A woman’s murder allegedly committed by a U.S. Marine in Okinawa is a “heinous crime,” Japan’s premier said on Monday, as the new accusation of violence involving American forces sparked public outrage. Crimes including rapes, assaults, hit-and-run and drunk-driving incidents by U.S. personnel have long sparked protests on the island, which bears a disproportionate burden…
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who splashed her signature polka dots on paintings, sculptures and museum installations around the world, has died, her studio said Thursday. She was 97. Kusama died Aug. 14 at a hospital in Tokyo, Yayoi Kusama Studio said. “She continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush, and…
Osaka’s mayor says he is ‘lost for words’ and that he has ‘nothing but appreciation’ for the gesture.
The Japan Prize Foundation announced the winners of the 2026 Japan Prize at 1:00 p.m. on 21 January 2026. Prof. Cynthia Dwork (USA) has been awarded the Japan Prize in the field of Electronics, Information, and Communication. Prof. Shizuo Akira (Japan) and Prof. Zhijian “James” Chen (USA) have been awarded the Japan Prize in the…
A 102-year-old man has become the oldest person to climb Mount Fuji, according to Guinness World Records. Kokichi Akuzawa climbed his country’s tallest peak, reaching the summit at 12,388 feet, on Aug. 5. In doing so he surpassed the previous record, which he set himself when he summited Mount Fuji at the age of 96….
In an effort to deepen economic ties between Japan and Africa, the African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI), Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) co-hosted a high-level side event on the margins of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan. The event brought…
TOKYO — A Japanese convenience store chain has pulled its handmade rice balls, also known as onigiri, from shelves after employees were caught faking expiration dates. Ministop, which has more than 1,800 stores across Japan, said it was conducting an “emergency investigation” at all of its stores after discovering that staff at some locations had…
Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku in its original Japanese, is a mindfulness practice that involves immersing oneself in nature. The decades-old practice pulls from research that shows that spending time in nature can help lower stress levels and improve focus. Recently, forest bathing is growing in popularity, thanks in part to social media where people are…
The art of boxing The art of boxing 04:47 Two Japanese boxers died from brain injuries sustained in separate bouts at an event in Tokyo earlier this month. Shigetoshi Kotari, 28, collapsed shortly after completing a 12-round draw against Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation junior lightweight champion Yamato Hata on Aug. 2. He underwent emergency…
Holly Williams reports on how U.S. Marines are training alongside their Australian and Japanese allies in an exercise that’s part of the U.S. military’s expansion in Asia, an effort to prevent war by deterring China from military aggression.
