Honda And Nissan To Launch Merger Talks
Their collaboration would create the world's third largest automaker, expanding development of EVs and self-driving tech.
Tokyo Adopts 4-Day Workweek to Encourage Women to Have More Kids
Tokyo is set to implement a four-day workweek for its government employees starting in April 2025, allowing them to take Fridays off.
Office Worker Busted for Trespassing Tells Police Breaking Into Homes Is His 'Hobby': 'I've Done So Over 1,000 Times'
A Japanese man arrested for trespassing admitted to breaking into over 1,000 homes as a stress-relieving hobby.
Neighbors Stunned as Man with Giant Snake Face Tattoo Is Charged with Assault: 'He Didn't Seem Like a Bad Person, He Just Looked Like One'
A Japanese man with a snake tattoo covering most of his face and neck was arrested for assault, to the shock of his neighbors.
Japan Ramps Up Tech Ambitions With $65 Bn For AI, Chips
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.
American Tourist Used Fingernails to Carve Initials into Sacred Japanese Temple: Police
An American tourist was arrested after he allegedly used his fingernails to carve five letters into a gate at the Meiji Jingu Shrine.
Job-Quitting Service Employee Uses Job-Quitting Service to Quit Job Because Too Many People Are Quitting Their Jobs
In a notable twist, a Japan-based company that handles resignation for its clients found itself on the receiving end of its own service.
Infamous American Influencer Faces Years in South Korean Prison After Series of Culturally Insensitive Videos
Johnny Somali, a 24-year-old American live-streamer, is facing multiple charges in South Korea after creating a series of culturally insensitive videos.
Conservative Leader Shocks World with Call to Ban Women from Getting Married After 25, Remove Their Uteruses at 30
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.
Social Media Users Panic After Learning Mount Fuji Is Completely Snowless In Historic First: 'We're Going to Be Dead by Next Year'
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.
Elderly Residents of Shrinking Village Build Life-Size Puppets To Combat Loneliness
As the population of a small Japanese village dwindles, creative residents endeavor to mimic the companionship of children with life-size puppets.
New Japan PM Sweats For Majority In Snap Election
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.
Kept Japanese Man With Four Wives, Two Girlfriends, and 10 Kids Wants Way More of All Three: 'I Just Love Women'
A Japanese man with six partners and 10 kids wants to father a total of 54 children to become the "god of marriage."
It's That Time of Year Again: Checking In On Japan's Beloved Melting Baby Billboard
A store in Japan's "horror" billboard has turned into an unexpected tourist attraction.
Japanese Woman Stops Violent Shoplifter With Move She Learned From Watching Anime
Watch a reenactment of how a Japanese woman used an anime move she'd never practiced to successfully stop a shoplifter.
Man on Death Row for Half a Century Declared Innocent After Revelation That Investigators Faked Evidence Against Him
Hakamada insisted he was innocent, but later gave a forced confession after he said investigators beat and interrogated him relentlessly.
US Steel CEO Says Sale To Nippon Must For Company To Succeed, Save Jobs
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.
Chinese navy sails between Japanese islands near Taiwan
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.
Toyota Shutters Japan Factories As Typhoon Approaches
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.
Unpopular Japan PM Kishida To Step Down
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.
Weak Yen Helps Toyota Compensate For Japan Problems
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.
Japan Warns On China, North Korea In Annual Defence Report
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.
Asian Markets Down As Traders Await US Jobs Report
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.
Yen Weakens Further To Put Focus On Tokyo, Asian Equities Rise
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.
Puerto Rico to host the World Baseball Classic for the first time since 2013; Miami also makes the cut
The 18,000-seat Hiram Birthon Stadium will serve as the venue for pool games held in Puerto Rico
Yen Rebounds After Hitting 34-year Low Past 160 Per Dollar
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.
Spaceland: Biden Woos Japan PM With Moonshots And Paul Simon
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.
Microsoft To Invest $2.9 Bn In Japan AI Push
The announcement coincides with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to Washington, underscoring Tokyo's commitment to becoming a major AI power.
Inter Miami and Messi Looking To Stay Alive In CONCACAF: The Latin Times' Cartelera Futbolera For April 8-14
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
Japan's Nikkei Breaks Bubble-era Record
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.