Home > Japan

Japan

Coca Cola to launch alcoholic drink for first time in its 130 year history

The company is developing its own variation of the wildly popular Japanese alcopop, Chu-Hi.

Neil Murphy Mar 07, 2018

Japan has no right to claim the issue of 'comfort women' is settled, says South Korean president

"The issue of a crime against humanity committed in time of war cannot be closed with just a word," said Moon Jae-in.

Vasudevan Sridharan Mar 01, 2018

Japan Sanitary Equipment Industry Association

Japan approves baffling new toilet symbols in attempt to save tourists' blushes

Japan's Sanitary Equipment Industry Association has finally ended years of confusion over the the nation's electric toilets.

Neil Murphy Feb 28, 2018

Ancient tomb of powerful Japanese chieftain discovered with hoard of weapons

The skeletal remains are those of a 170cm tall adult male, possibly a "powerful leader" who was directly connected with the Yamato imperial court.

Charlotte Tobitt Feb 22, 2018

Middle-aged Korean tourists caught smuggling gold bars inside their rectums

Japanese officials say seven middle-aged women stashed gold bars in their abdomen and were attempting to avoid paying import tax.

Neil Murphy Feb 21, 2018

Danish scientists are backing jellyfish, not potatoes, as the future main ingredient of crisps

Jellyfish is a regular meal in Asian countries and the Danish team behind the crisps research believe it could make it more mainstream for Western culture.

James Hetherington Feb 21, 2018

Fukushima operator to pay £100,000 to family of 102-year-old who killed himself when told to flee

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) ordered to pay £100,000 to family of 102-year-old Fumio Okubo who killed himself when told to flee Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

Isabelle Gerretsen Feb 20, 2018

Japan believes Brexit is an 'act of self-harm' says former British ambassador

According to a former British ambassador to Tokyo, Japan views the United Kingdom leaving the European Union as an act of medium and long-term political and economical "self-harm".

Staff Reporter Feb 15, 2018

Will this ancient Japanese undersea volcano be reborn? Massive lava dome found lurking underneath

Japan's KiKai Caldera was formed 7,300 years ago after a supereruption created a giant depression in the land.

India Ashok Feb 13, 2018

Self-driving shoes are now a thing thanks to Japan

Japanese hotel uses self-parking technology by Nissan to keep shoes, tables and seating cushions in order.

James Hetherington Feb 05, 2018

Japan military helicopter crashes in residential area, 2 crew members feared killed

The aircraft, operated by the Ground Self-Defence Force (GSDF), was on a maintenance mission when it crashed.

Vasudevan Sridharan Feb 05, 2018

Russia to station warplanes on disputed island near Japan

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says air force could use civilian airport on Kurile Islands, claimed by both Russia and Japan.

David Brennan Feb 02, 2018

11 killed in fire at Japan welfare home

The fire broke out in the three-storey building in the city of Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaido.

Vasudevan Sridharan Feb 01, 2018

Photos and video: Avalanche at ski resort in Japan after volcano erupted

One man was killed and at least 11 people were injured when an avalanche, possibly triggered by the eruption of a nearby volcano, engulfed skiers.

David Sim Jan 23, 2018

Is bitcoin doomed? Price may soon crash to $1,000, Wall Street veteran warns

Despite a rapid rise in value over the past year, the price of bitcoin could fall to $1,000 per coin in the next 12 months, a major Wall Street investment chief has warned.

Jason Murdock Jan 22, 2018

Tokyo holds mass evacuation drills in preparation for North Korean missile attack

Around 300 people took part in the evacuations as part of plans to help the city prepare in the event of an attack.

Jordan Bhatt Jan 22, 2018

US military flies helicopters over Okinawa school, evacuation drills start and chaos ensues

Japanese authorities and students' parents are outraged by the flyover as the US forces pushed to damage-control mode.

Vasudevan Sridharan Jan 19, 2018

North Korea smugglers' shopping list included shampoo, ketchup and whisky

Police in Japan have arrested and charged two Chinese men who smuggled banned goods into North Korea.

Neil Murphy Jan 17, 2018

Japan's plan for cutting animal deaths on the nation's railways is totally barking mad

Japanese trains will be equipped with speakers that warn deer with noises of dog yelping and high-pitched animal snorts.

Neil Murphy Jan 17, 2018

Supermarket sold notorious fugu fish to customers – but made one potentially fatal mistake

Authorities in Gamagori issue citywide alert to track down packages of deadly delicacy fugu, which contain lethal toxins.

Neil Murphy Jan 16, 2018

Who are the yakuza? Gang boss Shigeharu Shirai arrested after tattoo photo goes viral in Japan

Gangland body art shared on Facebook leads Thai police to yakuza boss Shigeharu Shirai after 15 years on the run.

Kashmira Gander Jan 11, 2018

Japanese astronaut grows 3 inches in space and is worried he won't be able to get back to Earth

A Japanese astronaut has spoken about his amazing growth spurt and concerns that he may not fit into his Earth-bound Soyuz space shuttle.

Neil Murphy Jan 09, 2018

South Korea not to renegotiate sex slave agreement with Japan in sharp U-turn

South Korean foreign minister announces Seoul would allocate funds from its own money and would not seek renegotiation with Tokyo.

Vasudevan Sridharan Jan 09, 2018

North Korea 'most severe' threat to Japan since WW2 says PM Shinzo Abe

Abe has promised to bolster Japanese defence capabilities in the wake of North Korea's "unacceptable" provocations.

Ben Skipper Jan 04, 2018

Comfort women: A dark chapter from Japan's colonial past that South Korea refuses to forget

More than 200,000 women from Korea, Taiwan, China and other nationalities were forced to work at wartime brothels by the Japanese Imperial Military during the Second World War.

Vasudevan Sridharan Dec 31, 2017

Mentally ill woman freezes to death 'after being locked in tiny room for 15 years by parents'

Japanese police say they have arrested a couple whose 33-year-old daughter, Airi Kakimoto, froze to death in a tiny room where she had been confined for more than a decade.

Paul Wright Dec 27, 2017

Mysterious new deep-sea species with no anus sheds light on early evolution

The primitive species lacks certain features that are common in more complex animals, according to researchers.

Aristos Georgiou Dec 19, 2017

What is Aegis Ashore? Japan plans to erect the new missile defence system to counter North Korea

Tokyo's cabinet approves installation of two land-based missile interceptors, which would cover the entire Japanese territory.

Vasudevan Sridharan Dec 19, 2017

Monkeys in Japan are having sexual encounters with deer, according to scientists

A new study further investigates the phenomenon following a report earlier this year of a male snow monkey mounting a female deer on Yakushima Island.

Dec 16, 2017