As Kobe commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake that took the lives of more than 6,400 people, the city and region are working to remind younger generations of the past devastation — and the importance of disaster-preparedness — even as they ...

Nissan Motor Co. may stop placing former executives in advisory posts as part of an overhaul to its corporate governance practices following the ousting of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn, sources said Wednesday. The possible abolition of the komon adviser and sōdanyaku consultant posts is aimed ...

The sneakers have helped elite runners shatter records since their release.

A secret operation by specialist firefighters has saved the world's last stand of Wollemi pines, a prehistoric species known as "dinosaur trees," from Australia's unprecedented bush fires, officials said. Fewer than 200 of the trees exist in the wild, hidden in a gorge in the ...

Katsuyuki and Anri Kawai are suspected of having paid 13 female campaign announcers a daily allowance of ¥30,000, double the amount permitted by law.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said Thursday that the "one country, two systems" framework under which the city enjoys freedoms unknown in China could continue after the 2047 deadline if loyalty to Beijing is upheld. Lam's comments at the Legislative Council appeared to be ...

A draft ordinance designed to curb internet and video game addiction among children and teenagers in Kagawa Prefecture has sparked controversy, as it seeks to restrict daily smartphone usage for those under 18 to 60 minutes on weekdays. If it comes into effect in April ...

Toyota Motor Co. is investing $394 million (¥43.3 billion) in Joby Aviation, one of a handful of companies working toward the seemingly implausible goal of making electric air taxis that shuttle people over gridlocked highways and city streets. Toyota is the lead investor in Joby's ...

A Chinese national in his 30s who lives in Kanagawa Prefecture tested positive for the virus, the health ministry said.

President Hassan Rouhani appealed Wednesday for "unity" and flagged the need for radical changes to the way Iran is run, after a wave of angry protests over the accidental downing of a Ukrainian airliner. The Kyiv-bound Boeing 737 was shot down in a catastrophic error ...

President Vladimir Putin engineered a surprise shakeup of Russia's leadership Wednesday, proposing changes to the constitution that could keep him in power well past the end of his term in 2024. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev resigned his post after Putin announced the proposed constitutional amendments. ...

Disaster response poses an ongoing challenge in this calamity-prone country.

New focus on preparedness instead of hasty recovery could be a model for the region.

Japan is a country that prides itself on focusing on the smallest details, so why do incorrect English translations plague signage across the country?

The winners of the prestigious Akutagawa and Naoki literary awards were selected Wednesday, with two novelists earning acclaim for their respective works about the past and present lives of a family in Kyushu and the history of the indigenous Ainu ethnic group in the ...

After more than 60 years of playing country music, and having staged numerous festivals in his native Kumamoto Prefecture, Charlie Nagatani shows no signs of stopping.

Anshul Chauhan's woman-in-crisis drama has won prizes at festivals in Japan and abroad, despite the director having never attended film school.

Takako Matsu reunites with director Shunji Iwai to play a middle-aged woman who exchanges letters with her late sister's high school flame.

Quique Setien's first task at Barcelona will be a difficult one: Replace injured striker Luis Suarez. Just before Setien arrived at the Camp Nou, Suarez was ruled out for fourth months with a knee injury, and now it will be up to the new coach ...

Stealing signals. Banging on a trash can. Beating the Dodgers in October. Sounds very familiar to Carl Erskine. "If they're going to go back to 2017 with penalties for the Astros," he said Wednesday, "then I want them to go all the way back to 1951 ...

Rocky "Soulman" Johnson, a WWE Hall of Fame wrestler who became better known as the father of actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, has died. He was 75. WWE issued a statement on Johnson's death Wednesday night. Johnson and Tony Atlas became the first black world ...

Corey Crawford doesn't know why he plays well against his hometown team. The veteran goalie stopped 32 shots to help the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 on Wednesday night. Crawford, from suburban Chateauguay, Quebec, improved to 11-2-2 against the Canadiens. "I don't really have an ...

Sergey Sokolovsky recently took the new recruit exam and, when he makes his competitive debut in March, the 22-year-old will become the first-ever Ukrainian in professional sumo. He won't be the first rikishi with a connection to the eastern European nation, however. The father of yokozuna ...

Shodai headlines a group of three men tied for the lead at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament after besting fellow rank-and-filer Hokutofuji on Thursday in a battle to remain undefeated. Coming off a day of rest, No. 2 maegashira Hokutofuji (4-1) had no response ...

The Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka have turned to Josep "Pep" Claros to orchestrate a turnaround for the struggling B2 club. It's another reclamation project for the well-traveled Spaniard, who was named the team's new coach on Tuesday. He replaces another Spaniard, Iurgi Caminos, who was in ...

While the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox took decisive action in jettisoning their managers after Major League Baseball concluded they were involved in nefarious sign stealing, the New York Mets have stayed silent on Carlos Beltran's future. Houston fired AJ Hinch one hour after ...

Right-hander Shun Yamaguchi, the newest addition to the Toronto Blue Jays' pitching staff, said Wednesday that overcoming eastern Canada's cold weather will be his top priority as he competes for a rotation spot. After being introduced by Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins in a ...

Reigning Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka joined several other top players on Wednesday for a charity match to help relief efforts for the wildfires that have recently devastated large parts of Australia. The Australian Open's Rally for Relief event at Rod Laver Arena, where the ...

Kendrick Nunn was the last Miami player off the court at halftime, required to hang out for an extra minute or two in order to pick up his second Eastern Conference rookie of the month trophy. "Hopefully, I get some more," Nunn said. He's well on ...

Manchester United beat Wolverhampton 1-0 in an F.A. Cup third-round replay on Wednesday, but lost Marcus Rashford to an injury that could force him out of a Premier League match against fierce rival Liverpool this weekend. Juan Mata illuminated a dull game by running through ...

Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has made the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his fifth attempt. Tagliabue and former New York Giants general manager George Young made it to the hall in Canton, Ohio, as contributors. Ex-Dallas Cowboys safety Cliff Harris and former Cleveland ...

Arizona Cardinals star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald will return for a 17th season in the NFL after agreeing terms on a one-year extension, the franchise confirmed Wednesday. The 36-year-old Fitzgerald, who is second on the NFL's all-time receiving yards and receptions list behind Jerry Rice, ...

Kakuryu withdrew from the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday, joining fellow yokozuna Hakuho on the sidelines due to injury. Kakuryu pulled out of the 15-day meet following his third loss the previous day against No. 1 maegashira Myogiryu. With both Mongolian-born grand champions out ...