The 10-trillion-yen package, which lawmakers could approve this week, is also seen as preparation for an uncertain world as fears grow of a potential Chinese invasion of chip powerhouse Taiwan.

An American tourist was arrested after he allegedly used his fingernails to carve five letters into a gate at the Meiji Jingu Shrine.

In a notable twist, a Japan-based company that handles resignation for its clients found itself on the receiving end of its own service.

Johnny Somali, a 24-year-old American live-streamer, is facing multiple charges in South Korea after creating a series of culturally insensitive videos.

A conservative politician in Japan is backpedaling on farcical comments suggesting passing laws that would ban women over 25 from getting married and force women over 30 to remove their uteruses.

Japan's weather agency revealed that Mount Fuji has remained snowless for the longest period in 130 years, leaving social media users declaring end times.

As the population of a small Japanese village dwindles, creative residents endeavor to mimic the companionship of children with life-size puppets.

Ishiba took office and called an election less than a month ago after a tough contest within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed for all but four of the last 69 years.

A Japanese man with six partners and 10 kids wants to father a total of 54 children to become the "god of marriage."

A store in Japan's "horror" billboard has turned into an unexpected tourist attraction.

Watch a reenactment of how a Japanese woman used an anime move she'd never practiced to successfully stop a shoplifter.

Hakamada insisted he was innocent, but later gave a forced confession after he said investigators beat and interrogated him relentlessly.

Dismissing national security concerns, David Burritt said once the deal is finalized, the Japanese company will have to abide by U.S. trade laws. He added that the board will predominantly consist of U.S. citizens overseeing operations.

Japan's government said it was the first time that a Chinese aircraft carrier, which was accompanied by two destroyers, entered its contiguous zone, an area within 24 nautical miles of the Japanese coast.

The decision came as "extremely strong" Typhoon Shanshan approached southern Japan, packing gusts of up to 252 kilometres (157 miles) per hour and bringing widespread heavy rain.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Wednesday he will step aside next month, ending a three-year term plagued by low popularity ratings and a spluttering economy.

The firm said first-quarter net income rose 1.7 percent to 1.33 trillion yen ($8.9 billion) and operating profit jumped 16.7 percent to 1.31 trillion yen. Revenues climbed 12.2 percent to 11.8 trillion yen.

In its annual white paper, the ministry outlined its stance on a range of issues, from tensions around Taiwan to the intensifying rivalry between China and the United States.

Japan's Nikkei 225 ended flat while the broader Topix index, which a day earlier surpassed its previous peak set in 1989, also shed some of its gains.

Asian equity markets advanced following a positive lead from Wall Street, though there is speculation of a possible pull-back on profit-taking and concerns the recent tech-fuelled rally may have run too far.

The 18,000-seat Hiram Birthon Stadium will serve as the venue for pool games held in Puerto Rico

It touched 160.17 in morning trade -- its weakest since 1990 -- fanning speculation that Japanese authorities would step in to support their currency for the first time since 2022.

When you want to impress guests it helps to have moon rockets and superstar singer-songwriters on call -- and US President Joe Biden has both.

The announcement coincides with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to Washington, underscoring Tokyo's commitment to becoming a major AI power.

In Europe, Real Madrid hosts Man City in a rematch of last year's UCL semifinal; MLS teams on the verge of elimination in CONCACAF Champions Cup

The index of blue-chip stocks hit a peak of 39,156.97, beating the record of 38,957.44 set in December 29, 1989, before easing to 39,098.68 points at the end of trading, its highest closing level.

Game giant Nintendo raised its annual net profit forecast on Tuesday, saying the weak yen and steady sales of the Switch console, now in its seventh year, would boost earnings.

China overtook Japan as the world's biggest vehicle exporter last year, data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association showed Wednesday.

Japan's Moon lander has come back to life, the space agency said Monday, enabling the craft to proceed with its mission of investigating the lunar surface despite its rocky start.

The magnitude-7.5 earthquake and its aftershocks devastated parts of Ishikawa prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast, toppling buildings, ripping up roads and sparking a major fire.