Two weeks after going on the lam, a giant tortoise that went missing from a zoo in Okayama Prefecture has been found safe and sound in bushes about 140 meters away from the spot where she made her getaway. The man and his teenage son, ...

Newly appointed Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa says she has no specific plan to increase Japan's intake of refugees despite the number of applicants hitting a record high last year. "Whether seekers are applicable for refugee (status) is judged based on the international treaty on refugees. ...

A conservation group concluded that operators of e-commerce websites are not doing enough to crack down on illegal sales of items made from elephant tusks.

Fire ants, a venomous, highly invasive nonnative pest, have been spotted over the past few months in various parts of Japan, prompting the Environment Ministry to both warn the public to seek immediate treatment for stings and take measures to prevent further infestation. First detected ...

The Kanagawa Prefectural Government is considering strengthening its regulations on dating services that hire teenagers, by restricting businesses that dispatch underage staff to customers. The prefecture prohibits operators of such services from having women under 18 make physical contact with customers in private rooms, but ...

A panel urged the Justice Ministry Friday to conduct more in-depth background checks on those applying for refugee status, and not just rush them through the system if they don't at first appear to meet the requirements for approval. The panel looked at 32 cases ...

Non-Japanese prison inmates nationwide will soon have greater access to translation services with the launch in November of a system that uses video phones and smart tablets.

It’s Monday morning. You roll out of bed, grab a coffee, sit on the couch and you’re already at work. Sound good? Well, that’s how the government wants you to work.

A 38-year-old first-time writer is the winner of the 157th Akutagawa Prize for his story "Eiri," the awards selection committee announced Wednesday. "It's a great honor, I've only written one work so far. I'll keep up the good work," said Shinsuke Numata during a news ...

Riding packed commuter trains pressed against strangers may be one of the worst parts of living in Tokyo, made worse by groping and long delays from people who commit suicide by jumping onto the tracks. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike has declared that the Tokyo Metropolitan ...