A sea of red in Sapporo

Thousands of kochia plants are delighting visitors at Takino Suzuran Hillside Park in Sapporo City, Hokkaido. This vivid autumn scene can be enjoyed through October. ( read original story ...)

Japan must avoid issuing debt to fund fresh spending, IMF says

Japan must fund any additional spending plans within its budget rather than issuing more debt, the International Monetary Fund said on Friday, urging the government to get its fiscal house in order as the central bank starts to raise interest rates. ( read original story ...)