Hostage: I was prepared to die
A Japanese hostage who narrowly survived the armed attack at an Algerian natural gas plant was sure he was going to die when militants shot dead two Algerian colleagues in front of him, according to a...
View ArticleCops held over sexual harassment of colleague
The Kanagawa Prefectural Police has arrested two of its officers over an incident at a karaoke parlor last March in which a female officer in her 20s was allegedly forced to undress and was kissed on...
View ArticleThe Niseko App
Introducing "The Niseko App". Niseko's most comprehensive mobile guide with everything you need to know about the Niseko resort and village at your fingertips! (Ski Japan)
View Article11-year-old boy dies after falling from apartment block in Aichi
Police said Monday that an 11-year-old boy apparently fell to his death from the 8th floor of an apartment building in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture. (Japan Today)
View ArticleJapan man 'bit snake-possessed son to death': reports
A 53-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of biting his adult son to death to get rid of a "snake haunting him", Japanese media have reported. (ndtv.com)
View ArticleYen gains in Asia as Bank of Japan meeting starts
The yen strengthened in Asia on Monday as the Bank of Japan (BOJ) began a two-day meeting widely expected to see it launch further easing aimed at boosting the world's third-largest economy. (Japan Today)
View ArticleRevolutionary Japan is suddenly the centre of world affairs
Japan's economic policy revolution seems tame. Yet forces are being unleashed that could have powerful effects through the world's asset markets and trading system. (telegraph.co.uk)
View ArticleTokyo shares end down as yen rises, profits taken before BOJ outcome
Tokyo stocks fell Monday as a rise in the yen and profit-taking ahead of the upcoming Bank of Japan policy board announcement pushed overbought and currency-sensitive shares such as Fast Retailing and...
View ArticleUS sailor arrested in Japan
Japanese police arrested a 20-year-old US sailor on Monday for allegedly breaking into an elderly woman's property while drunk, reports said, despite a night-time curfew. (Straits Times)
View ArticleSumo: Harumafuji looks unbeatable on Day 9 as he retains lead
Mongolian yokozuna Harumafuji devastated sekiwake Goeido to remain unbeaten after nine days at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Jan. 21, while Hakuho, one loss back, cruised to victory over the...
View ArticleJapanese finance minister: Government should let old people 'hurry up and die'
Japan's finance minister Taro Aso said Monday the elderly should be allowed to "hurry up and die" instead of costing the government money for end-of-life medical care. (businessinsider.com)
View ArticleJapan to add 3 trillion yen to 2013 reconstruction budget
The government of Japan plans to set aside 4.5 trillion yen ($50.11 billion) for fiscal 2013, for rebuilding from the March 2011 disaster, adding 3 trillion yen on top of the current five-year...
View ArticleBlack holes blamed for eighth-century radiation burst in tree rings
A wave of cosmic radiation that smashed into Earth in the eighth century may have come from two black holes that collided, according to a study published Monday that seeks to clear up a mystery raised...
View ArticleInokashira zoo celebrates birthday of oldest elephant
Inokashira Park Zoo in western Tokyo held an event Sunday to celebrate the birthday of the nation's oldest Asian elephant. (Japan Times)
View ArticleCurry chain gets Guinness record
Ichibanya Co., known for its yellow and brown Curry House CoCo Ichibanya restaurants, was recognized last week by Guinness World Records as the world's largest curry chain, the company announced....
View ArticleSony to sell new Xperia tablet in Japan
Sony Corp's Sony Mobile Communications Inc said it will sell the new version of its Xperia tablet in Japan this spring, the Nikkei reported, citing Kyodo News. (Reuters)
View ArticleJapan's ASEAN charm offensive
Why are high-level Japanese officials converging on Southeast Asian capitals so soon after the election of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe just a few weeks ago? (The Diplomat)
View ArticleHashimoto pushes for exam halt over suicide
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto on Monday urged students at Sakuranomiya High School to accept entrance exam suspensions proposed for some departments in light of the suicide scandal there, the local board...
View ArticleTrial begins for man accused of killing Chiba nurse last April
The trial began Monday of a man charged with the murder of a 23-year-old nurse in an apartment in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, in Golden Week last year. (Japan Today)
View ArticleTough laws force Japan's yakuza to change their ways
It's tough being a hood in Japan these days as laws that went into effect in late 2011 begin to bite gangsters hard. The legislation is having such a serious impact on traditional sources of income for...
View Article