Santa’s reindeer head to Japan to deliver pizza

Residents in northern Japan may get warm pizzas delivered by Rudolph this Christmas as Domino’s Japan is testing to see if reindeers were suitable for deliveries in the snowy region of Hokkaido. Footage released by the company showed reindeer’s ... ( read original story ...)

Japan Fukushima nuclear plant 'clean-up costs double'

Japan's government estimates the cost of cleaning up radioactive contamination and compensating victims of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster has more than doubled, reports say. The latest estimate from the trade ministry put the expected cost at some 20 ... ( read original story ...)

Japan: Repaired Fukuoka sinkhole sinks again

A Japanese road in which a giant sinkhole was hastily repaired earlier this month has again shown signs of subsidence, officials say. The repaired road in Fukuoka sank by about 7cm (2.7in) on Saturday over a 30-sq-m (322 sq-ft) area and was temporarily closed. ( read original story ...)

More awards for Japanese star pitcher-batter Otani

TOKYO -- Shohei Otani was honoured for both his batting and pitching on Monday when he was named Most Valuable Player of Japan's Pacific League. Otani helped the Nippon Ham Fighters win the Pacific League pennant and the Japan Series this season. ( read original story ...)

Japanese skating rink featuring frozen fish causes a stink

About 25 different kinds of fish were inserted into the new attraction at the Space World theme park in Kitakyushu, Japan, with some arranged into words and shapes to create what the owners called an "ice aquarium". Following the opening of the 820ft rink ... ( read original story ...)

Japan, China hold 1st security dialogue in nearly 2 years

The meeting was held also before Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's possible first visit to Japan next month since taking office in 2013 to attend a trilateral summit involving the two countries and South Korea. To have fuller access to the Kyodo News website ... ( read original story ...)

Japan skating rink shuts over frozen fish controversy

A theme park in Japan has closed a skating rink featuring frozen fish after ... General manager Toshimi Takeda told the AFP news agency said the theme park would now hold a memorial ceremony for the fish. Pictures posted on the park's Facebook page ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo’s station master

Although the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are almost four years off, the station master at the city’s train station already seems to be running his own kind of marathon every day. Seth Doane has sent us a Postcard From Japan: It’s home to Japan’s super-sleek ... ( read original story ...)

Woman in Japan Reclaims Dad, US Identity in 6-Decade Journey

At a public bath in a Yokohama slum in the 1950s, a red-haired girl scrubs her skin with a pumice stone, hard, to try to get the white out. Other kids sometimes taunt her. "American, American." She yells back, "I'm Japanese!" She is told she was abandoned. ( read original story ...)

Osaka inks deal with Nissin

Osaka, 19, said at a news conference in Tokyo that she was happy to be with Nissin as she has eaten the popular Cup Noodle since she was a child. Nissin also sponsors Kei Nishikori, the fifth-ranked player on the men’s ATP Tour. “I hope that Nishikori ... ( read original story ...)