Climate change is not much of a social issue in Japan. Even in the wake of three recent weather-related disasters, there has been little discussion across the political spectrum that climate change contributed to them. In Europe and the United States, left-leaning groups demand ...

The world is furious. From Hong Kong to Chile, Indonesia to Bolivia, France to Iraq, Haiti to Iran, Egypt to Peru, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions, have declared war on their governments and social systems, decrying dictatorship, corruption, mismanagement, incompetence, inequality, numbness to ...

Slurping down a steaming hot bowl of ramen is a great way to warm the soul on a cold winter’s day but overindulging in the dish could prove deadly, a British medical paper has warned. In a paper published on BioMed Central in September, three ...

The Supreme Court ruling came in a case involving a student who injured a policeman who photographed him without his consent.

Furikome sagi (bank transfer scams) have become such an entrenched part of life in Japan that you can't even make a bank transfer via an ATM these days without first acknowledging a notice reminding you to refrain from sending money to people you don't ...

A major Japanese travel agency has signed a deal with a Singapore halal certification firm to promote and facilitate more food and beverage outlets in Japan to adopt Islamic standards of food preparation to cater to a boom in Muslim tourists. JTB Pte. Ltd., signed ...

NATO will mark its 70th birthday at a summit in the coming week, but the celebration looks likely to be the scene of bitter personal and political combat. National leaders will descend on London on Tuesday bracing for a scrap over spending and how to ...

The U.S. government may expand its power to stop foreign shipments of products containing U.S. technology to China's Huawei amid frustration that the blacklisting of the company has failed to cut off supplies to the world's largest telecommunications equipment-maker, two sources said. The U.S. Commerce ...

Six months ago, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's approval ratings were so low many wondered if she would be nominated to run for re-election in January. Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party suffered a huge defeat in the 2018 local elections, and few gave her much chance against ...

In a figure-hugging sparkly dress, Val Monique tears around the stage, whipping up the crowd as she channels her inner Tina Turner and belts out "Proud Mary." Monique is Panama's representative in the Karaoke World Championships, one of 40 amateur warblers selected from 30,000 entrants ...

Interest in wooden housing among Japanese has hit the lowest level since 1989, apparently reflecting high maintenance costs and vulnerability to fires, a Cabinet Office survey has shown. The share of respondents preferring to build or buy wooden homes stood at 73.6 percent, dipping below ...

North Korea warns that Japan could again see missiles overflying the country again after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe calls Pyongyang’s latest test a “ballistic missile” launch.

The remains of 39 Vietnamese people found dead in a truck near London in October have been brought to Vietnam, bringing to a close a tragic saga that has devastated rural communities in the Southeast Asian country. The remains of 23 victims arrived at Noi ...

Tens of thousands of protesters, primarily in Europe and Asia, hit the streets on Friday to make a fresh call for action against global warming, hoping to raise pressure on world leaders days before a U.N. climate summit. Carrying signs that read "One planet, one ...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that Emmanuel Macron's warning that NATO was dying reflects a "sick and shallow" understanding, telling the French president "you should check whether you are brain dead." The comments drew a swift rebuke from the French Foreign Ministry, which ...

In the absence of any news for almost two years, Crown Prince Akishino urges his daughter, Princess Mako, to update the public by February about her plans to marry her fiance.

Peruvian opposition leader Keiko Fujimori walked free from prison Friday night after being jailed for more than a year pending a trial over allegations she accepted illegal campaign contributions from Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. Fujimori, leader of the powerful right-wing Popular Force party, left prison ...

Evolution has favored the friendliest canine and human species over more aggressive competition.

Have you ever wondered what it must feel like to be the best in the world at something? To know how sprinter Usain Bolt or figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu feels? To know that, of all the 7.7 billion people in the world, you are the ...

The Grand Gelinaz! Shuffle 2019: Stay In Tour critiques the relentless travel chefs have come to view as necessary, while still maximizing global culinary exchange and creativity.

Using acting techniques inspired by Japanese angura (underground) theater, Sachiko Hara impressed European directors and won her way into German theater.

Ginza Tanaka is determined to carry on the techniques developed by earlier artisans and pass the skills to future generations, offering flawless works made of the highest-quality metals.

Location is everything. But that's only one reason why Esterre, the beautiful new French restaurant unveiled last month in the ultraluxury Palace Hotel Tokyo, has so much going for it.

Mai Nagamatsu is more than just a fan of katsuo (skipjack tuna). She's an avowed, unapologetic evangelist for those streamlined, silvery pelagic fish that play such an important role in Japanese cuisine. So much so that she set up her own small specialist breakfast ...

With innovative presentation and casual-chic flair, Kyoto's Isoism is bringing tsukemono (Japanese pickle) techniques into the 21st century.

Lawson has tapped into its creative side for recent animal-shaped bread offerings both sweet and savory.

Tired of always staying at the same minimalist hotel? Inject some levity into your Kyoto trip by booking a room at one of these avant-garde boutique hotels instead.

Why do hikers leave the warmth of the city for Kamikochi during off-season?

From "The Tale of Genji" to Matsuo Basho, Meredith McKinney travels across Japan through 1,000 years of Japanese poetry.

Props to Rachel Cohn for attempting to add some much-needed diversity into Japanese literature with "My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life." Unfortunately, it falls flat.

Artist Kazumi Wilds retells Japan's creation myth, the "Kojiki," through vivid and accessible illustrations.

Rookie forward Rui Hachimura received some high-profile support when his Washington Wizards faced the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, with baseball star Shohei Ohtani cheering from courtside. The two spoke and posed for photos together at Staples Center before the game, which the Lakers won ...

Seeking a fourth straight X League championship, the Fujitsu Frontiers acquired an exceptional weapon in young American Samajie Grant this year. The 24-year-old is listed as a running back and he described the position as "my love." And in Fujitsu's 31-13 win over the Elecom ...

Kohei Uchimura said Saturday he is envious of those athletes who have already earned berths to next summer's Tokyo Games amid his own recent fitness struggles. "Olympic spots are allocated in many sports, and I'm very jealous of those athletes," the two-time reigning men's all-around ...

Backup quarterback Tsubasa Takagi threw four touchdown passes and running back Samajie Grant rushed for 171 yards on nine carries to lead the defending X League champion Fujitsu Frontiers to a 31-13 victory over the Elecom Kobe Finies on Saturday in the X League ...

One way or another, the trophy presented annually to the winner of the J. League's first division was bound for Nissan Stadium after Saturday. The big question was whether it would be transported under the careful supervision of league officials or paraded home by the ...

The new National Stadium was officially completed on Saturday when the centerpiece for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics was handed over to its owner and operator, the Japan Sport Council. Created by architect Kengo Kuma's office, construction giant Taisei Corp. and design firm Azusa Sekkei ...