TOKYO -- Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito has marked his 57th birthday with a pledge to follow in his father's footsteps as symbol of the nation when his father's abdication wish is realized. Naruhito is first in line to Japan's Chrysanthemum throne and will ... ( read original story ...)
Japan hopes to school tourists in the art of the ninja at new academy
TOKYO — Japan is turning to those hooded samurai-era acrobatic spies known as ninja to woo tourism. The Japan Ninja Council, a government-backed organization of scholars, tourism groups and businesses, said Wednesday that it's starting a Ninja Academy to ... ( read original story ...)
Japan school operator with ties to PM's wife could face parliament questions
Kyodo news agency has reported. Akie Abe is set to be honorary principal of the new school in Japan's western region of Toyonaka, Moritomo Gakuen says on its website. Prime Minister Abe told parliament on Friday neither he or his wife had been involved in ... ( read original story ...)
Japanese kindergarten's suspected hate speech underscores endemic social malady
According to Kyodo News, the statement handed out by the kindergarten described Korean residents in Japan and Chinese people as those with "wicked ideas," calling the latter with a term considered derogatory toward Chinese people. Following these ... ( read original story ...)
Japan says will push territorial claim, draws protest from S. Korea
The Japanese government said Wednesday it will continue to push ... To have fuller access to the Kyodo News website, it is necessary to subscribe. We offer a broad range of subscription options depending on your needs. Learn more. ( read original story ...)
Japanese zoo kills 57 'impure' monkeys
A Japanese zoo has culled 57 of its 164 monkeys after finding they carried "invasive alien" genes, a local official says. The monkeys, which were originally believed to be pure Japanese macaques, were killed by lethal injection at Takagoyama Nature Zoo ... ( read original story ...)
Re-live Asian Champions League: Adelaide United v Gamba Osaka
JAPANESE football side Gamba Osaka proved too strong for Adelaide United running out 3-0 winners in the opening match of Group H in the Asian Champions League at Coopers Stadium on Wednesday night. Against the club which they lost the 2008 Champions League ... ( read original story ...)
Town Hall in Tokyo and Honolulu about US-Asia relations
From the America Abroad series: US-Asia policy under President Donald Trump: A Honolulu-Tokyo Town Hall. Guests include: Grace Cheng: Associate Professor of Political Science, Hawaii Pacific University. Ralph Cossa: President, Pacific Forum CSIS. ( read original story ...)
Tokyo: Sartorial success and tea ceremonies in Japan's capital
By Tokyo standards, I'm basically a hobo. On a long-weekend jaunt to the Japanese capital — a sprawling, bamboozling megacity of wild consumerism, fabulous ramen, strange tribal allegiances and intense attention to detail — we wandered bleary-eyed ... ( read original story ...)
Asian Olympic leader backs Sapporo for Winter Games bid
SAPPORO, Japan (AP) " Asia's Olympic leader thinks the continent could stage a third consecutive Winter Games and Sapporo would be an ideal location. Olympic Council of Asian president Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah said Sapporo has all the facilities ... ( read original story ...)
Japan zoo kills 57 snow monkeys due to 'alien genes'
Junkichi Mima, a spokesman for conservation group WWF Japan told AFP news agency that invasive species cause problems "because they get mixed in with indigenous animals and threaten the natural environment and ecosystem". ( read original story ...)
Olympics: Sapporo 'perfect' Games host: chief Pyeongchang organizer
The head of the Pyeongchang Olympic organizers, Lee Hee Beom, on Tuesday declared Sapporo the ideal host for another winter Olympics. Speaking with less than a year to go before South Korea hosts its first winter Olympics, Lee was in Sapporo, which is ... ( read original story ...)
Insider's View: Gamba Osaka
After a disappointing 2016 ACL campaign, the 2008 winners are hoping to halt a general slide when they visit Coopers Stadium on Wednesday night Gamba Osaka coach Kenta Hasegawa has been trialling a back three in an attempt to improve his side's defensive ... ( read original story ...)
Tokyo Olympics golf venue Kasumigaseki Country Club told to admit women or lose Games
The club scheduled to host the golf at the 2020 Tokyo Games must allow women to have full membership or organisers will have to find another venue, International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice president John Coates has warned. The private Kasumigaseki ... ( read original story ...)
Japan wins 4 gold in speed skating at Asian Winter Games
SAPPORO, Japan -- Japan claimed four gold medals in speed skating and China won two on the short track at the Asian Winter Games on Tuesday. Nao Kodaira of Japan earned her second gold of the Sapporo Games by beating two-time Olympic champion Lee Sang-hwa ... ( read original story ...)
Japan kindergarten apologizes after possible hate-speech comment
western Japan, has been visited by Akie Abe and is operated by Moritomo Gakuen, an educational institution that plans to open an elementary school in April with the prime minister's wife as honorary principal. Kyodo news agency reported on Friday that the ... ( read original story ...)