Japan

Series

Postcards from Japan: the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails

On the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region, many walk the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes

24/02/2017

Japan

Japan tackles its workaholic culture

The government has launched the "Premium Friday" campaign encouraging firms to let workers out a few hours early on the last Friday of each month.

24/02/2017

Japan

Ghosn hands over the reins at Nissan

Carlos Ghosn steps down as CEO of Nissan, handing the job to co-CEO Hiroto Saikawa

23/02/2017

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Japan's Ninja Council eyes tourism potential

Japan is turning to those hooded samurai-era acrobatic spies known as ‘ninja’ to woo tourism.

22/02/2017

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Japan: Naked Man Festival

Around 10,000 men, wearing nothing but sumo-style loincloths, gathered at a Japanese temple on Saturday to scramble for sacred sticks called shingi.

19/02/2017

Japan

Mobiles to medals: Old phones to be recycled for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

With environmentalists warning that the world is on the brink of climate disaster, recycling is a hot topic at the moment.

16/02/2017

Japan

Toshiba on the rocks after Japanese giant reveals huge losses

Japanese household name Toshiba is in crisis after huge losses and the possible sell-off of its nuclear division, threatening a new nuclear plant project in the UK.

14/02/2017

Economy

Japan's economic growth overshadowed by Trump protectionism fears

Japan's economy continues to grow thanks to exports, but spending by consumers is weak and there are fears about US protectionist policies.

13/02/2017

Sport

Ski jumping: Prevc and Kot share first place in Sapporo

Defending overall world cup champion Peter Prevc and Maciej Kot tied for first place at a ski jumping World Cup competition in Sapporo, Japan on Saturday.

11/02/2017

Japan

Japan to accept only 300 refugees over 5 years

Japan has decided to admit 300 Syrian refugees and their families over the next 5 years.

09/02/2017

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Japan's annual snow festival

The annual Sapporo snow festival kicked off on Monday (February 6) featuring ice sculptures of iconic locations, movie characters, celebrities, and even the U.

07/02/2017

Japan

Chocolate sushi for your Valentine!

Nestle presents sushi-shaped KitKat chocolate in a light-hearted bid to attract more Valentine's Day shoppers

07/02/2017

Japan

USA says it's '100 percent' with Japan

As political stability in the Asia Pacific region worsens, the US are strengthening ties with their allies.

03/02/2017

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Tokyo all wrapped up over new adult therapy

The age-old practice of swaddling babies is being turned into a therapy for adults in Tokyo to alleviate posture and stiffness, mostly after giving birth.

31/01/2017

Japan

The father of PAC-MAN dies in Japan

The founder of Japanese toy and game software makers Bandai Namco Holdings has died at the age of 91. Masaya Nakamura was known as the "Father of PAC-MAN".

30/01/2017

Japan

"Father of Pac-Man", Nakumara dies at the age of 91

Masaya Nakamura, the founder of video game company Namco, which in the 1980s released the world-famous game Pac-Man, has died at the age of 91

30/01/2017

Sport

Olympic course stands firm on controversial female membership policy

A Japanese golf club set to host 2020 Olympic tournament said on Wednesday it would not change its membership policy that bars female players becoming regular…

25/01/2017

Sport

Japan end 19-year wait for home-grown sumo grand champion

For the first time in 19 years Japan have a Sumo Grand champion.

25/01/2017

Sport

Row explodes over choice of men-only golf club for 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Organisers are facing a barrage of criticism for granting the 2020 Olympic gold tournament to one of Japan's oldest, but men-only, clubs, the Kasumigaseki.

24/01/2017

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Japan: force-fed fish furore

A good-luck ritual in Japan where fish are force-fed alcohol has prompted an outcry on social media.

19/01/2017

Japan

Missing family of four found safe near Japanese ski resort

An Australian mother and her three sons who had been missing for a day from a Japanese ski resort have been rescued.

17/01/2017

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Nintendo's Switch excites gamers

Nintendo unveiled their latest console, the Switch, at a presentation in Tokyo on Friday (13 January).

14/01/2017

Japan

Takata agrees to pay $1bn in US over faulty airbags

The Japanese car parts maker Takata has agreed to plead guilty and pay a billion dollars – over 900 million euros – in fines and compensation for hiding dangerous defects in its…

14/01/2017

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Thousands brush up on their calligraphy in Tokyo to start the new year

Thousands of people brushed up their calligraphy as they gathered and competed in the traditional Kaikizome (literally ‘first writings’) of the New Year on Thursday (January…

06/01/2017

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Japan: Sushi restaurant purchases bluefin tuna for over $614,000

A popular sushi restaurant in Tokyo, Sushizanmai, purchased a 212 kilogram bluefin tuna for 72 million yen (614,016 USD) at Japan’s iconic Tsukiji fish market during its first auction of the year on T

06/01/2017

Japan

What a catch! More than 600,000 euros for a 212 kilo tuna

For the sixth year in a row restaurant boss has paid the top price at the famous Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo

05/01/2017