Japan

The 44-year-old says he is struggling to speak native language following long captivity by militants

Authorities to investigate how rare big cat was left alone in enclosure with 40-year-old Akira Furusho

Tropical storm is the strongest to hit Japanese mainland in 25 years

South Korea launches memorial day honouring the women forced into brothels by Japanese occupiers

Athlete safety is a concern but the public and businesses are divided by the proposal

University official says lowering all female applicants’ marks was ‘necessary evil’

Daniel Kimura, who works at Sekishoin Shukubo monastery in Japan, called one former guest an ‘uneducated f***’

Both sides hope wide-ranging agreement will act as counterweight to Trump’s protectionist forces

Death toll continues to rise after flash flooding and landslides

Cult leader and six followers hanged for role in 1995 terror attack that killed 13

Despite World Cup heartbreak against Belgium the Japan squad left their changing room spotless

Group H results and final standings

Bosses bow in apology at press conference over civil servant’s ‘regrettable misconduct’

New head chef at Mayfair restaurant is turning up the heat

Buddhist looking for £57,400 in damages after he said he had to work sometimes for two months without a break

Venues are taking shape, as freestyle BMX, skateboarding and sport climbing are set to make their Olympic debut

Japanese PM’s political future in doubt after Finance Ministry admits tampering with documents

Despite US withdrawal, Pacific rim countries forged ahead with trade agreement

Yevgeniy Vasilievich Bayraktar in custody as police uncover head, torso and arms thought to belong to woman he met on dating app

Nearly 1,200ft-tall structure to continue Japanese trend for building with timber

Three out of the five pieces of fugu have been accounted for after warnings broadcast across the city of Gamagori

Evacuation routine to simulate a North Korean attack on the Japanese capital

Authorities unable to confirm origin of series of vessels coming ashore

Tsukuba Express apologises for ‘severe inconvenience’, prompting comparisons on Twitter

Has the long-stagnant economy finally turned a corner?

Chisako Kakehi say she will ‘die smiling’ if executed for killing elderly lovers

From Group B-inspired sports cars to ‘friendly faced’ concepts, here are the models to watch

The Prime Minister's gamble pays off, paving the way for constitutional reform

The country's imperial family is dwindling, leading to calls for constitutional change

Will PM's three-day trip allay Brexit fears and strengthen ties with Tokyo?

Gaffe-prone Taro Aso apologises for 'inappropriate' reference to Nazi atrocities

With his rallying cry of a 'Global Europe', Jean-Claude Juncker appears to be mocking Britain's Brexit hopes

Agreement sends anti-protectionist signal ahead of G20 summit in Germany

Whaling fleet returns to port after defying global moratorium and international criticism

Bright orange alligator nicknamed after US President Donald Trump - and other tall tales

Travel to the birthplaces of the world's great dishes to get the low-down on how to make them truly authentic