Japan
Japanese journalist freed after three years in Syria

Japanese journalist freed after three years in Syria
The 44-year-old says he is struggling to speak native language following long captivity by militants
25 Oct 2018
White tiger mauls Japanese zookeeper to death

White tiger mauls Japanese zookeeper to death
Authorities to investigate how rare big cat was left alone in enclosure with 40-year-old Akira Furusho
9 Oct 2018
Typhoon Jebi: ten killed as cyclone lashes Japan

Typhoon Jebi: ten killed as cyclone lashes Japan
Tropical storm is the strongest to hit Japanese mainland in 25 years
5 Sep 2018
‘Comfort women’: the dark history of Japan’s WWII sex slaves

‘Comfort women’: the dark history of Japan’s WWII sex slaves
South Korea launches memorial day honouring the women forced into brothels by Japanese occupiers
14 Aug 2018
Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Japan PM orders daylight saving study

Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Japan PM orders daylight saving study
Athlete safety is a concern but the public and businesses are divided by the proposal
7 Aug 2018
Tokyo medical school rigged exam scores to keep out women

Tokyo medical school rigged exam scores to keep out women
University official says lowering all female applicants’ marks was ‘necessary evil’
3 Aug 2018
Buddhist monk regrets swearing at reviewers online

Buddhist monk regrets swearing at reviewers online
Daniel Kimura, who works at Sekishoin Shukubo monastery in Japan, called one former guest an ‘uneducated f***’
27 Jul 2018
EU and Japan sign free trade deal

EU and Japan sign free trade deal
Both sides hope wide-ranging agreement will act as counterweight to Trump’s protectionist forces
18 Jul 2018
Record rainfall in Japan leaves 81 people dead

Record rainfall in Japan leaves 81 people dead
Death toll continues to rise after flash flooding and landslides
9 Jul 2018
Aum Shinrikyo: cult members executed for subway sarin attack

Aum Shinrikyo: cult members executed for subway sarin attack
Cult leader and six followers hanged for role in 1995 terror attack that killed 13
6 Jul 2018
How Japan cleaned up at the World Cup

How Japan cleaned up at the World Cup
Despite World Cup heartbreak against Belgium the Japan squad left their changing room spotless
3 Jul 2018
World Cup group H: Colombia and Japan through, Senegal out

World Cup group H: Colombia and Japan through, Senegal out
Group H results and final standings
28 Jun 2018
Japanese worker fined for taking lunch three minutes early

Japanese worker fined for taking lunch three minutes early
Bosses bow in apology at press conference over civil servant’s ‘regrettable misconduct’
21 Jun 2018
MNKY HSE restaurant review: Japan meets Latin America

MNKY HSE restaurant review: Japan meets Latin America
New head chef at Mayfair restaurant is turning up the heat
23 May 2018
Japanese monk sues temple saying work gave him depression

Japanese monk sues temple saying work gave him depression
Buddhist looking for £57,400 in damages after he said he had to work sometimes for two months without a break
18 May 2018
Is Tokyo 2020 back on track? Ticket prices and new sports

Is Tokyo 2020 back on track? Ticket prices and new sports
Venues are taking shape, as freestyle BMX, skateboarding and sport climbing are set to make their Olympic debut
23 Apr 2018
Japan’s cronyism scandal: pressure mounts on Shinzo Abe 

Japan’s cronyism scandal: pressure mounts on Shinzo Abe
Japanese PM’s political future in doubt after Finance Ministry admits tampering with documents
12 Mar 2018
TPP brings 500m people into Pacific trade deal

TPP brings 500m people into Pacific trade deal
Despite US withdrawal, Pacific rim countries forged ahead with trade agreement
8 Mar 2018
American suspected of dismembering Japanese woman

American suspected of dismembering Japanese woman
Yevgeniy Vasilievich Bayraktar in custody as police uncover head, torso and arms thought to belong to woman he met on dating app
27 Feb 2018
Tokyo to build world's tallest wooden skyscraper

Tokyo to build world's tallest wooden skyscraper
Nearly 1,200ft-tall structure to continue Japanese trend for building with timber
20 Feb 2018
Japanese hunt for deadly blowfish sold in supermarket error

Japanese hunt for deadly blowfish sold in supermarket error
Three out of the five pieces of fugu have been accounted for after warnings broadcast across the city of Gamagori
16 Jan 2018
Millions of Tokyo residents to take part in nuclear drills

Millions of Tokyo residents to take part in nuclear drills
Evacuation routine to simulate a North Korean attack on the Japanese capital
6 Dec 2017
Skeletons found on ‘ghost ships’ that wash up in Japan

Skeletons found on ‘ghost ships’ that wash up in Japan
Authorities unable to confirm origin of series of vessels coming ashore
28 Nov 2017
Japan rail operator ‘sorry’ as train leaves 20 seconds early

Japan rail operator ‘sorry’ as train leaves 20 seconds early
Tsukuba Express apologises for ‘severe inconvenience’, prompting comparisons on Twitter
17 Nov 2017
Japan posts best growth streak in 15 years

Japan posts best growth streak in 15 years
Has the long-stagnant economy finally turned a corner?
16 Nov 2017
Japan’s ‘black widow’ sentenced to death over poisonings

Japan’s ‘black widow’ sentenced to death over poisonings
Chisako Kakehi say she will ‘die smiling’ if executed for killing elderly lovers
7 Nov 2017
Tokyo Motor Show 2017: all the weird and wonderful cars

Tokyo Motor Show 2017: all the weird and wonderful cars
From Group B-inspired sports cars to ‘friendly faced’ concepts, here are the models to watch
31 Oct 2017
Shinzo Abe wins landslide victory in Japan

Shinzo Abe wins landslide victory in Japan
The Prime Minister's gamble pays off, paving the way for constitutional reform
23 Oct 2017
Japanese princess renounces royal status to marry commoner

Japanese princess renounces royal status to marry commoner
The country's imperial family is dwindling, leading to calls for constitutional change
5 Sep 2017
May visits Japan with 'lofty' EU trade deal goal

May visits Japan with 'lofty' EU trade deal goal
Will PM's three-day trip allay Brexit fears and strengthen ties with Tokyo?
30 Aug 2017
Hitler 'had the right motives', says Japan's deputy PM

Hitler 'had the right motives', says Japan's deputy PM
Gaffe-prone Taro Aso apologises for 'inappropriate' reference to Nazi atrocities
30 Aug 2017
Will the UK be hit by the EU-Japan 'cars-for-cheese' deal?

Will the UK be hit by the EU-Japan 'cars-for-cheese' deal?
With his rallying cry of a 'Global Europe', Jean-Claude Juncker appears to be mocking Britain's Brexit hopes
7 Jul 2017
Japan and EU strike free trade deal

Japan and EU strike free trade deal
Agreement sends anti-protectionist signal ahead of G20 summit in Germany
7 Jul 2017
Japan kills 300 minke whales in annual hunt

Japan kills 300 minke whales in annual hunt
Whaling fleet returns to port after defying global moratorium and international criticism
31 Mar 2017
'Trumpagator' spotted in South Carolina

'Trumpagator' spotted in South Carolina
Bright orange alligator nicknamed after US President Donald Trump - and other tall tales
10 Feb 2017
Learning from the locals: Cookery holidays with extra bite

Learning from the locals: Cookery holidays with extra bite
Travel to the birthplaces of the world's great dishes to get the low-down on how to make them truly authentic
9 Feb 2017