Japan Christian sites added to UNESCO World Heritage list

A dozen Christian locations in parts of southern Japan where members of the faith were once brutally persecuted were selected for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list on Saturday. The 12 sites include 10 villages, Hara Castle and Oura Cathedral ... ( read original story ...)

Japan’s plan at the World Cup is to play like … Japan

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia (AP) — The plan is to play like Japan. The hope is to beat Belgium. The Japanese will face Belgium in the round of 16 at the World Cup on Monday, an underdog against one of the favorites. "We are faced in this stage with new ... ( read original story ...)

World’s Biggest Trading Bloc a Step Closer After Tokyo Meeting

Ministers from the 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which includes China, Japan and India but not the U.S., met in Tokyo on Sunday to try and thrash out remaining differences. “The path toward a year-end agreement is now clearer ... ( read original story ...)

Taiwan airlines offer new services to Chiang Mai, Nagoya

Meanwhile, Taiwan's budget carrier Tigerair Taiwan launched a scheduled charter route from Kaohsiung to Japan's Nagoya on Sunday at a ceremony hosted by Joyce Huang (黃世惠), the airline's chief business officer, at Kaohsiung International Airport. ( read original story ...)

Rocket bursts into flames after liftoff in Japan

TV footage captured Saturday’s crash on Japan’s northernmost island. Japanese startup Interstellar Technologies is investigating why its 33-foot rocket failed. "We could not accomplish what we were expected to do. I feel sorry for that," said Takahiro ... ( read original story ...)

Rocket fails, explodes seconds after launch for Japanese startup

A rocket developed by a Japanese startup company burst into flames seconds after a failed liftoff Saturday in northern Japan. The MOMO-2 rocket, developed by Interstellar Technologies, was launched in Taiki town on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island. ( read original story ...)

All aboard Hello Kitty: Pink bullet train debuts in Japan

A Hello Kitty-themed "shinkansen" bullet train has debuted in Japan. Adorned with the cartoon icon inside and out, it's a dream ride for fans of the internationally popular character. The special shinkansen had its inaugural round trip Saturday between ... ( read original story ...)

Japan to US: Auto tariff would damage U.S., world economy

TOKYO -- Japan's government warned in a report Friday that a higher U.S. tariff on auto imports could backfire, jeopardizing hundreds of thousands of American jobs created by Japanese auto-related companies, raising prices for U.S. consumers and ... ( read original story ...)

Japan to U.S.: Auto tariff would damage U.S., world economy

TOKYO -- Japan's government warned in a report Friday that a higher U.S. tariff on auto imports could backfire, jeopardizing hundreds of thousands of American jobs created by Japanese auto-related companies, raising prices for U.S. consumers and ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo stocks close higher

TOKYO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed marginally higher ... shares closed higher as investors bought back issues on the yen's retreat against the U.S. dollar, following news that at a summit in Brussels, European Union leaders had reached a ... ( read original story ...)

Wheelchair racer’s Tokyo Paralympic dreams over

Shelby Watson holds world records in the T33 class at five different distances - but is now considering her future in the sport after Paralympic officials confirmed that the class would not be in the Tokyo programme. Wheelchair racer Shelby Watson’s ... ( read original story ...)