Japan crown prince vows to be devoted emperor like father

Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito pledged Tuesday to devote himself to the role of emperor, like his father, when he assumes the Chrysanthemum Throne. "I will devote myself body and soul to every single duty," Naruhito said. Japan's parliament passed a ... ( read original story ...)

Sapporo set for talks amid Sleeman Breweries strike

Sapporo's Canadian beer unit, Sleeman Breweries, has said it is seeking a quick end to a factory dispute after 80 workers went on strike. Production staff at the Sleeman-Unibroue plant in Chambly, Québec, set up picket lines last week after negotiations ... ( read original story ...)

Giant panda born in Tokyo but survival is uncertain

TOKYO - A giant panda cub was born in a Tokyo zoo Monday, but its gender, weight and even whether it will survive are uncertain. The mother, ShinShin, whose previous cub survived only six days, was holding her newborn in her paw but whether the cub was ... ( read original story ...)

Japan seeks to expand arms deals with Southeast Asia

A Japanese defense official said Monday that Japan is seeking to increase its sales of military equipment to Southeast Asian nations amid growing tensions with China and North Korea. The move is part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to bolster Japan's ... ( read original story ...)

Off-Off Broadway: Tommy Tune in Japan

And I said, 'Name one.' And she said, 'Minneapolis!'" Or the capital of Japan -- Tokyo -- where Tune certainly stands out in a crowd. He was in Japan in the 1990s while touring in "My One and Only" when he was asked by the Takarazuka Revue, a 100-year-old ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo Olympics: Eight more sports added for 2020

The additions, starting with the 2020 Games in Tokyo, are part of the committee’s overarching effort to appeal to a younger, more urban audience. The other additions are new events in existing Olympic sports: Swimming will add a men’s 800-meter ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo 2020: Mixed-gender events added to Olympic Games

Mixed-gender events in athletics, swimming, table tennis and triathlon have been approved for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the IOC has announced. The Games will include a 4x400m mixed relay in athletics and a 4x100m medley mixed relay in swimming. ( read original story ...)

Tokyo trip may be in the cards for Xi Jinping, sources say

Tokyo is considering asking Chinese President Xi Jinping to ... Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was likely to visit China in the first half of next year, the sources told Kyodo News. If Xi visits Japan, he will be the first Chinese president to do ... ( read original story ...)

Olympic bosses announce mixed-gender relays for Tokyo 2020

Olympic organisers have announced a major shake-up for the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, adding a series of new mixed-gender events. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) revealed on Friday the next Summer Games, to be held in the Japanese capital ... ( read original story ...)

Japan Arrests Longest-Sought Fugitive After Nearly 46 Years

The authorities this week confirmed the identity of the fugitive, Masaaki Osaka, 67, who was arrested last month in Hiroshima on a separate charge and refused to give his name, according to Kyodo, the Japanese news agency. The police said they identified ... ( read original story ...)