ¥4.1 billion more, according to the government.

It's all about timing. Around 1:15, as Emperor Naruhito was about to proclaim his enthronement before dignitaries assembled at the Imperial Palace, people in the Tokyo area were treated to not only the appearance of Mount Fuji capped with its first fresh snow of the ...

Seven-Eleven Japan Co. is ending 24-hour operations at some outlets, becoming the first major convenience store operator to scale back around-the-clock hours to address Japan's labor crunch. Eight stores will begin cutting back on their operating hours on Nov. 1, because they are finding it ...

Three leading American drug distributors and an Israeli drugmaker blamed for a deadly U.S. opioid epidemic settled a bellwether civil lawsuit with two Ohio counties Monday, opening the door for a broader national settlement worth billions of dollars. The $260 million deal with Ohio's Summit ...

U.S. and European companies in polluting industries rarely disclose the financial risks they face related to climate change even though a global task force called on them to do so two years ago, according to Moody's Investors Service. The analysis of the public filings of ...

Boeing Co. may have to book billions of dollars in additional charges related to its grounded 737 Max jets, brokerages said, following reports that call into question the timing of the aircraft's return to service. Credit Suisse and UBS downgraded the stock after reports Friday ...

When Prince Hisahito, Japan's youngest prince, visited Bhutan in August on his first overseas trip, just months after his uncle, Emperor Naruhito, ascended to the throne, the visit was regarded as the debut of a future monarch on the world stage. Greeting his hosts in ...

With baby boomers being at least 75 by 2025, social security spending by the government and demand for medical practitioners are expected to rise rapidly.

SoftBank Group Corp. is looking to take a controlling stake in WeWork, according to a person familiar with the matter. The deal is said to value the company at about $8 billion or less, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing ...

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said progress in developing the text of a partial trade pact with China means he will likely be able to sign it next month. Trump remains upbeat on the chances Beijing and Washington will seal the mini-deal he announced ...

Emperor Naruhito will formally declare his ascension as Japan's 126th monarch in front of about 2,000 leaders and representatives from over 170 countries and regions at the Imperial Palace on Tuesday. The Sokuirei Seiden no Gi (enthronement ceremony) will represent the old tradition that has ...

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed Israel's president Monday he could not form a new government following deadlocked September elections, making way for his opponent Benny Gantz to try. The decision was an important defeat for Netanyahu as he seeks to continue his tenure as Israel's ...

Made homeless when Turkish shells slammed into his house in northern Syria, Kurdish day laborer Suleiman Mohamed and his family spent 10 days in a desperate search of shelter nearby. Now all they want is to reach neighboring Iraq. They are among at least 160,000 Syrian ...

A network of Instagram accounts operated from Russia has targeted Americans with divisive political messages ahead of next year's presidential election and posed as local people in U.S. states including Virginia and Florida, Facebook said. Facebook said it had suspended the accounts on Monday, as ...

Restoring the primary balance should not be used as an excuse to avoid enacting pension system reform.

Turkey is a member of NATO, so why not use the alliance to forge peace along its Syrian border?

They're a huge contributor to the rise in CO2 emissions, but that's not the whole story.

McKinsey's enormous new data set shows diverging opinions on what stalls young women's careers.

It makes sense to increase regulation of the digital giant.

The burlesque troupe has been staging shows in an around Kyoto, and will soon begin a short residency at a new theater in the city

For "A Jewel Box from Europe: Treasures from the collections of the Prince of Liechtenstein," Bunkamura, The Museum, has brought over 120 pieces from the collection for a rare visit to Japan — only once before have items from the collection come to these ...

The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks should be able to taste it now. They've dominated this Japan Series through three games and now the big payoff is just around the corner. Alfredo Despaigne drove in three runs, Yurisbel Gracial homered and Rick van den Hurk did his ...

All Blacks captain Kieran Read skipped training on Tuesday ahead of their Rugby World Cup semifinal due to a sore calf muscle, but coach Steve Hansen was "100 perent" certain he would face England in Yokohama on Saturday. The 33-year-old Read, who has battled back ...

Ever heard the one about the guy who had to walk 5 km, uphill, through a hailstorm just to get to school every day? That's essentially the tale the Sawamura Award selection committee told everyone Monday by deciding not to give out the award for ...

Pro sports executives often talk about strategies for success, offering their opinions on what it takes to build winning teams. Tommy Sheppard, the Washington Wizards' new general manager, certainly knows that excellent players are needed to lead his team to victories. But his vision for ...

For a man who made his name winning many a bruising back row battle, it's no surprise that former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio thinks that's where Saturday's Rugby World Cup semifinal match against New Zealand could be decided. Dallaglio, who won the 2003 World Cup ...