The U.S.-Japan trade agreement is a gamble for Tokyo and will show whether concluding such a deal with Trump is a sufficient insurance policy that discourages him from making future demands.

Opposition parties are accusing the government of lying about the existence of backup data for a guest list for a contentious cherry blossom viewing party this year.

The 73-year-old physician, who headed Peace Japan Medical Services, was killed by gunmen while in a vehicle in Jalalabad, in Nangarhar province, according to Afghan officials.

A new law strengthens independent checks on major listed firms by obliging them to have outsiders on their board of directors and make executive compensation more transparent.

Dakshini Siriwardena never expected that the failure of her father's business in Japan would leave her with no choice but to live here as an exchange student — despite having resided in the country for more than 16 years. "It's ridiculous that I had the ...

Nintendo and Chinese internet giant Tencent on Wednesday announced plans to launch the Kyoto-based company's popular Switch console in China next week. Expectations for the console's launch in the world's largest gaming market have helped to push up Nintendo's share price this year. The console will ...

Kim Jong Un is back in the saddle — literally — and apparently ready to make a decision on what kind of "Christmas present" North Korea will offer the U.S. as a year-end deadline for progress in nuclear talks with Washington approaches. And one option ...

Japan's financial support for U.S. forces stationed in the country is at an "appropriate" level under a bilateral agreement, the nation's top government spokesman said Wednesday, after remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that it should be increased. Tokyo earmarked about ¥197.4 billion ($1.8 billion) ...

Japan was one of three countries to receive a satirical "Fossil of the Day" award this week from an international environmental group after the country's industry minister voiced a plan to continue using coal-fired power, one of the top causes of global warming. The nongovernmental ...

It's turning out to be one of the worst years ever for auto workers across the globe amid shrinking demand and a tectonic shift in vehicle technology, with Daimler AG and Audi announcing almost 20,000 job cuts in just the past week. All told, carmakers ...

The PlayStation has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's best-selling home video game console brand, having sold 450.19 million units over 25 years, Sony Corp.'s game business unit said Tuesday. The first PlayStation device was launched in December 1994, when Nintendo Co.'s ...

There's a building boom on the Tibetan plateau, one of the world's last remote places. Mountains long crowned by garlands of fluttering prayer flags are newly topped with sprawling steel power lines. At night, the illuminated signs of Sinopec gas stations cast a red ...

The Diet approved a trade deal with the United States on Wednesday that slashes tariffs on farm and industrial goods, clearing the way for its entry into force at the beginning of next year. The deal, agreed to by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. ...

What makes an area of trade negotiations crucial is not its economic size but its political importance.

The French government is using psy-ops and parental logic to turn U.S. President Donald Trump into a fan of NATO.

South Korean actor Cha In-ha was found dead in his home, police said Wednesday, the country's third young celebrity to die in the past two months amid growing debate about the intense social pressures artists face. While South Korea's pop culture mostly projects a wholesome ...

Masaaki Suzuki and his son Masato are decidating their time to promoting the music of Johann Sebastian Bach through Bach Collegium Japan

The Rinpa school of painting's initial phase was formed by the superlative talents of Honami Koetsu (1558-1637) and Tawaraya Sotatsu (c. 1570-c. 1630) in late 16th-century Kyoto. The aesthetics resonated with the grand and powerful ornamental inclinations of the Momoyama Period (1573-1603) — gold ...

Anthony Joshua didn't just lose three world heavyweight titles and an undefeated record when he was beaten by Andy Ruiz Jr. in one of boxing's biggest upsets in a generation. He lost his aura, his growing sense of invincibility. So Joshua has had to reinvent himself, ...

The International Olympic Committee agreed Wednesday the 2020 Olympic marathon and race walk events, which have been relocated from Tokyo to Sapporo, will take place over the last four days of the July 24 to Aug. 9 games, according to the organizers. The IOC's executive ...

Panthers owner David Tepper said he would have preferred to wait until after the season to make a coaching change. Tepper ultimately decided he wanted to get a jumpstart on his search for a new coach, so he fired Ron Rivera, the franchise's winningest coach, ...

James Harden had a slam dunk waved off by officials, the first sign that it might not be the Houston Rockets' night. Lonnie Walker IV helped make sure of that. Walker had a career-high 28 points and the San Antonio Spurs overcame Harden's 50 points by ...

The IOC moved next year's Tokyo Olympic marathons and race walks out of the Japanese capital to avoid the stifling heat and humidity. Now some swimmers and an 11,000-member coaching body are asking that something similar should be done with the distance-swimming venue in Tokyo ...

The International Olympic Committee announced at an Executive Board meeting Tuesday that the United States, France and Japan will be the last three countries to march in the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Games. As in previous editions, Japan as host will be the ...

Despite leading the league for 20 straight rounds from Round 8 — and retaking the top spot for one more week after Round 31 — FC Tokyo is almost certain to settle for second place when the final whistle is blown on Saturday at ...

As detailed in last week's column, sumo fans are divided when it comes to the kind of English language coverage they want and expect. Some would like greater explanation of basic terms and techniques, while others think there is already too much handholding of the ...

Rugby Australia and Israel Folau reached a settlement Wednesday that will end the former Wallaby's multi-million dollar lawsuit over his dismissal for anti-gay comments. Rugby Australia apologized for "any hurt or harm" caused to Folau as part of a joint statement confirming the confidential agreement ...

Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu will bid to become the first figure skater to win gold five times at the International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix Final in Turin, Italy, starting on Thursday, with compatriot Rika Kihira's women's crown under threat from four Russian rivals. Hanyu ...

John Hynes paid the price for the New Jersey Devils failing to deliver on the high expectations created by having three No. 1 overall draft picks in the lineup. Hynes was fired as coach Tuesday after a 9-13-4 start that left the team in last ...

Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els and other players at this week's Australian Open could have another course hazard to contend with: smoke from nearby bushfires. A temperature inversion which formed over Sydney on Monday night trapped smoke in the region on Tuesday and caused ...

Tiger Woods is defending Phil Mickelson and other top players who have signed up for the second edition of the Saudi International. The European Tour, and the players who took part, came under scrutiny last year for staging an event in Saudi Arabia because of ...